“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal 3:1-5)

Can a believer in Christ become bewitched? The answer is yes! The Galatians were believers. Apostle Paul rebukes them for their foolishness and backsliding. To bewitch it means to cast a spell upon another, to use occult power to influence the thinking of another, to use witchcraft manipulation to control, captivate the emotions and overcome another person. When under an occult spell, the person is not able to concentrate on the Word of God and prayer. He has fallen in love with something else. There is a secret idol in the heart that provokes God to jealousy. He feels an irresistible attraction towards a person, a doctrine, an idea or an object. He is ready to lose all things, including his soul for the benefit of his idol. This is an internal backsliding. Christ is gone. All is left is hopeless and tragic religion. Life becomes miserable; there is no hope, no vision.

The question is this: WHO has bewitched you? The answer points to a person, to the devil!

If you suspect that you are under a spell of witchcraft, what are the signs that you should look for?

*FOOLISHNESS, UN-NECESSARY MISTAKES, DISAPPOINTING, BORING, UN-INSPIRING, UN-EVENTFUL LIFE

*NO MANIFESTATION OF ANSWERS TO PRAYERS

*REBELLION, STUBBORNNESS, PRIDE, UN-TEACHABLE, UNABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND OBEY THE TRUTH

*WORLDLY, SELFISH AMBITION, EASILY PROVOKED, STRIFE, QUARRELS, ADDICTED TO GOSSIP

*LOSS OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF THE CROSS, OF THE TRUE GOSPEL, OF THE BLOOD

*SPIRITUALLY DEAF, ITCHY EARS

*EASILY FORGETS THE WORD OF GOD, WEAK OR SLEEPY DURING THE PREACHING OF THE SERMON

*LITTLE FAITH, ORDINARY LIFE, NO MIRACLES

*BAD HEALTH THAT NO MEDICAL TEST CAN DETECT AND NO DRUGS CAN CURE

*LONG TIME SUFFERING, CHRONIC DEPRESSION, NEGATIVITY, ANXIETY, COWARDICE

*MYSTERIOUS PANIC ATTACKS

*TRUSTING IN SELF TO MAKE PROGRESS IN LIFE

* MY IDENTITY COMES FROM SECULAR SUCCESS, ADDICTED TO WORK, BUSY, BUSYBODY

*UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE ASSURANCE OF MY SALVATION; CHRONIC DOUBTS

*UN-SUCCESSFUL DELIVERANCE

*UNABLE TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away!” (Heb 2:1)

In Christ I declare:

I am eternally saved by grace, thru faith in the Blood of Jesus!

I trust and obey the Gospel of grace, which is God’s power unto salvation!

I am free from any occult spells, evil manipulation or witchcraft influence over my soul!

Jesus died to save my soul; to set me free from the guilt and punishment of sin!

I am free indeed!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1 Tim 2:11-15)

ETERNAL FASHION – SPIRITUAL FRUITFULNESS

Eve, our mother, was deceived by the serpent. God’s curse came on her and on her children. She shall be known as a victim of foolishness and deception. Her children will be born as sinners. Her daughters in particular will have the same inclination to be deceived. That is the curse of foolishness each woman is born with. This curse can be broken only for them who are in Christ.

In the scripture above a godly woman is described as spiritually fruitful. Her ministry shall be the visible badge of her professing godliness. Her children, both male and female, shall be the sign that she is indeed ‘saved’. It is not that her soul is saved by her children because salvation is only thru faith in Jesus Christ. But her children are the visible proof that she is no longer a sinner but a saint. She does not need expensive clothes and pearls. Her children round her table are her beautiful dress, and costly wrapper. Having this in mind, she can now choose the best fashion style to represent her as a woman of God, a godly wife and a mother in Israel.

A woman of God is described as submissive to her husband and to her elders. She has a quiet spirit. That does not mean that she is dumb or foolish. Quite the opposite! But her speech is a reflection of the work of grace in her heart. The law of kindness and wisdom is on her tongue. She is sober but not sad. She is moderate, avoiding all extremes. She does not attract attention upon herself, but directs all men to the Cross of Christ. She is clearly faithful to God, to her husband and to her children. All these internal qualities need to have an expression in her choice of clothes too.

You are not saved to be ‘an actor for Jesus’. You are a sign board for Him who saved your soul! You are a child of the King, a princess with God, a holy vessel for the Master’s use. May the deep work of the Spirit find its outlet of holiness thru you!

In Christ I declare:

I am a virtuous woman of God!

People shall listen to me and give glory to God!

People shall look at me and give glory to God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1Tim 2:8-10)

CLASSIC FASHION

We are called to ‘work out our salvation with fear and trembling’ (Phil 2:12). A true believer is to allow the deep internal work of the Holy Spirit to radiate in her speech, her general attitude and her body language. This visible change that has its roots deep in her spirit and it is to be seen even in the choice of clothes. The claim of invisible godliness should be wrapped in an appropriate style of dressing that complements it and not clashes with it.

For example, no man should have any difficulty in making an instant decision about my person. I should not make it hard for anyone to know my identity. There should be no clash between my speech and my appearance. I should not cause confusion between my claim of spirituality and my choice of fashion style. I should avoid any appearance of evil, deception or hypocrisy. If I desire to be a woman of God, then I should pray for wisdom on how to be one. The Holy Spirit shall be my teacher in all things; in my speech, my posture among friends and enemies, in my behavior at home and outside; even in my choice of clothes. It is true that God sees my heart but people cannot see it. I have to help others. I should dress ‘to match’. I am not speaking of colors or fabrics but there must be harmony between my spirit and my appearance. My flesh must submit under the control of the Spirit. If not, I am still under the curse of Eve who became a foolish woman and a deceived wife, in the midst of a wonderful garden of blessings. God forbid!

I am not here to prescribe a particular style of fashion. Different people like different things. My background, my culture and yours is not the same. I am not saying that we should all dress with uniforms. That is not freedom but legalism. There shall be no law in the design of dresses. But each one of us we need to pray and ask God for a fashion style that best suits, not our flesh, but the Spirit. Our dresses should complement and confirm our testimony and not ignore or clash with it.

This is a simple test: If you have not changed the way you dress from the time you were an unbeliever, to the time you became a religious hypocrite, and even until now, when you claim to be a true believer, then something is wrong!!! Selah!!!

In Christ I declare:

I am a virtuous woman of God!

