Judas negotiates the handover of Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16

Have you ever betrayed a friend? Was there ever a time in your life when you thought it best to satisfy a selfish desire, even though it would be at the expense of losing the best friend you could ever have in the history of life? Think of the events that would follow, after committing such a shameful act. Would what you gained to lose that person be enough to cover such a heavy loss? I highly doubt it would be. There’s not one thing God created that could replace the value of a living soul. Wealth, nor any other material possession can be appraised to equal the immeasurable value of a man.

Jesus was, and is the best friend anyone could ever have. He left the ultimate glory, and became poor just so we could enjoy a full life on earth, and in eternity. The apostle Paul wrote, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Through His ministry, Jesus invested years of wisdom and knowledge into His twelve disciples, in order to prepare them to continue doing the things He did, after He left the earth. Jesus chose men of varying backgrounds and beliefs, yet trusted them enough to open Himself to them, so that they could see the Son of man for who He really was. God is love, and Jesus showed how that same love should be exercised among all men. All the men who followed Christ during His ministry were no doubt more empowered to serve before His death, than when they were first chosen, but it’s amazing how one of the twelve was neither phased by the teachings of Jesus, nor convinced to fully commit to the purpose of His Gospel. Could you imagine a grain of rice so hard, that even when boiled in water for hours, it still remains as solid as a rock? Well, that grain of rice was Judas Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve disciples who followed Jesus for three years during His ministry. He held a first-hand account of Jesus’ mission, teaching, and many miracles. He was also the treasurer for the group, and used this trusted position to oftentimes steal from their resources, according to John 12:6 that reads, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

Jesus knew from the very beginning what Judas would ultimately do, yet He refused to withhold His great love from Him that He shared with others. Jesus told His disciples, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (John 6:70). Even at the Last Supper, Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal, and actually identified him in front of all the disciples when He said, “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon” (John 13:26). Can you imagine sitting at the table as one of the other disciples, and hearing that Judas would betray Christ? I often wonder, when Jesus commanded Judas to be quick about going through with His plan, why didn’t any of the other disciples stop him, as he left the table? They had just heard that Jesus was about to be betrayed, yet they made no attempt to stop the culprit. This was because Judas was fulfilling the prophecy found in Psalm 41:9 that reads, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

After all was said and done, Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver (equivalent to about 30 slaves in that time) from the chief priest, then followed through with his betrayal with a kiss. “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him” (Matthew 26:48-50).

What would you accept in exchange for a friend; money, fame, fortune, worldly relevance? See the value in the souls of your spiritual brothers and sisters, and don’t allow anything to tempt you to devalue their worth.

Walk in love,

Ell

One must die for the nation

John 11:47-53

Can God use an ungodly man to spread His Word? Interesting question, yet I can think of two examples in Scripture where this situation actually took place. The first can be found in the book of Numbers, chapter 22, that involved a man named Balaam, who was offered great wealth, if he would only curse the people of God. But God used Balaam instead to prophecy words He put in his mouth, to present to the wicked Balak. Balaam told the troubled Balak, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it” (Numbers 23:19-20). What a powerful word God placed in this man to reveal the nature of Himself to the wicked, and the coming prosperity of His people.

A second situation where God used an ungodly man to prophesy His Word takes place in our text. Caiaphus was a high priest, who was among many hard hearted men, taking council on how to deal with Jesus’ supposed threat to their standard of living. As they conversed with each other, the high priest rebuked the men, then began to prophesy that Jesus should die, not only for that nation, but that he will also gather together the children of God who were scattered abroad. This moment must have been odd, as the men gathered together deemed the high priest to be of the same mind as themselves, but even after hearing an inspired word from the Lord, the men continued from that day forth, plotting how to kill Jesus.

The Word of God is pivotal in determining a person’s eternal destination, but it amazes me how many know what God expects, yet continue to ignore it. Jesus’ death made it possible for all men, including the ones who thought only evil of Him, and not good, to have the opportunity to bask in eternal glory in the presence of God almighty. The hearts of some men have become so hard, until many will find themselves spending eternity in misery and pain, because they’ll fail to see that God is the only way to everlasting peace and prosperity.

