Faith – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Pray! God Always Answers Our Prayers

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear [revere] Him…” (Psalm 103: 8, 11).

Every day, we must make decisions and choices that should always include God’s Divine wisdom. With God, our faith grows, and our minds are filled with peace, because we know that our Heavenly Father will always give us a perfect outcome.

Maintaining a spirit of gratitude, praying, and studying the Holy Scriptures are daily faith-building activities, giving us knowledge of God’s Character and His steadfast Promises. Daily personal worship indicates that we are actively participating in our journey of spiritual growth and development.

Loving God gives us the desire to be in His presence. Personal worship not only reveals our love and loyalty to God, but also invites the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of the Scriptures and the strength to live righteously.

In John 14:1-3, Jesus reveals the expected end for the faithful, believers who let go of their desires and the world’s treasures and pleasures to follow Christ. God has gifted everyone a measure of faith. Either we use our faith to believe in ourselves, or in God.

Jesus compared “faith” to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet it is…” considered strong, hardy, and resilient, and capable of withstanding harsh conditions and providing shade.” By trusting God, the Holy Spirit keeps us aligned with God’s Divine purpose of Eternal Life.

To remain on the narrow Path of Righteousness, we use our faith to trust that Christ is the King of our lives, and we study the Bible with the intent to obey: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s promises and faithfulness in helping the righteous; still, we need more than knowledge of the Scriptures, faith requires the childlike belief of, “If God said it, He will do it.”

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

Hardships are guaranteed to happen. All is well, and then it isn’t. If we choose Christ, then we are never alone. In faith, we ask God for His help and guidance, and in the same prayer, we thank God for His intervention.

God never expected us to carry the burdens of life that we readily take ownership of, wearing ourselves down to the point of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Burdens also prevent spiritual growth and restoration because they cause us to lose our faith in God.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). God commands us to “Cease striving.” Our Loving Heavenly Father does not require us to resolve our challenges; God requires us to have steadfast faith in His promises to always help us.

When we pray for help, if God desires our participation in the resolution, the Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding what we need to do. However, in many cases, God simply asks us to have faith and patiently wait for His intervention.

In fact, God tells us that He has already answered our prayer of faith: “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

You may think, “But God has not answered my prayer because nothing has changed.”

God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so He already knows every adversity we will face in our lifetime. And His answers to our challenges have existed, even before we were conceived.

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). God’s timing is never our timing. We live in an environment of immediate answers and resolutions, but God uses the time of waiting to test our faith in Him.

“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21). Although we say that we believe in God’s power, God already knows whether our faith is weak and wavering or strong and steadfast.

Waiting on God places us at a Spiritual Crossroads. Either we will choose to place 100% of our faith and wait with gratitude for the anticipated resolution, or we will attempt to resolve the challenge ourselves.

The Big Reveal: Waiting on God has two purposes: Waiting is a powerful act of faithful obedience, and waiting reveals whether or not we really believe in and trust God’s love, power, and promises.

During the wait, if we have anxious, worried thoughts about our challenges, wondering how and when God will intervene, then our hearts are filled with doubt and unbelief.

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24).

Jesus is our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor whose heart is filled with love and compassion, and He knows our weaknesses. With humility, we pray an honest prayer of confession: “God, my faith is weak, but I believe that You love me and will keep Your promises to help me.”

Reflection: What is your knowledge base of God’s promises? We should know at least 3-4 Promises of God, and meditate on them every day.

Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, Provider, and Protector!

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Trusting in God’s promises of never abandoning us, and believing that God is faithful, always keeping His promises, gives us hope even when facing harsh adversity.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly.” (Lamentations 3:25-26).

Steadfast faith in God also gives us the confidence that He always answers our prayers. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Weak faith? Pray anyway!

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” (Mark 1:35).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence: In personal worship, we need to hear from God. “…go to a private, secluded, secret place to pray, God is there in that secret place.” Whisper the short prayer of humility: ‘Lord, I need Your help.”

“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

Close your eyes, meditate on God’s love and promises. The Bible reveals that it is in the quiet places where the Holy Spirit enters, giving us comfort and guidance, and empowering us with Jesus’ strength.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'” (Isaiah 41:10).