I am a servant and an ambassador of Christ!

My words, my choices and my general appearance are in harmony!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham … help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey” (Gen 24:12 NKJ; LB)

We are climbing the mountain of the Lord. We are going closer to the place where He dwells. We are making progress. Right now our feet are standing on the level called ‘Goodness and Mercy’. We need to acknowledge more often our need for God. We need more holy confidence to answer the wonderful invitation of Jesus Christ, to come and meet Him at the Throne of grace. He is the King of kings, the High Priest of our profession of faith. The more we humble ourselves, the more often we shall depend of God alone to meet our needs. We need to grasp the awesome revelation of the meaning of a true servant of God.
The basic qualification for free access to the throne of grace is to be a servant of God. Apostle Paul described himself as a servant of God ‘entrusted with the secret things of God’. A servant must be faithful to his master. This faithfulness has to be proven in the furnace of affliction. There are many opportunities to betray your leader. God searches the motives for ministry. The faithful servant is rewarded and the traitor is punished. This is the eternal law of God than none can alter (1Cor 4:1-5).

A servant is by definition a man who takes care of the needs of his master. He is very sensitive to the needs of his lord. A true servant is never selfish. The purpose of his life and ministry is to detect the needs of another and to find the best solution, lovingly and faithfully. Because he is so sensitive to his master needs, he has easy access to the throne of grace ‘to find mercy and help in time of need’. In other words, a true intercessor has a servant’s heart; he finds it easy to pray for others, expecting miracles more often than the rest of us. Witnessing the power of the Spirit on behalf of others, his faith is strong and his joy complete. “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus” (1Tim 3:13)
The opposite of being a true servant is to be a proud man, selfish and rebellious. Rebellion is the greatest hindrance in finding the entrance to the throne of grace. A proud man may be in serious need, but until his sin is confessed and forsaken, no mercy shall be revealed.

ELIEZER OF DAMASCUS – THE IDEAL SERVANT
One of the best examples of a faithful and successful servant is Eliezer of Damascus. He was a true man of God and the servant of Abraham (Gen 15 and 24). He is like a son to Abraham and for many years he stood in a place to inherit all his wealth. But God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Isaac was born. In Genesis 24 we see Abraham as an old man having just one need: to find a wife for his son Isaac. He calls his must trusted servant, Eliezer and gives him the mighty assignment to go to his homeland and find a godly wife for his son. This is a most serious and difficult journey. Eliezer knows the gravity of making a mistake. Jehovah is the covenant God of his master Abraham and his descendants. Generations of covenant people depend on him to find the right wife for Isaac. That is why Abraham asked him to place his hand under his thigh and to swear that he will be faithful unto death to Jehovah’s leading in this journey.
The name Eliezer means ‘God is my helper”. He is the servant of Abraham. The word servant appears 14 times in the Book of Genesis 24. The word means a worker, a bond-slave or a worshipper. We shall study his character. The more we identify with Eliezer, the more we shall be blessed by God. What makes Eliezer a true, faithful and successful servant of God?
This brings into light the powerful revelation of the gift of a mentor. Eliezer was a servant of God and of Abraham. Do you have a mentor? Did God provide the gift of a spiritual covering for you? Do you trust your pastor with your destiny?

Eliezer is faithful to his master in all things throughout the journey. He is a man of prayer who knows the way to the throne of grace. He asks God for kindness and mercy on behalf of his master manifested as success in his journey.
He is a man who carefully listens to his master’s instructions. He could have said that he knows it all, based on his experience and age. But he does not depend on that. He wants to know his master’s will and obey it faithfully.
Eliezer is also a man of prayer. He prays for success and mercy. The two are combined. He knows that his journey cannot be successful without God showing kindness, mercy to his master Abraham. He knows that his need is great. He has traveled more than 500 miles. He does not know anybody there. He cannot be led by his senses in choosing a wife for Isaac. Even if he finds the right girl, he is not sure if the girl will agree to follow him, to marry a man she has not seen. So he comes before the throne of grace as a servant of God and of Abraham. He prays with boldness and faith. Even before he finishes his prayer, Rebekah comes to the well. The grace released for his need is immediate and all sufficient. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy:
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Is 65:24)
This is a great lesson for us: the mercy of God leads to a successful life journey! Selah!

In Christ I declare:
I am a servant of God!
I follow my mentor as he (she) follows Christ!
God’s mercy shall lead me to success in life!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1Tim 2:8-10)

Many people stumble when reading this very interesting passage in the Bible. It is not my intent to join them and argue about the Word of God. My desire is to help the true believers, especially the women of God. We shall pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will guide us into all truth that we may obey it and become free from the bondage of foolishness and empty religion.

Some people said that Apostle Paul hated all women; that is why he did not marry and said ‘negative’ things about them. But that cannot be right for the Bible is not his personal opinion but it is God’s Word. Let us now use our sanctified imagination…

THE LATEST FASHION –DANGEROUS HYPOCRISY

The passage above describes a church service. The men pray and worship freely with their hands lifted up to God. Suddenly there is a distraction…Some women come in dressed in such a way that they create a stir. The men now find it difficult to worship God. By their physical appearance, these women were able to distract and divide the attention of the worshippers. Ignorantly or not, they became a hindrance, a potential to be idols in the hearts of men and so hinder the true worship of God.

This is the truth: Women in general like to look pretty. This is how God created them. This is not a bad thing. Then what is the danger? How can we describe a foolish and dangerous woman?

According to the scripture above, she may be religious but there is a great division between her ‘professing godliness’ and her appearance. She says she is born again; she prays, sings and dances in the church. All this is good.  But she attracts unnecessary attention upon herself with her style of dressing. Her choice of clothes is according to what her flesh desires. In her thinking she is influenced by the world system, by what is ‘in vogue’. This worldly woman is like a professional actor; she has ‘a costume’ for each of the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21). She can dress like a prostitute, a nun, a millionaire, a beggar, an adulteress, a witch, a juju priestess, a queen, a prophetess or like a drunkard. It all depends on her moods. Other times she dresses and behaves exactly like a man, a sign of rebellion and inordinate ambition. All sinners are hypocrites; they are actors. They pretend to be somebody else, trying to deceive the simple.

