Author: Anna

  • Hebrews 2:1

    “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

    The author of Hebrews is unknown but we know that God inspired him, just as He inspired the authors of the other books in the Bible. Also, the book of Hebrews was written for the Jews who had accepted Jesus as their Messiah. These Jewish believers were in real danger of slipping back into the old traditions of Judaism because of their familiarity with the customs and the traditions they had been practice through out their lives. They had been taught that a person comes to God by keeping the law yet no one can ever be justified by the law. Only the Lord Jesus can justify the law and bring us to God through what He did for us on the cross. They needed to place their trust in Jesus alone.

    When the Scripture uses the word Therefore it means the reader must pay close attention to what the writer is about to say. The next words call us to receive the message with undivided attention. Our mind our heart and our soul must be ready to hear. This helps us understand why he then says we must give the more earnest heed.

    So we ask what had they heard that required such a strong call to undivided attention. The message they had heard was the gospel of Jesus who brought salvation to every one of us.

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭

    Beloved, this is why hearing is of such great importance. For our Lord Jesus often declared, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” He spoke these words again and again, as though to open our understanding, showing us that hearing is the very doorway through which faith is born and begins to grow. For it is written, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). And even in the book of Revelation, Jesus repeats this same call to every church, testifying to us how serious and vital hearing is. By hearing the gospel, we respond to salvation, for how can a person respond to the good news unless it first reaches their ears and enters the heart?

    When we were children and our parents called out to us, it was through hearing that we were able to respond. But there were times when we ignored their voice, and that neglect brought us into trouble, and at times even into harm. In the same way, the gospel calls to us today, and we respond only when we give our undivided attention to hear the word of salvation. This is why the Scripture says, “Many are called, but few are chosen,” For many are called to respond to the gospel’s invitation, but only a few truly respond. And do we not see this in our day? Many give little attention when the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, even though this message only will brings salvation and passes us from death into life. For again it is written, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).

    Jesus shows us the danger of not giving our full attention when the gospel is preached through His parable of the sower. He spoke of different kinds of soil: some along the wayside, some on stony ground, some among thorns, and some on good ground. He explained that the devil comes and takes the word of God from the heart of the one who hears but does not understand. Another person hears, yet the troubles and pressures of life pull the word away. Another hears, but when persecution arises, the word is driven out and cannot grow. But the one who receives the word as good soil receives seed brings forth fruit, because he gives careful and earnest attention to what he has heard.

    Therefore hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold some sixty some thirty. Mathew 13:18-23

    The parable of the sower shows us why we must give earnest heed “our full and undivided attention” when we hear the gospel. For only the gospel of Jesus Christ is what saves us from eternal condemnation in hell, there is no other way. But because the devil desires that we join him in destruction, he works to distract us whenever we do not hold and prioritize the words of salvation with all seriousness.

    The devil will send the cares of this world to pull our focus away from God, and before we are even aware of it, we begin to drift from the word of life. Our minds become fixed on our own needs rather than on the God who not only gives us salvation but also promises to provide for every need we have. And how many Christians, without realizing it, exchange their faith in God for the temporary riches of this world?

    And the devil sends persecution as well, putting fear into the heart—fear of being mocked, shamed, humiliated, rejected, or even harmed. Slowly, this fear can cause us to run from the word of life. We see this in Scripture: Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times out of fear (Matthew 26:69–75). And in the early church, some believers betrayed their own brethren to save themselves from suffering, just as Jesus warned, “Brother will betray brother to death” (Mark 13:12). Fear can make a person step back from Christ simply because the path becomes uncomfortable. Yet the Lord told us beforehand, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). And He comforts us saying, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28).

    But some hear the word and receive it with earnest heed. We allow the word of life to be planted deeply, rooted and grounded. So that nothing the devil does can pull it out. We trust God to provide for all our needs, remembering that “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). We are not afraid of persecution, because we understand that the Lord Jesus Himself was first hated and persecuted by the world. He said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). This becomes a sign that we are walking as He walked, for “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

    For us, death is not something to fear, for is a path that transitions us from this life into the presence of the LORD Jesus before His coming. As Paul declared, “to depart and be with Christ… is far better” (Philippians 1:23). To be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). And once we are with Him, we will dwell in His kingdom forever, where “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying… for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

    This was written to the Jewish believers, who grew up believing that by fulfilling the law they would obtain salvation. Yet even to this day, many people create their own ways in hopes of receiving salvation. But what we hold is our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, For it is written, “by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2). And the Lord Jesus Himself warns us, saying, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Knowing that through Him and Him alone. We all must be saved! 

    But if we do not hold tightly to the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we begin to drift away. Many say, “Once saved, always saved,” and that is true if you never let go of Jesus. For salvation is found in Him alone, and He said, “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Salvation is secure in Christ, but we must remain in Him, as it is written, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). This is why we must watch, pray, and continue reading the Scriptures not to earn salvation, but to stay awake, to guard our hearts, and to remain aware so that we do not drift away from the word of salvation that saves our souls. For the author of Hebrews warns us,“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).

  • Romans 6:1 

    “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” – Romans 6:1 

    Many people have twisted this Scripture and used it as an excuse to continue living in sin, as though Paul were giving them permission. They claim that the more they sin, the more grace they will receive (Romans 5:20). But before anyone makes such a conclusion, we must understand what sin truly is and how it affects our lives, and we must also understand what grace is and how the grace of God transforms and improves our lives.

    Isaiah wrote that,

    “But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you.” – Isaiah 59:2

    Sin is a choice. This we must always remember. Sin is our decision to disobey the Word of God. It is not something forced upon us, it is something we choose. And every choice to sin is a choice to turn away from the God who created us.

    Sin separates us from God because sin is the enemy of God. Anything that is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) is a transgression against God, for every act of sin goes against His nature. God alone is the source of all goodness, righteousness, and justice, and when we sin, we rebel against who He is. The penalty for anyone who commits sin is death (Romans 6:23). When we die [speaking of physical death], which is the first death that separated from the eternal God. Physical death we knew is the result of sin, limiting us from living eternally with God in our mortal bodies. But beyond this, all who die without believing in and receiving the LORD Jesus Christ will face final judgment and be cast into the fire that never ends. This is eternal separation from God, the full and final consequence of sin the second death. Many believe that hell is only a place of fire and torment, but do we not see that living in sin is already a form of torment and suffering here on earth?

