love faith sabbath – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Lifestyle That Reveals We Love Christ

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).

Who is Jesus [Yeshua]? Jesus is the Only Son of God, the Father and Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead [the Holy Spirit is the Third Person].

In Hebrews Chapter 1, God, the Father makes the absolute declaration that Jesus, His Son is also God, refuting that Jesus is a created angel:

“For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten you? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?…Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrews 1:5-6).

“But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (Hebrews 1:8-9).

God, the Father proclaims again that Jesus is not a created angel:

“But to which of the angels has He [God, the Father] ever said: ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14).

The Creation of This World and Humanity

God, Jesus Christ created the world and life, by His spoken words, with the exception of Adam and Eve, who, He formed with His hands.

“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3:).

Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

The Creation of Human Beings

“‘Let us make’ is evidence of the Godhead working in unison. God, the Father and God, the Son planned and executed the creation of humanity together.”

Outward Resemblance and Character: “Humanity was created in God’s image both in physical form (bearing a likeness to their Maker) and in moral character. This gave Adam and Eve perfect, holy attributes where reason controlled their passions and their affections were pure.”

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s One and Only Son.” (John 1:14, NLT).

Jesus Proclaims His Authority: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18).

Because the powerful Jewish rulers denied that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus proclaimed His Authoritative Status given to Him by God the Father to His disciples.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 9-11).

So that every believer has conclusive proof that Jesus is also God, the Holy Scriptures validate that God, Jesus Christ has always existed with God, the Father, and God, the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we are given conclusive evidence that we must revere Jesus, the Lamb of God, our Savior, Heavenly Intercessor, and Mediator through the worship of faithful obedience.

Our Royal Status: We are Sons and Daughters, heirs of the Promise, who are preparing to live with and worship Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior and Triumphant King, for Eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Living As True and Faithful Believers reveals to the world that we are Sons and Daughters of God!

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:14-17, ESV).

Satan’s False Teaching: We can live as we desire and still inherit our Crown of Life.

“But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Obedience to Jesus is not an option.

“Empty Profession: Simply calling Jesus ‘Lord’ is just a verbal acknowledgment; only acknowledging His authority means little without obedience.”

True discipleship requires actively applying and obeying God’s Spoken Words, [the Holy Scriptures] to direct your thoughts, behaviors, actions, and lifestyle to reveal obedience to God’s command, “Be holy, for I am Holy.”

God not only calls believers to have a pure heart and clean lifestyle, but Jesus actively supplies the strength to achieve it. We can do nothing for our Spiritual growth and transformation without being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13, NIV).

“The Bible clearly teaches that living a holy life is not achieved through human willpower alone, but through the transforming Power and daily guidance of God’s Spirit.”

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5, 8).

If God the Father required Jesus, God, the Son, in His earthly life to faithfully obey Him, then we as created human beings, certainly must acknowledge God’s Sovereign Authority over this universe and our lives through obedience.

Reflection: If we obey our employer’s policies and procedures, and county, state, and governmental laws and regulations, then how much more does God expect us [mortals who live and die] to worship Him through daily surrender, humility, and faithful obedience?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38).

When we love God, following Jesus with total surrender and faithful obedience is not a burden or an inconvenience.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

“We love Jesus because He first loved us,” unselfishly sacrificing His life to redeem us from the penalty of sin, which is the second and final death [Romans 6:23].

We love Jesus because through His blood, we have the opportunity to overcome sin and receive the greatest reward of living with Him forever [John 14:1-3, Revelation 21-22].

“I will praise you with my whole heart; I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 138:1, Psalm 139:14).

It is our heartfelt worship of obedience, praising God with our prayers of gratitude and singing joyfully that reveals our reverence, love, and loyalty to the Sovereign and Faithful God, the Sustainer of our lives.

The Path of Righteousness is Narrow, requiring a commitment to live a sacrificial, holy life of self-denial and overcoming our desires and Satan’s temptations through the Power of the Holy Spirit [Romans 12:1-2].

