Prepared for preaching in Pakistan
Shorter Version of I Am The Good Shephard.

God loves Pakistan!
God loves Pakistan!
God loves Pakistan!

Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our messiah. By faith in the gospel, we have been given eternal life and the assurance of salvation. When we heard the gospel, we recognized that it is the voice of God, not the voice of man. This grace to recognize the voice of God was prepared for us from the foundations of the world.

Greetings to my brother in Christ and servant of Jesus, Pastor Ravi Daniel, who has been faithfully serving the community of Pakistan for many years despite the hardship and pains. May God bless the work that he has done for Him.

Greetings to you all who can hear me now, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May the message from God bring peace to you heart, healing to your body and encouragement to your soul.

The message comes from John 10:27-30. Let me read it for you now.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”

Sheep are adorable animals. They are calm in nature. They are soft and fluffy. Most of the time, they are friendly and will even eat food out of your hand. They are not predators. They aren’t animals that we fear. Instead, many predators would love to capture a sheep. It’s because they don’t have many defense. They aren’t fast and don’t have big teeth or sharp claws to defend themselves.

We are like sheep and the devil is like a wolf. Without a Shepherd to protect us, we don’t have many defenses against the enemy. When we have a Shepherd, the Shepherd protects us from the schemes of the enemy. It is when we are guarded by God that we are safe in front of a wolf, because God will fight the wolf to protect the sheep.

The first time we hear of God being a Shepherd is from Jacob. He said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my Shepherd all my life long to this day.”

God has been the Shepherd of Jacob.
He has been his protector and his guide.

Jesus tell us today, “The sheep hear my voice.”

When Jesus calls out to you and tells you to draw near to him.
When Jesus calls out to you by name.
When Jesus calls out to you to lead you to green pastures.

Do you hear his voice?
Do you recognize the voice of God?

You’ve heard messages from other teachers.
You’ve heard messages from other religions.

But they were void of the voice of God and sounded like human wisdom.

Some of you have heard the gospel all your life.
Some of you have heard the gospel from years ago.
Some of you have heard the gospel from months ago.
Some of you have heard the gospel for the first time today.

But when you hear the gospel,
you hear the voice of God speaking to you.
you hear the voice of the Shepherd of Israel calling out to you.
you hear the voice of Jesus ministering to you.

You are one of God’s people.
You are one of God’s chosen.

How is it that you can recognize the voice of God?
How is it that you are one of God’s people?

The reason isn’t because you loved God first.
The reason isn’t because you knew God first.

The reason comes from the words of Jesus.

Jesus says, “The sheep hear my voice, and I know him.”

Those of you who can hear the voice of God in Jesus Christ, Jesus say to you;

I knew you from before I created the world.
I knew you from before you were in the womb of your mother.
I knew you from before you heard about me.
I knew you from before you recognized who I am.

God doesn’t know everyone by name, In fact, there are those who God will say, “I never knew you.”

Those that God doesn’t know aren’t allowed into heaven.
Those that God doesn’t know will be rejected from the door of the wedding feast.

Those that God doesn’t know will be cast off into eternal fire.

Therefore, remember that God’s favor upon you is by his grace.

God chose you, before you chose him.
God knew you, before you knew him.
God knew your name, and has now called out to you.

When we hear God calling out to us,
We recognize that He is the one who has been feeding us.
We recognize that He is the one who has protected us until now.
We recognize that he is God of eternity.

In that trust, in that recognition of our God, we follow him.

Jesus said, “The sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to follow a wolf.
I don’t want to follow someone who will steal from me.
I don’t want to follow someone who will murder me.
I don’t want to follow someone who will destroy me.

I want to follow the one who give life and life abundantly.
I want to follow the one who lead the way to green pastures.
I want to follow the one who will lay down his life to protect me.

Jesus said, “The sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
To be a witness of the gospel.
“Follow me, and leave the dead to bury the dead.”
To forget this life and proclaim the gospel.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
To deny the desire of the flesh and suffer for the gospel.
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant be also.”
To be where God is.

We follow Jesus, because He is the Good Shepherd, and he will take us to the ETERNAL GREEN PASTURE.

Jesus said, “I give them eternal life.”

There is no way to heaven unless by Jesus Christ.
There is no other door by which we can ever into heaven.
There is no other window, no other back door that we can enter into heaven.

We can’t get in by doing good works.
We can’t get in by the money we earn.
We can’t get in by charity of the poor.

The only way that we can have salvation and eternal life is by faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is not only the Shepherd, but he is also the DOOR to heaven.

He not only guides us, but in him is Eternal Life.
He is not only a teacher of the way, HE IS THE WAY!

There are two beautiful truths in the eternal life given through faith in Jesus Christ.

First, Jesus tells us, “they will never perish.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but has eternal life.” John 3:16.

The will of the Father is for his people to have eternal life.

The will of the Father is fulfilled by having faith in the Son.

Secondly, Jesus tells us, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

            Have you ever had something stolen?
            Have something went miss when you were gone?

            Have no fear, for this will never happen to God.
            Have no fear, for this will never happen to your salvation.
            Have no fear, for this will never happen to the the Shepherd.

Why can we have confidence that we won’t be snatched out of God’s hands?

Jesus explains to us, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Satan can’t snatch you, because you are in God’s hands.
Devil can’t snatch you, because you are in God’s hands.
Parents can’t snatch you, because you are in God’s hands.
Siblings can’t snatch you, because you are in God’s hands.
Enemies can’t snatch you, because you are in God’s hands.
You yourself can’t snatch yourself, because you are in God’s hands.

They may inflict pain on you.
They may say bad things about you.
They may desire the death of you.
They may steal from you.
They may confuse you.

BUT, they will never snatch you out of the HAND OF GOD. The GOD HAND.

It’s not because of who you are, but Who God IS!

God is the King of all the Earth. Psalms 47:7
God is God of Gods and Lord of Lords. Deuteronomy 10:17

God is greater than man. Job 33:12
God is greater than our own heart. 1 John 3:20
God is greater than all other gods. 2 Chronicles 2:5
God is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

God is with you. 1 Chronicles 17:2

God is my helper. Psalms 54:4
God is our salvation. Psalms 68:19
God is a sun and shield. Psalms 84:11
God is our refuge and strength. Psalms 46:1

I want to leave you the last portion of our scripture passage.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

John described to us that Jesus Christ is the word. The word was with God, the word was God. Jesus Christ is God. Through Him all things were made. God is one, but reveals himself as the triune God.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, when the accuser comes and points the finger at you at says, you are too sinful, too stained, to dirty to be one of God’s elect. Respond back with, “Yes, I know that I am a sinner, but I recognize the voice of Him who calls me. I recognize the voice of my Shepherd and I follow him. It may not be perfect, it may not be great, but I follow him. On the day of Judgement, My Shepherd will place judgement on you for the confusion that you are causing and the sins you have tempted on man. Meanwhile, I am in the Hand of God. So though you can accuse me, Jesus Christ stood in my place and died for my sins. My sins accuse me no more, For Christ has set me free.”

Amen and Amen.

May God who knew you from the foundations of the world, called you out of darkness to light and placed you in His hands, sanctify you and prepare you for the eternal life in the New Heavens and New Earth.

Prepared for Orange Country Christian Evangelical Church, Sunday Service.

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Greetings to the man of God, Pastor Roland, who invited me to come and share the word. Welcome those who have come to worship God today in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. My name is Evangelist Don Chang and I praise God for letting me be here to share the word with you all. God has been using me as an interim preacher for churches without a pastor and an international evangelist through streaming video Preaching in places such as Pakistan, India and South Africa. May God bless you this morning with a fruitful listening of the word.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel so bombarded with the negativity that is going on in this world. If one wants to feel as if the world is falling apart, opening up the newspaper is a good way to do it. Turning on the news channel will bring about feelings of disappointment and disturbance as the whole world seems to be in strife. This strife isn’t just within countries, but also between them. Macro to micro, we see the practice of evil and what seems to be the lack of the glory of God.

In this state of despair and discouragement, I want to remind you of this verse.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

This morning,

I will show you what is true.
I will show you what is honorable, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely and what is commendable.
I will bring you to a place of excellence and worthy of praise.

Today, I want to take your mind away from the dealings of the world.

I want to take your mind away from the discouraging state of the world as shown in the news.
I want to take your mind away from looking upon the happenings on earth.

I want to take your mind to what it happening in heaven.
I want to take your mind to a glorious place in heaven that is true and eternal.

The throne of God.

I won’t do this by fancifying the scripture, but being faithful to what is revealed in scripture, unraveling the glory that awaits us in the new heavens and new earth.

As we look into scripture, it will reveal to us that there have been several prophets and apostle that have been given the indescribable grace and awesome experience to find themselves before the throne of God.

