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When salvation fills your homeEternal Life for you, Salvation for your family.When the Bible refers to the aspects of Eternal Life, there is always a reference to the individual, personal experience in the presence and in the future.Biblically, “eternal life” is both a present possession and a future consummation; it is deeply personal (knowing God through Christ.John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.However, when it comes to the Salvation, the unit of God’s will is corporate. He aims at your family. Scripture constantly frames salvation corporately.Every family member must personally repent and believe to be saved. But God’s salvation often moves through families.God's promises sustain our faithThe foundation of our faith is God's promises. If we stand firm on this, we will be blessed. God's promise is for the salvation of our household.2 Corinthians 1:20 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.Psalms 103:17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,God Aims your householdsGenesis 7:1 1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.Noah prepared the ark, which was not for one person, but for an entire family. The Bible says that Noah was righteous, but nowhere does it say the same about his children. Even so, salvation came to his children and daughters-in-law. Deliverance comes to the family through the covenant God made to Christ. And since you are in Christ, that includes you.Every believer should bring their entire family into the ark. If we believe this, God will honor our faith and save our family. This is not automatic righteousness, but a family rescued under God’s appointed means.Abraham’s household was also under God’s covenant with him. Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.“between me and you and your offspring… throughout their generations.” All his household was circumcised, even Abram’s servants. God's covenant with Abraham was extended to his entire household.Colossians 2:11-12 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.In a sense that speaks of the salvation for your entire generation.Passover households Each household slaughters the lamb and marks the door; the Lord “will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses.” Exodus 12:3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household.In the context of the period pre-Cannan land, the priesthood was also established for the household.The LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear your iniquity concerning the sanctuary; you and your sons with you shall bear your iniquity concerning your priesthood." (Num. 18:1)When God set Aaron apart for the priesthood, He also set apart his entire family.When we move forward in the Bible story, we come to the Jericho conquest, and we remember one particular story of salvation.Rahab’s family was also saved. Because Rahab trusts the Lord, her “father and mother, brothers, and all who belong to them” are spared if they shelter under the scarlet sign in her house. Mercy runs along household lines, yet with conditions of response (stay under the sign).Joshua 6:17 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.Those who are heads of households can seek salvation for their entire family, because this is God's promise. We must hold fast to this principle and appropriate God's blessing. However, even if you are not the head of your household, as was the case with Rahab, you can cling to God for the salvation of your entire household. We need to keep this clear in our minds. It is not just salvation; every blessing from God is for us and our household.Remember the story of Obed-Edom. 2 Samuel 6:11 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.I don’t know about you, but I want to enter God’s promises and celebrate and rejoice there with my family.Deuteronomy 12:7 7 And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.It is time we began to think about the salvation of entire families and households, and not just individuals. Although salvation is individual, the sphere of God's salvation is the house, not the individual. If we believe in personal salvation, one by one, that is what we will have, but I challenge you to believe in the salvation of families and houses, as the Word of God declares.The Roman official was saved along with his house after the healing of his son.John 4:53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.We need to broaden the scope of our work. The church should be filled not with individuals, but with families.One of the most beautiful stories in the New Testament is that of Cornelius. Acts 10:2 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.Acts 10:43-44 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.Acts 11:4 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:Acts 11:14-15 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.In Acts 16, we have the story of the household of Lydia in Phillipi.Acts 16:14-15 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.Paul and Silas started a Lifegroup there in Phillipi. In that city, Paul and Silas expelled a demon from a girl, and an uproar began. They were beaten and arrested. There, the fantastic salvation of the Philippian jailer happens. Acts 16:25-34 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.Faith is not individualisticIt seems that, in the early church, God's grace worked in such a way as to reach the entire household. If you follow the book of Acts 18, you will see another family being saved, not only the individual. Perhaps because we live in an extremely individualistic society, we find it difficult to think of salvation in terms of the family as a unit.It is time to believe that God will save entire families.Even if we do not fully understand the concept, we must believe and hold on to this promise. If we target households, we will win households. God does things according to our faith.In Pentecost, when Peter was explaining what was happening, he spoke two foundations for what we are sharing here.Acts 2:16-17 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;Acts 2:37-39 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”Affirm God's peace over your house.Luke 10:5-6 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will r

GRACE IN THE GARDEN: Family Lessons from EdenGiles D. StevensIntroduction: Family is at the heart of God’s PlanThen God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.’ (Gen 1:28)Whilst Eden was a place made for the first family, it also points to ChristThen the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden. (Gen 2:15)Main: Let your family know how much they are loved. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Gen 1:31)Make your home a place of freedom and abundance.And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:15-16)Maintain an atmosphere of peace. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it”. (Genesis 2:15)Cultivate potentialThen the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it”. (Genesis 2:15)Enjoy their companyAnd they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Gen 3:9-10)Give them a big vision“… fill the earth!” (Gen 1:28)Be quick to forgiveAlso, for Adam and his wife, the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. (Gen 3:21)

When Honor Fills Up Our Home  Intro:There is a principle of heaven that the enemy resists more fiercely than any other — the principle of honor. Honor is the culture of heaven. When honor fills a home, it does more than bring peace — it brings restoration between generations. Honor is the bridge that connects hearts that time, pride, or pain have separated. It softens what rebellion hardened and rebuilds what silence tore down. In God’s design, honor is not only about respect; it is about reconciliation. Every generation carries both the scars and the promises of the one before it. When honor is lost, the flow of blessing is interrupted; when honor is restored, riches flow again. Where there is honor, forgiveness replaces accusation, gratitude replaces entitlement, and hearts are turned into testimonies of reconciliation.Honor makes the culture of heaven invade your family, so let Your house be filled with honor today.The Principle of HonorThere is a principle of heaven that is deeply resisted by the evil one. It is the principle of honor.When we speak of honor, we speak of the very culture of heaven — the way the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit relate to one another in perfect love, submission, and mutual glorification.Jesus Himself revealed this heavenly culture when He said that He did nothing on His own but only what He saw the Father doing.John 5:19 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”Even the Son of God walked in honor and dependence. Why do we try something else? Luke 4:1“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.”That is the culture of the Trinity — a culture of honor.However, hell operates by the opposite culture: dishonor, rebellion, and rivalry. It is a kingdom divided against itself, where pride and self-promotion are the norm.In organized crime, each gang wants to dominate a certain neighborhood, a block, or one corner where they can sell their illegal drugs. They are driven by greed, pride, and a desire for power. If one group gains influence, the other immediately plots to take it back.That is exactly how hell operates. Like a mafia war for control, demons fight for dominance, constantly competing and destroying one another. Tragically, that same culture can infiltrate a home when honor is absent.Matthew 12:25-26 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?When comparison replaces contentment, when complaint replaces gratitude, and when criticism replaces recognition, that home begins to look like a spiritual battlefield. Such a culture has no future.But it's time to change that. Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”Where the culture of honor takes root, the gates of hell lose their claim.Honor is most revealed when shown downward.The principle of honor is truly tested not when we have someone stronger, wiser, or more intelligent above us, but when we choose to honor those who seem below us.It is easy and even expected to honor someone greater; such honor is natural. Inspired by fear, maybe for the concern of losing privileges in a job position.When Jesus was only twelve years old, He was left behind by His parents in Jerusalem. He, the Creator of the universe, the very finger of God who wrote the Law, was sitting in the temple, not teaching and lecturing the religious leaders, but asking questions.Luke 2:46–47 “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”Even though He astonished the religious leaders with His insight, what is most astonishing is what He did next. Jesus — God made flesh — chose to honor His earthly parents, ordinary and simple people from Nazareth. The One to whom every knee would bow humbled Himself to obey them.Luke 2:51 “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”This is the highest expression of honor: when divinity bows before humanity out of love. Why? Because that is the heavenly culture. Jesus, who owed obedience to no one, submitted to authority so that we could learn heaven’s way.Jesus was blessed in His ministry because He chose to submit to someone less than Him.John the Baptist himself declared that he was not even worthy to untie the straps of Jesus’ sandals. Yet Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John — a man He created.Matthew 3:13–15 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.Honor is submission. That honor’s culture brought divine confirmation over Jesus' ministry. The Father’s public affirmation came after the act of honor. Heaven’s voice always follows submission.I often wonder how many of our LifeGroup leaders could experience greater blessing, growth, and prosperity if they walked in that same spirit of honor.Sometimes, honor is tested not in grand acts but in small obediences — such as aligning with the message God is speaking to the church that week. When we honor the spiritual direction that God gives through the pastor — the “word of the week” or “newsletter of the week” — we come under the same anointing.It is not about suppressing creativity; it is about channeling creativity through unity.There is no favor in independence; God blesses agreement.1 Peter 5:5–6 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.You cannot honor someone without recognizing their authority.Etymology of AuthorityThe English word authority comes from the Latin auctoritas, derived from auctor, “originator,” “promoter,” or “one who causes to grow.” The Greek root verb is augēre, meaning “to increase, to make grow, to cause to prosper.”So at its root, authority has nothing to do with control or domination. It literally means “the power to cause growth.”Submission is not inferiority — it is the recognition of divine order.A wife honors her husband when she recognizes his leadership, not because he is perfect, but because God placed him there.A husband honors God by covering, not controlling, his wife.Children honor their parents by obeying even when they disagree.Parents honor their children by giving them space to grow without manipulation.Honor and FamilyYou only truly Love What You truly honorHonor magnifies love. To love someone deeply is to give them weight and value in your heart and words. Dishonor, however, diminishes affection; it turns praises into criticism and respect into resentment. If you do not feel privileged and deeply blessed to have your spouse, you are missing the favor of God. Marriage is not sustained by compatibility or convenience but by honor and gratitude.Proverbs 18:22 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.The moment you begin to compare your spouse with someone else or allow criticism to take root in your heart, you step out of grace and into the territory of self-righteousness. James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Self-righteousness always says, “I deserve better.” It weighs the other’s faults against our own merits. But grace is the opposite. The favor of God rests only on those who remain in the posture of the undeserving—those who recognize, “I am far more blessed than I could ever earn.”Honor grows when there is gratitude. Thanking one another regularly — for food, for service, for presence — breaks the curse of dishonor.Romans 12:10 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.We can only love what we bless and honor. When one decides to honor, problems end.1 Corinthians 13:4–5 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.Every relationship has specific protocols. The family has procedures. Couples have inner rules. One protocol that you can’t miss in your family is honor. Honor is the protocol of Heaven.Honor is shown in small gestures — tone of voice, listening, serving, and preferring the other.A husband walking with his wife instead of ahead of her.A wife who does not interrupt when the other speaks.Remembering to give the best seat or best portion as an act of preference.It is a simple daily custom of heaven’s culture.Philippians 2:3–43 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Honor prevents disagreement from becoming a fight.”Disagreement is inevitable, but dishonor turns difference into division.What is the use of winning arguments but losing the marriage?”Honor allows two people to differ without destroying the atmosphere of peace.In parenting, it means you explain the reason for the correction rather than reacting with anger.Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.Before Smith Wigglesworth became one of the most famous healing evangelists in modern history, he was just a simple plumber from England.He’s remembered today a