The Beginning of Our Spiritual Journey With Jesus: From our declaration of faith to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He cleansed us from all our unrighteousness, giving us a pure heart.

Abiding in Christ is a lifelong commitment of following Jesus, requiring continuous Prayer, Bible Study, and asking for His Divine Guidance and Strength.

Daily spiritual growth and character transformation requires a partnership with the Holy Spirit; we must use our power of self-control to say No to our desires, sinful pleasures, and chasing wealth and success.

Keeping our faith and focus on Christ and being content with our blessings, denying our sinful desires, and Satan’s earthly pleasures is the lifestyle of a dedicated follower of Christ.

From our love and willingness to humbly follow Christ, we invite the Holy Spirit to Sanctify us, resulting in Jesus covering us with His Righteousness, and this is the Life of an Overcomer. Yes and 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).

Prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant…” (Psalm 51:10; Psalm 86:16). Lord God, with surrender and adoration, we kneel before Your Throne of Grace, asking for Divine Strength and Guidance. As we strive to live holy, we also ask for the Holy Spirit to empower us with the wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes. Lord, teach us how to reveal Your light into a world that is dark from the plague of sin. We look forward to Jesus’ Second Advent when we will finally see our King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Triumphant Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Narrow Path Is Difficult, But Eternal Life Is the Reward

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The Wide Gate: “This path is easy and popular. It’s the path of least resistance—living for worldly pleasures, self-promotion, and following the crowd. But it leads to destruction.”

The Narrow Gate: “This Path is difficult. It requires faith and trusting God’s Plans, daily personal sacrifice, humility, and obedience to God’s Will. It demands commitment and denying our desires, Jesus tells us that only a few choose it.”

As I reflected on the daily struggle required to stay on the Narrow Path, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:16 and John 14:1-3.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV).

God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son are Omniscient, so they knew that Adam and Eve would disobey before Jesus created them. Still, Jesus said, Father, I will give my life to redeem humanity from certain death, the consequence of sin [Romans 6:23].

“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).

Yes, the Narrow Path requires us to say, No when our family and friends are inviting us to have fun and fulfill our desires, because you only live once.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).

But deep within our hearts, we love our Shepherd, and we will continue our faith journey of being led and guided by the Holy Spirit, who tells us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).

Jesus’ Promises to His Faithful Sheep

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

“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). Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we love You and we are grateful for the Love Gift of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son. And Jesus, we love You, and appreciate the Love Gift of Your Life, which gives us Redemption, Grace, and Mercy. In faith, we will continue to follow You on the Narrow Path. Jesus, we know that we cannot follow You, using our thoughts and strength, so, we humbly ask You to please be our Strength. As we celebrate Your Holy Sabbath, we pray for all believers that they will decide to follow You with total surrender and faithful obedience. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank You, God – Worshiping With Grateful Hearts

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Today, I took time to meditate on God’s Amazing Love and Faithfulness. God gifted me with many blessings this week, and as I reflected on His countless mercies, there were so many that it brought tears to my eyes.

The breath flowing through my Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath. My heart beats a regular rhythm and my brain ensures that my internal organs maintain homeostasis [the body’s automatic, self-regulating process of maintaining a stable, balanced internal environment despite changing external conditions].

Each new day, I awakened alert and oriented, emotionally stable, and with good physical health. From praying and studying the Bible, with confidence, I know that God loves me, provided my necessities, and protected me from physical danger and spiritual warfare.

As each day progressed, I did not have to worry or wonder if I would have food, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. My home is clean, providing shelter and safety from the changing elements.

If it rains, I look out of my window, never thinking about the need to look for shelter and when the Floridian temperature escalates to 90 degrees, my air conditioner provides an ambient temperature, keeping my home cool and comfy.

And one of my greatest blessings, that I do not take for granted, is Religious Liberty. I have the freedom to worship God without fear of retaliation.