The prophet Isaiah, prophet Moses, prophet Jehoshaphat and the Apostle John have recorded accounts of visions in which they saw throne of God. The beautiful thing about the descriptions from these four different people from four different times is that their descriptions are in synergy with one another. They go hand in hand as the fingers join together. Some describing in more detail, but none of the them contradict each other. In fact, I’m convinced that all three saw the same throne of God.

As a base for taking our minds to the throne of God, we will be reading

through Isaiah. From there, we will see more detail, elaboration and confirmation from the book of Exodus, 1 Kings and Revelations.

At this time I would like to invite up our scripture reader to read Isaiah’s Vision of the Lord in the book of Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 1 through 7.

6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train^[a] of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

⁴ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵ And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Thank you for reading the scripture for us.

I will now ask the Heavenly Father for the illumination of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of this message.

Heavenly Father,

You are awesome. You are glorious. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.
We thank you for being here with us and enabling us to worship you in Spirit and Truth by faith in your son Jesus Christ.
Awaken our slumbering spirits.
Encourage our discouraged hearts.
Anoint this message with power, authority and passion for your Glory.

In the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray amen.

“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.”

As we look up to the throne of God, there is no one on the seat other than the Lord himself. There is none who was able to overthrow him, there is none who was able to conquer him. In the beginning, until now, and forever more, there is only one seated on the Throne. He who sits upon the throne is our God, the Lord, the Father. There is no need to be humble, yet he is not proud. He is who He is and He is seated high and lifted up.

The Apostle John described the one sitting on the throne.

“He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow with an appearance of an emerald.” Revelations 4:3 ESV.

As much as I love the ESV, I found the NLT and NIV to give more imagery.

“The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.” Revelations 4:3 NLT

“And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”

At the throne of God, God himself was as brilliant as the sparkle of gemstones – jasper, carnelian and ruby.

These gemstones are all a deep red and burgundy color. This is the color that the Father reveals himself on the throne. Around the throne was a glow of the likeness of an emerald circling as a rainbow. Emeralds are deep green and clear as diamonds.

God isn’t a gemstone, nor is he made of gemstones. These are descriptions of the glow that comes from him as there is no other way to describe the brilliance, glimmer and glory which comes from the Father.

Isaiah then describes the Lords attire.

“The train of his robe filled the temple.”

There is something like this in weddings. The bride will wear a wedding dress train. Some trains are short, some encircle, some long, but the longest is the royal train. The train is so long, it requires the assistance of flower girls to get around.

Our Lord upon the heavenly throne, His train is so long, It fills the entire temple. It fills every room, every chamber. It sweeps through every corridor, every level and everywhere. The train of his robe is a sight of royalty and infinite glory. It’s all consuming. Keep this image of the train of his robe as it will be elaborated later.

In Exodus 24:10 Moses saw a glimpse of the throne and he wrote, “Under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.”

Again, there is nothing in the world that can describe the splendor of heaven except through these humble gemstones. Moses tells us at the throne of God, under his feet, the pavement is clear and the likeness of sapphire stone. Sapphire stone is deep blue and sparkles. It is considered a crystal.

John too described this very same phenomenon. In Revelations 4:6, “And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.”

He described it as a sea of glass. A sparking blue ocean. This is in synergy with Moses description of sapphire stone and clearness. Hallelujah! A confirmation of the vision of the Throne.

The prophet Jehoshaphat describes in 1 Kings 22:19, “I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by his right hand and on his left.”

The Lord isn’t sitting on the throne alone, there are hosts of heaven surrounding him.

Isaiah describes it this way, “Above him stood the seraphim, each had six wings: the two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.”

We understand Seraphims to be of the highest rank of Angels. Seraphim means “The burning one.” As they are in the presence of God, so close to Him, they are burning, yet not in ashes. The closest imagery we have in the bible is that of the burning bush. It was burning with the glory of God, yet it wasn’t consumed.

The glow and brilliance isn’t just visual, but it’s glory radiates heat as of fire.

John goes into further detail of what these “The burning ones” look like.

“And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within.”

The four seraphim, burning in the presence of God, one looks like a lion, another an ox, another a face of man and another like an eagle in flight. Hallelujah. And just as Isiah described, they have six wings. Two cover their face, two covers their feet and two are used to fly. They are flying above the throne.

John then describes what was around the throne, to the left and right, “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads.”

As you now envision the four seraphim above the throne of God and twenty-four thrones around the throne of God, we will get a glimpse on what is happening in Heaven this very moment.

Isaiah and the Apostle Paul heard the words of the seraphim.

Isaiah heard these words, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

John heard these words, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty; who was and is and is to come!”

Brothers and Sisters, I want to now take us back to the beginning of this message where we saw the train of his robe as it filled the temple. The train of his robe fills not only the temple, the train of his robe fills the whole earth! The whole earth is full of his glory!

The world tells us, God is not here.
God tells us, Isaiah 7:14 – I am here.
The world tell us, God lost control.
God tells us, Exodus 3:14 – I am who I am. I am on the throne.
The world tells us, God is powerless.
God tells us, Deuteronomy 4:24 – I am an all-consuming fire.

John tells us what happens when the seraphim declare the Holiness and Majesty of God.

Revelations 4:9-10“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our LORD and GOD, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

When the world tells us, God isn’t in control.
God tells us, I created all things and by my will they existed and were created.

While God is being glorified day and night for eternity in the presence of the Seraphim and 24 Elders, there is something awe-inspiring, bone-chilling and frightening when God himself speaks.

It says, “And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.”

When the Lord GOD, seated on the throne, speaks, the foundations of the thresholds of heaven shakes. When God speaks, even heaven cannot contain it’s glory. Even heaven cannot withhold it’s sound, it reverberates and shakes the foundations and the house was filled with smoke.

When God speaks in a still small voice.
When God speaks in the cool of the wind.
When God speaks through the prophets.
When God speaks through the bible.
When God speaks through his messenger.

When God speaks, the FOUNDATIONS OF HEAVEN SHAKES.

Now, as we not only envision, but understand rightly what is happening at the throne of God at this very moment. Look at how Isaiah reacts to this great vision.

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

Moreso that the awe of what is happening,

We recognize that we don’t belong here. We don’t belong here, because we are men and women of unclean lips. We are men and women of unclean hearts. We are men and women of unholiness. We are men and women, who have sinned against such a glorious God.

Then, one of the seraphim flew to Isaiah and with a burning coal that he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched Isaiahs’ lips and said, “Behold this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sins atoned for.”

This is a glimpse of what the blood of Jesus Christ will do for the elect whose names are written down in the book of Life. This is a glimpse of what repentance and faith in Jesus Christ looks like.

As we look upon the throne room of God, we realize that we are sinners and unholy before the all consuming fire. If God we’re to consume us without the blood of Jesus Christ, we would be obliterated.

But as God has willed from the beginning, His desire is to be with us. His love never ended. His love never failed.

As I read this, remember the foundations of thresholds’ are shaking.

Revelations 21:3-4, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, or crying, nor praying anymore, for the former things has passed away.’”

Glory to God.

And he who is seated on the throne said, “Behold I am making all things new.”

I want to leave you with the words of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior from the end of the book of Revelations.

“Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen and Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come soon!

Prepared for preaching in Pakistan & India

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom was with the Father from before the foundations of the world. Through whom the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting was given to us, through faith in the gospel.

In the world, we see many idols, many gods and many spiritual beings.
It can be confusing who is the real god, because so many choices.
Even though there are many false idols in the world.

There is a true GOD among all the false Gods.

Our God, our heavenly father is not like other gods or false idols.
Our God, wasn’t made by human hands.
Our God, wasn’t created by imagination.

Our God is the creator, who existed before the world was created.
Our God is the creator God, and we are His creation.

It is in this relationship that we realize that we cannot create the true God, because God created us.

The only God that is worthy to be praise is the God who existed in the beginning.

In Genesis 1:1 it says, “In the beginning.”

This beginning was before you and I were born.
This beginning was before your parents were born.
This beginning was before this nation was established.
This beginning was before all things existed.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.”

In the beginning, there was no heavens and earth.
In the beginning, there was no television.
In the beginning, there was no internet.
In the beginning, there were no animals.
In the beginning, there were no people.
In the beginning, there was nothing.

There was nothing, but there was someone.
There was nothing, but there was a high power.
There was nothing, but there was a supernatural being.

God was there, but the bible teaches us that He wasn’t the only one there.

In John 1:2 it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He as in the beginning with God.”

Before the heavens and earth,
God was there, but so was the Word!
John explains further that the Word was God.

How can there be God and then the Word that is also God?

At first, this sounds confusing, but when we learn who the WORD is, it all beings to make sense.

John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Who is the Word become flesh?
Who is the God that dwelt among us?
Who is this verse talking about?

This is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Since Jesus Christ is the Word and the Word became flesh, we can read John 1:2 in this way.