The danger here is that the true Christian women start to imitate the worldly ones, in style of dressing, body language and behavior. But a true believer is always a bad actor. Soon, you shall see the clash. They give mixed signals. The godly profession of faith does not harmonize with their outward package. These women are deceived as Eve was long ago…

In Christ I declare:

I am a virtuous woman of God!

I arise and shine for Jesus!

My godly confession and my appearance harmonize perfectly!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Resentment kills a fool and envy slays the simple” (Job 5:2)

This is an African story I heard some time ago. Once upon a time there was a vulture that always envied his neighbor, the great eagle. Daily he looked up on the sky and saw the eagle soar effortlessly, higher than any other bird. The vulture tried to catch the wind that lifted up the eagle. But the same current of air injured him and brought him down. Even their feathers were so different…The eagle looked like a king and he looked like a beggar, or so the vulture thought…

Unhappy, angry and jealous the vulture went to ‘a native doctor’ to make ‘a medicine’ to kill the eagle. The man said that it is possible but he needs some of the vulture’s own feathers to prepare the poison. The vulture agreed and with his own beak he plucked some of his feathers. The medicine did not work and the native doctor said he needed some more feathers to make a stronger one. This went on and on. The vulture agreed and each time he left the shrine he had fewer feathers on his body.

Little by little, he became ‘naked’ and powerless. He then lost his ability to fly. One day, the eagle spotted a bird on the ground that looked like a turkey ready to be roasted. He quickly went down and carried the poor vulture to eat it for dinner. This is the sad story of a vulture that was foolishly envious of the great eagle.

What are the lessons? We are all born sinners. Envy is just one of the works of the flesh. Envy is a wicked thing; it means to desire what is not your own; to covet what is forbidden; to hate the success and blessings of others. Envy is resident in our flesh from birth. Envy kills its owner, it is suicidal. The child of envy is ungratefulness. An envious man is wicked and foolish, not thankful for the portion and destiny God has given to him.

Sinner, give your life to Christ! Come to the Cross of Christ for deliverance! Sin killed Jesus!  Envy has to be acknowledged as sin, repented of and replaced with peace, contentment and thanks to God. If not, it will be slow bitter poison to you, destroying any chance you have to be happy and fulfilled.

Oh…that we may desire to be grateful to God who freely, generously and graciously has blessed us with so many blessings in Christ Jesus!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I am grateful for salvation, for every blessings and gifts given to me by God!

I do not compare myself with others!

I thank God for the blessings given to others!

God is my portion and inheritance in the land of the living!

I am satisfied!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”… And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judg 6:12-16)

The story of Gideon is a favorite with many people. It encourages the weak, the foolish the timid. It calls us to be servants of Christ. God can change and use any man who is willing to pay the price for ministry.

This is the background of the story: the people of God abandoned the worship of Jehovah and went after idols. God judges their sin and allows the wicked Midianites to oppress them.

These are the descendants of Midian, Abraham’s son with Keturah. Her name means ‘incense’. The Midianites were related to the Jews but remained enemies to them. The name Midian means ‘strife, trouble’. They allow the Jews to plant and raise cattle but they attack just before the harvest to take it.

They represent the unsaved but religious people in the church. They cause division and a lot of harm in the congregation. These spirits do not die. They are merciless. They attack to steal the harvest, they cause miscarriages; they destroy the hopes gathered and the resources saved over the years.

We need the anointing and strategy of Gideon to prevail against them.

Gideon is an ordinary man, a ‘nobody’ but, Gideon is God’s choice. His name means ‘to cut down the enemy’. He has the name of a warrior but in reality, Gideon was not a soldier or an ambitious man. He was weak and timid. At the beginning, he was not sure of God’s call. But he was willing to change to be a leader, a servant of God.  Under God’s mighty training, little by little the holy chemistry of faith and courage began to manifest.  God needs to prepare His servant until his destiny begins becomes reality and the Word of victory comes to pass.

What is the application of Gideon’s story to us? What do I need to be a servant of God?

*I NEED THE FIRE OF GOD

First of all, Gideon offers to the Angel a blood sacrifice as a burnt offering. The fire of God comes supernaturally and consumes the sacrifice. A servant of God needs this fire in his heart and tongue. This fire is the anointing to feel the passion of Christ, to preach the Gospel with power from above. Fire alone purifies the heart and the motives for going into ministry. Nothing can replace it!!!

‘Lord, I need a personal Pentecost, a fresh fire, please…’

*I NEED THE PEACE OF GOD

The Angel introduces Himself as Jehovah Shalom. This is one of God’s personal names. Shalom is a great word. It means God’s greeting to man, the best blessings available to God’s children, the fulfillment of your dreams and your heart’s desire. In particular, it means peace, prosperity, wealth, health, the friendship and favor of God.

‘Lord, I need the peace that passes all understanding, please…’

*I NEED THE HOLINESS OF GOD

Holiness is God’s attribute to be different, special and pure. Holiness is the opposite of sin. Gideon has to be holy as God is holy. He learns to hate evil and all idolatry. In obedience with God’s command he destroys his father’s idol.

‘Lord, I need to be holy as You are HOLY…’

*I NEED THE PURITY OF GOD

Gideon is still not sure on how to proceed. There are still fears and doubts in his heart about the great plan of God for his life. He applies ‘the fleece test’. He makes two requests to God who called him to ministry. The first one is that fleece should be wet with dew and the ground around dry. The second is the opposite; the fleece should be dry and the ground wet with morning dew. The fleece is a symbol of man’s heart and the ground represents the world.  A wet fleece represents a heart filled with the Holy Spirit that is free from the dryness of the environment. A dry fleece is a symbol of the cross; the flesh is dead to sin. The heart is totally separated from the attraction of the world. This proves that God changes a man’s heart deeply.  He uses only a man who is free from the love of the world, from the influence of the circumstances around him.

‘Lord, I need to be pure in my heart and free from the attraction of the world around me…’

In Christ I declare:

The Lord is with me!

I am a mighty man (woman) of valor!

No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper!

I am free from the oppression of sin!

Circumstances around me cannot change my decision to serve God and to give Him all the glory!

I look only unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!

I have total victory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high [and defend you]; send you help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen you from Zion” (Ps 20:1; 2; AMP)

This is the promise of Jehovah, the Self-Existent One. He is the only Living God who needs nothing from outside His Person to exist eternally! This is His pledge:  to be with you when you are in in trouble; when you are under attack, alone and sick, abandoned or in pain….when lawyers abandon your case for ‘lack of evidence’… when doctors cannot find the source of your fever… when friends forsake you and the neighbors mock you… when you are ‘too old’ to marry and ‘too barren’ to have a child… when your need is greater than the supply… when hell has found your address and is ready to pay to kill… when prayer ‘does not work’ and the inspiration for singing has dried…

“Holy Spirit, please, come down!!!”

