Monthly Archives: August 2025

A LIVING SACRIFICE

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

A LIVING SACRIFICE

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2)

Living a Christian holy life is not a command. It is an appeal. Paul says: “I beseech you, therefore, brethren…” To beseech means to beg anxiously. The first thing we need to know is Doctrine. After that, we can apply doctrine. To Know about “the mercies of God” is to know the doctrine of salvation, by Grace alone, thru Faith alone, in Christ alone. Because God is merciful, kind and loving to us, sinners saved by grace, our natural response should be worshipping God with our whole being. The concept of sacrifice is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, where sacrifices were offered in the temple. Here, Paul redefines sacrifice as a living, ongoing act of worship, contrasting with the dead sacrifices of the Old Covenant. To be a living sacrifice means dedicating one’s entire being to God, living a life of holiness and service, a life that is “pleasing to God” in submission to God’s will and reflecting His character. In the Old Testament, sacrifices had to be without blemish, symbolizing purity and dedication. Jesus died and rose again for us so that the Church becomes pure, to “sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:26,27). The believers’ surrender is reasonable and intelligent. It is a spiritual service, a form of worship to God. True worship is more than religious rituals. It is a lifestyle of faith, obedience, worshipping Jesus in spirit and truth!

The command: “Do not be conformed to this world” warns against adopting the patterns and behaviors common in the secular world. The word “conformed” means to be shaped by external pressure, like a mold shaping clay from the outside. The world constantly tries to press us into its mold: how we think, how we live, what we value, and what we believe. It tells us that success is about status, wealth; that truth is relative, and that self is supreme. But as followers of Christ, we are not to be molded by culture. We must resist that pressure and look instead to Christ, who shapes us from within. To conform means to submit and obey the rules, standards, laws and expectations; to agree, to fit in, to blend; to be identical or similar. Like a boa snake swallowing its victim, the world wants to absorb you into its domain.

The opposite of “conformity” means to be different. The believers in Christ are different. Because they are holy like God, they confuse and disturb the world. We are seen as rebellious. “This world” refers to the system of men that goes on without acknowledging God. Its values and practices are contrary to God’s will. The early Christians faced pressure to conform to Roman rules. For example, they refused to call Ceasar “God”. The believers are urged not to love the world or anything in it (1Jn 2:15-17). The idea is to resist the moral standards that are not aligned with God’s kingdom. These are some ideas common to the world’s thinking: All men are basically good. Family is first! If you work hard, you become wealthy and through your money you make the world a better place. To be an attractive person, you must have experience. You try many types of food, dress in many styles, visit different places, or try many types of jobs. If you want to live long, mind your business, eat healthily, drink more water, exercise regularly, cut down on sugar, reduce stress, avoid overthinking and negative people.

“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. This transformation happens through the renewing of our minds. The word renewing is in the present tense, meaning it’s a continual process. Daily, we face situations where the world tries to conform us to its standards. But rather than submitting, we must yield to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to use God’s Word to renew our thinking and, in turn, transform our lives. Transformation implies a deep change in character and conduct. It is the same as the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The Greek word for “transformed” is “metamorphoo,” also used in the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt 17:2). It indicates a profound change. Renewing the mind involves the study of God’s Word, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, aligning one’s thoughts with God’s truth. As conformity means being shaped from the outside, transformation happens from within by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God”. A sinner does not understand God. Only a renewed mind and transformed character can discern God’s will. To “approve” suggests a process of examination and confirmation, like testing metals for purity. The “good, acceptable, and perfect will of God” refers to God’s desires and plans, which are inherently good and complete. Understanding God’s will requires spiritual maturity and insight, cultivated through a holy life dedicated to following Christ.

To be a living sacrifice means a total unconditional surrender of your whole person to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same as when the people of old brought their gifts or the animals to the priest. They were killed on the altar, and the fire consumed them. Or, like a defeated army general surrenders his sword to the victor. It is a total surrender unto death. To surrender means that you stop hiding, fighting, or resisting God because you agree that you are defeated. You know that you cannot win. You submit to God’s authority as His prisoner. You give up your rights to yourself. From now on, you allow God to influence or control you by His Holy Spirit.

To surrender the body means to surrender the whole person. The body was once an instrument of sin. Now, it has become an instrument to display holiness. Many Christians fall into error: some withdraw from this world and live in monasteries, thinking that they keep their holiness by physical separation. Others become one with the world and practice everything they see in the world. Both these attitudes are wrong. The surrendered believer is not a dead sacrifice but a living one. The believer is in this world but has the mentality of heaven. He keeps his eyes on Jesus and not on any man or woman on earth. A believer is always different, a light shining in the darkness. The power of being unique and living for Jesus is by the renewing of the mind. This is done thru the study and the application of God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of the wonder of his salvation, the believer does everything to please God. This behavior manifests as Loving God and loving people. Agape Love is the magnet that attracts people to Jesus! That is genuine attraction and beauty of holiness.

Why do we need to offer our physical bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God? Because Salvation applies to the whole person. Being justified by faith in Christ alone, the soul and the spirit are saved right now. But the body is not yet saved. The body will be redeemed when Christ comes again, when total salvation will be manifested. Living a holy life is a sign that you believe in total salvation. God wants your body as a living sacrifice for these reasons:

*The body is the instrument (temple) through which the soul (personality) acts and expresses itself. The body needs to be offered to God.

*The body is the chief source of temptation and sin. Sin takes advantage first of the body. Christians must fight against sin in the body.

*You offer your body continually to God. Not just once! It is an ongoing process of sanctification until your last breath.

Many Christians refuse to offer their bodies to God. Some say that what you do with your body does not matter if your spirit is saved. But this idea is false and dangerous. Christians must worship God even with their bodies. While the body is mortal and susceptible to sin, it is also the means through which we serve God and live righteously. Sin is like a king who seeks to control your life, contrary to the new life in Christ (Rom 6:12-14). But now, by the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome sin. Appreciate God’s Grace. Encourage other believers to resist sin and pursue holiness. Apostle Paul calls us to offer our whole lives to God, not just our words on Sunday mornings. We place our lives on the altar and say: “God, use me for Your glory.”  Salvation is not just about being saved from hell. Salvation is God redeeming what was lost and setting us apart for Himself, for His pleasure and His glory. We live to worship God!

DAVID, THE GIANT KILLER WAS SLAIN BY GIANT LUST

“It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem” (2Sam 11:1). “In the whole of the Old Testament there is no chapter more tragic or full of solemn and searching warning than this” (Campbell Morgan). In that part of the world, wars were not normally fought during the winter months because rain and cold weather made campaigning difficult. Fighting resumed in the spring “when kings go out to battle”. David sent his army commander, Joab, to lead the people and fight the war. King David should have been in battle, but he stayed behind, idle in Jerusalem. Joab and his army were preserved against the Syrians and the Ammonites, but they did not win a decisive victory until David himself led the battle (2Sam 10). Both through wisdom and experience David should have been in the battle, leading his men. Idleness leads to rebellion and becoming a busybody (2Thess 3:6-15)! Selah!