“In the beginning was Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ was with God and Jesus Christ was God.”

Some of us thing, Jesus Christ was only a good man.
Some of us think, Jesus Christ was only a good prophet.

Yes, Jesus was a good man.
Yes, Jesus was a good prophet.

But, he was more than these things!

Jesus Christ is God, he was in the beginning with the Father, and was used by the Father to create the world.

This is why we can say that only God himself can save us from our sins. It’s because God himself came down to earth in the form in man. He lived the perfect life that we couldn’t live. He suffered for good as he was rejected by his own people, Israel. He died the death that we needed to die. He was raised back to life by the Father.

When we look in the beginning, we can see that Jesus Christ was not just a created being who was used as a sacrifice for us.

When we look at the beginning, we can see that Jesus Christ is God, was with God from the beginning and God himself was the sacrifice for our sins.

You must now wonder then, why is sin so bad that God needed to endure death and resurrection for us?

The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death.
The bible tells us that we are put to death those who sin.
The bible tells us that the wrath of God is waiting for sinners.

God knows the depth and infinite suffering of eternal death.
God knows how unbearable it will be for those gnashing their teeth for eternity.

Therefore, in the beginning, before the heavens and earth was created;

The Father God wrote our names down in the book of life.
The Father God prepared the WORD to become flesh and dwell with us.
The Father God prepared Jesus Christ to take His wrath upon himself.

God knew that we would sin, before He created the world, but he created it anyway, because He loved us and knew He would have victory over Sin and Death.

As I preach this message, there are those of you who didn’t know that Jesus Christ was the WORD become flesh. You didn’t know that Jesus Christ was with the Heavenly Father from the beginning. You may of heard about him, but didn’t know the majesty and glory that comes forth from Jesus Christ. As you hear this message, you are beginning to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is truly the son of God and through faith in Him, your sins will be forgiven. If this is you, I ask that you speak with the pastor after this sermon and tell him of the beginnings of your faith journey.

As I preach this message, there are those of you who do know Jesus Christ as the son of God, but you haven’t fully given your life to him. You only believe in your head, but your life is more about doing what you want to do, instead of what God wants to do through you. If this is you, I ask that you come back to your first love. Remember the beauty of the Gospel as when you first came to believe. Reestablish a relationship with Jesus Christ, the son of God, the only one through whom you can go to the Father. As you draw near to him, turn away from sin and reject it. This will be healing to your soul and bring joy to your life.

As I preach this message, there are those of you who do know Jesus Christ as the son of God and your life is bearing fruits. Praise the Lord for allowing you to enter into this season. The seed of the gospel was planted. The seed was watered, but GOD MADE IT GROW! Praise the LORD and THANK GOD for allowing you to see these wonderful fruits in your life.

Therefore,

Stop doubting and wondering if Jesus Christ can really do what He says he can do.

Believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the WORD.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the WORD who was with God.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the WORD who is God.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the WORD became flesh.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the creator who came down to save His creation.
Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day.

If you believe these things, your sins are forgiven and await you is Eternal Life in heaven.

May God grant you faith, peace, love and joy as you dive deeper into the person and work of Jesus Christ, the son of God and our savior.

Preached at Soul Savers Online Healing and Deliverance Conference
Locations: Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, Pakistan, South Africa & USA

Theme: Cleansing and Restoration of the Temple

Theme Scripture: Nehemiah 13:8-9

Hosted by Pastor Anthony Marozpa of Zimbabwe

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am brother Don Chang and by the grace of God, I’ve been given an opportunity to share the word with you all. Today, our message come from the book of Nehemiah. Before I read the verse, I want to tell you a little something about Nehemiah..

Nehemiah was an interesting person in Scripture.

For someone who has a whole book about himself, he was of humble beginnings.

Nehemiah wasn’t a Priest.
Nehemiah wasn’t a Prophet.
Nehemiah was a cupbearer of the King.

Nehemiah was an ordinary man, like you and me.

He wasn’t from the line of the Levitical priest.
He wasn’t a teacher of the law.
He wasn’t royalty.

But, he was two powerful things.

He was a man of prayer.
He was an ordinary man that God would use to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the temple of God which was in ruins.

Was there no other Holy man at Jerusalem?
Where were the passionate lovers of God?
Where were the keepers of the Holy Word?
Where were the prophets who would speak God’s truth to the nation of Israel?

When the people of God became prideful and corrupt, he used the foolish to shame the wise.

Some of you in here may feel like you didn’t come the right lineage.
Some of you in here may feel like you can’t do it because you’re not a pastor son.
Some of you in here may feel like you can do God’s work because you aren’t trained.

No. God can use you my brother, as he used Nehemiah powerfully.

Our sermon passage for today comes from Nehemiah 13:8-9. This is already at the end of the book and many things have happened which we need to understand this text fully. Before I go into it, Let me read this verse for you.

“I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.”

Nehemiah was very angry. At first glance, you must ask yourself, why are you so angry Nehemiah and who is this person Tobiah? Why are you sending this man out of the chamber of the house of God?

For this answer, we must start at the beginning of the book of Nehemiah.

In Nehemiah chapter 2, he was in the presence of the king while doing his job as the cupbearer. The king looked upon the face of Nehemiah and immediately knew that he was sad. He asked him why he was sad. Nehemiah told him that the reason why he was sad was because his country that he loves is in ruins. The walls of Jerusalem has been torn down, therefore thieves can come in and ransack them. The temple was destroyed. Nehemiah had great sadness for Israel. He asked the king if he would let him go back to his country to rebuild the wall and the temple. By the grace of God, the king had favor upon Nehemiah and let him go. He even supplied him with material to rebuild the temple.

Now while this was happening, Tobiah who was an ammonite was displeased greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel (Nehemiah 2:10)

As Nehemiah, the cupbearers, plan to restore the walls of Jerusalem came to the ears of Tobiah, he began to taunt Nehemiah saying, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” To which, Nehemiah answered to him, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” In other words, He told Tobih, God will help us to restore Jerusalem, but you Tobiah will have no place in there.”

As Nehemiah went forth with building the walls, again Tobiah mocked them, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” That wall will not stand a chance. That wall is so weak, even an animal climbing it will destroy it. (Nehemiah 4:3)

Now at first, they mocked Nehemiah thinking that he wasn’t able to restore the wall, but news came to him that the walls were being built and the breaches on the walls were being to be closed. This time, they didn’t just mock them, but they became angry at the work of God. (Nehemiah 4:7)

When Nehemiah was finished rebuilding the all and every single breach was repaired, then they were out for Nehemiahs’ blood. They wanted to do him harm, because he HATED Israel. Tobiah was an enemy of Israel. Tobiah wanted to see the destruction of Israel.

“Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. (Nehemiah 6:1-2)

We see here, that when Nehemiahs’ plans were just words, they began to mock him, thinking he will not be able to do it. Then as Nehemiah progressed the plan and repairs were being made, Tobiah became angry. When the walls were fully repaired, Tobiah wanted to see the death of Nehemiah. Tobiah didn’t just hate Nehemiah, he hated the God that Nehemiah served. The true GOD as opposed to false god.

We too as we live this life, Satan will just laugh when we talk about going to church. He thinks, this broken man, he will not go to church. He will mock God and give you many reasons not to go. When we give our life to God, he will get angry and say what is this work of God stealing my dead army. But, when we begin to complete the tasks that God has put before us, Satan will desire to see our death, the end of our ministry. The attack of the enemy doesn’t end there.

After Nehemiah finished the work of the Lord, Tobiah sent letters to make Nehemiah afraid. He tried to instill a spirit of fear into Nehemiah. This isn’t a fear of God, but a fear of man. Tobiah tried to make Nehemiah fear him.

“And Tobiah send letters to make me afraid.” Nehemiah 6:19

Now, some of you may be wondering, isn’t Tobiah an Israelite? Isn’t he part of Israel? What is wrong with him?

When we look at Ezra 2:59-60, it shows us something disturbing about the past of Tobiah. There was no proof that Tobiah belonged to Israel. They couldn’t prove their descent connected to Israel. They were outsiders of the people of God.

!“The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel; the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, (Ezreal 2:59-60)

Even though he wasn’t from the lineage of Israel, he had a connection to Eliashib, the priest who was appointed over the chambers of the house of God. Eliashib was related to Tobiah and prepared a place for Tobiah in the house of God which was the room used for grain offering, frankincense, the vessels, the tithes of grain, wine and oil, which were given by the commandments to the Levites, singers and gatekeepers and the contributions of the priests (Nehemiah 13:4-5)

THIS MOCKER OF ISREAL
THIS HATER OF ISREAL
THIS ATTEMPTED MURDERER OF NEHEMIAH
THIS ENEMY OF THE LORD MOST HIGH
THIS SERVANT OF SATAN

Through a connection with the priest, we setup his place in the house of God where the precious treasures, tithes and vessels were held.

