Category: Today’s Word

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. (Acts 16:16-18)

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Mental illnesses are real and everywhere, destroying the lives of individuals, families, and our communities. The United States alone spends billions of dollars annually on mental health care. And yet, there are no fundamental cures.

Scripture says people are unhappy because they have been separated from God, the very source of happiness. They may acquire things of the world but no peace and rest. In pursuit of happiness, people turn to all kinds of things in life, but they provide only temporary relief from their present reality. Scripture explains why: People cannot escape from the power of Satan, sin, and hell (Ac 10:38).

God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus as the Christ to destroy the devil’s work (1 Jn 3:8). Jesus gave us the promise of healing to our mental illnesses when He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

Like Paul in Today’s Word, when you realize who Jesus is and know the spiritual authority God has given to you, the forces of darkness will collapse in your life.

If you or someone in your family has been struggling with severe mental issues, know that God has a unique plan for you and your family. Commit your situation to the Word of God. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb 4:12).

Remain in the Word proclaimed at your local church (Ac 2:42-47; Ac 11:19-30). With the help of ministers of the Word, continue to feed your soul, heart, and mind with the Word (Ac 13:1-12; Ac 16:16-18; Ac 19:8-20). Discover the rhythm of your life through prayer. Team up with your family to fight the battle against the enemy.

Only Christ, the kingdom of God, and the Holy Spirit can ultimately defeat the power of mental illnesses. God promised you the power from above. You and your family will be Christ’s witnesses, bringing God’s healing to your community (Ac 1:8).

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Prayer. Father, You have searched and know me in the deepest part of my life. I come to You as I am. I commit my life to You and Your Word. May Your Word heal my soul and spirit, joints and marrow, the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.” (Matthew 12:25-29)

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

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Spiritual healing begins when you rely entirely on the covenant of God, that is, Christ. Only when you live by faith in Christ alone will the forces of darkness finally collapse in your life. Only when you are filled with the Holy Spirit will you be able to overcome your weaknesses, the world, and your enemy, the devil.

Only when prayer becomes your life will you be able to experience the presence of God in all circumstances. Only when you live a life of witness for Christ will you finally discover your reason for living.

When this happens, the devil cannot touch you with the problems of your heart and mind. God has already turned all of your scars, failures, and troubles of the past into a blessing. They have become God’s ordained opportunity to heal you and save lives through you. They will become the reason for singing and thanksgiving.

God desires to heal our spirits, hearts, and minds as well as our lives as a whole. But the biggest obstacle to living a life of faith is idols—our own thoughts, philosophy, convictions, religion, and legalism, including all forms of physical idols.

Unseen to our eyes, these idols occupy our hearts and minds and dictate our speech and actions. Unable to escape from the reality of the idols, many believers experience a vicious cycle of spiritual instability in life.

Therefore, we must first escape from our religious environment. For Nicodemus, religion was the greatest obstacle to his coming to eternal life. Completely blinded by his religious achievements and pious life, he could not understand why spiritual rebirth was necessary (Jn 3:1-12).

Many people are also caught in legalism. The law is God’s Word, but legalism is an idol. Giving tithes, for instance, is God’s Word, but giving tithes religiously, trying to earn God’s favor, is legalism. Legalism is detestable to God and becomes like a heavyweight to Him (Isa 1:13-14).

Also, many believers place compassionate attitudes, all forms of godliness, and religious zeal before the gospel. Some follow the principle of positive thinking, and some even follow pessimism. All of these create a toxic spiritual environment.

We also need healing in our environment, filled with idols—anything we make, statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or anything on the earth, or anything down in the water (Ex 20:4-5).

We must stop clinging to what we used to believe—”hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Col 2:8).

We should also stop placing church authority over the gospel and the Word. No organizations are above the authority of Scripture. We must always choose the gospel over a practice of piety, the power of the gospel over a form of godliness (2 Tim 3:5).

Listen to what Jesus says in Today’s Word. It is Satan who causes division and all kinds of conflicts (Mt 12:25-29). He uses all forms of idols, his primary instruments of destruction. He knows very well that idolatry leaves people’s lives dry and empty. He aims to intensify the life of idolatry to make the final condition of people worse than the first (Mt 12:43-45).