How did David, a man after God’s heart, fell so low, committing adultery and murder? His sin was not done in just a day. It is the climax of a fleshly lifestyle. David was backsliding. He drew back from God. Pride in success could be a factor. For about 20 years, he was indulging in sexual sins. He rejected God’s plan for marriage when he married many wives. Being idle, staying home from the battle only provided an opportunity for the long-standing indulgence of sexual passion to display itself. This seed of sin now became a harvest of shame and pain.

David arose from his bed and walked on the roof. The Hebrew verb “walked” suggests that David was restless, pacing back and forth on the roof. He couldn’t sleep. He was feeling guilty because he wasn’t where God wanted him to be. This restlessness was a warning from God. He should have immediately left the palace and go to meet his men on the field. But he stayed. The devil attacked. Just at that moment, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. Later he learned that she was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, a man or valor, a foreigner who became a Jew, Uriah the Hittite. It is possible that Bathsheba acted immodestly. She knew that her bath was visible from the palace roof.

Bathsheba’s immodesty does not excuse David’s sin in any way. But if she was immodest, she is partly responsible for the sin of adultery. Lessons: The Bible commands the Christian women to dress modestly, not to attract attention to themselves, but to Christ in them and to their good deeds done for God. “And I want women to be modest in their appearance… For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1Tim 2:9,10; NLT).

David’s sin was not in seeing Bathsheba bathing. He did not expect or plan to see her. His sin was in choosing to keep his eyes on her, to gaze long at her. Job made a covenant with his eyes not to gaze long at any other woman than his wife. “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1; NIV). The eyes are the gateway to the soul. They are the first point of entrance to temptation. Job is a good example for all believers. He made an intentional proactive commitment to sexual purity in thought and action. Job paid the price for the discipline necessary to moral purity. Jesus said the same thing: “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:28). To look lustfully at a woman is not just a simple look. This look sees not the woman not as God’s creation, but as an object to be possessed. Jesus says that lustful look is the same as adultery in the heart. In the Old Testament, adultery was punishable by death (Lev 20:10). In other words, lustful looks are spiritual suicide. Lessons: Christian men must learn to control their eyes. Be watchful over your eyes, hearts and minds! Jesus says that sin begins in the heart, not just in actions. Overcoming lustful thoughts requires total reliance on the Holy Spirit for strength and transformation.

David’s many wives in his palace did not satisfy his lust, because you can’t satisfy the lust of the flesh. They are rebellious manifestations of self. It was not so much that David wanted Bathsheba, it was that he was not satisfied with what God has given him. King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. David and his son Solomon show us that if one woman is not enough, then 1000 women are still not enough.

Bathsheba’s great beauty made the sight tempting. But the real strength of temptation does not lie in the beauty of the tempting object, but in the state of heart and mind of the one being tempted. Because of his backsliding, David was carefully “prepared” to fail at this very point. If he was right with God, this temptation was not too strong for David, no matter how beautiful Bathsheba was. David looked at her and saw “beauty”. But God saw “ugly”. David saw “Love”. God called it “Lust, sin”. David saw “romance”. God saw “ruin”. Joseph was more severely tempted to commit sexual immorality than David was here, but he ran away! May we see what God sees be dead to sin! Selah!

David inquired about the woman. He discovered that she comes from a famous wealthy family. Her father was Eliam, one of David’s mighty men. Her grandfather was Ahithophel, one of David’s chief counselors. David also learned that Bathsheba was married, the wife of Uriah, another of his mighty men of valor. He knew that this woman’s husband was away fighting the war. This knowledge made the situation far more tempting. David committed adultery in his heart on the roof before he touched the woman. David should have received the news of the woman’s identity as a warning from God. In taking Bathsheba, David sinned against Uriah, Eliam, and Ahithophel, each man close and important to David. David began to think, “I could get away with this. Nobody will discover me.” Lessons: Sin always deceives! Pray!

“Then David sent messengers and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her”. Just like that, David “took” Bathsheba, one who did not belong to him by marriage. In this way, “the man after God’s heart” went against his own heart, following through lustful impulse. We need to say that Bathsheba was not forced. She did not offer any resistance. Therefore, she is not totally innocent. David knew this act was wrong, yet he did it. It’s hard to explain David’s thinking here because he wasn’t thinking. He acted on feelings and sexual impulse instead of thinking. If David only thought about the cost of one hour of pleasure… an unwanted pregnancy, he murdered a trusted friend, the baby died, his own daughter (Tamar) was raped by her brother, his son murdered by another son (Amnon and Absalom), civil war led by his own son (Absalom), his own son Solomon imitated his father and lived a life of sexual immorality, his heart led away into idolatry by his many wives. This is how he led Isreal into sin. Lessons: The devil makes men blind to sin’s consequences. Pray that you overcome temptation!

Bathsheba sent a simple message. “I am pregnant”. David tries to hide his sin from people, but he cannot hide it from God. He calls her husband, Uriah, from the battle. He tries his best to convince him to sleep with his wife, so that he will think the baby is his. At this point in time, David does not want marry Bathsheba and does not want to kill her husband. But Uriah refuses to compromise his moral character.  Thru Uriah, the light of God shining in the darkness. Uriah goes home, sleeps with his servants and refuses to touch his wife. He says that the Ark of God, his army commander and all his mates are sleeping in the open air on the battlefield. Though not a native Jew, Uriah has a passion for the glory of Jehovah. He sacrifices his own desires and the comfort of his home to honor God and His people. David hoped that Uriah would be a man like himself, led by the flesh. But Uriah proved to be a man of integrity whose first loyalty was for God and the King, rather than his own pleasure. Having failed to cover his sin, David wants Uriah dead. He gave Uriah the death sentence in a letter to give to General Joab. David explains to Joab how to kill Uriah. See here how power corrupts the heart. David was better as a servant. He refused to kill Saul, his enemy. Now, as a king, he orders to betray and kill one of his most loyal friends. Joab did exactly what David commanded. He knew it was wrong but simply followed orders and murdered Uriah at King David’s direction. David indulged sensual lusts for years ignoring God’s warnings and ways of escape. He allowed temptation to become lust and lust to turn into adultery. When sin wanted to expose him, he covered it with deception and later with murder. Satan did not tempt David with the entire package at once but deceived him little by little. Lessons: Many adulterers secretly wish death would free them to marry the object of their adultery. Murder is the heart engine of adultery. If sin is not repented immediately, it always becomes worse. Sin begets sin. Backslider, you must repent and come back to Christ!

