Monthly Archives: March 2025

BUT HE REFUSED!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

BUT HE REFUSED!

“Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him]” (Matt 4:8-11; AMP)

In the history of the world, some Kingdoms and empires occupied one fifth of the world and ruled over millions of people. The most powerful kingdoms in the world were: The United Kingdom (or The British Empire), the Mongol Empire, the Russian Empire, the Imperial China, The Umayyad Islamic Caliphate and the Spanish Empire. After the second world war, these empires broke down and are now replaced by powerful countries who influence other weaker countries. Power is an essential factor in global politics. A nation’s power is determined by its military strength, economic prosperity, technological advancements, diplomatic reach, and cultural impact. Right now, America is the most powerful nation in the world, closely followed by China, Russia, and India. The balance of global power is constantly shifting due to economic developments, military advancements, and diplomatic strategies.

This is the third temptation of Jesus by the devil in the wilderness. The devil took Him on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory (their splendor, magnificence and excellence). This mountain is not a natural mountain on earth. There is no mountain from where anyone can see all the earth. It is a symbolic spiritual elevation. The devil offers Jesus the glory of this world. The devil claims that he is the owner of these kingdoms. He said that this world “has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish” (Lk 4:6). This is a question: who has dominion over the Kingdoms of this world, God or the devil? The devil deceived Adam to fall into sin. The dominion given by God to Adam is now lost to the devil thru deception. The Bible says that this world is under the devil. “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1Jn 5:19). Jesus calls Satan “the ruler of this world”. “I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]” (Jn 14:30; AMP). At the same time, we are told that the whole world belongs to God, the Creator. “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Ps 24:1). We deduce that God is the Creator and the owner of everything, including the earth. God has allowed the devil to claim dominion over the world because he deceived Adam. The devil has temporary authority in the world. But he is limited by God’s sovereignty and rightful ownership. For example, the devil needed God’s permission to attack Job. God allowed him to attack Job but set boundaries (Job 1:6-12). At the end, God vindicated Job’s faith and blessed him.

The Bible says categorically that God is the owner and ruler of all kingdoms on earth. “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and He

gives it to whomever He will and sets over it the lowest of men” (Dan 4:17). Listen to what we are told about Jesus Christ: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Col 1:15-17). Jesus is the Creator and the Sustainer of all things in the universe. He is not threatened by Satan’s boast. The Bibe tells us that at the last judgment, the devil shall be eternally punished (Rev 20:10). The devil’s desire is to take the place of God. He wanted Jesus to submit to him and to worship him. But Jesus defeated the devil with the Word of God!

When the devil said that the Kingdoms belong to him, Jesus did not dispute the claim. He did not want to start an argument with the devil at that time. But the fact that Jesus kept quiet does not mean He agreed with the devil’s claim. At that time, Jesus stayed focused on the matter at hand. He rejected the devil’s offer of glory in the world. According to God’s plan of salvation, God the Son must go to the earth, and He must do the work of salvation. God the Father promised that after the Cross, He will glorify Jesus with the original eternal glory He had before the world began. The devil wanted Jesus to take his offer and not to wait for the promise of God the Father. But Jesus chose to do God’s will, go the Cross and die for sinners. His Glory must come after the Cross and not before it. If Jesus took the offer of the devil, He would lose His authority to be the Savior of men. His work on earth as Savior would fail. The devil wanted Jesus to worship Him for giving Him the glory of this world. This was a bribe to worship the devil. Jesus saw the evil in this offer and totally rejected it saying: “Go away, Satan!” Satan was standing in front of Jesus, blocking His vision with his offer of worldly glory. Once Satan left, Jesus’s vision of God was restored. This was a total triumph over Satan. Immediately, God the Father sent angels to minister to Jesus and bring Him food.

At the Cross, Jesus totally defeated the devil. God gave Jesus total authority over all men. He became the King of kings. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev 11:15). The devil offered Jesus the fading glory of this world. After the Cross, God gave Jesus the eternal glory as the Son of God. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). We confess that Jesus is the Lord! Selah!

Lessons:

*Temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin! Spiritual warfare is real. The devil’s strategy is to offer the immediate temporary pleasures of the flesh (political power, wealth and fame), so that we forget the eternal glories of the Kingdom of God. The devil will offer you any pleasure on earth, to distract you from doing God’s will, and to block your vision. Satan wants to compromise your faith and damage your testimony. Reject him! Find God’s purpose for your life. Stay focused! The victory of Jesus at the Cross is our boast now!

*The command to worship God alone is foundational to the Christian faith. Worship is not for sale! The devil is ready to pay silver and gold to corrupt our desire to worship God. We reject all idols, including love of money, power and fame! We submit and worship God alone!

*Jesus won the battle thru the Word of God. Study the scriptures! Pray! Take the whole armor of God! Serve God in the local church!

*The devil’s authority over the world is limited and temporary. God is sovereign over His creation. When we are persecuted or suffer in this world, we should be encouraged. Although the devil is still active and can do much harm, we belong to Jesus. We are soldiers of Christ.