This is why we need to rely only on Christ, only the spirit of God, and only the kingdom of God. Do not leave your heart, mind, and life dry and empty. Fill them with the Word of God. Never stop enjoying the good news that Jesus is the Christ, the ultimate answer to all of your problems.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for healing my life filled with idols by the power of Your Spirit. May Your kingdom come to my life today. Drive out all the demons trying to devour my life. And fill my spirit, heart, and mind with Your Word. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

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Scripture states that everyone was born with a deadly spiritual disease (Eph 2:1). The problem gets deeper during toddler ages and exposed during primary ages. When they reach adolescence, they begin to get afflicted by these hidden problems. When they reach college and become young adults, their minds are completely overtaken by their long-standing spiritual issues.

If you are struggling with continual conflicts, they may be traced back to the scars of your past, family background, upbringing, failures, or some unusual experiences. If you dwell on these problems, they can be used as an instrument of Satan, which can destroy your life.

The devil continues to try to devour you (1 Pet 5:7-8), causing anxiety (Php 4:6-7), trying to build a foothold in your mind (Eph 4:20-27), blinding your spiritual sight (2 Cor 4:4-5), and bringing a dangerous delusion (2 Thess 2:10-11).

But these problems can be used positively when you see them through the lens of the gospel. They are a God-ordained opportunity to display His work in your life and the lives of others suffering from similar issues. God can use them to save lives through you when you discover the directions and missions for your life in all this.

Remember, your True Priest Jesus came to give rest to your mind and heart. He wants you to know that He already carried the burdens of your mind on the cross. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:3).

Your True King Jesus has destroyed the power of the enemy who forced you to carry your burdens. It was not intended for you to carry. Take the yoke of your True Prophet Jesus on you instead, enjoying the gospel of peace and rest (Mt 11:28-30).

Don’t forget to wear God’s full armor—the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit (Word of God), and the gospel of peace (Eph 6:10-17).

Engage in your spiritual battle through prayer on all occasions (Eph 6:18). God will turn all your problems into a reason for thanksgiving, the most destructive weapon we have against the enemy. Don’t give up; the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Rom 16:20).

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Prayer. Lord, I thank You for bringing rest to my life through Jesus Christ. Help me proclaim the gospel of peace to those struggling with broken hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

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Why do the people of religion perish? They do not know, accept, and believe the good news that Jesus is the Christ. What is, then, the reason for the continual failure of many believers? To them, the good news that Jesus is the Christ is not everything.

Their old self still lives and rules their own lives. Christ is not the Lord of their lives. They are still sitting on the throne. They do not live by faith in Christ alone. They are still holding onto something else. As a result, they cannot escape from their own spiritual problems.

Scripture warns us that the devil goes around like a roaring lion looking for believers to devour (1 Pe 5:8). Scripture also commands us not to give the devil a foothold (Eph 4:27). The enemy constantly tries to trap us with various spiritual problems through idols, ideologies, philosophy, religion, humanism, anxiety, and jealousy.

This is why so many of us are tired and weary from carrying the heavy burden we have been forced to carry without being able to experience rest in Christ. We don’t find the gospel easy and light (Mt 11:28-30). We need spiritual healing.

Spiritual healing comes only from complete reliance on God’s covenant, namely, His Word. The Word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts into us. It cuts deep to where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts (Heb 4:12).

When only Christ remains in our lives, all the power of the enemy will collapse (Jn 17:1-8). Only by the power of the Holy Spirit will we be able to overcome the world. (Ac 1:8).

Only by living a life of continual prayer will everything in our lives be restored. Only by living a life of Christ’s witnesses will we know God’s perfect time, plans, and answers (Ac 2:1-47).

Do not be deceived by the devil. He is always against the truth. There is no truth in him. Everything he says is a lie. He is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). Don’t let him fool you with your long-standing spiritual problems. Hold onto Christ alone. Make Christ your Christ. Make the gospel your gospel.

Do not also be deceived by your old self. You can be truly honest before God. You cannot and don’t have to hide anything from God. If you think you can, you are only fooling yourself. You will harvest from your own spiritual problems. Rely on the power of the blood of Christ. That is the only way to stop living to satisfy your sinful self. Live a life that pleases the Spirit, and you will harvest eternal life (Gal 6:7-8).

And do not be deceived by your present circumstances. What you see is not the end, no matter how miserable and hopeless that may seem. Nothing is impossible for God, who has given you the only name by which you must be saved (Rom 7:24-25).

Your present circumstances are a God-ordained opportunity. All hardships are an instrument God has chosen to bless you. When you are in trouble, know that it is God’s perfect time to fill you with the Holy Spirit.