David waited for Bathsheba to mourn her husband. She may not have known that David killed her husband. She was probably relieved that she was not stoned to death as an adulteress. Now, she is a queen. This was nothing new for David. He only added her to his other wives. It is possible that the people in Isreal saw David as a good compassionate man who married the wife of a fallen soldier. They have a son. Things look good for now… “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord”. This is the first mention of God in this chapter. God saw every sin committed and every intent of their hearts. Despite being a man after God’s own heart, David’s sin is clearly condemned by God. “David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1Kg 15:5). This tells us that no one, not even an anointed king, is above God’s law. David was about 45 when he committed this sin. He was still on the throne of Isreal. But he was not the same again. He suffered many setbacks until he died at about 70. God’s displeasure with David’s actions reminds us that our actions have spiritual implications. God forgives sin but does not wipe out the painful consequences. We need God’s mercy for that and paying the price to live a life that pleases God. Amen!

Lastly, God honors Uriah. His name appears in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:6). Praise the Lord!

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You” (Ps 51:10-13). David wrote this psalm after he deeply repented of the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband. He pleads for mercy and forgiveness. Sin corrupts the heart, and only God can purify it. David’s acknowledges his inability to cleanse himself and his dependence on God’s transformative power. David knows that only God can create a new obedient heart. David saw how the Holy Spirit left Saul and how he lost his crown, testimony and even his life. He is desperate to maintain an intimate relationship with God which is vital to be a King and a Worshipper. Sin can damage or reduce this joy. Joy can be restored after deep repentance. David prays that God should uphold him, sustain and keep him close to Him by His generous Spirit. The word ‘generous’ also means a willing Spirit. This is the power of Grace. David desires a spirit that is always submits to God and never become stubborn or hard. Sin disrupts our fellowship with God, steals our joy and reward, and damages our testimony and ministry. We must seek restoration and healing through God’s mercy. Worship the Lord!

JEHOVAH M’KADDESH – THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

JEHOVAH M’KADDESH – THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU

In Hebrew, Jehovah M’Kaddesh means God is my Sanctifier. There is a progression in the revelation of God’s names, according to the people’s needs. God manifested Himself as their Healer, Provider and Protector. Now, the time has come for Him to reveal Himself as their Sanctifier, the one who makes them holy, as He is Holy.  “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you (Jehovah M’Kadesh) (Leviticus 20:7,8). To consecrate it means to be set apart for God’s service, to be sanctified, to be made holy like God. Consecration is God’s command. In the Old Testament, consecration involved ritual purification and strict obedience to God’s Laws. Holiness means to be spiritually and morally pure, to have a clean conscience before God and man, being set apart for God’s purposes. To be morally pure means to live right, to always be honest, to keep your promises and to be sexually pure, in the body and in your heart. Holiness applies to both the individual believer and to the entire community. Our holiness is rooted in God’s holiness. We are called to be holy because He is holy. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live holy lives, evident in our thoughts, words, actions and relationships. It involves making choices that honor God by aligning with His Word. Through their pure worship and godly lifestyle, God’s people distinguish themselves from other nations who worship idols. God calls believers to Himself to share in His holiness. They respond by a total surrender, with fear of God, with humility and love for God. Selah!

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty” (Isa 6:3). God is Holy! The holiness of God refers to His absolute moral purity and the absolute moral distance between God and men. God’s Holiness is both beautiful and dangerous. It is a reminder that sinful men are not holy. God is separated from us. He hates and punishes sin. God’s holiness manifested openly on the Cross when Christ died on behalf of sinners. The only way to react to God’s holiness is to prostrate before God and worship Him. God’s Spirit is called “The HOLY Spirit”. He is the only One who can produce holiness in us, believers in Christ. Outside the influence of the Holy Spirit, sin has dominion over all men. The Tabernacle and all the religious rituals are fulfilled in Christ. Worship is now done in Spirit and in Truth (Jn 4:23). Consecration is done not just outwardly, by anointing with olive oil, but by having a clean conscience, and living a life pleasing to God, according to His Word. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we daily apply the teachings of Christ in our behavior, attitude, and purpose in life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Example of sanctification. He prayed: “For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth” (Jn 17:19). Although sinless, He set Himself apart to accomplish the Father’s will and made it possible for believers to be fully consecrated as a holy priesthood. We are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1Pet 2:9). Glory to God!

God commands His people to be holy as He is Holy. That is the revelation of Jehovah M’Kaddesh. “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Lev 19:2). “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1Pet 1:15,16). God did not command us to be strong like He is strong or to be glorious as He is glorious. In both the Old and the New Testament God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. Holiness is central to the identity of Israel as God’s chosen people, set apart for God’s purposes, reflecting His character in their lives and doing His will. As God’s people, we are called to reflect His holy character in our daily lives, by living according to His Word. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live holy lives. We must hate sin, especially sexual immorality. Holiness manifests in our thoughts, actions and relationships.  

SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

Spiritual adultery is unfaithfulness to God. It is loving and constantly desiring the things of the world. Spiritual adultery is like unfaithfulness in marriage. “But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,” … But like a wife who betrays her husband, so you, nation of Israel, betrayed Me, declares the LORD” (Jer 3:20, NIV, GWT). The LORD (Jehovah) is the covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is portrayed as a faithful husband to His people. Just as marital unfaithfulness breaks a sacred bond, spiritual adultery severs our relationship with God. We must guard against worldliness. In the Old Testament, spiritual adultery happens when God’s people knowingly eat food dedicated to idols as a form of worship or having sex with temple prostitutes. Thru food and sex, demons pass from one body to another. “They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, And ate sacrifices made to the dead. 29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, And the plague broke out among them… But they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works; 36 They served their idols, Which became a snare to them… Thus, they were defiled by their own works And played the harlot by their own deeds” (Ps 106:28,29, 35,36, 39). Despite Israel’s betrayal, God remains faithful. His covenant love is steadfast, offering hope and restoration to those who return to Him. We are called to recognize our unfaithfulness and sincerely repent, trusting in His mercy and grace. Our relationship with God is a covenant, much like a marriage. We are called to be faithful, honoring our commitment to Him above all else. As believers, we are the bride of Christ. We must live in purity and devotion, preparing for the ultimate union with our Savior.

SPRIITUAL ADULTERY IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD

“How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. 22 Your silver has become dross. Your wine mixed with water. 23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. 24 Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries and take vengeance on My enemies. 25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. 26 I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” 27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her repentant ones with righteousness” (Isa 1:21-27)

The city of Jerusalem, also called Zion, was once devoted to God It was originally established as a city where justice and righteousness were upheld, reflecting God’s character and law. The leaders and the people lived according to God’s law and God blessed His people. King David and Solomon’s reigns are high points of justice in Israel’s history. The city was meant to be a lighthouse of God’s justice to the nations. “Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa2:3). The imagery of harlotry in the Bible describes spiritual unfaithfulness. Jerusalem’s idolatry manifests as people serving the idols found in the Promised Land. Also, Jerusalem made political alliances with pagan nations like Assyria and Egypt. Spiritual adultery leads to violence in the land and bloodshed. The shedding of innocent blood (including abortion) is a grave sin, and it leads to God’s judgment. Lessons: Remaining faithful to God requires constant vigilance and commitment, resisting the temptations that lead us away from Him.

