The Blessing: Splendor Of Our Father's Word

By Luis Falcon

The Blessing: Splendor of Our Father's Word is an inspirational daily read. It is full of valuable life lessons on the importance of humility, forgiveness, and fellowship with others. It provides reminders to avoid the many vices and attitudes that can keep us from leading a fulfilling, joyful life. The collection of personal reflections can inspire happiness and peace in all readers, and bring them closer to God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798887638249

Book preview

January 2, 2013

Let my prayer be set before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

You shall make an altar to burn incense on, and you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you. Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense in it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.

Therefore, [Jesus] is also able to save God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angels’ hand. You also, as living stone, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Pray without ceasing. (Ps. 141:2; Exod. 30:1, 6–8; Heb. 7:25; Rev. 8:4; 1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Thess. 5:17)

Describe the weaknesses of your prayer life. What you can do to overcome them?

The weaknesses are many, but the love of God is evident, which compensates for our weakness. The only thing that we are certain of is that if we turn our heart and mind away from him and do not give him first place in our life, we will be a failure. Do not concentrate on the weakness of man or the individual; concentrate on the evidence of love that he and only he can give.

He can offer with each new day of life and opportunity to live and love another day. Prayer is a sacrifice.

Let nothing move you as you busy yourself in the Lord’s work. Be sure that nothing you do for him is ever lost or ever wasted. (Paul, 1 Cor. 15:58; Phillips)

Until you have given up yourself to him, you will not have a real self. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

When scripture tells us that we shall be changed, we must not imagine that we shall be changed into angels or into some other nature different from the human. The change means a supernatural elevation and perfection of our whole nature and not its destruction. The transition of change of the child into the man neither changes nor destroys the faculties of his mind nor the senses of his body; neither does it create new power or faculties that he had not before. His gradual growth into manhood only develops and perfects what the hand of God had placed in his nature on the day of his creation. (Father J. Boudrea, The Happiness of Heaven)

January 3, 2013

What do you want me to do for you? He said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law. And he opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the scriptures. But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and come down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the understanding being enlightened—that is, the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Luke 18:41, 24:45; Ps. 119:18; John 14:26; James 1:17; Eph. 1:17–19)

Describe some of the things you can see with your spiritual eyes.

It is hard for man to see with his spiritual eyes because it is easier to see with his physical eyes. Like everything in life, you need to develop the understanding that the spiritual way of seeing has the most impact and benefit for both parties and creates the connection that will make you happier. So if you practice seeing deeply inside yourself where darkness prevails, you can shine the light of God’s Word into your soul, not your own darkness. You may have light to move in his path.

It is possible to have twenty-twenty vision yet be blind, just as it is possible to be blind yet have twenty-twenty vision.

Begin to take authority and take intentional action in this New Year over your life. You are the only one that knows what the real purpose is that God has put in you, and you are the only one that can make it a reality. Because if you do not, someone else will do it for you, and you will not be happy at all with it. Do not refuse, decline, or discard to retain God’s Word in your knowledge. That is the seed that gives an abundance of fruit for your life.

Actually, we will do many of the same things in heaven that we did here on the earth—just perfectly. (Steven J. Lawson, Heaven Help Us!)

If a man could mount to heaven and survey the mighty universe, his admiration of its beauties would be much diminished unless he had someone to share in his pleasure. (Cicero, De Amicitia)

It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. (God, Gen. 2:18)

January 4, 2013

O death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?

The sting of death is sin. Now, once at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once of bearing the sin of many. To those who eagerly wait for him he will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that in the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness. (1 Cor. 15:55–56; Heb. 9:26–28, 2:14–15; 2 Tim. 4:6–8)

What would you do differently if you knew that this would be your last hour on earth? What goal would you change? What relationship would you mend? What money would you give? What priorities would you adjust?

I would intensify my need to learn and prepare for my ultimate departure. The need to express the ability to feel and interact with others—this is something that most probably is not possible in death. The need to live and dream in this life is essential; the opportunity that God provides me by giving me life is paramount. Let’s start living every single day as it would be our last day by working for the Lord.