    Look at the outcome of sin in every human being life:

    When a person lies, the situation may seem temporarily covered, but the damage it creates is far greater. A lie may offer a quick escape, yet it plants seeds of distrust that can last a lifetime. What was meant as a “solution” becomes the very thing that breaks relationships, destroys credibility, and corrupts the heart. “A lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19), but the wounds it causes endure.

    When the heart is filled with covetousness always longing for what belongs to another there is no peace, only emptiness, restlessness, and dissatisfaction. Covetousness is a thief of joy, a disease of the soul.

    When people chase wealth above all else, they may gather riches, but they remain hollow inside. Jesus Himself asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). The love of money never satisfies, it devours them.

    Sexual sin bears bitter outcome. Sleeping with someone outside of marriage destroys purity, scars the heart, shatters families, and corrupts the foundation of society. What God created as holy becomes defiled when taken outside His design.

    Today, sin is not only practiced, it is celebrated! Lust is normalized. Pornography is accessible, affordable, and aggressively promoted. And the rise of sexual abuse is undeniable evidence of what happens when a society rejects the Word of God and embraces darkness. 

    Even same-sex relationships, though praised by the world, pull a person away from the identity God gave them. They rob purity, distort purpose, and turn hearts away from the truth of who the Creator designed them to be. The world may call it love, but the Word of God exposes it as deception that leads away from Him.

    So then, does sin bring us any good? The answer is unmistakably clear. Just look at the world around us, the chaos, the confusion, the brokenness. Sin brings no good thing. Sin slowly kills us, destroys us, corrupts us, blinds us, and separates us from the God who loves us with an everlasting love.

    If sin kills, then how can we continue in something that kills?

    If sin destroys, how can we remain in something that destroys?

    If sin corrupts, how can we cling to something that corrupts?

    If sin blinds, how can we walk in something that blinds?

    If sin separates, how can we stay in something that separates us from Jesus, the One who bled and died for us on the cross and rose again?

    What makes you think that God who is holy, righteous, and full of love would ever love the very thing that kills, destroys, corrupts, blinds, and separates us from Him?

    Now I am asking you just as Paul asked, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

    You know why some teachers do not like to teach on grace? Because many people have twisted grace into a license for sin, using it to excuse and justify their wrong choices. But what does grace truly mean? Grace means that God extends His mercy to every one of us who chose sin, who chose to turn away from Him, who were willing whether knowingly or unknowingly to live separated from Him. Grace means that even when we were walking in a lifetime of torment and suffering because of our own rebellion, God still desired us to be with Him once more.

    For us to be with Him, we must receive the truth that we cannot restore ourselves, nor we cannot save ourselves. Sin blinds us. Sin corrupts us. Sin cripples us. And because God is a righteous judge, He cannot simply ignore sin or erase it without justice for that He cannot deny His own holiness. Therefore, in His grace, God did what we could never do. He placed our sins upon the body of Jesus Christ. As it is written, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Grace means that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Grace means that God loved us so deeply that, though we were undeserving, He granted us pardon for all our offenses and invited us to receive eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.

    Grace opens the door back into God’s presence.

    Grace brings reconciliation.

    Grace restores what sin has shattered.

    God’s grace restores life. (John 10:10)

    God’s grace restores identity and gives all of us a new beginning. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    God’s grace restores marriages and families. (Malachi 4:6)

    God’s grace heals broken relationships. (1 Peter 4:8)

    God’s grace gives freely with no expectation of repayment. (Matthew 10:8)

    God’s grace transforms the heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

    God’s grace breaks chains and bondage. (John 8:36)

    God’s grace empowers forgiveness for those who don’t deserve it (Ephesians 4:32)

    God’s grace is not earned by good works. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

    God’s grace teaches us to reject sin. (Titus 2:11–12)

    God’s grace strengthens us in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

    God’s grace keeps us until the end. (Philippians 1:6)

    The grace of God is something far beyond human comprehension. God is love, and His love stretches higher, deeper, wider, and longer than our minds can ever fathom. As it is written:

    “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭

    No one who truly understands the greater love of Jesus will continue living in sin. As it is written,“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Anyone who claims to know Jesus while refusing to obey Him is speaking lies.

  • Titus 1:16

    “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” – Titus 1:16

    Paul left Titus in Crete, the largest island of Greece, and gave him the task of appointing elders and leaders for the churches in each city. We also know that Titus was a Greek (Galatians 2:3). Yet the Book of Acts never tells us where, when, or how Paul first met him. Even so, Titus was clearly well known among the apostles, for he was with Paul in Galatia when Paul publicly confronted Peter (Galatians 2:1–3, 11–14).

    We also do not know exactly when Paul first arrived in Crete, but his words in the book of Titus make it clear that he and Titus had been there together. When Paul said he ‘left’ Titus in Crete (Titus 1:5), it shows that they had ministered side by side, traveling through the island, evangelizing and strengthening the churches. We also to know Titus through Paul’s epistles, where his name appears again and again. Paul calls him his ‘partner and fellow worker’ (2 Corinthians 8:23) and speaks of how Titus encouraged and uplifted the believers (2 Corinthians 7:6–7, 13–14). Now Paul begins to give Titus the instructions he will need as how he will appoints leaders for the churches in Crete.

    When Paul wrote, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him”, he was describing a kind of person we all recognize, people who claim to know God, yet their lives show no evidence of Him. Their words say one thing, but their actions reveal something very different. Many claim to know the Lord, yet Jesus Himself said, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16). Paul is teaching Titus that the way to discern whether someone truly knows God is by looking at the fruit of their life. The way a person lives is the evidence of God’s presence upon them. If we are truly children of God, then our character should reflect His character. Paul warned Titus to be cautious as he appointed elders in Crete, for leadership in the church must never rest on empty words but on lives that demonstrate the transforming power of God.

    But how can a man or a woman be qualified to lead in the church according to God’s qualifications and not merely man’s qualifications?

    Being qualified for church leadership has nothing to do with giftedness. Paul did not tell Titus, “Choose the most gifted men.” Gifts come from the Holy Spirit, “dividing to every man severally as He will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God can give gifts in a moment we received Him, but godly character is formed over time through obedience, humility, and close fellowship with our LORD Jesus Christ.

