A Day of Independence

The Fourth of July is only a few days away, and like every year, I am drawn to an international crowd and an international message. I would ask the international readers to be patient with me and see how this message is also addressed to them. 250 years have gone by, and the Lord has been patient with the United States. We have done remarkable things for the cause of Christ, and we have also done terrible things that lead to our shame as a nation. However, this week every year, I like to take a moment and examine what this means for us as the Body of Christ. The United States is not in Bible prophecy, astute readers of God’s Word highlight that we one day will not be the dominant player on the world stage. However, that is not this day!

The United States is blessed because of one simple reason. God does not go back on His promises. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Our founding fathers were Bible-believing men who stood on the principles of God’s Word. We are standing on the shoulders of giants. However, this lesson is fading, like Israel, we are forgetting the works that God has done in our own nation, and we are turning our hearts to other gods. Psalm 106:13-16 “They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. 16 When they envied Moses in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of the LORD,” When we fail to recognize the God who brought us to where we are, we can become lost to wander down paths that lead us away from the Almighty. Our nation must repent and seek the Lord, or I fear our days as a superpower are numbered. Pastor Billy Graham said something to the effect of, “God will have to ask Sodom and Gomorrah for forgiveness if He does not discipline the United States.” How true are these words! We have been spared the discipline and sudden destruction for one sole reason. The United States has helped the Jewish people. I fear the day is coming when this will no longer be the case. For the born-again believer, our time to shine is now. We must be telling people the good news of Christ, we must be discipling believers, and we must be guarding and advancing truth back into the churches that have been abandoned.

For the international audience, God’s promises are there for each and every nation. If we humble our hearts, seek the Lord, and turn to Him, He will act. Now is the time for believers to be praying for their local leaders and for their national leaders. Join advising groups and promote the eternal truths of Jesus Christ to anyone willing to listen. When we do this, freedom rings; when we do this, liberty is declared. For we who are saved are the only ones freed from sin, and the only ones representing on this earth the liberty that was purchased on the cross. God is remarkably patient, but I dare say the time is coming when, if we do not repent as a nation and seek Him, we will see this nation fall to the wayside like so many other nations. This Fourth of July needs to be a day for all to recognize what a few men did for the cause of Christ and how God shaped a nation to share and declare the Word of God for over 250 years! I pray our time is not over, and that our chance to serve the King of Kings has many more years ahead. But this can only happen if we put Jesus first and recognize the need for us to be in prayer and actively participating in the work He has us to do. Let’s keep working until the trumpet sounds and the Rapture occurs and we are called home.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

SUMMER PRAYER FEST

This week, we are going to be praying for our leaders around the world. Pray for your nation's leaders, pray for your local leaders, and pray for your Church leaders. Let this be a time we take to give them the needed spiritual help they undoubtedly need. The Bible verse to focus on is Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

Re-Post Friday

What knowledge can we find in Proverbs? Find out HERE!

Israel Beloved By God

2. “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved;

3. But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”

4.  Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever.

5. Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, ‘The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’


Malachi 1:2-5 (NKJV)

Malachi 1:2-5 begins with God reminding Israel of a truth they had forgotten: “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). After years of hardship and disappointment, the people questioned God’s love and asked, “In what way have You loved us?” To answer their question, God pointed them back to their history. He reminded them that although Jacob and Esau were brothers, He chose Jacob and his descendants, Israel, to receive the covenant promises made to Abraham. This choice was not based on Israel’s goodness or strength, but on God’s grace and faithfulness; “7. “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8. but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NKJV)

God then declares, “Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated” (Malachi 1:2-3). This statement does not mean God had sinful hatred toward Esau as an individual. Rather, it speaks of God’s sovereign choice of Jacob as the covenant heir. The descendants of Esau became the nation of Edom, and throughout their history, they repeatedly opposed God’s people. Edom refused to help Israel during their wilderness journey (Numbers 20:14-21) and later rejoiced when Jerusalem was destroyed (Obadiah 10-12). Because of their pride and continual rebellion against God, judgment came upon them.

In verse 4, Edom claims they will rebuild their ruined nation, but God responds, “They may build, but I will throw down.” Edom trusted in its own strength rather than humbling itself before God. Their pride led to their downfall, fulfilling the truth of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” God called Edom “The Territory of Wickedness” because of their persistent opposition to His ways.

The passage concludes with a promise that Israel would recognize God’s greatness. “The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel” (Malachi 1:5). Through His faithfulness to Israel and His judgment upon Edom, God revealed both His love and His justice. These verses remind us that God’s love is rooted in His grace and covenant faithfulness, and His judgments are always righteous. Even when His people question His love, His faithfulness remains unchanged.