When HIS love fills our home “BE NICE To your kids they choose your nursing home.”“Behind every GREAT MAN is a woman rolling her eyes.”“Never LAUGH at your wife’s choices. You are one of them!”This fasting is for your family. We understand that many relational issues can be worked through with wise counsel, patient listening, and intentional care. Yet I am absolutely convinced that the greatest power for true transformation is found in the prayer of the righteous.James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.. When husbands and wives, parents and children, lift their voices together before the Lord, something shifts in the atmosphere of the home. Problems that once seemed immovable begin to break. Walls of offense begin to fall. Hearts that were hardened begin to soften.Only the love of Christ, the consciousness of how much we are loved, can we build up our homes with healing, joy, and lasting peace.Christ at the centerEphesians 5:22-26 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,Christ at the center of your life and home changes everything. Notice that it is all about Christ.If the love of which husbands must love is the same as Christ, then all husbands need is to be aware of this love God has shown us in Christ. I insist that only the identity of the beloved son is what will sustain you during the deserts of life and during intensified prayer seasons such as this one.Matthew 3:16 - 4:2 16 And when Jesus was baptized, […] a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Be conscious of His love every day.I am totally forgiven.I am highly favoredI am profoundly loved.When the husband embraces his biblical role, the whole household flourishes.Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, not as a mere duty or obligation, but as an overflow of the grace they have already received from Christ.1 John 4:19 19 We love because he first loved us.This love is self-giving, patient, and anchored in the gospel.Wives, in turn, are called to submit as unto the Lord, recognizing that submission is not about inferiority but about divine mission-order—choosing to honor Christ by honoring the role God has established.When both husband and wife focus on their God-given callings instead of competing with one another or keeping score, the marriage is lifted out of tension and rivalry and into harmony.(Joshua 24:15) …as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.The Husband’s Core Identity: Priest, Protector, Provider• As Priest, the husband leads the family spiritually—prayer, Scripture, worship.• As Protector, he guards emotionally, spiritually, and physically.• As the Provider, he works diligently and faithfully to support his home.However, all is the result of the presence of God in your home. A man’s faith is tested first in his household—how he loves, disciplines, and provides. This week, I read an article in the New York Times about a remarkable effort in Buffalo, New York, in the aftermath of the tragic 2022 supermarket shooting. The report told the story of how a threat made by a troubled young man on a school bus mobilized 106 people—police, counselors, agencies, and community leaders—to intervene before another act of violence could take place. For more than two years, they surrounded this young man with supervision, therapy, and programs. He wrestled with depression, anger, confusion, and instability, showing just how fragile his inner world was.Their efforts worked—he stayed in school, graduated, and never carried out violence.And as I reflected on it, one thought stood out: more than 100 professionals worked hard to fill the gap, but what he lacked was something far simpler and more powerful—a strong household, a father’s presence, and the stability of love at home. No program, no agency, no team of experts can replace the divine design of a mother and father who love, nurture, and guide their children in the Lord.The heart of a child is meant to be shepherded by the love, discipline, and presence of a father and mother.When homes fail, communities scramble to compensate. The strength of a home cannot be substituted—because it was God’s chosen design from the beginning.Ask, “If my role in my house were the only sermon my children ever heard, what would they see?”Bring God's Presence HomeWhat is the manifested presence of God?God’s will is not behavior management by rules but transformation by His manifest presence.It is more than omnipresence. It is the presence that makes us conscious of His love and blessings. David longed to bring the ark of the covenant—the symbol of God’s manifest presence—back to Jerusalem, to restore God’s centrality among His people (2 Samuel 6). Yet when he tried to carry it the wrong way, on an ox cart like the Philistines, tragedy struck as Uzzah reached out to steady the ark and died.In fear, David left the ark at the house of Obed-edom.Obed in Hebrew means “servant” or “worshiper.” Edom means “red,” but is also connected to dam (“blood”) in Hebrew. His name could mean “servant of the blood,” pointing to the covenant covering. 1 Chronicles 15:18, 24 and 1 Chronicles 26:4–8 says hw was a Levite from the Korahite clan, later appointed as a gatekeeper of the ark and as a musician. Jewish historian Josephus states that this blessing was accompanied by great prosperity. Some rabbinic traditions claim that his family multiplied in both number and influence.(2 Samuel 6:11) And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.In just three months, the Lord poured out such favor and blessing on his household that it became clear: where God’s presence is welcomed, His blessing overflows.We are still in the year of Restitution. October, November and December are more than enough for God to change your lot.Many have already experienced supernatural provision this year. Some got a new car, a new house, a new job, a new family. Others are still waiting. Don’t stop believing. In these next 21 days, invite the presence in your marriage, over your children, over your house, and you will see a complete restitution taking place. How can you become more aware of this presence? In these days, ask God for His ways, not your way. The presence must be carried God’s way, not on “ox carts” of worldly methods. Obed-edom’s house was blessed because he did not treat the presence of God as ordinary, familiar and usual.Uzzah had likely spent nearly 20 years in the house of Abinadab seeing the golden box of the ark, and over time, he grew familiar with it. That familiarity dulled his reverence, so when the moment came, he touched the ark as if it were ordinary—and it cost him his life (2 Samuel 6:6–7).God’s presence was never meant to destroy but to bless, restore, and bring life. Yet many believers today fall into the same danger: they are surrounded by the things of God, yet treat His presence as common, ordinary, or merely religious. Instead of experiencing the manifested presence that brings blessing, they settle for routine, even imitating the world’s way.Many families today unknowingly try to carry the presence of God on “ox carts”—human substitutes that can never sustain His glory. Instead of cultivating intimacy with the Spirit, they rely on worldly means like pornography, entertainment, or unhealthy coping methods to keep their homes together. These ox carts may promise quick fixes, but they only produce emptiness and death, just as Uzzah’s carelessness did.When God’s presence becomes familiar rather than treasured, devotion is emptied of awe—and the blessing that should overflow remains hidden.When we invite the Spirit Himself to manifest in our homes, we experience not just survival but supernatural blessing—the same way Obed-edom’s household flourished for three months simply because the ark rested there, remove the ox carts, and welcome the presence.“above reproach”1 Timothy 3:2-5 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?A man must be “above reproach,” which means knowing both his strengths and his weaknesses. Strengths for the service of the home, used to build up, protect, and bless. Weaknesses, on the other hand, are not to be hidden or denied but brought before God with humility, opening space for teamwork with one’s spouse. The principle applies to both husband and wife: a teachable spirit is vital.When parents model humility by admitting faults, listening to correction, and growing together, they set the tone for the entire household.Children raised in such an atmosphere learn that growth is normal, repentance is powerful, and love covers imperfections. Instead of cultivating arrogance or def

FlourishVideo intro Flourishing begins with looking back. Stopping to look back reminds you of how far you’ve already come and what God has already done. Choose to bring the promises of God back to your heart so that you can hold on to hope. Hope in the character of God, whose mercies never end and whose steadfast love never fails. God’s faithfulness in the past moves us from grief to hope, from hope to faith, and from faith to flourishing. Flourishing also requires looking forward. The same God who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it. The vision of the future should shape the way we live today, with boldness in the words God has already spoken. Flourishing finally means embracing the spiritual reality of who we are as the Church. We are not just an organization with titles and positions; we are an organism, the living body of Christ, joined together by the Spirit. Our mission is not sustained by strategies but by the joy and power of the Holy Spirit. This is the Father’s heart —that we would not only be His children but also multiply spiritual sons and daughters. You will also flourish in His purpose.A Look to the PastWhile visiting Cusco, I had the opportunity to travel to one of the most beautiful sights, the Montaña de Siete Colores (Rainbow Mountain). It is breathtaking to see. But the challenge is this: the base already sits at about 11,500 feet (3,500 meters), and to reach the top, you must climb another stretch upward until you reach its peak at about 17,060 feet (5,200 meters). Up there, it feels like there is air, but no oxygen.I remember the trek—it was about 3.7 miles (6 kilometers), and it took me nearly three hours. Many times, I wanted to give up. The only way I made it was by stopping once in a while, taking a deep breath, and looking back. When I looked back, I could remind myself how far I had already come. I thought about what the Lord had done in my life, what He had given me, and how He had carried me step by step to that very point. God gives us a vision, a dream, and a purpose. He establishes a perspective in which we must always anchor our identity so that we can move forward. Yet from time to time, it is good to look back, as the prophet said: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope” (Lamentations 3:21). Jeremiah wrote a grief poem that reaches a turning point in verse 21. He deliberately brings back to his heart, as an intentional spiritual discipline, the truth that enables him to hold on to hope. This hope is not rooted in circumstances or in a positive outlook on life, but in the very character of God—because of His unending mercy and His steadfast love (hesed), which we call grace. Lamentations 3:21-24 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:22 The steadfast love (hesed) of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” [חֶסֶד] Hésed is one of the richest terms in the Old Testament. It combines covenant loyalty, steadfast love, mercy, and kindness. It cannot be reduced to mere “love” or “mercy”; it’s God’s committed, faithful love rooted in His covenant promises. That is the closest we have to the word grace in the Old Testament. For Jeremiah, this grief arose in the aftermath of Jerusalem’s destruction in 586 B.C., when the temple was burned, the city walls torn down, and the people carried into exile. However, God’s covenant love endures when everything else has collapsed. God’s mercy is the only foundation for hope. That act of looking back, setting your mind on God’s faithfulness, will give you strength to keep moving forward. And when you do that, your heart moves from grief to hope to faith to boldness and ultimately to flourishing.A Look to the Future The vision of the future should determine our attitude in the present. If you want to achieve something relevant in the future, you are inspired by the testimonies of the past. But if we want something new, we must act boldly with a new attitude for the future. Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. God never intended for us to rely on our church structure, personal charisma, or our natural skills to advance His Kingdom. What brought you here was great, but there is so much more for us ahead. We are called to live a divine purpose— we are chosen by God, filled with His Spirit, and set apart to reveal His glory.Revelation 1:5-6 […] To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. […] Revelation 1:8 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”A Spiritual Reality The Bible defines the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual reality.  We may have experiences with this kingdom here, but its reality is essentially spiritual. God's call to fully flourish is beyond our human capabilities. We weren't meant to achieve it through our own strength or clever strategies. Just as our identity is rooted in the spiritual, so is our mission.“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 we understand who we are—a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation—our perspective shifts. We no longer serve out of obligation or religious habit, but out of identity and purpose. It is time to be bold and audacious with the promises the Lord has already decreed over us. The church is not called to operate like a business or social club, but as a living, Spirit-empowered organism that reveals God’s Kingdom on earth. The church is not merely an organization built around titles, positions, and structures where strength comes from hierarchy, rules, and human systems; rather, it is an organism—the living body of Christ.“For just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12 …), “He is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18 …), and “…the whole body, joined and held together… grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19 …).  In an organization, growth comes from structure, but in an organism, growth comes from life. It's all about health, not rules. Many want the pastor to impose order so the church can grow spiritually. But what we need is the right food, which will bring the appropriate nutrients, that will result in spiritual health and that will flourish in growth. Each member is essential, mutually dependent, and organically connected to Christ the Head. Our identity is not defined by titles but by being brothers and sisters in Christ, joined together by the Spirit, flourishing as every member lives out their God-given function in love. If the success of our work can be attributed merely to strategic systems, then we are no different from any other business. If our fellowship is no more than a social gathering, like a book club, or hobby group, and our message no more than a polished speech, we lack the power that sets the Church apart. In Japan, there are specific places for smokers to gather. In Japan, you cannot smoke on the streets but must use designated smoking areas. You can pass by the place and see that smokers are loudly speaking and sharing common ground. They are isolated from everybodyelse. The church is not called to be "a smoker sect” where only those who practice our rituals feel part of it and welcomed. Jesus did not come to reinforce what already existed—He came to bring a Kingdom not of this world. “My kingdom is not of this world [...]” (John 18:36) In human structures, we find marketing strategies, quality control, and resource management. Planning and governance are essential for sound administration. But the Church is something else—it is not merely an organization, but an organism. Why do we invite you to join us in prayer each semester?  Because the church is not built on human effort, but rather on the power of God. “This is the word of the LORD [...]: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)The Joy of God's purpose There is a deep joy found in serving others. A service done in alignment with the Spirit of God!“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) Zechariah prophesied around 520 B.C., during the Persian period, after the return from Babylonian exile (538 B.C.). The Jewish community was small, discouraged, and surrounded by opposition. The temple—destroyed in 586 B.C.—was only partially rebuilt. Zerubbabel: the governor of Judah, descendant of David, appointed by the Persians to lead the rebuilding project. The people faced external enemies, political pressure, and internal discouragement. The temple’s reconstruction seemed impossible. That’s why our service must flow not from strategy alone, but from the joy and power that come through the Holy Spirit. This joy doesn’t come from simply participating in church activities or fulfilling responsibilities. It comes when we realize that the work we are called to is not natural, but supernatural. It isn’t just about being kind or efficient—it’s about being empowered, a work sustained not by human effort, but by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.Nehemiah 8:10: “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The real work of God needs to be supernatural, heavenly and unusual. Our growth is not a result of having useful structures and good organization.  Our goal is not simply to improve what we do, but to walk in the power of the Spirit—to do it supernaturally, with Heaven’s touch on every step. This is not about songs, skits, small group models, or emotional prog