Overcoming Challenges In Jesus’ Strength

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13).

When Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle John in visions [The Book of Revelation], He proclaimed Himself as the Beginning and the End, symbolizing Eternal Existence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Divine Sovereignty.

From Genesis to Revelation, we have written evidence of the righteous placing their faith and trust in God’s Sovereign Authority and Power, and God’s response, giving them victory.

In 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehosaphat faced the three combined armies, his first response was a prayer recognizing God’s Sovereignty that also revealed humility and reverence for God:

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?…For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:6, 12).

The king readily acknowledged that they could not fight the armies using their strength. And from studying the rest of the story, God performed a supernatural miracle, giving them victory.

“Since God’s Eternal Truth has no place in such a world, with the rise of postmodernism we have witnessed a commensurate decline in Biblical knowledge.”

The failure to study the Bible results in the failure to recognize and revere God’s Sovereign Authority over this universe and our lives. Self-reliance excludes God, proclaiming that we do not need His Divine Help.

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).

Yet, to live as followers of Christ, who are preparing for eternity with Christ, our Triumphant King requires that we honor, revere, and obey Jesus Christ, who is our Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, and the Only Mediator between God the Father and humanity.

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things that I say to do?” (Luke 6:46). God, the Father, expects all believers to follow God, Jesus, His Son, our Shepherd, with faithful obedience.

Living as victorious overcomers requires a spirit of humility, accepting that Christ created us with limitations; we can only perceive life with limited knowledge, never knowing our future adversities. And we know this to be true because we can plan our day, yet unexpected challenges will always change our agendas.

Because God sees time as eternal, He already knows every adversity that will enter our lives. God’s original plan was for us to completely rely on His Strength and Divine Intervention before making decisions. Involving God is the only way we can enjoy the peace, happiness, and joy that come from Jesus’ Divine Strength.

We also cannot rely on human effort alone to resolve life’s unexpected events, such as bankrupt businesses, job loss, illnesses, financial insolvency due to disability, divorce, or the death of a loved one, which often requires new beginnings that may include relocation.

“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Praying and studying the Bible are faith-building activities. By including God in our daily lives, we enjoy peace and an unbothered mindset even in the raging storms of trials and life-changing events.

The Holy Scriptures strengthen our courage and confidence in God. When we face challenges that human effort cannot solve, our first response should be a prayer for Divine help, rather than succumbing to fear, anxiety, or despair. This is only possible because we use our faith to believe God’s promises of victory.

“And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15).

The Prayer of Faith: The most powerful prayer is the simple childlike prayer of faith, “Jesus, I need your help.”

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).

Children pray with the expectancy and excitement of knowing their prayers for God’s help will be answered. They do not think about how God will answer; they believe that He will answer, and they are willing to wait for His answer.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

The Scriptures reveal that Jesus loves us and desires that we live our best lives, which can only be done through His Guidance and Strength given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Lord God, we repent of our desire to follow our thoughts and exclude Your Divine wisdom and intervention from our lives. We realize that we cannot stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness without You leading us. Give us the strength to overcome the habit of self-reliance and to redirect our faith and trust from ourselves to follow You in our spiritual journey. In faith, we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Rejoice! Jesus, the Good Shepherd Loves You

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

“Life can be very difficult for all of us, no matter how well things might be going at the moment. But even if they are not going well now, what things can you and should you rejoice about? What is stopping you from doing it?”

We have so many things to rejoice about; we received the blessing of a new day of life, we are alert and oriented, and we were created in the image of God, who vows to love, protect, and provide all of our needs.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).

And we have received the greatest gift of Redemption from God the Father, who gave us Jesus, His Son, to save our souls from the wages of sin [Romans 6:23]

Despite our challenges, God is Loving and Always Faithful! To have a heart filled with gratitude, we must change our behaviors to reflect that God is Good:

Stop speaking negative words.
Stop sowing seeds of discord [gossiping].
See your life through grateful eyes.
Develop a grateful heart and spirit by praising God throughout the day for His blessings of life, health, and provisions.
Redirect your faith and trust from yourself back to God.
Study the Bible every day.
Whisper prayers throughout your day, thanking God for His abundant blessings of life and asking Him for strength, wisdom, and guidance.