Remember, your True King Jesus, who destroyed the devil’s work, lives in you. Your True Priest, who broke the curses of sin over you, lives in you. Your True Prophet, who opened the way from hell to heaven, lives in you.

So, do not worry about anything. Do not let your spiritual problems trap you any longer. Live by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave himself for you.

Why did God use Paul? He sought out remnants and preached the gospel to them. He also carried out healing ministries. Therefore, we must be healed by the power of the gospel and heal others, or evangelism and missions are practically impossible. Embrace it in your heart.

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Prayer. Father, thank You for healing my spirit and soul through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me hold onto only Your word, only Christ, only the Holy Spirit, only prayer, and only evangelism throughout my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

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Prayer should not follow your life. Instead, your life should follow prayer. Life itself should be prayer. Prayer should not be the last resort in your life.

Prayer is not something you do only when you are in trouble. Prayer is not something you use to improve your present circumstances. That is the prayer of the people of religion.

Prayer is enjoying God. In the morning (Ps 5:3); in the daytime (Ps 23:1-6); in the evening (Ps 17:3). And all the time (Eph 6:18).

Learn the secret of having a “downtime” with God. King David knew the joy of having his downtime with God. Daniel prayed three times a day, holding onto the covenant even when faced with death (Dan 6:10).

Peter and John met a crippled beggar when they went to the temple to pray (Ac 3:1-10). Philip met an Ethiopian official while praying in Samaria (Ac 8:26-40). While enjoying his downtime with God, Ananias was entrusted with the man who would become the greatest evangelist of all time, Paul (Ac 9:10-16). So, make your downtime with your Father the happiest time each day. Make prayer your life.

When you pray, confirm the Word of God recorded in Scripture (1 Tim 3:14). These are the words of prophecy that have been, still are, and will be fulfilled.

That is why great blessings belong to the person who reads, hears, and obeys the word God (Rev 1:3).AndtheWord of God lasts forever(Isa 40:8), and nothing will disappear from Scripture, and the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until it has all been done(Mt 5:17-18).

Scripture is also complete(Deu 4:2). Anyone who adds anything to or takes away from Scripture will be eternally condemned (Rev 22:18-19). God’s Word is like a lamp that guides your steps, a light that shows the path you should take(Ps 119:105).

You don’t have to rely on anything in this world as God’s Word of grace can build you up (Ac 20:32). The Word of God is the most potent weapon against Satan(Mt 4:1-11).

Scripture will open your eyes to see the world through the lens of the gospel. You will realize that people have been fundamentally cursed because of Satan, sin, and hell (Gen 3:1-15, Eph 2:1-3). You will also realize why God had to send the Christ(Gen 3:15).

Based on the evidence in Scripture, you will acknowledge that Jesus had to be the Christ, who fulfilled all the prophecies concerning Him, more than 400 in all (Isa 7:14, Mt 1:21). Scripture also gives you the eternal promise that the Holy Spirit lives in you, guiding and empowering your life (Jn 14:26-27, Rom 8:2).

This is why God has given us Scripture—so we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and then, by believing, we can have life through His name (Jn 20:31).

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. It was written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us (Rom 15:4). These things that happened in the past are examples for us. These examples should stop us from wanting the things of the world(1 Cor 10:6).

Therefore, receive the Word of God as if your life depends on it. Your life does depend on God’s Word. Keep the Word deep in your heart (Ps 119:11).

In all circumstances, stop worrying and start praying by faith in the Word of God. As you get deeper with God in prayer, you will experience His power to overcome anything in this world. You will see undeniable evidence of God in your life.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for spending time with me today. Help me continue what I have learned from Scripture and become convinced of it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. (1 Peter 2:2)

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The Bible presents evidence concerning the past. Scripture gives clear answers to the questions about the past. What is the fundamental problem of mankind? How did it start? What was the consequence? What did God do about it? Why is God’s covenant of Christ the only solution to the problem of mankind? How can then one be saved? Only the Bible explains these crucial issues of mankind.

The Bible also contains answers concerning the present. What happens when one receives and believes Jesus as the Christ? How does one experience the blessing of heaven here on earth? How does one live with a purpose in life? How does one engage in a spiritual battle against the enemy? How does one overcome the world? The solution to every problem in life is found in Scripture.

