Author: Anna

  • 1 Kings 18:12

    “And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know. So when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.” — 1 Kings 18:12

    The land of Israel was in a severe drought because of king Ahab’s sin and the Israel’s idolatry under the influence of Jezebel. During this time, Jezebel was determined to destroy the prophets of the LORD, and many were slain.

    When the word of the LORD came to Elijah commanding him, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth (1 Kings 18:1). Elijah obeyed God and went to find Ahab. While he was on his way, he met Obadiah and asked him to go and tell Ahab that Elijah had come. This passage is the responds of Obadiah to Elijah request. This man was in charge of the king’s treasures. Though he served under a wicked ruler, Obadiah was a faithful man who feared the LORD greatly. During the time when Jezebel sought to destroy all the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah courageously hid one hundred of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.

    Many people think that the Holy Spirit began His work only in the New Testament, but the Scriptures clearly show that He was already moving in power throughout the Old Testament. From the very beginning, the Spirit of God was present and active among His people. He has always been the One who moves God’s servants to accomplish His purpose whether to reveal visions, show His throne, or fulfill His divine will. In Genesis 1:2, it says, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The Spirit moved over the earth so that life could begin.

    Is it not the same Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary so that life could be formed in her womb? (Luke 1:35) Is it not the same Holy Spirit who gives life to all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ? (Romans 8:11) 

    This is the same Spirit whom Obadiah spoke about when he said to Elijah, “the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not” (1 Kings 18:12). Obadiah was not speaking of something strange or new. He already knew about the Spirit of God and recognized His presence upon Elijah’s life.

    And Obadiah was not the only one who believed this. When Elijah was finally taken up to heaven, just as Enoch was taken by God and did not see death (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5), the sons of the prophets said, “Lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley” (2 Kings 2:16). This tells us that the presence of the Spirit of the Lord was known and not hidden from God’s people. They had seen His power manifested in their lives and among the prophets.

    The Holy Spirit is our connection to our Heavenly Father.

    “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians‬ ‭2:9-16‬

    The Bible says, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Because we are in the Lord, and the Lord is in us, we are united with Him through His Spirit. It is through the Spirit of the Lord that we come to know the heart of God. The Holy Spirit reveals to us everything the Lord wants us to understand. His thoughts, His will, and His ways. By the Holy Spirit, we are able to discern the mind of God in the things we face, to understand His nature, and to walk according to His purpose for our lives. The Spirit also unveils the mysteries of God to those who belong to Him, just as Jesus said, “He will guide you into all truth… and He will show you things to come” (John 16:13).

    The Holy Spirit who took Ezekiel and showed him the glory of God, His throne, and all the works of God’s people in the temple including their abominations and uncleanness (Ezekiel 8:3–10) is the same Spirit who carried Elijah and moved upon Ezekiel again and again to speak the word of the Lord (Ezekiel 11:1, 24). This same Spirit also led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, as it is written, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).

    He is the very Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, just as Paul declared:

    “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” — Romans 8:11

    We might think that Paul is only talking about how the Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome the desires of the flesh. But Paul is saying much more than that. He is revealing that the same Spirit who gave Jesus His glorious body after the resurrection is the same Spirit who will also transform us. 

    That is why it is so important for every believer to be like Obadiah, who was aware of the presence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians today are spiritually lifeless, and their lives show little transformation because they have not yet experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, nor have they come to truly know Him or fellowship with Him.

    The Apostle Paul met this same issue with some believers in Ephesus. The Scriptures tell us:

    “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” — Acts 19:2

    Why Paul has to rebaptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus? for it is in His name that there is remission of sins. The Word says,

    “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” — Acts 19:5–6

    This shows that even believers who already have faith in Christ still need to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 

    The Holy Spirit is not only our Helper. He is also our Seal. Paul says, “You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). This means we belong to God completely. The same Spirit who sealed us will be the One to carry us up in the air when Jesus returns. We see this Elijah and Enoch with Philip, who was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39–40); with Paul, who was taken up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2–4); and with John, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” and was shown the throne of God (Revelation 4:2).

    Today, you need to be like Obadiah, you need to live with awareness of the presence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It is not enough to simply know about Him from the stories of others; you must experience Him for yourself.

    Jesus gave us the right to become children of God through His death and resurrection. Because He destroyed the power of sin, He brought us near to the Father. The veil that once separated us from God was torn apart (Matthew 27:51), and now we have full access to His presence.

    When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive power! Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). This power is not just for completion of the task were assign for us. It is for transformation. When the Holy Spirit fills your life, you are changed from the inside out. The old life is gone, and a new life begins. You will never be the same again, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).

  • Acts 26:31

    “And when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, ‘This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.’” Acts 26:31

    This verse is the testimony of people about the life of Apostle Paul. It also the conclusion of Paul’s pleading his case before King Agrippa and all who were present in the court. After boldly proclaiming the resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, which was the very reason for his imprisonment. Paul remained steadfast and faithful to his calling. His desire was that everyone who heard him might understand the great plan of God, that the only way to escape His righteous judgment is through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul would never miss an opportunity to call all who listened to repentance and faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

    What stands out to me is that this was the same kind of verdict Pilate gave concerning our the LORD Jesus Christ. Though both were falsely accused and stood before earthly judges.

    Pilate said,

    “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.” – Luke 23:14–16

    I am always astounded at how steadfast and determined Paul was in the calling of the LORD Jesus upon his life. His devotion never wavered, and his faith remained firm through every trial. One man can do so much when he fully lays his life at the feet of God. The apostle Paul accomplished so much because he walked closely with the LORD Jesus Christ. Every step he took, every word he spoke, and every hardship he faced showed that his life no longer belonged to him, it belonged to his LORD Jesus Christ.

    Paul himself said,

    “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

    People blamed Paul because of his faith and his deep convictions in the truth of the gospel. They accused him, mocked him, and imprisoned him. Yet through it all, his life reflected the life of his Lord and Master, the LORD Jesus Christ.

    When Paul stood before Festus and King Agrippa, the only accusation they could make was that he preached “Jesus, who had died and whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” (Acts 25:19) That was his only “crime”, that he preached the risen Christ. And truly, that should be the only reason the world finds fault with us.