Walk in love,

Ell

Mary anoints Jesus’ body for burial

John 12:1-8

Jesus did a lot during His time on the earth to ruffle the feathers of those who refused to accept that He was indeed the Son of God, who came to remove the stain of sin, so that mankind could be restored to their rightful place in God. Jesus healed an innumerable number of men, women, and children who suffered sickness and disease, raised some from the dead, opened blinded eyes, and relieved others from demonic possession. Knowing and even witnessing many of these miraculous events, the chief priests and Pharisees still made multiple attempts to take Jesus, and kill Him. Although Jesus prophesied His death on multiple occasions, no man could take His life, until He was ready, and willing to lay it down. But as a man, Jesus still had to be wise, and flee from those who sought to take His life.

A short while after Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, many came to believe on Him, while others went to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus had done. These foolish and ignorant men came together to decide how to put Him to death, because they feared that if they allowed Jesus to continue performing miracles, then all men would believe on Him. They also feared that the Romans would eventually come in and destroy their nation and take away their perverted temples.

The Passover celebration was fast approaching, and many considered the fact that Jesus would more than likely show up, but rather than roam around where men sought to report Him to the authorities, Jesus wisely took an alternative route and pitched camp in a city called Ephraim, where He continued ministering unto His disciples near the wilderness. He knew that men sought to kill Him, so He laid low for a few, to spend a little more quality time with His boys. He would then set out to visit His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in their hometown of Bethany. While with His friends, Jesus sat at the table with Lazarus, as his sister Martha served all those in attendance. While Martha served, Mary went to gather a precious ointment of spikenard, that she had saved for the moment when Jesus would face His death, brought it, then anointed the feet of Jesus. As she wiped His feet with her hair, the aroma from the expensive ointment filled the entire house. What a humble gesture Mary presented to Jesus, but sometimes a good deed isn’t always appreciated by everyone. Judas spoke out and asked why did Mary waste her expensive ointment, when it could have been sold for a great sum, then given to the poor. First of all, this is the same man who would soon betray Jesus, and the Bible states clearly in verse six, “not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” In other words, he was probably thinking that he could have stolen the ointment (he probably had already taken some of their items), and got a good price for it. It’s a very dangerous thing to express selfish desires in the presence of Christ, but rather than blast Judas for the betrayer he was, Jesus made another reference to His death that literally went over the disciple’s heads once again. Jesus said in verses seven and eight, “Ler her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Mary did a great thing in the eyes of Jesus and His disciples, as well as in the eyes of God. Knowing that Christ would soon be gone, she thought it not robbery to bless Him with what was possibly her most valuable possession. Christ now sits at the right hand of His Father, but is soon to return to the earth. Are you holding back your most expensive possession (yourselves), in exchange for the futile cares of this evil world? Time is ticking fast, yet many of us live as though we can do whatever we want, when we want. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Don’t waste your precious life seeking only to prosper in this world, because it means more to your eternity to invest in Kingdom business. Do as Mary did, and pour out yourselves at the feet of Jesus, and ignore all those who wouldn’t understand that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Walk in love,

Ell

Care for the poor

Luke 16:19-31

Have you ever seen a rich man beg? Men with wealth usually have no problem obtaining things they desire, but those desires are limited to this life alone. Before I get too excited writing this lesson, I’ll take my time and elaborate a bit on our text. Jesus usually spoke to men in parables, stories that compelled listeners to discover truths for themselves, and its concepts concealed the truth from those too lazy or prejudiced to look for it. It isn’t mentioned whether this story was a parable or not, but even if it was, it is still true, because Jesus never used lies to illustrate truths.

Our text mentioned a true account of two men with different perspectives on life. There was a rich man who had it made in the cool shade, lived lavish, dressed in the finest apparel, and never missed a meal when he was hungry. In his mind, life was perfect, yet he lacked one of the most important attributes that separated those who were rich and arrogant, with others who were rich and righteous (Job, David, Joseph). The rich man lacked humility, and was not fond of sharing his wealth with others.