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Intentional or Unintentional?

Today we are discussing a topic that has been on my heart for weeks now. In my personal Bible study, I had been going through the book of Numbers, and the section of scripture that we will discuss today challenged my thinking on sin and how God punishes those who choose not to follow Him. Since this is a topic that I think many believers and nonbelievers alike struggle with, I want to share what the Holy Spirit has taught me.

“32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.”

Numbers 15:32-36

This may seem like a strange place to begin, but this passage truly challenged me to think about my actions. It seems cruel that God would punish a man for gathering sticks on a Sabbath day, especially considering we have the knowledge of the completed Bible and know that this nameless man was not the only one to break the Sabbath but so did David and his men. How could the simple action of gathering sticks warrant a man’s death? To find this answer, we need to look at a couple of verses above this passage.

“30 ‘But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ”

Numbers 15:30-31

At the beginning of Numbers 15, we see that God is speaking to Moses and commanding him to tell the sons of Israel what He is saying. Now in Numbers 15:30-31, we see that God is telling Moses that anyone who behaves defiantly is blaspheming the Lord. This means that that person’s sin was on them and they were to be cast off from the rest. God is already setting a stage here. The sacrifices for sins have already been established, and the Mosaic Law has been given; the people of Israel knew what was required of them. So to behave in a way that went against all of that was a direct act of defiance against God. In the case of this nameless man, he knew that the Sabbath was for rest, but through his pride, he intentionally sinned. He knew the perimeters God had given and decided that his way was greater than God’s. It was intentional sin.

I also want to point out one other thing regarding Numbers 15:30-31. It ends with God stating that those who despise the word of the Lord, who intentionally continue in their sin, will have their guilt upon themselves. God is already laying the groundwork that there is going to be a coming Messiah who will place the sins of the world on Himself. Which is exactly what Jesus came to do.

So what did this passage challenge me to consider? It was the fact that it seemed unloving for God to condemn a man to death for the simple act of picking up sticks. If a man could be condemned and killed for this, then there is no way that God could care enough about me to wipe away my sins. I know that my sins have been greater than picking up sticks, but there is a difference. It comes down to intention. Mankind is not perfect, and we will not be perfect until Jesus reigns on Earth. This means that even though I have placed my faith in Jesus and I know He has removed my sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), it comes down to my intention in those sins. Am I sinning because I am a fallen human, but repent of the sin and turn away? Or am I sinning and continuing to sin regardless of what Scripture tells me that I should stop? One is the result of a heart striving to be more like Christ. The other is a heart that is hardened and is acting in direct defiance towards God. And this is my challenge to you, dear readers. Look into your life and see what your intention is toward sin. Are you sinning but striving to change and follow after God’s own heart? Or have you seen what scripture says and decided to continue to do it your own way, regardless of the consequences?

Next week, we will look at two men who faced this challenge and see their results.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Summer Prayer Fest

This summer has officially begun, and we want to encourage you to do something rather remarkable with us! We want to do a Summer Prayer Fest! This summer, we plan on spending a few minutes every day praying on a specific topic, and we want you to be a part of it!

Each week we will bring a topic that we will be asking all of our incredible readers to pray for! We will still continue to do posts on other topics, but on Mondays, you will see at the very bottom of the post the topic we will be each individually spending a special moment to pray about and a Bible verse that will correlate with it.

Week one!

Proverbs 2:1-4 “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, [And] apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, [And] lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as [for] hidden treasures.”

We will be praying that the Lord will put the desire of His Word in our hearts and that we would seek it this summer as silver and hidden treasures. We will pray for discernment and lift our voices together, asking for His understanding.

I am excited to do this with you. When brothers and sisters in Christ know that we are praying together, it can bring comfort in ways that we cannot receive on our own. God is good, and His Word is alive, and our prayers are a soothing aroma before the Lord God. Revelation 8:3-4 “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” What an incredible honor it is for us to have our prayers before Him. Let’s take this summer to focus and reflect on His Word and craft them into prayers glorifying God together.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Resources for those who want to know what the Christian response is:

LA Marzulli https://lamarzulli.net

Billy Crone https://getalifemedia.com

Re-Post Friday

Fact checking a common misconception. Read it HERE!

The Burden of the Lord

“1. The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.” 


Malachi 1:1 (NKJV)

The book of Malachi begins with the prophet identifying who he is and declaring that the message comes directly from God. In the Old Testament, if someone claimed to be a prophet and even one prophecy proved false, that person could be put to death by stoning. Every Old Testament prophet made it clear that they carried the maśśā’ (מַשָּׂא), or “burden,” of the Lord. Examples can be found in Isaiah 13:1, Habakkuk 1:1, and Zechariah 9:1.

