Category: Devotionals

Today’s devotional

This devotional here was the last one due April 30th- of what I sensed was a “divine homework” I had to complete. Going forward, will focus on private prayers  through these devotionals as an inspiration- and of course- other prayer files I have elsewhere for at least 15-90 days without posting new devotionals. Once I feel I am satisfied with the prayer progress through these, I can post more devotionals. Ultimately, the study of the Word should help us connect with God, and not become another labor that hinders fellowship and communion through prayer and worship. I sense I have covered all the insights I needed for the season. 

May 30^th, 2024

THE LAMB AWAKENS AND THE LION REIGNS

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance [NIV]- 2 Peter 3:9

Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee [KJV]- Psalms 66:3

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

This is a follow up teaching after what we had previously discussed on the Hebrews 10:13 text. It should also be seen in an eschatological context of the End Times. 2 Peter 3:9 gives us a message of hope during these perilous times. All is not lost because of God’s patience and kindness. The only reason God has not yet shut the Ark of Salvation is so that all animals, all wicked people, will have a final chance to enter into the Ark before the storm. God could have caused the rapture to happen in 2000, when everyone was worried about Y2K conspiracies. The conversions that happened after 09/11/2001 terrorist attack on the New York World Trade Center would not have happened. People were awakened from their slumber, feeling like their whole world was crushing, and Christ was their only hope. Surely God’s patience for 1 year and 9 months for those people was “saving grace.” Now, as we come into the middle of 2024, about 24 years since the turn of the century, the number of people who need divine mercy to be rescued from the “bottomless pit” has not reduced but has increased.  If there was ever time we needed divine patience to do all the good works we can do to rescue them is now. Absolutely. However, we also know that God will not be patient forever. Eventually the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more. The rapture will take place and the dead in Christ shall resurrect. The great tribulation will set in. The Antichrist will kill and destroy for a period of time. And God’s Son, Jesus Christ, will be seen coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him [1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Matthew 24:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:36; Revelation 13:17; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30].

We should all avail the window of time given to all mankind to be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. We should seek the Lord’s face while He may be found. We should produce fruit meet with repentance before God sends His angels to collect the harvest from the earth  [2 Corinthians 5:20; Jeremiah 8:20; Isaiah 55:6-12; Matthew 3:8; Matthew 13:39].

“Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness! Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision“—Joel 3:13-14 . Indeed, the harvest is ripe, as Jesus told the disciples [John 4:29-39]. There are more souls to be brought into the church than there are evangelists who are taking on the task of doing so. There are more converted souls who need to be shepherded than there are pastors after God’s own heart who will lead them in holiness, sound doctrine, and devotional love to Christ. Just like the woman at Jacob’s well had been so wicked with her adulteries, this “adulterous generation“- Matthew 12:39 is not too far gone for redemption. Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. The increase of wickedness clearly shows that religion and human performance to earn God’s righteousness have failed. Self-serving shepherds have failed our generation as they did not anticipate and provide for the need of the hour. Multitudes have never been so empty and yet could not hear “the wonderful words of life” that could satisfy their empty hearts. Yet, we also know that The Lord has not lost the compassion that Jesus had when He saw people like sheep without a shepherd, and instructed the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers in His vineyard [Matthew 9:36-38]. He will send in pastors after His own heart [Jeremiah 3:15; 1 Samuel 13:14]. He will send in zealous evangelists who demand a decision. And multitudes will be weeping at the altars again, as in the days of George Whitefield and Charles Finney. They will be crying, “what must I do to be saved ?“—Acts 16:30; John 6:28-29; Acts 2:37, Luke 5:8-10,  when they hear the preaching of the cross with boldness, and see the signs, wonders, and miracles that follow. 

This is why we must be careful as we look at the Scriptures that talk about judgment in the End Times. Sure, we do not want to be among those Christ laments when He asks: “When the son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth ?“- Luke 18:8. We don’t want to be like the saints who fail to believe God about things that are fair, righteous, and biblical. We should not be the kind of Christians who disappoint God for their lack of passion and persistence in the matters of justice. At the same time, we want to see divine justice as primarily redemptive. We want more Nebuchadnezzars and less of Pharaohs. We want those who see judgments and are converted in their hearts, and die praising God and exalting Christ. We are not seeking to see those who are hardened further like Pharaoh was, people who will end up utterly destroyed [Daniel 4:34; Romans 9:15, 17; Exodus 9:16]. Sure, God’s name will be glorified both in mercy and in judgment, because Pharaoh’s destruction sent a message to all the lands that Israel would conquer later that God was with them, and yet we also know that the Lord does not want anyone to perish, rather that everyone should come to repentance.