As if all of those blessings are not enough, the greatest blessing I received is the free gift of Salvation. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

As I continued to reflect on God’s Love, I felt ashamed of the times that I complain, or desire more than God has blessed me with.

Every day, our Heavenly Father gives us countless blessings that we take for granted, never thinking to whisper, God, thank You, yet He remains Loving, Gracious, and Faithful.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV).

We only have one gift to give to Jesus Christ, our Triumphant King, and that is our heart filled with love, humility, surrender, faithful obedience, and gratitude.

Lord God, we love You and thank You for Your Abiding Love. We ask for forgiveness for taking your gifts of love for granted. As we enter the Holy Sabbath, we express our love and appreciation for taking care of us this week and keeping us out of harm’s way. We ask for the spiritual blessings of wisdom and strength and with immense gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Calvary’s Cross – Celebrating Jesus’ Gift of Redemption Every Day

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

When Jesus, our Precious Redeemer and Savior, suffered, lovingly giving His life on Calvary’s Cross, He gave us the power of choice to receive Salvation through His Grace.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV). “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV).

We usually do not consider this amazing aspect of our Savior’s sacrificial gift: God the Father and God the Son are Omniscient [All-Knowing], and knew that the majority of humanity would reject their Free Gift of Salvation.

Jesus On Calvary’s Cross: The Reaction of the Majority

“Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!'” (Matthew 27:39-40, NIV).

“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if He wants him, for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” (Matthew 27:41-43, NIV).

It is difficult for the human mind to process giving a valuable gift to a person who would not only despise and reject the gift, but also despise and reject the Giver of the Gift.

Jesus Christ’s Death On The Cross: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.” (Matthew 27:50).

God, the Father, Reveals Jesus’ Identity As His Son and Acceptance of Jesus’ Sacrificial Offering of His Life on Calvary

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city [Jerusalem] and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:51-53).

The Impact of Jesus’ Death on the Centurion and Guards: “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'” (Matthew 27:54).

How is God’s gift of Jesus impacting our spiritual journey? We were created to honor God by abiding in Christ, which requires us to be in alignment with God’s Will and Perfect Plans.

“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, [that requires] a life of unreserved surrender to His service.”

Yet, even as dedicated Christians, we struggle with inherited hearts that drive us to practice self-reliance, following our thoughts, and plans. But we must pray for strength and fight daily to overcome our natural tendencies through the Power of Jesus Christ!

Proverbs 3:5-7 tells us, “Do not follow your thoughts…or be wise in your own eyes.” Yes, we love God and Jesus, but our hearts will always lead us against God’s higher thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9].

Our True Spiritual Status: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6-7).

Many Who Mocked and Condemned Christ When He Was On the Cross Repented on the Day of Pentecost:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?'”

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” (Acts Chapter 2:36-39, 41).

Yes, once a year, there is a global religious acknowledgment of Jesus’ gift of Salvation on Calvary’s Cross and His resurrection from the tomb, yet true Believers whose hearts are converted by the Holy Spirit celebrate Jesus’ gift of Salvation with a faithful commitment of love, loyalty, obedience, and gratitude every day.

Reflection: Brothers and Sisters, we are living in the Last Days (2 Timothy 3). Are you in right-standing with God? Pray and ask Jesus to reveal any obstacles preventing you from receiving your Crown of Life.

“My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…” (John 10:27). Through personal worship, we use our faith to surrender, obey, and follow Christ, our Shepherd, who guides us [through the Holy Spirit] on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

As Believers, every day, we celebrate our freedom from sin’s bondage because God, the Father, gifted us Jesus, His Son, redeeming us, so we would not have to die for our sins. Yes and Amen!

Every day, we celebrate God’s gift of Redemption by living a sacrificial life of obedience, self-denial, and by renouncing all worldly morals, values, and sinful practices [Romans 12:1-2]. Our love, honor, and reverence for the Triune God are revealed through our thoughts, spoken words, and lifestyles.