These prophets delivered both warnings and messages of hope, never for their own gain, but as faithful servants of God. When God made a promise, He kept it. Likewise, when the Lord commanded His people to obey Him or face His wrath, His word always came to fruition.

We must be careful of individuals in our daily lives who claim that God speaks through them and that they are prophets or oracles. The last Old Testament prophet was John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ and to fulfill prophecy. Today, believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and God primarily guides us through His Spirit and His Word, the Bible.

Now, I will not put God in a box and say that He cannot speak to us in other ways. God may use dreams, circumstances, signs, or aspects of His creation to get our attention. However, we must exercise discernment. We must compare everything back to scripture; if it does not match up with what scripture says, then it is not from the Lord. We are called to walk by faith, but we should also remember that God gave us two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Let us use them wisely.

As true born-again believers, when we encounter someone claiming to be a prophet or prophetess, we should seek counsel from fellow believers, exercise caution, and carefully examine what is being said. We must test every claim against the Word of God and determine whether it withstands scrutiny or is burned away by the truth of Scripture. For more on how we as believers should be doing this, look at my series on How to be a Berean, and also compare to what scripture says in Acts 17:10-11, “10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-Conclusion

We have reached the end of our study of the twelve men who so closely followed after Jesus Christ. The goal of this study was to see that they were ordinary men just like all who have placed their faith in the work of Jesus Christ. While their works to share the gospel led to the church growing the way that it has, these men were not extraordinary, there wasn’t anything that seperated them from the born-again Christians today, and yet they still have lessons to teach us about walking and living out our faith.

First we looked at Peter, the man who showed us that we can come to God with our questions and live with courage, seeking to live as Christ lived. Peter shows us that our strength is not within ourselves, but in Jesus Christ.

After Peter, we looked to Andrew. Andrew can teach believers today that you don’t need to be loud to lead others to Christ. Sometimes all you need is the willingness to bring them to Jesus and allow Him to mold others into who He needs them to be.

James’ shows us that not all disciples walked quietly amongst the people. Some proudly stood up and demanded that their voices be heard in order to bring those around them to Jesus Christ. To be the first to be martyred, to attract the notice of Herod, James had to be active in sharing the gospel. He was loud and boisterous to attract notice, he was ambitious to share the gospel, and he sought to show everyone that the only true justice comes from God. James is an encouragement that we need today to stand up unafraid to share God’s word.

The second half of the sons of thunder is John, who is well known for his books in the Bible. John shows us that by willing to follow Him, we can share the gospel beyond what we could ever imagine.

Next we looked to Philip who remains a lesson for believers today the importance of taking the step of having knowledge of scripture, and truly living for Jesus Christ.

Nathanael appears to be a quiet, straightforward man whose Church ministry was devoted to God. His quick acknowledgement of who Jesus was led to a wonderful promise. Nathanael serves to remind us that having a firm foundation in the faith leads to a great reward.

Matthew is an example for us today that, despite what our background is, we can be of use to God and to spread His word. Matthew also serves as a reminder that worldly riches will not provide the comfort that we seek; we need to listen, and when Jesus calls us, we need to be willing to lay aside everything to follow Him.

Despite only being mentioned by his name, James had a lasting impact in sharing the gospel. He is a lesson to believers today that while we need to have knowledge of scripture, we cannot keep it to ourselves. I am sure that James had many deeds, questions, or remarks during his time with Jesus, but none of these are recorded. This is because for James, the focus is not on what he did for Christ, but what Christ used him for.

Judas, son of James represents for believers today that we are free to come before Jesus to ask our questions. Jesus wants us near to Him, we do not need to be afraid of Jesus not answering us.

We then learned a lesson from Judas Iscariot. Today, believers need to pay attention to the lesson that Judas provides. First, it is frightening to realise that there are those who walk with Jesus, and yet they don’t actually know Him. Churches today are filled with those like Judas; they claim to follow Jesus but are as unsaved as the person who never steps foot into a church. It is why we as believers need to be on the alert; we need to call out sinful behaviour to either correct a born-again believer or to identify someone who is false. Secondly, while we cannot be saved based on our own actions, we have the free will to choose to accomplish God’s will or allow another to rise up to accomplish it. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God did not wish for even Judas Iscariot to perish; however, due to his own choice not to follow God, Judas found his name not in the Lamb’s book of Life.