GrowThe Christian life was never meant to be a performance or a set of rituals. It is first and foremost a relationship — a life lived in communion with a personal God who draws near, speaks, loves, and empowers. To walk in intimacy with God is not a privilege for a few, but the very essence of what it means to be born again.The divine that became Human so we can become divine.Every human being is endowed with a spirit — the very breath of God. It is this spiritual part of our nature that qualifies us for a relationship with Him. Yet, because of the fall, our spirit lost its purpose.Humanity became disconnected from the voice, love, guidance, and presence of God. As a result, people began to live by their own thoughts, feelings, and desires, separated from the life for which they were created.A few weeks ago, a parakeet fell on the playground of our preschool. It was sick, debilitated, and hurt. Initially, we tried to approach the bird, but we were scared and afraid. We couldn’t communicate with the bird for many reasons. The main one is that we are of different natures. A good way for that to happen is if we could become a bird. That is exactly what God did. He became human in Christ Jesus, so we could hear His voice and learn His heart of love for us. And now, through His death and resurrection, whoever believes in Him will have His eternal divine life. That is why we all must be born again.Jesus said,“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-7)To be born of the Spirit is to be awakened to God. Without this new birth, we continue living by physical instincts alone. It doesn’t matter how morally sound someone appears or how religious they may seem — what matters is whether they’ve been spiritually reborn.A necessity of spiritual regeneration wrought by the Spirit, not human effort.What matters is not outward performance, but whether we have received new life in Christ.“born again” (Greek ἄνωθεν á-no-then) means “born from above.” A new beginning and one that comes from God in heaven.Without this new birth, the spirit remains inactive, like a radio that has all the components to receive a signal but stays turned off or is tuned to the wrong frequency.It takes only one act of faith to switch it on and tune it to the waves of God’s voice. Until this decision is made, we cannot move forward in exploring what God has prepared for your life.The insistence on Spirit-birth for salvation is different from any soteriology that religions in the world give. From both Judaism (focused on ancestry and Torah) and Greco-Roman religions (focused on ritual initiation). Jesus was trying to say that to one of the most religious persons at that time, Nicodemus. A Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a member of the Sanhedrin (Supreme Jewish Council).John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.Entrance into God’s kingdom is universally dependent on spiritual rebirth, not ethnicity, status, or religious pedigree.“[...] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in Jesus will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:8-11) For those who have already taken this step, it’s time to develop your relationship with God in the renewed spirit He has given you. In Christ, we have become entirely new.“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) A genuine encounter with Jesus is a spiritual rebirth. And it’s from this place that we can now connect with God, hear His voice, and follow His leading. It is through our spirit that we begin to live a real spiritual life.Time to grow Romans 5:17 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.Many of the problems Christians face stem from relying on the flesh rather than the Spirit.“[...] I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh[...]” (Romans 7:18)You can often sense the difference when speaking with someone who has been born again and someone who has not. The latter has their thoughts revolve only around natural things. Their words lack life. But when you encounter someone who walks closely with God, there is a flow of life in their words and actions — something real, edifying, and full of the Spirit.This is the life God invites us into — one of closeness, where we know Him not from a distance, but His Spirit in our hearts. As we walk with Him, we begin to understand His personal direction for us and live with greater clarity and purpose.Knowing God is not simply part of the Christian life — it is the life we were created for. Eternal life doesn’t begin someday in heaven; it starts now, in the joy of a daily relationship with Him.Knowing God Is Eternal LifeJesus defines eternal life not simply as endless existence but as a quality of relationship with God.It echoes Old Testament covenant language where “knowing God” meant living in covenant fidelity (cf. Jeremiah 31:34: “They shall all know me…”)When Jesus described what it means to live a truly fulfilled life — what He called eternal life — He defined it in a straightforward way:“The eternal life, the life which we are meant to live, is nothing else than to know God.”(John 17:3)Eternal life is not just a promise for the future; it is a present reality. It begins the moment we are born again and start to walk with Him daily. To help us grasp this union with God, picture it like a cake mix. When you combine all the ingredients and place them in the oven, something irreversible happens. The heat causes everything to bind together into a single new creation. Once it’s baked, you can no longer separate the eggs, the milk, or the flour — they’ve been transformed into something entirely new. This is what our union with the Spirit of God is like!Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.Once we are born again, we are no longer separate or able to return to who we were. We have been joined with Him in spirit, and the result is a life that is rich, full, and inseparable from His presence.Once we realize that eternal life begins in the here and now — in knowing God — we naturally move into a life of worship. True worship is not just something we do; it becomes the overflow of the life of God within us.A Purpose-Driven LifeGod’s will is for us to live with deep fulfillment, guided by a clear sense of purpose and the joy that comes from walking in it. This is why discovering your divine calling is so essential.The discovery of that purpose becomes clear when you begin to understand your identity in Christ. But more than understanding it with the mind, it is something confirmed in the spirit. When this spiritual witness is absent, many believers find themselves feeling lost or stuck.“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)Without a sense of divine direction, even sincere Christians may carry a lingering sense of emptiness. Often, this is not because they lack passion, but because they haven’t learned that God has designed a specific, purpose-filled life for them.If you don’t recognize how God has created you to serve and shine, you may spend years chasing after things that never satisfy. But when you walk in your divine calling, there is deep peace and clarity.We’ll explore how to discover and walk in that divine purpose more deeply in the next section. But for now, let this truth settle in your heart:“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)Nothing Can Separate Us from Him“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28–29)No matter how hard people, things, or circumstances might try to separate us, they cannot take us from Christ. Even the devil, with all his demons and schemes, is powerless to remove us from Him. Nothing has the strength to do that.Moreover, as children of God, not even sin can separate us from the resident Spirit. In our weak conscience, we often believe we can only please God by our own strength. However, our confidence in fellowship with God must be grounded solely in the perfect justification accomplished by Christ, and in the reality that He has made us His home in our heart, in our spirit. It is never about what we do or fail to do. Even if we sin or become aware of any sin, this does not frighten the Holy Spirit away from our hearts. Jesus has already dealt with all our sins on the cross. He does not cleanse us in part — He has already done it completely.The foundation of our relationship is based exclusively on what He, the Lamb of God, did at Calvary! The Bible says that what Jesus accomplished is entirely acceptable to God. His sacrifice met God’s highest standards. And based on that, He made us qualified to receive and keep the Holy Spirit.Not only that, but He also made us vessels that are compatible with

Belong(Ephesians 2:19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.Christianity is not a religion—it is a living relationship with the personal God who loved us so much that He came in our direction. Out of His love, He gave His life on the cross so that we could be restored to Him. This is the foundation of all true belonging: knowing that we don’t have to fix or save ourselves, because God Himself has made a way for us.We are a grace-driven, vision-inspired, and spiritually-empowered family, where your gifts are recognized, your faith is strengthened, and your calling begins to take shape. When you belong, you discover that you are not alone—you are joined with others on the same journey, walking out the mission of God together.When you're part of a family, you can recognize each other's voices. Yesterday, at one of our kids' birthday parties, dozens of children were screaming and running around. It was fascinating to see moms and dads turn their heads precisely at the right moment when only their child called for help. Despite many voices screaming simultaneously, parents could clearly distinguish their child's tone. This truly signifies a sense of belonging.Our StoryPastor Raph and Juliana, raised in revival in Brazil, left a thriving ministry to start Vine Church in Fort Myers in 2012 with one LifeGroup of 12 members. Now, the church has grown into hundreds of members meeting in LifeGroups, part of a global family of over 1,400 Vine churches dedicated to making disciples and sharing Christ's love.(1 Peter 2:5) You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.Fuel during TrialsMany brothers and sisters today feel worn down by life. Trials, financial struggles, pressures at home, and the weight of responsibilities can leave us discouraged. Often, the temptation in those moments is to pull back—to step away from church involvement, stop leading a LifeGroup, or slip into passivity as mere attenders. The enemy whispers that rest can be found in withdrawing, becoming inactive, or distracting ourselves from spiritual responsibility. But the truth is the opposite of that.Just this week, my wife—though physically exhausted and emotionally drained—led chapel at Vine Christian Academy. She could have said, “I need a break.” Instead, she gave her heart, and the first thing she shared afterward was, “My heart is so full, happy, and thrilled. Seeing those kids raising their hands and being used by God in their lives really fueled me up.” What looked like another drain on her energy became the very thing that filled her spirit.In the same way, JP went through a week of hardship at work. He came to lead our middle and high school students—kids running around, joking, interrupting him at every turn. But when they responded to the gospel through his life, his words to me were, “I felt so energized, satisfied, purpose fulfilled.”This is the paradox of the Kingdom: strength and joy are not found in withdrawing from God’s house but in pouring ourselves out in His service.  (John 4:34). “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work”Real satisfaction and strength are found when we walk in our divine purpose—when we belong, grow, and flourish in the household of God. The trials may still surround us, but in serving, we encounter the presence of Christ, and His Spirit empowers us with joy that no hardship can steal.Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.Our VisionOur Vision is to be a church of overcomers, where every member is a minister, and every house is an extension of the church, conquering our generation and the next through LifeGroups that multiply.(1 Peter 2:5) You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.We exist to multiply overcoming disciples of Christ.“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)Belonging through ChristAt the very heart of Vine Church is our first and foremost value: Christ. He is not simply the center of our doctrine; He is the foundation and source of our very life. Christianity is not a religion where we attempt to climb our way to heaven through rituals, rites, or good works. Instead, it is the living reality that Jesus came down to us. Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. The ultimatum of God is not “do more to reach Me,” but “see what I have already done for you in Christ.” Because of Him, we no longer stand as isolated individuals trying to earn God’s favor—we belong to a family built on grace.A Relational Household, Not a Religious System.As I reflected on the faces of many young people and beloved brothers and sisters who have passed through our church, I couldn’t help but notice that some are no longer connected—neither to a local church nor to a small group. And I find myself asking: what happened? Why did they drift away?I believe the clue is found in Hebrews 12:1 - 2: Hebrews 12:1–2 “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Many get tired, distracted, or weighed down by life’s struggles, and in that weariness, they step back from the very place where their faith could be renewed. But the Word points us back to where strength and endurance are truly found—fixing our eyes on Jesus.He is the initiator and sustainer of our journey. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever” (Romans 11:36). Our belonging is anchored in Christ Himself, not in our religious performance.We don’t have the strength to hold onto God’s hand on our own. If it depended on us, we would all slip, stumble, and fall away. But the good news of the gospel is that it is He who holds us.“No one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Paul declared, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).Our endurance is not in our own grip but in His grip on us.The moment we take our eyes off of Him, the weights and sins of life pull us down. But when we fix our gaze on Him, we remember: we belong to a God who never lets go, we are part of a family secured by His love, and we can flourish because His grace sustains us.“For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6). To belong to Christ is to belong to His household, His relational family, where grace is greater than sin, where love is greater than shame, and where purpose is greater than any trial we face. In this family, our identity is secured, our calling is awakened, and our lives flourish because they are rooted in Him.Belonging Through LoveIf Christ is our foundation, then love is the language of His family. To belong to God’s household means to belong to a relational family where love is not just spoken but lived out. Christianity is not about climbing toward God through religious works—it is about living in the reality that He came down to us in grace, and that same grace is expressed when we care for one another.At Vine Church, we believe love is both our language and our culture.  Culture is the system of values, practices, and worldviews that shape how people understand life, relate to others, and interpret meaning. It encompasses the visible elements, such as language, as well as the invisible assumptions, beliefs, and norms that influence behavior and interaction. Culture is seen as the form through which meaning is expressed.We walk in empathy and know how to "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Rom 12:15)This is what it means to belong—not to a system, but to a family shaped by grace.We don’t love because we are strong enough; we love because He first loved us “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [...] We love because He first loved us.”(1 John 4:7, 19)What captivates people is not perfection or performance but the atmosphere of acceptance, love, and forgiveness. Belonging here means finding identity in God’s grace and expressing that identity through care. “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:20–23). To belong is to live out this care—joyfully, relationally, and missionally—because God’s family is held together not by rules, but by love and grace.Our cheer is meant to be contagious. Our joy is missional“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so [...] we might live with Him. [...] Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–11)Belonging Means Living as Overcomers in ChristTo belong to God’s family is not only to be loved and cared for—it is also to be empowered to overcome. At Vine Church, we believe that belonging is not passive; it means stepping into the identity God has given us as conquerors in Christ. We are not spectators, but as sons and daughters who share in His victory.Romans 8:35-37 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or dang