Every day, we celebrate Jesus, our Redeemer, by dedicating ourselves as faithful, obedient followers of our Savior and Shepherd. Our love, loyalty, and faith to God are steadfast because we separate ourselves to commune with Christ, our Intercessor, for daily personal worship, prayer, and Bible Study.

From striving to follow Jesus, yes, we will be severely tempted in various ways by Satan, who desires to redirect our faith and focus from God to ourselves. When facing temptation, conflict, and uncertainty, remind yourself, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13), and immediately pray for Divine Help!

Because it is easy for us to become distracted and forget about Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, and His Role as our Mediator, the Apostle Paul tells us to work on our salvation with fear and trembling [Reverencing and Honoring God with Faithful Obedience].

“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. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11, 16).

Lord God, in faith, we express our love, loyalty, and appreciation for the Plan of Redemption and our Salvation. We commit to honor and revere Jesus Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, with surrender and faithful obedience. Thank You for giving us the choice to be saved from the consequences of sin. In faith, we commit to celebrating Jesus’ Gift of His Life, Resurrection, and the fulfilled Plan of Redemption every day. Thank You, God, for Your Amazing Love, and we ask this prayer in the Righteous and Redeeming Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Eternal Consequences of Your Thoughts | Sermon by John Lomacang

Sermon Notes:

“Sin is our enemy, but sin has no power over us, until we yield to the temptation.”

“We must take responsibility for our choices. Our character is developed by our choices.”

“We must train our minds to do right and to choose what is right according to God’s Principles and Standards.”

I Call Him Lord – USC Trio – Worship Music Video

Anxious Feelings Will Come…But Do Not Let Them Stay

“Let us then approach God’s Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

In Philippians 4:6-7, Jesus tells us the answer to alleviating all anxiety, we exchange our worries for peace through the power of prayer. As we bring our requests to God, we use our faith [even if it is weak] to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence because we have received the promise that we can always rely on Jesus.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus compared Himself to the Rock. When we place our faith in Christ, we have the assurance that our lives will remain stable because He never changes. Yes and Amen!

When the Israelites faced an impassable Red Sea ahead of them and Pharaoh’s Army behind them, their response was a total lack of faith in God’s Sovereign Power:

“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord…” (Exodus 14:10).

The Faith of Moses: “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'” (Exodus 14:13-14).

We know how Christ, who called Himself the Angel of the Lord in Exodus 14, our Mighty Warrior, resolved the situation with arrogant Pharaoh and his army—they drowned in the Red Sea: “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (Exodus 14:28, NIV).

Studying the Holy Bible gives us knowledge of how God intervened for the righteous who used their faith to cry out for His Help. Knowing God’s Loving and Righteous Character gives us the courage to believe that God loves us and will always give us the victory.

In Psalm 91, angels are assigned by Christ to keep us safe. God is the Source and Sustainer of our lives. It is His Ruach breath that flows through our bodies. Faith propels us to believe without doubt that our Heavenly Father is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Yes and Amen.

God knows our weaknesses, but He reminds us that He does not have human limitations: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

“Each day, we can choose to trade our anxieties for His peace. Our trials and troubles are opportunities to rely on Him.”

Whether facing routine obstacles or humanly impossible dilemmas, a Prayer of Faith should be our First Response. Making prayer a habit when all is well gives us the courage to immediately pray for God’s Divine Help when facing the tough times of adversity.

We use our Faith to “Trade our real-life anxieties for real-time peace.” When we really believe in God’s Sovereign Power, then Peace should come naturally, because God’s promises always remain the same.

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 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 41:9-10).

Lord God, we thank You for Your Love and the Holy Scriptures, which remind us that we are never forgotten. We ask for forgiveness for letting anxiety and worry consume us instead of immediately using our faith to bend our knees to ask You for Help. Lord, give us strength and peace, and we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention and Resolution. In faith, we pray in the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.