In biblical times, silver was a valuable metal, often used as currency and a symbol of wealth and purity. Silver becoming dross signifies a loss of value and purity. Dross is the waste material that is separated from metals during the refining process. This describes the moral and spiritual decay of the people of Judah. God speaks of Israel as dross in the midst of a furnace, indicating judgment and purification. This reflects the need for repentance and a return to God’s standards. Wine in ancient Israel was a symbol of joy, blessing, and abundance. Diluting wine with water reduced its quality and strength. This is a metaphor for the people’s compromised worship and moral standards, as they mixed true devotion to God with idolatry and injustice. Lessons: our spiritual lives can become corrupted by sin and compromise. We must seek God’s refining fire to purify our hearts. True faith, like pure silver, holds great value. We should strive for faith that is genuine and untainted by worldliness, hypocrisy or superficiality. This requires self-examination and a willingness to let God remove the impurities.

“Your princes are rebellious!” Spiritual adultery manifests as moral corruption and rebellion in Leadership. This shows a deliberate turning away from God’s commands and authority. Kings, princes and leaders were supposed to uphold God’s law and lead the people in righteousness. The rebellion seen in leaders manifests as making friends with thieves, wicked and ungodly people, as taking bribes to pervert justice for personal gain ignoring justice and truth. Corrupt leadership is major danger to any nation, church or family. Lessons: As Christians, we are called to pray for our leaders and hold them accountable to God’s standards of justice and righteousness. God’s heart is with the weak, the vulnerable, the poor, the fatherless and the widow. We must reject bribes or anything that damages our consciences!

Jehovah God, the Lord of Hosts, the God of the heavenly armies, the Mighty One of Isreal, gives His judgment! God is sovereign. He has the supreme authority and power to execute judgment on sinners. God vows to destroy His external and internal enemies. He refers to the pagan nations and even His people who have corrupted themselves with idols. God is patient but when rebellion persists, without any desire of repentance, God judges the sinners. This judgment shows God’s justice and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. It points to the redemptive work of Christ, who through His sacrifice, defeated sin and death, avenging the wrongs against God’s holiness. Lessons: God is the ultimate authority over all creation. His plans prevail despite human opposition. His patience has a limit. God never loses a battle. God is just and will address wrongdoing in His perfect timing. Do not avenge yourself. Trust God to do it in His time, according to His wisdom.

“I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” God promises restoration to a state of righteousness and justice. This promise gives hope and encouragement to all who suffer and are oppressed. The Judges are leaders who were responsible for maintaining justice and order in Israel. They were appointed by God to lead and guide the people, as seen in the Book of Judges. The counselors were advisors who provided wisdom and guidance to the leaders and the people of Israel. Lessons: there is need for wise and godly leaders in our communities and churches today. We should pray for and support leaders who seek God’s wisdom. Being called a “Faithful City” implies living in a way that reflects God’s character. We are called to be faithful in our personal and communal lives, influencing the world around us. Despite the harsh judgment, God’s call to repentance offers hope for restoration. We should seek God’s forgiveness and strive to return to His ways for revival to come! Amen!

DANIEL’S PURPOSE

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan 1:8). Daniel was a young Jewish man of noble birth who was carried in exile to Babylon. Daniel never returned to his homeland. He served Jehovah God faithfully in Babylon under four different kings. This is the story: the prophet Jeremiah warned God’s people to repent from serving idols and they should go back to God. But they refused. God judged them. He allowed the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Jerusalem in 605 BC. He carried to Babylon all the dedicated objects from the temple in Jerusalem. Many Jewish people were killed, and some were taking captive to Babylon. It was a sad situation for God’s people. God promised thru Jeremiah that after 70 years of exile, they will come back to Isreal.

The best of the young Jewish young men were kept working for the king. The Babylonians brainwashed them to fit into their culture and to forget their native country and their God. They did that in three ways: They forced them to quickly learn the Babylonian language. They studied the history of Babylon to admire how great Babylon is. Their names were changed from Jewish to Babylonian names. For example, Daniel (in Hebrew, “God is Judge”) was now called Belteshazzar (meaning “Bel protects his life”). The Jewish names reflected the character of Jehovah. Now, the names speak for Bel and other Babylonian idols. Finally, these young men were fed with royal delicacies and meat offered to the idols of Babylon. Eating food dedicated to idols was to spiritually connect them with the idols. Outwardly, everything around Daniel has changed to become a Babylonian. To continue to stay faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Babylon, was a miracle.

This is God’s command to His people. Daniel knew it and choose to obey it! “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods” (Exo 34:11-16). Selah!

For example, if you buy a bottle of juice and the seal is broken, you cannot drink it. It will cause sickness which is more difficult to treat than the pleasure of drinking juice. Daniel was concerned about contamination too, not of his body, but of his soul. Daniel loved and admired God’s Holiness. He wanted to be holy as God is holy. The meat given to them was appetizing, but that meat could poison his soul. God helped Daniel and he cooperated with God to stay faithful to the end. All these Babylonian techniques of brainwashing couldn’t change his heart. Why? Because “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Dan 1:8). Daniel and his friends were about 15-20 years old. They were not vegetarians. But they were concerned that the meat and the wine were offered to Babylonian idols. That is why Daniel asked the chief officer if they could abstain from eating meat and drinking wine. These young men were polite and humble. They were not proud. They did not do hunger strike, did not make noise or insult the king. They surely prayed, used wisdom and they got their request. Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and water for 10 days. At the end of this test, they look healthier than those who ate meat and drank the royal wine. Thru faith in God, Daniel won the battle to keep his moral purity.

LESSONS FROM DANIEL

Babylon is a type of the World’s system. The devil is the ruler of the world. The first test Daniel had to pass was to overcome worldliness. Later, he successfully stood during persecution. The world likes to mold us into its ways through isolation, education, identification and nutrition. It tries to educate us in all the ways of its kingdom so that we will think like everyone else does. The world wants us to forget God and to worship money and fame. The love of money becomes our identity and purpose in life. Most schools ignore God. The teachers tell their students that science is more important than faith in God. The world tries to feed us with a desire for a life of material luxury and no spirituality. Daniel was able to resist this Babylonian brain washing and stay true to God because he had a godly fear of God and trusted God during temptation. Lesson: If you cannot defeat the world system in your heart, you will fall during persecution. Purify your heart!