    What truly qualifies a man for leadership is godly character, and Paul gives clear qualifications in Titus 1:6–9. These are God’s requirements, not man’s. Yet today, many think a man is ready for ministry simply because he attended seminary or earned a degree from seminary. But Scripture does not say, “A bishop must be a graduate,” or, “He must be eloquent.” Paul taught that he must be blameless, sober-minded, just, holy, and holding fast the faithful word (Titus 1:6–9).

    Being a smooth speaker does not qualify a man for leadership, for Paul said he came “not with excellency of speech” (1 Corinthians 2:1). Possessing natural or spiritual gifts does not qualify him either, for “though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels… and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1–2). Even giving money or activeness in ministry does not make a man fit to shepherd God’s flock. These things may be good, but they are not the measure of a leader fit in God’s qualification.

    A leader or member in the church must not only know God, for even the devil believes in God, yet his works are evil. As it is written, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2:4). The Word of God must be evident in the way we act, think, speak, and treat others. When a disciple truly knows the Lord, the Lord knows him as well, and His power begins to work in that person’s life. Transformation follows, because no one walks closely with Jesus and remains the same. As it is written, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”(2 Corinthians 5:17)

    Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus after Jesus had risen, He walked with them and opened the Scriptures, and they said, “Did not our heart burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). This is what happens when we truly know and walk with our LORD Jesus Christ. Our hearts are stirred, our lives are changed, and godly character begins to take shape within us, because the Holy Spirit is already at work in us (Philippians 2:13).

    This is where we begin to understand what Paul meant when he said such people are “abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work”. The word abominable carries the idea of being detestable, polluted, unclean, even defiled by idolatry. How can anyone lead the church of the living God if he has not truly known Him nor served Him with a pure heart? Scripture is filled with warnings of what happens when someone holds a position without walking with God. Consider the kings of Israel who led God’s people into idolatry. By turning their hearts from the one true God, they caused the nation to sin with them. And because they refused to repent and return to the LORD, Israel was taken away into captivity by the Assyrians.

    The word disobedient means one who is unpersuadable, stubborn, unwilling to submit, or resistant to correction. How can a man lead God’s people into obedience if he himself refuses to obey the Lord? consider the life of king Saul? God gave him clear instructions, yet Saul chose partial obedience which is disobedience before God. When confronted, he justified his actions instead of repenting. Because he rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD rejected him from being king (1 Samuel 15:22–23). 

    When these qualities are present, they make a person disqualified for every good work both within the church and outside of it. How many Christians, instead of drawing people closer to God, become a stumbling block that turns others away from believing in Him? And if this can happen among ordinary believers, how much more dangerous it is when it happens in the life of a leader. Leaders in the church are not called to hold a position to impress people or to appear spiritual before others. They are called to lead the people of God closer to Him, not farther away. Their lives must point others to our LORD Jesus Christ, not distract them from Him.

  • 1 Timothy 4:15 

    “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” – 1 Timothy 4:15 

    Paul was writing from prison in Rome, and he was beginning to pass his mantle to Timothy. The work God was placing in Timothy’s hands would not be easy. Timothy was being entrusted to watch over the churches Paul had planted, to care for them faithfully, and to carry on the ministry that had begun through Paul’s own hardship and suffering.

    When Paul says, “Meditate on these things,” he is telling Timothy to meditate on the Word of God. Just a few verses earlier, Paul had already said, “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” In other words, Timothy must fill his heart and mind with Scripture. As it is written, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua was preparing to lead Israel into physical battles so they could possess the promised land. Timothy, on the other hand, was being entrusted to lead the churches of God toward the true Promised Land—the kingdom of God. One fight was physical, the other spiritual. Yet both men needed the same foundation: they had to be deeply rooted in the Word of God. Only the Word could guide them, equip them, and protect the people they were called to lead.

    To be immersed in the Word means to know God—to understand His nature, His character, His will, His commandments, and His ways. Without reading and meditating on Scripture, a person cannot truly know God or walk closely with Him. Familiarity with His Word strengthens our fellowship with Him, for His Word is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” His Word guides us to make decisions that are pleasing in His sight, especially when dealing with His people. As the apostles declared their priority, , “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4).”

    For ministers, this calling is even more serious. We must be consistent and faithful in reading, meditating on, and studying the Word of God. The people we minister to are the people of God, those He purchased with the precious blood of our LORD Jesus Christ. They do not need our opinions, they need the living Word of God, for only His Word brings life to their being. God’s Word is also our sword, because it is the truth. And when we stand upon the truth, no lie of the devil can stand. The Scriptures sharpen our discernment, expose deception, overcome falsehood, and strengthen us to stand firm in the calling that God has placed upon our lives.

    Paul did not end by saying only to meditate on these things, he went further and said, give yourself entirely to them, It is not enough to read the Scriptures, we must take them in, embrace them, and let the Words of God transforms our whole being. The Lord Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Just as natural food nourishes the body, the Word of God nourishes the spirit. Bread strengthens the flesh, but Scripture strengthens the inner man.

    Let me share from my own life as a minister. In my eagerness to serve God, I often found that my character had not yet been shaped for the weight of the work. But when I began to read and meditate on the Scriptures especially the life of Moses. God started to reveal so much to me through Moses’ walk with God, He brought correction, instruction, and understanding into my heart. Moses was leading Israel toward the Promised Land, yet the very people he served continually murmured against him. They doubted him, questioned his God-given authority, and even talked of stoning him. Still, every time they sinned against God, Moses fell on his face and prayed for them. He interceded for the very people who wounded him. He stood in the gap for those who opposed him.

    Moses didn’t just read the Word of God. He gave himself wholly to what the Word required. The Word transformed his heart until his character reflected the very heart of God.

    I truly desired to serve God, but the Lord had to teach me something deeper. Desire is good, but He needed to correct my understanding of what it really means to serve Him and He did it through His Word. He showed me that serving Him is not about choosing what I prefer or what feels comfortable. To serve Him means giving my whole self to Him and to the people He has entrusted to me even when those very people may hate me, despise me, or question me.

    God made me understand that ministry is not shaped around my comfort or my preference. Ministry is about fulfilling the assignment He has entrusted to me, and that assignment can only be accomplished by walking in obedience to His Word. This is what Paul meant when he told Timothy not only to meditate on the Scriptures, but to “give thyself wholly to them.” The Word of God is God’s communication to us, and whatever He speaks, we must do despite how we feel, despite the cost, and despite the circumstances that surround us.