*The basic strategy of the devil is to make the believer doubt God and His goodness. He told Eve that God is hiding something good from her. That she should go and take it by herself. When the devil tempted Jesus, he told Him that He should not wait for God to supply bread, fame and glory. That God the Father cannot be trusted to supply all these things to Him. He suggested that Jesus should go and take these things by Himself. Jesus rejected his lies and conquered the devil. Jesus waited for God’s time and God did not disappoint Him! Selah!

BUT HE REFUSED

“Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” 10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her” (Gen 39:6-10).

Joseph is a type of Christ. When tempted sexually by Potiphar’s wife, he refused to submit to her. This was not easy because he was her husband’s slave. A slave was killed for disobeying his master. Because she was rejected, she slandered him. Joseph went to prison. But later, God vindicated him. His God given dreams came to pass. He became the Savior of his family and nation. What was Joseph’ secret? How did he overcome sexual temptation? His secret was the presence of God with him. Four times in this chapter we are told that ‘the Lord was with Joseph’. He loved God. He wanted to please God and not man. The desire to please God is the best medicine against sin. Joseph maintained his integrity. was jealous over His testimony as a child of God. Because he loved God, he hated and rejected sin. Lesson: if the Lord is with you, you shall overcome all trials and temptations! No man or devil can destroy your life, destiny or testimony! True success is not measured by worldly standards but by God’s favor and fulfilling the purpose of our lives.

“The LORD was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” (Gen 39:2; AMP). Joseph was a foreigner and a slave. Yet, the Bible calls him “a successful man”. In Hebrew, the word “successful” means to make progress, to experience breakthrough, to push forward and conquer all opposition. The Lord was with Jospeh. It is the constant theme about him. God’s presence means peace, prosperity, favor with people, wisdom and guidance. Though he was a slave, it was in Potiphar’s house that Joseph’s gift of leadership started to manifest. Prosperity is both spiritual and material. True prosperity comes from God. This promise is fulfilled in Christ. All believers experience the presence of God in their lives. The resurrected Christ promised: “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen” (Matt 28:20). Lesson: As a Believer in Christ, see yourself as a successful person, no matter your situation. Reject all inferiority complexes!

Potiphar recognized God’s presence in Joseph. He trusted him. It means that people, even the unbelievers, see God’s grace in your life. Men trust those whom God has blessed. Men give responsibility to those who are trustworthy. God will bless you but be ready! Prosperity and success will test your character more than hardship. Lesson: Even when you are persecuted and you suffer, trust God to help you!

The devil has his own agents. Some people don’t care about God or God’s law. They don’t respect the institution of marriage. Potiphar’s wife did not care about sexual purity. Lesson: “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Cor 6:18). The imperative “flee” suggests immediate and decisive action. Believers are encouraged to actively avoid situations that may lead to sexual sin. Because the Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, sexual sins are punished by God directly. These sins affect the health of the body, emotions, mind and spirit. Adultery is like suicide! Be careful!

Potiphar was so angry that he sent his most trusted servant Joseph to prison. Lesson: Exercise self-control! Discipline your emotions! Pray!

Learn to say No before you say Yes! Later, Joseph married a princess and had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. God’s time is the best!

How to fight and win against sexual sins: First, avoid places where you meet people who are sexually impure. Never look at pornographic sites on the internet. Secondly, learn to say No to sin! Don’t waste time saying No. Say it with faith, confidence and courage! Discipline your eyes! Do not admire the opposite sex. See all women as mothers, sisters or daughters. Your wife is the only woman that you should be attracted sexually. This is a battle! Jesus defeated the devil. Joseph said no to fornication. We should do the same! Because Jesus won against temptation, we must do the same! In Christ, victory is not only possible but expected. To the glory of God! Worship the Lord!

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS (Esther 6: 1-14)

In this chapter we see that the tables start to turn. Wicked Haman plans to kill Mordecai. The king cannot sleep. He discovers that some years ago Mordecai saved his life, but he was not rewarded for that. That morning, Haman came to see King Xerxes, to ask for permission to hang Mordecai on the high gallows he had built. The King was looking for a way to bless the same Mordecai. He is asking Haman: “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Mordecai, full of pride and selfish ambition, imagines that the king is talking about himself. He recommends a royal public display to honor that man. To his shock, the king tells Haman: “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken”. Grudgingly, Haman obeys. He leads Mordecai to the city square telling all people that the king has promoted and blessed Mordecai, the man he hates to death. This event marks the beginning of Haman’s downfall and serves as a powerful example of God’s sovereignty and justice. After the public display of honor, Mordecai goes back to his work at the city gate. This is true humility. Haman goes home to share his humiliation with his wife and friends. They cannot help or encourage him. The wife gives him a prophetic word of doom: “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him”.

