Who Is The Holy Spirit?

Choose To Be On The Side Of Truth

An Amazing Picture Of Love

Discover How Much God Loves You

Jesus Christ is The Only Way To God (The Father)

“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 ‭NKJV‬‬).


This statement from Jesus that is quoted above is an astounding truth. Jesus did not mince words; He said that He is the ONLY WAY to the Father, and of course He knew this statement would offend many, and rightly so, for the cross of Christ is an offense to the unbelieving world. Paul said that the gospel we preach, which is “Christ crucified” is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (see 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:23‬). You see, man wants to be able to access God in his own way, and so man would like to believe that there are many ways to God, which is the reason for the many religions in the world. But God has ordained only one Way by which all men must come to Him, and this way is Jesus Christ. “For there is one God and ONE Mediator between God and men, the Man CHRIST JESUS” (I Timothy‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.” (Acts‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Many people will say that claiming Jesus as the ONLY WAY to the Father or the ONLY NAME by which we must be saved, is narrow; but the Bible says that the way that leads to life or that leads to God is narrow, and only a few find it. (see Matt 7:14). The broad way leads to destruction. (see Matt 7:13). And so all other ways to God apart from Jesus Christ lead to destruction. Jesus is the only way to God because He Himself is God. Jesus is the only way to life because He Himself is the life — in Him is life.


There is no doubt that all the great philosophers of old, and the founders of the world's religions had great ideas, perhaps they had good intentions too, but they couldn’t and cannot give LIFE to anybody. They themselves died and found themselves helpless in the hands of death, utterly defeated and swallowed up by the grave. And those who follow after them will no doubt suffer the same fate, because the disciple cannot be greater than his master. But Jesus Christ came into the world not just with great ideas, not just with good intentions, but with WORDS OF LIFE. In fact, He was the only Man to ever claim to be the Way the Truth and the Life, the only Man to ever claim to be THE RESURRECTION and THE LIFE (see John 11:25, with John 14:6), and then prove it by His death and resurrection. All the great philosophers of the world spoke mere human words, words of the flesh which could not give life to anyone. But when Jesus came, He said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT, and THEY ARE LIFE." (John 6:63 NKJV). And so Jesus spoke words that gave life to men. He spoke the words of God the Father (see John 12:49-50), the words of life. The apostle John says of Jesus, that, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4 NKJV). And Jesus Himself added that whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (see John 8:12). Yes, Jesus also died; yes, He was also buried; but what sets Him apart is that He was raised from the dead on the third day, thereby proving His deity — proving that He is over all the eternally blessed God. Amen. (see Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Acts 20:28). Before His death, Jesus had said, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. NO ONE TAKES IT FROM Me, but I LAY IT DOWN of Myself. I have POWER to lay it down, and I have POWER TO TAKE IT AGAIN. This command I have received from My Father.” (see John 10:17‭-‬18 NKJV). And Jesus was right. He did just that — He laid down His life, and He took it again. Truly, He is risen! He is alive forevermore! The Bible says that Jesus presented Himself ALIVE to His disciples after His suffering “BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (see Acts 1:3).

Thus, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is truth which cannot be denied, for it is supported by many infallible proofs; it is a divine truth, and it is a historical fact. Jesus, finding Himself in the hands of death, and coming face-to-face with the devil who had the power of death, tied the devil up, stripped him of all his power, and destroyed him. (see Hebrews 2:14, with Colossians 2:15). Then He walked out of the grave with the keys of hell and of death. When He appeared to John in a vision, He laid His right hand on him, saying to him, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. Amen. And I HAVE THE KEYS OF HADES AND OF DEATH." (Revelation 1:17‭-‬18 NKJV). What a glorious declaration of victory!

Indeed, our Savior Jesus Christ "has ABOLISHED DEATH and BROUGHT LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel," (see II Timothy 1:10 NKJV). Today all you have to do to receive this life and IMMORTALITY Jesus brought is to believe the gospel. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31 NKJV). Jesus Himself said, “I am the resurrection and THE LIFE. He who believes in Me, THOUGH HE MAY DIE, he SHALL LIVE. And whoever lives and believes in Me SHALL NEVER DIE. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25‭-‬26 NKJV). Truly, those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ do not die; we only fall asleep, and when we are absent from this earthly body, we are still alive, present with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Glory to God! Soon, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back in glory, and we are already asleep in Christ, our bodies will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:53‭-‬54 NKJV). Hallelujah!