God is Merciful: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Lord God, we want to say that we love You and thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy. Thank You for always forgiving us and hearing and answering our prayers. In faith, and with grateful hearts, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Yes, We Are Followers of Christ!

The Rich, Young Ruler “…came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?…'”

“All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?'”

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19: 16, 20-21, NIV).

“To join Jesus meant that this young man had to accept a life of self-denial. With deep interest Jesus watched him weigh the question. With keen insight the ruler understood what he’d been told, but it made him depressed. If he had sensed what he would gain in the gift Jesus offered, he would have become a disciple. Instead, he reflected on what he would lose.” (Commentary).

We have made it to the second month of 2026. Our goal is to have a closer relationship with Christ by any means necessary!

Are you a follower of Christ? Most Christian believers do not consider themselves to be “Followers of Christ.”

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Daily surrender and faithful obedience are the defining characteristics of a true follower of Christ. Deep within our hearts, we know whether or not, God is our priority.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NLT).

Behaviors Revealing Earthly Pursuits

Misplaced Priorities: Focusing entirely on material success, greed, or selfish desires.

Neglecting the Eternal: Trading the eternal, priceless nature of the soul for temporary, passing worldly benefits.

Rejecting Spiritual Life: Failing to surrender to God’s will and instead chasing personal ambition, which results in a life lived without a right relationship with Christ.

If we are caught up in pursuing the distractions of earthly trinkets, pleasures, success, and relationships instead of following Jesus, then sadly, our desires will be our only reward.

To follow Jesus requires much more than attending church once a week. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 12 that we must live a sacrificial life of self-denial to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12: 1-2, NIV).

The Characteristics of the Sacrificial Life: Faith, Surrender, Obedience, Courage, and Commitment Are Required to Be a True Follower of Christ

“Every person is as close to God as they want to be.” (A.W. Tozer).

From praying daily for God to reveal His will and studying the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, guidance, and teaches us how to live a holy and acceptable life, pleasing to God.

How close are we to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives us the answer: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

From reading this description, one may think that the apostle Paul is referring to unbelievers; but unbelievers do not have a form of godliness. He is describing believers who have failed to commit to living the sacrificial life of self-denial that is required to be followers of Jesus Christ.

When we appreciate God’s love and Jesus’ great sacrifice, we love God; and, it is not a burden or an inconvenience for us to live the sacrificial and obedient life required to be a true follower of Christ.

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, Amplified Bible).

Lord God, does our lifestyle reflect that we are committed followers of Jesus Christ? If not, we ask you to reveal the habits and people, we must give up to live a God First, Christ-centered, Bible-based life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The LORD Is a Great God! Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“For the Lord is the great God…Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:3, 1-2).

Today is the last day of January, 2026. Because of God’s amazing Love and Mercies, we are still alive! How do we return our love for all that we receive from God?

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).

The commitment of personal daily worship, Prayer, Bible Study, and Singing praises of gratitude reveals our love, loyalty, and reverence for God, whose Love, Grace, Mercies, and Provisions flow abundantly.

“Heaven is waiting to [give] its richest blessings upon those who will consecrate themselves to do the work of God in these Last Days of the world’s history.”

The richest blessings that we need to live as victorious overcomers are not material possessions, wealth, and success. We require the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit to stay on the Path of Righteousness that leads from Earth to Heaven.

Lord God, You have Sovereign Authority over our lives, this earth, and the universe. We come to You in humility, surrendering ourselves to You, and asking for the spiritual blessings of peace, wisdom, and the strength to persevere in this tough journey of life filled with obstacles, temptations, and dangers. Yet, because of Your love, we have safety. Lord, you promised to never leave us or forsake us; and we believe in Your promises that when we run to You, we will have refuge because You are a Strong Tower. Lord, we seek the blessings of spiritual restoration, peace, contentment, and joy, as we worship You on this Holy Sabbath Day. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Why Doesn’t God Intervene and Stop the Cruelty and Chaos On This Earth?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

“In Revelation, Jesus, God, the Son, identifies Himself as the ‘Alpha and Omega,’ the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing that He is the beginning and the end, the Initiator, and the Sustainer of all creation.”