Some of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, we have become the temple of the Lord Most High and in the chamber of our heart, we have taken out the desire to steward the things of God and have given room to the devil to stain the temple of God. We don’t need a family member to bring the devil in. The devil came by way of our own accord. We have allowed through our temptations, our addictions and our infirmities a grapple for the devil to take a room in the house of God.

If you are blind, you will not know, but today may be message be a message of deliverance for your life.

Deliverance from the mocker of God.
Deliverance from the hater of God.
Deliverance from the one who is trying to murder you because you belong to God.
Deliverance from the enemy of the Most High God!
Deliverance from the lies of Satan as he tries to dwell in chamber on your heart.

What must you do? How must you react?

Let’s look at Nehemiah and how he reacted when he heard about this devil worshiper in the house of God.

“And I was very angry.”

We need to get ANGRY!
We need to get angry at our disobedience.
We need to get angry at the devil that tricked us.
We need to get angry at the plan of the devil that made it’s way into our hearts.
We need to get angry at Satan

“And I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.”

In this righteous anger toward evil,

We need to look inside our hearts and throw out the furniture of the Devil.

We need to throw out the devils mirrors.
We need to throw out the devils records.
We need to throw out the devils closet.
We need to throw out the devils bed.
We need to throw out the devils clothes.
We need to throw out the devils paraphernalia.
We need to throw out the devils crafts.
We need to throw out the devils instruments.
We need to throw them out! IN JESUS NAME!

“Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers.”

How do you cleanse your heart the chambers of your heart?

You must come back to your first love.
You must come back to the one who saved you.
You must come back to Christ and place him again at the center of your heart.

There is no other way to do this other than FAITH in Christ!

Acts 15:9b, “having cleansed their hearts by faith.”

Not faith in yourself.
Not faith in your pastor.
Not faith in your teachers.
Not faith in your family.
Not faith in anyone else, but JESUS CHRIST ALONE will be the cleansing of your chambers.

Only the blood of Jesus Christ will be able to clean the chamber of your heart.

Only the blood of the LAMB will be able to clean you from your sins.

We don’t give orders to Jesus, but in humility and repentance, we come before our King and have faith in him. We believe in the gospel.

As you listen to this, there are those of you who are already repenting in your heart now. May God deliver you from your addictions, may he deliver you from the demonic forces that tempt you and accuse you.

After he cleansed the temple, he brought back the vessels of the house of God.

“and I brought back the vessels of the house of God.”

In the history of Israelites, the vessels of the house of God were treasures. May of them of precious metals. They were treasures that were acquired during the time of King David. He place these vessels in specific places for the glory of the Most High God. These vessels belong in the house of God in the chambers of God, but Tobiah the evil one, tried to make you forget about the vessels of the Lord. He tried to make you forget of the majesty and splendor of our King, but God is angry! He is jealous and he will not let Tobiah reside in your heart!

All those years of allowing the devil to steal, kill and destroy means your house has become baren.

Yes, still by faith in Jesus Christ, you are saved, but you have grieved the Holy Spirit.
You have taken an honorable vessel and turned into an dishonorable one by filling it with evil.

If the treasures at no longer gold and silver, what are they?

Colossians 2:2-3, “And their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden “ALL THE TREAUSRE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE”

Now, the treasure are WISDOM AND KNOWELDGE of WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS!

Fill your heart, fill your temple with the WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD which is revealed to us IN CHRIST JESUS!

“with the grain offering and frankincense.”

And as you do these things, naturally, you will begin to love God and your generosity for God will grow. You desire to give tithe will grow. Your desire to serve God will grow. Your desire to sacrifice for God will grow. And as you progress in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, no longer will it be important for you to fill your earthly vessels with the treasure on earth, but you will look to heaven and you will realize, the REAL TREASURE, the TRUE TREASURES are not on earth, where moth and rust destroy, but they are in HEAVEN! Therefore, your hand will grow larger for the body of Christ. Your hand will become more generous for the church. As Christ becomes your treasure, your heart, your life and your offering will show.

Therefore, for those of you who don’t believe in Jesus Christ yet, I warn you now. You are not the temple of God. You are on the side of Tobiah. You have been a mocker of God. You have been a hater of God. You have chased after the idols of your heart and you are in a desolate place, but we were not created just to fill our hearts with the materialistic things of this world. We were not made, just for bread and food alone. God has revealed to us that we live off of every word that come from the mouth of God. So, to you who don’t yet believe, but as you heard this message, you want to transform you dead broken temple into a new temple of God, I invite you to invite Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior. Please connect with me to do so. May God help you to see the truth in Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father.

Therefore, for those of you who do believe in Jesus Christ and have fallen away or backsliden. You are not alone. There are many of us who go through season of life where we just let go and allow the devil to take charge in a chamber of our heart, but this is your time. This is your time to open you eyes and see what has happened to you. GET ANGRY. GET ANGRY AT SATAN. GET ANGRY AT THE DEVIL! Recognize that you’ve been tricked, duped with false promises and terrible delivery. Repent, clean your house of the remnants of the devil, reestablish your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and allow for him to cleanse your heart. Submit to him and sin no more! May God give you the strength to endure the temptations of the enemy and overcome them in Jesus name!

Lastly, therefore, for those of you who do believe in Jesus Christ and you’ve been growing in grace, you’ve protected your heart from the temptations of the world. You’ve secured a place in your large chamber for the treasures of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. You’ve prepared a place in your heart for fragrant offerings to the Lord with joy and peace. May God continue to bless you richly, continue to guide your path and bring to you a deeper understanding of the depth of the love of God in Christ Jesus.

All these things, we believe and have faith to be true.

The devil is a liar.
Only God is God.

Only God belongs in our heart.

May the Lord bless you with faith, deliverance from evil and the rebuilding the temple, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Preached at Las Vegas Presbyterian Church

Good afternoon, Las Vegas Presbyterian Church.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ whom has brought us from the chains and weight of the Law as shown to Moses and bound us to the freedom and grace which flows from Christ death and resurrection. As sure as the election of God results in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the gift of faith, the perseverance of the saints and the life everlasting, may we put our full trust in the Lord as our deliver and our strength.

The passage for todays’ message come from John chapter 8 verses 1 through 11. For our reading today, let us join together and read responsively. I will be ready the odd verses and church please read the even verses. Let us all stand in reverence for the word of God.

John 8:1-11

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst

4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.”

5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?

6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw the stone at her.”

8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground

9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

This is the word of the Lord, Thank be to GOD.

You may be seated at this time.

Let us pray to the Lord and ask him for the illumination of the holy spirit that we may understand clearly, and for the anointing of the Holy Spirit that I may communicate rightly.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the word that will be shared today. We believe that what the word of God says is true. We believe that it is purposeful for our salvation. We believe that it is edification to the body of Christ and nourishment to our soul. May we come with open hearts and hungry minds for the knowledge of God. I pray also for myself that as I preach your word, you would anoint this vessel. There is nothing without me that is so great that you chose me for this task, I am simply here because you want me to be here. May I manifest your glory as found in your word. In Jesus Christ precious name we pray, Amen.

Jesus came to the place called Mount of Olives and what was going to happen there was very similar to what happened at the first instance of Mount of Olives in the Old Testament.

King David was reigning at the time, but an enemy of David called Absalom was gaining trust and loyalty from the Israelite people. He did this through lies and deception. When people of Israel came to King David for judgment, Absalom told them that King David didn’t have anyone to listen to their case. He then told them, if I was king, I would reign justly. As Absalom was gaining reputation through lies, news came to King David that he must flee, because Absalom has gained much influence in the land and was about to overthrow him.

King David ascended to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot with his head covered.

In todays passage, King Jesus is at the temple of Israel. He has come to become the King of the Jews. He does this, not by way of lying or in secret that the leaders wouldn’t see. He does it in plain sight, in the temple and in front of everyone to see including currently scribes and Sadducees whom at that time were like kings in the land.

In the following verse, it said that Jesus came again into the temple, early in the morning. When we look at the phrase “Early in the morning” throughout the passage in the bible, it becomes clear that this is stating urgency and importance of what will happen that day.

Early in the morning, Abraham rose to see Sodom and Gomorrah up in smoke after God had place judgement upon the city.

Early in the morning, Abimelech rose to tell his servants that he would die if he took Abrahams wife.

Early in the morning, Abraham, saddled his donkey, and took two young men with him, as his son Isaac. Whom God asked for a sacrifice.

The Lord told Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus say the LORD, “LET MY PEOPLE GO, that they may serve me!”

Early in the morning, todays passage will be the last time in the bible it says, Early in the morning. All the urgent work is completed in Christ life, death and resurrection.

Early in the morning he came again to the temple, all the people came to him and he sat down and taught them.