Lazarus was a beggar who seemed to have been handed a bad set of cards. It’s unknown how he wound up in such a woeful state, but Lazarus was unable to care for himself, so he sought assistance from others. It’s mentioned in verse 20 that Lazarus was full of sores, and laid at the rich man’s gate, in hopes of receiving a blessing. On a side note, I’m curious as to who brought him to the gate, because if they were kind enough to lay him in a rich place, shouldn’t they have offered to give him food or clothing first, unless they had already done what they could to assist, and felt that the next best option was to place the beggar in a place where there was unending resources. Or, perhaps those who laid him at the gate were poor as well, and just wanted their friend to get the best care before he died. In any case, he laid at the rich man’s gate, desiring only to eat the crumbs that fell from his table, but he was ignored and left there to suffer the more. The only comfort Lazarus received in his last days came from the dogs who came and licked his sores. Think on that final scene for a moment. Picture Lazarus laying at the rich man’s gate, with dogs licking his sores, then pan the camera to the rich man’s bedroom window, as he looks at the beggar in disgust, while smoking a pipe, or whatever arrogant men did back then to look cool.

There came a time when Lazarus and the rich man died, but there afterlife experiences were totally different. After the beggar died, his soul and spirit were carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. This was a phrase used among Jews to signify paradise. The paradise mentioned here is the one in the lower part of the earth. Say what!!??? Before you trip and call me crazy, let me explain, as I’m still understanding these concepts as well. Before Christ gave up the Ghost on the cross, He told the thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus then went to the lower parts of the earth to gather the righteous who were awaiting for Him to capture them, and take them to Heaven. There is another paradise in the third Heaven mentioned in Revelation 2:7, and 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.

Unlike Lazarus who was favored by God and rewarded in the afterlife, the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell, or hades. This was considered the unseen world of departed spirits, that is similar to the Hebrew equivalent of Sheol. While there, the rich man suffered torment and great pain, but looked up and saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. Typical of those who receive judgment for their evil ways, the rich man began to feel remorse and despair after seeing the man he left to die in the streets. The irony of this story is that the man who once begged for mere crumbs while on earth, was now living an eternal life of riches, whereas the man who had earthly treasures now begged for help from the same man he despised. The rich man cried for Abraham to send Lazarus over to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool his tongue, because he was tormented in flames. Have you ever wondered where sinners go when they die, as they await the coming judgment? There’s your answer.

Even in hell, the rich man still gave orders, but his request was denied, because there was a great gulf fixed between them where no one could cross. Abraham spoke on behalf of Lazarus and reminded the rich man of how he lived comfortably, and Lazarus suffered, but now the tables were turned. The man then realized that it was too late for him to repent, but remembered his brothers who were still alive, and made another request to send Lazarus to testify to them of the reality of life, but Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets to hear, but if they refused, neither would they be persuaded if one came back from the dead.

I get jitters and goosebumps everytime I read this story, because every day I see people struggling, and wonder if I do enough to help them. Jesus said, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always” (Mark 14:7). These words from Christ helps us understand that we can’t save the world, but we can do what we can, when we can, but only if our time and resources allow it. The Holy Ghost will always lead us to do only what will bring glory to God, and possibly help others come to Him through our giving.

If you have been blessed with wealth on this earth, don’t allow what you have to have you. Instead, pray to God for strategies on how to use your resources to make the Kingdom of God more attractive to this dark and dying world. To those, like me, who are barely making ends meet, we may not be able to bless the poor financially, but we can always give them good, godly conversations to help enrich their spirit, and encourage their souls to be strong, and trust God to deliver them. “See a need, fill a need” (Mr. Bigweld).

Walk in love,

Ell

The Original Passover Celebration

Exodus 12:1-14

People around the world take part in a variety of celebrations. Some enjoy “doing it big” on their birthday, while others participate in their team’s victories in sporting events. Baby showers have been a popular event in American culture, and the families and friends of newlyweds enjoy fun and laughter at wedding receptions. All these celebrations are good and fun, but have you ever celebrated freedom from enslavement to an oppressor? I know some contemplate being free from an unfaithful spouse a moment to leap for joy (and I can imagine it is), but few events can rival the emotions that come with being totally free from years of intense bondage.

The children of Israel had become fruitful and prosperous in the land of Egypt. All their prosperity was permitted because of the obedience of Joseph. After Joseph died, things began to change, as a new king arose over Egypt, who had no knowledge of the favor Joseph had with God. This newly appointed king became afraid of how mighty the children of Israel had become, and feared that they could eventually join with his enemies, if war was to ever break out. In an effort to keep God’s people under control, the king appointed taskmasters, or chiefs of tribute, to afflict them with burdens, or hard tasks. Surprisingly, the more they afflicted the people, the more they multiplied and grew. Can you imagine having a picnic in the park, and trying to get rid of a handful of sugar ants around your food basket, but the more you spray them, the numbers triple every second? That would turn out to be a disastrous picnic. This crazy king went so far as to order the Hebrew midwives to kill all the males babies who were born of the Hebrew women, so that the population could suffer a great decline, but the midwives feared God, and ignored the king’s command. So the children of Israel continued to multiply even greater.