The world wants to change us. There is pressure to conform to the world system. If you don’t make up your mind to be pure in your heart, you will be corrupted by the world system. Daniel’s request to the chief official shows the courage needed to stand faithfully in difficult environments. Daniel’s integrity and respectful approach gained him favor, showing how living out your faith positively influences others. Wisdom and humility are the principal things to gain favor with men. To please God is more than food! The best food in the world cannot sustain your body better than God’s presence with peace and joy. Daniel’s story shows that when we honor God, He provides and protects. We also see that Daniel’s friends agreed with him to stand morally pure. It is important to have godly friends! Commitment to holiness is never easy. There is always a risk. The world does not appreciate you trying to be clean, better, or to be pure in the heart. The world did not, could not, understand Jesus. We must be like Jesus. Many Christians have lost the battle to keep their holiness because of their jobs and businesses. They just could not pay the price to be pure in a polluted world. Daniel purposed in his heart to stay holy. If you do not have a purpose, you will fall during temptations. Moral purity is spiritual protection. If you commit one sin, that sin will weaken you and you will commit another. But holiness protects your heart for the battles ahead. Daniel lived a long and successful life in the land of strangers. He was about 100 years old when he died. It is possible that he was castrated and became a eunuch to serve the King. That means Daniel never got married or had children. But he influenced many generations of believers, even us who read his book. Glory!

Daniel was taken as prisoner to Babylon. He lived there all his life. His body was in Babylon, but his heart was always with Jerusalem. There is no negative thing said about Daniel. He purposed in his heart to stay pure before God. Faithfulness is not exercised in big things. It is practiced in little things, mostly secretly. Most of the time, our usefulness in God’s Kingdom depends on one radical decision we have made privately, far from the eyes of the crowd. By choosing to keep pure in his heart, young Daniel has gotten a foothold of advantage in the kingdom of darkness. That foothold continued to increase with time. Daniel was humble. God rewards faithfulness and humility. Faithfulness and not wealth or fame is what matters in the Kingdom of God! Daniel was a hero of faith. Daniel chapter one is not written by mistake. God wants us to see that the exploits of Daniel and his friends were not accidental. Present exploits cannot happen without past faithfulness. Babylon is a symbol of the World, whose ruler is Satan. Jerusalem is a symbol of the Kingdom of God whose ruler is Jesus Christ. These two cities are always opposed. Jesus said: “You cannot serve God and Mammon”(Matt 6:24). At that time, Babylon defeated Jerusalem. This is a picture of the Cross, when the Son of God died on behalf of sinners. Question: in what city do you live? 

THE REWARDS OF HOLINESS AND MORAL PURITY
*You become a powerful witness to the Holy God. Your clear conscience makes you strong and courageous. It also strengthens your faith. Daniel stood alone in the den of lions and survived. His three friends came out from the fiery furnace unharmed. The testimony of Daniel touched many people. Among them were two great kings: Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, who in turn changed history.

*You live in divine health. Moral purity leads to physical and mental health. Daniel looked healthier than those who ate Babylon’s delicacies

*Personal Holiness builds an intimate relationship with God. God will help you every step of the way. He does not expect you to become holy without Him. He gives you power by His Spirit. Our Holiness gives glory to God!

*You live a legacy of honor to your children and descendants. You have the rare privilege to become a mentor to many. You have the personal satisfaction that you have runed the race well, and without regrets. You have pleased God to the end! Worship the Lord!

JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD IS MY BANNER OF VICTORY

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD IS MY BANNER OF VICTORY

Jehovah-Nissi is more than just a name of God. It is a banner or a flag that represents His power, presence, protection and Love over His people, in times of war and in times of peace. In Hebrew, the word “Nissi” means Refuge or Lifting. God’s name Jehovah Nissi can be translated as The Lord is my Banner of Victory or the Lord is my Exaltation, the Lifter of my head. In times of trouble and uncertainty, by faith, we raise the banner of Jehovah-Nissi and trust in His faithfulness and promise of victory. In Exodus 17:1-16, the banner called Nissi, is a Symbol of Victory. It was a reminder of how they won the battle. It was not Moses or Joshua, but it was Jehovah who won the battle. It was the Lord who led them into the battle, who protected them, that gave them the victory. “Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah! 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Ps 3:2,3). When a man suffers for a long time, in His mercy, God lifts up his head; He restores him back to his former status. Lessons: God does not need a great army or sophisticated weapons. God used an old man with hands lifted to heaven, praying and interceding, to defeat the great army of the Amalekites. God alone takes all the glory for all our successes and achievements in life. Jehovah Nissi is the revelation of Praying to Victory!

What is the background of the revelation of God’s name Jehovah Nissi? Three days after the passing thru the Red Sea, God’s people arrived as a place called Marah, meaning Bitter. After the miracle of changing bitter water into sweet water and the revelation of God’s name as Jehovah Rapha, the Israelites now rested at Elim, where they camped near a place of 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees (Exo 15:27). The word Elim means Trees, suggesting an oasis, a place of abundance. God led them here to experience rest and to be refreshed. In the Bible, numbers 12 and 70 both mean completeness, like the 12 tribes of Isreal. God’s people rested to have new strength for the journey ahead. Lessons: God’s leading in life passes thru periods of trials and periods of rest in between. Sabbath is a day of rest when we are commanded to stop working for ourselves and serve God. Jesus alone gives eternal rest. He is the Lord of the Sabbath. He said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). The call of Jesus is universal and personal. To answer this call, you need active faith. You must believe that Jesus is able to give you rest from the guilt of sin, from religious oppression, from worries of life.

After the rest at Elim, God’s people move on towards Mount Sinai. They start complaining of hunger, testing God again (Exodus 16). God provided quail for them to eat. He also started a new “diet”. He fed them with Manna, a supernatural food that looks like seeds on the ground. The word “manna” means “what is this?”. This food came with specific instructions on how to be gathered. God tested them to see if they obey Him or not. Most people disobeyed God’s instructions and failed His test again. The next leg in the journey was Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7). There was no water. God’s people started complaining again. Moses prays. God shows him a Rock. He tells Moses to strike the rock with the same rod he used to punish the Egyptians. Moses obeys and water comes out from the rock to quench the people’s thirst. Paul tells us that the Rock was Christ Crucified. “they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1Cor 10:4). This was a miracle, spiritual water provided by Christ Himself, who accompanied them in the wilderness. Lessons: We need the water of life Christ provides thru the study of God’s Word and prayer. We are never alone in the journey of life. Selah!

This is the background of the story, just before God’s people are attacked by the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). After the people experienced God’s care in providing rest, food and water in the wilderness, they now trust God enough to defend them in their first battle since they left Egypt. The Amalekites were “the first among the nations” to attack them (Nu 24:20). The attack was totally unprovoked. They were the descendants of Amalek, who was the grandson of Esau (Gen 36:12). The Israelites and the Amalekites were relatives. Both came out from Isaac. But they remained enemies to the end. The Amalekites were settled close to that area. They surely knew that God promised the descendants of Jacob to give them the Promised Land. The Israelites were not a direct threat to them. They were just passing by. But they still attacked them, especially the old, the weak, the women and the children. This was a cowardly attack. The people kept their baggage at the back. The Amalekites were looking for things to steal. In the process, they killed the weak people at the back. Spiritually, they attack “the strugglers”, those who have trouble in life, financial burdens, or emotional upsets. God vowed to punish the Amalekites. From generation to generation there shall be no mercy for them. “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!” (Deut 25:17-19).