Interestingly, Jesus wasn’t the only one who came early in the morning. Many people also woke up early in the morning to listen to him. We see in todays passage, that the urgency wasn’t in the teaching, but what will happening in the following verse.

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

The kings of Judaism came to check up on this man at the gate of the palace. This man Jesus who was gaining so much popularity among the Israelite people. They couldn’t find any fault in him. He didn’t try to secretly overthrow them, he was honest and told the truth and even taught things about God that showed understanding beyond their own. They thought, He wants to be a king? He wants to be the judge? Let’s see if he will rightly place judgement upon this woman.

They found a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. It’s plain and simple, even without the law to know that adultery is a great evil in marriage commitment and covenant. It isn’t just the Jews who know that adultery is wrong. It doesn’t take a highly intelligent person to know that this is wrong. It’s just wrong on many levels. The weight of how wrong this sin is becomes clearer in the bible, but the Pharisees and Sadducees did something funny with the word of God here.

They only focus on the woman, but in the Law, God focuses on both the Man and the Woman.

Leviticus 20:10, “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” We see here that it’s both.

Deuteronomy 22:22, “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die.” We see here that it’s both.

Deuteronomy 22:24, “Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

Now, we come to a tricky verse, where it talks only about the womans’ adultery. At first glance this seems like simple reading of God focusing on womans’ adultery, but when you read the whole context it becomes more clear.

Ezekiel 16:38 & 40, “And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.” “They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.”

This is the only passage in the bible that points only at the woman, but if you actually look at the context of the passage, it’s talking about Jerusalem, the Harlot whom has committed adultery against God. He speaks to Jerusalem as a female. He calls them she.

So, already from the beginning of this confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees, we see an error in their theology. They shouldn’t of just brought the adulterous woman to be stoned, the man too should have been brought out who was caught in the act of adultery.

So now, we can say that in the story of David and Abimelech when connected with this account at the Mount of Olives, the scribes and Pharisees are shown to be Abimelech and Jesus Christ as King David. The scribes and pharisees sit at the gate of the true King, lie to the people and desire for themselves to be the judge and king of the land, meanwhile not knowing that they don’t really understand.

I have conviction that Jesus could of state here, the misinterpretation and only half judgement in this scenario, but instead he does this.

Jesus bent down and began writing with his finger on the ground.

While this is happening, the scribes and Pharisees continue to badger him.

Jesus, look at this sinner, will you stone her?
Jesus, look at this harlot, will you condemn her?
Jesus, look at this adulterer, will you put her to death?

He stood up, look them in the eyes and said to them a phrase that is reverberate throughout all of history and beknown by many of his followers as a sign of what is to come. The new covenant under the grace of God.

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

You want to stone her, have you lived a holy and perfect life?
You want to condemn her, have you played the harlot before God?
You want to put her to death, has Israel never committed adultery with Idols?

As they heard this, they went away one by one.

The older ones left first and the younger later. Perhaps the Older could see more clearly the sins that they have practiced and perfect in their lifetime. One by one, they left. Until all those who had stones in their hands were gone.

The only one left was a man without sin.
The only one left was Jesus Christ, who came into the world sinless and lived a sinless life.
The only one left was the only one who had the right to cast the first stone.

Only JESUS has the right to place judgment upon man, because Christ is him who is without sin.

There, Jesus was, an eerie but spectacular sight.

Jesus standing alone with the woman and he asks her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

She answered, “No one, Lord.”

There was no one, because there is none righteous, not even one.
All have fallen short of the glory of God.

But, do you see the shift in the woman? Instead of calling Jesus,
“No one, Man”
“No one, Dude.”
“No one, Sir.”

She calls him Lord. She calls him Lord Jesus Christ. She claims him as the rightful King of Kings and Lord of Lords. She recognizes who Jesus is and submits to him. She has faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

This faith is why Jesus Christ responds with, “Neither do I condemn you, Go on and sin no more.”

When we make Jesus Christ our Lord, there will be many who come to stone us for our sins and weaknesses, but whatever judgment that they cast upon us will never be correct, because the only one who had the right to put someone to death is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who is him who has no sin. This is why Jesus Christ is the judge. As a King of Kings, now only He has the power and authority to place judgement upon us.

Therefore, let us place out faith in Jesus Christ, giving him Lordship over our lives and pleasing our king by living a life of Holiness and Purity. Not for the sake of salvation, for that is sealed upon faith, but for the joy of our coming King as we await his return.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you today as harlots and adulterers. We come before you as sinners in need of the grace of God. We recognize your son Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We thank you that He is the exact imprint of you. We thank you that he demonstrates your Love to us. As we live this life, may we not be distracted with the same sins that cause you to send your perfect son to die on the cross. As we live this life, may we understand the great grace that has been shown to us and in doing so, live a life that is pure and holy, satisfying to you.

In the precious name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray AMEN.

Church in Pakistan through Whatsapp
Translated by Reverend Ravi Daniel

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has taken us from the chains of the Mosaic Law and has now bound us to the grace and mercy which flows from his Death and Resurrection.

The message for today comes from John Chapter 8 Verses 1-11.

Let us read it for you.

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Early in the morning he came again to the temple.

All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

The scribes and pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery

And placing her in the midst, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.

So what do you say?

This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

But when they heart it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones,

And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemn you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go from now on sin no more.”

The bible word for today will help you to understand who you are and what Jesus Christ has done for you. It may not seem this way at first when you hear it, but listen closely. You will understand what I mean.

Jesus, woke up early in the morning and went to the temple.

When he came inside, all the people gathered around him.

He began to teach them as he sat down.

As Jesus was teaching in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees came into the temple. These were people who normally teach in the temple. They wrote down the words of God, studied them and taught them.

Instead of coming to listen to what Jesus had to say, they came to test and trap him. They couldn’t find any fault in Jesus until now, so they though this was their chance. They knew the law very well so they thought they could trap Jesus.

How did the try to trap Jesus?

They found a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Adultery is the act of having intimate relationships with a married man, or a married woman having relationship with another man. Either way, this was a violation of Mosaic Law. It was a great sin.

They came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.”

Everyone knows that adultery is wrong.
Everyone knows that adultery is destruction.
Everyone knows that adultery causes harm and affliction.

You and I know, that if our spouse were to cheat on us, it would break out hearts and violate our commitment to each other. This is in plain sight a sin against the spouse and a sin against God.

Then the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? “

They are saying, “Jesus Christ, you claim to be the son of God, will you follow the law of God?”

Some of you may be thinking, sure if it is Mosaic Law and God said it, we should stone her. We should condemn her. We should put her to death, because we caught her in the act.

The scribes and Pharisees thought if Jesus Christ didn’t stone her,
He would be disobeying God word.
He wouldn’t be the son of God.
He wouldn’t be who claimed to be.

But, Jesus Christ showed them that he was the son of God and that he came to save the world.

How did he do that?

He bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

As he is writing on the ground, the scribes and Pharisees ask him again and again.

Jesus, Look at this adulterer, Will you stone her?
Jesus, Look at this sinner, Will you condemn her?
Jesus, Look at this harlot, Will you put her to death?

As the scribes and Pharisees place judgement upon this woman,

Jesus Christ stands up.
He looks them in the eyes.
He says to them.

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

You have come to accuse this woman, than have you lived a perfect life?
You have come to stone this woman, than have you followed the law perfectly?
You have come to condemn this woman, than are you perfect?

One by one, even the scribes and Pharisees, walk away.

Everyone realize that they are a sinner.
Everyone realize that they too should be stoned.
Everyone realize that they too should be condemned.
Everyone realize that they too should be put to death.

Why?

Because, we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God.
Among the men with stones in their hands, none were righteous, not even one.

Now, here is Jesus Christ, the only man without sin.
The only one who has the right to cast the first stone.
The only one who has the right to put her to death.

He says to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

She answers Him by saying, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus Said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go from now on sin no more.”

Now, I want to turn my attention to you.

Who do you think we are in this story?

Yes, sometimes we are the scribes and Pharisees, who accuse others of their sins and demand justice for it without realizing that we also should be judged in the same way.

But instead, we are that woman who was caught in adultery.

How many of us have worshiped false idols instead of worshiping the TRUE GOD?
How many of us have lied instead of telling the truth?
How many of us have lusted after the desires of our hearts instead of GOD?
How many of us have live selfishly as if GOD doesn’t exist?
How many of us have broken the laws as given to us by Moses?

At one time or another, all of us have sinned before God.

ALL OF US DESERVE TO BE STONED.
ALL OF US DESERVE TO BE CONDEMNED.
ALL OF US DESERVE TO BE PUT TO DEATH FOR OUR SINS.

But, Jesus Christ standing in front of us with a drawing on the ground.

He says to us, “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

We look around at each other,
We look at our neighbor,
We look at our friends,
We look at our family,

There is none righteous, there is none sinless that can cast the first stone.