Fast forward a few chapters and we find where Moses was born, and was called by God to deliver His people out of the land of Egypt. If you delve deep into the book of Exodus, you’ll discover some cool and amazing things that took place in the lives of Moses and his family. Anyhoo, Pharoah tried hard to keep God’s people under oppression, but his time to release them would come sooner than he expected, and at great cost. Because of Pharoah’s refusal to release Israel from bondage, God allowed nine plagues to befall the land. The tenth, and final plague God brought upon Egypt was that all the firstborn in the land would die, from Pharoah’s firstborn, even to the firstborn of the animals. The purpose for God sending this plague was so that everyone would know how the Lord put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. Pharoah had caused this to come upon himself, because he was stubborn, he lied, resisted God, and manifested hatred of Israel in more ways than anyone could imagine. God had a plan set in place to protect His people as the death angel roamed the land, fulfilling the command of God.

The Passover was instituted to commemorate Israel’s deliverance from death, when the angel passed over Egypt to slay all the firstborn of the Egyptians. If you’ve chosen to live a life for Christ, then I’m certain there are people in your life, who have been ordained by satan to oppress you to no end. Some you may be aware of, whereas others could be operating unawares. There is an appointed time when God will send deliverance your way, and remove all those who are assigned to block your forward progress. In your suffering and bondage seasons, keep your eyes on God, and await His command, because little do your enemies know, there’s a an angel sent from Heaven to defend you against all who oppose you, and your God. So celebrate every victory God brings in your life. Whether it be healing, salvation of a loved one, debt cancellation, or whatever, give God all the glory, and all the praise, because it’s by His grace that we have been saved, set free, and delivered!

Walk in love,

Ell

Call and Mission

Matthew 10:1-15

Before sending them out to witness on their own, Jesus called His twelve disciples together, and bestowed divine power within them so potent, that it gave them the ability cast out demons, and heal any sickness or disease that plagued the people. Christ also gave them detailed instructions on what to pack, and what places to visit on their journey. The Good News of the Gospel was a message for all people. However, Jesus commanded the men to avoid going to the Gentile nations, and focus their attention on gathering the lost sheep of Israel first. This was a rather interesting command, because if the Gospel was for everyone, then why would Christ skip over the ones who seem to need it most? Look at it from this perspective: if you and your spouse were born-again believers, would you go out into your neighborhood and make an effort to win all the lost in your community, or would you think it wise to first begin in your own home? Jesus knew the Gentile nations would have ample time to hear the Word, but it was necessary to first gather those who were chosen as God’s holy nation, and unite them once again, into the royal family of the Almighty.

The mission the disciples would soon embrace, would not be a cakewalk. They would face persecution, rejection, and all forms of possible violence, but they were properly equipped by the Son of God to stand firm against all that would come against them. Believers today are called to win the lost, at all cost. We may not have been commissioned as the disciples were in this text, but we operate under the same Spirit that gave them the power to do amazing things. Who knows what God can and will manifest through our lives? Never underestimate what God can do through you. All He asks is that we be willing, and obedient to His Word, and He will do the rest. We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season. Make your life worth the living, and keep God at the forefront of your vision.

Walk in love,

Ell

Handling and surviving persecution

Matthew 10:16-25

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). There truly is nothing new, that hasn’t already taken place in the world, throughout history. In the past, men rejected God the same as they do today. The disciples whom Jesus sent out into the world as sheep among wolves, were persecuted and rejected of men, just as missionaries of the Gospel are mishandled to this very day. It almost seems pointless to make attempts to save those who wish not to be rescued, but because of God’s unparalleled love and grace, He continues to extend His free gift of salvation to all men, until time is up.