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” is a foundational biblical declaration from Psalm 24:1 (NIV), affirming that God is the Owner, Creator, and Sovereign Ruler of the world and all its inhabitants. And God has placed extensive boundaries on the devastation that humanity and Satan can cause on His Planet Earth.

Still, we wonder, is God in control of this earth? The answer is an unequivocal Yes! 2 Timothy 3 describes the behaviors that would be prevalent in the Last Days, which exist now. We are temporary travelers living on a temporary Earth that is not our Forever Home. Every day, we should be preparing for John 14:1-3.

Evidence of God Intervening and Correcting Out-of-Control Human Beings

The Tower of Babel: Humanity Thinking They Are Above God

“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth…”

“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'”

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there, the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4-8, NIV).

Evidence of God’s Loving Intervention for Humanity: “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21).

Adam and Eve’s disobedience not only resulted in their eviction from the Garden of Eden, but their sin required the first death in the universe, as they needed animal skins to protect their bodies from the changing seasons.

We do not give much thought to the death of animals because death is a part of our fallen existence, but immortality always existed; one can only imagine the angels must have been horrified at the presence of blood and the process required to make animal skins for Adam and Eve.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).

Adam and Eve’s disobedience also required the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross. Sin always requires the payment of death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV).

Divine Intervention: Because Jesus fulfilled the Plan of Redemption, dying for our sins, we do not have to die for our sins unless we choose to reject Christ. Jesus offers us the option of not experiencing the only possible solution to being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, the second and final death.

The Bible provides indisputable evidence that God has always intervened for the righteous, even in the worst possible situation: facing death at the hands of their enemies.

The Exodus through the Red Sea; the Tower of Babel; Job’s extreme suffering; the three Hebrew young men in the fiery furnace; Daniel in the lion’s den; the angel delivering the apostle Peter from prison; and the earthquake in the jail where Paul and Silas’ chains fell off are just a few of the examples of God’s Divine Mercies intervening, protecting, and enforcing His Power and established boundaries over Satan’s schemes against the righteous on the planet Earth.

Reflecting on our lives reveals that God blesses us with miracles every day that we have never even thanked Him for: Breath, strength, provisions, protection from physical harm, scams, and most importantly, Satan’s Schemes.

The Great Controversy between Good and Evil has raged for over 6,000 years. Without studying the Bible, many are unaware of the invisible Spiritual War that every believer is involved in, every moment of our earthly lives [Ephesians 6].

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

Another Bible translation, GWT, states: “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.” (Ephesians 6:12).

Satan and his angels, who were cast out of heaven, are the powers who govern darkness. Yet they are angels [created beings] who have no power over the Triune GOD: God the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

One of the spiritual benefits for the faithful, obedient believers who dedicate themselves to surrender and follow Christ is that Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, has given us the assurance in Psalm 91 that we are protected from Satan by Jesus’ legions of Heavenly angels.

Those who refuse to obey God have forfeited their angelic protection. Satan is so evil that he even punishes the unbelievers who are following him, which is evidenced by the terrible catastrophes and incurable diseases they suffer from.

Temptations, scams, physical danger, terminal illnesses, violence, sexual immorality, human trafficking, pornography, abuse, natural disasters, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, civil and international wars, and the uncontrollable desires to pursue material possessions and wealth are just a few of Satan’s diabolical schemes to persuade humanity to distrust God’s Love, Sovereignty, and Omnipotence.

False Teaching: Satan has convinced many believers that God is punishing the world by unleashing His wrath with disasters and terminal illnesses, but it is Satan who is responsible for death, plagues, famines, hatred, and violence.

Commentary: “We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make believe conflict.”

Commentary: The Invisible Spiritual War is over the souls of Believers: “It does not mimic [earthly] battles in which we are engaged. Satan is the prince of demons. The evil angels over whom he rules [obey and carry out all of his diabolical schemes]. Through them he…instigates all the evil that exists in our world.”

The condition of our world reveals the true nature of the human heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” [Jeremiah 17:9].

Satan knows that the human heart is never satisfied. Eve had everything, including immortality, yet she desired more. We inherited hearts filled with greed, so Satan uses the temptations of earthly treasures and pleasures to distract and persuade us to believe that God does not want us to have the best in life.