We confess to Jesus, “LORD, LORD, LORD no one is left.”

And as we call Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, instead of picking up the stone and condemning us, he will forgive us and empower us to live for the glory of God.”

Therefore, don’t think about when you should come to Christ.
Do it now.
Do it at this moment.

For there is nothing to fear or nothing to change before you come to him.

Come as you are.
Come as a harlot.
Come as those with addictions
Come as those with anger issues
Come as those who worshiped false idols
Come as those who break the law of God

And when you come to Jesus
Call him Lord and he will tell you.

“Neither do I condemn you, go from now on and sin no more.”

Preached at Church in Pakistan through Streaming Video on October 1st 2021

Translated by Pastor Rav Daniel

Good afternoon and greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom has conquered all things and has prepared for us a place in the new heavens and new earth. I come in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. I’m a messenger and servant of the Lord Most High. I come to you bearing a message of truth and encouragement. May it be refreshment to your soul and strength to your spirit.

The message today comes from, Luke 6:20-23. These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on the account of the Son of Man!

Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”

When you look around the world, who do you believe in blessed?

The world tells us, the rich are blessed.
The world tells us, those who eat well and are full are blessed.
The world tells us, that those who have comfortable lives are blessed.
The world tells us, that those who are loved by everyone are blessed.

Today, Jesus is speaking to you with a hammer in hand smashing the lies of the world.

Jesus tells us, that those who are poor are blessed.
Jesus tells us, that those who are hungry are blessed.
Jesus tells us, that those who weep now are blessed.
Jesus tells us, that those who experience hatred in the world, because of faith in Jesus are blessed.

How can this be so?

How can poor be more blessed than rich?
How can hungry be more blessed than full?
How can weeping be more blessed than comfort?
How can experiencing trials and tribulations in this life be better than an easy life?

It’s because, the world doesn’t have the hope of the new heavens and new earth. The world is going to enjoy everything in it. The world says, I will have my sin. I will have my ways. I will have my enjoyment. I will do as I wish. I will live my life the way I want.

But you and I, we as Christians, we realized that we are no longer our own. We belong to Christ. We belong to Jesus, the one who died on the cross for us and paid for our sins. We live in this world, no longer part of the world, but citizens of Heaven. We are CITIZENS OF HEAVEN. This is why, our hope isn’t in this life. Our fullest joy isn’t in this life. Our greatest feast isn’t in this life, but in the next. The next life, with Jesus Christ in the new heavens and new earth.

Because we have this hope, we can endure the sufferings of today.
Because we have this hope, we can go farther than we imagined.
Because we have this hope, we will be with Jesus Christ in Paradise.

But it doesn’t end there, from our passage, the last sentence says, Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Some of you may think, this suffering is for nothing, but that isn’t true.

Jesus say, “YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN.”

YOUR EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY,
YOUR EXPERIENCE OF HUNGER,
YOUR EXPERIENCE OF WEEPING,
YOUR EXPERIENCE OF BEING HATED BY THE WORLD.

THEY WILL NOT GO VOID.
THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
THEY WILL NOT BE IGNORED.

JESUS CHRIST PROMISED US THAT WE WILL HAVE A REWARD.

YOU WILL HAVE A REWARD FOR THE PRESENT SUFFERING.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME, BUT IT WILL BECOME A CROWN ON YOUR HEAD AT THE DAY THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COME BACK.

There are those in this room, who don’t believe in Jesus Christ yet, and are suffering. You must ask yourself this question, what is the purpose of your suffering. The answer will be, there is no purpose. It is true, because without God, without faith in Jesus Christ and salvation in him, there is no hope for tomorrow, there is no hope after you die. You will suffer and die and that will be the end, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If when you hear this message, you sense in your heart that Jesus Christ is truly the son of God and you have this faith that he is the messiah, invite you to come and pray with me after this message and ask for the prayer of salvation.

There are those in this room, who do believe in Jesus Christ and are suffering. You may ask yourself this question, what is the purpose of my suffering? The answer will be, we aren’t citizens of this world, of course the world will hate us, but my God has prepared a place for me, a home, in the New Heavens and New Earth. Whatever suffering I have now is nothing compared to what God prepared for me. But that isn’t all, God will remember my suffering, he will see my affliction and on the day he calls us to our new home, we will be given something extra. We will be given a reward for our suffering. A reward that is eternal and never fading. Always there and always recognized as one who love Christ even when the pressures of the world pressed down upon us.

Therefore, Let us all have faith in Jesus Christ, hope in his second coming and suffer joyfully as we know the reward is SO GREAT IN HEAVEN!!!

Preached at Las Vegas Presbyterian Church

Sunday, August 8, 2021.

Today, we’re going to be looking at a very famous passage that I’m sure we’ve heard in the past. It’s the famous question, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”

To do this question it’s fair justice, we’ll begin looking at the person of Paul, the author who wrote this timeless question.

The Apostle Paul, author of Romans, was born in Tarsus of Cilicia which was in the southeastern part of Asia Minor. During his life, this city was the capital of the Roman Province Syria-Cilica. It was prosperous, privileged, cultured and famous for its’ schools. Paul, was considered a Hebrew of Hebrews by nationality, but somehow he was a citizen of Rome. It was a rare occurrence, for someone to be able to claim dual citizenship as a Jew and Roman. This was in fact a high honor, because the majority of those who lived in Rome weren’t even citizens. Though the majority of foreigners living in Rome were Jews at the time, most didn’t have citizenship. While not fully understanding how Pauls’ family line had received it, it was assumed that it was received for some noble act for the empire.

Paul was thoroughly a Hebrew before his conversion and call to apostleship. In fact, He was part of the “strictest sect” of Judaism, called the Pharisees. A name that we are all familiar with as opponents of Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth. Associated with such a high zealous and devout sect of Judaism, he was trained a great deal in the “Oral Law’ Torah and the Mosaic Law. He was zealous for his beliefs, YHWH and Judaism. This zeal he had in his heart for Judaism was the reason why he persecuted the early Christian church. Before his conversion and name change to PAUL, His name was Saul and he put many Christians to death.

The sight was horrific. One moment, the Christian family sitting together and sharing a meal and suddenly, the door breaks in. There is loud shouting and aggressive pushing and shoving. They aren’t even sure what is going on at first, but quickly the family members realize that they are being persecuted for having faith in Jesus Christ. They will be asked if they are Christians or not, if they believe in Jesus Christ or not. If they say yes, they will be punished for their beliefs. If they say no, their lives will be spared. What great tribulation has come upon our brothers and sisters. What suffering and distress they are going through. How easy we have it now with our freedom to believe.

Home after home, they shake their heads and rattle their brains. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God? Do you believe this blaspheme? With their body bruised and head unclear, they confess Jesus Christ as Lord. They were beaten, stripped of their possessions and dragged…

This was happening because of Saul’s zeal for Judaism. He made it his life goal to go out and wither Christianity down to nothing by persecuting it day and night. When Christians were brought into the courthouse to be voted on for the death penalty, Saul always voted yes. He chose yes, because he thought he was following God’s will.

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I case my vote against them. And I punished them often in the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Acts 26 9-11

“I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my Fathers.” Galatians 1:13

The author of this letter was the worst persecutor of the Christian Church. When we read our passage for todays sermon, I want you to remember who it is that is writing this. It will bring a profound weight to the words, and they will be life to your spirit.

As one who tried with all his being to destroy the Christian Church, this Sunday, he speaks to us with all his being to build the Christian Church, with these words from Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

I want us to see the emphasis on WHO. A person or group of people that tries to separate you from the love of Christ. Saul, the great separater. Saul, the great segregator. He grabbed hold of Christians and ran them to the ground, literally until death. A man whose life purpose was going to be the separation of man and Christ is writing to you this morning.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Saul, who became Paul, when he met Jesus. The sweet sweet Jesus. The Jesus who had great plans for this separator. The Jesus who had written down Paul’s name in the book of Life that the grace of God may abound for see in it’s full splendor and display.

Jesus doesn’t just save people who are more prone to his message.
Jesus doesn’t just save people who would have been a better person.
Jesus doesn’t save people who could of demonstrated good and noble behavior.

No, Jesus saved unconditionally.

Because if there were conditions, Paul should of failed them.
Because if there were conditions, Paul couldn’t of met them.
Because if there were conditions, Paul would have been left alone.

But instead, in the goodness and good pleasure of our heavenly Father, saved not only a friend, but now one of his greatest enemies, a separator of Christ and his church.

We see this right here, as Saul, who became Paul poses this question to us today.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Can you guys hear what I’m trying to say here?
Do you feel the weight of the words?
Do you see this fearful question turn into a preposterous one? A foolish one?
Do you see the weight of the world’s tribulation lightening and the power of God rooting in your heart?