The disciples in our text were well-prepared to face any and all challenges that were awaiting them, but Jesus warned the men to remain wise as serpents, and humble as doves, among those who would eventually deliver them to the councils, and scourge, or cause great trouble and suffering in their lives. It matters not how men treat us, but our response to them is what God monitors closely. Jesus was sending His most trusted followers out in the midst of evil rulers and leaders, broken homes with unstable family relationships, and men with pure hatred in their hearts, who were so consumed in their own lusts, that they will only think to persecute them, without reasoning. The same wickedness can be seen around the globe today. Throughout homes in America alone, there are fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, and children who would wish for nothing more than the death of their parents. Brotherly love is nonexistent, even between actual blood brothers. I’ll refrain from elaborating on how crooked and divisive our government is, because it’ll take up too much space in my notes, but it is known that we are under the rule and authority of some of the most wicked men and women in history.

Just as Jesus instructed the disciples to flee from those who persecuted them, we too should wisely flee from those who intend to harm us. This is not an act of cowardice, but so that we can continue to spread the Gospel. If we have an opportunity to resist the enemy and escape danger, what good would we be to God’s Kingdom if we were to stay and possibly be killed? Christians will be hated for Christ’s name sake, but if we endure to the end, we will be saved.

The church has become so Americanized to the point where we focus more on the “American Dream”, instead of winning lost souls. We place more effort into landing the ideal career job, planning for retirement, buying houses, and owning land, when all this world offers is vanity, and will soon be burned in fire. Your job, house, or savings can do nothing to save your soul, nor deliver you from the lake that burns with fire. Only through salvation, can we be guaranteed a place in God’s new Heaven and earth. There’s nothing wrong with planning for a better future while on this earth, but we should only do as the Holy Spirit leads us, because souls should always take precedence over anything this world presents as attractive.

The goal of men is to become wealthy and prosperous only in this life, but the goal of the Christian should be to become more like Christ every day. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Walk in love,

Ell

A great harvest, but few workers

Matthew 9:35-38

The ministry of Jesus was centered heavily on teaching, preaching, and healing. He never sat idle, as men and women roamed their cities lost, and in need of help. Instead, Christ was proactive, as He and His disciples went around countless cities and villages, spreading the goodness of the Lord, and making disciples daily. The more Jesus carried out the will of God, the more others would hear of Him, and strive to make their way to be in His presence. Some would even bring their sick, lame, or demon-possessed family members and friends to Jesus, so that He could heal, and relieve them of their suffering. What an incredible time to be apart of, witnessing miracles take place by the hands of the Son of the Living God!

While on earth, Jesus was limited to time and space, so He could only be in one place at a time. His disciples were a great help, but Jesus saw multitudes of lost souls, scattered abroad as sheep without a shepherd, and had compassion on them. Jesus came to save the lost, so it was only fitting that He have compassion on those He sought to save. Do you care enough about others to show them the love of God? Can you still show kindness to people who don’t fully understand your place in God, and may seem to be resistant to the message you preach? Jesus loves all men, even the arrogant and haughty Pharisees who claimed that He casted out devils through the prince of the devils. How much more blasphemous could those men be, but Christ loved them as well.

Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (vs. 37). There are more souls to be saved, than those who are actually working to win them, so it’s vital that we labor without ceasing, so that we could possibly add to the Christian labor pool, more willing workers for the Kingdom of God. We can also do as Christ commanded His disciples, when He told them, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (vs. 38). Believers must stick together and keep their focus on building God’s Kingdom. We must not be so easily distracted by the cares of this evil world, while standing firm on what God assigned us to do. Every day someone wakes up hurt, depressed, ashamed, and possibly contemplating suicide. Life is hard, and it’s been prophesied to get worse. Knowing that this present world isn’t our eternal home, should motivate all believers to strive harder to make God’s will top priority. People all over the world are searching for an answer to all their problems, and it’s the believer’s duty to provide that answer, and share with others that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Walk in love,

Ell

Jesus sends out the twelve

Mark 6:7-13

One important fact I’ve learned in life is, when a person is serious about a thing, they’ll plan and prepare for it with all diligence. For example, when I turned 16, I wanted so badly to get my driving permit, so I studied and prepared for the exam, so when the time came to test my knowledge, I wouldn’t fail or embarrass myself. Even when I played football for many years, I would make sure I understood our team’s strategy before every game, studied the opponent’s formations as well, and made sure my equipment was in tact, so that I could give my best performance every game. How a person prepares for anything, will determine the effectiveness of their performance, and impending outcomes.