A Sabbath Prayer for Spiritual Restoration

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The Triune God: God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, not only love us, but the Triune God is Agape Love.

February 14th is designated as an annual day of Love, and causes many to become discouraged because they do not have someone who loves them. Even in a relationship or marriage, human love may also disappoint because our love is always conditional and often moody.

God’s Love Qualifiers: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).

The words “I love you” are only words if the actions contradict God’s definition of true love. Every believer has received the spiritual gift of Godly Love [2 Timothy 1:7] and is expected to give love that is consistent, respectful, patient, kind, and, most importantly, forgiving.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3). Thankfully, we can always depend on God’s Agape Love to remain unchanged. Yes and Amen!

And it was from Divine Love that God said, “Let us make man in our image.” We were created by Jesus, Who is Divine Love. Although Adam and Eve disobeyed and humanity continues to reject God, He still loves us!

“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). We received undeserved, unmatched Divine Love and the opportunity to live forever with God when Jesus died on Calvary’s Cross to complete the Plan of Redemption [that was in place before the world was created].

God reiterates His, “Love never fails.” Every day, our hearts beat, and we breathe God’s Ruach breath flowing through our lungs. We are showered with the Divine gifts of love, peace, provisions, and angelic protection that human hearts and hands cannot give us.

Although the Holy Scriptures assure us of God’s Consistent Love, many believers feel unloved and that God is distant because they do not reciprocate God’s Love. If we fail to pray and study the Bible, then we are spiritually disconnected from God, and yes, we will feel empty.

“Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, CEV). Without using our faith to trust and obey God, we demonstrate that we are involved in a one-sided love relationship. Sadly, we accept God’s love, but fail to love Him.

“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24, BSB).

Loving God is more than attending weekly church services; loving God flows from unselfish hearts overflowing with gratitude, and is revealed through trusting, obeying, praying, singing, studying the Holy Scriptures, and thanking Him by placing Him first in our lives.

Jesus, Our Great High Priest: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, BSB).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence invites the Holy Spirit to lift us up into the Most Holy Presence of God, Jesus Christ, our High Priest, Heavenly Intercessor, and the Only Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity.

Spending time alone with God every day is needed to build a faith-based relationship with Christ. True love for God can only arise from hearts that invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify them in daily personal worship.

True love for God reveals itself through the desire to obey and follow Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. We were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ and cannot think and live as unbelievers who worship themselves by following their thoughts and personal agendas.

Prayer and Bible Study invite the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Divine Love and to sanctify us—Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and transformation that requires human effort and Divine Intervention. By giving God the firstfruits of our time, we receive spiritual guidance, peace, comfort, and contentment.

God rewards us when we dedicate our gift of time to worship Him in daily personal worship. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with the Divine Agape Love that transcends human love. It is impossible to feel unloved or hopeless when we take the time to be in God’s Holy and Loving presence.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

All of Heaven is lovingly devoted to humanity: Christ is our Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity. We receive God, the Father’s and Jesus’ Love through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer, Patience, and Perseverance reveal our love and gratitude for God, the Father, who did not hesitate to give Jesus Christ, God the Son, to redeem us from the only outcome of sin [Romans 6:23].

Lord God, we come to You in humility, surrendering our hearts to You, because You deserve all the glory, honor, and praise for saving our souls. We thank You for Your Faithfulness and never-ending Love, Grace, and Mercies. Thank You for the Divine Gift of Jesus, God, Your Son, who has promised to complete the work in us, if we are faithful. Lord, teach us how to love You and to love others. We pray for wisdom, strength, and guidance from the Holy Spirit as we continue our spiritual journey. Today, we ask You for a double spiritual blessing on Your Holy Sabbath; a blessing that will permeate our mind, body, and soul and empower us to redirect our love, faith, and focus from ourselves and this temporary Earth to You and the promise of living in our Forever Home. In faith, we ask these things in Jesus’ Holy and Loving Name, 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.”