Let’s take a minute and look at Matthew 26:8:“And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?’”(Matthew 26:8)This moment happened in Bethany—literally known as the “house of misery.” It was a poor city, and when Mary poured her very expensive perfume on Jesus, people didn’t get it. To them, it felt like a complete waste.But this moment shows us two kinds of people: Judas, who fully represented the world, and the disciples, who were still learning what real devotion looked like.Now, Judas never truly loved Jesus. He never even called Him “Lord.” To Judas, giving anything to Jesus—whether it was money, time, or even a simple cup of water—seemed like a waste. And that’s exactly how the world thinks today. Time spent in church, giving to God, serving others—it all seems like a waste to those who don’t know Jesus.But here’s the thing: what the world sees as waste, Jesus sees as love.Jesus didn’t come to be loved by the world. He came to love the world. So when people look at your decision to serve the Lord—whether that’s leading a group, teaching children, or simply showing up at church—and they think you’re “wasting” your life, just remember: you’re starting to look more like Jesus.He gave everything for us. He poured out His life, and to the world, it seemed foolish. But to Jesus, it was absolutely worth it. He gave Himself without reservation.And that’s what the Gospel leads us into—a vision where Jesus is worth it all. Every sacrifice. Every late night. Every moment we give to Him. Because once we really see His value, there’s no such thing as giving too much.Now back to Mary. When she broke that alabaster jar and poured out the perfume, Jesus didn’t call it a waste. He called it a good work.The disciples didn’t get it at first either. Even they were indignant! They said, “That could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor!” But Jesus was clear: what she did was beautiful. He honored it.This is where things hit close to home—especially for anyone serving in areas like the children’s ministry. How many times have people said, “Wow, you’re so talented, and you’re just… working with kids?” They mean well, but they miss the point. In God’s eyes, there’s nothing “just” about serving His little ones.Look at what Jesus said in Mark 10:13–14:“And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’”(Mark 10:13–14)Jesus was indignant—because His disciples were stopping the kids. These were the future leaders of the church, and Jesus had to correct their mindset right there. Why? Because the way we treat children reveals how well we’ve understood God’s heart.To God, kids aren’t an afterthought. They’re part of the family, part of the Church, and they deserve to be discipled just like adults. It’s why we can’t treat children’s ministry like babysitting. It’s evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual warfare all rolled into one. And it’s so valuable.If you’re someone who’s been pouring your heart into serving children—or in any quiet, behind-the-scenes role—hear this: it is not a waste.In fact, it’s the kind of “waste” Jesus receives as worship.When Mary broke her jar, it wasn’t just perfume—it was a prophetic act. She was pouring out her best, and Jesus received it with joy. And it filled the whole house with fragrance. That’s what true surrender does.“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”(John 12:3)Now here’s the beautiful part: that perfume represents the anointing of God. And just like Mary, we carry that fragrance when we’re willing to be “broken”—when we give up our comfort, our recognition, our need to be seen. The broken vessel is the one God uses most powerfully.That’s the pattern of the Gospel.Jesus didn’t come as a king with crowns and palaces. He came as a servant. He didn’t live like royalty. He served the poor, washed feet, and healed the sick. He didn’t die like a king either. He died like a lamb—silent and sacrificial. But one day, He will return as King of kings.Right now? We’re here to follow His example. We serve, we give, we love. And it may feel like we’re being “wasted,” but that’s how the anointing is released. That’s how eternity is impacted.Don’t ever believe that preaching the Gospel to a child, leading a small group, or investing in someone’s life is a waste. That’s the kind of thing God counts—and remembers.Jesus said:“Whoever loses their life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”(Mark 8:35)Giving up our lives—our comfort, our time, our desire to be noticed—that’s what real discipleship looks like. And it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being available. God’s power flows through those who say, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”So, are you willing?Are you ready to waste your life for the sake of the Gospel, like Mary did?Because what looked like a waste to the world is still being talked about over 2,000 years later. That act of worship didn’t fade. It made history in the Kingdom of God.Let that be you.Serve the Lord with joy, knowing He sees it all. Every child you speak to. Every late-night lesson you plan. Every prayer you whisper when no one’s watching. It all matters.Let’s be the ones who give our very best—our most valuable perfume—to the One who gave everything for us.And let the fragrance of that sacrifice fill the house.Amen.

True Wealth I have a word from Jesus especially for you. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:23–26) Many scholars believe the “eye of the needle” referred to a small door in the city gate—impossible for a camel to pass through unless it was stripped of all baggage. This image is tied to the story of the rich young ruler, who walked away from Jesus’ invitation with a heavy heart because he clung tightly to his wealth (Matthew 19:21–22). Jesus offered him something perfect—teleios—meaning complete, mature, and whole. It was a call to trade earthly treasure for eternal purpose. Sadly, the young man missed it. Peter, a fisherman, saw what he couldn’t: the incomparable value of following Jesus. True prosperity can only be that which is eternal. Many people struggle to recognize spiritual wealth because they measure life only by what is seen. But being part of God’s eternal purpose is what gives life its deepest meaning. Without this, life feels empty—even cruel—as we build and accumulate only to leave everything behind one day. Some find comfort in thinking they’re leaving something for their descendants. Yet, without the perspective of eternity, that comfort is shallow. The truth is that in Christ, we’ve already passed from death into life. God has placed eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and nothing He does is wasted—everything He makes lasts forever. God has designed a way for you to prosper on earth and in eternity. Everything He gives begins as a seed. You, too, are the result of a seed. When you discern and sow eternal seeds, you walk in true, lasting prosperity. 1. Identify Eternal Seeds Galatians 6:8 reminds us that what we sow to the flesh perishes, but what we sow to the Spirit reaps eternal life. The church, as Christ’s body, is an eternal work. When you give generously and do good, God is glorified through you (2 Corinthians 9:10–11). Your actions echo into eternity. 2. Find Joy in Sowing Never underestimate the power of joy. It fuels your ability to sow well. Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24). Joy comes not only from receiving but from recognizing the privilege of participating in God’s purpose—even before the results appear. Abraham saw Christ’s day and rejoiced (John 8:56). So can you. 3. Understand the Purpose of the Increase God gives seed to the sower and multiplies the fruit of our righteousness—Christ in us. Our generosity results in thanksgiving to God and meets the needs of others (2 Corinthians 9:11–12). When our prosperity glorifies God, it fulfills its true purpose. 4. Connect Your Business to Eternity Never separate your business, assets, or career from God’s eternal purpose. Jesus warned of the man who stored up for himself but was not rich toward God (Luke 12:20–21). When everything you do on earth is connected to God’s Kingdom, it gains eternal value. Being a faithful tither and generous giver is a powerful way to do that. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). I prophesy that you will prosper supernaturally. This year, God will give you abundant opportunities to sow, and next year, you will see a harvest like never before. Let God transform your reality and lead you into a life of abundance, filled with joy and eternal purpose. — Pastor Cristian Gimenez

Testimony of Provision by Pastor Isaias Sardinha - Brazil

Transcript:Hallelujah. I want to share with you tonight, going straight into my word about rest. I want to take you from a place of rest to restitution. I don't know if the guys have a few slides I gave them. Tyler is a bit late, but we're gonna be talking here. I want to show you that restitution is God's promise for each one of us.He hasn't forgotten about you. Don't worry. Amen. But the key to get restitution is to enter the rest. So when we rest, we get restituted. Are you seeing my play on words here? And so we don't get restituted by trying, by, struggling by, um, you know, uh, using our own effort. We get restituted when we rest in the work of Christ, when we look to what he's done rather to what we've done.And just to remind you, I'm giving you an introduction and then I'm gonna give you five quick signs to see if you are at rest. So you'll be able to see if you are in the right place tonight. Amen. But just to remind us to lay a foundation, there's three things we've been learning about restitution up until now.First of all, we've learned that it is the heart of the gospel. Uh, God wants to rest his people, not because we deserve it, but because he's such a good and loving, and caring and wonderful God. Thank you for your amen. And there are so many stories in the Bible. Is everybody understanding my English? Give me a wave or a thumbs up, or, you know, have mercy.No. So I think most people are understanding everybody else has got, uh, earphones. Is that right? Okay. So there are many stories in the scripture that show the principle of restitution. One of them that came to my mind earlier is the story of Naiman. Naman, as you remember, had leprosy a terrible disease that literally made his skin and his flesh grow old and become insensitive and even fall from his body.Terrible thing. You remember the story. He was healed when he dipped seven times in. Jordan in Israel, who remembers that story. But what's interesting, the Bible doesn't say that he was just healed, but that when he came out of the water, his skin was like a baby child. So in other words, it was more than a healing.It was a miracle because God rero the clock to give him skin as if he was just a baby boy. That's restitution. He got much more than what Healing said he got. Uh, 10 times more, seven times more. You understanding the principle? Think of Joseph now. A great story too. He started off in his father Jacob's house as the favorite son.He went through all that trouble because his brothers betrayed him because Potiphar's wife falsely accused him and he passed through 13 years of suffering. In prisons and as a slave. But at the end of it, he wasn't restored to Jacob's house. He was restituted to Pharaoh's house. He didn't just become Jacob's favorite son.He became the most powerful man on the face of the Earth's favorite son, Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Are you hearing what I'm saying? So you can see restitution is more than just being restored to your former place. We have all sinned and fallen from the glory or the standards of God. That's what scripture says, but in the salvation package in Christ Jesus, he doesn't just take us back to our former position in Adam before we fell.He actually takes us to a much higher place and puts us now in Christ Jesus, not in the Garden of Eden, but in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. Adam. Remember he had the glory of God in him, but we, excuse me, upon him to cover him, but we have the glory of God in in us. Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening.We walk with God 24 hours a day. Adam had God come and visit him. We now have God dwelling in us. Adam could always make a mistake and fall. We may fall, but we can never now be detached or thrown out of the presence of God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. Our position is far greater, far superior than Adam's.That's restitution. So restitution means that your future is so much better than your past. I don't know what your past was, but I'm here to say God in his glory, in his goodness, wants to do wonderful things for you. I was just meditating during the worship time, as we do, as our minds are flooded with the high thoughts of heaven.I. And it was as if I could see the father and the son and the spirit planning out mankind and, oh, remember, they can't be surprised by anything. Satan is far beneath their feet. I believe that they created us with this enormous heart to see us have the most glorious, glorious life. Because they are glorious, glorious beings.Oh, with what joy they made us. Oh, with what joy they redeemed us. And now will ute us say amen. So some of the scriptures, we've based this message restitution on Joel chapter 2 25. Pastor Ralph spoke about it yesterday. I will repay you for the lo. The years the locusts have eaten. You will have plenty to eat until you are full.Who likes to eat until they're half full? So we're not talking about survival here. We're talking about abundance here. Amen. Another great scripture, instead of your shame, you shall have double honor and one of the most extraordinary ones under the law, Exodus 22 and one, if anyone steals your ox or sheep, he shall have to repay five oxen for one and four sheep for one sheep.So you lose one sheep, but you get four back. That's restitution. Now when you know that God watches over his word to perform it, if you, if you go through a time of loss or of problems, you don't panic anymore, you know that God is setting you up for much more blessing in the future. So rejoice in your trials and your tribulations when things go wrong, uh, say to your wife, say to your kids, get ready.Get ready. Get ready. God's got something good for us. Something much better than we ever had before. Hallelujah. Now, just remember this, that there is a basis for this restitution. It's not just positive thinking. It's not just a nice way to encourage people. You see, restitution is based, it has a foundation on the work of Jesus Christ.One of the greatest revelations that Paul says so succinctly in the book of Romans is that we're sin abounds. Grace abounds so much more, or as one translation says, it's super abounds. So, in other words, gr sin put us into debt, but God's grace doesn't just pay the debt. It leaves us in credit. Are you following?We are not just forgiven sinners. We're not just people with quitted debts. We are a new creation in the image of Christ Jesus. A glorious new being here on planet Earth that has never existed before. Eternal reflecting the glory, filled with the glory and destined for glory. Say amen. Remember again, the basis of the gospel.This is Paul in Romans four and five, but to him who does not work but believes on him, who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. The word accounted. There literally is an expression that accountants use and you know, accountants, they have a, on the left hand side of the page, your debits, your outgoings, and then on the right side your incomings.So Paul here is talking literally in legal financial language. He's saying, look, you might have got all this debt, but into the entrance, the incoming, the income is so much more. Well, why is that? I'll tell you why. Because the blood of Jesus is much more valuable than all the sins of the whole world.Hallelujah. You understand, you've been purchased, you've been redeemed. A price has been paid for you more than your debts to give you credit for the whole of eternity. Say Hallelujah, somebody today. So that gives us faith, doesn't it? To believe for good things. Now, the second thing we learned about restitution is this.We don't need to struggle to get ahead. We don't need to struggle to be restituted. In fact, the gospel message shows us that we are inserted into a finished work. I'm moving quickly today 'cause I've got a short time. If you, you see, the Garden of Eden represents Jesus Christ. Remember the word Eden means delights.It's the place of delights. Jesus Christ is the delight and the desire of our hearts. Say, amen. If you remember, God made the world in six days. He made the world and only at the end of making all things did he make, man. Why is that? Because all things were made for man. When everything was ready, he made, man, he saw that all things were good.But when he saw, when he made man, he saw all things were now very good or completed total satisfaction, and therefore he stopped working and he rested on the seventh day. Say Amen. Hallelujah. Like an artist who finished his painting. He finally sits down and rests. Then he takes, man, you can all read all about it in Genesis chapter two, and he places man into Eden.Okay? He placed him into a finished work man. Didn't need to sweat to get Eden functioning. Man wasn't made and then put into a factory. He was put into a garden, a place of rest, a place of delights, of aromas, of flowers and of beauty. Say amen. So the last day of God was the first day of man. God's day of rest was what Adam was inserted into.Who's following the principle Now you know the story. Adam sinned and because he's sinned in a sense, God had to get up from his rest and work again. To redeem, man, it took a lot more than six days. It actually took thousands of years for God to produce of people into which he could bring his son to be a messiah, a redeemer for the world.It took words to create the world, but it took blood to redeem us. Say Amen, somebody. Hallelujah. So God worked. Jesus said, I must work. My father is working. I must work. But there on the cross, he finished his work and that's why he declared it is finished. Hallelujah. And now we read in scripture that because of that.He has sat down. Listen to what the scripture says in Hebrews chapter one and three. When he had purchased, or excuse me, when he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. When did he sit down? When he had purged us from our sins. Hebrews follows that on from that time