    Jesus Himself said,

    “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

    “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)

    So I ask myself, and I ask you today. If we were to stand before the judges of this world, what would they find in us? Would they find compromise and fear, or would they see a faith so steadfast that the only thing they could accuse us of is belonging to Jesus? Would our lives be so blameless before God that the only charge against us would be our devotion to Him and our obedience to His Word

    This is the challenge for everyone who claims that Jesus is Lord. We are all called not only to believe in Him but to follow Jesus. To live in such a way that our lives reflect His nature, His truth, and His love to the world. Our lives should shine with the light of the LORD Jesus Christ so brightly that it draws others toward Him, because they see the difference of our life in us.

    John says that those who love the world do not have the love of God in them.

    “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

    He continues,

    “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:16–17) 

    The world follows its own desires and rejects the truth of God. That is why the people of God are often misunderstood, mocked, and hated. The world should not love us, for friendship with the world is enmity with God.

    As the Apostle James warns,

    “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

    The world should hate us, misunderstand us, and falsely accuse us, that is the evidence that we are walking in the light of God’s. The enemy hates those who belong to the LORD Jesus Christ, because we carry the message of salvation and desire that all people hear the truth and be saved.

    For the LORD Jesus says

    “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” (Matthew 5:11)

    Let our faith and conduct be so pure before God that no true fault can be found in us, just as none was found in Paul, and none was found in our LORD Jesus Christ.

    The words spoken about Paul became a testimony of his walk with Jesus. May the same be said of us, that our lives reflect the LORD Jesus Christ so clearly that even those who oppose us cannot deny His presence in us.

    “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

    Amen.

  • Romans 5:8

    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8

    This passage is often quoted in gospel preaching, but these verse were not written to unbelievers or new converts. Paul was speaking to believers to those who had already given their lives to the LORD Jesus Christ and were walking in fellowship with Him. Paul message to the church in Rome was a reminder of the immeasurable love of God. A love that had already redeemed them and continues to uphold them every day.

    As a child of God, one of my greatest joys is to speak of my Father’s love. I desire that my family, my friends, and even strangers may come to know and experience this same love that transforms, heals, and saves. Because truly, the love of God is exactly what 1 Corinthians 13 says,

    “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” I Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬ ‭

    Here we read how Scripture describes the immense love of God. I want to shed a little light on this passage it says that love “thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity.” True love does not rejoice in sin, nor take pleasure in wrongdoing. When we truly love someone, we correct them in love, not out of judgment but out of concern for their soul. For God’s Word makes it clear that He judges all sin not only homosexuality, but also heterosexual sin outside of marriage, adultery, and every form of impurity. The same standard of holiness applies to all.

    This is the kind of love I long to share with you, the unfathomable love of God. A love that “thinks no evil,” a love that does not desire that anyone perish in hell, and a love that does not rejoice in witnessing wickedness or unclean living. God’s love calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

    The love of God is where we stand today. We have received salvation because of His great and boundless love. Even from the beginning, God already knew that Adam would transgress, yet His love was neither surprised nor defeated. When God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep to bring forth Eve, it was a foreshadowing of the LORD Jesus Christ who would one day lay down His life to bring forth His bride, the Church.

    This is the very nature of God’s love: it suffers long and is kind. His love does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, and does not behave rudely. His love does not seek its own, for His love is selfless, sacrificial, and redemptive. It gives even when it is not returned. It offers mercy even when it is rejected. Though God knew that Adam would choose to separate from Him, Adam was the one to whom God had spoken His commandment. He knew what was right, and yet he still ate the fruit that he should not have eaten, following Eve. Eve ate the forbidden fruit first, and in that moment, death entered into her, for the wages of her sin is death. Yet even then, God, in His mercy, had already prepared a divine plan to bring us back to Himself through the LORD Jesus Christ. Isn’t that so great?

    Now we understand “But God.” Only the love of God never grows weary in making a way for us to be with Him. Only God always loves us without end.

    Paul says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) When the LORD Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, while we were yet sinners, God proved His great love for us. God stepped down from His throne, took on flesh, and was declared to be the Son of God. He was crucified on the cross, took upon Himself our sins, and paid the price with His own life. 

    Salvation is freely offered to us, but it was not free for Him. It cost His own life. Jesus had to bleed on the cross. The very tree that began the story of sin in the Garden became the tree upon which redemption was accomplished. Jesus was crucified upon a tree, the cross to undo the curse that began with one. That is how much the LORD Jesus Christ loves you and me.

    Why did God declare Himself as the Son? Because that is the position we lost after the fall, the position of sonship that God longed to restore to us. He desired to bring us back into the relationship we once had with Him before sin entered the world. For was not Adam called “the son of God”? (Luke 3:38)

    The death of a son is painful and unbearable for any parent and God is our Father. The moment Adam died spiritually, it crushed God’s heart. As He spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, when Israel kept turning away from Him, God said, “I was crushed by their adulterous heart.” (Ezekiel 6:9) The same sorrow is echoed in Paul’s warning: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30), and “Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Sin always separates us from God, for “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Those who reject Jesus are cast into the lake of fire which is the eternal separation from God.

    Yet the true love of God “does not seek its own, is not provoked.” God’s love never forces, for love cannot exist without choice. Out of that same love, He allows people to choose, even those who would rather follow satan into hell than dwell with Him in His Kingdom. But behold, this is the great love of God, while we deserved judgment, God chose mercy. The LORD Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for us, to die in our place on the cross. He bore the punishment that should have been ours. Why? Because He could not bear to see His creation eternally separated from Him.

    Did not Paul also say to the church in Rome,

    “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35)

    “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)

    When Paul says, “while we were still sinners,” he is not only referring to the sin that lived within us, but to the choice humanity made. The same choice Adam made to turn away from God and follow Eve instead of God. Yet even then, God’s love did not give up. While we were walking toward eternal death, bound for hell, a place of everlasting separation. But God, because of His great love, made a way for us to be saved.

    His heart’s desire has always been that we dwell with Him in His Kingdom “And God will wipe away every tear from [our] their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

    Isn’t it only the love of God that reaches deep within us? It penetrates our hearts and bones. It’s a love so immense that it often brings us to tears. It overwhelms us, transforms us, and changes the way we live and make decisions.