This life will not last forever, but you work for the Lord’s will: eternity and life after death.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Solomon, Eccles. 3:11)

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to you and not be silent, O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (David, Ps. 30:12 AMP)

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, other to shame and everlasting contempt. (an angel, Dan. 12:2; Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Old Manse)

Our creator would never have made such lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.

January 5, 2013

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.

If you should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? They rebelled against his spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips. Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. A whisperer separates the best of friends.

There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever but for a moment. No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, for this is will of God, your sanctification. In their mouth was found no deceit. (Ps. 106:33, 130:3, 141:3; Matt. 15:11; Prov. 12:18, 19, 16:28; James 3:8, 10; Col. 3:8–9; 1 Thess. 4:3; Rev. 14:5)

From these verses, list the potential negative and positive impacts of the tongue and what you will do to control yours.

The need to connect the tongue with your heart, not with your mind, is essential. If your heart is honest, your tongue will not have harsh things to say about your neighbor or friend. If your mind is discontent with your brother, then the tongue will take it out on them or ones that are around you. This is not healthy or wise. It is simple to control the tongue. The main thing is to put yourself in their place and have the ability to visualize and feel the other person’s situation so as not to be hard on them and always give a hand.

Like a double sword, the tongue builds up or tears down, beautifies or uplifts, heals or hurts. It should be unsheathed only by the master’s hand.

Judgment and Justice

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goat on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom is prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothed you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

The King will reply, I tell you truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Jesus, Matt. 25:31–40)

January 6, 2013

The apostles gathered to Jesus.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. The Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The prayer of the upright is his delight. (Mark 6:30; Prov. 15:8, 18:24; Exod. 33:11; John 15:14–15; Luke 17:10; Rom. 8:15; Phil. 4:6)

What do you learn about prayer from these verses, and how can you apply it to your own conversations with your Father?

The worst example that an earthly father can project to a son is that he does not believe in the Lord our Father of all live human beings on this planet. The father that cannot teach their son about the spirit that our Father the Lord has sent to us to teach and console our most intimate need and question. The need to understand prayer is the direct line of communication with our Father that is always delighted to hear from these children that cry out to him.

Our father loves to hear from his children.

God and Our Relationship with Him

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Asaph, Ps. 73:25–26)

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (David, Ps. 27:4)

January 7, 2013

I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Not a word failed of any good thing, which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. God is not a man, that he should lie; nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good? Therefore, know that the Lord your God, he is God the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments. He will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty one, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Josh. 1:5; Josh. 21:45; Num. 23:19; Deut. 7:9; Ps. 111:5; Isa. 49:15–16; Zeph. 3:17)

What do these verses teach you about God’s personal and emotional involvement in your life?

The joy that every man and women should have that our Lord has inscribed us in the palms of his hand, that means that we are very important to him and his plan.

The Lord counted with us to participate with him in procreating, discovering the plan of life, and developing our unique talent that our Lord has given us to implement for his kingdom. Lord, let it be natural in me to come running to your call. Let my ear only be able to hear your wisdom that calls mankind to love each other like the brothers that we are. Amen.

As we go through life, we are encapsulated in God’s love, secured by his covenant, and guided by his Word.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Jesus, Matt. 5:8)

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (David, Ps. 63:1)

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (John, Rev. 21:3, 22:4 ESV)

January 8, 2013

They are without fault before the throne of God.

The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. He made us accepted in the beloved. To present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in his sight, now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Rev. 14:5; Jer. 50:20; Mic. 7:18–19; Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:22; Jude 24–25)

Fill in the blanks with the sins that come to your mind. Thank you, Father, for cleansing me from the sins of addiction—those that are addicted to alcohol, smoking, fear, insecurity, and lack the gift of love through your faith—those are the ones who need to open their ears and hearts to the Lord so he can come in to their lives to create order and peace. This is the only way we can acknowledge that we can understand that God the Lord is our celestial Father. Not acknowledging that God is our Father is the biggest sin that I can commit. Not only to his detriment but also to my own personal detriment all through my life.

As a faithful Father, God bathes each of his children.

Knowledge, Learning, and Books

The Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Solomon, Prov. 2:6)

Grow of the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (Peter, 2 Pet. 3:18)

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. (Solomon, Prov. 9:9)

We cannot believe that those who are in the Lord’s presence and ever again be sad, but this does not mean that in order to be joyful they must be ignorant. (W. Graham Scroggie, What about Heaven?)