Life-proven faithLife has a way of testing what we claim to believe. It’s easy to say, “I trust God,” when the bank account is full, the doctor gives a clean bill of health, and relationships are at peace. But real faith—life-proven faith—is not shaped in comfort; it is forged in adversity. Genuine faith reveals itself not by words alone but by endurance through hardship.There’s a company called Lifetime that built its reputation on one promise: its products are guaranteed for life. Buy one of their chairs, tables, or coolers, and no matter how much wear and tear it goes through, they back it up. Why? Because they are so confident in the quality of what they’ve made. That “lifetime warranty” is their way of saying, “We know this will endure.”Now imagine if our faith came with a label like that. Could we honestly say our trust in Christ is “lifetime guaranteed”? Does it endure through the wear and tear of trials, suffering, disappointment, and even temptation? Or is it only strong when life is easy?Fire doesn’t destroy the gold; it removes the impurities. In the same way, the tests of life do not ruin true faith—they reveal its purity. Life-proven faith is a faith that has been tried, stretched, and pressed, and yet comes forth more resilient, more obedient, and more deeply anchored in Christ.Today, the call is to examine ourselves, to embrace restoration through the truth and prayer, and to walk in the grace and fellowship of God.2 Corinthians 13:1-4 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.Paul planted the church at Corinth on his first visit (Acts 18:1–18). He stayed about 18 months. His second visit was brief and painful (2 Cor 2:1), where he confronted sin directly but left quickly to avoid further conflict. His third visit was planned (2 Cor 12:14; 13:1) to deal decisively with unresolved sin and rebellion. Thus, 2 Corinthians 13:1 anticipates this third arrival, where he would not hesitate to correct the brothers.The Corinthians struggled with divisions and pride (1 Cor 1–3), sexual immorality (1 Cor 5–6; 2 Cor 12:21), idolatry and worldliness (1 Cor 8–10), disorder (1 Cor 11, 14), and doubt about the apostolic authority (2 Cor 10–12).That is why Paul speaks so firmly about the test of faith. He had already warned them. He knew the danger—that many can profess Christ outwardly while the inward reality is missing. So he calls them, and us, to take the test: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith."The testPaul reminds the Corinthians that Christ was “crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God” (v. 4).The cross looked like total defeat, yet it became the greatest victory. Christ’s weakness became the channel of resurrection power. This paradox sets the model for us: God’s power shines most clearly when we feel weakest.When life leaves us feeling powerless—whether through sickness, broken relationships, or discouragement—that is precisely where Christ’s power can be displayed.A life-proven faith doesn’t mean we never doubt or struggle, but that underneath it all, we still hope in Christ.“Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test” (v. 5). Genuine, life-approved faith always perseveres in hope because Christ Himself sustains it.Hebrews 11:1—“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”Hope fuels faith.Without hope, there is no faith. When someone says, “I’ve lost hope,” they are in danger of losing the very soil in which faith grows.This is why I told a chronically sick person and a desperate wife, “Do not lose hope.”Because where hope dies, faith cannot take root.Jesus says again and again, the condition for miracles is: Your faith has made you well.” Jesus told the woman healed after twelve years of bleeding, Mark 5:34 “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”Her faith was simply hope in action—reaching out through weakness to touch Jesus.When Jesus told the Samaritan leper, (Luke 17:19). “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well”Wholeness is more than physical healing—it is the saving power of faith that clings only to Him. All ten lepers were cleansed, but only one returned in gratitude, showing that real, life-proven faith does not stop at receiving blessings but rises to embrace the Giver, walks forward in freedom, and lives transformed by thanksgiving.Romans 5:3–5 – “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.”Therefore, our trials are not meant to destroy our hope, but are intended to refine it and guide it toward the right target. Christ Jesus.2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!This week I went to the doctor for some routine lab work. You know how it goes—they draw blood, maybe ask for other samples, and then send it all off to the lab. And let’s be honest, it’s not fun. The needle stings, the process can be awkward or even embarrassing. However, the truth is that those tests are not our enemy. They reveal what’s hidden inside. On the outside, I might look healthy, I might even feel fine, but the real story can only be told when the tests reveal what’s going on beneath the surface. Just because we look good on the outside—attend church, say the right words, keep up appearances—doesn’t mean our spiritual health is strong. It takes examination, sometimes painful and uncomfortable, to reveal what’s really inside. Tests are meant to give us a way back to health, God’s call to examine our faith is meant to bring us to restoration, not condemnation.What does it mean to “examine yourselves” in faith?It is not about doubting salvation. It is about testing authenticity.The verb (πειράζω - pairá-dzô, “test, try”) implies a careful evaluation: Is Christ truly dwelling in you? It is a test of what, on whom, and on which you trust during times of weakness. Remember that weaknesses can be within you, but they can also be caused by circumstances beyond your control, regardless of your cleverness, experience, and intelligence. They are experiences that reveal our powerlessness. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.It is a test of “Who will you call in times of weakness?"Romans 8:24-26 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.Faith must be tested to be solely rooted in God’s grace. If that happens, restoration has a way. That is why we must face the truth, as painful as it may be. Only Truth leads to Restoration2 Corinthians 13:7-10 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.The point is not to prove yourself right or to appear strong, but to have our faith aligned with God’s truth. Truth isn’t flexible—it is the plumb line against which our lives and our church are measured. Jesus prayed, John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.Sanctification or transformation doesn’t happen when we keep making excuses or trying to justify ourselves—it happens when we stop, stand against the line of truth, and admit where we are crooked. God doesn’t use truth to shame us but to sanctify us—to set us straight, to make us strong, and to keep us from collapsing.God is not interested in whether we feel better, but in leading us into genuine restoration. Distractions and hobbies might soothe for the moment, but they never really heal, restore and fix the problem.Any restoration that is not grounded in truth is just a cover-up.Many therapists practice what’s called affirmative therapy—they tell their patients exactly what they want to hear, affirming their desires or identities even if those desires are self-destructive. The therapist may make someone feel accepted, but if that acceptance agrees with what is false, it is not restoration at all—it is just reinforcing the problem. In fact, it can ultimately consume and destroy a person’s life.2 Timothy 4:3–4 – “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their

Undivided 2 Corinthians 11Paul is in the final strokes of penning the letters to the Corinthians. He wants them to know how much he deeply cares for them. He is trying to defend them from false teachers and preachers. He is zealous for the gospel and the genuineness of the ministry.2 Corinthians 10:17-18 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.Our boasting should be only in knowing God.Jeremiah 9:23-24 23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”He tried every tone in this letter. Affectionate / Pastoral. Transparent and deeply human, he calls them his “beloved” repeatedly. Defensive / Apologetic, almost lawyer-like at points—answering charges against him. Severe / Corrective sharp, even biting at times. Finally, he employs irony to highlight and underscore the absurdity of the Corinthians tolerating false teachers.2 Corinthians 11:1-6 1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! Love defendsI mentor India's pastors weekly in early morning sessions, covering parenting, relationships, finances, and family principles. Last week, I discussed the role of a godly father and husband, highlighting three Ps from 1 Timothy 3:2-5: prayer (Priest) , provision (Provider), and protection (Protector). Paul, as a spiritual father, defends his children and talks about his role as a protector.2 Corinthians 11:2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.What did “betrothal” mean in the context? In Jewish law, betrothal was a legally binding contract, stronger than our modern “engagement.”A woman was already considered her husband’s, though the marriage was not consummated until the wedding. Breaking a betrothal required divorce (cf. Joseph and Mary, Matt. 1:18–19).Here in 2 Corinthians, the reference is the New Covenant betrothal. It is the unilateral approach of God in His grace and steadfast love towards us.Hosea 2:19-20 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.The father was responsible for presenting his daughter as a pure virgin to the groom. Paul, as a “spiritual father,” says he “betrothed” the Corinthians to Christ, their one true Husband (11:2).A Diamond of DevotionBetrothal to Christ means undivided devotion.What is devotion?Just this week, The New York Times ran a story about a woman named Micherre Fox who camped out at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.For three weeks, she dug through the dirt. She endured bug bites, hiked in worn, tattered boots, and even had her tools stolen. But she didn’t give up.On her final day, she saw what looked like a drop of dew on the ground. But it wasn’t dew—it was a 2.3-carat diamond, one of the largest found at the park this year. She named it after her fiancé, saying, “I hunted this for you.”Love is proven by perseverance through hardship, all for the beloved. Our perseverance through trials, temptations, and deceptions is devotion to Christ, our Bridegroom. On the day we meet Him, it won’t be a diamond we lay at His feet, but a life of faithful, undivided love in response to the marriage feast entrance he will welcome us in.Matthew 25:6 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’Matthew 25:10 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.As the serpent deceived Eve2 Corinthians 10:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.“Someone once joked that when God created Adam and Eve, He offered them two gifts. ‘I’ll take the fun one!’ Before God finished explaining, let’s say that Adam picked something very entertaining. And off he went, running around the Garden like a child with a new toy, making fountains everywhere. Watering every tree of the garden is like marking territory.Eve just looked at him, then looked at God and asked, ‘Sorry for that, God, but what was the other option?’ God said, ‘Brains, Eve. Brains…’”So, before accusing Paul of being a male chauvinist, remember you can only deceive someone who thinks and reasons.Genesis 3 shows the serpent didn’t force Eve into sin—he whispered lies that distorted God’s truth. The devil's method is subtle, sounding reasonable, and partly true.False teaching usually doesn’t start with a full denial of Christ; it begins by adding a little, softening a little, or changing the focus from Christ to ourselves. From Christ to our mistakes. From Christ to our achievements. From Christ to others’ mistakes and successes.It begins with distorted thinking: “Did God really say…?” (Gen 3:1). Is God actually that good?It recalls the warfare mentioned in Chapter 10. 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”How can you be pure in your thought life? By being sincere with God with every thought. Learning to bring them constantly to dwell on the truth. (Philippians 4:8). Learn to pray about everything. Bring it all to God.Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.The mind is the gateway of devotion; therefore, deception begins in what we believe. Wrong thinking about God leads to divided affections and compromised obedience.1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.Guarding our minds and hearts from what?The tolerance of the distorted mixed gospels. That is prosperity messages without the principle of sowing. Moralism and discipline that are empty of passionate devotion. Spiritual sensationalism without the reality of the manifested presence of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.Paul stresses, in a tone that mixes irony and rebuke, counterfeit versions of Jesus, Spirit, and gospel.“When my wife and I first moved from Brazil to Florida, everything was new. We had left behind our family, our friends, our whole life. I wanted to give my wife some joy in the middle of so many changes. We had our two little boys with us, and I thought, what could be better than a day at Disney? However, I could never afford those tickets at the time.As we walked through a plaza, a man stopped us: ‘Free Disney tickets—just come to a short presentation.’ It sounded like a gift from God. But that ‘short presentation’ turned into high-pressure sales for something I didn’t want and couldn’t afford. Still, they gave me a voucher and told me to pick up our tickets at another store.At the store, the deal changed again. The tickets weren’t free—they were “discounted.” And then the seller added a game: ‘If you can make three basketball shots, I’ll give you an even bigger discount.’ I tried. I missed. I was tired. My wife was frustrated. The boys were restless. So I paid, determined to get in.By the time we reached Disney, half the day was gone. We handed over our tickets, and the attendant shook his head: ‘I’m sorry. These tickets have already been used. They’re no good.’ My heart sank. I wanted to bless my family, and we had been scammed. When I went back to the store, it was completely changed. Different people, different decorations—like it had never existed.”Please do not be spiritually scammed—trading the real Jesus, the true Spirit, and the authentic gospel for polished counterfeits. On the surface, it looks convincing, it sounds good, but in the end, it leaves you empty, disappointed, and robbed of what you hoped for. Don’t fall for counterfeits.Only the true Jesus, the true Spirit, and the true gospel have the power to save.Counterfeit money looks real but is worthless. But it is way deeper than a momentary loss. It can be devastating to your faith permanently.Fake medicine promises healing but brings harm. It can kill you.Plastic, Waxed or real fruits?God is calling us to authenticity. And in a world that puts pressure on appearances, our gatherings can be solely for the selfies and posts. In that case, it misses the whole point.How many of us are doing ministry, activities, programs and spinning the wheel just because we have to keep the appearance, the show, the image?Have you ever walked into a decoration store and seen bowls of shiny, colorful plastic fruit? They look so real, you almost want to grab one and take a bite. But they’re empty. They can’t nourish, strengthen, or satisfy. They only give the appearance