Simon the Zealot is one of the least discussed disciples. Yet, his title helps identify the true compassion and desire he had for Jesus Christ. This desire, without question, continued because Simon was identified as the “Zealot” after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Simon was a deeply motivated and compassionate scripture-seeking follower of God, who only wished to have the spiritual gifts to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Finally, we looked at Thomas, whose last passage in scripture gave him his well-known nickname. For the believers today, he serves to show that we need to be strong in our faith in the face of challenges. We need to have a close relationship with Jesus so that we can come to Him and ask for His direction and guidance. Finally, Thomas serves as a lesson that it is okay for us to ask for a clear sign of what God has for us.

Each of these twelve men had an important lesson to teach the believers of today and the believers to come. While they are not extraordinary and set apart compared to the rest of mankind, their lessons serve as an encouragement on what we should be doing.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Hollywood

If you would have asked me a week ago I would do a movie review for Mill House Ministries, I would have told you that it would most likely never happen. However, here we are.

Tonight I went and saw Disclosure Day. Don’t worry, there will be no spoilers here, yet I wanted to bring attention to something that I believe Hollywood is priming the public world for. Science is moving at a pace that is quickly coming to a crucial juncture of understanding. Evolution cannot happen out of nothing. For the born-again believer who understands God’s Word, we know that evolution is impossible and that the world was created in six literal 24-hour days (yes, old-earth Christians, let’s examine God’s Word and accept that you are wrong). The world is trying to hold to a view that will allow them to ignore the reality that creation is saying, that science is saying, THERE IS A DESIGNER! That designer was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Nothing was made outside of the designer, who is none other than Jesus Christ. The world hates to see science advance and show that the way, the truth, and the life is only through Jesus Christ; in fact, God says in the book of Romans through the apostle Paul that science studies nature, which declares the attributes of God. Romans 1:18-22“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,.”

In this movie, you will see man’s attempt at showing how we are not alone in the universe. That mankind was placed here by others; that mankind was designed by other life outside of what is known on our planet. Governments all around the world are declassifying videos and other material. People are starting to ask questions. Now this is the moment that the pastors of the world should be stepping up. This is the moment to share what the Bible says about what is happening out there. And yet the pulpits are silent. In fact, many famous pastors (I will not give their names for fear they will grow in followers) have mocked the Bible on this topic. What a shame! Hollywood is declaring to the world their lie, and yet the Church is not declaring the truth. I would encourage you to seek out two Christian men who have championed the truth in this manner. LA, Marzulli and Billy Crone. Both of their information will be below. Both have carefully studied this topic and are able to bring to light what the Bible says in a clear and precise way.

It is up to us to study God’s Word and see what the world is saying so that we can better combat their lies with the truth of God’s Word. There will come a day when there is disclosure of the designer; that day will come at the end of the seven years of Jacob’s trouble. That will be when Jesus Christ will descend from Heaven with the Church, and He will save the Jewish nation, Israel, and the small remnant of Gentiles who are born again. On that day, there will be disclosure; on that day, there will be no more lies from the world but rather the truth.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Continuing our study into the Basics Series! Read it HERE!

The Book of Malachi

Welcome to the last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi.

For the next couple of weeks, we will be discovering what God was doing during the time of Malachi. We will be looking at prophecies, proclamations of coming events, the dangers of spiritual apathy, the enduring faithfulness of God, and His love for His people. This book points directly to the reason for divine judgment because of mankind’s sinful nature and explains why we needed—and still need—a perfect sacrifice. It also opens the door to the coming of Christ.

Without even realizing it, the book of Malachi serves as a giant spotlight, emphasizing the coming of Christ. As for this next part, I will be adding it to the beginning of all my future studies, and I encourage everyone to do the same before reading any of my blogs. I will be praying for this study and asking the Lord to guide all of us and open our eyes so that we may be changed through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father,

First and foremost, please forgive us of our sins. Help us to continually bring them before You, giving thanks and glory for Your Son’s perfect sacrifice on the cross, through which we are forgiven and reconciled to You.

I come before You now asking for Your guidance and wisdom. Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit would soften our hearts, mold us through this study, and open our eyes so that we may understand the purpose for which this book was written.

Lastly, Lord, I pray for my readers. In these days, whether they are experiencing pain or joy, please walk beside them through this season of life. Answer their prayers according to Your will, strengthen them, and bring them peace and comfort.

Hide me from my opinion and speak through me to your Bride, the Church.

Amen.

Let us begin.