    When we come to know this great love of God, we no longer desire to commit sin because we realize how it crushes God’s heart. Every time we sin, shame fills our hearts, and we tend to withdraw from His presence, avoiding fellowship with Him. But my brothers and sisters, I urge you, run the race! Even when you are struggling with sin, do not give up. Remember what Peter said to the LORD Jesus Christ: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Do not turn away from God, for apart from Him. for those who reject the LORD Jesus Christ will be cast into the unquenchable fire. A place that was never created for us, a place of eternal separation from the presence of God.

    Only God can transform you! Always repent and keep moving forward! He will break through not by our own strength or might, but by His Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6) Pray to God to destroy the sins that shackle you and separate you from Him.

    Do not be like Adam, who willingly chose to separate from God because he could not live without Eve, the one who led him into disobedience. Do not let the pleasures of sin cause you to choose separation from the God who loves you beyond measure.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18

    “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” — 1 Corinthians 1:18

    When we share the gospel of LORD Jesus Christ, many people mock us or reject the message. Some say, “It’s not true,” or “I don’t need someone to save me, I can save myself.” Others insist there are many ways to be saved, not only through LORD Jesus Christ. Some even ask, “Why did LORD Jesus Christ have to die for us? Who asked Him to?” Some go as far as to joke that we’ll have a party in hell.

    The same kind of attitude we face today also existed in the Church of Corinth. Many sought to understand the wisdom behind the cross, yet the ways of God cannot be fully grasped by human reasoning. Paul spoke of this in his letter, saying, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory; which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7–8). The cross was the hidden wisdom of God, a divine plan that satan could not comprehend it. satan believed that by crucifying the LORD Jesus Christ, he could end His mission. He thought that the death of Christ would stop the light from spreading and silence the voice that cast him out of those he had bound.

    From the moment the LORD Jesus Christ began His ministry the kingdom of satan started to tremble and fall. LORD Jesus Christ healed every sickness and diseases. Those who were bound by the devil were set free. He opened blind eyes, made the lame walk, and restored those who were broken in spirit. Every healing and every deliverance declared that the kingdom of God had come and that the power of darkness was being overthrown. Wherever the LORD Jesus Christ went, restoration followed. Miracles happened. Lives were transformed, chains were broken, and hope was restored. He cast out demons and stripped them of authority over mankind. He rebuked the winds and the waves, showing His dominion over all creation. satan despised this. He hated that the LORD Jesus Christ walked in authority, purity and holiness, showing us how we were meant to live as God originally created us before the fall. Unable to overcome Him in temptation or power, Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Him. He thought that by having LORD Jesus Christ beaten, spat upon, scourged, stripped naked and crucified on the cross, and counted among the notorious criminals, everything would return to his control. Yet what Satan meant for victory became his eternal defeat. The cross that Satan used as a weapon became the altar of his fall.

    In the time of the LORD Jesus Christ, the idea of a crucified Savior was not something people wanted to hear. Crucifixion was the most shameful and painful form of punishment, reserved only for the worst and most notorious criminals. To say that the God whom they served and followed had been crucified was unthinkable. To them, it sounded foolish and disgraceful. They said in their hearts, “You mean to tell me that the LORD Jesus Christ, who was crucified and counted as a criminal, is able to save me? How can He save others if He could not save Himself from the cross? You want me to follow Him and be treated as one of the condemned?”

    To the world, the cross was a symbol of defeat and shame. But to those who truly understand the message of the cross, it is the power of God to those who believe and are saved by it (1 Corinthians 1:18).

    The LORD Jesus Christ said that through the cross He would strip satan of his power and cast him out. “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself” (John 12:31–32). When the LORD Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross, this prophecy was fulfilled. Satan’s power over humanity was broken. His authority to accuse and condemn was taken away. Through the LORD Jesus Christ death on the cross would draw every people’s heart to Him.

    Why are we drawn to Him? The apostle Peter declares, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Upon that cross the LORD Jesus Christ carried the full weight of our sin and guilt. He took the record of our transgressions and nailed them there. As Paul wrote, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14–15). Before the cross, every sin stood recorded in the book of judgment in heaven. Each offense cried out for justice, and the law condemned us to death. Yet the LORD Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God took our place. The wrath that was due to us fell upon Him. The sentence that condemned us to hell was satisfied by His sacrifice. He bore our guilt and paid our debt in full. At that cross, the LORD Jesus Christ did not only remove our sin. He also stripped authority of darkness. All of satan’s accusations, every piece of evidence he held against us, all condemnation, even the curse of the law, and every legal right the enemy claimed over our lives were completely disarmed at the cross. The accuser of the brethren was silenced. The cross became a public display of his defeat. The cross became the courtroom of Heaven where the verdict was declared once and for all, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Through His death, the LORD Jesus Christ destroyed the one who held the power of death. As it is written, “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

    When the LORD Jesus Christ cried out, “It is finished,” the work of redemption was complete. The debt of sin for all mankind was paid in full. The record of our transgressions was blotted out, the evidence of our guilt destroyed. Sin could no longer hold its claim over us. The righteous wrath of God was satisfied. At that moment, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that the separation between God and man was removed. Access to the Holy of Holies was opened, and through the blood of Jesus we received forgiveness and reconciliation the greatest gift of all.

    The blood of the LORD Jesus Christ, shed upon the cross and falling to the earth, speaks better things than the blood of Abel. It does not cry out for judgment, it proclaims reconciliation, forgiveness, restoration, and grace to all who believe.

    The LORD Jesus Christ endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, knowing that through His sacrifice we would be redeemed and drawn back to Himself. He despised the shame, seeing beyond the suffering to the glory that would follow (Hebrews 12:2). To Him, the cross was not a mark of disgrace but the perfect demonstration of His great love for us.

    That cross stands as the immutable evidence of the love of the LORD Jesus Christ that transcends time, space and matter. His greatest love that no power in heaven nor on earth can separate us from. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans‬ ‭8:35, 37-39‬)

    No wonder Paul declared his unwavering faith to the Corinthians, saying, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). And to the Galatians he wrote, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). To those who are perishing, the message of the cross holds no value. They see it only through the eyes of the world, as something shameful, disgraceful, and foolish. But to Paul, and to all who believe, the cross is the greatest expression of God’s love. It is through the cross that the LORD Jesus Christ poured out His grace upon all humanity. What the world calls foolishness, God calls salvation. 