God commanded His people: “Go out, fight with Amalek!” This was the first experience of warfare for ancient Israel. They had lived for hundreds of years as slaves, and God fought the Egyptians for them. Now they had to learn to rely on God as they fight their first military battle. Moses commanded Joshua to take some able men and fight the Amalekites in the valley. He will take the rod of God with which he did miracles in Egypt, go on a hill and lift it there. “So, Joshua did as Moses said to him”. This is the first passage that mentions Joshua. We find him obeying Moses. The name “Jesus” is simply the Greek way of pronouncing the name Joshua. It’s the same name. Joshua is a type of Jesus. He fought the enemies of the people of God. He led God’s people into the Promised Land.

Moses, together with Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill: They did this for three reasons: they could see their people, they could be seen by the people, and so that they could worship God and pray. Aaron was the older brother of Moses, and some think that Hur was Miriam’s husband, Moses’ brother-in-law. Joshua was fighting with the sword. Moses supported the battle behind the scenes, busy in prayer. Moses observed something strange: “And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed”. The fate of Israel in battle depended on Moses’ intercession because when he prayed Israel prevailed and when he stopped praying Amalek prevailed. Moses “held up his hand” in a position of prayer. This amazing passage shows us that life or death for Israel depended on the prayers of one man. As a young man, Moses thought the only way to win a battle was to fight directly (Ex 2:11-15). Now, Moses, 80 years old, lets Joshua fight while he does the most important work: pray for victory!!! Moses’ hands became tired. Supporting the battle in prayer was difficult. Moses needs help from other believers!! Lessons: We think fighting is hard work, and praying is easy work, but true prayer is also hard work. We too must “pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17). Paul described the ministry of Epaphras as always laboring fervently for you in prayers (Col 4:12). Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and literally supported his hands up in prayer. They became a team in intercession. Their help was successful: Moses’ hands were steady until the sun went down and the victory won. Though this was Moses’ work to do, it was more than he could do by himself. Moses alone could not win the battle of prayer. He needed others to come by his side to strengthen him in labor and prayer. Moses, with his stretched-out hands, is a figure of Christ on the cross, suffering for mankind, getting a complete victory over sin and Satan. Please observe that Joshua still had to fight. Praying Moses did not eliminate what Joshua had to do. The battle was won with prayer, but also through the usual work of the army, led by Joshua. Lessons: This amazing passage shows us the great importance of prayer. Life and death depend upon prayer. Often, God’s people are defeated today because they do not pray well about God’s work. God takes it personally when the enemy attacks us. Christ died on the Cross to give us the victory against sin, death and Satan. Selah!

The reason why God was so angry it was because Amalek was the first nation to attack Isreal. By fighting Isreal, God said they fight against Him. God continued His war against them but gave them much time to repent of this great sin of attacking their cousin, Israel. But they refused to repent. Based on the command to fight the Amalekites, God commanded King Saul to destroy them. He only obeyed partially. He left the king and others alive. Because of this disobedience, King Saul lost his throne (1Sam 15:2-9; 28:18). The Amalekites were destroyed during the reign of Hezekiah (1Chr 4:43). Some survived. Haman, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, during the time of Queen Esther, almost succeeded to destroy all the Jews but God’s hand stopped him (Esther 3:1). The Amalekites are a picture of Satan or our flesh. “Amalek” constantly battles against the spirit and must be struggled against until completely conquered (Galatians 5:17).

SLAVERY MENTALITY

One of the main reasons why God revealed Himself as Jehovah Nissi, was because He wanted His people to find a new identity. Before now, they had a slavery mentality. It was their mind set when they lived in Egypt for 400 years. That is why when challenges came on the way to the Promised Land, they were dreaming about going back, to eat the cucumbers in Egypt. Slave mentality is a stronghold that blocks the way to success. It is lack of freedom. Freedom is defined as the power, the right to think, speak and act the way you want to, without any influence from outside. No one controls your mind. The word ‘Freedom’ comes from a German word meaning “Love or Friend”. In other words, Freedom manifests as your choice to Love any Friend you desire. A slave is a person who is physically or mentally controlled by another person or a thing. Slavery mentality is a negative mindset of failure. It is a spiritual bondage. It says that you are born poor and will stay poor; you will never be rich or free; you just accept the suffering and quietly endure it having no hope for a change.

These are some ways to describe a slavery mentality:

*You listen too much to negative words about you. You have inferiority complexes about your looks, social or financial status.

*You obey too quickly what people tell you to do, without thinking or praying. You’re people pleaser. You are foolish with money and work!

*You are satisfied to be ignorant. You are not interested in reading the Bible or books to grow in knowledge. 

*You are bound to your comfort zone; lazy; you don’t take risks; you don’t dream of a better life, and you don’t do something about it.

*You don’t think. You allow others to think for you. You always help people achieve their dreams, but you have no dream of your own.

What is the solution? Surrender your life to Christ! Renew your mind! “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2). Pray that your mind will become the mind of Christ. Study the Bible and good Christian books. Change is not easy, but you must decide to change today. Set yourself free from a slave mentality and grow in knowledge of God. Let go of the losers around you. Look for successful born-again Christians. Look for a good spiritual mentor. Be active in serving God in the local church! With the Help of the Holy Spirit, you can do it!

In Exodus 17 we see an example of God’s power and man’s effort working together. Moses struck the rock, but only God could bring the water. Joshua fought, Moses prayed, but only God gave the victory over Amalek for His glory! God’s Word does not say: “Israel is my banner, Moses is my banner or Joshua is my banner”. Rather it was Yahweh-Nissi: THE-LORD-IS-MY-BANNER. We sometimes are even more aware of the power and the help of God when we work together with Him than when God does the work all by Himself. Jehovah-Nissi came after the battle with Amalek, not after the dead Egyptians at the Red Sea. The banner of Jehovah Nissi is a cure against pride that may arise after the victory. God’s people now needed to be humble and have a new identity. They are now more than conquerors. Jehovah Nissi, God is my banner of victory! Glory! Jesus is Moses seated on high and making intercession for people. Jesus is the Rock that was stroked and produced the water of Life. Jesus is Joshua. Jesus is our banner. He alone receives all the glory!

BANNERS AND FLAGS

The Romans used banners or flags at the front of their columns of soldiers to allow the enemy to see who they were walking into battle with. They would place a golden eagle on the top of the pole. These were battle flags, proudly displayed and held high, so their soldiers knew where the line was and if they were advancing or retreating. When the flag was flying, you kept fighting. If the flag started to move quickly to the rear, this signaled a retreat. Those fighting would rally to the flag, in the hope of regrouping, reorganizing, and re-engaging in the fight. If the flag fell, the soldier closest to it dropped his weapon, lifted the flag up again, and kept moving forward. The flag was more important than his weapon. The flag was the weapon! By honoring and carrying the flag men were inspired to continue fighting. The banner identifies the position of the man giving orders who, with voice, trumpet or drum, will tell them what they need to do. The banner is the ‘heart’ of the unit, not just the pride of the men defending it, but also the ‘souls’ of those who have died for the unit in the past.