God’s Promises to the Righteous

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8, ESV).

But the believers who pray, study the Holy Scriptures, and are committed to follow Christ with faithful obedience, we cannot be persuaded; we know that God is a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father.

God’s Promise to Keep Us Safe: “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High…no evil shall be allowed to befall you…” (Psalm 91:9-10, NIV); “For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11).

If you [and your family] awakened this morning and returned home safe without any emotional or physical harm, it is Michael [Jesus Christ], our Triumphant King and Commander of Angel Armies, who assigned angels to keep you [and them] safe.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7, ESV). If our faith and trust are in God, then we should never doubt God’s Sovereign Authority by asking, Is God still in control of this world?

“For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Brothers and Sisters, do we think that the credit agencies protect our identity from being stolen, or do the banking regulators have the power to prevent hackers [who serve Satan] from draining the money in our bank accounts?

It is God’s Divine Protection keeping our material possessions intact, including the deed of our houses from being duplicated, and sold while we are still living in the house. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the wisdom to discern when people are lying to us.

And for all of God’s goodness, have we given Him our reverence, love, loyalty, and gratitude in return?

God’s Answer: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].” (Isaiah 53:6, Amplified Bible).

Truthfully, we have doubted God’s Love and Power; disobeyed Him by following our thoughts and ways; and still living a life of self-reliance by placing our faith and trust in human abilities and wisdom.

Today, God is asking those who doubt His Sovereignty: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4).

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

God, the Father, knows the exact date that He will tell Jesus Christ the time is now to bring the faithful to their Heavenly Home: Go, awaken the faithful, the martyrs, and the children from their graves who faithfully served You, and gather the living who followed and obeyed You by living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life.

“I Am Coming Quickly: He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly…'” (Revelation 22:20).

The Great Day of the LORD: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16).

Prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done”

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

There are times when we face situations that make us realize that we do not know what to do or have the power to change the circumstances. And because we know that human solutions cannot resolve those challenges, we finally surrender to God’s Sovereign Authority, desperately asking for His Divine Intervention.

“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).

But there is a problem with that mindset; we have only prayed and asked God for His help because we have hit the wall, knowing that our human efforts are insufficient.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear [Reverence] the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

God tells us not to follow our own thoughts and not to be wise in our own eyes, which, if obeyed, keeps us dependent on His perfect plans and prevents us from experiencing negative consequences. Yet many believers see this as a suggestion to disregard, but relying on God is His command.

One of the greatest mistakes that postmodern Christians have made is that we perceive God’s Grace as permission to compromise His Commands, but God has never given us the option to disobey His Righteous Precepts.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Disobedience is the bitter fruit of self-reliance: Not only have we detoured from the Path of Righteousness, but spiritually, we have also separated ourselves from God.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…” (Romans 8:1).

From choosing to accept and follow Christ, we are freed from the sins that enslave us to Satan. “This freedom is not a license to sin but results in a life where the mind is set on the things of the Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law.”

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In 2 Timothy 1:7, the apostle Paul reveals that believers have received spiritual gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”

Satan can tempt us, but he does not have the power to force us to sin against God. Choosing to sin is a wilful act of disobedience which dishonors God, revealing that we love ourselves more than God. Disobedience reveals that we do not value God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy.

From the moment we awaken, we make choices about whether to follow our ideas and strategies. If yes, then we have excluded God from our daily decisions, which fosters a spirit of self-reliance and rebellion against Him.

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (John 9:31). Unless we offer a genuine prayer of repentance in which Christ, our Intercessor, forgives our sins, God reveals in the Scriptures that He does not hear a sinner’s prayer.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Repentance for a spirit of self-reliance and disobedience is required before we can approach the Throne of Grace asking for God’s Divine Intervention.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus, the Son of God Reverenced and Honored God, the Father’s Sovereign Authority over Heaven and Earth.

Jesus prayed, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10). [Hallowed definition: Revered and Honored].

We were created to glorify God. Honoring God with faithful obedience is the entire purpose of the Christian Believer’s life.