May God who wrote your name in the Book of Life remember you, help you, support, refresh and strengthen you! May God disappoint your fears, melt your doubts, arrest your sickness, fight against your oppressors and overturn the tables! May the power of praise in worship in Zion locate you and ignite a fresh holy fire in you! May the hand of God lift you up, far above the reach of all your enemies! May the increase of God’s kingdom include your home! May you see your children’ children! May you rejoice always, for God is with you!

To the Glory of God who can never fail!

In Christ I declare:

I have seen the downfall of satan!

My trouble shall become my testimony!

I shall always praise and worship the God of my salvation, healing and deliverance!

God is my ever present Help in times of need!

Zion is my hometown forever!

Revival is my portion!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Elijah came near to all the people and said: ‘How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him!’ And the people did not answer him a word.

So they took the bull given them, dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, hear and answer us! But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped upon or limped about the altar they had made…And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with knives and lances until the blood gushed out upon them…Midday passed, and they played the part of prophets until the time for offering the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice, no answer, no one who paid attention” (1Kg 18:21-29; AMP)

Let’s go on an imaginary trip to the top of Mount Carmel in Israel. This is the story of the mighty confrontation between the gods. Elijah was the only ambassador for Jehovah. On the other side were hundreds of false prophets representing Jezebel and the devil. Many people came ready for free entertainment. Then Elijah sounds the trumpet: No more doubting! No more ‘halting and limping between two opinions’! You make up your mind and chose who do you want to serve: Jehovah God or the idols! This battle is unto death! The winner takes it all! The loser shall die!

The word ‘doubt’ in this scripture it means to dance with a limp, insecure of your steps. Foolishly, the prophets of Baal picked up the challenge! The ‘burial ceremony’ of Jezebel has started! Her prophets started dancing ‘upon and around’ their altar calling for fire to come. Just imagine the scene! It was like an audition for cripples’ break dance in the woods. The music changed, the melody modulated, the drums changed the rhythm…and yet, nothing happen! When their dance did not gain any converts to the new ‘ballet school’ in town, they tried their final desperate ‘prayer’.

‘Blood must flow today…’ –they said to themselves.  So they cut themselves with knives until their blood stained all around. The spectators were speechless. The spectacle was much more they could have imagined. The ‘actors’ played the part of the prophets and sang and sweated and cursed and danced some more. This drama should have had ‘a happy end’, that was their prophecy…with all the effort and rehearsals for such a day like this…The reputation of Baal was at stake…The people of God, his slaves, may refuse to worship him in case of failure…All hell backed up the show that afternoon…demons were on high alert… emergency coven crew scratched their heads…but the curtain did not rise, the power generator refused to start, the lights blew off and the spectators killed themselves in a panic stampede…

There was no voice, not even an apology coming from the devil. His defeat was total….All people whispered:  ‘the idols are dead…our religion is a disappointment…’

Then evening came, time for the sacrifice at the temple.  The angels came around to see… Elijah prayed to God! It was a simple prayer to the God of the covenant. And the fire fell! Glory to God! El Anah Esh, the God who answers by fire has spoken! He is the only Living God! Jehovah is in charge! He calls the disappointed backsliders back to Himself again!

‘Come home son! Come home daughter!’

Dear friend, Come and pray and worship and sing and dance to the Lamb that was slain! None who trusts in the Lord shall be put to shame! There is no disappointment with Jesus! Praise His holy Name!

In Christ I declare:

The God of Elijah is my God!

Jesus is Lord!

The devil is defeated in my life, in my home!

Revival shall come to my city!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help…

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

(Heb 4:16; TM; NKJ)

We have arrived before the throne of grace. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest. The Lamb upon the throne is there to give grace and mercy for them who are truly in need. Until we understand the revelation of God’s mercy to sinners, we cannot proceed to the higher realms. This royal mercy is the anchor that connects us to the Lord, more clearly revealed when we stumble and fall.

Grace means unmerited favor from God. He sovereignly gives gifts and blesses His people in spite of their sins. Grace destroys all boasting of self and pride. Of necessity, the release of royal grace leads to worshipping the King.

Mercy is God’s sovereign kindness to a sinner who was His personal enemy. Mercy is God’s attitude of compassion to one who suffers the terrible consequences of his sin. In the absence of mercy, the sinner has to die a slow and terrible death, with no human cure available.

When in great trouble, look up and see the throne. Then you shall see His hand waving to you, calling you ‘Come higher…’ So ‘let us’ come boldly to the only place in the universe where we can find help, protection, provision and miracles.

Please observe…such royal blessings come only to them that are ‘in need’. The Lamb upon the Throne is not available to all in the same way. There are many people who suffer, are poor or sick. God has to qualify your status as a person ‘in need’. The word means to lack something vital, to be in want, poor and suffering unto death. Without the mercy of God, the need will kill you. Need is not a selfish desire or a superficial want. Often we confuse need and want, but God is never deceived.

For the release of mercy, we are invited to come ‘boldly’. This word is more connected with the speech. It means to pray with confidence and faith. It describes a free, open speech without any manipulation, religious hypocrisy or deception. For example, in the army, a solider has to ask permission from a senior colleague before he can speak openly. It is not enough to be in trouble. He has to ask for the favor of free speech. If permission is not granted, he cannot trespass his boundary and ‘speak up his mind’.

This type of desperate prayer of need is done when there is no human help available. Another example is this: in the Bible, all widows are not the same. They all suffer but not in the same way. Some have families who can help them. But some have no human help at all. They have been serving God for long time and now they are alone. These are called ‘widows in need’ and they alone have the right to come before the throne of grace to ask for help from God (1Tim 5). The promise is that mercy and grace shall be given in a supernatural way. This is how miracles happen.

“Father, I am sorry for the many years I have wasted deceiving myself that I can do it on my own. The truth is that I need You. I need Your mercy and grace. I need a fresh touch from You. I need Your power, Your resources and Your guidance. Without You I can do nothing. It has come to that…My need has brought me to You. Please receive me…I am Your child…broken and lonely, sick and wounded, O Lamb of God I come, I come…”

In Christ I declare:

“I need Thee, Lord, I need Thee, every hour I need Thee…Bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee…”

In Jesus name

Amen!