In addition, Scripture gives directions concerning the future. Where is the fallen world heading? What are the signs of the end times? What is God’s timeline for the gospel movement that will block the disasters and calamities that have come upon the world? What must the church of Christ do? How should the saints live in this age of spiritual chaos? Scripture opens our eyes to the future.

The Holy Spirit, the Author of Scripture (2 Tim 3:16), directed 40 individuals to record God’s Word over a span of 1,500 years. But not one of the Scriptures is missing. Not one is without its mate. God said He would make this happen. His Spirit brought them together (Isa 34:16).

There is only one message of Scripture God has been trying to communicate with mankind: “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” From Genesis to Revelation, there is only one story: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

Scripture is all about God the Father who, from the beginning of time, conceived a plan to save mankind from the power of darkness; God the Son who executed the plan by His death and resurrection; God the Spirit who applies the finished work of the Son by giving life to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. Scripture is all about God’s persistent love for mankind.

Scripture tells us how uniquely God created mankind (Gen 1:27-28). Scripture also tells us the beginning of all problems of mankind—the Fall (Gen 3:1-6). As a result, all have been living under the power of Satan, sin, and hell.

Compelled by His love for mankind, God called Abraham and made a covenant with him and the people of Israel (Gen 12:1-3). Throughout the Old Testament history, God spoke to His people about the coming of Christ.

When the time came, God, the Word, became a man and lived among us(Jn 1:14). He came to die on the cross, thus obtaining eternal redemption for us (Heb 9:12). He is the Christ, our Lord.

God still proclaims the gospel through His church and continues with His work of salvation. And the gospel about God’s kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world. It will be spread to every nation. Then the end will come (Mt 24:14).

Scripture also says that Christ will then come again, and there will be the final judgment, and God’s kingdom will be completed (Rev 21:1-27).

The Word of God feeds our spirit. When we are born into the family of God, we crave spiritual milk, the Word of God, like newborn babies. With it, we can grow up and be saved.

We are not to live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Mt 4:4). When we receive the Word, we are meeting with God Himself.

God still works through the Word even today. God gave us His Spirit when we believed so that we may understand the Word. The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Word in our time of need.

So hold firmly onto God’s promise He gave you through the Word. Discover God’s answers in the Word to every single issue of your life.

Let the Word guard your heart and mind. Let the Word lead you on the road you never walked before. Let the Word heal your soul, spirit, and body, even your thoughts and attitudes (Heb 4:12). You will then see that God will fulfill His Word in your life:

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa 55:10-11)

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for the Word of life. Let Your Word heal my soul, spirit, and body, even my thoughts and attitudes. Help me follow the Word throughout the day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. 1 Chronicles 16:29.Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!Bring your offering and come into his presence.Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. (John 4:24)

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The first thing God taught His people in the wilderness after the Exodus was worship. He commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle, which housed the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 26:1-37). God wanted to teach His people that experiencing and living in His presence through worship determines everything in life.

Some people, unfortunately, failed to recognize the importance of worship. God commanded Joshua to keep a distance between the people and the ark (Jos 3:4).

When the Philistines took the ark, God’s hand was against them, bringing calamities and troubles (1 Sam 5:1-12). When Uzzah unlawfully touched the ark, he was put to death (2 Sam 6:1-8).

When Michal despised in her heart her husband King David leaping and dancing before God when the ark entered the city, she remained barren for the rest of her life (1 Sam 6:16-23).

God did not intend to bring terror to His people because of the ark. He wanted His people to know the meaning and importance of worship. His message for us is the same even today: Failure in worship leads to failure in life.

During worship, God speaks to us through His servants. This is why God’s messengers for His church must not try to make their message beautiful and convincing. Instead, they should struggle in prayer, asking God to give them the message He wants for His people.

As we receive the message, we must acknowledge God’s messengers, no matter how lacking they appear, because God lacks nothing. They are simply a postman delivering messages from God in heaven.T hus, we must focus on what God says to us during worship.

Tragically, when Miriam and Aaron failed to acknowledge their own brother Moses as the servant of God, Miriam was cursed with leprosy (Num 12:1-10), and Aaron ended up making the golden calf (Ex 32:1-35). We often miss God’s cues in obvious places. So continue to pray for your pastors and those who labor for the sake of the gospel.

Before we worship, we must understand the One we are worshiping. This is the age of idolatry. People worship the creation, not the Creator. They worship themselves, money, and pleasure. The believers may act religiously, but they are ignorant of and even reject the power of the gospel (2 Tim 3:1-5).