Stay the Course for the Kingdom

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-Thomas

“5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:5-6

We have reached the last disciple, and I thought it was only fitting to end on this specific disciple because he was the reason that I wanted to start this series. Many know him as Doubting Thomas, and it is true that he is often seen questioning Jesus. But is this really all there is to him? Is one question after believing that all hope is lost enough to change his previous actions? To find out, let us look at Thomas.

Apart from being listed as one of the disciples, Thomas is not mentioned in the books of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. His main appearance is in the book of John, where we first get a glimpse into his personality. “8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” John 11:8-16. In this passage, Jesus had received notice that Lazarus was ill and close to death. The disciples mistakenly believe that Lazarus will get better, and therefore, there is no reason for Jesus to return to a place where they had so recently sought to kill Him. Once Jesus corrects this idea, He leaves to go to Bethany, where we see Thomas stating that they should go and die with Him. I have heard some state that this comment comes across as sarcastic and almost flippant, as if Thomas has simply resigned himself to the fact that he is willingly walking to his death. However, let us consider that for a moment. The group had only just left Bethany, escaping those seeking to kill Jesus, and it is to this place that they are returning. Thomas was under no false idea of what the danger was that awaited them, and yet, he still followed Christ, knowing that he was walking to his death. This was a man of great faith!

The next occurrence of Thomas is from John 14, in which Jesus is telling the disciples that He will soon be crucified, but it is so that He may go and prepare a place for all those who come to place their faith in the work of Jesus on the cross. In this passage, we see that Thomas is asking Jesus how they can go where He is going if they do not know the way. This shows that Thomas had a close relationship with Jesus to feel comfortable in asking questions.

Finally, we see the passage that earned him the current nickname of Doubting Thomas. John 20 depicts Jesus appearing to the disciples after His death and resurrection, except Thomas was not there. Scripture does not dictate what Thomas was doing and only shows him stating that “So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25b, and this is where we see Thomas earn his nickname. However, I feel that it is important to consider that Thomas and the other disciples had just witnessed the death of the Messiah. I am sure that more than just Thomas doubted if Jesus was the One who scripture shows would be the savior of the world. Based on what we have seen of Thomas, I imagine that he was the type of person who was very literal. He needed physical proof in order to believe; however, I do not believe that this is a trait solely to him. I know in my own life and in others that we have asked God to give us a clear sign for His direction for us.

Like the other disciples, Thomas was martyred for his faith. However, it is ironic that the man who became known for doubting was the man who spread the gospel the farthest, since he shared the gospel all the way to India. For the believers today, he serves to show that we need to be strong in our faith in the face of challenges. We need to have a close relationship with Jesus so that we can come to Him and ask for His direction and guidance. Finally, Thomas serves as a lesson that it is okay for us to ask for a clear sign of what God has for us.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Is School Out?

It is safe to say that school is out for most children. Now, what does this mean for parents?

This is a golden opportunity to reevaluate the priorities in our own lives to make sure we are meeting God’s priorities in the children(s) lives given to us to govern. Deuteronomy 6:6-9“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 “Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 “Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 “Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.” We must be active in witnessing and ministering to those children around us. We need to be showing them the truth of God’s Word so that they may take ownership of their own lives and seek after the Lord. We first do this by our own actions and living righteously. What Apostle did not first follow the Lord before calling others to? Before we can help any little one in our care, we must first take care to be in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. This comes daily with being in His Word. When we do take on the responsibility of caring for a child, we need to minister utmost that they would set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, so they would keep His commandments. I would encourage you to take time and examine Psalm 78:1-8 and see how God wants us to share and be the examples to the next generation. It does not matter if the previous generation did not do this for you. It only matters that we step up to the plate and ask God to use us accordingly. Like Jeremiah, God will give the words to speak if we only listen and obey. Jeremiah 1:4-7 “The word of the LORD came to me: 5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord GOD! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” 7 Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.”

We have no excuse; let 2026 be a summer break where we educate the next generation to stand firm in the Lord and have their foundation built on Jesus Christ.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Does Jesus seek out the lost? Find out HERE!

Faithful Service and Christian Fellowship

“12. When I send Artemis to You, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Titus 3:12-15 (NKJV)

As Paul concludes his letter to Titus, he turns from doctrine and Christian conduct to practical instructions concerning ministry, fellowship, and encouragement among believers. While Titus 3:12–15 may seem like simple closing remarks, these verses reveal the importance of faithful service, cooperation in ministry, and caring for the needs of fellow Christians. Paul reminds Titus that the work of the gospel is not accomplished alone but through believers working together for the glory of God.