Truly, God’s way of salvation is not a ritual, God’s way of salvation is not a set of laws, God’s way of salvation is not a religious system; rather, God’s way of salvation is a Person, and His name is Jesus Christ. He says that whoever believes in Jesus Christ should not perish but have eternal life (see John 3:16); that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (see Rom 10:13; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21). Indeed God’s way of salvation is very simple, so simple it’s scary. And thus Paul says, “But I FEAR, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from THE SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Oh, the simplicity of the gospel! John writes: “And this is the testimony (or the witness, the record, the gospel): that God has given us eternal life, and THIS LIFE IS IN His Son (Jesus Christ). He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (‭I John‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬, brackets and emphasis mine). This gospel or testimony is very clear and simple. Yet many people today have had their minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ and have stumbled; they cannot accept how simply believing in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior can give life or bring salvation to a man. Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬).


Now, let me bring to your remembrance the story of the Israelites who were bitten by fiery serpents in the wilderness because of their disobedience and their grumbling, and how God provided for their salvation. The Bible says, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, WHEN HE LOOKS at it, SHALL LIVE.” So Moses made A BRONZE SERPENT, and put it ON A POLE; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, WHEN HE LOOKED at the bronze serpent, HE LIVED.” (Numbers 21:8-9, NKJV). You probably know the backdrop to this story. The anger of God was kindled against the people of Israel when they began to murmur and complain against God and against Moses. The Bible says, “And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.” (Numbers‬ ‭21:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). When the people repented, the Bible says that they came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.” (see ‭Numbers‬ ‭21:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Then God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Bronze signifies judgment, and the serpent is always symbolic of sin. So, the bronze serpent on the pole was a symbol that God had judged their sins. And by looking at that bronze serpent on the pole, those who were bitten by the serpents were healed; they did not die but lived. Mind you, the person who looked upon his wounds died. The person who looked at Moses died. The person who tried to find his own cure died. The only way for healing and salvation was to LOOK at the bronze serpent on the pole. And only those who obeyed this simple instruction lived. (see Numbers 21:9).

Now, we can agree that this is an interesting provision that God made for the salvation of the children of Israel, and I cannot explain to you by what process simply looking at the bronze serpent  on the pole could save a person's life, but I know that it worked by FAITH or OBEDIENCE. I can’t also explain to you why God didn’t make more than one provision for the healing or salvation of these people. There obviously isn't any logical or scientific explanation for this either. It was God's only provision, and just that. It was the only means or the only way God ordained for them to be saved. He said that all they had to do was LOOK at the bronze serpent on the pole, and they will live. Very simple! And who can question God’s ways? As King Nebuchadnezzar rightly acknowledged, “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He (God) does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. NO ONE CAN RESTRAIN His hand or SAY to Him, “What have You done?” (Daniel‬ ‭4:35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Job made a similar statement when he said of God, “If He (God) takes away, WHO CAN HINDER Him? Who can SAY to Him, ‘What are You doing?’” (Job‬ ‭9:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). It is high time every man stopped asking foolish questions and stepped in line with the plan God has ordained for our salvation, because God is not going to change it, and no one can hinder or restrain Him. Jesus Christ is God’s only way of salvation. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. (see Romans 1:16).