We often worship without knowing the reality of the Triune God during worship. God the Father carries out His covenant through the Word; God the Son executes the work of the Christ, destroying the curses of Satan, sin, and hell; God the Spirit applies the blessing of salvation, empowering us so that we may stand as Christ’s witnesses.

The One to worship is our God, the Almighty, who is holy, who always was, who is, and who is still to come (Rev 4:8). He is the only one worthy to receive glory, honor, and power (Rev 4:11). He is the One to whom we should sing a new song (Rev 5:9-10). He is the Lamb who was killed, and all power, wealth, wisdom, and strengthbelong to Him. He is worthy to receive our honor, glory, and praise (Rev 5:12-13).

This is the worship God desires—in the Spirit and truth (Jn 4:24). It’s the kind of worship led by the Spirit and following the truth, the Word of God. When we come to worship, we should remember:

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than offer the sacrifice of fools who do not know they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth; do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few”(Ecc 5:1-2).

Begin your worship with praise, acknowledging who God is (Heb 13:15). Come before Him with confidence in prayer, knowing what happens in the heavenly realms when you pray (Rev 5:8, Rev 8:3-4).

Be attentive to what God has to say to you with reverence and eager expectation (Ps78:1, Neh 8:5-9). And give cheerfully with gratitude what belongs to God, from whom all blessings flow (Prov3:9-10, Mt 6:21, Mal 3:10-12).

Are you struggling with life’s problems and challenges? Why don’t you restore the blessing and the joy of worship today?

When the disciples met the risen Christ, they worshiped Him (Mt 28:17). They finally recognized Jesus as the eternal God who deserved their worship. They were consumed by the great love of Christ, who laid down His life for them.

They were stunned by the power of resurrection God displayed through Christ. Because of what Christ has done, they experienced new freedom from Satan, sin, and hell.

They saw Jesus with absolute authority over all things in heaven and on earth. Jesus had their full attention—their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

This is what worship is all about. When you get to know Jesus, you will worship Him.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for the privilege to come before You in worship. Restore in me the joy of worship in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:9-13)

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Prayer is a spiritual science. Just as science reveals facts, accurate answers come from God when you pray. It operates according to spiritual principles, much like scientific laws. People suffer due to a lack of spiritual understanding (Hos 4:6), and believers struggle in life without grasping the mystery of prayer.

When you pray, the Holy Spirit moves powerfully in and through you. As Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit’s work cannot be stopped (Acts 2:1-4). He will empower you from above to overcome the forces of Satan and the world (Acts 1:8). The Spirit will also guide you on the right path (Acts 6:6-10).

When you pray, God dispatches His angels to receive every word you think and speak: “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand” (Rev 8:3-4). The angels offer up your prayer to the God of Creation!

The work of angels is evident throughout Scripture. Three angels delivered the message that God would give Abraham a son (Gen 18:2-15). God sent an angel to assist Elijah in despair (1 Kings 19:5-7). God sent an army with horses and chariots of fire to protect the city of Dothan, where Elijah was staying, from the vast army of Aram (2 Kings 6:13-17). When God heard Hezekiah’s prayer in crisis, He sent an angel to strike the 185,000-strong Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35). To Daniel in the lion’s den, God sent angels for rescue (Dan 6:22).

To prepare for the coming of His Son, God sent the angel Gabriel to Zechariah to bring the good news of the birth of John the Baptist (Mk 1:11-20). After Jesus overcame the temptation of the devil, angels came and attended him (Mt 4:11). The ministry of the angels intensified with the gospel movement carried out by the early Christians (Acts 5:19, 8:26, 10:3, 12:7, 12:23, 27:23).

The prayer of the saints spoken in the name of Jesus is powerful. In the name of Jesus, the kingdom of Satan falls, and the power of evil spirits crumbles. Prayer can change anything. So stop worrying about your life, but start praying! Your heavenly Father made the earth, formed it, and established it. When you pray, He will answer you and tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come (Jer 33:3). Seek first His kingdom and ask His absolute plans for your life through prayer!

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Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see what happens when I pray. Help me to pray in the Spirit in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

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The most important blessing we all must experience at every moment is salvation. Nothing is more dramatic than becoming the children of God. Nothing is more exciting than obtaining freedom from the law of sin and death. Nothing is more assuring than possessing the right to receive answers to prayer. Nothing is more rewarding than living a life of witness for Christ. And nothing is more privileged than becoming a member of the church of Jesus Christ.