“When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there” 

Titus 3:12 (NKJV)

Paul begins with the phrase “be diligent,” which comes from the Greek word spoudazō (σπουδάζω), meaning “to make every effort,” “to be eager,” or “to act quickly.” Paul desired Titus to prioritize this meeting because Christian ministry requires cooperation and accountability among God’s servants. Throughout Scripture, we see that even great leaders like Paul depended upon faithful companions. Proverbs 27:17 teaches that “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

“13. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.”

Titus 3:13 (NKJV)

In verse 13, Paul instructs Titus to send Zenas. This demonstrates the church’s responsibility to support those serving in ministry. The phrase “lack nothing” reflects the Christian duty of providing for the practical needs of fellow believers who are laboring for the gospel. Apollos was already known as a mighty teacher of God’s Word (Acts 18:24-28), yet even faithful servants needed encouragement and assistance from the church. This principle is echoed in Galatians 6:10, which says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

“14. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

Titus 3:14 (NKJV)

Paul continues in verse 14, the Greek word for “maintain” is proistēmi (προΐστημι), which carries the idea of devoting oneself to, leading in, or being committed to something. Good works are not occasional acts of kindness, but a consistent lifestyle flowing from a transformed heart. The believer who has experienced God’s grace should naturally seek opportunities to help others. Jesus taught this same truth in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Good works do not save us, but they demonstrate the reality of our faith and prevent spiritual unfruitfulness.

15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Titus 3:15 (NKJV)

Paul closes with greetings and a final blessing; the word “grace” comes from the Greek charis (χάρις), meaning God’s unmerited favor and blessing. It is fitting that Paul ends his letter with grace because grace is the foundation of everything he has taught throughout Titus. From salvation to sanctification and Christian service, every aspect of the believer’s life depends upon God’s grace. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

In conclusion, Titus 3:12–15 reminds us that the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Believers are called to encourage one another, support those serving in ministry, meet urgent needs, and devote themselves to good works. Paul’s final words emphasize the importance of faithful fellowship and practical service within the body of Christ. When Christians work together in unity and depend upon God’s charis (grace), they become fruitful servants who bring glory to God and strengthen His church.

Stay the Course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Understanding the Twelve- Simon the Zealot

15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

Luke 6:15

We have come to our final two disciples. Even though these are the last two for us to discuss, that does not mean that they are any less or more greater than the ten other men that we have discussed. As we have seen, Jesus called the men to Him who would fulfill the role of sharing the gospel and growing the church, which includes our final two disciples. We have already seen two other disciples, whom we had to analyze based on what is not mentioned about them, and that includes the disciple today. With that said, let’s look at Simon the Zealot.

Based on what we have learned about the other disciples and what we don’t hear about Simon the Zealot, I believe we can infer a couple of things about him. He was not a hot-head wanting to call down fire like James and John, the Sons of Thunder. He didn’t question Jesus like Peter. He didn’t actively bring individuals to Jesus as Andrew did. However, this shows something about his character. Simon was there, soaking in the words of Jesus. There is no mention of him questioning Jesus because Simon believed Jesus at His word. There is no mention of Simon bringing individuals to Jesus because, I believe, he wanted to ensure that he understood what Jesus was calling them to do. Simon was preparing to be sent out to share the gospel and knew that he needed as much information as possible in order to complete his mission.

What we can use to learn more about him is the “Zealot” name attached to Simon. Now, you might first think of a Zealot in the sense of a devoted person willing to fight and kill for their blind faith. This usage of the word would actually come about after Simon’s day during the Jewish rebellion and the ultimate Roman dispersion of the Jewish people outside of Israel.

The word is defined as “to have a warmth of feeling for or against.” Most understand the word in the negative aspects, as we have previously discussed. I find it hard to believe that the negative implication of this word would have applied to Simon. Imagine Jesus, whose ministry was defined by “loving your neighbor,” calling Simon the Zealot to ministry if the word only meant “compassionately against” or other words, “hater.” In chapter one of Acts, we see Simon still has this as part of his name; if he were a hater who was transformed by Christ, his name would have changed, like Simon to Peter or Saul to Paul. Yet, we find the name continued to be Simon the Zealot, which implies that it was for the first aspect of the definition. Nevertheless, let’s look at what scripture says about the word “Zealot” and see why such a word had such a connection to Simon.

Our first glimpse is found in Acts 21:20 “When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.” Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah were compassionate toward the law. They dug into the Old Testament teachings, seeking to better understand their Messiah. This is why Jesus said in Luke 24:44“Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.” They were identified as zealous, just like Simon was.