Then he goes on to list afflictions that a man, a person, or even a conqueror can cause upon us, “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

These are the very same ways that Saul persecuted the early Christian Church. He placed the church under tribulation as he broken their front doors and forced himself into their homes. Chaos ensues while with a loud voice they threatened them with death, calling them names because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Distress, as they have lost everything on their way to court to be put to death. Persecution, such as his singling out the Christian church in hopes of dwindling them down to nothing. Famine, as the Christians were held in dire situations well under normal means. Nakedness, some because of putting up a struggle they could have been left without clothes, naked, walking in shame. Danger and sword, as he came not with words, but with threat of life.

One of the greatest persecutors of the Christian faith, turned into a Christian himself by a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ, is confessing that even in his most zealous moment, in his highest of God fearing Christian destroying frenzy, he was powerless to stop the plan of God which was prepared before the foundations of the world and set in motion by Jesus Christ, the son of God, Messiah of all nations.

The plan that would even include himself.

Something, only God can do. A miracle.

The power and gravity of this question doesn’t just rest solely upon who Paul is, but even more so with who Jesus is.

Next take a look at the next word in the question, “Separate”

Paul is asking us, “Who can SEPARATE us from the love of Jesus?”

Let’s take a moment to think about the word separate and I will show you how it’s in direct opposition to the will of God and plan of redemption for Christians.

Did you know that separation is exactly the opposite of the mission of the Father God to save the world through his son Jesus Christ? The Father God didn’t send Jesus Christ to further separate man from God. The Father God sent Jesus Christ so that he could RECONCILE us to himself.

We could even say with confidence as later stated, that the Love of Jesus Christ is actually the Love of God the Father in Him. As he has come, not to do his own will, but the will of the father. He was sent by the Father.

In order to further clarify this question, I’d change it a little to state it this way.

“Who can separate us from the love of God, The Father, made manifest in Jesus Christ through whom we were reconciled to the Father?”

As said by the greatest persecutor himself, Saul turned Paul.

Even in great tribulation
Even in unending distress
Even in persistent persecution
Even in the brutal season of famine
Even in being brought down to the point of nakedness
Even in sensing great danger for your life
Even in facing a sword drawn against you

Even when Christians are brought out of their homes and killed.
Even when Christians are gathered and slaughtered.

These are times where Christians should separate from God.

These are times where Christians should say God I’m tired of running the race I’m done.
These are times where Christians should begin to doubt.

But instead, like you have experienced and so have I…

We have inexplicable, unspeakable joy.
We have peace in times of tribulation.
We have faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

At first glance, it may seem like we did something right to get here.
When quickly looking over, it seems that this love was made manifest in myself.
I was able to make these things happen.

If this is the case, we can say that we did something to attain eternal life.

But the bible makes it clear, even the faith that we have is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

This faith that enables all that comes from being a Christian, this faith, even this is a gift. That means that the one who started your faith journey isn’t yourself, but it is God.

Do you know why this is a good thing that we didn’t start our own faith?

First of all, of course so that we have nothing to boast, but secondly so that we can even moreso put more of our faith in Christ knowing that he loved us so much that he gave us the first and only requirement of eternal life. “FAITH”

What this means is that salvation isn’t dependent on us, but rather it’s 100% dependent of Jesus Christ and his work in us. This is a good thing. Actually it’s a really good thing.

Why? Because we as humans have a tendency to mess things up. We have a tendency to break things. We have a tendency to make things more complex then it is. BUT, with Jesus Christ, it doesn’t matter, because it’s not about what we’ve done or what we may do in the future, but more so about what Jesus Christ is doing to us and through us.

Don’t believe me?

Let’s take a look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-19.

“For the love of Christ controls us.”

Let’s stop here for a minute. When you think of Faith, don’t think of you on a spinner cycle peddling away and making things happen. Instead, the truth of the matter is, When you think of Faith, you’ve been overtaken by Christ. You have been overcome by Christ. He controls you. He transforms you.

Further in the verse it says, “because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

What this means is that Christ controls us, that we may no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ who died for us. We join Christ in his death. As Christ put his body to death on the cross in place of a sinful body, so our sinful body is being put to death by Christ in this life. Just as Christ died for us, we too have died. It’s no longer we who live, but Christ in us who was raised in the tomb.

Our savior, Jesus Christ, didn’t defeat a mere human or another conqueror on earth, but rather HE DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH which would have been hellfire for eternity. The scope of Christ work isn’t natural, but supernatural. The victory we receive in Christ, it isn’t merely natural, but supernatural. This is why our question this morning erodes even more.

Dear brother and sister, listen close to the words of Paul in our passage this morning.

“In all these things, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us.”

The scope of the victory of Jesus Christ is so large, that whatever battle may seem to be of no hope and defeat, whatever schemes of the enemy that you must endure, it’s just a moment in the grand scheme of Christ victory on the Cross. We may suffer defeat or even endure heavy pressure, but the war has been won. The victory has been secured and accomplished by Jesus Christ, the son of God.

This is another reason why we can have peace and joy in times of hardship and trials. As believers of Jesus Christ, we have confidence that He has conquered sin and death. In this, we’re able to take on our trials knowing that what is waiting for us in the next life in the new heavens and new earth is surpassing in glory compared to whatever tribulation, distress, trial, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword that we can experience in this life.

Let’s take encouragement from the words of Jesus Christ in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus Christ has overcome the world, therefore we have become more than conquerors, for conquerors may be able to fight against flesh and blood, but, in Christ, we have defeat sin and death! No man has ever been able to conqueror this other than Jesus Christ, the son of God!

This is why Paul presses on and makes this claim even larger. He writes, “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

When we put the two together, that the one we believe in is the son of God who was promised by the Father throughout the Old Testament. This God isn’t any God of million Gods, but the God, the only God who created the world.

Who shall separate the creator God from his children?

As I was studying, doing word studying in my bible program, I came upon a very interesting observation that I’m not sure if it’s been pointed out yet, at least I haven’t seen it myself. As I was doing study on the love of God, I came upon the word Steadfast. I quickly remembered the song, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. New every morning. Great is thy faithfulness Oh Lord. Great is thy faithfulness.”

Then I looked up the word “Steadfast” to see what kind of phrases would come in the Old Testament.

I though it would be phrases such as, “ISRAEL, YOU ARE NOT STEADFAST.” Or, “ISRAEL, YOU MUST BE STEADFAST” Or, “ISRAEL, STEADFAST BE GOOD.”

But I didn’t see any of that. In fact, 99.99% of the word steadfast in the old testament is linked with the word love. “Steadfast love” Steadfast comes out 202 times in the old testament. “Steadfast love is 194 of those 202.

In all of the Old Testament, God placed the law before them. The purpose of the law wasn’t to give them life, but to expose their sinfulness. In all of the Old Testament, their sins are exposed, sacrificial festivals are in place to cleanses them, God is so disappointed in them, he is constantly punishing them. But all the while, we thing, OLD TESTAMENT IS SO WORK ORIENTED 100% WORK BASED, this isn’t true.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord was faithful to them. All throughout Genesis all the way to the book of Micah, The Heavenly Father uses the phrase, “Steadfast love” again and again again.

The love of the Heavenly Father has been Steadfast since Genesis. He is still steadfast now. He will be steadfast for eternity. It’s the nature of the Heavenly Father. He is true, he speak truth and keeps promises.

I could phrase it this way, “Who can separate us from the steadfast love of the Father?”

Paul writes in verses 38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Notice the shift in Paul’s answer from the Love of Christ to the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When we look deeper into Christ love, we realize that it was the Father’s love. He is the exact imprint of the Father.

Hebrews 1:2, “But in these last days he has spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Be encourage today, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

This Faith we have, at times we may feel like it’s on wobbly ground or even that it may not survive. It may be scary in times of disbelief or doubt, but the bible is clear that the author of our faith isn’t ourselves. In fact, it isn’t based upon anything that we’ve done or will do. Everything is based upon the redemptive work of the Father as set forth from the foundations of the world, that he would send his own son to die on the cross for the sins of the world in order that those who believe in Him may be forgiven and have eternal life. This faith that we have, even that is a gift. We didn’t bring anything to the table. This should give you confidence in your faith, it should give you more thankfulness in your heart to God. It’s not that we loved God first, but God first loved us.

As we have heard all these things, I ask you once again this question, I hope to God that this message has given you more confidence to know what is the answer…

“Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”

No one and nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ.

We are, inseparable.

Preached at Las Vegas Presbyterian Church English Ministry

Sunday, July 11, 2021.

I was blessed at a young age to hear about and have faith in Jesus Christ. I came to know my savior at the tender age of 5. When I think about my childhood, I consider it to be particular or interesting to say the least. For example, When others had invisible friends, my friend was invisible, His name was Jesus. At that time and even now, I can say that I’ve never met Jesus face to face. I’ve never held his hand or even heard his audible voice. How then did I get to know Jesus? Well, I heard the good news and believed gospel as taught by my pastors and teachers.