Psalms 66:3 says, “Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” God should indeed be praised for His judgments, as He is praised for His mercies. We should stand in awe when we see people we know, we have known to oppose the Gospel, we have known to deride prophetic gifts, we have known to resist words of knowledge, we have known to corrupt Scriptural teachings, we have known to stand in the way of the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, we have known to be dictators, we have known to be lustful, greedy, and drug-dealers—and all other wicked things—when they face the hammer of divine justice. We should tremble when we see others punished for the sins we were rescued from. Just like one of the prisoners who was with Joseph was hanged and the other re-instated into his glorious position or like the thief on the cross next to Jesus who was promised Paradise and the other who died in his sins in addition to dying for his sins, there’s no merit in our natural state that makes us objects of God’s mercy while others become targets of His wrath. Be as it may, we cannot change the truths we see in Scriptures. The mercy we received is not to be used as a wedge issue to cause us to compromise God’s eternal counsels. God’s enemies will be humbled and submit themselves unto God under His mighty hand, whether they do so willingly or they are forced to confess and bow down to the name above all names, even the very name of Jesus Christ. To Him all authority and dominion belongs.

The End Times church is still a church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail for that reason [Matthew 16:18-19]. Christ is leading us into battle with a double-edged sword. To some it cuts, to others it cuts out evil. To some it kills, to others it heals. We must have this moderate view of the militant church, because we are only here to enforce God’s will and express His character, not human sentimentalism. 

Obviously Christianity doesn’t choose its enemies. We don’t know whether someone will be Alexander the Metal worker, Elymas, Caiphas, Pilate, or Saul of Tarsus. That’s even irrelevant, in my view. The question is what’s our intent in temporal judgment ? Our intent and purpose should be redemptive temporal judgment regardless of the circumstances the Gospel of Christ deals with in the culture and nations of the world. 

SECTION 2: THE LION AND THE LAMB

The Christ we preach should be the One we see in Scripture: 

• The Lamb awakens:  Souls wake up from slumber and bondage to sin. He is merciful, tenderhearted, gentle, wooing hearts to receive His love and come into His kingdom of peace.
• The Lion reigns: He rules powerfully, governing wisely, and warring victoriously to defeat all His enemies. He “retreats before nothing“- Proverbs 30:30

This reminds us of the double offices of Christ we read in Hebrews 7:1-3, where He is compared to Melchizedek, who was a king and a priest. 

• Priest– Lamb- Sacrifice offering- interceding for others to bring salvation.
• King– Lion- Supreme Ruling Authority- defeating those who oppose His reign

In Hebrews 7:1-3 we read: 

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,  and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Melchizedek who is compared to Christ can be seen in Genesis 14:18-20. He blessed Abraham after the latter brought back Lot who was kidnapped, and defeated the kings that had plundered them. Abraham gave him a tithe, which occurred before the Law of Moses, thus establishing tithing as an enduring spiritual principle, not merely a Levite temple obligation [Hebrews 7:6]. He was both the king of peace and king of righteousness, just as he was a priest. There’s no recorded birth of Melchizedek and there’s no recorded end of him. As representative of Christ, He affirms that Christ’s offices are everlasting. He is still able to save to the uttermost those He intercedes for now. And as King, demons still tremble before Him saying:  “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”—Mark 5:7.

These offices also reveal the identity of His people on earth—they are priests and kings.

Revelation 1:5-6 says:

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. “

• As priests, we offer praises and prayers to God [Revelation 5:8; Hebrews 13:15; Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:8-9; Matthew 12:3-4].

