Persevere under trial

You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out... (Deut 7:19)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (Jas 1:2) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1Pe 1:6) But out of the most severe trial, your overflowing joy and your extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (2Co 8:2) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. (Jas 1:12) Rejoice and never give up on Him. Hear Him!

The night is over

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, *'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.' " So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.' " Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, **he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need. And Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning." (Exo 16:11-19)

* For the night is now over and the morning has come... we shall eat meat (live by flesh) no more but be filled with the living bread (live by the Spirit) from heaven and see the glory of the Lord manifest.

** As it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2Co 8:15) For the Lord wants us to live by faith and not by sight, we must trust Him for tomorrow He shall continue to supply. Hear Him!

You are already rich!

Joseph: You shall dwell in the land of Goshen (drawing near), and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine. (Gen 45:10-11)

Joseph (son of Jacob) is a picture of Jesus Christ said: Let us draw near to Him for He has provided for us at all time. He is our Lord, our Brother and His promise never failed. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2Co 8:9) For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings... (1Co 4:7-8) So by faith we are rich in Christ for He took our poverty and gave us His riches on the cross. Amen!

Yoke no more

The LORD say to the Israelites: "I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." (Exo 6:6)

Since you have come out from them and be separated, says the Lord... Do not be yoked together with them anymore. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2Co 6:14) But let your light so shine before them, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:16) Hear Him!

Now is the time of God's Favor

This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my Favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances. (Isa 49:8)

Let us not receive God's Grace in vain, for He says, "In the time of my Favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's Favor, now is the day of salvation. (2Co 6:1-2) Jesus is the Grace and Favor of God. 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) He who found Grace found Favor with God! Hear Him!

Proud or Humble

The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. (Psa 10:2-4)

A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. (Prov 29:23) When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. (Prov 11:2) If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (2Co 5:13) Self consciousness is prideful and proud and true humility is Christ centered. Which are you? Hear Him!

Renewed day by day

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isa 40:30-31)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:16-18) For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2Co 5:7) Hear Him!

The veil must go

But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. (Exo 34:31-33)

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. (2Co 3:14)

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2Co 4:3-4) Someone asked Him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." (Luk 13:23-24) Behold unto Jesus to remove the veil. Hold on to Christ and let go the law. Trust in His righteousness and not your righteousness. Only in Christ we can enter through the narrow door. Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:15) Hear Him!

The new replaced the old

In the Old Testament: Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jer 31:31-33)

In the New Testament: Christ is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Heb 9:15) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter (the law) but of the Spirit (Christ); for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Co 3:5-6) So we must minister the new and not the old. Hear Him!

Love letter in Christ

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Mat 5:17-18)

Love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom 13:10) God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) You are the love letter in Christ, written on your hearts, known and read by everybody, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2Co 3:2-3) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your love and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:16) Hear Him!

The pleasing aroma

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done." (Gen 8:21)

Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2Co 2:14) because by one perfect burnt offering in Christ, we all are made pleasing aroma to the Father and therefore through Christ our Lord will never judge the world again. Hear Him!

Yes and Amen

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. And so through Him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2Co 1:20)

A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, (Tit 1:2) that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:14) For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth (in Christ). (Psa 33:4) Only you can believe, it is all yours. Hear Him and Amen!

Fear not, you are delivered!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psa 23:4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2Co 1:3-4) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. (2Co 1:10) Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Mat 10:30-31) Hear Him!

You are free indeed

O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison (troubles), that I may praise Your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me. (Psa 142:5-7)

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Rom 6:18) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2Co 4:18) Christ has set us free indeed though it doesn't look like so sometimes. Truly truly what you see and feel isn't the truth, the truth is in the word of God. Only you believe, it will come to pass! Hear Him!

Hold on to your crown

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Mat 24:35-37)

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Rom 13:11-12) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 24:10-13) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Rev 3:11) Behold unto Jesus for He shall hold on to you and never let you go. Hear Him!

No more death

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1Co 15:26) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1Co 15:55-56)

Apostle Paul: We were buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom 6:4) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1Co 15:51-53) Whoever lives and believes in Him will never die (John 11:26) Hear Him!

The Gospel of Grace

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... (1Co 15:3-4)

Apostle Paul: Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1Co 15:1-2)

Because of Adam, all people die. So because of Christ, all will be made alive. But here is the order of events. Christ is the first of those who rise from the dead. When he comes back, those who belong to him will be raised. Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rule, authority and power. He will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. Christ must rule until he has put all his enemies under his control. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (1Co 15:22-26) That's the gospel, the gospel preached by Apostle Paul, the gospel of Grace, the gospel of the Jesus Christ, the gospel you believe lest you believe in vain. Hear Him!