Lessons:

*God is sovereign over human events. God is not too “slow”, His time is perfect. God works behind the scenes for our good and for His glory. God’s timing and our timing is not the same. God lives in eternity. We are limited because we live on earth in times and seasons.

*God works behind the scenes. The name of God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, yet He works everything for His glory!

*Behind every successful person there is a spiritual mentor (a destiny helper). Esther continued to submit to Mordecai even as queen.

*Character is greater than position and possessions.

*Seek God in times of crisis.  

*God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble! Pride leads to a fall. Humility and faithfulness are rewarded. God is patient with the wicked so that they repent. But God will not strive with the sinners forever. There is a time of judgment, on earth and in heaven.

*Like Mordecai, be humble and faithful in your duties to God and to man. God will reward you with greater authority over bigger things.

*The fact that we do not know the time of events shows our human limitation and the need for preparation. We must take the warnings of the Bible seriously! Prepare to meet God anytime! We must pay the price for spiritual maturity, by the study of God’s Word, prayer, and serving God in the local assembly.

*Learn to wait on God! When God makes a promise, by faith, wait for its performance. When we experience delay, we tend to allow anxiety and doubt to enter our minds. Learn to trust God! Do not wait passively for God to answer your prayer. Actively prepare yourself to be a holy vessel to contain the answer to your prayer.

*Always pray for wisdom to see things from God’s perspective. Wisdom will make you patient as you wait for God to answer your prayer.

*Use the present suffering to draw closer to God. Do not waste your pains.

*Be led and filled by the Holy Spirit. Do not be too fast (impatient) and do not be too slow (lazy).

*Waiting means gathering strength. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa 40:31). Waiting for God is not wasting. It is becoming like Jesus!

*”Redeem the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:16). Use every opportunity you have in this life to become an eternal treasure!

*If you have worked faithfully for many years but you have not seen the fruit of your labor, then trust God’s timing for the harvest (Gal 6:9)

*If you trust God for the fulfillment of a Biblical promise, God wants you to trust Him with His timing. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1Thess 5:24). Worship the Lord!

GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). The first words Jesus utters in this prayer are these: “Father, the hour has come”. Here we see that Jesus was always conscious of the plan of salvation. He knew who He was and what was His work on earth. At the wedding of Cana, He said: “My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4). It seems that Mary wanted a more public miracle, so that people would see her Son’s glory. Jesus indeed did a miracle by changing the water into wine, but it was more discreet. He helped a humble family. He manifested His glory and many disciples trusted Him (Jn 2:11). But the full glory was yet to be revealed. Jesus says that now is that time! Thru His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the Father’s approval of His earthly work in the plan of salvation, His perfect glory will be revealed to all! His death on the Cross was necessary for sinful men to be saved. Man is not saved by the good life of Jesus, by His teachings or miracles that He performed. Man is saved by the death of Jesus. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Therefore, Blood must be shed before sin can be atoned. Jesus died in place of sinful man. The Cross shows the Justice and the Love of God, at the same time. God is the Master planner, even in the timing of events. Lesson: The perfect time of salvation gives me faith that God is never too early and never too late even in my life!

GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER TIME – GOD IS THE MASTER PLANNER IN THE TIMING OF EVENTS

God is eternal. He exists outside time. God lives in eternity. We live in time. God’s plans for His creation and for man’s salvation were made before the foundation of the word. God accomplishes His eternal plans within the framework of time, thru men who live on earth. Time is a big issue for us, but it is not the most important thing to God. God is not limited by time, but He works in us and thru us knowing that we have a limited time on earth. Eternal life is perfect. It cannot be improved upon. Promotion is an earthly concept.

God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM WHO I AM (Exo 3:14). “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psa 90:2). God is sovereign in everything, including the timing of events. Sometimes, it seems like God is passive, that nothing is happening. Suddenly, God moves and does something unexpected. It may look like God is late, but God always does the right thing, at the right time. His ways are different than our ways. He is always right. The perfect timing of events gives all the glory to God! We can trust God because He is in control. He is moving history for the good of his people. He is in control because He is the Creator. He saves because He is love. God has appointed a time for everything, including the incarnation. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:5-6). Jesus came to earth as Man and died on the Cross at God’s time! Selah!

Because God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, God is sovereign. God is sovereign over time, all the time. The word ‘sovereign’ means having the highest power, ultimate authority, being completely independent from His creation. God has all the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses with His creation. He has the power to prevent any action. For anything to happen in the universe, God must “allow” it. All Christians agree with this doctrine. What they argue about is how much control God exercises over the wills of men. God created man and gave him the power to choose. God is holy. For sin to enter the world, it means that God allowed men to choose sin. But they must face the consequences. God can do anything. He can act and intervene in any situation, but He often chooses to act indirectly. He allows certain things for reasons of His own. But thru God’s perfect will or His permissive will, God receives His glory!