Now, back to the story about the bronze serpent Moses raised on the pole for the healing of the children of Israel who were bitten by the fiery serpents, it is easy to imagine some foolish ones among the people, lying on the ground convulsing as a result of the snakebite, perishing. And their friends are saying, "Hey buddy, in the middle of the camp Moses has set up a pole with a bronze serpent. Just look at it and you'll be healed." And their response is, "What are you talking about, man, what good will that do? I can't make sense of that. How can simply looking at that bronze serpent on the pole do anything for me? Don't you see, I'm dying! I need some real help here!" And the friend says, "Yeah, but just look, and you will live!" And he maintains, "Ah, come on, how can that help?" And I can see him arguing and dying because he can't understand how simply looking at the bronze serpent would help. And there are some folks like this today; they want to understand the how of salvation instead of just receiving it. Indeed there are many people today who have heard the gospel, but instead of believing it, they are asking, “How? How can this be? How can Jesus be the only way to the Father? How can simply believing in Jesus save me?” And they are maintaining that unless they can understand all the processes by which God is working, they won't accept it. And thus they are perishing in their unbelief. Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH but HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (John 3:14-15, NKJV). But many people today ridicule and make a mockery of this provision. It doesn't make sense to them, and so they reject it. Even among the body of believers, there are some so-called believers who don't seem to get it. So they’ve added their own provisions, some religious rituals or “works” that one has to perform in order to earn eternal life. Just trusting in Jesus and looking to Him with faith doesn't make sense to them. And so they have been bitten by sin, condemned to death, and instead of trusting in Jesus completely for healing and salvation, they want to save themselves — put their own antivenom and bandaid on it. And thus we have all kinds of so-called churches leading people astray with various doctrines of salvation that are far removed from God’s simple provision of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.


Again, I can't explain how simply believing in Jesus Christ with all your heart and confessing Him as your Lord and Savior can cleanse you of all your sins and cause you to be born again and become a child of God. I can’t explain how believing in Jesus will give you eternal life. All I can tell you is that it will, because God says so. It works because that's what God has ordained, and it has worked for me personally, so I can testify to it. Yes, this gospel is personal to me, so when I preach it I know what I’m talking about. Jesus, hanging on the cross, was bearing the judgment of God for your sins. The Bible says, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, everyone of us, to our own ways. And God has laid on Him the iniquities of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). On the cross, Jesus, who knew no sin, took our judgment and became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Today when we look at the cross, we are reminded that Jesus bore our sins, our shame, our condemnation, our curses, and our death on that cross. When we look to Jesus with faith, we receive salvation — remission and forgiveness of sins, righteousness, justification,  healing, blessings, peace, joy, life.


Indeed Jesus is the only way to God, just as He Himself testified saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (see John 14:6 NKJV). Whenever you listen to a preacher or religious leader, ask yourself if he is bringing you this message, if he is bringing you to a total reliance and trust in Jesus Christ and Him only for salvation, or if he is bringing you to trust in a false religious system? Is he bringing you to trust in a religious ritual? Is he bringing you to trust in a church? And if a man will seek to cause you to trust in anything other than Jesus Christ and a complete reliance upon Jesus Christ for eternal life, then that man is a false prophet. God wants you to just believe in Jesus Christ and live! That is God’s provision. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:12 NKJV). And when we say this, we are not judging those who don’t believe in Jesus; it is the Word of God that judges them (by the word of their own mouth). According to the Word of God, those who don’t believe in Jesus are ALREADY CONDEMNED (see John 3:18-19; Mark 16:16): we the preachers are not the ones judging or condemning them; we are rather the ones who are trying to bring them out of condemnation. We are trying to help them make the right confession that will bring them justification. Jesus said, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, HAS THAT WHICH JUDGES him— THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WILL JUDGE HIM in the last day.” (John‬ ‭12:47-48‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Again, He said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE JUSTIFIED, and BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭12:36-37‬ ‭NKJV). Your confession (or words) will either justify you or condemn you, depending on whether you confess Jesus as your Lord or deny Him as Lord. The Bible says “that if you CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that God has raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED. For with the heart one believes unto RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth CONFESSION is made unto SALVATION.” (Romans‬ ‭10:9-10‬ ‭NKJV). Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today, and you will have life and be free from condemnation. If you are ready to sincerely give Jesus your heart, to make HIM your Lord and Savior and thus receive eternal life, pray and call on His Name. I cannot do your praying for you, but if you need guidance, pray this prayer from your heart: “Almighty God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and I thank you for sending your beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for me and to bear the judgment for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ was delivered up to death for my sins and was raised up from the dead for my justification. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and Savior. And I thank you that I have received eternal life in the name of Jesus. Amen.”


I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

Is Fasting Relevant or Even Necessary Under the New Covenant?