January 9, 2013

But one thing is needed.

There are many who say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. O God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Lord, give us this bread always. Mary sat at Jesus’s feet and heard his Word.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. (Luke 10:42; Ps. 4:6–7, 27:4, 42:1–2, 63:1; John 6:34–35; Luke 10:39)

From these verses and others in the Bible, describe how you can drink or eat of Jesus in order to satisfy the longing of your soul.

Men are in total desperation looking to satisfying the longing in our soul. The need to be connected with one another so as not to be alone is man’s ultimate longing.

There is a need to connect, but most of the time, men want to dominate or control the others, no matter what. The need for power is the ultimate need for those who have it all.

It is not good for a man to eat alone or drink alone. Man feels at his ultimate best when he is sharing ideas, relationships, love, and feels respected. That is why there is so much conflict, chaos, and war in our lives. It is because not only man needs to connect and share but he needs to be respected by loved ones.

Jesus, his words and his very person, is in our soul food.

Eating and Drinking

I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Jesus, Luke 22:29)

I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. (Jesus, Luke 22:29–30)

January 10, 2013

Will God, indeed, dwell with men on the earth?

Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.

You have ascended on high. You have led captivity captive, have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there.

You are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have from God. You also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore. (2 Chron. 6:18; Exod. 25:8, 29:43, 45; Ps. 68:18; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:22; Ezek. 37:28)

What are some practical things you can do to make God feel at home in your life?

The first thing we have to do is acknowledge that God is my Father and the Creator of all things. The guest that is coming to visit is somebody that is coming to make difference in our life. Relationship with God is essential. You need to put your best foot forward as to open your spirit so our Lord can start working miracles in you. The understanding that God comes into our house because we need to be the one to invite him to dwell in the tabernacle of our heart, so as we can travel in the road of life with understanding the direction we are to go.

God has moved into the neighborhood!

Home

They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (God, Isa. 65:21)

They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:16)

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. (Paul, Phil. 3:20–21)

January 11, 2013

Who redeems your life from destruction?

Their redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is his name. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise share in the same, then through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. When he comes, in that Day, to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who believe. (Ps. 103:4; Jer. 50:34; Hos. 13:14; Heb. 2:14–15; John 3:36; Col. 3:3–4; 2 Thess. 1:10)

From these verses, list at least five things from which you have been delivered, and describe what that deliverance means to you.

One of the first deliverances that God has given to us is that of eternal life with him. The understanding that he gives his only Son to save us—this is the indication of his love for us.

He came to the world to teach us love so we could then be about to pass it on to our sons and daughters in this world. We need to come to the realization that only through believing in his Son will we have everlasting life. God comes to redeem us from death, fear, ignorance, and hate, and to pay for our sins so we could be his sons.

As prisoners of sins on an eternal death row, our only hope is in Someone who pays the penalty for us.

Redemption

Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Paul, Rom. 6:22–23)

This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying the Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sin may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you, even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. (Peter, Acts 3:18–21)

January 12, 2013

When shall I arise, and the night be ended?

Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning comes.

He who is coming will come and will not tarry. He shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself—that where I am, there you may be also. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you.

Let all your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who loves him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, not of darkness. There shall be no night there. (Job 7:4; Isa. 21:11–12; Heb. 10:37; 2 Sam. 23:4; John 14:2–3, 27–28; Judg. 5:31; 1 Thess. 5:5; Rev. 21:25)

What do you look forward to the most about our Lord’s return?

Why?

The first thing is that with the Lord in our presence, there will be no confusion of where you are or where you should need to be. You are no more confused, and you know you what to do to be as close to him. The need to know the truth comes by being in his presence. The true heart is a free heart that opened itself to all because his love cannot be contained and placed so no one can see, no more than he is here. He will give his love to us personally with his being; that will make us reciprocate to all others.

Like the light of dawn that precedes sunrise, the light of our hope precedes the return of our Lord.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sin as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like grass, like wildflowers, we bloom and die. (David, Ps. 103:8–15 NLT)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (John, 1 John 5:13)

January 13, 2013

Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive your trespasses.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, with one another, and forgiving one another; if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. (Eph. 4:26, 32; Matt. 18:15, 21–22; Mark 11:25; Col. 3:12–13; Luke 17:5)

How does the family policy described in these verses apply to your relationships? What must you do to abide by it?