God told Abraham to “know certainly” about future things, that his descendants will be “strangers in a foreign land” and suffer as slaves. In the fourth generation they shall return to the Promised Land. There shall be an exodus after 400 years. They shall come back when the iniquity of the Amorites (the Canaanites) will be complete (Gen 15:13-16). These words refer to the time when Isreal went to Egypt and later became slaves there (Exo 12:40-42). The time of suffering in Egypt was to humble them so that God can later bless them. When they came out, they remembered God’s prophecy to Abraham. They worshipped God for His faithfulness, for the exact timing of deliverance. God waits for the sin of the Amorites to be complete. This shows the timing of God’s judgment. God is patient and kind. He desires that men should repent and not perish (2Pet 3:9). But if men refuse to repent, God judges them. Here we see that God uses His people to conquer the Promised Land as an act of judgment against the sinful Amorites.

God says: “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:10,11; AMP). When God spoke this Word to Jeremiah, His people were in exile, refugees in Babylon. God punished them for rejecting His Word thru the prophets. The people were suffering there. God tells them that He has good plans for them. They should accept the just punishment, but they should look beyond it. God is sovereign. He alone knows the future because He designs the future. At the end of the punishment, once the people have humbled themselves, God will bless them with peace and well-being. God promises spiritual and physical prosperity. The future is better than the present. In Hebrew, the word “peace” is Shallom. It means peace, health, wealth, favor, and friends. God has promised thru Jeremiah that after 70 years of exile in Babylon, He will bring Isreal back to their land. Daniel read this prophecy and was encouraged by it (Dan 9:2,3). God’s came to pass. After exactly 70 years, using King Cyrus of Persia, God made a way for His people to come back to the Promised Land. Praise the Lord!

“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan 2:20, 21). God controls history. Men think that they choose their political rulers and kings, but God is sovereign. God gives prophetic words of rising and falling of kingdoms and empires. Everything happened according to God’s plan and purpose. This is a great comfort to know that no human ruler is stronger than God. Like Daniel, believers are called to be faithful and wise in their environments. This involves living out our faith with integrity and courage. That faithfulness honors God!

Lessons: All God’s promises are sure. His Word is forever faithful. God’s faithfulness is part of His character and gives Him all the glory. God is in charge of Time. God oversees the length of your suffering and the time of your deliverance. He alone knows the future and orchestrates events according to His divine plan. Trust in His sovereignty, even when circumstances seem difficult. God’s people may experience suffering and trials. Exercise hope, faith and patience in times of trials as you wait for the promised deliverance. Your personal trials are part of the bigger plan of salvation. It must end in praise, in greater testimonies, and to the glory of God! The way Isreal found hope in the promises of God we should also find hope in God’s Word concerning the future. We need faith and patience to experience the promised good hope of the future which is found in Christ alone! Remember that God’s time is the best! Selah!

About His second coming Jesus said: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only… 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:36, 42-44). His second coming is sure, but the time of the event is a secret. Jesus said that in His human nature, He does not know the time. The mighty angels live in God’s presence in heaven, but even them do not know the time of the second coming of Christ. Only God the Father, the planner of salvation, knows the time. That day will be like what happened during the time of Noah. People were living normal lives. But their wickedness has spread all over the world. They were ignorant of the danger. By faith, Noah built an ark to save his life and His family. Then suddenly, like a thief, Jesus came again. Lesson: be prepared!

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven… A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace… He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end” (Ecc 3:1, 8, 11; AMP).

God has a purpose in every season of life. The word “purpose” means that God is intentional and actively involved with us, during the different seasons of life. Seasons change but God never changes. We must trust God for His perfect timing even if it is not totally clear to us. Life has many Changes and Transitions. Seek to find God’s purpose in each season. When you are young, do not desire to be old. When you are old, do not want to be young. While love is a central Christian virtue, there is a time to hate evil. Our hatred is directed towards sin and not individuals. Because of sin, conflict is inevitable and part of human experience. Christians are called to navigate these times with patience, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom, striving for peace whenever possible in all seasons of life.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. In Hebrew, the word “beautiful” means something that is fitting, or appropriate. It means something that has a purpose. It is the right thing done is the right manner and at the right time. When God created everything, He said that “it was good”. The creation was beautiful. Sin damaged the beauty of creation but could not destroy it. Man was made after the image of God. That is why God has planted eternity in men’s hearts. This longing for eternal life is peculiar to men. The animals do not desire that. Salvation is by God’s grace and by faith in Jesus Christ. Once you become saved, you’re longing for eternity, by learning how to master time. This is God’s command: “make the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil” (Eph 5:15; AMP). Redeeming the time is beautiful. Only God knows all things. That is why as believers we live by faith. Even when we do not understand all things, we must trust God. That faith is beautiful. Trust in God’s perfect timing. Just as God made everything beautiful in its time, we must have faith that His plans for us are unfolding according to His divine schedule. Accept your limitations. Humble yourself. Also, cultivate a spiritual understanding of life and keep eternity in view. Learn to appreciate the beauty of creation. Give glory to God for all experiences, and in all seasons of life. Young or old, find joy in God!