  • 1 Corinthians 1:9

    God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:9

    Most of the time, I get so caught up trying to be faithful to what God has called me to do. I give my best to accomplish and finish the work He has placed in my hands. But sometimes, in the midst of all that effort, I find myself drifting away from the truth that God alone is truly faithful. The main purpose of His calling is not just for us to complete the tasks He assigns, but to walk in fellowship with Him. Like the church in Ephesus, it’s easy to become so focused on doing the work of God that we slowly drift from our first love 

    When Paul wrote that “God is faithful”, he was speaking to a church that was far from perfect. The believers in Corinth were struggling. There were arguments and divisions among them, pride over spiritual gifts, confusion in worship, and even moral sin that had been ignored. The church was broken and needed correction. But before Paul said anything about their failures, he reminded them of who God is. In verse 8, he told them that it is God who will sustain them to the end, confirming them so that they will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, even though they were struggling, God would not abandon them. He would continue the work He had begun in them.

    We can understand the struggles of the Corinthians, for they didn’t have the entire Word of God within their reach to instruct and guide them in their walk with God as we do today. Yet now, we have the entire Word of God within our reach, in our homes, and on our phones but still, not everyone takes the time to read it. This often becomes the reason why many continue to struggle in life and drift spiritually. Even I, who read my Bible every day, still find myself struggling to live in full obedience to God. That’s why Paul reminded the believers in Corinth and all of us, that only God is truly faithful, and only He can help us in our weakness. The Word of God says in Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

    We are now acceptable to God, not because of anything good we have done, for we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory. On our own, we cannot produce anything truly righteous or pleasing to Him. But in His great mercy and faithfulness that we are not all consumed because God made a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. He stepped down from His throne and took on flesh, declared to be the Son of God. The Lord Jesus was beaten, mocked, and spat upon. He was scourged and crucified, hanging on a cross, stripped of His garments, and shamed before men. He endured all of this for our transgressions and was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that we all deserved was laid upon Him, and through the shedding of His blood we have been brought near to the throne of God. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death so that we might be restored to fellowship with the Father and never again be separated from His presence. By His precious blood, our sins are washed away, and eternal life in His Kingdom is freely given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Through the faithfulness of God, we have obtained reconciliation by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul’s confidence in them was not based on their strength or understanding but on the unfailing faithfulness of God, who alone has the power to transform hearts.

    Paul himself was a living testimony of this transforming grace. Once a persecutor of the church, he encountered the LORD Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his life was forever changed. Instead of being consumed by the judgment he deserved, Paul received the mercy of God. From that moment,
    Paul walked in fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ, being taught by the LORD Himself and strengthened by His Spirit. The one who had brought terror to believers now became a mighty vessel of God’s proclaiming the gospel and had built so many churches of God he once tried to destroy.

    Though Paul had been trained in the law from his youth and was well-versed in the Scriptures, he confessed that he had not truly known God until he came to know LORD Jesus Christ. If such transformation was possible for Paul. Once a blasphemer and persecutor, how much more could the same God work in the hearts of the Corinthians who were newly brought out of idolatry and ignorance of the truth? 

    What Paul is speaking of here comes from his own experience that our salvation, our reconciliation with God, and even the gift of the Holy Spirit are all the result of God’s faithfulness. Through his encounter with LORD Jesus Christ, he came to understand that the greatest calling in life is not only to believe in LORD Jesus Christ but to walk in a intimate fellowship with Him. Belief is the beginning, but fellowship is the journey. We are not merely called to acknowledge the gift of salvation offered of the LORD Jesus Christ. We are called to know Him deeply, to walk with Him daily, and to grow in communion with His Spirit.

    It is only through our fellowship with the Lord Jesus that true transformation begins not by our own strength or effort. Were we not reconciled so that we might be with God? To dwell in His kingdom, where He abides in the midst of His people? Our calling is not only to accomplish the work He has given us but to walk with Him as we do it. We are not meant to labor apart from Him, but to labor with Him in fellowship.

    Whenever I read about Joshua and the Israelites as they went forth to possess the Promised Land, I am reminded that our fellowship with God is not only in times of peace and blessing but also in times of battle. There are moments when the Lord calls us to be still and watch His deliverance, yet there are also moments when He commands us to rise up, to fight, and to take back what the enemy has tried to steal. The Lord was not distant nor merely watching from the heavens. He was with His people, fighting together with them. As the Israelites faced their enemies, the Lord Himself cast down great hailstones from heaven, and the Scripture says that more were killed by the hail than by the sword of Israel. 
    I often imagine that scene and wish I had the skill to paint it, the LORD of hosts moving among His people, mighty in power, fighting together with them for the promise He had given.

  • Habakkuk 2:3

    “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” — Habakkuk 2:3

    When we read the book of Habakkuk, we see that the prophet does not tell us which tribe he came from or who his father was, unlike many other prophets who mentioned their family line. Habakkuk’s book also does not begin with a command from God to speak to the people. Instead, it is a personal conversation between Habakkuk and God. The prophet speaks to God with an groaning heart. Habakkuk seeks the presence of God and asks why the Lord allows evil to prosper and why He seems silent when the wicked oppress the righteous and God responds with an answer that he did not expect. The LORD tells him that He will send the Babylonians to judge His people, and that His will shall be done in its appointed time. This reveals the heart of a righteous man living among a wicked generation.

    When God says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie” (Habakkuk 2:3). We must first understand the character of God. God is not quick to destroy or eager to judge. That is not His nature. The Lord Himself declares, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23). God never takes pleasure in the death of the wicked, because to die in sin is to be eternally separated from Him. For unrighteousness cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That is why the Lord calls, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Through repentance, we receive mercy from God. God hates sin because it separates us from Him and it grieves His heart. He is a righteous Judge, and because He is holy, He cannot overlook sin. His law declares, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life” (Exodus 21:24), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

    Yet in His great mercy and lovingkindness, God Himself stepped down from His throne and was manifested in the flesh, declared to be the Son of God (1 Timothy 3:16). He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). He was despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). He was beaten, mocked, spat upon, scourged, and crucified. He hung upon the cross, stripped and shamed, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus who knew no sin was counted among the transgressors and bore the sin of many (Isaiah 53:12). He took upon Himself the punishment we all deserved, for “the wages of sin is death” . Yet on the third day, He rose again in glory and power, conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:4–57), that we might be reconciled to God and no longer separated from His presence. Through His precious blood, our sins are washed away, and eternal life is granted to all who believe in His Name (John 3:16; Revelation 1:5). That makes us understand that if living in sin were right in the sight of God, then Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross. 