SUFFICIENT GRACE
“He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again”
(by Anne Flint 1866-1932)

“For a prayer life that grips the attention of the heavenly throne room is not built beneath calm, sunny skies but shaken during dark, sorrow filled nights. A serious prayer life is hammered out on the anvil of pain and anguish, desperation and despair, when hope hangs on a tattered thread and all human resources are gone. There and only there does the answer to the request come. Here is where the vital prayer life commences which gains the cupped ear of the Almighty as he leans over to listen more intently to the pathetic sobs and anguished heart cries which in desperation reach out for his robe of righteousness to grab hold of and not let go until the answer is attained. To become a person of prayer is to be a shrill, holy note which continually rings the ears of angels and rattles the gates of glory.
Listen, friends, a true prayer life is not borne out of comfort and prosperity, but through trials and adversities. In your leanness, you will learn to lean upon him. Through your rolling on stormy seas, you will learn how to effectively storm heavens portals for deliverance. When friends fail, disappoint and desert you, you will seek and find favor with your faithful friend Jesus. A desperate life of prayer shakes the gates of hell and influences our generation all for the glory of God. Do you believe that? I do. A strong prayer life will make you fear God and not man.
Oh friend, I beg you to fall to your knees and confess your lack of prayer to God. Be honest with him and ask him to help you redeem the time in your generation to show you the foolishness of your favorite pastimes and the wasted time consumed on them. It is time to put away our idols and lay hold of God for this lost and perishing generation of hell-bound sinners and hell-bound unconverted church members.
Dear brother pastor, if you want power with God and influence over man, go to your knees and stay there. Ask God to make your very bones afire for him to where you can ignite others with your holy life of prayer and powerful preaching. This is a call to the pulpits in our land to take back this land for God and for our children and our grandchildren. Go to your knees, church, fall on your face, beg God above heaven and earth on our behalf and pour water upon this dry, thirsty land of ours today.

Let us pray…
O Great God, you are the Ancient of Days. You are Holy and your are worthy to be praised. Give us the grace, O Lord, to seek thy face in desperate and prevailing prayer. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit to pray in the Spirit so that kingdoms will be shaken for thee. O Great God, forgive us for our selfish enterprises, our wasted time spent on useless things, things that don’t matter, things that you see as dust in light of eternity.
Help us, Lord Jesus, to be persons of prayer. Mighty persons of prayer that you empower to perform your purpose. Help us to shake the very gates of hell with such power that we push back the darkness in our communities and usher in your presence in a Holy Ghost revival that will grip this nation with the awful solemnity of your presence.
Come, O Lord, and take the field in a great revival of religion, I pray. Come pour your Spirit upon this dry and wasted land. Come save our children. Come save our grandchildren. Come, Lord Jesus, and once again permeate our sanctuaries with your presence and your preeminence. I pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen”
(from a sermon by E. A. Johnston)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep” (Jn 10:11-13)

There are only two types of pastors and leaders in the church: the true and the fake. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, who owns the flock. He died so that He can purchase the flock by His own Blood shed on the Cross. He loves them passionately and intimately. He knows and calls each sheep by name.  He guides them to good places of pasture. He feeds them. He protects them from all attacks from within and without. The Good Shepherd has scars on His Body to prove that He fought against the wolves that attacked the flock. He is the Eternal Overseer of our souls! Praise His Holy Name!

A hireling is a selfish pastor who works just for money. That is his main purpose for doing ministry. When the hireling is the pastor, the picture is tragic. The congregation is starved spiritually. The hireling does not care for the spiritual needs of his congregation. The sermons are watered down. He does not preach the true doctrines of the Bible. He does not rebuke sin. He talks stories and quotes mostly from other books. The sinners feel ‘at ease in Zion’; there is no fear of God, no desire to repent of sin. The hireling does not pay the price for the intimate communion with God, for holiness, for spiritual maturity and character. He does not invest time and energy in the ministry of prayer and the Word. He is interested more in the social status and the bank accounts of his congregation than in their souls. The evil agents of the devil come and go freely among the brethren. They attack the true believers with slander, hurt and scatter them. The hireling pastor just excuses these evil attacks and does not really stop them. The hireling manipulates the congregation emotionally to give more money. There is no unity of the Spirit between the pastor and the people. This invisible division hinders the move of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of the supernatural. The miracles are absent. The worship team looks confused, lonely, unprotected and isolated spiritually. There is no clear vision of true worship. Nobody wants to join the choir for fear of exposure, mockery and unexpected loss. This is a sad but real picture.

I am so sorry if you attend such a church…

This is the wonderful picture of the ‘ideal’ church. All true pastors are ambassadors of the True Shepherd. They take care of the congregation in His name. They pay the price for godliness and spiritual maturity. They invest time and effort in the ministry of prayer and the Word. They feed the flock by preaching the correct doctrines of the Bible. They pray for their congregation. The people feel covered and safe under the true leader. The congregation grows in faith and in numbers; spiritually and materially. The Word preached from the pulpit comes with the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The worship team is committed and zealous to serve God. Many in the congregation desire to ‘join the choir’. People freely and cheerfully pay their tithes and the offering basket is always full. The evil religious people, the false brethren and the agents of the powers of darkness are always disappointed by their lack of success in such a church. They have just one option: to repent of evil or leave the church. The visitors are in awe at the peace, joy, order and freedom evident during the services. They also observe the unity of the Spirit between God, the pastor, the elders and the congregation.  The Holy Spirit moves unhindered and miracles happen often.

Blessed are you if you attend a church like this!

In Christ I declare:

The Lord Jesus is my Shepherd

I shall not want…

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“There is none who does good, no, not one.

Their throat is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit;

The poison of asps is under their lips…

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom 3:12-14)

Apostle Paul quotes these two Psalms (14 and 53) in the Book of Romans chapter three. Just in case the Jews or the religious people thought that they are better or wiser than the foolish pagans, here they are convicted by the same words. When it comes to sin, the religious Jews and the pagan Gentiles stand condemned shoulder to shoulder. They all need a Savior. They all need salvation which is found in Christ alone. Here in the Book of Romans the picture of the Biblical fool is even more tragic. The sin of foolishness has reached its climax.  All unbelievers are called ‘unprofitable, deceitful, full of bitterness, dangerous criminals, destructive and miserable…’ They are enemies of God, strangers to truth, to all goodness, mercy and peace. They totally lack the fear of God which is the seed, the beginning of wisdom. They are wicked, foolish and dangerous doubters.