Some Christians today question whether Fasting is relevant or even necessary under the New Covenant, especially in the light of the finished work of Christ, since we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. But the Lord Jesus Christ Himself answered this question during His ministry here on earth. When the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why His disciples did not fast, “Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom MOURN as long as the bridegroom is with them? But THE DAYS WILL COME when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then THEY WILL FAST.” (Matthew‬ ‭9:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Here, Jesus, treated FASTING and MOURNING as though they were synonymous, and He indicated that we (His disciples) would fast in those days after He (the Bridegroom) is taken away from us (an allusion to His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into Heaven)— (see Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35). And so we are currently living in the days Jesus was speaking about; WE ARE LIVING IN THE DAYS WHEN WE OUGHT TO FAST, because Jesus (the Bridegroom) has been (physically) taken away from us. When we fast, we basically mourn Jesus’ physical absence as we seek intimacy in our fellowship with Him, yearn for His quick (physical) return, and delight ourselves in His Word, treasuring His words more than our necessary food. In Fasting, we subdue our body (or flesh), and deny it its desire for pleasures such as food, wine, sex, foolish jesting, idle talk, and other mundane things, as we delight ourselves in the Lord and in the (spiritual) pleasures that are at His right hand forevermore. And so Fasting, if it is to be done right, must be accompanied by PRAYER, as well as STUDY and MEDITATION on the WORD of God. Indeed, studying and meditating on the Word of God gives us nourishment (see Matthew 4:4; Acts 20:32; Proverbs 4:20, 22), and should accompany fasting where possible. Moses said, “When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ATE NO BREAD AND DRANK NO WATER.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭9:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬). Doubtless it was the Word of God that nourished and sustained Moses in those 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”” (‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). God said that His words are life to those who find them, and health (or medicine) to all their FLESH (or body). Thus the prophet Jeremiah, speaking concerning the Word of God, said, “Your WORDS were found, and I ATE THEM, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). In Fasting, we align ourselves with and submit to God’s will as revealed in His Word, rather than our own will. Like Moses, and like Jesus, we shun natural food and desire and lay hold on the spiritual food of doing God’s will and finishing His work. (see John 4:34).

 Fasting must also be accompanied by good and charitable deeds (see Isaiah 58:6-7). The Lord Jesus taught that when we fast the right way, we will be REWARDED openly by God the Father (see Matthew 6:17-18). He said, “When you fast, DO NOT be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their REWARD. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and YOUR FATHER who sees in secret WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭6:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). And concerning this REWARD that the Father will give you openly, the Bible says, “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’” (see ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Truly, fasting, if it is to be rewarded this way must be a sincere act of worship to God, and not a hypocritical or vain religious custom or practice. We must all learn to discipline our body and bring it into subjection (by the Spirit), especially through fasting and prayer, submitting to God always and bringing His will and purpose into manifestation in our life.

Beloved, another evidence that Fasting is relevant and even necessary under the New Covenant is that the early apostles practiced it frequently. They fasted and prayed all the time, often doing so before the laying on of hands. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that certain prophets and teachers in the church that was at Antioch were ministering to the Lord and FASTING, and that “As they ministered to the Lord and FASTED, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” (Acts‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). After receiving this command from the Holy Spirit, they FASTED again and prayed. And the Bible says, “Then, HAVING FASTED and PRAYED, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Again in the Acts of the Apostles we read that Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and appointing elders in every church. “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and PRAYED with FASTING, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (‭Acts‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). And so Prayer and Fasting was an integral part of the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship. In his first epistle to the church of God in Corinth, the apostle Paul recommended that whereas the Christian husband and wife are each to consider their body as being under the authority of the other and thus submit one to the other, seeking to fulfill their marital duties to each other without deprivation, that it is prudent that they each set aside by agreement times when personal (sexual) gratification is to be suspended in order that one or the other, or both together, may give themselves to FASTING and PRAYER. (see 1 Corinthians 7:3-6). Thus, although God does not frown upon marriage, nor the sexual relationship between husband and wife, we may voluntarily and for a time deprive ourselves of even this, which, like our necessary food, is rightfully ours, to seek God’s face and draw nearer to Him relationally, with great reward.