“We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright” (Ps 20:5-8). The people celebrate the victory of their king during the war. Lifting banners is a public declaration of God’s presence with the army and that God granted them victory. Lessons: This king is Jesus Christ. We are His people. During life’s battles, we need to trust God for help and victory. We need to testify and celebrate the victory. We need to boldly proclaim our faith. We need to praise God individually and together, as a church family in corporate worship. Our God never fails! In Christ, our victory is sure! Amen!

In Christ, we are One Body under His banner called Love. “He has brought me to his banqueting place, And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me]” (SS 2:4; AMP). There is a party going on. The word “banqueting place” means “the house of wine”. Wine means celebration and joy. This banquet is similar with the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and His Bride, the Church (Rev 19:9). The Bride did not enter this place of joy by accident. It is Jesus, her Beloved, who brought her in. His banner over her shows her identity and belonging. It also shows His protection and His public declaration of Love for Her. The banner is a sign of an intimate personal romantic sacrificial love between the Bridegroom (Christ) and the Bride (the Church). Lessons: As Jesus is not ashamed to tell the whole universe about His Love for us, we too must publicly declare our Love for Him, thru praise and worship. The banner of Christ’ Love is an invitation to come to the eternal joyful satisfying life found in Him alone! Selah!

JEHOVAH RAPHA – THE LORD WHO HEALS

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

JEHOVAH RAPHA – THE LORD WHO HEALS

God introduces Himself as Jehovah Rapha, meaning “The Lord who heals” (Exo 15:22-27). Healing means freedom from injury or sickness It means restoration to health or being made whole. Sickness means to be unwell or weak, in body or in mind. God has power to prevent, heal, restore and make whole. Healing is a sign of God’s power and mercy. God’s personal name Jehovah means “I Am that I Am”, His covenant keeping name. In Hebrew, the Word “Rapha” means to heal, to cure, or to repair a wound, stich by stich. It also means Physician or Doctor. These are God’s promises: “I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you!”. God rewards our obedience with His blessings and punishes disobedience with His curses (Read Deuteronomy 28). God refers to the ten plagues when He punished the pride, disobedience and idolatry of Egypt. The 6th plague refers directly to sickness. God told Moses to take ashes and throw them in the air (Exo 9:8-12). These ashes will touch the bodies of all the Egyptians. They will produce painful inflamed boils that make the priests unclean. The magicians could not stand to perform their duties. Lessons: Repent of pride, disobedience and practicing idolatry. Spiritual sickness isolates the patient, making him unable to perform his duties or go to work! Selah!

GOD MAY PUNISH SIN WITH SICKNESS

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel… And God was displeased with this thing; therefore, He struck Israel… “ (1Chr 21:1-15). Satan, also called the Accuser or Adversary, moves King David to count the people of Isreal. In Hebrew, the word “moves” means to incite, to stimulate or to seduce. King David became proud. To have a census was not wrong, but behind the counting of men there was pride, the desire to trust man’s military strength and not God. Even committed people like David can fall into sin. God judges David’s sin. But David’s repentance releases God’s mercy. God tells David to choose for himself the manner of the punishment. This choice is a sign of God’s mercy. God gave David three options: 3 years of famine (like the famine during the time of Joseph); 3 months of being defeated by his enemies (a national disgrace); or 3 days of sickness (the sword of the Lord will come upon the land and bring a plague). David chooses the third option saying that the Lord’s sword is better than the enemy’s sword. As the Angel of the Lord stood above Jerusalem to destroy it, God stopped the plague, but 70,000 men of Isreal got sick and died. Sin has serious consequences!!!

Lessons: Satan actively seeks to lead God’s people astray. Be watchful against pride! Humble yourself and be quick to repent. Trust in God and not in your wisdom, money or strength. The sins of the leaders (parents) can affect the followers (children). God’s anger is not random. It reveals the depth of His holiness, the seriousness of sin, confronts disobedience and humbles the people. Yet discipline is never the end goal. God’s intervention to stop the plague shows that mercy triumphs over judgment. David’s repentance is central. When he sees the devastation, he humbles himself, confesses his sin, pleads for the people, and prepare a sacrificial offering to God. This is the principle that God’s wrath and mercy meet during true repentance. God’s Mercy shows His compassion, steadfast love, and an active desire to spare the repentant. Sin, even among those chosen and anointed, can provoke divine discipline. Yet no failure, however serious, places us beyond God’s mercy when we genuinely repent. God desires to maintain covenant fellowship with His people. Sin disrupts that fellowship but does not stop His mercy and healing. We must trust God even when He disciplines us. Trust in the mercy that always follows true repentance.

JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH RAPHA

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of salvation, healing, and restoration. His suffering and death on the Cross addresses not only sin but also all human suffering. Christ preached the Gospel and healed many who suffered spiritually or physically. “Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness” (Matt9:35). As the King of His Kingdom, Jesus healed spiritual and physical sicknesses and addressed social needs. Jesus healed the sick as Man, not as God. He healed the blind, paralytics, leprous and those possessed by evil spirits. Isaiah shows the healing power of the coming Messiah. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed” (Isa 53:5;AMP). “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed” (1Pet 2:24; AMP). Jesus is the Messiah Isreal was looking for. Jesus Christ is Jehovah Rapha. Christ willingly carried our sins in His Body, on the tree. Christ became a curse (Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13), so that we are saved. The Cross is central to Christian faith, symbolizing both the cost of sin and the gift of salvation. The Cross was real and painful! The purpose of the Cross is not only to be saved from the penalty of sin, but that by the power of the Holy Spirit, to become sanctified, holy like God. We die to sin and live for righteousness, no honor our Savior and King!

“By His stripes (wounds) we are healed (Isa 53:5; 1Pet 2:24). Christ’s suffering was also for the healing of believers. “Stripes” refers to the physical wounds inflicted on Jesus during His scourging, a common Roman practice before crucifixion. It fulfills the prophecy of the suffering servant. The word “healed” is both physically and spiritually, indicating the complete nature of salvation. This healing is a present reality and a future hope, pointing to the final restoration in the new creation. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). Like a loving caring Father, God will personally wipe away all our tears. In the new creation, all the effects of sin are removed. Lessons: we must trust God for the promised healing that will manifest either now, or in the future The present suffering is temporary, but God’s joy is eternal!

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

A miracle of God is an extraordinary or supernatural event that reveals a specific message through a mighty work. All the miracles Jesus did were to glorify God, help people, and prove that He was indeed who He said He was—the Son of God. At times, Jesus refused to perform miracles because they did not fall into one of these three categories: “When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So, he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer” (Lk 23:8–9). None of Jesus’ miracles were performed randomly, for entertainment or show. A message accompanied each miracle. Unbelief is a great hindrance. “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:58). Faith is a great asset. “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:23). Thru His miracles, Jesus proved His total authority over nature, demons, life and death. The four Gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus. Every miracle of Jesus had a specific purpose in God’s plan of salvation for humankind. Not all Jesus’ miracles are recorded in the Bible (Jn 21:25). Selah!