Do not excuse foolishness! Fools are not ‘innocent and mild’ sinners. When the fool says in his heart that ‘there is no God’ he denies all things pertaining to God. The fool ignores and opposes the Word of God, the Kingdom of God, the servants of God, the Holy Spirit, even the very presence of God that gives him breath. The fool cares nothing about cursing, slander or mocking all God’s children. They cause much harm thru their selfish, deadly words. Their main weapon is their mouth; they hurt and try to destroy the faith of many with their bitter, poisonous words.

Have you ever experienced the provocation of a religious fool? You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to escape unharmed. Their words are like fiery darts. You need to put on the whole armor of God, especially the shield of faith to quench such aggressive foolishness coming from ‘a believer’! Selah!

“Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both’ (PV 27:3)

Do not underestimate a fool’s mouth…Do not think that a fool is funny…Fools deny God because they refuse to worship and to give Him the glory! May God have mercy on them and us all!

In Christ I declare:

I reject all foolish and empty arguments!

I put on the whole armor of God!

I am filled with the Holy Spirit!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands” (2Tim 2:22-26; TM)

This is a promise I claim when praying for a backslider. This is the truth: no man can repent in his own strength. Salvation is of God alone! There is no need to manipulate salvation or deliverance. It never works that way. It is not by might, not by power, not be shouting, not by quarrelling…but by the leading and the anointing of the Holy Spirit who alone convicts of sin thru genuine godly sorrow. It is easy to become frustrated and disappointed as an intercessor or a teacher. That leads to foolish dangerous impatience that destroys much good in the ministry of a mentor. Just make a vow before God that no matter the situation, in all circumstances, you shall never lose your temper and you shall never quarrel with your students or with your children. A servant of God never quarrels! That is a loser’s method! I promise: you will never regret this vow of power, love and self-control! In times of pressure, when evil people expect you to argue and shout, you shall remain cool and show self-retrain! These are the marks of a mature believer, totally submitted unto his God.

The unbeliever or the backslider may look free, but they are in fact kidnapped, trapped by the devil. They cannot say what they want to say. They cannot go where they want to go. It is not just that they are not willing, but for as long as they are trapped and deceived by the evil one, they are unable to be free. They are ensnared by sin and by the devil. They are ‘brainwashed’ to cooperate with their kidnapper and work for him. This is a real bondage that needs real deliverance, not just talk!

As an intercessor, pray that you may see the demon behind your people. Pray that you may know the difference between their voices and the voices of the interfering demons! For as long as they remain in bondage, they shall manifest ‘a split personality’ that can deceive many with opposing ideas coming from the same mouth.

You need to pray for the strength, patience and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to be faithful in prayer and in the ministry of a teacher of the Gospel… You cannot know how long this sacrificial ministry may last before there is a breakthrough!  Pray for your ‘student’ and continue to teach him, by words and actions! As a teacher, as a husband, as a wife, as a parent, never give up on your ‘students’! Even if they are the most stubborn, rude, proud and foolish people you know, continue to pray and teach them the truth! The Gospel of Christ Crucified…the power of the Blood…that is the truth! That is the power able to destroy all bondages! Learn to forgive when there is need for that but still move on with prayer and teaching! Is deliverance or healing still needed? Then have faith and press on…

Look ahead and see this vision: The devil loses more and more ‘errand’ boys and girls!!!

It does not matter how many times I failed or how many times I lost a good opportunity for ministry. At last, we made it! Against all odds, we made it! And the wonder is this: I made it not alone, but with my students and my colleagues, as a congregation, as a fellowship, as a church, as a Body… together forever! Only God can take the glory for such deliverance, for such a long awaited exodus! Now I am sure that revival will spread to the whole city! I believe!

I cannot describe the satisfaction, the joy of victory and success once God grants freedom all around…

It is not easy, but oh…it is all worth it!

In Christ I declare:

I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me!

I pray always!

I patiently teach the Word of God to all who have ears!

My whole family is saved and delivered!

None is left behind!

I believe!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

When the Lord restores his people,

let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad” (Ps 14:7)

King David wrote Psalm 14 as a young man. Much later he wrote Psalm 53. Both Psalms are almost the same, word for word. It means that over the years David confirmed his first assumption that fools may be religious but they do not really believe in God. A reprobate is a fool. Each word in the Bible is to be taken seriously, but when God repeats them twice, it is a warning to give great attention to the truth revealed there.

The fool is described as a dangerous man. His life is reckless and wasteful. There is a danger in becoming too friendly with a fool. The world is fascinated with foolishness. The sinner hates God so much that he is willing to become a fool.  This fashionable mysterious foolishness is connected with witchcraft.

But the end of both Psalms is filled with hope. In this world of sin, with so much pain and sorrow, we are called to rejoice when God comes down to free His people from the grip of the godless fool. This is a call to prayer, to repentance leading to salvation. Freedom and deliverance is the reward for them who pray for revival in the land. The release of the backsliders from the prison of doubt and foolishness is compared to an exodus from a deadly bondage. There is hope! We shall continue to pray and trust God!

In Christ I declare:

The unrepentant godless fool has failed!

I am saved!

I am delivered from the spell of foolishness!

Revival is here!

In Jesus name

Amen!

THE BIBLICAL FOOL (2)

“The fool has said in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt,

They have done abominable works,

There is none who does good” (Ps 14:1)

The word ‘fool’ in Hebrew is ‘nabal’. It means someone who is stupid, disgraced, wicked and worthless, a loser, a failure, withered, wasted and coming to nothing.  A fool is a corrupt, wicked, evil and ‘filthy’ man. It means someone who made a mess out of his life, who is confused, aimless with no focus or vision for the future and who eventually destroys himself.  He claims to be wise but he understands nothing. He does not understand God, life in general or even himself. He is ignorant of the fact that there is a spiritual realm behind this visible world. He does believe that there is nothing good in the natural man; that man needs a personal Savior. He is ignorant that there is a heaven and a hell.

A fool is called an evildoer, a worker of iniquity; a man who has gone astray from the good path prescribed by God to all men, that they may be saved.