Endorsed from Above2 Corinthians 10:1-6 1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.The Reality of Spiritual WarfareThere is an invisible warfare happening behind what our natural eyes can see — a battle to conquer minds by deceiving opinions and doubts. And because it is spiritual, there is no conversation or talk that has the power to overcome those sudden destructive and deceptive opinions.Have you ever found yourself wrestling with ideas or attitudes that seem bigger than your own willpower to change?Just as you cannot fight a virus with a sword, you cannot dismantle a demonic attack with mere human debate; it requires the truth of God’s Word empowered by the Spirit.Sometimes, these deceiving thoughts are opinions about the very person God placed in your life to bless and protect you. The devil wants to convince you to be alone. And there he can easily lie, steal and destroy.Why do some struggles in life feel deeper than mere personality clashes or human misunderstanding?Suppose you try to chop down a massive oak tree with a pocketknife. I guarantee that you will barely scratch the bark. But with a chainsaw, in minutes, the tree falls. As a pastor, husband, and father, I always ask for God’s wisdom because my cleverness is like a pocketknife in spiritual warfare for our church, my marriage and family.What to do then? Armor yourself with the right weapons.Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,Could it be that the real battle is not against people at all, but against beliefs, values, and spiritual forces behind them?A firefighter doesn’t use a garden hose to stop a forest wildfire; they use high-pressure hoses, flame-retardant gear, and the right weapons. In spiritual battles, our human strategies are as useless as a garden hose against the flaming darts of the devil. God’s Word, prayer, and the Spirit’s power are the only effective tools.If the nature of the war is spiritual, then the weapons must also be spiritual. Our aim must be the destruction of falsehood and disobedience, not to shame and destroy our brother or sister.Every rebellious thought is like a rebellious captive enemy. Then, we must disarm them and bring them under Christ’s command, ensuring no “roaming insurgents” in the mind.Allow the Holy Spirit to show you one belief, habit, or opinion in your life that resists God’s truth, and bring it before Christ in repentance and surrender this week.Will you allow your own thoughts to be taken captive by Christ?I am thinking of you, but I am also thinking of your part in the body of Christ. It is the beginning of the Lifegroup season—a season of evangelism and growth. I know many of you are being under attack. Wondering if you will be able to lead again. A single soldier who refuses to follow the commander’s orders endangers the entire unit.Today, choose to take your place in the spiritual battle God has called us to and empowered us to win.The right timingA crucial element of effective warfare is timing. Without knowing when to defend and when to attack, a war can last longer than necessary.The problem, however, is that most of us do not respect the timing. Some are so slow to confront the real issue, and others are in haste to demand the right answers from others. The result is more hurt than solution.A surgeon waits until the patient is stable before removing a dangerous tumor — ensuring the procedure will help rather than harm. Paul waits until the church’s obedience is established before confronting the remaining disobedience, so that discipline strengthens the body rather than dividing it.However, the longer a thought, habit, or ideology remains unchallenged by the Scripture, the deeper its roots grow.In the ancient world, a stronghold was a heavily fortified tower or city, often built into high cliffs, designed to be impenetrable. Without the right weapons, it was impossible to break in. False ideas and rebellious attitudes can be like mental fortresses — defended by pride, tradition, or deceit. Only God’s truth can tear them down.A couple of weeks ago, a sister approached me feeling very confused after being overwhelmed by a series of YouTube recommended videos that challenged her faith by comparing it with other false religions. The videos raised questions about the church, its history, and the atrocities committed during the medieval period. Her state of confusion seemed unresolvable unless she dared to compare her thoughts and opinions with what the Word of the Lord says. I suggested she read Romans, especially Romans chapter 12.Romans 12:1-2 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.The trap of ComparisonCould it be that comparison is not just an innocent habit, but a spiritual battle in disguise? When was the last time you caught yourself thinking, “I wish I were more like them”? How do you usually feel after you’ve spent time comparing yourself to someone else?2 Corinthians 10:7-12 7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.The Corinthians were falling into lies and the devil’s snares because they judged by external appearances. They foolishly engaged in comparing, boasting, and self-praise. NIV 2 Corinthians 10:12 12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.Isn’t this the very reality of gossip magazines and the new social media celebrities? May our ground of boasting and pride be based on Christ’s ownership and authority. Let’s stand on how much God is using us to build others up.Here is a key.Usually, the devil’s approach involves asking a question, while God’s truth comes with an affirmation.From the very beginning, the devil’s primary weapon has been the question mark. In Genesis 3:1, the serpent doesn’t launch a direct assault on God’s character — he plants doubt with a question: “Did God actually say…?” “Did He really?” or “Are you sure?” When we are framed in doubt, it undermines faith and invites second-guessing.Genesis 3:1 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.In contrast, Jesus speaks with affirmation and certainty. Over and over in the Gospels, He uses the phrase “Truly, truly, I say to you…” John 5:24 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.I am not saying that God may not ask us questions, but they lead to truth, freedom, and life. In contrast, the devil’s questions lead to confusion and condemnation.ApplicationIn a marriage disagreement, speak from your own feelings and interpretations — not as an accuser. Avoid sarcasm or mockery, doubting, or offensive questioning about your spouse’s behavior or motives.Ephesians 4:29 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.The husband comes home late from work, leaving the wife feeling hurt and overlooked.Wife: “So, were you out having such a great time at work that you forgot you have a family?”Husband: “Oh, here we go again — you always think the worst of me.”Wife: “Well, if you actually cared, you’d make it home on time once in a while.”Husband: “Why do I even bother working hard for this family if this is what I get when I walk in the door?”Instead of: “Why do you always…?”Say: “W

Overflow of many thanksgivings.2 Corinthians 9:1-5 (ESV) 1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.Since Acts 15, Paul has had a mission. He aims to demonstrate to the apostolic church in Jerusalem that the Gentiles are theologically worthy of the gospel of Christ and demonstrate their responsiveness to it through practical generosity.I understand that the topic of generosity makes many people uncomfortable. But that is exactly why we need to bring it up more often. That is a common thing Jesus did, and the apostles did the same because ultimately, where your money is, is where your heart is.Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.For Paul, boasting is not about self-glorification but about giving testimony to God’s work. Some pride can come from showing off your victories in the Lord. In that case, it is not truly your victory; it is His victory, and therefore it is His glory. But the boasting belongs to us. The goal is to become a display for God’s glory not only for our generation, but for generations to come.Psalms 145:4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.Psalms 145:6-9 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.Psalms 145:12-13 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]For Paul, the Corinthians were a prize to show to others and to inspire them.It is like a father who never won a sports game but always shows off to everybody the family champion child.In Paul's case, his boasting about the commitment of the Corinthians could prove to be a shame. The reason was the carnality of that church.Divisions and quarrels over human leadership preferences (1 Cor. 1:10–12), pride in worldly wisdom (1 Cor. 3:1–4), tolerance of gross immorality (1 Cor. 5:1–2), lawsuits among believers (1 Cor. 6:1–8), and misuse of Christian freedom leading to stumbling others (1 Cor. 8:9–13). Disregard for the poor (1 Cor. 11:17–22), boasted in spiritual gifts while lacking love (1 Cor. 12–14). Some doubted the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12). In 2 Corinthians, their carnality was evident in questioning the gospel authority. (2 Cor. 10:10) They succumbed to false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13, 15) and now fail to follow through on their promised generosity (2 Cor. 9:1, 5).The Readiness that inspires others should be sustained with Integrity for faithful witnessing.It is time to put your wallet where your mouth is, to act on your commitments, and to live out what you've preached. Do you remember your beginning of the year resolutions? I don’t. But, I want to respond to God’s opportunities on a new level.The words and promises of the people in Corinth vv. 2 " ... have stirred up most of "the Macedonians. The financial support for Jerusalem saints demonstrates unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians. The Corinthians’ willingness served both as encouragement and as a form of accountability.Have you ever tried to encourage your little child to greet your house guests respectfully? You rehearsed with them, but during the guest's visit, they disappointed you by not waving as you had trained them to do. So Paul sent some of his assistants to prepare the Corinthians regarding the offering.That teaches us that the best way to give is not under emotional impulse or haste, but to commit with preparation and anticipation. It is the beginning of the semester. Have you talked with your children and spouse about your commitment, the next step, and the next spiritual growth level as a family? For many years, I was a teacher. While most people are traveling and disconnecting during summer, teachers plan. Why? Because they want to move their students from one academic level to another. What is the spiritual level you wish to get to with your family?(Luke 14:28, ESV) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?(Luke 14:31, ESV) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?Imagine inviting guests to a dinner, boasting your preparations, and offering them nothing when they arrive. The shame parallels Paul's risk if the Corinthians failed to prepare their gift.It is a matter of sowing.2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.In the Bible, giving is much more a matter of proportion than quantity. The instruction is unequivocal: "each one must give". It doesn't matter the amount; it matters the decision of your heart. The amplified version says:Let each one give thoughtfully and purposefully, just as he has decided in his heart, not under compulsion.In Mark 12, Jesus praised a poor widow who gave two tiny coins—worth 1/8 of a cent—because she gave all she had, unlike the wealthy who gave out of abundance.A little boy once planted three sunflower seeds in his backyard. When his mom asked why only three, he said, “Well, I want to keep the rest safe in the packet, just in case.” Weeks later, he ran out to check, and only three tiny sprouts were pushing through the soil. He looked disappointed and said, “I thought I’d have a whole field!” His mom smiled and replied, “Son, you can’t expect a harvest from seeds that never left the packet.”Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.This principle is all over the Word of God. God rewards those who act generously toward those from whom they cannot receive anything back.Luke 14:12-14 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”The math logic of God is that when you give freely, you are not wasting or spending; you are investing. Consequently, you are preparing for a plentiful harvest. Jesus said, "When you give to the one who cannot repay you, you will be blessed." Do you believe that?all sufficiency in all things at all times2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.Sufficiency (αὐτάρκης - austárkia): independence from want, spiritual contentment. Often, we equate “sufficiency” with financial independence, but in Paul’s world, αὐτάρκης was a virtue meaning contentment regardless of circumstances—a fruit of God’s grace, not human self-sufficiency. It comes from within — a mind that remained unshaken by poverty, pain, or fortune.Paul’s idea of sufficiency was: “I have no lack, for God makes His grace abound to me.”Philippians 4:11-13 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Understand that the source of all good things is God. He supplies in abundance so that we can abound in every good work. Abound: appears twice, indicating an overflow of both grace and works.Then Paul quoted Psalm 112.Psalms 112:1-3 1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.Psalms 112:9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.A man once complained to his pastor, “I don’t think I have enough. My car is old, my house is small, and my neighbors all seem to have more.”The pastor grinned and asked, “Do you have food in your fridge?”“Yes.”“Clothes to wear?”“Yes.”“A roof over your head?”“Yes.”“Then,” the pastor said, “congratulations—you’re already richer than 75% of the world!”“I guess I’ve been measuring with the wrong ruler.”Overflow of thanksgivingThe concept of overflow/abound occurs 7 times.The concept of overflow/abound occurs 7 times in 2 Corinthians (1:5; 3:9; 4:15; 8:2; 8:7; 9:8; 9:12).Paul uses it to describe:Abundance of suffering and comfort in Christ.The surpassing glory of the new covenant.Grace is spreading to more people.Joy and generosity despite poverty.Excelling in faith, knowledge, and giving.God’s grace supplies sufficiency for ev