THE DISCIPLES’ PRAYER

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

THE DISCIPLES’ PRAYER

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Lk 11:1,2).

Jesus was a Man of prayer. He often withdrew to pray. There was something special about Him that the disciples saw. When Jesus was praying, He did not talk to God religiously, but with love and passion. His face changed. This impressed the disciples. They saw that prayer to Jesus was more than a religious obligation. It was real and powerful. He depended on God the Father for His very life. He was speaking to God as a friend speaks to a friend. They saw that Jesus has a supernatural power that propels Him to pray. They observed that they lack that power. They did not ask Jesus to teach them how to do miracles or how to preach. They wanted to learn how to pray like Him. This request reveals the fact that prayer is not just a natural religious activity, but a holy work that can be learned from others who are closer to God. The disciples needed guidance and instruction. It shows their desire to know God better. They wanted greater faith. The disciples looked at Jesus as their true spiritual mentor and teacher, and not just a friend. They addressed Him as “Lord”. They recognized His authority. They wanted Jesus to teach them the way John the Baptist was teaching his own followers. In the Hebrew culture, the mentor teaches his disciples. Here we see the connection between John, the forerunner and Jesus. They both taught their disciples how to pray. Lesson: just the way the disciples turned to Jesus to teach them how to pray, so we must go to the Bible to study God’s Word and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is an acknowledgment that we need God and no one else can help us. If you desire to learn how to pray, trouble may come. God may place you in difficult situations where only Him can help you. But this trouble pushes you to pray. Selah!

We pray to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Prayer for the Christian is always Trinitarian. For the Christian, prayer is not a luxury. It is not optional. It is a command. It is a lifeline to God. The fact that prayer can be taught means that we can learn how to pray better. This gives us hope. Jesus expects us to pray as He expects us to breathe. In prayer we draw closer to God and God draws closer to us. The more we pray, the less we worry, and the less we fear other things. Jesus said: “When you pray, say…” In Greek, the word “say” means ‘to speak with meaning’. Prayer must be vocal, clear and intelligent.

The prayer Jesus taught (Matt 6:5-13) is divided into two parts. First, we give glory to God. Secondly, we pray for our families and others. In the second part, all the verbs are plural. That means prayer is never selfish, praying only for my needs. I must pray for others. By giving glory to God, I learn how to Love God. By praying for others, for family members and neighbors, I learn how to love people. Therefore, Agape Love is the engine of prayer. Only a Lover of Jesus prays well. Selah!

These are the two main attitudes we must display as we draw closer to God, our heavenly Father: Love and Respect! God disciplines His children. We must respect God and thank Him for that (Heb 12:7-11). During the period of chastisement, do not draw back from God. Continue to stay in His presence, pray and worship Him. Discipline is painful and profitable at the same time. Thru discipline, we become more like our Father. Family resemblance is the greatest gain for any sinner saved by Grace! Glory to God!

*The first purpose of prayer is to bring glory to the Father. “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name”. The word “Hallowed” means holy. We must treat God with respect and awe. Holy means to be different, to be set apart from all that is common, and to hate sin. When we pray, we must hate sin and be ready to repent of it. “If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me]” (Ps 66:18; AMP). We should not pray casually. We must have the fear of God. We should never take God’s name in vain. We worship God as we pray. The purpose of prayer is not that our will should be done in heaven. It is that God’s will should be done on earth. We pray: Let Your Kingdom come! The Kingdom of God is the realm, rule and reign of God in the hearts of men on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom. The Bible is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God advances on earth, pushing back the forces of darkness. When I pray, I must be ready to totally submit to God, to hate sin and repent of it. Every form of rebellion and selfishness in my heart hinders my prayer. In my heart and in my mouth, Jesus must reign and rule for God to listen to me. “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (1Pet 3:12). This is a warfare prayer. The devil wants you to forget the glory and the purpose of God. He wants you to only pray for yourself and your little world of material prosperity. But Prayer is greater than that! Give glory to God!

*After we pray for God’s glory and Kingdom, then we can address our family needs. Our basic needs are Provision, Pardon, and Protection. As God supplies these needs, He receives the glory, and His Kingdom advances on earth. We pray for provision. God gave His people Manna in the wilderness. They had to go out and collect it every morning. They could not store it. They learn to depend on God for their daily bread. Thank God for the food on your table. Do not grumble. Be grateful that you can eat and that you have food. Secondly, just the way we need food for the body, we also need spiritual food. We ask God for forgiveness of sins. This forgiveness is a gift of Grace and by faith in Christ Crucified. It is not a reward for doing good deeds. As you ask God for forgiveness, repent from anger and bitterness against people who have offended you. Unforgiveness is a stronghold that blocks prayer. Your relationship with God depends directly on your relationship with people. To Love God, you must learn to love people. We also pray for protection from sin. “Lead us not into temptation…” is difficult to explain. God does not lead anyone into sin (James 1:13-15). We are led into sin by our own sinful desires and lust. Sin deceives us and leads to death. This is a reminder that we totally depend on God not to fall into sin. Without God, we are weak towards sin. What Jesus is saying is that if there is any lust in me, God, in His mercy, should prevent me fulfilling that lust. That God should frustrate my lust until I repent of it. And if temptation comes, I should be free from lust, so that I can pass the test. Every godly testimony glorifies God!