It is next used in a manner that appears to be negative at first glance. Acts 22:1-4“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: 3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Paul identifies their passion for the Lord. This passion was misplaced, but was passionate towards God. When man is passionate towards God but does not have God living in his or her life, he or she will be guided astray. Examine Galatians 1:14, Paul testifies to his own misplaced zeal. Simon was called the Zealot, and yet we see virtually nothing about him questioning Jesus or causing a scene, as some of the other disciples did. In fact, the lack of reporting would further express his desire to be with Jesus and to listen. Simon’s zealousness was, in fact, passionately focused on Christ and Christ alone.

Paul further helps us understand the word usage by applying it to believers who should want spiritual gifts from their Heavenly Father. 1 Corinthians 14:12 “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual [gifts,] [let it be] for the edification of the church [that] you seek to excel.” When we are zealous for the Lord, we will desire the things of God. A heart that is in tune with the Lord will ask God how they should act to follow through with the commandment of being holy. 1 Peter 1:16 “For the scriptures say, ‘you must be holy because I am holy.” Simon must have truly cared what Jesus intended for them to hear and desire.

Finally, Paul and Titus both help us understand that Simon was a predecessor for us to examine regarding being Zealots ourselves. Titus 2:14 “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself [His] own special people, zealous for good works.” And 1 Peter 3:13 “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?”

Simon the Zealot is one of the least discussed disciples. Yet, his title helps identify the true compassion and desire he had for Jesus Christ. This desire, without question, continued because Simon was identified as the “Zealot” after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Simon was a deeply motivated and compassionate scripture-seeking follower of God, who only wished to have the spiritual gifts to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ. If only the Church had more Simons, willing to seek the Lord no matter what. If only the Church had more Simons with the desire to follow, know, and act according to what the Lord has provided.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

We now come to a rather remarkable story of redemption.

Isaac has been born, and the Lord’s prophetic disclosure had come to pass. But now there are two sons, and in doing so, we see the beginning stage of what has plagued the world for centuries. However, before we get into this struggle, I want to quickly identify an issue the church fails to understand. When God says He will do something, no matter how small or impossible it might be, He will do it. He told Sarah and Abraham that within the year, they would have a boy. Genesis 18:10-15“The LORD said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son! ” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight? ” 13 But the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old? ’ 14 “Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid. But he replied, “No, you did laugh.” Genesis 21:1-7“The LORD came to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him -- the one Sarah bore to him -- Isaac. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.”

When God says He will do something, we should take it seriously and go with it. He would be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, from the bloodline of King David. These are all things He did. But why do we fail to recognize the second coming prophecies? He will come in the clouds and take the Church to go where He is, before the hour of trial that is to come on the whole earth. You do not have to believe in the Rapture to be saved, but to take all of God’s Word seriously, you do. I wonder how many Baptists, Reformers, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, and others would act if they were around in Jesus first coming. I, for one, want to be expecting my Lord and doing the Work that He has for us. So when God says that Sarah would conceive and give birth to a son, God meant it.

Nevertheless, we now come to a stage in human history where two sides are wanting a blessing. This will set in motion rivalries, wars, and atrocities, all rooted in who would receive the promised blessing.

Take a moment and read verses 8 through 21. Here, we see that Ishmael and Isaac are at odds. Isaac is a little boy, and Ishmael is a lad. The scripture says, “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.” I, for one, had read over this several times and had never caught the magnitude of what was happening. Ishmael is scoffing; he believes the right to the promise should be his. Sarah, having learned her lesson and wanting to trust the Lord, now wants to protect the promise God had given. Some might say it is a motherly instinct, not faith in God, but I believe it can be both. We see that God agreed with Sarah when she went to Abraham and said kick them out. We see that God worked with Hagar and Ishmael and was with Ishmael through the days of his life. God blessed Ishmael, and to this day, his descendants are a great nation. But the promise of the salvation of mankind was to come through Abraham and Sarah, not anyone else. If you want to know more about the context behind Ishmael and Isaac’s original issue, I would encourage you to read Ken Johnson’s translation of the book of Jasher, where we learn that Ishmael, in fact, attempts to put action to his scoffing and tries to kill Isaac.

God protects both Isaac and Ishmael. Both have promises, both have destinies, and what we see today is only a carryover of the decisions made by those centuries before us.

In our own lives, are we living for the Lord in such a manner as to trust Him? Are we listening for the Lord? Or does He need to shout out of Heaven to get our attention? Let’s be about studying His Word so that we would be what Jesus said in John 10:16“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock [and] one shepherd.”‍ ‍

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday!

A second review into the book of Jonah! Read it HERE!