Sermon Note: “Your responsibility is to follow Christ and obey His will for your life, and By the time you are done, the LORD will be glorified.” Yes and Amen. Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we confess that we have followed our thoughts instead of asking You for answers, and for this rebellious sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Please cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, give us the direction and guidance we desperately need in our daily lives. Our desire is to follow and obey Jesus, our Shepherd and Triumphant King, who promised us Eternal Life. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jesus’ Peace Is Priceless – Sabbath Blessings

“Behold, I am the LORD the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Most of my adult life, I was always thinking about how I would resolve my challenges, which led to a history of insomnia. In 2025, I watched a sermon on the courage that is required to use our faith to trust God completely with every aspect of our lives, including the small details.

Only a few Christians actually surrender themselves fully to God. Unfortunately, we have embraced the unbeliever’s practice of self-reliance. Instead of using our faith to trust in God, we have redirected our faith and trust to ourselves, which equates to a nonverbal, “God, I do not trust You.

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:5).

It is easy to say that God is Good, but it is not the words that we speak that indicate our love, faith, and trust; it is our worship of faithful obedience and completely trusting God with our lives that reveal our love for God.

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” (John 15;5, Amplified Bible).

For many, just the thought of relinquishing that control creates an unrighteous spirit of rebellion against God. Yet, Jesus tells us that trusting and obeying Him is not optional: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

The outcome of my decision to fully surrender and place my faith and trust in God is that every day, I enjoy Jesus’ gift of spiritual peace. The challenges and obstacles have not ceased, but I decided to throw away self-reliance, which freed me from the strongholds of worry and disobedience.

To know that you are in right-standing with God is peace! Now, I pray and wait on God’s resolution. No more rebellion against God and no more insomnia. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8).

The reality is, if we cannot trust God in our earthly lives, and Jesus says we cannot please God without placing our faith and trust in Him, then how will we be prepared to trust God for eternity? Let go! And trust God, He is Faithful. Yes and Amen.

“And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Lord God, our minds are filled with doubt instead of Jesus’ peace. And for our unbelief, we ask for forgiveness. We thank You for loving us despite our rebellious spirit of self-reliance. Lord, we thank You for the Sabbath, a time that we can focus on You and a time of peace and restoration of our minds, bodies, and souls. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Living a Sin-Free Life Is Possible

God’s Perfect Love: The Creation of Humanity: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…'” (Genesis 1:26).

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7).

God’s Perfect Love: The Plan of Redemption: “He [Jesus] said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30).

“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). In John 3:16, God reminds us that it was love that prompted Him to give us Yeshua, His only Son, to save us from experiencing the second and final death [Malachi 4].

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self control]. ” (2 Timothy 1:7).

God’s Perfect Love: Not only were we created in God’s likeness, but every human being has also received spiritual gifts. The development of our gifts requires faith in God. 1 Corinthians 13 differentiates the characteristics of Agape Love from the conditional, wavering love that unbelievers practice.

Jesus reminds us, “Without Me, you can do nothing.” Even believers must have converted hearts and be empowered by the Holy Spirit for us to love unconditionally, or disunity occurs.

Our Identity in Christ: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

When Jesus, God, the Son, created us, we received spiritual gifts: Love, Faith, Power, Self-control, Cognitive Reasoning, Recognition of Danger, and a Free Will to Choose. And this list is incomplete.

From Redemption Flows God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies

If we never received anything else, our love and appreciation for God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, should result in the commitment to follow Christ and obey His perfect will and plans for our lives.

Each New Day, We Stand at The Spiritual Crossroads: Either we use our faith to follow Christ, or we will follow our thoughts and desires.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, ESV). God gifted us with a Free Will to choose to live holy or not.

Unfortunately, Satan has deceived the majority of today’s believers with his false teachings of Compromised Christianity, based on the idea that we can do as we please because we are covered by God’s Grace.

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15). Our habits and lifestyle reveal if we are living as we desire. Yet to think that God disregards our intentional sins because of His Grace opposes God’s requirements of total obedience to His command of living righteously.

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16, NIV).

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15). Righteousness has no Middle Road. Either we have pledged our allegiance and love to God, or to Satan. We can sing, pray, and study the Bible, but Faithful Obedience is the worship that honors and reveres God.