    That is why Paul also said to Timothy, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Paul was not asking Timothy to do something he himself had not lived. This was Paul’s own life.  In word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity, he walked before God with a clean and obedient heart. None of God’s words fell to the ground in his life. Whatever God commanded, Paul obeyed. Whatever God required, Paul fulfilled. He lived to please God, and he pressed forward to finish the calling the Lord had placed upon him. And Paul was urging Timothy to walk in that same example just as we also are called to do.

    Here we begin to understand why Paul said to Timothy, “that your progress may be evident to all.” Whatever we do in private will eventually be seen in public. For it is written, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad” (Luke 8:17). And again, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). What fills the heart will come out through the lips. What we practice in private will show in our actions. What we feed our spirit with will shape the way we walk. If the Word of God is shaping us in the secret place, then the fruit of that Word will be seen openly.

    So when we give our whole being to reading the Word, meditating on the Word, and living in the Word of God, that work of God in us will become unmistakably evident to all. The life of a person who truly walks with God cannot be hidden. The fruit of the Word will reveal in our character, in our conduct, in our speech, in our attitude, and in the way we live before others.

    As it is written,

    “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” I John‬ ‭2:3-6‬ ‭

  • II Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – II Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    For us to understand why Paul spoke these words to Timothy, we must consider the context of Paul’s situation and what Timothy was about to face. When Paul wrote Second Timothy, he knew that the hour of his departure was very near. He said plainly, “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6–7). Paul understood that his earthly race was almost over, yet he also knew that much work still needed to be done for the body of Christ.

    So when Paul said to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear…” he was not speaking theory. He was speaking from his walk with God. Paul knew what it meant to face persecution. He knew the pain of being beaten, stoned, imprisoned, hated, betrayed, shipwrecked, and nearly killed. He wrote, “In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often” (2 Corinthians 11:23). None of these trials discouraged Paul. Instead, they strengthened him. Every hardship pushed him deeper into the will of God. And why was this so? Because of the Holy Spirit who dwelt in him. The Holy Spirit gave Paul the power to accomplish everything the Lord appointed him to do. The Spirit strengthened his hands, sustained his body, and filled his heart with courage.

    The Holy Spirit also poured love into Paul’s heart, as it is written, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). His love for the brethren are poured out by the Holy Spirit, a love that moved him to serve with patience, grace, and mercy. This love compelled Paul to endure all things for the sake of God’s people. And the Holy Spirit reigned with peace in Paul’s mind and heart. This was that peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guarding his heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). 

    Paul Speaks of the Time of His Departure

    Now we understand where Paul is coming from, and now we see where he is going as he speaks these words to Timothy. Paul was close to death, and he was fully aware of the suffering Timothy was enduring. He reminded Timothy that he was “mindful of your tears” (2 Timothy 1:4). As a young maidservant of the Lord, I know that serving in the church is not an easy task. How much more for Timothy, a young minister carrying such enormous responsibility.

    Timothy had been charged by Paul to shepherd the church in Ephesus. A church surrounded by opposition, troubled by false doctrines, filled with souls needing guidance, and requiring a steady hand to lead them in the way of truth (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul knew exactly how heavy this responsibility was. He understood the weight of pastoring, the spiritual battles that come with leadership, and the daily concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28). And now Paul who had shared the same mind, the same heart, and the same spirit with Timothy was leaving.

    Anyone who has served in ministry understands how heavy this burden can be. When a brother who has walked beside you, who guided you, nurtured you, and sharpened your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ begins to fade from this life, it brings sorrow to the heart. Paul knew that he had been a spiritual father to Timothy. He trained him, instructed him, strengthened him, and showed him how to carry out the work of God with faithfulness and fearlessness.

    And Paul also knew that his departure would be discouraging to Timothy. Timothy would lose not only a beloved brother in Christ, but also the one who had mentored him from his youth, the one who helped him discern the will of God, the one who stood beside him in the ministry.

    The Mantle and Its Burden.

    Because of this, Timothy understood the burden laid upon him. He knew he was not being called to a position, but to a entrust to him a people of God. He recognized that this calling was far greater than simply preaching sermons or teaching doctrine. He was being entrusted with precious souls purchased “not with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The price paid for our salvation was nothing less than the life of the Lord Jesus Himself. And the Lord declared the worth of a soul when He said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). One soul outweighs all the treasures of earth. If a servant of God truly understands this, he will also understand the holy burden that comes with ministry. It is a burden that only the Spirit of God can help a man bear.

    Timothy understand that we are not merely taking care of the flock. As a shepherd, he must guide them in the way of truth, guard them diligently, and protect them from every form of error. The Holy Spirit had already spoken plainly to Paul concerning the future of the church, saying, “In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). With this prophecy in mind, Paul understood well the kind of battles Timothy would face once he was gone. But added to this burden were the expectations of the people. Many often forget that pastors and ministers are human beings, carrying their own weaknesses and limitations. Timothy himself had his frailties, and for that reason Paul instructed him so that no one would despise his youth or dismiss his authority (1 Timothy 4:12). Paul knew Timothy would need courage to stand firm, for he was still young, and the weight of leadership can lie heavily upon the young.

    Timothy also lived in perilous days, when persecution was a constant reality. Fear surrounded the church. Brethren betrayed one another in an attempt to save their own lives. False teachings spread like wildfire, false prophets rose up in abundance, and confusion swept through many congregations. The pressure resting upon Timothy as a young overseer was truly great. And yet Timothy understood that he must one day present these souls entrusted to him before the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul described this sacred duty when he said, “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). Simply writing these things already makes my own heart feel the weight of the burden. If it burdens us just to read it, how much more must Timothy have felt it upon his shoulders?

    The Message Paul Longed Timothy to Grasp

    Paul was fully aware of the fear rising in Timothy’s heart. He knew exactly how heavy the responsibility was that he was placing into Timothy’s hands. Yet Paul encouraged him with great assurance that he would not bear this burden alone. When Paul said, “For God…” he was turning Timothy’s focus away from himself and back to the Lord. He was reminding him of the God who had called him, the God who would equip him, and the God who would sustain him in all things.