We see that these Scriptures show how the prayer, praise, and worship ministry of the saints is compared to the incense of Old Testament priests, which burned at the altar in God’s temple, and as the smoke ascended it represented those prayers going up to God. Just like the smell of the incense is a sweet fragrance, prayers that are offered in faith and reverence please God, and bring down His blessing. Somehow king David had touched this revelation, even when he was of the tribe of Judah, not Levi. To a certain degree, David had enjoyed the privileges of priesthood even at a time when his only legal prerogatives were royal ones. We should avail of this great privilege given to us in intercessions, especially. Are our families saved ? Are the people in our environments getting blessed ? Are organizations we lead or simply participate in as members seeing the glory of God because of our prayers ?  Do we sincerely and passionately present them before God in prayer ? Are our nations being healed as the Lord hears us from heaven ? Remember how many times Paul wrote in his epistles, “I always thank God for you as I mention you in my prayers.” He is a priestly role model we should learn from [2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; Romans 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:4, Colossians 1:3, Ephesians 6:18; Luke 22:32; Ezekiel 22:30; 1 Samuel 12:23; Colossians 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; Exodus 32:30; 1 Kings 8:36; Genesis 18:22-33]

• As kings, we represent Him in authority on earth to rule over the kingdom of darkness and bring fallen humanity to obedience of His laws and submission of His just rule. This will bring great joy in the nations that are blessed by such holy and positive influence [Ecclesiastes 8:4; Daniel 4: 34-35; Proverbs 20:2; Psalms 2:1-12; Psalms 110:1-3; Luke 10:19; Psalms 97:1-3; Proverbs 29:2].

Christ has given us authority to trample on snakes of scorpions. As far as the kingdom of darkness is concerned, it is under our feet. And as Ecclesiastes 8:4 declares, we can expect our commands to be backed by heaven: “For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” There’s no such thing as a king without authority. If we are kings, then we have a domain we rule. This is obviously part of God’s kingdom and is spiritual, but it carries effects on earth, where demons still ruin lives. Now, this doesn’t mean we are not accountable, because we remain subject to Christ’s law. Our public actions and private matters are still under the Lord’s watch, who knows all things, will bring everything to light, and judge everyone according to what they have done [1 Corinthians 9:21; 1 Corinthians 4:3-5; Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 8:4; Romans 14:23; James 4:17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Revelation 22:12-13; Jeremiah 17:10]. He will return and ask us to give an account for the years we have lived on earth, and what we have done with the talents and gifts He had given us. All our opportunities for testifying about His saving grace, opportunities to help those in need, opportunities to yield a greater harvest for the kingdom in whatever positions He has placed us are matters of accountability. We are stewards, not lords, when it comes to standing before the great judge and give a report of how we have used our delegated authority. Yet,  we also know that as we go about our missions and ministries in the Lord’s service, we have a high degree of protection from interference. No one shall lay a charge against God’s elects. And while sometimes there may seem to be strife between the Lord’s servants, this principle stands [Romans 14:4].

We belong to an everlasting kingdom and a kingdom that is superior to all the kingdoms of the world, like Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledged [Daniel 4:34-35]. The words we speak can bring life and destruction. If you choose to abdicate your authority as a king, it is on you, not on Christ. And certainly other saints should not be considered brash if they use their authority properly [Job 22:28; Mark 9:19-23; Mark 11:22-24]. Wherever the Lord is pleased to impart life because people have sought Him humbly, our words will will be blessed by the Lord to release those blessings [Luke 10:5-6]. And wherever the Lord has determined to cause destruction, because people have challenged His authority [Proverbs 20:2], then the judgments we decree will be established [Isaiah 54:14-17; John 20:23; Matthew 18:17; Luke 17:1-2]. He reconciles with mankind through our pleas [2 Corinthians 5:20]. He judges others through our censure [2 Corinthians 2: 10,16; Galatians 1:7-9; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Psalms 47:3; Matthew 28:18-20;Psalms 18:36-47]. Whatever we do in His name, it is the Lord Himself who is doing it [John 14: 12-13; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16; Matthew 25:40; Jeremiah 15:19; Isaiah 51:16; Jeremiah 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 1 Samuel 8:7; John 12:48; Isaiah 49:7; Matthew 12:20-21]. Our character should be as lofty as our authority, in love, in kindness, in excellent works, and in generosity, so that our rule does not emulate the tyranny of fallen kings who rule this world, rather the peace and righteousness of God’s kingdom [Matthew 20:24-28; Romans 14:17]. There should be great joy where our royal presence is [Proverbs 29:2; Acts 8:6-8; Psalms 97:1-3; Esther 8:15; Job 34:30; Proverbs 11:10; Proverbs 28:12].