THE LOST AND FOUND SON (LK 15:11-32)

This is the story of a rich man who had two sons. The younger son was worldly. The older son was religious. Both needed their father’s grace, mercy and love. The father stands for God. The younger son stands for the true believer who is backsliding. The older son stands for the religious Pharisees, who are offended at Grace. This parable is called “the crown and the pearl of all parables, the Gospel inside the Gospel, the most divinely tender loving humanly touching story ever told on earth, or the finest short story ever written”. It shows the power of Agape Love that never fails to overcome human sin of selfishness and stubbornness. The younger son is not called ‘prodigal’ in the parable. The word ‘prodigal’ means wasteful, foolishly and recklessly spending money, effort and time to live an extravagant life. Through this parable, our Lord shows the extravagant love of the Father towards sinners. At the same time, Jesus rebukes the pride of the Pharisees who trust in their deeds and hate the doctrine of Justification by grace and by faith.

This is the story: The younger son got tired of home, of submitting to his father. He asked for his inheritance. According to the Jewish law, the senior son takes 2/3 of all the father has, including the land and the house. The younger son takes 1/3 of the movable property. A father can divide his property and give it to his sons only if he is on his dying bed. No father gives his property to his children when he is still healthy and strong. The father did not beg his son to stay. He gave him what he wanted. The younger son goes abroad and wastes all his money. This “far country” can be called “Forgetfulness of God”. But the day came when the money was finished. All his friends abandoned him and ‘nobody gave him anything’. He is forced to take the lowest job he can find. To feed swine. At his lowest point in his life, he comes to himself. Here we see that sin is like madness. Here you see the power of Grace. The light of the Gospel shines in his mind. He remembers his father and his Love. He plans to say: Make me your servant… The change is dramatic. This boy is not the same anymore. From Give me… to Make me! He rises from dirt and starts to walk home. His father sees him first and runs towards him. He is too weak to run. The Father embraces and kisses him until he washes all his sins away. This kissing Agape Love has encouraged millions of sinners to come back to God. The Father re-instates his son to full sonship status. He removes his rags and puts on him the best robe of righteousness of Christ. He came bare feet. The father gives him sandals. At that time only the wealthy had sandals. The slaves walked with bare feet. The father gives him the signet ring, the sign of authority as son. The father kills the fattened calf, kept for special celebrations. The house is filled with joy, for this son was once lost and now he is found; was once dead in sins and now he became alive in Christ. Halleluiah!

The older brother gets angry. He refuses to enter the house of God. He hates the fragrance of Grace and the sound of joy. He has been in the house laboring for many years. But he has never loved the sinners. He has never caught the vision of the Father. He is a symbol of the religious unbelievers, the Pharisees. They hate Grace. The parable ends abruptly. Jesus does not tell us what happened to the older brother. There are two possibilities: he too repented of his hypocrisy and became saved, or he killed (Crucified) his father!

LESSONS:

*The intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and High Priest in heaven, never fails to bring backsliders home.

*Pride is a terrible sin. Pride is defined as the desire to live independent from God. The prodigal son was proud, but God humbled him.

*Don’t be wise in your eyes. Do not walk away from God, from your parents, and from church.

*Don’t be wasteful! Wealth without God’s wisdom ends in poverty and disgrace.

*Be careful when making friends. There are many so-called ‘fair-weather-friends’ but very few who are faithful to you in times of poverty.

*The world does not satisfy your soul. God and His Grace is enough! God loves sinners! He shows them Mercy and Grace!

*Genuine repentance is the only way for a sinner to have peace with God. A child should make his parents happy and not sad.

*Be jealous over your Christian testimony! You can’t buy or earn God’s Love. Salvation is by Grace alone!

*This is a warning against legalism: the older son thinks that because he works hard, his father owes him money. This is an example of the wrong doctrine of trying to be saved by doing good work. He hates Mercy and Grace. He hates it when sinners repent and come home.

*No matter how far you have gone away from God, come home! Father’s Agape Love never fails! Worship the Lord!