God also gifted us with Five Senses: Sight, Smell, Hearing, Taste, and Touch. Without the commitment to consecrate ourselves to God daily, our Senses lead us to commit heinous sins against God, the Sustainer of Life.

Sin is always the easy choice. Only with the Holy Spirit’s Divine Power and Strength can we fight against the internal conflict in our hearts and the external opposition of Satan’s temptations.

Although we are tempted, Satan’s power is limited; The devil can never force us to rebel against God. If we do not pray for the strength to overcome, then the only possible outcome is to dishonor God.

The Gradual Process of Rebellion

Desire Leads to a Fall: Satan deceived Eve because she desired more than “everything” God had given them. Eve desired to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or else Satan’s Temptation would have failed.

“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15).

The transition from being a faithful, obedient follower of Christ to becoming an unbelieving believer is gradual; separation from God begins with thinking about that one compromising sin. We ask ourselves, “Where in the Bible does it say that we can’t?”

The Christian believer does not awaken one morning and say, Today, I will sin against God. No, following one’s sinful desires begins with constantly thinking about the pleasure of the particular sin.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Warning: When our thoughts are unholy, the Holy Spirit makes us aware that we are sinning against God by troubling our conscience. We can never say, I didn’t know.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, ESV).

Either we will come to our senses, asking God for forgiveness, ceasing our thoughts, or we will not care and decide to move forward in fulfilling our desires.

“An uncontrolled imagination is the catalyst for our thoughts becoming actions.” Sadly, it is the lack of self-control that detours us from the Path of Righteousness, resulting in the once faithful believer transitioning to an Unbelieving Believer.

The Definition of Unbelieving Believers: “…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:4-5).

Ironically, many Believers who no longer follow Christ on the Path of Righteousness still attend Church [demonstrating their misunderstanding that works do not save us]; God does not practice the human-made theory of “Absolution.”

Sin is deadly because sin separates us from God, who reveals that He will not listen to the unrepentant believer’s prayers: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2).

Sin strips us of our spiritual senses and leaves us in darkness. We cannot think wrong and do right! Not only does God know our hearts, but He also knows every thought and action of our entire lives before we think about or do them.

“Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21, ESV). We may hide our secret lifestyles from others, but God sees our lifestyles, which reveal the inclusion of worldly activities and bad company.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.'” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV). Bad company extends beyond worldly unbelievers: Bad company also includes family members and uncommitted believers who follow their thoughts instead of obeying God’s plans for their lives.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18). A Common Trait of Fallen Believers: Those who are in a state of rebellion against God are offended by the Sword of God’s Truth—The Holy Scriptures.

The Path of Repentance and Restoration: Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Life, and the Only Way, Who commands us to: “Be holy, for I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Although we like to think of our hearts as being good, we must believe what God says about the condition of the human heart.
Only Christ through His Righteousness can cleanse our hearts; using our faith to surrender and obey God, day by day, the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and characters [the lifelong spiritual process of Sanctification, John 17:17].
Repentance is a covenant vow in which one promises God to never commit sins of willful disobedience against Him again. Repentance is always required to be restored righteously [1 John 1:9].
We surrender ourselves every day to Christ. Sin appears pleasurable when our God-given gifts of Love and Faith have been redirected from God to ourselves [Matthew 22:37].
We need to reconnect with God, the Source of Life, through daily personal worship by praying and studying the Bible. [Hosea 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17].
Pray for wisdom and understanding before studying the Bible. We study with the intention of understanding and following God’s commands.
The Holy Scriptures are God’s instructions, giving us the spiritual knowledge and wisdom to remain faithful and obedient. [Psalm 119:105, 111]
To overcome self-gratification, our focus must remain on Christ. Let go of all secular habits that fail to honor God, including music and streaming.
Friendships with unbelievers are one of Satan’s most effective strategies. The unbeliever has no intention of changing. It is always the believer who changes. “What does light have to do with the Darkness of Sin?

Heaven is not cheap! And God says that He never changes. Jesus promises us that sin, sinners, and this present Earth will be destroyed!

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,’ says the LORD of Hosts. ‘Not a root or branch will be left to them.'” (Malachi 4:1).