    Paul knew Timothy could never fulfill this calling by his own strength. And Paul himself had never carried the ministry in his own power. Near the end of his letter he testified,

    “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17–18)

    The God who stood with Paul, who strengthened Paul, and who delivered Paul from every evil work is the same God would also enable Timothy. He would strengthen him to preach the word, to endure persecution, to shepherd and edify the churches, and to finish the work assigned to him by the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Paul did not tell Timothy, “God has not given you a spirit of fear.” He said “us.” Paul wanted Timothy to understand that this gift of the Holy Spirit is not reserved only for apostles. The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Spirit whom God gives is not a spirit of fear.

    The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power.

    The Holy Spirit who empowered Samson, so that with supernatural strength he struck down the Philistines who oppressed Israel (Judges 14–16).

    The Holy Spirit who strengthened King David, giving him courage to face Goliath, wisdom to rule Israel, and power to serve his generation by the will of God (1 Samuel 16:13; Acts 13:36).

    The Holy Spirit who came upon the prophets, granting them boldness to declare the word of the LORD God in the midst of wicked kings and rebellious nations (2 Peter 1:21).

    The Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary, giving life to the Holy One conceived in her womb (Luke 1:35).

    The Holy Spirit who empowered the Apostles, turning fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary men into bold witnesses who turned the world upside down (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:13).

    The Holy Spirit who transformed Peter, the man who denied Jesus three times, into a fearless preacher who proclaimed Christ and saw three thousand souls saved in a single day (Acts 2).

    The Holy Spirit who strengthened Stephen, filling him with courage to preach the LORD Jesus Christ even as stones rained down upon him (Acts 7:55–60).

    He is the same Spirit who dwells in you today!

    And this same Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love. He pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5). He teaches us to love as Jesus Christ loves, and He gives us the strength to put that love into practice, even when it is difficult, even when it costs something.

    He is also the Spirit of a sound mind. He quiets our anxieties. He eases our burdens. He gives rest to our souls in the midst of trouble. He grants us understanding in the will of God and clarity concerning the calling He has assigned to each of us. He gives wisdom for every situation we face, for the Spirit searches all things and reveals the things that freely belong to us in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12).

    This is the Holy Spirit, God has given us. He comforts us, He strengthens us, He loves us, and He intercedes for us. The Scripture says, “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). He helps our weaknesses, for we do not always know what we should pray, but the Spirit prays according to the will of God. And He guides us into all truth, just as Jesus promised, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

    Paul is placing Timothy into the hands of the Spirit of God who made Paul able to do the work he did. Paul was not relying on human strength, nor on natural boldness, nor on his own wisdom. He wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). And that same grace, that same Spirit, was given to Timothy.

    The Holy Spirit is the greatest companion we could ever ask for. And truly, we must not grieve Him nor quench Him, for He is our Comforter, our Teacher, and our Helper. He is faithful beyond measure, for the Lord has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The Spirit walks with us, strengthens us, and abides in us, just as Jesus promised: “He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).

  • 1 Timothy 2:9–10

    “in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
    ‭‭- I Timothy‬ ‭2:9-10‬

    When Paul wrote to Timothy, he was giving him clear instructions so he could set things in order in the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). And part of that order had to do with how women were presenting themselves in the house of God.

    Ephesus was not an easy place to pastor. It was a wealthy city, full of status, fashion, and outward display. It was also spiritually polluted—idolatrous worship was led mostly by women, especially in the temple of Artemis. And some of those habits, attitudes, and cultural influences were beginning to
    creep into the church.

    So when Paul instructed Timothy, in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,… he was addressing an issue directly connected to setting things in order in the house of God. These teachings have faced resistance for generations mostly from women and even to this day, many still push back whenever modesty is mentioned in church. The question of how women should dress when entering the house of God continues to create concern, questions, and sometimes even conflict in many congregations.

    Apostle Paul helps us and guides us in understanding how can a woman dress modestly in the church? The secret is we should adorn ourselves with propriety and moderation.

    To dress with propriety means is a a word that carries the sense of reverence, shamefacedness, and respect and we must ask ourselves this questions before we enter the house of God:

    • Does this clothes honor the LORD Jesus Christ?
    • Does this clothes show that I respect His house? 
    • Am I wearing something far too fancy or far too revealing? 
    • Am I dressing as if I am entering a holy place, or as if I am just going out to impress people?

    When we attend events such as weddings, graduations, or formal gatherings, we are told what attire is expected, and we gladly follow it. Yet when it comes to the house of God where reverence and holiness should matter even more, many become resistant to the idea of dressing with intentional respect. We follow dress codes anywhere else without hesitation; so why do we struggle when gathering before the LORD Jesus Christ?

    Paul then adds moderation is a word meaning self-control, soundness of mind, sobriety. And as women, we naturally ask:

    • Am I being ruled by fashion, by my flesh, or by a need for attention?
    • Is this too showy, too tight, too revealing, or too expensive for someone who says she follows the LORD Jesus Christ?
    • Am I choosing this because it is simple and honouring—or because I want to be noticed?” 

    Paul helps us grasp the intention behind his instruction regarding moderation, which calls women to examine the motives behind their choices. He adds, “not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.” These things are not sinful in themselves, but in the culture of Ephesus women often used outward adornment to display wealth, status, and extravagance. Yet in the house of God, such displays were unnecessary and out of place, because we come into God’s house not to attract attention or to distract others, but to learn about the LORD Jesus, receive His Word, and enjoy fellowship with the brethren in a way that edifies rather than puffs up.

    Paul was correcting the heart behind such choices. Even in our everyday lives, we recognize when someone is overdressed for the occasion. We know it would be inappropriate to wear a white dress to someone else’s wedding, or to show up to a graduation ceremony covered in gold from head to toe. And if we are simply running errands, we understand it would be excessive to wear high heels, heavy perfume, expensive dresses, and designer bags. In these situations, we naturally discern that the intention is no longer about the purpose of the moment, it is about their own motives.

    Resisting these instructions is not simply resisting Paul—it is resisting the Word of God itself. Paul may have penned these commands, but he did so under the inspiration and authority of the Holy Spirit for the strengthening, correction, and order of the church. These were not Paul’s personal opinions, they were God’s guidance for His people.