When I look back at a number of dealings that have been “bittersweet” with people in the world who are not necessarily Christians, I see that there’s a lot the world does not understand about authority, and therefore cannot understand about biblical justice. In the secular realm, it works like what Jesus described it in Matthew 20. Those with greater power are considered benefactors as they lord it over people. You get things because someone is doing you a favor, not because they have a sense of an obligation or service. Unless you learn “to kiss people’s – ashes” [sorry for the term]- then you are not to be favored. This creates a culture of sycophancy where fairness and righteousness cannot thrive because rationality is sacrificed at the altar of seeking favor with the powerful [Proverbs 29:26; Psalms 101:7; Psalms 5:9; Romans 3:13; Romans 16:18; ]. While Scriptures tell us to be circumspect with those who are outside [Colossians 4:5], at what point would bending to the whims of the powerful and power-hungry be considered a compromise of our Christian testimony ? I would argue that our role in the world is not just winsomeness towards the unbelievers, because that alone does not bring to light the knowledge of sin, and without the knowledge of sin there can be no conviction, and with no conviction there can be no repentance or salvation [Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7]. So, while we must avoid being overbearing in how we relate to those who are outside, for after all we see Daniel being used of God to touch the entire Babylonian system without being too noisy about his Jewish beliefs, we also must make sure we are being sensitive to the Holy Spirit where lines are drawn. Carry the character of the beatitudes of Matthew 5, and yet at the same time realize that even Jesus and Paul asked why they were being slapped [John 18:23; Acts 23:2-3]. Clearly both Jesus and Paul understood the boundaries of “turning the other cheek.” Right and wrong must be clear in the eyes of the world, even when they do not want to hear about it. This could create friction, but ultimately we carry greater authority, as we belong to a superior kingdom. We want to be sweet and approachable, but we also should keep in mind our Kingdom identity. If our values, interests, wellbeing, and properties are unduly hurt, violated, or infringed upon, then we can appeal to the “judge of all the earth”—Genesis 18:25; Psalms 58:11. We are not victims in the face of injustice, slander, selfishness, abuse, and wickedness we see all around us, we are victors and kings. Ultimately we hold the keys of the kingdom and we can use them to bind and loose [Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:19; Psalms 149:4-9]. 

The Messianic Psalms, especially 2 and 110, should be memorized by those who want to grasp this kingdom reality and Christ’s double offices. The fact that we see Psalms 2 quoted by the apostles in Acts 4:25-31 should embolden us in using these Psalms with high expectations. It is not proud to expect what God promised. 

SECTION 3: SCRIPTURAL HARMONY AND THE TENSION OF BALANCE

Our generation knows little of the “terrors of the Lord”—2 Corinthians 5:11, since many preachers have ceased being persuasive about turning men from darkness to light, and some who attempt to  do so are fainthearted. 

Read these Scriptures:

• Psalms 97:3, A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about.
• Deuteronomy 9:3, But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
• Revelation 6:15-16, Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
• 2 Corinthians 10:6, And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience.
• Psalms 82:8, “Arise, O God, judge the earth”
• Psalms 64:7, But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.
• Exodus 15:7, In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.
• Deuteronomy 4:24, For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
• Psalms 78:49-50, He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity–a band of destroying angels. He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.
• Hebrews 12:29,  For our “God is a consuming fire.”

When was the last time you heard a series on temporal judgment with the above Scriptures quoted ? On God being a devouring fire ? On the revealed wrath in heavenly places and the punishments that God inflicts, not as a future possibility, but as a present reality ? It seems to me that over the last several years, as more and more Christians have focused on God’s mercy, His justice has gone to the back-burner, which has hurt the way people see or recognize His character. Obviously we do not want the opposite. We do not want people to be so focused on judgment that they will forget mercy altogether. I can say, as someone who wrote the book, “My Christian Confession” long before I got the revelations on the “Triumph of Christ,” being immersed in doctrines of redemption and grace as a young believer helped me weather many storms that I might not have been able to overcome had I come from a theological background of those with strong religious rules that push people into a sort of frenzy. I have heard not-so-good stories of some of the negative things that happened during the First Great awakening in Northampton, Massachusetts, because of misunderstandings that arose from Jonathan Edwards’ sermons. We really must make sure that people who hear the messages we teach do not get a skewed image of God. We do not want people to think that there’s no such a thing as an angry God. At the same time, we do not want people to assume that the only nature of God that exists is the one of fury. 