Our text associated with this lesson is preceded by the time when Jesus was rejected in His own country, and by His own people. All Jesus could do was shake His head, as He marvelled because of the people’s unbelief. Rather than whine and complain as to why His own people wouldn’t accept His message of salvation, Christ instead called His twelve disciples, and began to send them out in pairs, to witness to all who would hear them. Before the men were sent out, they had to first be properly equipped to handle the mission, as well as receive proper instruction on how to conduct themselves amongst those they encountered. I often mention in my lessons that it’s unwise to venture out into the world to attempt to win lost souls without following the leading of the Holy Ghost. This is because many are under heavy influence of demonic spirits, and they could react in ways that would cause you to turn and run home with your tail between your legs. Speaking of turning and running, there was a man in Scripture who was demon possessed, and no man could bind him, for he would literally break the chains as if they were made of paper. Everyone kept their distance from him, until Jesus showed up, and set things straight. I mentioned that just to acknowledge the fact that if you try and face evil spirits with human strength, you’ll be obliterated.

Before Jesus sent out the twelve, He gave them power over unclean spirits. Ahhhh, as I just mentioned, we can’t stand against evil on human strength alone, we need the power that comes from the Holy Ghost, to even stand a chance against satan and his forces. After giving the disciples the power they needed to overcome evil spirits, Jesus then commanded them to pack lightly, as to not be weighed down on their journey. He also advised them to be content with whoever received them into their home, and to shake the dust off their feet as they departed from those who wouldn’t receive them. What Christ said in the next verse still boggles my mind till this very day! In verse 11, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the most wicked cities in the history of existence! I won’t get too deep into that discussion, but to hear Jesus say that the city who rejects His disciples will be judged more harsh than the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a very scary judgment to even fathom. Anyhoo, after being meticulously prepared, the disciples went out as instructed and preached that men should repent, cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed all of them.

What have you done for God lately? Are you fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself? Do you preach the Gospel, and compel others to come to Christ? How effective is your testimony in convincing men to inquire about salvation? The power that the disciples operated in as they preached the Gospel and ministered from city to city, can be found the the Holy Spirit that lives in all believers. The same way nearly 75 percent of the world got super hyped and excited as Thor entered Wakanda and saved the Avengers from annihilation by Thanos’ Black Order, is how men and women should feel when they see God’s children literally healing the sick, casting demons from innocent men, women, and children, and preaching the Gospel with such a passion, until souls are convicted and converted to godliness.

Walk in love,

Ell

Paul called by a vision

Acts 16:6-10

Throughout the the pages of Scripture, you’ll discover that there were many ways in which God communicated with His people. In some instances He would make His voice heard through a cloud, bush, or even an animal. God would also speak to men through dreams and visions. It was essential for the people of God in the past to only go where God’s Spirit led them, because God knows the end from the beginning, and He’s also aware of unseen dangers that could potentially hinder the believer’s progress. It’s a dangerous thing to get to the point where a person feels that they are mature enough in godliness to move on their own understanding. That’s similar to a person who feels confident enough to lift heavy weights without someone to spot them. At any moment, the muscles can weaken, which could cause all the weight to fall on their chest (it’s possible that I may know about that from personal experience, but shhhh don’t tell anyone). God sees the whole picture of life, and wants those who have committed their lives to Him to trust that He knows which directions we should take, that will benefit His kingdom the most.

As the apostle Paul and his companions traveled through the region of Asia, they established churches as God’s Spirit led them. I’m apt to believe that these bold and courageous men were on fire for God, and desired to establish churches everywhere they traveled, but the Spirit of God restricted them from going to certain areas. This was done not for reasons of neglect or abandonment, but God knew which areas were primed and ready to receive the Gospel, and those that weren’t. In the time when the restricted places were more inclined to receive the Word, the men of God could revisit them, and impart all of God’s goodness into them. One particular night, a vision appeared unto Paul of a man from Macedonia, who prayed for the apostle to come and help them. Paul deemed this vision as a sure sign that God had called he and his companions to preach the Gospel to the people of Macedonia.

Living according to the Holy Spirit can make life much easier than venturing out on your own. As I aforementioned, God knows EVERYTHING, and where He leads us, is always the best option, not only for ourselves, but for those God intends for us to meet.

Walk in love,

Ell