Avoid Dissension Within the Church

“9. But avoid foolish dispute, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11. Knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

Titus 3:9-11  (NKJV)

It is the goal of all Christians and believers in Jesus Christ to avoid strife within the bride of Christ. The question is, do we have division within the Church? Yes, we do. What does God say about these contentions that happen among Christians? Plain and simple, He abhors them. For example, we can also see God telling us to avoid foolish questions in 2 Timothy 2:23 (NKJV)

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”

These things always lead to division and turmoil. So, we must look at verse 10 and abide by the warning. We are not warned just once, but throughout Scripture. For example, God commands us to reject these types of people and worldly views in 2 John 1:10, 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 & 14, Galatians 5:12. One piece of Scripture that stood out to me from Paul’s writings is Romans 16:17 (NKJV):

“17. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

In the end, in verse 11, God shows us two interesting things. First, through worldly living and sinning, we or the non-believer separate ourselves from God and become “self-condemned.” God does not force you to condemn yourself. This leads me to my next point: free will. God is showing us that we have the free will to choose Him or choose sin and self-condemnation. We have a choice to separate ourselves from God or to become a “bondservant” (Romans 1:1) and have eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Stay the Course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Understanding the Twelve-Judas Iscariot

“13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.”

Mark 3:13-19

It is only fitting that this week, we discuss the other Judas. The last two weeks, we had discussed two disciples about whom we had to infer more about them from their lack of being mentioned in scripture. That cannot be said for Judas Iscariot.

It is hard for many believers to accept the fact that the man who would betray Jesus actually walked with Him, was present for certain miracles, heard Jesus preaching, and saw Jesus fulfilling prophecy. You would think that with all that Judas was witness to, he would have known that he was walking with the Messiah. However, we get almost as many glimpses into Judas’s personality as we do Peter.

“4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.”

John 12:4-6

Right after Jesus is anointed, Judas grumbles at the money that could have been made from the perfume. He comes off as caring for those who are poor, but through the Holy Spirit, the writers realise that Judas was stealing. We see here that he is cunning and charming to have fooled those around him. This obsession with money is carried over into Matthew 26:14-16 when Judas goes to the chief priests, asking what they will give him for betraying Jesus. This section of scripture also identifies that Judas, despite all that he had seen, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Instead, Judas saw Him as more or less a “cash cow” or a way to make easy money while gaining respect in the community.

Earlier, I mentioned that Judas was cunning; in fact, I think he had the personality of most con artists, none of those closest to him suspected that he would betray Jesus. Look first at Matthew 26:19-25, “19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” When Jesus states that one of the twelve will betray Him, each disciple looks internally; they are all asking Jesus if they still have sin that would cause them to betray Him.

Secondly, we need to look at John 13:21-29, “21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Nowthere was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.” Despite Jesus stating earlier that he would be betrayed by one of them, the other disciples still do not recognise that Jesus is identifying Judas as the betrayer. Instead, they believe that when Jesus tells Judas, “What you do, do quickly,” they believe that he is being sent on a task for Jesus. They did not make the connection that Jesus was releasing Judas to do what he was already planning.

Here, I want to put a stop to a growing idea behind Judas Iscariot. There are some who believe that Judas had no choice in his actions, that he was just a pawn used by God the Father to accomplish His will. This is a lie. Judas had as many chances as the other disciples, and more than some who came to recognise Jesus as the Messiah. And yet, he still chose to betray Him. Judas had the free will, as we all do, to make the choice. Follow God or not, he chose not to. Some might say, “Well, if Judas didn’t betray Jesus, then Jesus wouldn’t have gone to the cross for our sins”. In answer to this I want you to look at Esther 4:13-14, “13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.” While Mordecai is proclaiming that deliverance would come from another if Esther remained quiet, the meaning is the same. If Judas had accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah, and the only One to reconcile mankind to God, then there would have came another who would betray Jesus. God’s will is always accomplished; who is used to accomplish it depends on the free will and the choices that each individual makes. Judas could have just as easily been known as a man of great faith instead of as the man who betrayed Jesus.

Today, believers need to pay attention to the lesson that Judas provides. First, it is frightening to realise that there are those who walk with Jesus, and yet they don’t actually know Him. Churches today are filled with those like Judas; they claim to follow Jesus but are as unsaved as the person who never steps foot into a church. It is why we as believers need to be on the alert; we need to call out sinful behaviour to either correct a born-again believer or to identify someone who is false. Secondly, while we cannot be saved based on our own actions, we have the free will to choose to accomplish God’s will or allow another to rise up to accomplish it. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God did not wish for even Judas Iscariot to perish; however, due to his own choice not to follow God, Judas found his name not in the Lamb’s book of Life.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex