When we have a busy schedule, it’s easy to neglect our time with God. Don’t get caught in that trap. Time with God will always keep our focus clear and help us move in the right direction. He is able to multiply your efforts and fill you with serenity and joy in the midst of chaos. Request His assistance to spend time in His presence, pray that in agreeing to the finest and letting go of the insignificant things. Take a look at 1 Peter 5:6-7, Luke 10:38-42, and Psalm 46:10.

When God wants to do something in your life, there is an ease, serenity, and a profound sense of “rightness.”. You don’t have to struggle on your own and battle to accomplish it. Everything is planned out for you by God. God is motivating you so that you’ll only desire to do what impresses Him. Consider Philippians 2:13.

Rants and observations:

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4th April, 2022

Is it more appropriate to shout praises or assault him?

The arrival of Jesus on the 10th of Nissan during AD 30 was among history’s most significant events. It was the day and exact time Jehovah had set to be presented to the nation and the world as God’s Passover Lamb.

The exterior face of the Temple was coated with large gold plating that flashed a brilliance at the crack of dawn. “I was happy when they said to me, let us go to the Lord’s house,” such processions frequently declare “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” from Psalms chapter 121:1. It was time for Jesus to return to Jerusalem and finish his mission. The Passover drew a multitude to Jerusalem. Word had spread about the numerous miracles Jesus had performed. People presumably expected Jesus to make a grand entrance into Jerusalem, but unlike earthly monarchs and powerful armies, Jesus enters on a modest donkey.  The people were looking for a savior, so when Jesus arrived, they rushed to greet him like a king as described in Zechariah chapter 9: 9.

Have any of you ever attended a political party’s convention a parade especially an independence parade?

On the other hand, Jesus rode a shabby, borrowed ass. An ass. A donkey. The horse’s family smallest, least beautiful, and most stubborn part. It is devoid of grace.It doesn’t even have a stallion-like neigh. It brays instead. The ass’ “bray” is a grating, obnoxious sound.

The mounted victors were followed by battalions marching in perfect order and exhibiting the finest weapons as they made their dramatic debuts. On the other side, a crowd trailed Jesus, carrying just branches with leaves taken from nearby palm trees. Every conqueror’s magnificent entrance into a conquered city was followed by a coronation. They would adorn the new subjects’ heads with emerald and gold encrusted crowns, indicating their status as kings and emperors. Jesus was also crowned. The crown, on the other hand, was devoid of gems. There were only thorns on it. Every spectacular entry into a conquered city indicated more geographical territory for the victors’ dominion. No land was won by Jesus. Instead, He conquered hearts, which are the center of man’s essence and the source of his willpower. The people who’d been defeated became serfs and servants of those who conquered them. He appeared to be the cause of a rising anarchy state, the cause of a state of chaos to the other religious leaders.

However, Jesus made it clear made it clear that this was not the purpose of his conquest.  He proclaimed, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” The conqueror’s claims to longevity would expand with each magnificent arrival into a defeated city. The subjugated people’s bowed heads fueled delusions that the conqueror would live eternally. Jesus, on the other hand, certainly didn’t travel to Jerusalem to claim immortality, but to die. Conquerors may demand that their defeated subjects fight for them in future wars.

Jesus was a unique individual. When history’s greatest conquerors made their grand entrances into vanquished territories, such entrances meant slavery – bondage for those who were conquered. Jesus was a unique individual. Those whose hearts he has won are freed from their enslavement. They achieve their goal of becoming free men. He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

What position would you have had in that spectacular event if it had been recreated today? Consider that JESUS spoke of a lifestyle wherein one’s true beliefs are the same as their actions. JESUS desires to enter your life and make a positive difference by purifying, guiding, and regulating it. In His life, He had a historic moment that paralleled a spiritual awakening that you would like to have. 

Can you sense their joy at the prospect of the anticipated Messiah? Can you sense their eagerness to be liberated from oppression? It is without doubt a day of celebration. Do you recognize yourself among the crowd? Welcoming him only when you need Him. Because everything is safe and sound, worship God with “Hosanna, in the heavens.” When all is falling apart, the authorities arrived and you cannot get what you want, you’ll depart, betray, sin and scream, “Kill him.” You sing praises to him as King, but when he fails to meet your expectations, you want to nail him to the cross.

Are you the type to embrace the clergy, leaders, or anyone in general, then, once you discover their flaws, you’re the one who despises them and wants them to die? You will never completely understand the joy and freedom that the almighty has in store for us unless you regard yourself as a terrible sinner incapable of saving yourself through your own efforts. Today, assist me to see God at work in and through you. I’d like to witness God at work within and through you, in your feelings, ideas, words, and deeds. In and through humble hearts, God is shown. Isn’t it amazing how humble Jesus became for us? So, how about you? Is it possible for you to be humble in front of God? People recognized Jesus’ humility and exploited it against him, which is ironic. To offer a flawless example of humility, he humbled himself. It is a process of de-cluttering. I’m asking you to follow suit. Be modest. Imitate biblical words and embrace it. Allow Jehovah to use me through getting rid of our ego. The world will see God’s children living and reigning in us if we reflect his words.

Consider this as we worship today. Is there anything in my life that might cause our Heavenly father to cry? Are we ambivalent about praising and supporting if we get our way? When we don’t get what we want, we scream, “Crucify Him!” Is Jehovah bothered by our blemished vision? Everything starts with repentance. Assist me to see God in myself and in you, a true servant of God.

Would you one week later have screamed “CRUCIFY HIM!” if he didn’t live up to your expectations? Is your attitude now the same as the Pharisees’ viewpoint in Matthew 16:6? Remember that it was the religious leaders who felt threatened by Jesus and then assassinated him. Let us examine ourselves and our perspectives. Would you have acted in the very same manner as that of the apostles in John 6 :60? “This is a difficult saying; who can understand it?” they say before abandoning him.

The other side of the debate is still relevant today. Some people are amazed by what they have heard and seen from Jesus, and they wonder, “Who is this man who can do such incredible things?” There’s the New Testament’s account of Jesus’ life. For nearly 2,000 years, this book has been passed down from generation to generation and from one language to another. Kingdoms have risen and fallen throughout history. Ideologies and philosophies have come and gone, but despite the different voices and views, people have persisted to hold up the name of Jesus. Who is this who can remain relevant in His teachings and still be revered?

Today, many people live lifestyles they could never have dreamed. Perhaps you were born into a family with poor resources and living conditions. Maybe you were born in an area where people assumed you’d never make it, and that you’d never amount to anything. Then you encountered Jesus, and He began to open doors in your life, and you began to go places and receive blessings you could never have dreamed. Who is this man who can turn Capernaum fisherman into worldwide celebrities?  Who is this who can convert his opponent, a Pharisee named Saul into a strong advocate of the gospel on Damascus Road?

Who is this that can transform surgeons, teachers, musicians, scientists, preachers, intellectuals, and leaders from people who have experienced misery and suffering? Who is capable to lift the sons and daughters of poverty and limited means into lives of promise, prosperity, and potential? Who is this person who can look at injustice all around the world and instill hope in the people who are living in oppression and injustice, then empower those people to go about doing the work that will make their world a better place? Who is this mysterious figure? It appears to be something that can only be achieved by divinity.

Who is this person? was the crowd’s question on that day, and it still stands today, waiting for every one of us to respond. Who is this person? Do you talk with scorn and contempt when you say these words? Or do you have a different perspective on Jesus? Do you agree with people who believed Jesus was a prophet across Israel? Many of His followers exclaimed as Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day, “This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee.” 

In the New Testament, Jesus questioned his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”. All of the disciples answered except one “Some claim You are Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, or another prophet,” they could only answer.  “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Peter declared affirmatively.

Who is this character?

• Judas received 30 silver coins before committing himself; who is this?

The words of rebuke to Jesus from the religious leaders must not be disregarded.  The account of Palm Sunday in Luke 19 concludes with “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout.’”

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” The multitude cheered; the Pharisees complained.  The pharisees were undoubtedly aware of the importance of that cheer. The crowds of people were linking Jesus, the carpenter’s son from Nazareth, with the anticipated Messiah.

The pharisees were concerned because Jesus was not the liberator they had hoped for. How could a carpenter’s son overcome the strength of the Roman Empire and all the other empires that had repeatedly attacked Israel? How could this guy Jesus, by fulfilling God’s promise to send a redeemer for his people, affect the world?

We frequently read our bibles or listen to a sermon and lament the behavior of all people who opposed Jesus. Jesus delivered a message that was unlike anything they’d heard before and it was supported by scripture. They witnessed Him perform miracles and demonstrated himself, but they chose to ignore Him. We imagine or declare that if we had been alive at the time, we would have supported Jesus.

Your current attitude reflects how you would have acted back then. How you react to the truth now reflects how you might have reacted in the past. I’m referring about how you respond to messages that contradict your personal beliefs. That is exactly what Jesus and the apostles accomplished.

Many individuals will do the same thing today. They will choose to confront and correct Jesus. Many people these days are obsessed with the outward appearance only. They worshipped with their mouths, but their hearts were far away. They established their own piety and godliness, but not based on knowledge, as many people do nowadays. They changed the meaning of the word to suit their needs, as many people do today. Some individuals were apathetic and unconcerned. Many people are today.

On the donkey, travelling into Jerusalem that day, Jesus did not put on the kind of show that some people expected of the “promised messiah”.

Today, I pray that Jesus’s words find their way into everyone hearts. May the freeing impact of Jesus’ great entrance into our lives be felt by all of us. That, indeed, will be the grandest of all entrances.

As a result, Jesus responds, “Even the stones would yell!” God is being praised by inanimate rocks upon Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem. Who is this mysterious character?

We don’t need to allow fear and anxiety to be a part of our life when we let God be the cornerstone of our lives. God has promised that despite what you are going through today, He would never abandon you! He will help you get through difficult times and adversity. “I shall never fail you,” God has promised. “I’ll never leave you.” “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear,” we can confidently affirm as in Hebrews 13: 5-6.

For the days you can’t see a way ut of your problems, when despair sets in, and there’s no end in sight, remember God is near. He reminds you that He ison your side. He tells us to stand strong in His armor and in the power of His word. Read each word of God aloud and ask God to help you focus on Him, trusting in His ability to see you through. Consider Exodus 14:14, Psalm 34:4-7, Ephesians 6:10-18

Thoughts and observations:

The world’s voices, the Enemy’s deceit, and even our own negative comments can all contribute to us feeling dejected and anxious. Choose to tune out all of that nonsense and instead listen to what God has to say about you. You are more than a conqueror, he reminds you. He assures you that there is nothing to be afraid of. Pray He will help you to have wisdom in whose voice you listen today, and that your thoughts would be focused on Him. Joshua 1:9, Psalm 43:5, Romans 16:20.

Your best days of your lives are ahead of you! God has prepared great things for you—things so good you can’t even imagine them. AAre you ready to accept them? No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:9

Thoughts and observations:

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Overcoming Fear and Anxiety using Biblical Principles Part 3

We may question God’s agenda or his timing when we go through pain or suffering. We may wonder why we’ve been assigned to walk such a difficult journey. Yet, if we truly understand and trust God’s heart, we will never doubt His love for us. Give thanks to the all-powerful God. His love is indestructible. Analyze Psalm 136:26

When we’re feeling stressed out, it can feel like we can’t breathe because our worries overwhelm us and anxiety creeps in. It may appear as if we’re drowning in the tensions and fears that life has thrown our way. Jehovah can see right through it all and has the ability to perform a miracle for us. Tell him what’s bothering you, and express gratitude . Read Isaiah 35:4, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Psalm 61:2-5

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When you’re worried for the well-being of those you care about, pray. The worst fear of many people is that something terrible will happen to their loved ones. Yet reality is, we can’t always be with them, nor can we always shield them from all that may come their way. However, God is with them always, and He is Mighty. Pray for God’s divine protection over people you love. Pray that his angels will protect them when they arrive and depart, and that he will keep them safe.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to entrust people we love to His care, knowing that He watches over and protects them.

Analyze Psalm 34:7, Psalm 121:3-8, and Psalm 91:11.

God is currently utilizing your struggles to prepare you for future victories in more difficult conflicts. You will grow as you go through some challenging moments. Everyone who is born of God is victorious. This is the victory that has swept the globe including our faith. Examine 1 John 5:4.

Observations and thoughts:

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https://cdn.cw.center/wp-content/uploads/sites/13018/2022/04/170971344916489443296248e4c9ee1850.82772639.mp3

It is a common misconception that individuals are always willing to learn. In Hosea 4:1-4, we discovered a judicial setting. God was approaching like a judge, and He was going to pass judgment on His people Israel for their sins. First, we must consider the following in this passage:

1. Deluded People and Priests in Hosea 4:4- 9.

 Both the general population and the clergy in charge of leading Israel’s people have been fooled and duped into idolatrous, self-centered worship. Hosea 4:4 is addressed to the entire nation of Israel. The entire population had had turned their backs on the real God.

They are not to bring a charge or an accusation against another person while they are here. They are not to make any accusations or charges against anyone else while they are here. The people of God thought of themselves as righteous. They thought they were right and everyone else was wrong.  They did not want to hear the person who sought to bring them moral guidance – they spoke out against the clergy, who were to teach them God’s ways. This verse reminds the audience that those who bring accusations against a priest are deserving of death, as stated in Deuteronomy 17: 12.

In Hosea 4:5, stumbling for these Israelites was a full-time job without the light of the Word of God to guide them.

The prophets were faltering along with the rest of the community. Whatever visions they were claiming to receive were fake. They had neglected God’s genuine wisdom and revelation in favor of announcing things that pleased the people while pretending they were from God.

We can see what is prompting these individuals to stray in Hosea 4: 6.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also reject you as my priests.

because you have ignored the law of your God,

I also will ignore your children.

Yahweh informs these people that they are being destroyed due to a lack of wisdom. This isn’t your average understanding of a broad subject. Rather, it alludes to a profound and necessary understanding of God.

Proverbs 9:10 states the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests, Jehovah continues.  Priests were supposed to be the ones who lead God’s people to a greater notion of God and His ways.

Malachi 2 :7 states

For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.

We must be cautious because our knowledge and comprehension of God influences our relationship with Him and our obedience to Him. The amount of time, we dedicate about God via Bible study will decide how far we walk with Him in holiness and obedience as He asks us to.

Brothers and sisters, we should be saddened if we ever see preachers who have been trained and tasked with teaching God’s deep truths and preaching God’s entire counsel going away today.

We must be grieved when we witness swarms of people gathered around persons only to teach them what their ears desire to hear.  These people decided to go head-to-head with God. Remember Jehovah never accepts false worship. This, my friends, should ignite our enthusiasm in evangelism and gospel proclamation.

2. Deserved Punishment. Hosea 4:9-10

God promises that he will not let a deliberate abandoning of knowledge of Him go unpunished. It’s one thing to exist without God for only a brief period. It’s one thing to experience the ephemeral joys of false worship for a short period. It’s one thing to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of false worship for a time. But what will you do in the end?  Israel abandoned the knowledge of God revealed through the law and writings and had gone astray. They only cared about themselves. All they could think about was themselves, their own development and success, which they planned to achieve through means that were not in conformity with God’s ways. Therefore, Jehovah would give them a deserved punishment. We must continue to seek to understand God, His methods, and His decrees in Scripture. So frequently, we can begin to wander down our own pathways, ignoring God’s methods and mandates. We must be cautious not to wander in these paths. The ways of God are pure and holy. The methods of God are correct. Is Christ the priority in our lives? Is it more important for us to know Him and obey Him as a result? We must worship God and seek His righteousness first, then trust Him to add to our life as He sees fit, based on His amazing kindness and mercy.

Unfortunately, God’s people perish because of their ignorance. The reference here is to rejecting God’s Word as knowledge. The principle applies to all aspects of humanity; however, ignorance of God’s Word is the costliest. If a person rejects the Word, he or she will suffer from a lack of knowledge, which might lead to ruin. What we don’t know has the capacity to cause hurt and destruction, whereas what we do know has the potential to prevent this. In John 8:32, Jesus asserted that knowing the truth will make us free. Many people have been denied the opportunity to experience God in their life because of a lack of comprehension of the truth. Even though none of us deserve God’s love, accepting it or rejecting it leads to redemption or destruction.

Does the same mentality of denial of Divine knowledge today as there was in Israel’s time? Unquestionably! Many individuals have accepted Satan’s lies as truth, rendering God’s word useless because they have refused to listen to or obey divine wisdom. Oh, the consequences of rejecting divine wisdom and authority and being isolated from Jehovah is not worth it!

Many modern Christians are uneasy about Satan’s existence and the biblical descriptions of Jesus Christ’s confrontations with disturbed spirits, whom the Bible refers to as demons. But, sooner or later, we must accept the veracity of Jesus’s personal testimony in Luke 10:18. The false god of this world has blinded its inhabitants through his many deceptions as stated in 1 John 5:19. Nonetheless, we are assured that heavenly deliverance is at hand.

So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. Revelation 12: 9.  These two Bible chapters describe the devil’s creation and rebellion: Isaiah 14 12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-16.

. The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 1 John 5 :19.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11: 3.

Our creator provided actual spiritual knowledge to Adam and Eve. Then, in the form of a serpent, Lucifer deceived Eve into doubting the integrity of their Creator. She convinced her husband to partake in the subsequent act of disobedience, which was the consumption of the forbidden fruit. “You should not have listened to the voice of your wife,” God had effectively told Adam. Genesis 3:17. Satan had lied about God! He lied to Eve about what would happen to her in the end. You will not certainly die, the serpent answered.

For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5.

Much of Satan’s deception of Eve is accurate. Their eyes were awakened to see the difference between good and evil. Then the LORD God said, Behold the man has become like one of us, to know good and evil. Genesis 3:22.

This tragic pattern of rejecting God’s direction, which began at the dawn of human history, has persisted unabated until this day. There is truth and error in the world, as well as good and evil. The devil cleverly combines right and bad. Many people are unable to distinguish between the two. It must be revealed by God. His Word is necessary for that revelation. All true knowledge is built on this foundation!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

WHY DIE WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE FOREVER?

If you are evaluating your path, or have gone astray, REPENT AND TURN TO Jehovah Jireh NOW! All we have to say is LORD, WE NEED you!  I ask each one of you to become acquainted with the Lord! Get to know the Lord!

If you haven’t turned to Christ in repentance and trust, I urge you to do so, as the prophet Isaiah says:

Isaiah 55: 6 – 7

 Seek the Lord while he may be found.

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Those who are familiar with Christ should continue to grow in his grace and knowledge. his is our sole opportunity to have a genuine relationship with God. Our haven is knowing God and comprehending His word.

May God instill in every one of us a desire to learn more about Him so that we might live lives that bring Him great credit and glory!

Let us pray.

 Heavenly Father. In your holy name, we pray for clarity and understanding of your Word in every aspect of our lives. May we remember that every word of Scripture is God-breathed and beneficial in revealing the truth, exposing our rebellion, assisting us in correcting our faults, and directing us to live a lifestyle that is right for us, daily.

Amen.

The narrow road is tough to manage. The path can be difficult at times. We trip and fall over a root or a rock. We believe we won’t make it to the end of the journey because the sun is blocked by trees. We question if taking the wider, easier path would have been a better decision. In those moments, God provides the assurance we need that we are doing the right thing and He is with us. I am convinced that our current difficulties will be insignificant in comparison to the splendor the almighty will shower upon us. Look at Romans 8:18.

When the future appears uncertain, things appear to change, or we find ourselves on a new road in life, we may begin to feel the weight of it all on our hearts and minds. On the other hand, Christ encourages us not to be concerned about the future. The Lord assures us that He is always with us. Ask the Almighty to help you trust Him in the moment, knowing that He is always with you and will lead you in the right direction. Analyze Matthew 6:34, Luke 12:22-26, Psalms 56:3

Observations and thoughts:

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