So, it is important to learn how we can hold these two truths in balance. 

• Ephesians 4:15- Speaking the truth in love
• 1 Corinthians 13:6- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Just like mercy and justice are in a sort of tension throughout Scriptures, something that catches many false teachers, as they will tend to bend to one side or the other, with the 21st century seeming to be one in which some prefer to bend to the mercy side at the expense of divine justice, we also see the same with truth and love. If we look at Scriptures like Romans 11:22 – the kindness vs the severity of God- or passages like Psalms 85:10 & Exodus 34:6-7 & Hebrews 7:1-3, then love represents Jesus as the Lamb of God and truth would represent Christ as the Lion.

We often see Christians of all stripes who want to separate these two aspects of Christ’s nature. You might have seen those who emphasized the kindness of God and wanted to avoid the severity of God or those who want to talk about mercy but ignore divine justice, there are also those who want to talk about God’s love while ignoring the truth. One of the most gripping revelations when I was growing into the teaching of temporal judgment, was realizing, around 2017, that people who would be deceived by the Antichrist were those who did not love the truth [2 Thessalonians 2:10 ]. What is interesting in that verse isn’t that truth and love are not juxtaposed as either/or – and are not even as BOTH- they are rather stuck together- “they did not love the truth.”- So, the truth can be loved or hated. Not loving the truth is what will open the door for the Antichrist. Since the church will be raptured at the time the Man of Sin is revealed, we probably do not need to worry now whether we will be deceived into getting the Mark of the Beast [Revelation 13:6-7]. We won’t go into details what this Mark of the Beast will be. It is also of no much help to worry that we could be among the deceived as we won’t be here. However, as long as we are here, the strategies that Satan uses to deceive people is the same. He usually walks around like a prowling lion that devours people who do not have a coherent biblical theology. They don’t have that theology usually not because they lack books to learn it, but because they actually don’t care.

Look at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Wheaton College in Illinois. Duke Divinity School in North Carolina. Going to these places for theological training is as good as staying home, perhaps even worse than staying home. But they have nice and beautiful libraries. They probably have more more books than many smaller Christian colleges. You might assume that the number of their books is due to loving the truth, even though you can hardly find the truth there. People love “love, ” not as in the way Scriptures present it, but rather the romantic sense of it they have concocted in their heads. Loving “love” as a twisted demonic teaching is the trap that has caused many to hate the truth.  So, even though we are not yet in the great tribulation, many people are still being deceived because they don’t love the truth. The Bible says, without holiness none shall see the Lord- Hebrews 12:14. And guess what, you will find preachers and theologians who will use John 3:16 or Romans 4:5 to tell you that believing in the blood of Jesus and being justified will help you annul Hebrews 12:14 . That’s ignorance of Scriptural harmony and losing the balance of the Bible.

Let’s pick the example of John 3:16 being mistaught. What does John 3:16 teach ? Of course it is the love of God, so deep, so moving, that It has given us His beloved Son, Jesus. But does God’s love alone save ? Let’s think. Everyone who is in hell was loved by God before they went there. So, we can’t just accept the false hope that God’s love, general love, general offer of salvation, is all we need to know to be saved. If the love of God does not bring us to love the truth of God, that in Christ alone, His Word, and His grace we shall find salvation [John 17:3], then we have been deceived. God love you, but salvation is obtained according to divine principles of His truth. When you read John 3:17-20, you see how John might have wanted to make it clear that John 3:16 should be kept in context. I have seen people who are excited to read John 3:16 and then they cool down when they read: he who does not believe is condemned already [John 3:18]. How ? It is the same book, the same author, and the same chapter. It is just that people have developed selective hearing and want only to focus what their itching ears want to hear. That’s how Scriptural harmony has been lost. The word “believe” can mean different things to different people. To some it can simply mean a mental assent, that even demons are said to have [James 2:19]. To others, it can mean the active faith that makes believers start to obey God and “act on His words”- John 6:28-29, Romans 10:17, James 2:17. Obviously, just like God’s love can be misrepresented, there are wrong ways to preach the truth. There are people who claim that they are pursuing the truth, but then later you realize that it is only about building sects and cliques. “Truth” has a totally different meaning for such people, because it is simply a tool for inclusion or exclusion of people in their little groups, movements, and denominations, and has nothing to do with Christ’s intent. So, we must genuinely learn to “speak the truth in love“- Ephesians 4:15. So, let’s avoid both traps. The trap of teaching on God’s love while ignoring His expectations, because when we allow evil to flourish and establish roots [1 Corinthians 13:6], we are not really presenting God’s love right. And on the other hand, when we use truth only as a way of presenting selective facts that will strengthen our position, denomination, and like-minded groups while ignoring other truths that are as important and would promote understanding among differing people, unity, and love, we are also doing wrong. 