Indeed we should not minimize fasting and prayer, claiming that our fasting and prayer does not move God since He has already moved for us by giving His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to us, because such a statement is a partial truth and not the whole truth. You see, we cannot use the positional victory we have in Christ to minimize Fasting and prayer; fasting and prayer is as important as all the other actions such as reading and meditating on the Word of God, walking in the truth, preaching and teaching the Word, holding fast our confession, speaking in tongues, sowing faith-seed, practicing righteousness and holiness, walking in love and doing charitable deeds, etc that we have to take to work out our salvation or lay hold on eternal life. The truth is that although God has brought us out of (spiritual) Egypt or Satan’s kingdom and has given us an inheritance (or the promised land), which is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus, we also have a responsibility or a part to play to possess or lay hold on the land or the eternal life God has already given us. We have a fight to fight, and it is a fight of faith. Thus Paul said to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (I Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Then to the Philippian saints, Paul again said, “WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling” (see Philippians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). To the elders of the church in Ephesus also, Paul said, “I commend you to God and to THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is ABLE TO build you up and GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE among all those who are sanctified.” (‭see Acts‬ ‭20:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). You will notice from these verses that Paul is asking believers (not to be passive, but) to do something: to lay hold on eternal life, to work out or go in and possess our salvation, to, by the avenue of the Word of God’s grace, possess our inheritance among the saints.

Thus, we (believers under the New Covenant) are similar to the Israelites under the Old Covenant in regard to the means or avenue by which we possess or lay hold on the blessing or the inheritance God has already given us. And thus the Bible says that we should not become sluggish in our work and labor of love, but are to show diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, and “IMITATE those who THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES.” (‭see Hebrews‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬). We are to imitate Abraham, imitate Caleb, imitate Joshua, imitate Paul, imitate those men from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, who through FAITH and PATIENCE laid hold on eternal life or inherited the promises of God. You would remember that when God said He had already given the promised land to the children of Israel, the children of Israel still had to take steps and actions to lay hold on the land, and this involved a fight— not only a physical fight but also a fight of faith. And unfortunately many of them succumbed to the fight of faith and did not inherit or possess the land. In fact, among all the Israelites who originally came out of Egypt and journeyed toward the promised land, only Joshua and Caleb actually inherited or possessed the promised land, and they did so through faith and patience. So the point we are making here is that God didn’t just drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan for the Israelites without any effort or action on the part of the Israelites themselves. In fact, it was God Himself who SPOKE to the children of Israel in Horeb, saying: “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. SEE, I HAVE SET THE LAND BEFORE YOU; GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.” (see Deuteronomy 1:5‭-‬6‭, ‬8 NKJV, emphasis mine). Indeed God had already given the land to the Israelites, yet He wanted the Israelites to GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND which He had set before them. The Israelites had to fight many battles to possess the land, the most important fight of all being the fight of faith; and God fought for them only as they believed God’s Word or His directives and took steps to fight and possess the land He said He had given them. Similarly, under the New Covenant God has already given us the promised land, He has set the land before us; He says that we have eternal life (see 1 John 5:13), all things are ours, the whole world is ours (see 1 Corinthians 3:21-23). God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (see Ephesians 1:3). But, like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, there are steps or actions that we have to take to possess our inheritance in Christ Jesus if we truly believe God, there is a fight that has to be fought, a battle that has to be waged, and God only fights for us as we yield or submit to Him or His Word and commit to the fight He has ordained for us, trusting Him to lead us in victory. For the children of Israel, the fight was both a fight of faith as well as a physical fight, they were involved in many physical wars; but for us under the New Covenant, it is spiritual warfare, it is a fight of faith; and one of the steps or actions God has ordained for us to prepare ourselves for and to engage the adversary in this fight is FASTING and prayer. Fasting and prayer helps us to lay hold on the victory Jesus has already won for us in our spiritual warfare.