The act of forgiving comes easy to me because forgiving must be very natural, as man’s ability to make mistakes is endless. The inability to forgive one another will decrease the ability to grow and prosper in all walks of life: spiritual and financial. So the ability to forgive and move on in life is essential because if not, you become a person whom no one can connect with. Life is about interaction to share connection so you can grow and understand the world around you.

Harmony and unity among his children is a family policy.

Judgment and Justice

God’s Word treats the judgment of believers with great sobriety. It does not portray it as a meaningless formality, going through the motion before we get on the real business of heavenly bliss. Rather, scripture presents it as a monumental event in which things of eternal consequence are put into effect. (Randy Alcorn, The Law of Rewards)

We’ll never question God’s justice, wondering how he could send good people to hell. Rather, we’ll be overwhelmed with his grace, marveling at what he did to send bad people to heaven. (Randy Alcorn, Heaven)

January 14, 2013

He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

His visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed.

This is your hour and the power of darkness. You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above.

The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Jesus cast out many demons, and he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Those who believe in my name, they will cast out demons.

The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 53:5; Luke 22:53; John 19:11, 3:8; Mark 1:34, 16:17; Matt. 28:18; Rom. 16:20)

What evidence of Satan’s activity have you experienced recently? Which of these verses is most helpful to you for overcoming his attacks?

The need to be somebody or someone important leads us to make comparisons with others. This is not a good thing. The natural instinct is that we all are different and special but not better or worse than others. The ability to concentrate your energy on fixing yourself and not others will make you discover your talents. God has given different talents to different people. Our task is to discover our special talent, not the iniquities of others. The attacks that Satan manifested are to divide God’s children with the smallest difference so little by little he can separate God’s children from hearing his Word and standing with our Lord and our brothers.

Jesus is the ultimate snake handler.

My kingdom is not of this world, you are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world. (Jesus, John 18:36–37)

Over and over again, the scriptures make this plain: the political power which has been so corrupted and twisted in the hands and hearts of sinful rulers must be returned to its rightful source. (Richard Mouw, When the Kings Come Marching In)

January 15, 2013

A Measure of Faith

Receive one who is weak in the faith. Strengthened in faith giving glory to God.

O you of little faith, why did you doubt? Great is your faith! Let it be to your desire.

Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to him, Yes, Lord. According to your faith, let it be to you. Increase our faith. Build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. He who establishes us with you in Christ is God. The God of all grace, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak and not to please ourselves. Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. (Rom. 12:3, 14:1, 13, 4:20, 15:1; Matt. 14:31, 15:28, 9:28–29; Luke 17:5; Jude 20; Col. 2:7; 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 Pet. 5:10)

From these verses, what can you do to grow your faith up and that of someone else?

Growing someone’s faith up is like building a house. The first thing is establishing your capacity and limitation. Everyone can grow up in their faith, but the need to grow comes from the need to connect with your brothers.

The need to interact so you can survive is the struggle of mankind. The man that does not grow up in their faith and in age is a person that is handicapped in life. The need for faith is man’s hope in the future; with no faith, there is no future.

Faith is like a tender plant, rooted in Christ alone, watered by the Spirit and the Word, strengthened by the winds of adversity and the sunshine of blessing.

Resurrection of the Universe

Dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the beliefs which have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: we who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (Paul, 1 Thess. 4:13–18 NLT)

January 16, 2013

Write the things that you have seen and the things that are and the things that will take place after this.

Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (Rev. 1:19; 2 Pet. 1:16, 21; 1 John 1:3; Luke 24:39–40; John 19:35; 1 Cor. 2:5)

What blessing do you receive from knowing that the New Testament was written by eyewitnesses?

The eyewitness is a very important testimony to any event as to make it credible and believable. God needs his actions and words to make an impact on man so as to teach the new direction for man to follow. Man was and is so confused about what direction to take all through the century. God came to simplify man’s direction as to which way to go in life. Love God and love your brother as yourself.

He came to give examples of how to accomplish this in form of parables. All these parables are so he can give the ideas of what to do and what not to do.

The New Testament is the eyewitness news of Jesus Christ.

New Earth: The Future Heaven

Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore, be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! In those days, people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.

Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards.

For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children too will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days, no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken. (God, Isa. 65:17–25, NLT)

January 17, 2013

The things that are.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly. Now we do not yet see all things put under him.

We also have the prophetic Word con-

firmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Beloved, remember the words that were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ—how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. The spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Little children, it is the last hour. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the work of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Rev. 1:19; 1 Cor. 13:12; Heb. 2:8; 2 Pet. 1:19; Ps. 119:105; Jude 17–18; Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18; Rom. 13:12)

What do these verses tell you about the future, and how are you going to prepare for it?

A future in which faith is missing, not because of our Lord, but because of us not inviting him to live in our life. The need to stay close to his Word and seek his light is essential to be able to survive the darkness. Darkness is a place of choice by each one of us.

Light is a place of choice by each one of us. Why we choose light or darkness is a matter of effort. The more effort, the more we can see the light; the less effort, the more darkness and less control you have in your life.

God’s Word is like a flashlight that pierces the darkness of the future, showing us the way.

Joy, Happiness, and Laughter

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Jesus, Luke 15:10)

The Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness he will make like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of a melody. (Isa. 51:3 NASB)

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you insult you. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. (Jesus, Luke 6:21–23)

January 18, 2013

The things that will take place after this.

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. The Spirit of truth will tell you things to come.

Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, and they also who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so, amen.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with the Lord (Rev. 1:17, 19; 1 Cor. 2:9–10; John 16:13; 1 Thess. 4:13–14, 16–17).

From these verses, what are some of the things beyond this life that you can look forward to, and what difference does that hope make in your life today?

I look forward to being in the presence of our Lord, not to suffering the ill of man, and spending my life in the present of his truth. We need to practice here on earth so when we are dead, it will be easier. The main premise is that this life is not all there is. The understanding of this is paramount because of the ability within you to believe that Jesus died and rose again and that this is his promise to us. Look for the Spirit of truth in you.

This life is not all there is!

Joy, Happiness, and Laughter

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beans, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean. (Jonathan Edwards, The Christian Pilgrim)

God destines us for an end beyond the grasp of reason. (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theological)

No one can live without delight, and that is why a man deprived of spiritual joy goes over to carnal pleasures. (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theological)

January 19, 2013

We have turned, every one, to his own way.

Noah planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk.

Abram said to Sarai his wife, Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me. Isaac said to Jacob, Are you really my son Esau? And [Jacob] said, I Am. Moses spoke rashly. The men of Israel did not ask counsel of the Lord. Joshua made a covenant with them. David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not turned aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

All these obtained a good testimony through faith. All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Not for your sake do I do this, says the Lord God, let it be known to you be ashamed and confounded for your own ways. (Isa. 53:6; Gen. 9:20–21, 12:11,13, 27:21, 24; Ps. 106:32– 33; Josh. 9:14–15; 1 Kings 15:5; Heb. 11:39; Rom. 3:24; Ezek. 36:32)

What proof do these verses give that God offers forgiveness to anyone?

God’s children are not perfect. Why can’t we have the ability to forgive? Our inability to forgive is because we can’t forgive ourselves.

This creates within ourselves the incapacity to share this reprisal to our image.

The concern is not ourselves. The person that committed the act against us, it is the concern of what other people are going to say of our self-image. This puts us in a place of, who shall I put greater importance on our image of the ability to say that person does not know what they said and just forgive.

God’s children are not perfect, just forgiven.

Relationships are the only things you can take with you into heaven. (Larry Dick, A Taste of Heaven)

No one dies finished. There is never enough time to do and to be all that we can, even all that we should. Our lives are incomplete in all of our essential relationships (1) to ourselves, (2) to others, (3) to God. (Peter Kreeft, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven)

Our communication will be perfect. In eternity, not only will we say it right, but our fellow royals will hear what we are saying. (T. W. Hunt and Melana Hunt Monroe, From Heaven’s View)

January 20, 2013

The Lord’s portion is his people.

You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. I am his. The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me.