A fool is ‘a mad man’, dangerous to all but especially to the believers. His lack of vision, his spiritual blindness, combined with his recklessness makes him dangerous indeed. His hobby is to persecute the believers, to make them fall or backslide. Then he is happy and encouraged to continue in his foolish path of destruction. Like a hunter, he has perfected the skill of killing the faith of many. He frustrate the plans of the poor, he lacks mercy and goodness in his relationships with others. A fool is proud, un-teachable and unwilling to become humble.

A fool may be religious. He may go to church regularly, but in his heart, in his spirit he denies God. He may say it with his mouth that he believes in God, but there is no sign of fruitful faith manifesting in his life. He does not seek God. He does not study the Word of God. A fool does not pray and mocks all them that do. A fool is not interested in God’s opinion. He has his own ‘pet’ ideas and he is not willing to change. He does not read the Bible but gathers his information thru the media or thru gossip.

A fool is a proud man; he thinks that he can be good without God. He thinks that if there is any heaven anywhere, he can arrive there by his own goodness and self-righteousness. A fool thinks that he can save himself from any danger, trouble or hell.  

A fool is a ‘disappointment’ to God and men. God is looking down to see if He can be gracious to any on earth, but all He sees are proud, rebellious wicked fools. Like Noah’s dove, grace finds no place where to land her feet and rest. All God sees on earth are reckless fools who ignore and fight Him. Therefore, God has no other option but to judge their sin. Suddenly, fools start to tremble. The same fool that ‘says in his heart that there is no God’ is the same who is now filled with fear and confusion. He is disappointed in the fake protection of his own unbelief but too stubborn to let go of it. He is jealous on the godly man and covets his peace. But he is unwilling to humble himself and cry to God in repentance. And so, he still remains a fool…

This is a simple question: are you a fool?

The lesson is to pray for wisdom and discernment, to detect and to avoid a fool. Imitating a fool, that is a dangerous path, for you become a fool yourself (PV 26:4). Religion does not help a fool become wise. The only hope for a change is found at the Cross of Christ.

I was a fool for many years. I could not have believed the truth if it was not for the conviction of the Holy Spirit. My unbelief in God made me a fool. My education could not change the truth that I was a fool. I tried to defend my position claiming ignorance about the Spirit realm, but all my excuses proved to be useless. God judged me based on the amount of light that came on my way. The stars in the sky blinked their testimony, that there is a God who made them all. I had no other option left than to join them in declaring that God exists! From everlasting to everlasting, God is God! Independent from people’s opinions, separated from their sin and foolish talk, the Holy Living Creator of the heavens and the earth is God! Jesus is Lord! May my soul desire the dwelling of God and the fullness of His Spirit!

In Christ I declare:

I reject foolishness and evil!

I have the mind of Christ!

Christ is my wisdom and my righteousness!

I daily grow in favor and in wisdom with God and men!

Eternal joy is my inheritance!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,

As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the Lord our God,

Until He has mercy on us” (Ps 123:2)

As we climb higher on the slopes of Holiness Mountain, we are reminded that we are servants of God. The word really means a bond slave, the property of the master. A slave has no rights at all, no money, no inheritance, no identity and no purpose apart of his master. The master went to the slave market and bought the slave he wanted with his own money. From the moment of the transaction, the slave belongs to the master. He has the right to kill him or to adopt him as his son. The slave depends on his master for everything, including life itself.

The household slaves were trained more rigorously than the rest to please their master. They had to learn the sign language of the master, like they are deaf and dumb. The master used his hand to talk to them. He does not have to shout and tell them what to do. His hand ‘speaks’…“Come, go, wait, bring water…” all these are the signals of the hand. A slave is to understand his master’s desire thru the movement of his hand. Like the conductor of the orchestra, all eyes are on his hand that holds the baton. Any misunderstanding of the signal and there is rebuke and punishment. But together, under the hand of the King, the throne room is orderly, quiet and perfect. The visitors wonder and stand in awe saying: ‘Your Majesty, your slaves are greater than our kings on earth…’

The attitude of a slave is that of patiently waiting and watching. His attention is directed only to a particular ‘object’: the hand of his (her) master. This is a spiritual posture, a skill that comes with time, with experience, to them that pay the price for it. There is need for spiritual exercise, diligent study of the Word of God, meditation and prayer. Like good sweet wine, it takes a long time before you are able to stand on the slopes, dead to any danger to yourself and fully focused on the hand of your Master. This is a picture of deep communion between the soul of the believer and His Lord, Jesus Christ.

The word ‘hand’ in Hebrew basically means an overflow of power, resources and sense of direction. In particular it means the ability to pay off any debt. Other meanings are spiritual connection, fellowship and ordination for ministry.

Spiritually speaking, I am a bond slave of Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is my God. My duty and privilege is to look unto Him alone for everything: for my wealth, health, prosperity, promotion, power, identity, sense of direction, fellowship and anointing for ministry. I have to learn to respect, trust and understand His hand, the the leading of His Holy Spirit. Even in the absence of a particular Word from His lips, I am supposed to know what to do for Him. In my fellowship with my Lord, I will be quick to understand His heart and move at His bid. ‘Baby’ Christians need loud commands and even whipping on their backs before they obey their Master. This is the necessary training to serve the One who is Holy. But I rejoice in this wonderful training of a household slave. I rather be a slave to Jesus than a prince in the harem of the devil. After many mistakes, overcoming impatience and much distraction, I now learn to focus on the Hand of my God. My only business is to wait for Him. When ‘on duty’ in the throne room, I am not concerned with the status or needs of angels or men. My destiny is to serve Jesus Christ. I pray daily that I may willingly and gratefully receive this blessed portion for my life, to be His slave.

“Without Me you can do nothing…” I can nothing on my own. That is why I look at His hand that can do all things. His hand is powerful because he is God. His hand is rough because He came as a servant to earth. His hand is scarred because He died for me. For saving my soul, I have no words to express my gratitude, than to be His bond slave forever!