May be an image of 2 people

THE PRAYER OF JESUS (1)/GLORY! GLORY!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

THE PRAYER OF JESUS (1)

Our Lord prayed often. He was God and equal with God the Father. As Man on earth, He depended on prayer to maintain His relationship with God. He prayed when He was alone (Matt 14:23), when He was in public (Jn 11:41,42), before meals (Mk 8:6), before making important decisions – like choosing His disciples (Lk 6:12), before healing men (Mk 7:34), after healing men (Lk 5:16), after declaring judgment on unbelieving cities (Matt 11:25,26), before feeding the 5000 and the 4000 (Jn 6:11; Mk 8:6,7), before walking on water (Matt 14:23), before Peter calls Him “the Christ” (Lk 9:18), at the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28,29), at the return of the seventy who were successful in ministry (Lk 10:21), Before teaching His disciples how to pray (Lk 11:1), before raising Lazarus from the dead (Lk 11:41,42), when laying His hands on children (Matt 19:13-15), at the Lord’s supper (Lk 22:19), prayed for Peter when Satan asked to sift him like wheat (Lk 22:31,32). He prayed for Himself, His disciples and all believers just before He went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Jn 17:1-26). He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to do the Father’s will, to become sin on behalf of the believers and to die for them (Matt 26:36-46). He prayed right after being nailed to the cross “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). While on the Cross He prayed: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). As He was dying Jesus prayed: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). The resurrected Christ prayed a blessing on the bread He ate with some disciples (Lk 24:30). He blessed His disciples before His ascension to heaven (Lk 24:50-53). He is now praying and interceding as our great High Priest in Heaven (Heb 7:20-28; 8:1,2). Hallelujah! If prayer is essential to Jesus, how much more we need to pray?

By God’s Grace, led by the Holy Spirit, we shall study this prayer of Jesus in John 17:1-26. We shall learn more about His Person. Most Christians call the prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 “The Lord’s prayer”. But that prayer is a pattern of prayer for the disciples to learn how to pray. Jesus could not have prayed that prayer because it contained the words: “And forgive us our sins…” Jesus did not sin and did not need forgiveness. In John 17 we have the actual prayer of Jesus. Jesus prayed but with few exceptions, we are not told the exact words He used in His prayers. But here we listen to His very words of prayer. Many pastors avoid preaching about this prayer. They say that the words between God the Son and God the Father are too holy for men to preach. But the words are recorded here in the Bible. By praying audibly, Jesus wanted the words to be recorded by John and that we should study them. We see how Jesus prays! In this prayer the word “Father” appears 6 times; “the world” appears 17 times; “Glory”, 9 times; “Love”, 4 times; the word “given”, 14 times; and the word “sent”, 7 times.

This prayer is called the Holy of holies of the Bible. John 17 is the holiest chapter in the Bible. We are invited into the Throne Room of God. The secret place of the Most High God is open to us.  Many Bible Commentators say that this is the greatest prayer on earth following the greatest sermon preached on earth (John, chapters 14-16). These chapters include the Last Supper, Judas betrayal, Jesus’ teachings on love and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His prayer for unity among His followers. Jesus is preparing His disciples for what comes ahead. He will be betrayed by one of them and die on a cross. Jesus is telling them that it is better for Him to die and leave them. The Holy Spirit will come in His name and fill them. Jesus will live in them by the Holy Spirit. That is a closer relationship with Him than the one they have right now. This is called the High Priestly Prayer of our Lord. He prayed to God the Father just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane and to the Cross. This prayer is a pattern of His intercession ministry in heaven. As the Great High Priest and Advocate, Jesus sustains us from heaven and gives great encouragement and joy to all believers, to continue to run the race to the end. Amen!

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven… This is the classical position of prayer in the Jewish culture. It shows humility, reverence, total openness to God and expectation for an answer to the prayer. The first word Jesus speaks is “Father”. It shows the intimate relationship and unity between Him and God. He then says: “The hour has come”. This hour is the time for crucifixion, resurrection and glorification. It is God’s perfect timing. This is a reminder that Jesus was always aware of the plan of salvation. Everything in His life was done according to God’s will and plan.

He then prays: “Glorify Your Son”. He tells the Father that He should reveal His glory and authority thru the events that will soon happen. The time of Jesus’ humiliation, hiding in a body of flesh is over. From this moment on, the glory of God the Son manifest. To the world, the Cross may look like a tragedy. But the glory of God will forever shine thru it, revealing the Love that never fails. The Father will be glorified too. The mutual glorification of both the Father and the Son shows the unity of purpose in the plan of salvation. Jesus prays for strength to fulfill God’s plan to the end. He will become Sin on behalf of the sinners. He asks for God’s glory to be revealed thru His greatest humility and shame at the Cross, demonstrating The Father’s perfect Justice and perfect Love.

God’s glory is defined as the beauty and power of His Spirit. This beauty is not visible or material. It is spiritual. Glory is not an attribute of God. Glory is part of God. It is the beauty of His character. Man’s beauty and glory (honor) passes away. God’s glory never fades. The glory of God is revealed best in His Son Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). Praise the Lord!

Jesus is very confident of His relationship with God. He calls God “Father” six times in this prayer. He also calls God “Holy Father” and “Righteous Father”. God is Holy. He hates sin. He is different than His creation. God is righteous. He never makes mistakes. Everything He does is good, right and perfect. God is always faithful. This is the confidence of Jesus as He prays. It should be our confidence too.