    God appointed a day of judgment, because He is a righteous and just God. Though His heart is grieved, that day is already set for those who reject His salvation, a day of eternal separation from His presence. Just as God raised up the Babylonians to judge Judah and the Assyrians to judge Israel, so will He once again rise to judge the whole world at His appointed time. As the Apostle Paul declared in Athens, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [that Man is Jesus Christ] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”(Acts 17:31) Therefore, if anyone does not have Jesus Christ in their life, they stand condemned already. On the great day of judgment at the Great White Throne all who reject Him will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15). Just as Judah was judged for its sin, so will all the earth face God’s final judgment.

    Yet, until that day, His mercy still calls out, “…Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts‬ ‭2:38‬). ‭

    When God says, Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” He assures Habakkuk that whatever He has appointed will surely come to pass not in our time, but in His perfect time. For God is gracious and full of mercy, giving every person the opportunity to repent. You and I are living proofs of God’s forbearance and longsuffering, for He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

    As the righteous living in a wicked generation, we can feel what Habakkuk felt, the heavy burden of seeing evil increase everywhere. We see how our loved ones are being affected by the wickedness of this world. The food we eat has become poison to our bodies because people are driven by greed for money. Lawmakers have lost all fear of God, creating laws that go against His Word. Having sex outside of marriage has become normal, and killing the innocent unborn has become a business and called “woman’s right” while the child in her womb has no right to live. We don’t need birth control!! we need self-control. The Word of God says we must “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Children are now being taught to question who they are, even to identify as animals. As confusion spreads like wildfire. They are being robbed of truth and left to wander in darkness. The world is drowning in lies because it has rejected its Creator.

    Even the earth itself groans under the weight of sin. As the Scripture says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). The blood of the innocent cries out from the ground, just as it did in the days of Abel. Corruption, violence, and pride fill the earth once again, just as in the days of Noah.

    Yet in the midst of this darkness, God’s command remains the same, wait. Just as He told Habakkuk to wait, He tells us to wait upon Him. The apostle James exhorts us, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth… Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:7–8). The world we are living in already has an appointed day to be judged and destroyed. God has set the time and it will surely come. That is why He is preparing a new heaven and a new earth for all who belong to Him. As it is written, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). That is what we should be longing and looking for, not to this world appointed to be destroyed. As Paul reminds Titus and us, we should look for “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This world is not our home. Our permanent dwelling is not here on earth but in the Kingdom of God. We are not citizens of this world. We are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are ambassadors of Christ.

    So do not set your heart on the things of this world, for all of it will soon pass away. Instead, fix your eyes on the things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1–2). Set your mind on what God has called and assigned you to do fulfill the work He has entrusted to your hands so that His purpose in you may be finished and accomplished. For soon, the trumpet will sound, and King Jesus will return in power and great glory. He will make war against the devil, defeat him, and cast him into the lake of fire. Then those who belong to the LORD Jesus Christ, the faithful and redeemed will reign with Him forever and ever 


  • Romans 2:11

    “For there is no partiality with God.” — Romans 2:11

    This verse silences those who believe they are more accepted by God because of their background, position, or gender. 

    Salvation is not only for certain ethnics or backgrounds. It is for everyone.

    In this passage, Paul is speaking to the Jews, who were confident that being descendants of Abraham made them righteous in God’s sight. However, Paul explains that salvation does not come through the Law of Moses or by being Israelites, but through faith in Jesus Christ alone. John the Baptist also warned them against this false confidence when he said that God could raise up children for Abraham from the very stones (Matthew 3:9).

    Their belief contained a portion of truth, for God did choose Israel to receive His covenant. As Paul writes in Romans, “They are beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11:28). And again, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11:25–26). Yes, through their fathers they obtained favor from God, but confidence in their ancestry and the Law cannot bring them into God’s Kingdom. They must still repent and believe in LORD Jesus Christ to be saved.

    Their repentance will come one day when all Israel will finally recognize the LORD Jesus as their true Messiah, they had been waiting for. Yet what they were expecting to see in His first coming will actually take place in His second coming. Zechariah foretold this moment, saying, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). On that day, they will look upon the LORD Jesus and finally believe that He is truly the Messiah they have long awaited. They will weep in deep sorrow, showing repentance for what they did to Him and for failing to recognize Him because of their hardened hearts. But this reveals to us that they, too, must go through the same process as we all do, they must repent and believe in the LORD Jesus Christ to be saved.

    Jesus made this truth clear when He spoke with Nicodemus. When He said, “For God so loved the world,” those words were radical. To Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law this was shocking because the Jews had long believed that God’s love and salvation were reserved only for them. Yet Jesus revealed that God’s love extends to all humanity. Every person has fallen short, every person has sinned, and all stand condemned, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Therefore, everyone whether Jew or Gentile must believe in Jesus Christ and be born again of the Spirit and of water to enter the Kingdom of God. We understand that salvation is found only through Jesus Christ. There is no other way, no other name, and no other person through whom we can be saved. As Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

    Why does God show no partiality to anyone?

    Isn’t it we are all created in His image and in His likeness? Because in the sight of God every person has equal worth and value. As the book of Job says, “He shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands” (Job 34:19). God does not look at our wealth, position, or power. Whether rich or poor, strong or weak, every one of us was formed by His hands, and even the breath we breathe is borrowed from Him. Everything we have and everything we are comes from God.