    Paul was not attempting to silence all women. Rather, he was addressing certain women who were rejecting correction and creating disorder, especially in the area of outward appearance and conduct inside the house of God. This issue was serious enough that even the apostle Peter spoke of it,

    “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— but rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3–4)

    The fact that both Paul and Peter confronted the same problem shows that modesty, humility, and a teachable spirit in women were not cultural suggestions but they were spiritual matters of concern in the early church.

    If God repeats a warning in Scripture more than once, it means the matter is serious and worthy of attention.

    Here we begin to understand what Paul means when he says, “which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” As women, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look presentable. But when outward appearance becomes our focus—when it draws attention to us instead of pointing hearts toward God, or when it becomes more important than our walk with Him then it becomes a problem. I believe this is exactly what Paul meant, because many women today are more caught up with how they look on the outside than with building their inner being before God.

    The Lord said to Samuel, “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” In God’s sight, our outward appearance is not nearly as important as the condition of our heart, because our clothing will not love and follow Him, our heart will.

    Many women claim to be Proverbs 31 women, but when we truly study that chapter, we learn that a virtuous woman is not describe by her outward beauty. Instead, She is described by her character, behavior, conduct, and good works of a godly woman toward her husband, her children, and her community. Her worth is found in her fear of the LORD rather than in her appearance. And as the chapter ends, it teaches us that charm can deceive and physical beauty fades, but the woman who fears the Lord, the woman who loves God with her whole being and desires to please God more than herself or anyone else that is the woman God says will be praised (Proverbs 31:30).

    Throughout Scripture, the women who were honored were not praised for their outward beauty, but for their works, their faith, and their sacrifice unto God. What matters most is our character that reflects Jesus, our behavior and conduct that glorify our Heavenly Father, and our good works that show the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These are the things that holds value, not our outward appearance. Because in the end, our identity is not found in our clothing, it is found in the LORD Jesus Christ.

  • 1 John 2:4

    He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. – 1 John 2:4

    Have you noticed that the word love appears fifty-seven times in the Gospel of John and forty-six times in his first epistle? John’s writings are overflowing with the love of the Lord Jesus. He even speaks of himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ (John 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, 20). John received the love of the LORD Jesus Christ so deeply and personally that it became part of his very identity.

    When John says, ‘I know Him,’ we understand that his writings show a different focus than the other Gospels. In the Gospel of John, he does not simply record what Jesus did, he reveals who Jesus is. He begins his writing from the very beginning of creation pointing to God who spoke all things into existence. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) and declaring that this Word was God manifested in the flesh, for John writes, ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory’ (John 1:14). He is proclaiming that Jesus is God in the flesh.

    We also read in his writings the seven ‘I AM’ statements of Jesus, each one showing us His true identity and the purpose of His coming,

    I am the Bread of Life’ (John 6:35)
    I am the Light of the World’ (John 8:12)
    I am the Door’ (John 10:9)
    I am the Good Shepherd’ (John 10:11)
    I am the Resurrection and the Life’ (John 11:25)
    I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life’ (John 14:6)
    I am the True Vine’ (John 15:1)

    There is so much more in the book of John. This is why most pastors encourage a new convert to begin reading in the Gospel of John because how can you follow Someone you do not personally know? The book of John reveals who Jesus is, His heart, and the very purpose of His coming, as declared in John 3:16. Even Paul despite of his excellent background, great achievements, and status. He counted all of it as nothing compared to knowing the LORD Christ. He wrote, ‘Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Philippians 3:8). And again, he said his desire was, ‘that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10).

    Both Apostle Paul and Apostle John carried one heartbeat and one desire, and that is to know the Lord Jesus. Their style of teaching and preaching may be different, but neither of them ever swept sin under the rug or treated it as something harmless. Both preached and taught with boldness that sin keeps a soul in bondage and separates us from the presence of the Lord. And both walked with a burning desire not only to know the Lord Jesus, but to walk with Him daily, and to finish the work that God had entrusted to them.”

    Yet many of us become so caught up in the mighty acts of God that we forget to seek God Himself. Many are more interested in God’s hand than in His heart. But knowing Jesus is far more important than focusing on what He is able to do for us. When we truly know Jesus, that becomes the beginning of an intimate and personal relationship with Him. And when you know Jesus personally, your life is transformed you will never be the same again. The old things pass away, and all things become new. And what others say about Him will not move you, because the truth of Him dwelling in you.

    This helps us understand what John meant when he wrote, ‘He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him’. No one truly knows the Lord Jesus and remains the same. Many people boldly claim to know the Lord Jesus, yet their lifestyle and character do not reflect Him in any way. They misrepresent Him and become a stumbling block to others.

    Whether you are heterosexual or homosexual, if you continue living in sin yet still claim that you love and know Jesus, you are a liar! You are deceiving yourself! and the truth of God is not in you! Even the devil believes in God and trembles (James 2:19). John boldly calls such people liars, just like satan! because Jesus Himself said, ‘You are of your father the devil… for he is a liar and the father of it’ (John 8:44). It means your life are representing the character of satan, not of God. Because the children of God live in the light and not in darkness (1 John 1:6–7).

    How can we say we love Jesus and know Jesus, yet keep living in the very sin that nailed Him to the cross?

    How can we claim to know Him while holding onto the sin that separates us from Him? For the Scriptures say, ‘Your sins have separated you from your God’ (Isaiah 59:2).

    How can we say we know Him if we do not care to know the things He loves and the things He hates? Did not Jesus command us, ‘Go, and sin no more’ (John 8:11)?

    How then can you continue in sin with someone else, when both of you are leading one another toward destruction, instead of leading that person to Jesus and into His Kingdom?

    No one who truly knows the Lord Jesus continues to live as they once lived. For when a we understands the greatness of His love, how He loved us so deeply that He was unwilling that we should perish or be separated from Him forever. We will not live the same. He stepped down from His glorious throne, humbled Himself, and wrapped Himself in flesh. He came as the Son of God to restore the sonship we lost. He carried our sins, nailed them to the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He crushed the power of sin and broke the chains of death. And He did it so that we, through Him, might have eternal life and enter His Kingdom where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more death

  • 1 John 2:6 

    “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” – 1 John 2:6 

    Have you ever wondered why God so often asks about our location? Why He is always looking for us? It began in the very beginning. When Adam fell into transgression, God already knew exactly where he was, yet the Lord still called out, “Where are you?” And when Abel was murdered by his brother, God came to Cain and asked him, “Where is your brother?” even though nothing is hidden from His sight. Even Elijah, hiding away in a cave from fear and exhaustion, was questioned by God. The Lord asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

    So when God asks about our location, it is a sign that we have begun to drift or that we have already drifted far from His presence. Didn’t the LORD Jesus say that He leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one sheep that has wandered? Then ask yourself, why would the LORD Jesus need to search for that sheep if it was truly abiding in Him? And didn’t He also declare that He came to seek and to save that which was lost? Why would God have to seek us if we were dwelling safely in Him? And why would the LORD Jesus need to save us if we were not in need of saving?