His love not our love

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1Co 13:1-3)

True Love (Agape - God's kind of love) never fails. But prophecy will cease, tongues will be stilled; knowledge will pass away. (1Co 13:8-9) True Love is a fruit of the Spirit and come forth only when one is led by the Spirit. (Gal 5:22) But human love is not true love, it is limited, it is conditional and it does not last. And that's why we failed whenever we tried to love in our own strength. Behold His love for therein comes the fruit of the Agape love for us to love. Hear Him!

His love never fails

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1Co 13:4-8)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1Jn 4:7-10) We love because He first loved us. (1Jn 4:19) Hear Him!

Be still, and know that I am God

And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."(Exo 14:13-14)

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Rom 8:32) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) For the battle is the LORD's (1Sa 17:47) and all we need to do is be still and know that He is God and He has delivered us. The Egyptians you see today, you shall see them no more. Hear Him!

O ye of little faith

So Jesus said to them, "... for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Mat 17:20)

Ever ask? "How can I move this mountain? Haven't I got this little faith - as small as a mustard seed? Why can't I do it?"...

We all have that faith, that complete portion of faith. Not a little mustard seed faith, but the fullness of faith in Christ. But our mind finds it hard to comprehend... We don't have a faith problem but a knowledge problem. Our knowledge level determines how much we use our faith. What then is that knowledge? The knowledge of what?

Christ divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue... (2Pe 1:3) Faith is of Christ, so the knowledge of Christ. Now faith is a gift, a gift of the Spirit, it is not of our own. (1Co 12:9) And faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17) As we hear His word, through revelation our knowledge of Him increases, so is our level to use our faith. The same when we pray in the Spirit, keeping ourselves in His love, (Jud 1:20-21) beholding Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2) All that we need is knowing Him, know His love, draw near to Him everyday, seek Him first... He will remove every mountain in our life. Hear Him!

Partake the Lord's body

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:54-56)

Apostle Paul: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (1Co 11:23-26) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1 Co 11:28-29) He who believes not in Him partake in an unworthy manner. Hear Him!

The just shall live by faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

By faith, the worlds were framed by the word of God... (Heb 11:3)
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice... (Heb 11:4)
By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death... (Heb 11:5)
By faith, Noah built an ark to save his household... (Heb 11:7)
By faith, Abraham obeyed God and went out, not knowing where he was going... (Heb 11:8)
By faith, Sarah conceived seed and bore a child when she was past the age... (Heb 11:11)
By faith, Abraham offered up Isaac... (Heb 11:17)

By faith, we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. (John 20:31)
By faith, we believe we have eternal life in Christ. (John 3:15)
By faith, we believe we are saved by Grace and not by works. (Eph 2:8-9)
By faith, we believe we are dead to sin and alive in Christ. (Rom 6:11)
By faith, we believe we are the righteousness of God in Christ. (2Co 5:21)
By faith, we believe we are the heirs of God. (Rom 8:17)
By faith, we believe we are the sons of God. (Gal 3:26)

By faith, we live in no condemnation. (Rom 8:1)
By faith, we live as He is so are we in this world. (1Jn 4:17)
By faith, we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (Mat 5:13-14)
By faith, our faith continue to be spoken of throughout the world. (Rom 1:8)
Hear Him!

You are complete in Him

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Col 2:6-10)

Apostle Paul: Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1Co 11:1-3) In Him we are complete! Hear Him!

Be Christ full lest we fall

Apostle Paul: For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. (1Co 10:1-5)

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1Co 10:11-12) Be Christ full lest we fall! Hear Him!

Live life unto Him

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. (Mat 10:39-40)

Apostle Paul: Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1Co 4:1-2) To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1Co 9:22-23) Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Mat 18:18) Run your race for the crown that will last forever. Hear Him!

It's all about Him

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Col 1:16-17)

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Col 1:19-20) In Him all things consist. In Him all things are yours. (1Co 3:21) Therefore let no one boast in men. But in Christ. It's all about Him! Hear Him!

The temple of God

King Solomon: "The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. (1Ki 8:20)

Jesus: "I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man." (Mark 14:58) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (1Co 3:16-17) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1Co 6:19) Hear Him!

None other but Jesus

King Solomon commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple. (1Ki 5:17) In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv. (1Ki 6:37)

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality is found in Christ. (Col 2:17) On this foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (Eph 2:20-21) For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1Co 3:11) Behold unto Jesus, lest we forget He is the foundation. Hear Him!

Plans to prosper you

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, "declares the LORD"... (Jer 29:11-14)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:19) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mat 7:7-8) Hear Him!

A new beginning

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isa 43:18-19)

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. (Heb 8:7-8) Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry which He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Heb 8:6) Let go the old, start a new thing! Hear Him!