As with most children, there was a tendency to think that I knew everything or at least most of what needs to be known. It’s funny how, the less we know, the more we think we know and the more that we know, the more we realize there is so much to learn. One of my childish misinterpretation of the bible came from a passage that I kept very dearly to my heart. I’m sure many of you have heard it before. It goes like this, “Trust in the Lord with ALL your HEART, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.”

He will make straight your path.

When I read this verse, I thought that I unlocked the key to living a prosperous and happy life. This is it! I found it!

If I believe in Jesus Christ with all my heart.
and If I trust in God’s wisdom and not my own.
and and If I give glory to God in all that I do.
then God will bless me and I will be prosperous in all I do.

So that’s what I did, from a young age I didn’t consider my thoughts very important compared to the thoughts of God. I would many times look down at myself and remind myself that God’s ways are higher than my ways. Whenever something good happened, I was quick to acknowledge that God was the reason that any good happened. Whenever anyone came to me to told me that they were blessed by the sermon or they were touched by the spirit, I immediately responded “Glory to God!” I did these things, because I thought if I do this, God will bless me in this life. He will give to me the desires of my heart and all will know that I am blessed by God.

On the surface, some of you may be saying Amen. Yeah, that sounds right. If I live a good life Holy and Pleasing to God, He will make my path straight. All those problems I have in my life, God is going to fix them. Whatever obstacles that may be in the way of my financial blessing, God will demolish them. My life will be a straight path to blessing.

I would say that the problem we Christians face today is that when we think of God making our path straight, it’s as if we met a leprechaun with a rainbow that leads to a pot of gold. What a grave and dangerous error which leads to many false expectations and painful disappointments…hmm

Now, as an older Christian man, with more experience and a clearer understanding of redemptive history, I have come to realize the grave nature of my theological error and embrace the truth of the Gospel.

The straight path of Christian life isn’t about ever increasing personal worth.
The straight path of Christian life isn’t about you getting perfect grades.
The straight path of Christian life isn’t about you getting that promotion.

The straight path of Christian life is about believing in someone you haven’t met.
The straight path of Christian life is about following the footsteps of Christ suffering.
The straight path of Christian life is about finding joy where it is impossible.

The apostle Peter wrote a letter to the churches of Asia Minor. The church was bold for Christ and experienced suffering and persecution. Scholars have concluded that this letter was written to new Jewish converts to the Christian faith, because of the many references to the Old Testament. These new believers were excluded from their families and communities because of their faith. They were suffering from a loss of community and familiarity. They were suffering from a community that turned on them and tried to find ways to entangle them in court. This church was beaten and battered, but still standing and walking.

They followed Christ to the straight path.

The world doesn’t like the straight path. It’s too restrictive and boring. There is nothing to do. Of course, the world will hate the straight path, because it’s core is bent. Sinful nature doesn’t want to be clamped down by morality, rather it would like to have every detour, every exit, every side door, every possibility open for access. The straight path is too narrow, too divisive, too judgmental.

Our passage from 1 Peter 1:8-9 is from the introduction of the letter to the churches of Asia Minor. As we read this introduction, consider the background of what is going on. These are new churches that were planted after Christ’s work on the cross. They never saw Jesus with their own eyes, but they were taught by the Apostles. This change of religion caused a divide and retaliation from within the community. Whether it was the Jewish family members, Jewish friends or even the Romans, no one was on their side. Everyone was against them.

Please follow along as I read from 1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. Obtaining the outcome of your faith; The salvation of your souls.”

Off the bat, some similarities we share with the church of Asia Minor are.

1. They believed in Jesus, based upon the preaching and writings of the Apostles.
2. They were experiencing persecution and suffering.
3. They weren’t eye witnesses of Jesus. In fact, they were one of the first few converts that believed in Jesus from preaching and teaching.

Peter makes this point clearly. He writes to them in two different tenses. In the past tense, “You have not seen him.” and in the present tense, “You do not now see him.” When looking at the Greek word to see (Idontes) to go to visit, to experience or to catch a glimpse of. These Christians have never went to visit Jesus, they never experienced Jesus presence in the flesh and no they didn’t see even a glimpse of him. They didn’t have evidence of the existence of Christ. We think that if we just see Jesus Christ in the flesh, everyone will believe.

But, that isn’t true.

When Jesus came to do ministry on earth, he was performing miracles, signs and wonders. Healing the sick, casting out demons, walking on water, changing water into wine. The Jews and their leaders saw Jesus Christ their messiah in front of them. Something that we should learn here is to stop believing in the false pretense that if Jesus Christ were to show up, everyone would believe in him. What we see is that with a stiff-neck hardened heart people, seeing isn’t believing. “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still didn’t believe.”

This is how hard it is to believe in Jesus Christ.

Not only did they not believe, but they didn’t want anyone to believe in Jesus Christ. The Jews were worried that if everyone were to believe in Jesus than the Romans would side with the Christians and overthrow the Jews. This turned into some kind of cosmic power struggle between Jewish leaders and the son of God. John 11:48 makes this clear, “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

So here on a side study with the Jews, we see that even when they saw him, they didn’t believe. On top of that, when they did see his miracles, they were afraid everyone else would believe in him. (Except for themselves of course).

The persecution did not end there. When Jesus Christ was suffering at the cross under Pontius pilot, they mocked him by saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”

So here we are, The Jews and their leaders, they SAW. They went to go visit. They experienced the presence. They caught a glimpse of Christ. They saw and didn’t believe.

Yet, here we are, brother and sisters in Christ. We find our familiarity, not with the disbelief of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but with the suffering churches of Asia Minor which believe in Jesus without seeing him. The church of Asian Minor, they don’t have any power. They don’t have any influence. They aren’t on the upper hand. They aren’t the elites.

These are ordinary people that if you were to ask of their faith, they should be trembling with fear and denying God, but instead we ask these questions.

“Even though you never seen Jesus, do you love him?”

“Even though you never seen Jesus, do you believe in him?”

They call back with a resound voice as loud as thunder, “YES YES YES!”

But Peter doesn’t stop there.

He writes about rejoicing in Jesus.

He isn’t talking about any type of rejoicing.

He isn’t talking about the, “You hit a home run, the ball is flying out the stadium, run run run!’
He isn’t talking about the, “You got straight A’s, honor roll and suma cum laud”
He isn’t talking about the, “You were first place in the marathon.”

He’s talking about the, “You hit rock bottom, but you keep on walking.”
He’s talking about the, “Devils’ temptations to your left and right.”
He’s talking about the, “Your significant other cheated on you.”
He’s talking about the, “Your children are fighting with each other.”
He’s talking about the, “The world being more and more secular.”
He’s talking about the, “Your parents are fighting.”

Peter describes this kind of joy as aneklaleytos (eklaleo) which means, “not of a nature to be adequately express’ inexpressible, too intense for words, some translations use the word unspeakable. It’s the kind of joy that we find in life during trials and suffering. I like how Peter uses the word inexplicable. It cannot be explained with words.

You may be thinking, what is this joy? What is the source of this joy?

It’s becomes clearer when we read 1 Peter 1:6, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuinsess of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Christ.

1. The trials we go through aren’t meaningless, but meaningful.
2. If we pass the test, it will bring praise and glory and honor to God on the day of the Lord.

I have joy in my current trials, for I know as I pass with the strength of Christ, on the day of the Lord, all my pain and suffering will bring glory my Father on High. To know that in my little life, I was able to bring praise and glory and honor to God is a blessing of eternity. It’s a crown of eternity. I’d wear it on my head so joyful and glad that I made it through the impossible. God gave me strength! God is with me!

The passage goes on to say, “Filled with glory.”

We are filled with glory. We are filled with the presence of God and we radiate God to others. As we find joy in the hardest of situations, this isn’t merely an intellectual or emotional exercise. It isn’t that you have mastered the mind and the art of being happy.  It’s because God has turned you into His temple, given you a plan and a purpose and it carrying it out to completion in your life. You are being transformed from your state of being deformed.

As we journey as Christians, it’s easy to think that good works = prosperity and success in life, but Christ shows us that this life isn’t marked with prosperity, but with suffering for righteousness which results in the praise and honor and glory of our God.

On the day of the LORD, we will see those who are truly blessed and what it really means to prosper in this life. So many of us have been lied to or even tricked by the media to think that “blessed” or “blessings” is fame, power, money and beauty. This may even confuse us to think that we aren’t blessed, because God didn’t give us these things. Or are lacking in those ways. How feeble the human mind can be. How foolish we are to consider our own wisdom.

The world may have it’s own definition of blessed, but I’ll take Jesus’ definition.

In closing, I leave you with the words of Christ from John 20:26,

“Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”