There’s no love without truth and there’s no truth without love. But someone may object: “Sometimes truth hurts. Should we really follow it  at all times?” It is true that sometimes truth will hurt and carnal nature may seek to protect relationships and personal interests at the cost of the truth. However, let us think. Who is likely to be hurt by the truth ? Is it holy angels who serve God zealously ? [1 Timothy 5:21-22] Is it mature saints who have walked in the ways of the Lord faithfully ? [3 John 1:4]  Is it Jesus Christ who sits on the throne, who “loved righteousness and hated wickedness,”  and was therefore anointed above all His brethren ? [Hebrews 1:9]. No, those are not the ones who will be hurt by the truth. It might hurt those who are in error. It might hurt those who have been deeply entrenched into sin and can’t get out of bondage. It might hurt those who have changed their bodies or behaviors to the extent they feel like repentance is a big cost for them. It might hurt those who find it difficult to accept the things of God because they offend their natural minds. That’s why the truth should be spoken in love. That’s why those who speak the truth should avoid hurting people’s feelings unnecessarily. The truth has its own offensiveness to it and we do not want to add on human baggage when we share it. Make no mistake, the truth itself, as revealed in Scripture, cannot be apologized for. It cannot be watered down.  Does it matter what sinners think about John 3:18 , Acts 4:12 ; 2 Corinthians 13:8; John 20:23 ; 1 Corinthians 4:17-21 ; 1 Peter 4:17 ; Revelation 2::23; Acts 13:9-13; 2 Corinthians 10:6; Psalms 149:5-9; Hebrews 10:3 ; Mark 8 34-38; Romans 2:2 ? Does it matter what the liberal preachers think about these verses ? Does it matter what false teachers and prophets would say about them ? No! It doesn’t matter. The truth remains the truth. We can only comply and submit to it. We cannot actually change what it says. We should rejoice when the truth is revealed, if indeed we have God’s love in us [1 Corinthians 13:6]. If we are rattled when the truth is revealed, we don’t actually have the love of God, but rather the love of the world [1 John 2:15 -17].

The love of the Father and the love of the world cannot coexist in the same heart. This is why Scripture says that he who loves the world cannot have the love of the Father. The world simply stands for all things and all people who oppose, suppress, deny, and obfuscate the truth [John 17:14 ]. Yet, as Paul understood, whether in the church or in the world, the truth cannot actually be opposed successfully [2 Corinthians 13:8]. Those who try to do so will be humbled by it. The truth is the only weapon that the church’s foundation is built upon [1 Timothy 3:15]. Besides the church, the truth maintains the world’s morality in balance [Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 24:35; Psalms 119:89]. Where lies have been unleashed, tyranny has not been far away. So, the truth is a bulwark against oppression. 

SECTION 4: THE CHRIST WHO WAS AND THE CHRIST WHO IS.

To avoid being unnecessarily long, this section is written in quick points to summarize theological matters that might have otherwise taken long to explain. 