Your body is not your own. For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. The Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be his people, an inheritance as you are this day.

You are God’s field; you are God’s building. Christ is a Son over his own house. We are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. You also as living stones are a holy priesthood.

They shall be mine, says the Lord of host, on the day that I make them my jewels. And all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. The glory of his inheritance in the saints. (Deut. 32:9, 4:20; 1 Cor. 3:9, 23, 6:19–20; Song of Sol. 7:10, 2:16; Gal. 2:20; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:5; Mal. 3:17; John 17:10; Eph. 1:18)

What thrills you the most about belonging to him?

The biggest thrill is to understand the love of our Father so that we can imitate our Father and our God, so in that way, we humble ourselves and praise him. Let it be second nature in our spirit to sense the need to know that our place is by your side and connected to your wisdom for direction.

Lord, let this love for you never end. Lord, let our need to glorify you by our action never tire, and when it does, help me become a living stone again.

We are the joy of his heart, the gleam in his eye, the object of his desire, the jewel in his crown.

All the misunderstandings, hasty judgments, disappointments, resentments, and hurts of the past that can happen in even the best of relationships will be forgiven and forgotten. There will only be unconditional love and ecstatic joy at seeing each other again.

Records, detailed records, are kept in heaven on every person to Noah and Adam. More than this, you will have the opportunity to meet and spend time with your ancestors that made it into heaven. What a fascinating experience to hear and see firsthand how God has worked down through the generations to you. (Larry Dick, A Taste of Heaven)

Social life can tear families apart as well as knit them together. In heaven nobody has to prove worth by denigrating a neighbor, ridiculing another person, or betraying a friend. (Arthur Roberts, Exploring Heaven)

January 21, 2013

Now we call the proud blessed.

Thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There are six things the Lord hates—yes, seven are an abomination to him. A proud look—everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.

Search me, O God and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the say everlasting.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Mal. 3:15; Isa. 57:15; Matt. 5:3, 5; Prov. 6:16–17, 16:5, 19; Ps. 139:23–24; Phil. 1:2–3)

From these verses, describe God’s attitude toward the humble. Which are you?

Being proud does not let you humble yourself to others. You have to choose which type of person you feel that your spirit can tolerate—anxieties. Wicked act or meek, peaceful or full of God’s grace, but you need to have conviction to be humble. If you’re proud, your self-esteem is normally low; if you’re humble, your self-esteem is normally high.

The need to survive without God’s wisdom makes us proud because there is nothing to hang on to for support—mental, moral, and spiritual. The inability to find stable foundations in our life directs, our spirit to become proud and self-centered in the things we do. By learning more of God and his wisdom, the easier it is to become humble. Being proud is an abomination to God. It is because you are not precipitating God’s immense love for you.

Pride is spiritual body odor.

In the world, you will have tribulation, but God is always there to give you a hand or a wise word so you can avoid any tribulation that comes your way. The devil cannot defeat you if you do not let him get you into problem, put you into pressure, and make you separate you from the Word of the Father and your brother.

What are you going to do put your trust in God?

Make a decision and you will learn if you make the sound decision that is the only way to learn, grow, and get close to our Father.

Decision, purpose, and passion have the power to pull you into your future your Father destined.

If you remain in me, I will remain in you; nothing is impossible.

Putting God first is what you do first. Determine what God does next; most have a partner of earth first.

January 22, 2013

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, comforts delight my soul. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you. I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, and it will be given to him.

Who is sufficient for these things? I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), nothing good dwells. My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven. You be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you and the night watches. (Ps. 55:22, 61:2, 63:5–6, 94:19; Isa. 38:14; 1 Kings 3:7; James 1:5; 2 Cor. 2:9, 16; Rom. 7:18; Matt. 9:2, 22)

Which of these verses could you use to offer relief to someone who is worried? Depressed? Stressed out? Afraid? Confused?

My grace is sufficient for you.

My strength is made perfect in weakness.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it will be given to him.

We are all God’s little children. The problem comes from when we think we are not God’s little children—that God has no place in our life because I know what is best for me and I do not need anybody to answer to, because I can take care of myself; just do not tell me what to do.

Just give me Jesus!

Life is not about me. It is about