Overflow in a wealth of generosity2 Corinthians 8:1-7 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.Joy from the Lord, not circumstancesThe Macedonian church learned the lesson of chapter 7.2 Corinthians 7:4 […] In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.The phrase “extreme poverty” in 2 Corinthians 8 reflects actual material hardship, not just a rhetorical device.Acts 16–17 records the imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi and riots in Thessalonica (Cities of Macedonia). That shows Christians in Macedonia suffered economic marginalization and social exclusion, making their generosity even more astonishing. Their giving came not from stability, but from affliction and opposition.Their joy is based not on the circumstances. How?Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Greco-Roman society operated on patron-client systems. Giving was usually tied to reciprocity—gifts were given with the expectation of return. The Macedonian Christians broke this norm. In a world where generosity came with strings, the Macedonian Christians cut the strings. They gave not to be seen, not to secure influence, but because grace had already been given to them. They did not give to get—they gave because they had already received something far greater than money: new life, eternal hope, and a love that rewrote the rules of the world they lived in.The command of celebrationLet me press on the principle of2 Corinthians 7:4 […] In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. Throughout Scripture, the Lord ordains times and seasons not only for solemn reflection, but also for joyful celebration. God’s people have always been called to mark time with worship and joy. These celebrations are not merely emotional reactions to favorable circumstances. They are invitations to remember who God is and to proclaim what He has done.“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”— Psalm 103:2In the Old Testament, God established feasts such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Booths) as fixed rhythms in the life of His people. “You shall rejoice in your feast…so that you will be altogether joyful” (Deuteronomy 16:13–15)God’s command to rejoice during the Feast of Booths includes all people, regardless of status, fatherless or widow, slave or poor. Whether in plenty or poverty, whether as landowners or sojourners, all were commanded to rejoice.It was an act of faith—testifying not to their conditions, but to their covenant. To rejoice amid affliction was to declare that God’s faithfulness is not seasonal, and His goodness is not situational. It was meant to be a visible proclamation: “Our God reigns. He is our Redeemer. He is our Provider.”Jesus continues this divine rhythm. When the disciples return from ministry filled with awe over ministry victories, He redirects their joy: “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20)So, let’s learn to “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)Constant gratitude, regardless of the situation. Making celebration a language of the redeemed, not because life is easy, but because Christ has already provided.When you choose to rejoice, it is not escapism—it is warfare. It is the declaration that our joy is anchored in a reality far greater than what we see. It is the sound of trust in the midst of trial, the posture of gratitude in the face of grief, and the melody of faith in every season. In many battles Israel faced in the Old Testament, they were ordained to combat first, sending the Levites, the worshipers, the musicians, and to celebrate victory before starting the war. Celebration was Israel’s first strategy, not the last resort.Joshua 6:4–5 — The Battle of Jericho; Judges 7:19–22 — Gideon’s Army. King Jehoshaphat was a descendant of King David, from the tribe of Judah, and began to reign over Judah about 100 years after the death of King David. Jehoshaphat faced a formidable threat when the armies of Moab, Ammon, and some Meunites (associated with Mount Seir, or Edom) formed a large coalition to attack Judah.2 Chronicles 20:21-22 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.When the Judah arrived, they found their enemies completely defeated, with no survivors. Jehoshaphat and his men collected an abundance of plunder, taking three days to gather all the valuables. They gathered in the Valley of Beracah (meaning "blessing") to praise and bless the Lord for His deliverance.Acts 16:25–26 — Paul and Silas in PrisonTherefore, let’s battle like Nehemiah.“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)We can’t talk about generosity unless we overflow in joy.An elder in the church is trying to make a point to the young leaders by getting an empty cup. He began to pour water as the cup overflowed. The young members asked him why he didn’t stop. The wise brother replied, “Only when your cup overflows do others drink from your life.”Christ fills us with His joy, His provision, not so we can contain, but so we can overflow.He became poor, so that you might become rich.2 Corinthians 8:8-15 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”We must not give reluctantly, but rejoicing in the privilege of participating in God’s work. Our giving, like Israel’s feasts, is a spiritual act of celebration—a declaration that Christ is Lord, even over scarcity. Our joy is not rooted in material surplus, but in grace and abundance. We are called to rejoice regardless of our status.“you shall rejoice, you and the widow and the fatherless” (Deuteronomy 16:11).So we also will rejoice not in what we lacked or possessed, but in the One who holds us fast. In that sense, generosity is a mark of spiritual maturity, not financial ability.Many, out of fear, are convinced by materialism and hold a distorted view of stewardship, separating giving from their spiritual formation. However, I also know of families with limited income who consistently support missions and the church, not because they “have extra,” but because they see giving as participation in God’s work.There are young people in our church who choose to reduce lifestyle expenses to support a struggling church plant, driven by a sense of Kingdom investment, not social return.a. Our generosity flows from Christ’s sacrifice.Paul does not shame the Corinthians into giving. Instead, he sets before them the sources for the requested gift.the self-emptying grace of Christ (v.9) the daily provision of God in the wilderness (v.15). “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor…” (2 Cor. 8:9a)The Corinthians already “know”—the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. His “riches” refer not merely to heavenly wealth but to His eternal glory, power, and divine privilege.Philippians 2:5-8 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.The Incarnation was not merely an act of humility, but a descent into poverty. Christ left the splendor of heaven, exchanged infinite majesty for a manger, and wore flesh that would be torn on the Cross. Jesus chose self-emptying love over self-protecting privilege.Spurgeon said, “He was so poor that He was hung upon another’s Cross, wrapped in

SERMON TITLE: Overflowing Joy in Our Weakness   Speaker: Pastor Juliana FernandesText: 2 Corinthians 7:2–4 Opening Prayer: Acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit to renew minds and hearts with the Word of God. ⸻ I. Background Context: The Corinthian Church • A young, humanistic church living in a society of self-centeredness and paganism. • Faced division, confusion, and cultural pressure—similar to today’s world. • 1 Corinthians deals with correction in church practices. • 2 Corinthians emphasizes suffering, weakness, and comfort in Christ. Key Text: 2 Corinthians 7:2–4 “Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you… I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.” ⸻ II. Main Theme: Joy that Overflows in Our Weakness Despite affliction, Paul declares overflowing joy. How is this possible? ⸻ 1. Trust in the Grace of God • Grace = what God does for you. • Law = what you try to do for God. • Many struggle to receive grace because of distractions, pride, or over-reliance on their own strength. Illustration: The distracted child in the classroom is trying to dress himself. Only when he asks for help does the teacher assist. Biblical Example: Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus—blinded to lose distraction, so he could truly hear God.Acts 26:4 – “I lived as a Pharisee, according to the strictest party of our religion.” He had everything to boast in—yet God had to break his pride to reveal grace. ⸻ 2. Live in the Righteousness of Christ • Righteousness = a position given by God, not earned. • We are no longer sinners—we are children of God, justified, and accepted. Key Verses: • Romans 3:24“And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” • Romans 5:19“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” • We must reject condemnation (from the enemy or ourselves) and embrace the truth of justification by grace through faith. Practical Reminder: We don’t bargain with God through works. Our justification is not based on how much we serve or perform—it is based on Jesus’ finished work. ⸻ 3. Depend on the Power of God in Weakness • Joy doesn’t come from strength but from surrender. • Weakness is a channel for God’s power. Key Verse:2 Corinthians 12:9“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” • The Greek word for “power” is dunamis—where we get “dynamite.” God’s explosive power is revealed through our surrender. Illustration: Even preaching in a second language, Pastor Juliana relies not on eloquence, but on God’s grace and power. ⸻ 4. Bonus Illustration: Gideon’s Story (Judges 6–7) • Gideon felt unqualified—“I am the least in my family.” • God reduced his army to 300 men and gave them jars, trumpets, and torches: • Jar = our brokenness • Trumpet = our mouth declaring His glory • Torch = fire and power of the Holy Spirit • The battle was won through weakness and obedience—not strength. ⸻ 5. Illustration: Electricity Object Lesson • Positive + Positive = No energy • Negative + Positive = Light turns on • When we approach God in our own strength (positive + positive), we resist His power. • When we come in weakness (negative), His strength is attracted and lights up our life. ⸻ Conclusion: Let Joy Overflow • The joy of the Lord is not circumstantial; it is spiritual. • It overflows when: • We receive His grace • We live in His righteousness • We embrace our weakness and let His power work in us Call to Response: Openly surrender weaknesses, distractions, pride, and receive the grace, righteousness, and power of God. Closing Prayer and Worship: A call to vocal prayer and spontaneous worship. Declare: “God, I surrender. Manifest your power in my weakness. Fill me with your joy!” ⸻ Final Blessing: God bless you. Have a week full of overflowing joy. Don’t forget—next Saturday is our Nations Festival. Bring friends! All proceeds go toward missions.

Clothed in RighteousnessThe main point of all the New Testament message is this: the divine exchange—Christ becomes sin, the believer becomes the righteousness of God.2 Corinthians 5:21 - 6:1 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.Jesus has total sinlessness. He not only lacked knowledge of sin but also had a complete absence of any personal experience with sin.“He made [him] to be sin”: Christ was made a sin offering, not that He became sinful, but that He bore sin judicially.Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.We’re outside the gates of a grand palace, filthy and ashamed—wearing a coat stained with all our failures, hidden sins, and guilt. Then the King steps out—not a servant, but Jesus Himself—pure, spotless, glowing with holiness. He walks toward us, gently removes our filthy coat, and instead of shrinking back, He puts it on Himself. Then, without hesitation, He takes off His royal robe—His perfect obedience, His sinless life, His favor with the Father—and wraps it around us. We want to protest, “But Lord, I’ve messed up,” and He simply says, “I became what you were, so you could become what I am.”God made Christ, the sinless One, a sin offering for us so that we might receive His righteousness and live boldly in the light of that grace.Not only forgiven, but credited with Righteousness. …in him we might become the righteousness of God.Jesus' imputed righteousness. We gained a new status in Christ. It’s not our righteousness, but God’s righteousness, credited to us.1. Confidence to Ask This must result in boldness to ask, to pray, to dream and envision again.Romans 8:32-33 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.That must result in boldness to proclaim Jesus’ work, His blessings and love for the lost and broken.1 John 5:14-15 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.2. Boldness to respond to the calling2 Timothy 1:7-10 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel[…]We, who received this grace, must not disregard or nullify its power by spiritual negligence or by dismissing the value and power of this grace. Many prefer to think that it is too good to be true. In a sense, it is a way out of the calling to proclaim. In their spirit, there is already a sense of responsibility with such great good news. But instead of trusting the very enabling grace, they think it is a matter of performing themselves.Imagine receiving a letter stating that a long-lost relative had left a fortune in your name. A private account has been filled, the legal transfer is done—but you never read the letter, never checked the account, never lived in the reality of what was gifted. Would that treasure have meant anything? No—it was real, but received in vain.In the end, Paul warns that we may fail to live as recipients of God's righteousness. The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) program, also known as the Monuments Men, recovered and returned over five million works of art to their rightful owners after World War II. This included a vast array of cultural items, such as paintings, sculptures, books, manuscripts, and even church bells. The program was instrumental in mitigating the vast cultural damage caused by the Nazis' looting during the war. The honor was real, but imagine if their story was lost.Have you placed the righteousness of God in a dusty drawer?It is because our righteousness is real that we can cooperate with God. This cooperation is with God, not apart from Him. That is why we have a Great Commission, not only a mission.A great image of that co-working is the planting process.1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.Remember, God gives the growth. As a church, as a LifeGroup leader, you are meant to grow and to flourish.Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”a. Boldness in Ministry Through livingMinistry is not only preaching. It is mostly living. Through our living out righteousness, we remove all obstacles to the message of grace.2 Corinthians 6:3-10 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.Paul’s ministry is blameless, not perfect. Faultless, not flawless. So should our ministry be. In other words, genuine, real, excellent, not perfect.The point is not to cause spiritual stumbling. The credibility of the message demands our integrity.A clean window lets the light shine through. A dirty window distracts. Ministry must be like a clean window—not the focus, but not a hindrance.The message requests the spiritual reality of the messenger.In the list of ministry authenticity, Paul insists on pointing out his trials. Therefore, we must not interpret suffering as disqualification from ministry; it may be your commendation. Endurance authenticates ministry far more than outward human success.But be careful not to make suffering the only proof of faithful ministry. Paul also says, vv.6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;b. Boldness through powerMinistry is not just marked by suffering, but by Spirit-filled character.Purity, untainted motives.Knowledge, Spiritual discernment rooted in the Word and the gospel.Patience and Kindness as the fruits of the Spirit in relationships (cf. Gal. 5:22). It is the Holy Spirit that is the agent behind all these virtues; Ministry is impossible apart from Him. Culminating in genuine love, free from manipulation or hypocrisy.Just as a lamp must be plugged into a power source to shine, so, as a minister of the New Covenant, a minister of reconciliation, we must be connected to the Spirit to radiate these virtues. The light is not in the lamp, but in the source.Not human persuasion or charisma, but supernatural empowerment. This includes the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left. That refers to both defensive (left hand) and offensive (right hand). Nothing is lacking for battle when one stands in the righteousness of God.It is not about methods but about godly character and God’s presence.In 2 Cor. 6:8–10 Paul lists nine paradoxes. They are personal experiences that demonstrate the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God. Tensions between visible appearances and invisible realities. Can you recognize yourself in those apparent contradictions of life as a person of faith?It is through these that we learn to remain steadfast in trials while continuing our ministry.Slander must not silence the truth; praise must not inflate the ego.We may be obscure to society, but deeply known by God. I think about the persecuted churches around the world. I think of places where no one else wanted to go. I think of the Missionaries who played a significant role in both spreading the gospel and educating Alaska Natives. Nowadays, they are considered to suppress traditional customs and spiritual beliefs. But it was them who actually preserved it through education.A lighthouse on a hidden cliff—unseen by most, but essential to sailors in the storm. Your voice may not be famous, but God sees, and he will lead those navigating through life to find light through you.Let God’s recognition be enough. Spiritual joy is not the absence of sorrow, but the presence of Christ brings joy that transcends emotion and circumstances.These paradoxes are not ultimate failures; they are signs of a life marked by the Cross and entrusted with the gospel. Out of this brokenness, Paul appeals for the Corinthians to reconsider their openness to him.2 Corinthians 6:11-13 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.Then he moves to a practical application of the righteousness we are clothed with. Because we are clothed in righteousness, we are called to be different.Clothed in righteousness is meant to sanctify