    The apostle Paul also spoke about this truth. During a time when slavery and social divisions were common, he instructed masters to treat their servants with kindness and respect, saying, “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 6:9). Paul was teaching that no one should treat others as less than human, regardless of their position or status in life. In this world, people are often divided by class, wealth, and power, but these distinctions hold no value in the sight of God. Before Him, all people are equal. The one who leads and the one who serves are both created in the image of God, and both are precious in His sight. One day, everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Each person will give an account of their life to God (Romans 14:12). On that day, it will not matter how much wealth, power, or fame anyone had on earth. What will matter is whether we believed in Jesus Christ and walked in obedience to His Word.

    Many people say that women should not be pastors, leaders, or hold positions of authority in the church simply because they are women. But isn’t that also partiality? The Word of God clearly teaches that He shows no favoritism. So, if God is impartial when it comes to race and status, would He then show partiality when it comes to gender? Of course not.

    Many men quote Paul’s words, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12), and use them as propaganda to discriminate against women. But they often forget that Paul also spoke highly of many faithful women who served God in leadership and ministry. For example, he commended Phoebe, a servant (deacon) of the church in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1–2), and Priscilla, who, together with her husband Aquila, taught Apollos more accurately in the Word of God (Acts 18:26). He also praised Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis, women who “labored much in the Lord” (Romans 16:12). Paul greeted Mary, who also “bestowed much labor on us” (Romans 16:6), and Junia, who was “of note among the apostles” (Romans 16:7), meaning she was respected and recognized as a fellow laborer in spreading the Gospel. He also mentioned Chloe, whose household was strong in faith and leadership within the church of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11). Euodia and Syntyche were two women Paul called his “fellow laborers in the gospel” (Philippians 4:2–3). These were women who ministered, taught, and served alongside Paul in the work of the Lord.

    So when people use one verse to silence all women or any ethnic group, they twist the Word of God out of context and ignore the full picture of Scripture. Paul never denied women their calling; he simply taught order and godly conduct in worship, not gender-based exclusion. Even Paul said, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Romans 10:12). Because in the sight of God each one of us is precious in His sight, It does not say “Jew” or “Roman,” but “His saints.” What matters to God is an individual who believes, follows, and obeys His Word.

    When Christ came, He revealed this in His conversation with Nicodemus, saying in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world” means that salvation is offered to all who believe in Him it does not matter where ethnic background they belong. Paul expand more this in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” He clearly says in God’s sight, there is no distinction of class, status, wealth, or position. We are all equal in value because we are all created in His image and likeness. Paul further explained this balance between man and woman, saying, “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God” (1 Corinthians 11:11–12). All of Paul’s instructions were never meant to divide but to maintain order within the body of Christ. As a woman serving in the church and in leadership, I do not seek recognition for my position or title, because at the end of the day, God will not commend me for the rank I held, but for the obedience I showed that I fulfilled His will for my life and completed the work He called me to do.

    When it says, “For there is no partiality with God,” it reminds us that every one of us is equal in His sight. The Word of God was never given to divide or to put others down, but to unite us and bring order among His people. Its purpose is to edify, correct, and equip us so that we may grow in faith and draw closer to God. Let us never twist the Word of God for our own agenda or personal gain. Instead, let the Word of God lead us closer to Jesus, shaping our hearts to reflect His love, His humility, and His character.

  • Acts 28:3,5

    “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. …But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts‬ ‭28:3, 5‬ ‭

    The Apostle Paul was on his way to Rome to stand before Caesar and present his case, for he had been falsely accused. While traveling by ship under Roman custody, Paul warned the sailors that danger lay ahead and that they should not continue the voyage. However, they did not listen to him. Soon after, a great storm arose and raged for many days, leaving the ship and all aboard in peril. But in the midst of the storm, God sent an angel to Paul with a message of assurance and protection, saying that no lives would be lost. Just as the Lord had promised, the ship was wrecked, but every person on board survived and the storm brought them safely to the island of Malta. Yet, the natives of the island showed them unusual kindness.

    The Apostle Paul didn’t just sit by the fire resting after the shipwreck. Even though he had gone through so much hardship, he still chose to serve. Instead of expecting others to help him, he picked up sticks to help keep the fire going to helped those around him. Paul lived out what the LORD Jesus taught, that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45) so we must all do. We all want to be great, then we must be servant of all.

    As Paul gathered the wood, a venomous snake, a viper, suddenly fastened onto his hand and the people of the island saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves that this man must be a murderer, whom though he had escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and felt no harm and continued on.

    That moment when Paul shook off the viper into the fire teaches us about the power and authority that Jesus Christ has given to all believers. Through His name, we have been given the ability to overcome and shake off the attacks of the enemy. No matter how strong the serpent’s venom may seem, or how deep its bite, it cannot harm those who are redeemed and covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19, KJV).

    When Jesus died upon the cross, He conquered death once and for all. For as it is written, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, KJV). Death entered the world because of sin, through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. For it is written, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14, KJV). In the beginning, mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, not only bearing His nature and attributes, but also possessing the gift of eternal life. Yet through transgression, sin awakened death and brought separation between man and God. Humanity, once destined for eternal fellowship, became subject to mortality, and sin separate us from the presence of God.

    Blessed be the Lord our God, who is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness. He humbled Himself and came down from His throne of glory, being declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). The Lord Jesus came to preach, to teach, and to show us how to live as sons and daughters of the Most High. Every word He spoke, every work He performed, was a pattern or a blueprint for His church to follow.

    When Jesus began to cast out devils, He revealed the authority that God had given to man from the very beginning. For it is written, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16, KJV). The earth was not given to evil spirits nor to fallen angels—they have no inheritance among mankind. Therefore, they must be dispossessed and cast out. As the Scripture declares, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

    Our Lord gave no place to the enemy, neither permitted them to speak, for they were subject unto Him and by His authority, they are also subject unto us. That same authority He has now given to His church. The Lord said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

    Therefore, when Paul shook off the viper into the fire, it became a living testimony of this divine truth: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17, KJV). This moment also reminds us that being a child of God does not mean we are exempt from trials, struggles, or attacks. The serpent waited for its moment to strike, just as the enemy looks for opportunities to drift us way from our faith. Yet, like Paul, we can shake off every attack of the adversary. Though the serpent may strike, his venom shall not prevail. As the Lord sent His angel to stand beside Paul during the night. The angel spoke, bringing comfort and assurance, saying, “Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:24). Paul suffered no harm because the purpose of God for his life was not yet fulfilled that he must stand before Caesar and bear witness of Christ even in the courts of Rome. The will of the Lord shall always stand, and none can overturn it. For “the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