Now, let me draw your attention also to a story in the gospels where a man brought his epileptic son to the disciples of Jesus to cure him, and they could not cure him. Later, the man brought the same son to Jesus and Jesus cured him by rebuking the demon (and the demon came out of the boy). The Bible says, “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. HOWEVER, this kind does not go out EXCEPT BY PRAYER and FASTING.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭17:19-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬; see also Mark 9:28-29). Jesus said here that there is a kind of demon that does not go out EXCEPT by prayer and FASTING. The Lord Jesus Christ also said that the demon didn’t come out “because of your unbelief.” So what does prayer and fasting have to do with helping to overcome unbelief? You see, we walk in the flesh and in unbelief when we walk by sight and judge by the hearing of our ears. Fasting and prayer, however, helps us to subdue our flesh (by the Holy Spirit) or as Paul puts it, keep our body under, so that our spirit (the inner man) can gain the ascendancy or dominion over it, and thus strengthen us to resist the devil and his temptations by faith or submission to God’s Word. When you live a LIFESTYLE OF FASTING AND PRAYER, there is no operation of the flesh that the devil can lay hold of to resist you with or subvert your authority. Indeed, if you ever learn to shut your flesh (that is, your body and its desires) down through FASTING and PRAYER, you will walk by faith and shut Satan down, because the only power Satan has is through deception and manipulation of the flesh and its lusts. In conclusion, although our fasting and prayer may not necessarily move God, it does move us to a place where we can see, expect, receive and lay hold on the exceedingly great and precious promises of God, and thereby become partakers of the divine (or God) nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Fasting and prayer helps us to overcome the influence or power that the flesh may have in our lives, so that, instead of operating out of the flesh, we can continually yield to the Spirit and operate out of the Spirit or out of faith! May you cultivate the spirit of prayer and fasting, and lay hold on the victory which God has already given, and which is rightfully yours in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

Get to Know Jesus and the Power of His Resurrection

The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God – was slain from the foundation of the world, and was manifested at the end of the world for our sake. Today, we (believers) are citizens of Heaven (see Philippians 3:20) because of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25 KJV). It is my prayer that all of humanity will strive to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. Knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection was the apostle Paul’s life goal also. In his epistle to the Philippians, he wrote: "That I may know Him and THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION." (see Philippians 3:10). There is power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed, and everyone should have the same hunger or burning desire (as Paul) to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. In fact, the power of Jesus’ resurrection is such that no one can be saved without believing (in their heart) the resurrection of Jesus. The Bible says, in order for anyone to be saved, not only must he confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus, but he must also believe in his heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. (see Romans 10:9). It is the power of Jesus’ resurrection that gave birth to me and to you, and to all who are in Christ, whom the Bible calls the new creation (see 1 Peter 1:3;  Acts 13:33; with 2 Corinthians 5:17). As a believer, the resurrection of Jesus Christ not only gave birth to you, but also gave you “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:4-5 NKJV). The power of His resurrection has also made the believer righteous (through faith) by birth (see Ephesians 4:24). It has made the believer a partaker of the divine (or God) nature, and thus one with God. (see 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:16; John 3:6). Jesus Himself was born or begotten of God by the power of His resurrection. (see Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4). And so today, the Bible calls Jesus the firstborn Son among many brethren. (see Romans 8:29). And we are the many brethren. Both the firstborn Son and the many brethren are born of the same Father (God) by the resurrection (see Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4; with 1 Peter 1:3). And both the firstborn Son and the many brethren are the same in divine life and nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 4:17). Hence, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. (see Hebrews 2:11).