While we walk by FaithThe assurance of God’s Promises The Bible contains thousands of promises—some say 7,000, others estimate 8,000.  The number isn’t as important as this truth: God is a Promise-Maker and a Promise-Keeper. These promises cover every area of your life—provision, healing, forgiveness, salvation, glorification, victory, and more.“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) When someone gives you their word that a gift is yours—even if it hasn’t arrived yet—you already begin to celebrate because you trust the giver. In the same way, the moment God makes a promise, the blessing is already yours. You may not have it in your hands, but by faith, it’s been delivered. The moment of the blessing is not when you actually receive it in the future, but in the moment you get the promise by faith.The promise of RestitutionZechariah 9:11-12 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Previously, we were trapped in despair, lying down on the bed awake at night, overwhelmed by worry. Hopeless and frightening images haunted our thoughts. Despite efforts to stay optimistic and positive, we repeatedly found ourselves drawn back into a dark state of anxiety and pain.If I tell my 16-year-old son, “When you get married, my gift will be a paid-off apartment,” he already considers it his, bragging about having an apartment. If my son trusts my word, he will not be anxious about this in the future. He is now a prisoner of hope. For him, it's already his because his father is faithful and honest. If evil people, like us, can give good gifts to their children, much more will our faithful and good heavenly Father give us what he has promised. The year was 2019. There was a prophetic feeling that many of our churches would receive new building spaces. I remember hearing that word, and I believed it. I held a strong conviction in the promise for us as a church. In Brazil, many people buy cars or homes through a financial consortium, a collective purchasing system without interest, where participants are chosen each month through a draw or bidding. I remember going after that option right after the word came to my heart. I knew the Lord would open that door for us. He had promised. Nothing occurred immediately in the natural sense; however, I was convinced of its truth. It took us two years to fully receive the reality of that promise.Waiting in Hope Is Part of the Promise. Faith believes that the blessing has already been given. Hope expects it to manifest.  The biblical concept of hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a confident expectation rooted in God’s character.2 Corinthians 5:1-5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. Paul asserts that we, believers, must know as a fact what we expect. We are confident in hope.Our hope is like waiting for a bus. No one stands at the bus stop saying, “Let’s wish it shows up!” You wait because you know it will come. That’s biblical hope. “Groaning” emphasizes human suffering, but simultaneously points to the living hope. “Tent” living is temporary and frail, but God has prepared a permanent home for us and given us the Spirit as the down payment and guarantee. The Greek term for “guarantee” αρραβών (arrabōn) is a legal/financial term. It means a down payment, indicating the Spirit as a first installment of future redemption.Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. That answers what we must do while we wait: We become Spirit-filled. One way to do that is to pray fervently.Pray Fervently Waiting is not a reason to stop praying—it’s a reason to pray more. To be filled with the Spirit, because He sustains us on the promises. The early disciples had to wait in the Upper Room for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When we read the story in Acts 1, we find out that the group was meant to be almost 4 times bigger. Jesus appeared to 500 people, but only 120 remained for Pentecost.(1 Corinthians 15:6) “He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time…”(Acts 1:15, 14) “About 120… all these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer…” Those who persist in prayer will be part of the outpouring. Don’t leave the Upper Room too soon. If you turn to the Spirit daily, you will see the fulfilment of the promise. So, what do we do while we wait in faith and hope? You keep obeying the last instruction God gave you. When you haven’t received a new word from God, remain faithful to the last one. Don’t move to another city. Don’t leave that church yet. Don’t close that business yet. Keep holding on to the direction God gave you with a promise. Stay praying in the Upper Room. Your LifeGroup will multiply and grow.We walk by faith, not by sight2 Corinthians 5:6-10 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. To walk by faith means that even when your body is decaying and the evidence seems to contradict your promises, you don’t try to fulfill God’s promise with your strength. Abraham and Sarah—impatient for the child God promised—took matters into their own hands and had Ishmael through Hagar.Genesis 16:4 And he [Abraham] went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. In Galatians, Paul compares Hagar to the work of the law, the fruit of our flesh.Galatians 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” When we act on the flesh, we miss the inheritance of blessings. The inheritance of the children of grace is greater than that of the children of the flesh. While conceiving Ishmael, it took a hasty act of intercourse and 9 months, for the promised son, it took about 25 years. What’s done in the flesh may look like success, but it lacks the power, peace, and blessings of what’s born of the Spirit. Besides, the work of the flesh creates long-term problems, just like Ishmael, the father of most of the Arabs and Isaac’s descendants, the Jews, are still warring today.We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ Leaving the position of faith and hope is not only a restraint of promised blessings now, but there is a danger of building on the foundation with the wrong materials and suffering significant loss at the coming of the Lord. And that is not a small thing.2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Maturity requires patience, and patience proves maturity. Only children make a scene or cry when they don’t get what they want immediately.  Adults know how to wait, and patience is a mark of spiritual adulthood.(Romans 5:3–4) “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings [waiting], knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” However, God does not want us to be under a false sense of peace, forcing us to be positive and hopeful when no change will actually come. He invites us to rest.Rest While You Wait(Psalm 40:1) “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” Pray and don’t act under pressure if you don’t know what to do. That was the grave mistake of Saul. King Saul disobeyed God’s instruction to wait for Samuel and took matters into his own hands before fighting against the Philistines. He lost everything not because of adultery or murder, but simply because he didn’t wait. Never allow pressure to push you into premature decisions. (1 Samuel 13:9-14) Grow while you wait.  Waiting is not a passive season—it’s a season for maturing and preparing. Use your waiting season to grow in faith, obedience, character, and skill. Think of Joseph of Egypt. From a dreamer, he became an interpreter. We can see a clear difference in Joseph before and after the waiting time. At first, he had big dreams and naively told everyone (Genesis 37:5). But after the trial, he became someone who could interpret dreams. Interpreting is understanding the meaning behind circumstances. Joseph eventually realized it wasn’t his brothers who sent him to Egypt—it was God (Genesis 41:16).Genesis 45:7-8 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a

The Efficacy of the Unmixed Gospel.In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul does not present himself as a triumphant apostle basking in ease, but as a servant crushed, perplexed, and afflicted. Nevertheless, the Gospel’s power is displayed most gloriously in the midst of our fragility.Why? Because the gospel is a resurrection message. The Cross shapes our life and ministry. Our daily trials are where God brings life to others.Our weakness is the very context in which God's power is made visible.God has comfort for you today.God has a measure of faith for you today.2 Corinthians 4:1-6 1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.The ministry of the New Covenant is glorious and powerful. It is the ministry of life and transformation, not of fear and condemnation. It is the ministry of peace and righteousness, not the ceremonial religion and conscious of sin. Therefore, it is such an honor to have the opportunity to embody the realities of the New Covenant.It is time for every believer, especially leaders, to find courage and renounce despair, to proclaim Christ openly. God, who spoke light into being, still opens blind eyes to behold the glory of Jesus Christ.Authentic Christian ministry is marked by honesty, transparency, and integrity. It is rooted in truth and answerable to God. It rejects showmanship, self-promotion, and distortion of the gospel for personal gain.The Father of Lies' old strategy2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.The deceiver, the father of lies, has the capacity to blind the minds of those who remain in unbelief (2 Corinthians 4:4).Throughout history, the enemy has employed various means to distort the truth of God’s Word and try to steal Jesus’ glory. In earlier times, this included introducing theological errors, idolatry and displacing Scripture from its central position.In the present, the father of lies undermines the sufficiency and centrality of the message of grace.The enemy uses subtle distortions, such as “You must do your part.” The goal is the same. Take the glory of the son. He envied that in Isa to convince us that the gospel is not entirely about grace alone. The devil does not always deny Jesus openly. Instead, he subtly redirects the emphasis away from Christ alone to Christ plus effort, Christ plus emotion, Christ plus performance. He crafts a counterfeit gospel, one that retains religious language but removes the Cross from the center.However, the good news stands despite his endeavors. Salvation and sanctification are wholly the result of Christ’s finished work on the Cross, and it is applied in the believer’s life through the growth of faith.“Just Drink the Water”Imagine walking through a hot, dry desert. You’re parched—your mouth is dry, your strength is fading. You finally reach a small stand in the middle of nowhere. There’s a plain, clear glass of water on it—nothing fancy, just pure, refreshing water offered freely.But surrounding that glass are rows of flashy bottles. Some are sparkling, others are fruit-infused, and a few even claim to be enhanced with special minerals or vitamins. They have sleek labels, catchy names, and promises like: “More energy!” “Better focus!” “Superior hydration!” And every single one has a price tag.Ironically, many people skip the free water and reach for the bottle that looks better—convinced it must be more satisfying because it costs more, or because it has a fancier name. But in the end, the most effective and reliable way to quench thirst is what God already provided: free, pure water.God offers grace freely. It’s simple, pure, and powerful. But we are bombarded with spiritual “beverages” promising more: self-help philosophies, performance-based religion, emotional highs, or even never-suffer-labeled gospels. They’re appealing and marketable but often come with a cost—your peace, your security in Christ, your confidence and joy in the Lord.But grace doesn’t need enhancements. It doesn’t need labels. It doesn’t need additives. It is what really quenches the soul because it comes straight from the Source. Jesus cried out:“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)Why complicate what God made simple? Why chase what is expensive and empty when what is free and full is already available?Just drink the water.Just receive the grace.Adding to the gospel, it is more dangerous than the illustration could demonstrate.The source is perfect—life-giving, clean, and sufficient. Just before you drink, someone steps in. With a warm smile, he convinces you. “Let me improve it,” he says. He adds just a few drops—barely noticeable—but enough to alter the water’s essence.What once gave life now carries death.Satan adds just enough error to pollute the message. A whisper: “You must add your obedience to secure God’s favor.” Or: “Faith alone is too simple—it must be faith plus performance.” The gospel of grace is no longer pure. It becomes poisoned with self-effort, pride, and spiritual insecurity.And when Christ is no longer enough, He is no longer glorified.By doing so, the devil robs Christ of His rightful glory and enslaves listeners to a distorted message that cannot save, restore and redeem.The only response the hearer is required is faith-a faith that rests entirely on what God has accomplished in Jesus Christ.Only when grace remains undiluted by our flesh striving can the glory of the Gospel shine forth without obstruction.My vulnerability gives God more glory. To God.2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.In our weakness, God’s choice to entrust this treasure to us magnifies His power and grace. The treasure is vv . 6:”the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”In [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty].The word in greek is similar to the one we know as treasure.θησαυρος Thēsaurós: it could denote anything from royal treasuries to storage rooms for grain or gold.The gospel is a diamond. And we are a paper bag. A clay jar. Fragile. Ordinary. No one carries a Precious stone in a paper bag. But God decided to do that.1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.The way God chose to demonstrate the glory of the gospel is through our weakness.Our afflictions are God’s pretext to show His glory.That is what Paul is trying to convey here.2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;That is the efficacy of the unmixed gospel. We are able to face affliction, perplexities, persecution, strikes, but not go to crushing, desperation, forsaking and abandonment feelings.If you mix the gospel with something else, you do not gain more spiritual resilience; on the contrary, you lose it.Regarding the trial, the Lord has a comforting word for you today.Trials Increase Your Value to God“James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.To have joy when we go through various trials is what we are admonished to do. That’s remarkable. To rejoice even in one trial is already a great victory. Let alone several at once.You’ve probably had seasons when everything hit simultaneously—financial stress, health issues, family struggles. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of God’s will or living in sin.The biblical advice is: be joyful in the middle of the fight.We rejoice because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Without a test, there would be no perseverance. The trial produces endurance.2 Corinthians 4:13-14 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.Remember: not every trial comes from God. Financial hardship, sickness, and accidents—these things don’t originate from Him.The way to overcome them is through faith. Someone may ask, what about the trials of Job? Were those trials not from God?The Bible is clear that everything Job went through was caused by the devil, not God. Job’s fear gave the enemy a foothold. Job 3:25 “For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.”The place the devil wants to lead us is the place of fear.Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.The devil holds the power of death, meaning he uses death to enslave or terrify us. This doesn’t imply Satan