His royal hand is filled with compassion and healing and blessings. In the throne room people come and people go. There are greetings, choirs and dancers, recitals and poems…noises and thundering…But my eyes are steady on the face of my master, on His hand of mercy… I do not care about Queen Sheba’s gown…I do not observe the jewels of King Herod’s crown…I ignore Naaman’s gifts and garments…I close my eyes to Ahab’s entourage…I do not blink sighting Goliath…kings and kingdoms shall pass away…even the cherubs, they look like plaster on the wall to me…for I have eyes only for my Beloved Master, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lamb upon the Throne, waiting for His hand of mercy to move upon us…

’Here I am O Lord, send me…’

In Christ I declare:

I am a bond servant of my Lord Jesus Christ!

I am satisfied!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The fool has said in his heart,

‘There is no God’…

They have all turned aside,

They have together become corrupt;

There is none who does good…

No, not one!”  (Ps 14 and 53)

DEFINITION

The world defines a fool as someone who is not intelligent, who cannot think fast, lacks wisdom , common sense or a good memory; one who is a failure, makes a lot of mistakes, unprofitable, still poor even after much work, failing all his exams, proud ‘for nothing’, rude and lazy. In the natural, foolishness is something associated more with the intellect than with the state of the spirit. Men believe that good education and hard work can eliminate foolishness from the mind of a child. But in the Bible, the definition is different. Foolishness is a spiritual sin. An unbeliever is called a fool. Any man who denies the existence of God, who is not born again, who resists the Holy Spirit, who rejects Christ as his only Savior, that man is a ‘Biblical’ fool. Any man, no matter how educated, no matter how wealthy, but ends up in hell, he is a fool. He may be very intelligent, have a doctorate degree, be successful in business and famous in the world, but if his soul is not saved thru Christ, then he is a fool. Selah!

EDUCATED FOOL

In his heart the fool says ‘there is no God’. Here, the word ‘God’ in Hebrew is the word ‘Elohim’ which is one of God’s names. The Bible does not defend the existence of God. It takes it for granted that the reader is a believer. God introduces Himself in the Bible as Elohim. ‘In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth…’ (Gen 1:1) Elohim is a more general name of God, presenting Him as the Creator and the Sustainer of the Universe. A fool does not believe that the Person of God, Elohim, created the universe just by the Word of His mouth. A fool lacks the true saving faith, the belief the God created all things out of nothing. He has a sick imagination thinking that the universe was made by itself.

The scientists say that the observable universe is about 46 billion light years in radius and it is expanding continuously. It is made of all the objects in the ‘sky’ and the space in between. Most of the scientists in the world today have approved the idea that the universe was made by itself, thru a cosmic explosion long ago. They call it the ‘Big Bang’ theory. They say that about 13 billion years ago, the universe was in an extremely hot and dense state and began expanding rapidly. Later it broke into pieces that began to cool off. This they say is the origin of all the planets, stars and galaxies. They do not believe in the existence of a Person called God who planed and created all things, by His power, will and word. This is the truth: all men who believe in the ‘Big Bang’ theory, these are ‘educated’ fools.

The same scientists believe that man is a ‘cosmic mistake’, coming out thru evolution from molecules. They say that we evolved out of some monkeys. Therefore, any man who believes and teaches the Darwin’s ‘evolution theory’, the same is a fool.

WISE BELIEVER

But this is the eternal Word of God by which we are saved:

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Heb 11:3)

A true believer’s faith is an ‘understanding’ faith. Saving faith drives away the foolishness of the world and makes us spiritually intelligent and wise. By the power of the Holy Spirit we believe that the universe is the creation, the hand work of God. A Christian has no doubt that God, Elohim, made the heavens and the earth; that there is nothing in this universe, visible or invisible that came out on its own by accident. God is Spirit and He created all things. God spoke the universe into existence. This belief is called saving faith or godly wisdom. The fool denies God the creator and therefore he refuses to worship Him. A fool thinks that he does not need God; that he is able to be ‘a god’ to himself. But this foolishness is sin; it has no excuse, for the Creation is made in such a way that all things point to God and demand to give Him the all the glory (Rom 1:20)

LASTLY

Maybe you ask, dear reader, how is it that I know so much about foolishness? This is because once upon a time I was the greatest fool myself. I was an atheist until I became 32 years old. I believed in the Big Bang and Darwin’s theory. I too said in my heart and even with my lips: ‘there is no God’…I said that heaven and hell are the imaginations of men…I said that prayer is a waste of time…I said that faith is the deception of the illiterates and ‘religion, the opium of the masses’…I mocked at the faith of the Christians and ignored their efforts’ to save’ me…I was a confirmed communist, as many of my people in Romania, where I was born…These lies were injected into my mind since I was a child…Unbelief was my religion and doubt my philosophy…until the day…that holy day (I can’t think of it and not weep…)… when the grace of God was manifested to my wretched soul…I gave my life to Jesus Christ…O, blessed salvation human words cannot describe…’Amazing Grace, how sweet thy sound, that saved a wretch like me…I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind, but now I see…’

In Christ I declare:

I am saved forever!

My foolishness is removed; faith came in, peace and joy followed!

I shall be forever grateful!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

“And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there” (1Cor 7:17, TM)

There are times when I wished I was somebody else, more beautiful, taller, fairer…

There are other times when I wished I lived in a beautiful country with green parks and flowers…

There are times when I wished I had the gift to sing or dance or talk like an angel…

Sometimes work is just a headache and the office colleagues all the wrong people…

There are times when married, I wish to be single and free…

There are other times when single, I wish to be married, at any cost, a dream wedding to a stranger…

Often I wish I have more money, more friends, more opportunities to travel, get lost, in the world…

Sometimes I wish to be young again, no wrinkles, no diabetes, no need for hearing aid…

What do I do with this basket full of impossible dreams and fading wishes?

All I have is a long boring today that nobody wants, even if for free…

New questions come to the surface…

Even if nothing changes…Can I find favor with God right here, right now?

Is it really true that going away to a fantasy land will make me the happiest in the world?

The Wonderful Counselor whispers a strange, but fresh word to me:

Stop looking around…look up and see Him who holds your breath…you are not too far, you are not too deep…you may be living in the desert, in between two rocks, in places nobody wants to visit, places absent from a decent map…but still… this is God’s earth, and you are here right now, for such a time as this…

If you are a wind, then blow…

If you are a rainbow, then shine…

If you are cricket, then jump…

If you are a flower, then bloom…now…in this very spot…do not wait for another day…do not wait for the rain…do not wait for men to find you…bloom where your roots have found favor with the ground…for the pleasure of the Holy Gardner alone…for He alone is worthy of all praise, beauty and lonely labor of love…