Sometimes, when performing miracles, Jesus called on God the Father. At other times, He acted on His own authority, revealing His own divinity. These supernatural acts of power drew people to Jesus, opening their hearts to the message of salvation, and caused many to glorify God. They demonstrated Christ’s absolute authority over creation and His limitless compassion and Love! The miracles of Jesus were intended to testify to His person, to His teachings, to generate wonder and to inspire faith in Him. Jesus could change the ordinary into the extraordinary. For example, Jesus multiplied few loaves of bread and some fishes to feed thousands. Jesus proved to be the Great Provider, who supplies food to those who are spiritually and physically hungry. Jesus healed many who were sick with incurable diseases like leprosy, and blindness. He healed the people’s bodies and souls. One of the greatest miracles was raising the dead. Jesus proved to have authority over death itself. This gives great hope to all who believe that Jesus brought eternal Life. The miracles are an invitation to come to Jesus, to listen to His words and to be changed. The miracles were performed in public. Time cannot delete the impact the miracles of Jesus have on mankind. Lessons: We must pray and have faith 100% that Jesus saves and heals us. Our lives must honor and glorify Jesus!

THE WOMAN WITH A BLOOD ISSUE (Mark 5:25-34)

This is a story of faith and hope for all who struggle with chronic issues. This unnamed woman can be anyone who has suffered for a long time. Luke, a doctor himself, tells us that she was bleeding (from her private parts) for 12 years. Looking for healing, she has spent all her money on Doctors but grew worse. She is now sick, weak, poor and desperate. Under the Levitical Law, a woman is unclean for as long as she bleeds. Whoever she touches would be considered unclean (Lev. 15:19-33). Bleeding is a symbol of death. An unclean person cannot go to the temple to worship God in public. This woman cannot marry and cannot have children. It was a very isolating and depressing life. This woman had twelve years of no hugs, no kisses, no handshakes, or shared meals. She couldn’t go out in public, couldn’t get together with other women to draw water from the well, and couldn’t go out to worship at the temple. Twelve years without human contact can affect anyone’s emotional state. Without exception, prolonged physical illness affects everyone physically, mentally, and spiritually. Patients with chronic sicknesses experience mood swings, anxiety and depression. They grieve the loss of their formerly good health. Sickness changes your appearance. You lose or gain weight. You look old. It affects your self-confidence. Because of pain and fatigue, you may have to change your job. That affects your finances. You withdraw from friends. It affects your families.

This sick woman was part of the crowd following Jesus. Faith made her a hero. She came from behind Jesus and touched the border of His garment. Immediately, her blood flow stopped. She said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” She felt in her body that she was healed. Jesus felt power leaving Him and searched for her who touched Him. She came and testified how she was immediately healed. These are the three steps that led to her healing: 1-She heard about Jesus and faith came. 2-she had faith that Jesus is Jehovah Rapha! 3-She had faith that Jesus can heal even her!!! Faith led her to action. She took the risk of entering the crowd as unclean. She could be stoned to death. But as clean, she will live. Her miracle saved her and healed her. Jesus became her Healer and her Savior!

Lessons: Chronic illness is a prolonged spiritual battle. God hears us and answers the moment we pray. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a spiritual battle to endure, learn, and grow from. Satan attacks not just your body, but especially your mind. He sends arrows of fear, doubt, inferiority complex, and confusion. He tries to convince you that God is too far from you, that He is too busy to have time for you, that you have sinned too much and you are not worthy to receive a miracle. He will magnify the sickness in your mind so that you become focused on it and forget God, the Bible, prayer and church attendance. You get confused. Your medical doctor becomes pastor and your pastor fades from your mind. Each one has his own path to walk. Not two spiritual battles are the same. You may feel isolated and lonely.  

These two characteristics describe this woman: Faith in God and persistence in seeking for healing. Chronic suffering requires “chronic” Faith! Selah! This woman spent 12 years going from doctor to doctor. She did not find the healing and she spent all her money on the doctors. She did not stop trying to look for an answer even when there were no results. This woman had true faith. God saw her as seeking Him and rewarded her. She somehow heard about Jesus, how He healed people. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. How did she hear the Word of God? Jewish parents were commanded to teach God’s Word to their children. Maybe her parents taught her as a child. Or maybe she heard it from others. But she knew about God. When she now heard about Jesus, somehow, she identified Jesus as Jehovah Rapha. Surely, The Holy Spirit did His special work in her heart. One thing is clear: she now believed that Jesus is her Healer. She knew that no man could help! Only Jesus! That is faith!

Her healing was complete. Jesus made her whole. Just as chronic illness affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually, she must be healed in all three areas as well. This is called complete or whole healing. Physically, she suddenly felt well. But Jesus completed the healing. Her scars of shame and inferiority complex were still in her. This woman has not touched and was not touched for 12 years. That is why, even as a healed woman, she was still afraid of people and was hiding in the crowd. She still had emotional wounds only God could see. Jesus did not want her to go away half healed. She was physically healed, but emotionally, the wound was still there. To complete her healing, Jesus calls her Daughter! This is Agape Love in action. He said to her: “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Lk 8:48; KJ). She was not just cured. She was not just healed, but she was made “whole”! To be made whole it means to be healed spiritually and physically. It is a total restoration of mind, body, and spirit. It is a call for the man to allow the rejuvenating waves of divine grace to permeate every aspect of his being. True wholeness is found in Christ, who can heal both our visible and hidden wounds. Today, Jesus offers us the same wholeness, inviting us to experience ultimate life in Him.

Lessons: God’s grace is more than we can imagine. When three factors converge (Desperate need + Persistent Faith + God’s Power) the miracle happens! Healing does not come from religion. It comes from an encounter, a touch of Jesus. Seek healing until you find it. Faith in God (Jesus) is the Key! Overcome all barriers against the miracle. Once healed, testify publicly how Jesus has healed you! We like to think that because we pray, we will be immediately healed. But that isn’t always the case. God alone determines the how, the when, and the why of our healing. As our creator, He is sovereign. We must surrender our lives to Jesus Christ and worship Him! Serve Him! Study His Word! Pray without ceasing! Attend church services! Have 100% faith that God hears and answers prayers! One day, when we least expect it, even today, the miracle shall come! God’s desire for us goes beyond surface-level healings. His love, grace, and mercy touch our emotional scars, offering healing for our broken hearts and power to forgive those who have hurt us. In pursuit of wholeness, we must first acknowledge our need to be healed by the hands of God, who is the only One who can fix what is broken. Do we want Jesus to make us whole? Are we ready to release the grip of our wounds and allow Him to mend our brokenness? Are we willing to entrust our brokenness to Jesus? Trust Jesus! He is calling: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).  “He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Ps 107:20,21). Worship the Lord!