• Point 1– Good resources. One of the “older” books on Dominion Theology that I like is the one TITLED  Prince Messiah: Mediatorial Kingdom of Christ. It’s written in 19th century by a solid Scottish theologian named William Symington. Rather than spend several hours teaching on dominion theology, I would rather point people to this book so that they can go and quickly learn things I might not have that much time to teach on. 
• Point 2– Understanding the difference between the mediatorial reign of Christ and the millennial reign of Christ- mostly from Puritan authors [and their theological heirs] has been a huge breakthrough for me since I discovered it. A good comparison has been David Vs Solomon reigns. These were different and each is a type of Christ representing His kingdom in a certain dispensation.
• Point 3– David can be read in Samuel and Psalms. His kingdom was mostly war. He was actually denied to build the temple because he had shed a lot of blood in war. Solomon can be seen in Kings and proverbs. He was a man of peace. David represents the church— kingdom now. The kingdom the way it is now. Tribulations. Persecution. Fights. Solomon represents the millennial kingdom. Peace. No wars ( Isaiah 2, Isaiah 9, and Isaiah 11). Why did this give me so much breakthrough ? I realized I needed a Davidic approach to warfare. We don’t actually have peace free from warfare during the church age. We can only determine we will win victories for the Lord. Most losses you find Christians have are due to lack of WILL/WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT. David didn’t have that. Most his battles won were 50% completed before he even engaged into battle as this readiness alone will prepare a warrior. Without such an eschatology, Christians are happy to see events dictated for them as they don’t know they are in charge. The day you get this Davidic mindset — to realize that you are actually in charge of events and nobody can or should dictate them for you, your family, and the church — you will be the first to be shocked. This eschatology of kingdom now isn’t just true, it actually works. Why ? It puts you to fight. It puts you to work. You do not just prophesy, you wage a good warfare in accordance with the prophecies spoken about you [1 Timothy 1:18; Psalms 89:19]. You become part of the fulfilling agent of what has been spoken prophetically. Many prophecies fail simply because people think God will do things automatically. They go to sleep and forget that their co- laborers with the Lord. Now you understand why you might have been defeated in certain areas. This whole time you were a slave to the beggarly elements of the world thinking you were giving God a favor. You couldn’t cast out demons. You could hardly have a livable city. All great companies were run by the ungodly. The wicked ruled your nation and you complied. No wonder Satan loves to twist the idea that since Jesus told Pilate his kingdom was not of this world, it also meant that Jesus had no throne anywhere. He was just a simple servant who came to teach us how to suffer well. Of course Satan who comes to steak, kill, and destroy would want Christians folding their hands as he ruins and maims. Things change when Christians develop an overcomer’s mindset. 
• Point 4– Before Jesus was born, Isaiah 9:6-7 prophesied “unto us a child is born…the government shall be upon His shoulders.” This is an important Scripture to understand about the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 
• Point 5–  A charge Jesus had to answer before Pilate was whether He was King of the Jews. Jesus admitted that He was- Luke 23: 3
• Point 6– What seems to have been an issue for many to understand Christ’s kingdom application during the church age was that He said “My Kingdom is not of this world“- John 18:36. BUT HE ADDS: “my kingdom is from another place” Where is that place ? Heaven is that place. See Acts 2:24-36 passage. When Peter was preaching on Pentecost he quoted the famous Psalms 110. He also mentioned that Jesus had now been enthroned at the Father’s right hand. From this we gather that the Jesus who was born as a baby in a manger, was a prophet and teacher during His days on earth, suffered and died for our sins- and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures, was exalted when He ascended- and the time He sat on the throne after ascension marked the beginning of His post mediatorial work reign. This is what we commonly called the mediatorial kingdom of Christ. He has been administering since that time. Christ is king now, not waiting to become one at a future date. In the book of Revelation, apostle John has a vision of Jesus. The Jesus Christ he sees there looks much different from the man on whose bosom he had laid. Indeed, when John sees Him at first, with blazing eyes of fire and a sword in His mouth, the first though he had was not to lay on his bosom, rather to tremble and fall before Him, “as though dead”- Revelation 1:17. The Christ of Bethlehem was born as a poor baby and ran away from Herod. The Christ of Nazareth did carpentry for sometime before He was revealed at the Jordan River after baptism under John. The Jesus who preached throughout Galilee and Judea was a meek itinerant healer who brought joy to many while being opposed by Pharisees. The Jesus who suffered, was spit upon, was given a crown of thorns, mocking salutes by Roman Soldiers, and crucified for our sins was the “Man of Sorrows” prophesied by Isaiah 53. The Christ who rose had entered a new phase of His earthly journey, now proving to His disciples that He had won victory and He was indeed who He had claimed to be all along, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Now this Christ is seated on a throne in heaven and is known as the “Lamb upon the throne” or the “Lion of tribe of Judah”- It is a position that evoked “weep not” [Revelation 5:5], when John saw the scenes of what was happening, and nobody else was found worthy to open the scrolls. This Christ will soon rapture His bride, the church, and after we spend some time at our mansions in glory [John 14:1-3; Revelation 19:7-11], we will come back down with Him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. He was, He is, and He is to come.

Devotionals, Second Week of December