    The blood of the LORD Jesus Christ is our covering, our protection, and our victory. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11). They say that even when a venomous snake bites a sheep, the sheep does not die. Though the fangs pierce its flesh and the blood flows, the sheep lives for within its blood there is something that neutralizes the poison.  The serpent’s bite could not stop Paul, and the enemy’s attacks cannot stop those who walk in the will of God. Because through the blood of Jesus, no weapon formed against us shall prosper, for His blood is our defense, our covering, and our everlasting victory. To understand how powerful the blood of Jesus truly is, we must look at what it has accomplished for us. Through His blood, we have received redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. By His blood, we are justified and declared righteous before God. Through His blood, we are brought near to the Father and restored to fellowship with Him. We have obtained eternal redemption, not by our own works, but by His perfect sacrifice. Because of His blood, we can now come boldly before the throne of grace, standing in the very presence of God. His blood purifies us and makes us worthy to stand before Him, clothed in His righteousness. Lastly, His precious blood gives us victory over Satan and every power of darkness.

    Lastly, as Paul shook off the serpent into the fire, so also we, by the authority given unto us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, shall cast down Satan and all his works. That moment was a foreshadowing of what is to come, when the devil and all his minions shall be cast into the lake of fire, as it is written, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The same fire that brought warmth and light to Paul and to all who were with him is the very fire that consumed the viper. So it is with the power of God’s presence what the enemy meant for harm, God turns for victory. For our God is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29, KJV), and in His presence, every work of darkness is destroyed.

    And what greater assurance do we have, that the Holy Spirit Himself now dwells within us. The same Spirit who raised up Jesus from the dead, and the very same Spirit who strengthened and worked mightily through Paul. For it is written, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11). That same Holy Spirit continues to strengthen, guide, and empower us to walk in victory, to endure every trial, and to fulfill the will of God upon the earth.

    So you should never feel defeated, nor think that you are overcome, for the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Paul continued to stand firm because he knew what the blood of Christ had done for him, and he trusted in the Holy Spirit who lived within him. Because of that assurance, he did not give in to self-pity or despair. He understood that the power of God within him was greater than the trials around him. We, too, must remember that our circumstances do not limit God’s power. They become the very platform for His glory to be revealed. The hardships we face are not signs of defeat but opportunities for the Kingdom of God to expand on earth. Just as Paul and Silas, though bound in chains, lifted their voices and worshiped the Lord in the midnight hour, and “suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken” (Acts 16:26), so can our praise in the midst of trials shake the heavens and bring freedom to others.

    Therefore, do not be moved by what you see, nor silenced by what you suffer. The blood of Jesus has redeemed you, and the Spirit of God empowers you. What seems like bondage to the world can become a pulpit for God’s glory a place where His power is made known, and His presence is revealed.

  • Acts 28:8

    “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” — Acts 28:8

    Paul and 275 other crew members and passengers of an Alexandrian ship had just survived a two-week storm on the Mediterranean Sea. The violent tempest destroyed their ship, yet not one life was lost exactly as God had promised Paul. When they finally reached the island of Malta, cold, exhausted, and hungry. The native people received them with unusual kindness, building fires and showing compassion to strangers who had washed ashore. That word unusual is significant. It’s the same word used in Acts 19:11, where it says that “God did unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.” Even later, when Paul testified before King Agrippa, he declared that the same God who worked in unusual ways to help him was still at work here on Malta. The Lord never left nor forsook Paul.

    When God sent His angel to bring a message to Paul that not a single person on the ship would perish. The very presence of that angel not only to deliver a message but also a assurance of God’s protection. Throughout Scripture, whenever angels appear, they come with two purposes: to speak God’s word and to guard God’s people.

    Then Publius, the chief man of the island who had shown Paul and all the people with him great kindness, had a father who was lying in bed, sick with fever and dysentery. Dysentery is a serious intestinal infection that causes recurring fever and weakness, leaving a person bedridden and frail.

    When Paul heard about the man’s condition after being welcomed into the home, he went in to minister to him. Notice what Paul did first. Before laying his hands on him, he prayed to God.

    There are two things the Lord would have us learn from this passage.

    First, we see a man who had gone through more trials than most people could ever bear. Paul was beaten, falsely accused, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and even bitten by a venomous snake. Yet through all of this, he never allowed his suffering to silence his service. Instead of becoming bitter, he became better. Even after enduring so much pain and exhaustion, Paul still had the strength to minister to others. He went in to see Publius’s father, sought the Lord in prayer before him, and God healed the man. Soon after, all the sick people of Malta were brought to Paul, and they too were healed.

    Even though Luke does not mention Paul preaching directly, knowing Paul’s heart, we can be sure he proclaimed the gospel to the people of Malta. Paul knew that “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). He understood that the greatest miracle he could offer these people was not just physical healing, but the message that could save their souls. Wherever the gospel is preached, miracles and healings follow as signs just as Jesus instructed His disciples, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7–8)

    Paul did not complain or cry out about what he had gone through. He remained immovable and persevered. While he could have chosen to sit down and let others serve him, Paul instead chose to serve. He gathered sticks for the fire, ministered to those around him, and showed appreciation for the people’s kindness. Paul shows us that God’s power and mercy are never limited by circumstance because he did not allow circumstance to dictate the outcome. His condition did not determine his calling, nor did hardship define his ability to serve. True servants of God don’t stop serving because of hardship; they keep going because the Holy Spirit is within them, comforting, strengthening, and working through them. When our strength runs out, God’s strength takes over. As Paul himself said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

    The very storm that seemed to bring chaos into Paul’s life was the same storm that brought him to Malta. Through that storm, God led him to the people who needed to hear the gospel. And God demonstrated His loving hand through Paul’s healing ministry among them. The Kingdom of God had come to that island, and healing and restoration began to flow.

    Sometimes the hardships and difficulties we face discourage us, weaken our faith, or make us think that God is punishing us. But Jesus said, “It is finished.” He already paid the price for our sins. Our struggles are not signs of God’s wrath, but opportunities for His glory to be revealed through us.