In fact, prior to His resurrection, the most intimate term Jesus used for His disciples was “friends” (see John 15:14-15). But after His resurrection, He began to call them “brothers” (see John 20:17), because through His resurrection, His disciples (since they believed in Him) had been regenerated or begotten of God (see 1 Peter 1:3). Therefore, the fact that the Lord is not ashamed to call us brothers indicates that we are one with Him in life and share His divine nature indeed. We are truly the sons of God, and we have the full rights of sons. And now because we are God’s sons, God has given us the Spirit of His Son. (see Galatians 4:4-7). So today we have the power or the legal right to make the claim that we are sons of God. We have the same rights (as sons) that Jesus has. The Bible says Jesus Christ is the heir of ALL THINGS. (see Hebrews 1:2). And the Bible also says that all believers are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). This means that collectively, believers are heirs of ALL THINGS together with Christ. No wonder Paul told the Corinthian Church that “let no one boast in men. For ALL THINGS ARE YOURS: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or THE WORLD or life or death, or things present or things to come—ALL ARE YOURS." (see I Corinthians 3:21-22 NKJV,  emphasis mine). Indeed, all things are ours – things present (the earth), and things to come (Heaven) are ours – because we are joint-heirs with Christ. All things are yours, beloved. And all things are mine. This is great news. And it has all been made possible by the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Thus, we always have to remember that we are the sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ only because we are in Christ. We have to abide in Him and let His Word abide in us in order to experience the fullness of our inheritance and power as sons. God has given all authority in Heaven and on earth to His Son Jesus Christ. And Jesus shares that authority with those of us who believe in Him and thus are His brothers and joint-heirs with Him. (see Matthew 28:18-20). He says, in His name we will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and if we drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt us; we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (see Mark 16:17-18 NKJV). For us to be able to experience all of these, we have to abide in Him and allow His Word to abide in us. This is why Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NKJV). The apostle Paul was walking in the consciousness of this truth when he declared that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

Beloved, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let us, therefore, get to know Christ more deeply and intimately through His Word. Let us get to know the power of His resurrection, because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the gospel of Christ. The book of Acts shows how the disciples were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, and how they preached it powerfully to the world. “And with great power the apostles GAVE WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33; see also 1:21-22; 2:29-32; 4:1-2). Peter witnessed about the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the very first sermon he delivered on the Day of Pentecost. (see Acts 2:22-32). He quoted David (in the Psalms) to prove that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament, and that it was not possible that death could hold Jesus. (see Acts 2:30-31). Then in 1 Peter 1:3 he says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope THROUGH the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This speaks mightily of the power of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the central message of the church, a message no true church of Christ can deny. Hence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was also at the core of the apostle Paul’s teachings. For example, in Athens, Paul spoke forcefully to the philosophers about the resurrection of Christ. “Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because HE PREACHED TO THEM JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION.” (Acts 17:18 NKJV, emphasis mine). Paul then told them, “‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD.’ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter’” (see verses 30-32).

In his letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul again preached about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He said, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Then Paul adds, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:12-22 NKJV).

In the Book of Revelation, John also bears witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ whom he calls “the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over all the kings of the earth.” (see Revelation 1:5). Jesus Himself – the Faithful Witness – also bears witness of His own resurrection. He says, “I am HE WHO LIVES, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Revelation 1:18 NKJV,  emphasis mine).

Beloved, just like Peter says, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has indeed given a living hope to mankind; and we have to proclaim to the world the same message Paul preached, that indeed Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification. (see Romans 4:25). Let us proclaim this message everywhere. Let us encourage all men to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life. (see Romans 5:17). To those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, I encourage you to do so now. Today, if you believe in Jesus Christ, He will come to live in your heart, and you too will be born again and have eternal life. The Bible says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12 NKJV). So if you desire to receive Jesus and make HIM your Lord and Savior today, pray and call on His Name. I cannot do your praying for you, but if you need guidance, pray this prayer from your heart: “Almighty God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and I thank you for sending your beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for me and to bear the judgment for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified for my sins and was raised from the dead for my justification. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and Savior. And I thank you that I have received eternal life in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer sincerely from your heart, I’m happy for you. You are born again! Welcome to God’s family. I encourage you to join a local church that preaches the gospel of grace so that you can grow further in your knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. You’re now God’s child. You're now a new creation in Christ. The devil had a hold over your old man because of sin, but he has no hold over you as a new creation — because of righteousness. You have eternal life. I thank God that you have been born again as a new creation in Christ. Stop regarding yourself according to the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 5:16). You are spirit. (see John 3:6). You are no longer a sinner. There is a permanent change in your spirit. You have the life of God in you. You have a new nature  — Christ is in you. You have His ability in you. You are no longer held back by the past, and you can live for the future in Christ, according to all His promises. You are an overcomer. (see 1 John 5:4-5). You can experience the overcoming life by walking by faith and by allowing Jesus to live  in and through you. (see Galatians 2:20). The victory that overcomes is your faith. Remain blessed.



I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).