    What does Psalm 91 say? “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High…” A person who truly dwells in God becomes sheltered under His wings, finds Him to be their fortress, and rests in Him as their sure place of trust. The LORD delivers him from hidden dangers, from deadly plagues, and from every trap of the enemy. His faithfulness covers him like a shield, so he do not fear the terror by night nor the arrow that flies by day. Even when thousands fall around him, God keeps His own secure because he is abiding in God.

    And when we understand this, we begin to see what John means when he writes, “He who says he abides in Him …” (1 John 2:6). John is speaking of those who truly make their home in God, those who dwell in His presence and walk with Him daily. Consider the life of Moses. He was able to do mighty and marvelous works because he stayed near the presence of God. As it is written, the LORD spoke with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Moses lingered close, while the rest of the people remained far off . And because they kept their distance, they never truly walked with God.

    In the same way, when we believe in the LORD Jesus, we become His temple. As it is written, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). His Spirit takes residence within us, and we begin to abide in Him. As it is written, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We become one in the the LORD Jesus; we are no longer separated from Him. Through the LORD Jesus Christ we are united with Him, joined to Him in spirit, and brought into a oneness that sin can no longer divide. Because the LORD Jesus Christ already died for our sins. He destroyed the sin, the very thing that separated us from God and by His blood, we were brought near, for “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

    Now that we have been brought near to God, we are also commanded by the Lord Jesus to abide in Him. He says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). And again He declares, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). From this we understand that apart from the Lord Jesus, we cannot produce the good fruit that brings life within us nor can we bring forth a life that is well pleasing to God. We are in need of continually abiding in the LORD Jesus, for apart from Him we are dead. If He had not come to save us, we would all be dead in our sins and bound for hell. If He had not searched for us, if He had not sought us, we would still be wandering far from Him. We would remain lost—still straying, still without life, still without hope.

    Now we can understand what John means when he says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). If we claim to abide in the Lord Jesus, then our walk should reflect His walk, because abiding makes us one with Him. But if we are not walking with Him, it shows we are not truly abiding in Him.

    No one in the Scriptures who truly walked with the LORD Jesus ever remained the same. For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and when we walk with Jesus, His fire burns away what is sinful in us and conforms us to His own righteousness. As we follow Jesus daily, we are transforms into His likeness, learning to think as He thinks, to speak as He speaks, to love as He loves, and to show compassion as He shows compassion. We also begin to hate sins because sin separates us from Him and corrupted us. And as His Spirit works within us, our hearts begin to bear His own heart toward the lost just as we once were. We begin to search for and to seek those who are wandering, that we might bring them to Him, the only One who can save them, transform their lives, and give them eternal life. We become a light shining in a dark and fallen world, and we begin to speak the truth that sets men and women free.

  • Philippians 4:6

    Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; – Philippians 4:6

    Today people all across America is celebrating Thanksgiving and this verse came to mind. Paul reminds the believers in Philippi not to worry about anything. He tells them to bring everything to God in prayer and supplication but he doesn’t end there. He adds, “with thanksgiving” and let their request be made known to God.

    When Paul says, “Be anxious for nothing,” he is giving a command, not an option. Paul is teaching that fear and anxiety have no place in our lives because the Lord Jesus Himself cares for us. As it is written, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). God is the One who provides, protects, and sustains His people. This is the God who “made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” (Psalm 146:6). He is not bound by time or space. This is also the same God who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). Through His suffering and sacrifice, He broke the power of sin and death forever. If He has already given His own life for us, what need would He ever withhold from us?

    Paul closes the chapter with this assurance, “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Whether our needs are physical, material, or spiritual, the Lord is able to supply everything His people lack. Because God is our Father, we can trust Him completely, resting in His faithfulness, His goodness, and His patience toward us. He will never fail those who put their trust in Him.

    Paul understood that in our flesh we are easily troubled by fear, discouragement, and anxiety. This is why he tells us to bring everything to God “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.” The word for prayer is proseuchē, a Greek term that carries the idea of entering a place set apart to meet with God. Paul is inviting us to draw near to the presence of God. Jesus gives the same invitation when He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

    Paul also uses the word supplication, from the Greek deēsis, which means “need, indigence, want, privation, penury.” In other words, we can pour out our deepest needs, desires, and burdens before our Father. Jesus taught this same truth when He said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). If earthly parents know how to give good things, how much more will our heavenly Father care for His own?

    This is exactly why Paul says, “let your requests be made known unto God.” Whatever the need, bring it to Him. Ask God for everything. God’s “no” is only for the things that would harm us or draw us away from Him. But when something is good, when it is right, when it draws us closer to Him, He will not withhold it. Our Father delights in the prayers of His children.

    But there is one part of Paul’s teaching where many of us often fail and that is thanksgiving. We celebrate Thanksgiving once a year in America, but I pray we do not treat our spiritual life that way.

    Anyone can pray. Anyone can talk to God and pour out their needs and desires before Him. But when God answers our prayers, do we return to Him with a thankful heart? Do we come back and give Him the glory He deserves? Think about the ten lepers in Luke 17. Jesus healed all ten, yet only one returned to give thanks. The Israelites saw God supply every need in the wilderness, but instead of giving thanks, they complained. This is why the Scripture tells us, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). A thankful heart is a content heart, because it recognizes the hand of God moving in every part of life.


    As I continue my walk with the Lord Jesus, He has been transforming my prayer life and causing it to grow deeper. I no longer spend much of my time asking God for my daily needs the way I once did. My prayers used to be filled with “give me this” and “do this for me.” But through the Lord Jesus, we now have a restored relationship with the Father. He destroyed the power of sin, the very thing that once separated us from God, so we can now come boldly before Him.