    Second, we see the people of Malta, whom Luke describes as barbarians. This means they did not speak Greek or Latin; they were strangers to the Roman and Greek world. Yet their manner of life and worship was the same as other heathen nations, for they were idolaters and had no knowledge of the one true and living God. When they saw the viper fasten itself upon Paul’s hand, they immediately supposed that vengeance or divine justice had overtaken him, believing he was a murderer who had escaped the sea but could not escape judgment. But when Paul shook off the serpent into the fire and suffered no harm, their thoughts were turned, and they said among themselves that he was a god.

    This reveals that these people had no understanding of the God Paul served. Like many who live without truth, they interpreted divine power through superstition. In their spiritual blindness, they could not distinguish between the Creator and His servant. But Paul, being wise and discerning, was careful in how he responded.  Paul understood the mindset of these people, for he had already encountered this kind of heathen thinking before. When he and Barnabas were at Lystra, the Lord used them mightily to demonstrate His power by healing a man who had been lame from birth. When the people saw the miracle, they lifted up their voices, saying, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” They called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. But when Paul and Barnabas heard this, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:11–15).

    So when Paul entered into the house of Publius and found his father sick with fever and dysentery, he prayed before them all; the chief men of the island, the household, and those who stood by to witness it. Then he laid his hands upon the man, and the Lord raised him up. By this, Paul made it known that the healing virtue came not from man, but from God alone, who is rich in mercy and mighty to save. In that moment, Paul taught them how to seek the Lord for every need whether for healing of the body, strength in weakness, or deliverance from bondage.

    These people knew not the true God, for darkness had long covered their hearts. Paul understood that words alone could not persuade them; the gospel must be both proclaimed and proven. His actions preached louder than his voice. Through his conduct and compassion, he showed them what it means to serve the living God. Thus was fulfilled the word of our Lord Jesus, who said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:–16).

    And now this same truth is set before us. Let not your circumstances hinder you from serving the Lord or ministering to others. The trials you face may well become the very platform upon which the glory of God shall be revealed. Our calling is not only to preach or to teach the Word of God, but to live it, to manifest it through our deeds, compassion, and holiness of life. For men are often drawn to God not by the eloquence of our speech, but by the evidence of our faith.

  • Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2

    “O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.” — Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2

    In the book of Habakkuk, we are not told whose son he was or what family or tribe he came from. Unlike many other prophets whose lineage was often mentioned, Habakkuk’s background is left unknown. Instead of beginning with genealogy, the book opens what he felt about the situation in Israel. Habakkuk is different from the other prophets because he does not deliver God’s message to the people. Rather, his book records how he turns directly to God, expressing his pain, confusion, and deep concern about the injustice and wickedness around him. Because Habakkuk is living the final decades of Judah’s, just before the Babylonian invasion. It was a time filled with corruption, violence, and widespread idolatry. As he looked around, he saw moral decay spreading throughout the nation and evil going unpunished, which deeply troubled his soul. He pleads with God for understanding and asks Him to intervene and execute His justice against unrighteousness. Also,

    When Habakkuk says, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence! And You will not save.” he expresses the deep pain of a man who feels unheard in the face of overwhelming evil. Why was Habakkuk lamenting? His heart was broken because of the sin and wickedness he saw around him. Just as the psalmist said, “I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word” (Psalm 119:158). Habakkuk grieved because the Israelites had been given the law of God. And what was that law for? It was to teach them how to live righteously and peacefully with one another yet they turned away from it. Even Peter used a similar expression when he spoke of Lot, saying that he was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked… For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds” (2 Peter 2:7–8).

    When we try to live right and do what is pleasing to the Lord, sometimes unfortunate things happen. It can feel unfair, and we may even feel neglected by God. Look at Elijah, he was doing exactly what God told him to do, yet he had to run for his life from Jezebel, the wicked wife of King Ahab and ruler of the land. Many of the prophets who served God were killed by her hands. But just as God used Babylon to execute His judgment on Judah, He also brought judgment upon Jezebel in His own time. There is an appointed time for everything, for God is rich in mercy and goodness. He gives people time to repent and turn back to Him before He brings judgment.

    Today, we can truly relate to what Habakkuk was going through because the world we live in is still filled with corruption, violence, and wickedness. We often hear people cry out with the same complaint against God. Many blame Him for the pain and suffering that fill the world. They blame God for the children who are abused and mistreated, for the children who suffer from sickness and diseases such as cancer. They blame God for natural disasters that destroy homes and lives, for wars that kill the helpless and innocent, and for injustice that seems to rule the earth. Some question God for allowing their families to be broken. Everything that is not pleasing in their sight leads them to ask the same question as Habakkuk: “Why, Lord?”

    But the difference between Habakkuk and many people today is that Habakkuk grieved. He did not blame God nor accuse Him. Habakkuk knew God, he knew His Word and His nature, and he understood that only God could save them from their situation. His heart was broken because the people of Judah were turning away from God, and he knew their rebellion would lead to destruction. Habakkuk understood that sin never affects just one person; it spreads and brings suffering to everyone around it.

    He was grieving because the wrong choices of his nation were also affecting his own life. Eventually, all of Judah both the righteous and the unrighteous would be taken captive to Babylon. The consequences of sin would touch everyone. In the same way, today, every time I share the gospel with someone and they turn away from it, it grieves me even more. I know that I cannot force anyone to believe, because God has given each person free will yet it still breaks my heart. God has already shown His great love for us when He stepped down from His throne, was declared to be the Son of God, died for us on the cross, and rose again to restore us to Himself. He did all of this because He wants us to spend eternity with Him. Yet, even after such a great act of love and sacrifice, many still choose to reject the salvation that God freely offers.

    In the book of Habakkuk, we also see that if we ask God with humility and sincerely seek His help, He will respond. God answered Habakkuk and gave him understanding about what was going to happen next. In the same way, if we turn to God and express our burdens before Him, He will hear us just as His Word says, “Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7) and “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). If we seek God with humility and sincerity, He will not only answer us but also give us wisdom and instruction on what we should do. God desires to guide His people, just as He guided Habakkuk but it begins when we approach Him with a humble heart, trusting that His ways are higher than ours.