The prayer has three parts: Jesus prays for Himself (Jn17:1-5); for His disciples (Jn17:6-19); and for the future believers, including us (Jn 17:20-26). Most of the prayer is dedicated to intercession for His disciples. In the prayer we see that the plan of salvation was made before the foundation of the World. God the Father designed the plan. Jesus Christ executed it. The Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts so that we may believe it and obey it. The revelation that we are included in this mighty salvation is a great source of peace, joy, and confidence. We are not ordinary random people. We are elected and chosen by God to become children of God and live eternally. The very idea that Jesus Christ is praying for us right now, is the greatest source of hope for the future and gives us the assurance of salvation!

We have the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to tell us the many wonderful things Jesus was doing on earth. But we have only one chapter to tell us what Jesus has been doing for the past 2000 years, and what He is doing right now. That is why the study of this chapter is so important. Here we see Christ glorified doing intercession for us right now. It is basically a prayer for Glory, He asks the Father to give Him His glory, and to give His disciples His glory. Jesus did not ask for the glory that was not His. He asks the Father to give Him back the glory that was always His. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is that of a total Trust and Loving care. Jesus prays for God’s glory to be revealed. He prays that God the Father will fulfill all His promises and seal all the work Jesus has done on earth. In this prayer we see the Humility of Jesus in a new way. Jesus is God. He has all powers. He has created everything. But in this prayer, we see Him as Man. He has suffered rejection and soon, He will die on the Cross. He prays to God the Father to seal His work done on earth and to glorify His Person. Jesus totally depends on God the Father now. How much we need God to bless our work too!

LESSONS:

*DO ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD! “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor 10:31).

*PRAY THAT GOD ESTABLISHES THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

“Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands” (Ps 90:13-17).

Believers know that God’s presence makes the difference. We always need God’s mercy. We remember that God is merciful and loving. We pray for revival. The world may give pleasures, but it can never satisfy our hearts. Only God can satisfy. We need God early. This is the call for a fresh hope. Like the Israelites waited each morning for manna to come from heaven, we wait for God’s new mercies daily. Satisfaction in God manifests as joy and peace. God is sovereign. He has allowed us to suffer for a time. The pain was to help us, to humble us. But that pain is not forever. Like Job, who suffered but God blessed him at last, we too depend on God who can change the circumstances in a second. Pray not only that God removes the pain, but that thru pain you may gain wisdom and mature spiritually, to the glory of God.

God’s works are seen in creation, in salvation, provision, deliverance, and healing. God’s works reveal His glory. We pray to witness God’s miracle works that our children may know the power and glory of God. May God’s Grace, His unmerited Favor be revealed to us. We need God to bless the work of our hands. We may work but only God gives increase and godly success. Without God, all our efforts are in vain. True fulfilment and satisfaction in our work is done only when our work aligns with God’s will for us. Christ prayed that God glorifies Himself in His work for man’s salvation on earth. Grace is essential for any form of success, spiritual or material. The work of our hands is not just about productivity but about fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. We are called to align our efforts with His will, ensuring that our work has eternal significance. Just as the Israelites depended on God in the wilderness, we must rely on Him to guide and establish our paths. This dependence fosters a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His plans for us. The establishment of our work by God ensures that it has a lasting impact. We should strive to leave a legacy that reflects God’s glory and advances His kingdom.

*LEAVE A GOOD NAME AS INHERITANCE

“The memory of the righteous [person] is a blessing, But the name of the wicked will [be forgotten and] rot [like a corpse]” (PV10:7; AMP). “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Ps 34:15,16).

The righteous are God’s children who obey His Commands and use their resources to do good to people. The wicked are the unbelievers. They are selfish and morally corrupt. They oppose God and His people.

God is actively opposed to evil. His justice is not passive. In Ancient times, a good name, a godly testimony left behind was the best treasure your descendants can inherit. The righteous men leave behind a good name, a godly memory that will continue to influence generations of come. People like Apostle Paul continue to influence people through his writings and godly life.

The worse punishment is that God destroys your memory. Sin leads to separation from God and to eternal death. People will forget the wicked man. The name of the unbeliever will rot like a corpse; it will be “cut off”. It will bring shame to the family. The wicked are forgotten or remembered for bad, because they did not do good deeds, they did not use their resources to help others, to the glory of God. The name of Judas Iscariot will always be associated with wickedness, betrayal and eternal death. This reflects the punishment given to the wicked at the last judgment. This is the revelation of the holiness and justice of God.

At the Cross, Jesus died on behalf of sinners. Those who have faith in Christ Crucified, shall be saved. Those who reject the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, must bear their own punishment. One way for that punishment to be revealed is that God will totally eradicate that person’s name. This is also a warning to the believers to avoid evil and the company of wicked men. “Bad company corrupts good manners” (1Cor 15:33). Be sure to surround yourself with godly people. Protect your testimony as a Christian. Invest in eternal treasures. Worship the Lord!