    I began to study every prayer of the Lord Jesus, and one thing stood out to me is His prayers were filled with thanksgiving. Again and again, He lifted His eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee.”

    “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Luke 10:21

    “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” John 11:41 

    “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed…” John 6:11

    As I came to understand that my Father already knows my needs, my prayers began to change. Instead of praying, “Father, give me bread,” my prayer became, “Thank You, Father, for the bread on my table.” My whole prayer life started to sound different. What used to be, “Father, protect me today,” became, “Thank You, Father, for Your protection.” And day by day my prayers turned into simple expressions of gratitude:

    “Father, thank You for this day.

    Thank You for supplying all my needs.

    Thank You for protecting me.

    Thank You for loving me.

    Thank You for the roof over my head.

    Thank You for a healthy body.

    Thank You for my family.

    Thank You, thank You, thank You.”

    God has been so good that my prayers have shifted from wanting more things to wanting more of His presence. And when His presence fills my life, all I can do is give thanks to Him.

    Paul’s message is simple for you, You don’t need to be anxious about anything, because you have God. Come to Him. Speak to Him. Tell Him your needs and desires. There is nothing too hard for God and His hands are not short!

  • Mark 5:27

    “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.”– Mark 5:27

    This passage tells us about a woman who had been suffering with a bleeding condition for twelve long years. She had gone from doctor to doctor, searching for relief, hoping that someone could finally heal her. But nothing worked. Every attempt left her worse than before, and eventually she lost everything she had trying to get better.

    She heard that Jesus was passing by. Absolutely this woman heard the stories how Jesus healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame walk, fed thousands, and set people free from evil spirits. And right at that moment, Jesus was on His way to heal the daughter of a synagogue ruler. Hearing all this stirred something deep within her. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and as she’s aware to what Jesus could done, faith began to rise in her heart. She became fully convinced that if Jesus could do all those miracles for others, He could heal her too. So she said to herself, “If I can just touch His clothes, I know I’ll be made well.”

    I am going to focus on this woman’s behavior. As the Scripture says, “When she heard about Jesus…” she didn’t come directly in front of Him to ask for healing. Instead, she approached from behind, quietly and carefully, hoping only to touch the hem of His garment. And today, many women carry that same kind of belief that they are somehow less seen, less valued, or less welcome in the presence of God. Some have even been taught false ideas that Jesus is “anti-woman,” or that God only cares about men.

    Yet look at how Jesus addressed the situation and corrected this woman’s false beliefs. At that very moment, He was on His way to help a respected ruler—a man with position and authority. If God’s priority were only men, and if women were less important in His sight, then Jesus would never have stopped. He would not have paused everything, looked for her, and halted the entire crowd just to honor her faith and reveal His heart toward her.

    But Jesus refused to let her stay hidden, afraid, or ashamed to come into His presence. She was God’s child. That’s why Jesus said to her, “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well.” He wanted her to understand that she didn’t need to sneak into God’s presence. She was His daughter not a stranger, not someone pushed aside, and not someone unworthy of His attention.

    She did not need to fear.

    She did not need to hide.

    She did not need to fight for a place in God’s heart because she already had one.

    Jesus showed her that she was seen, valued, and worthy of His full attention. Notice that He called her “daughter.” In that one word, Jesus restored the identity the enemy had stolen from her.

    To understand why she acted the way she did, why she hid? why she approached Jesus from behind? We have to go back to what the Levitical law says about women with prolonged bleeding,

    “‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.” Leviticus‬ ‭15:25-27‬ ‭

    Through this law, we can understand why she acted the way she did. According to Leviticus, a woman who had a discharge of blood for many days was considered unclean, and anything she touched became unclean as well.
    Anyone who touched her or anything that belonged to her was considered unclean . In her mind, if she touched Jesus, she thought He would become unclean as well. Because of that, we can understand why this woman came into Jesus’ presence with fear and trembling. She didn’t dare to approach Jesus boldly. She only reached for the hem of His garment, just enough to touch Him without being seen. She didn’t want Jesus to be defiled by her condition. She didn’t want to bring shame to Him or draw any attention to herself. For twelve long years she had lived with people avoiding her, stepping away, distancing themselves so they wouldn’t be made unclean.

    Yet the moment she touched Jesus, everything changed. Scripture says, “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up” (Mark 5:29). Instead of her uncleanness flowing into Jesus, power flowed out of Jesus into her (Mark 5:30). Her impurity did not touch Him, His purity touched her. Her sickness didn’t reach Him, His healing power overcame her sickness.

    Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. He carried our sins in His own body on the tree. And by His stripes we are healed 

    Her condition made her live separated, avoided, and treated like an outcast—just our iniquities have separated us from our God (Isaiah 59:2) reminding us that like her, we were spiritually cut off from God’s presence. What a powerful picture of how sin affects our relationship with our heavenly Father. We all have sinned before God (Romans 3:23) and that the verdict of our sin is death (Romans 6:23). Before Jesus came, none of us had the power to save ourselves. The law judged us guilty and sin separated us from God. Her situation speaks for all of us—we were unclean, hopeless, and unable to heal or save ourselves.

    This is also why so many women today struggle with identity and their worth. The enemy fills their minds with lies, deceiving them until they don’t even realize their true identity has been stolen. Many women seek healing, value, and affirmation from the world, but the world only leaves them worse just like this woman who “spent all she had and was no better, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26).

    But this woman heard about Jesus and the Jesus she heard about is the same Jesus who will stop everything just to restore you and bring you back into your true identity. To Jesus, you are worthy! Even while the ruler’s daughter was dying, Jesus did not ignore her or treat her as less important. Jesus does not rush past people the way the world does. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is not bound by time. He is not limited by circumstances. Death has no power over Him. And if Jesus stopped for her, He will gladly stop for you as well.

    So let me ask you, Have you heard about Jesus like she did?

    Come to Jesus! not from behind, not hiding, and not feeling unworthy. Because Jesus died for you and for me, so we can approach God with confidence through His blood. Jesus defeated sin and death, the very things that separated us from God. Jesus reconciled us to the Father. Now we have full access to Jesus not only to the hem of His clothes, but to His entire being. You don’t need to sneak your way into His presence, because He already sent His presence to dwell with you through His Spirit. Jesus restored our position to the Father, and He loves you. Isn’t He the One who died for you so that you could be with Him in His Kingdom?