We are temporary travelers living in a temporary earthly home. We must come to our spiritual senses; there is no logical reason for us to lose our reward of Eternal Life for this temporary Earth overflowing with Satan’s treasures and pleasures designed to make us rebel against God.

Following Jesus will be rewarded: “Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2). Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Romans 12; Revelation 19-22

Lord God, instead of following You with faithful obedience, our lives reflect compromised spiritual morals and values. We come to the Throne of Grace asking for the forgiveness of following our sinful desires. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to give us a new heart, a heart filled with love. Lord, we love You! Thank You for Your great sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross. Today, we choose Jesus, and we ask for the Power, Strength, and Presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and keep us on the Narrow Path leading to Eternal Life. Yes, in faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

Following Jesus [And Staying] On the Path of Righteousness

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

I thought about individuals who are in the military; their discipline and self-control, but most importantly, their desire to obey their superiors, and the punitive Rules of Conduct and War.

In the United States, we no longer draft individuals for military service; they willingly enlist. Even though their choice to become soldiers may result in severe injury or death, they never lose their desire to serve their country.

Question: If humans can use their mental strength to willingly obey other humans and pledge allegiance to a country, then why is it so difficult for Christian believers to faithfully surrender and obey God, who is the Source of Life?

Answer: People who enlist in the military possess a strong desire to become soldiers, which includes non-negotiable obedience. Consider this: Maybe we did not understand God’s requirements for Total Surrender and Faithful Obedience when we accepted Christ as our personal Savior.

Disobedience to God resulted in Adam and Eve losing everything perfect, and the Israelites, whom God emancipated from Egyptian bondage, journeyed in the wilderness for forty years; Canaan was only an eleven-day journey from Egypt.

At the end of Joshua’s life, he addressed the nation of Israel with a challenge: “Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” ( Joshua 24:14-15).

Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

Genuine love is the driving force that motivates us to worship God with heartfelt loyalty. Because of our love and appreciation for God, the Father’s Gift of Jesus Christ, it is not a burden for us to worship God through a sacrificial life of self-denial, expressed by humility, surrender, and faithful obedience.

No Room for Disloyalty: “Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do as I say?” (Luke 6:46). Our love relationship with Christ is All or Nothing. There is no middle-of-the-road, compromised version of Christianity that allows us to disobey God.

The Deceptor: One of Satan’s most powerful deceptions is, “we can live as we please…” He told Eve, “You will not, surely die.” Yet, the consequences did include death; not only did they lose immortality, but Cain killed Abel, his brother, and every human being is born with a heart filled with selfishness and the desire to disobey God.

The Powerful Deception: We make the assumption that we can follow our thoughts and pursuits and still inherit Eternal Life, but Satan knows [from personal experience, he is the fallen angel, Lucifer] that disobedience to God separates us from God.

We were bought at a price; Jesus’ Sacrificial Offering of His life on Calvary’s Cross redeemed us from the only possible outcome of sin, and that is death (Romans 6:23).

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

The Believer’s Life Journey consists of following Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. To stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, we must be led moment by moment by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our Spiritual Journey is comparable to the life of an enlisted soldier. We pray, wait for God’s instructions, given to us through the Holy Spirit, and we obey.

Our Spiritual Instructions are in the Holy Bible: Micah 6:8; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-24; Matthew 22:37-39; John 15:4; and 1 Corinthians 13. These are some of the Foundational Scriptures, which every enlisted soldier in the Army of God is expected to know and obey.

Divine Intervention Empowers the Human Effort of Obedience: Through the Holy Spirit, we receive Jesus’ Divine Strength to carry out and complete our daily Spiritual Orders.

Through our obedience, the Holy Spirit guides the daily process of Spiritual growth and transformation, shaping our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character.

We are Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth, who are waiting for the return of King Jesus, our Mighty Warrior and the Commander of Angel Armies. [John 14:1-3]. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we pray for those who committed their lives to You, but have deserted You for the pursuit of earthly treasures, pleasures, and relationships with bad company. Lord, we do not judge them, because You tell us, “All have sinned and come short of Your glory.” Lord, we also pray for ourselves, asking You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to transform our stubborn, selfish hearts into hearts that desire to follow You. We also ask for the strength to persevere and remain loyal, serving You until the end. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.