God’s absolute plan is to build His church worldwide (Mt 16:18). He already laid out His plans to establish His church: Christ, His kingdom, and the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:1-8). To that end, God gathered a few who believed in His eternal covenant (Ac 1:14). And His church was born (Ac 2:1-47).

The only thing this church did was this: “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Ac 5:42). This is the church God desires to establish even today.

God appointed His church leaders to continue the gospel movement (Ac 6:1-7). He allowed the persecution connected with Stephen to build His church at Antioch (Ac 11:19-30). Through this church, God opened the door to world missions (Ac 13:1-3).

The church of Christ was spreading all over Macedonia (Ac 16:6-40), Thessalonica (Ac 17:1-9), Ephesus (Ac 18:18-28), Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11), Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13), and Rome (Rom 16:1-23). These churches were established in someone’s home right in the heart of the mission fields.

God desires church, not just church buildings. Why did God destroy the three temples built by Solomon, Zerubbabel, and Herod? Why did God dismiss the churches in the Middle Ages? Why does God lament over today’s church?

A church without a courtyard for the Gentiles, a courtyard for healing, and a courtyard for the children, the remnants, is no church at all. This is why Jesus was furious when He entered the temple (Jn 2:13-19). That temple would not survive (Mt 24:2).

Throughout history, whenever the church of Christ lost its identity and missions, all kinds of disasters and calamities covered the world. Today, the number of churches worldwide is shrinking at an alarming rate. God called His church as a guardian of the message of the cross, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is disappearing, distorted, and water-downed. As a result, the entire world is suffering. This is the church’s responsibility.

Knowing the incredible power of the gospel, Satan raises false prophets and teachers to throw people into confusion, even the people of God. They do so by placing miracles and signs, legalism, myths, and religious lifestyles above God’s way of salvation through Christ alone. They are trying to invalidate the unconditional love and the unbounded grace of God. They are not ashamed of preaching the so-called “prosperity gospel,” which is really no gospel at all.

As a result, today’s believers live and act like spiritual orphans or babies. They are like people who are constantly changing, like a ship that the waves carry one way and then another. They are influenced by new teachings from people trying to deceive them using clever plans and tricks to fool them into following the wrong way.

To this end, we must restore our true identity as a church and commit our lives again to the Great Commission Jesus gave to His church (Mt 28:18-20). But how?

We must first restore the blessing of worship centered on Christ (Ac 2:42). As the Early Church did, we must not stop teaching and preaching the gospel that Jesus is the Christ (Ac 5:42).

As Today’s Word admonishes us, we must prepare God’s people for the work of serving, making the body of Christ stronger. This work must continue until we are all joined together only in the gospel and experience Jesus Life and Jesus Power in our daily lives. Let us keep our hearts pure to the gospel and help the people of God stay strong in the faith without being swayed by different gospels.

Let us not forget who God called us to be. We are the support and foundation of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). Let us continue to stand firm on the truth that Jesus is the Christ.

To everyone God brings to our lives, let us act on behalf of Christ (Mt 25:40). We are Christ’s ambassadors entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20).

Christ is sending us to bring healing to all nations completely covered by darkness (Jn 20:21; Mk 16:15). We have the ultimate responsibility of passing on the gospel to the next generation of churches (Jn 21:15-17).

Most importantly, remember that you are the church (1 Cor 3:16). You are the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives in you. That’s what makes you special and unique. You have been set apart for the work God has prepared for long ages past. Wherever you go, there goes the church, and the people will be blessed through you.

Also, we are the church (Mt 18:18-20). When you get together with brothers and sisters in Christ, He will be there. Christ’s church will be established among you. When this church prays in His name, anything is possible.

Find those who know the mystery of Christ. You will see the church of God being established among you. The power of hell will not overcome this church (Mt 16:18). Pray for your local church that they may devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching (the Word), fellowship, the breaking of bread (experiencing the power of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ), and prayer (Ac 2:42), so that a life-changing work of God may take place in your region.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for Your church. May Your church restore Your light and shine into the world completely covered by darkness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

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When you believed Jesus as the Christ and received Him as your Lord and Savior, God gave you the privilege of prayer.

Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). When you pray in Jesus’ name, you can move heaven and earth! God has given this privilege only to His children.

Before you pray, know the mystery of the Triune God—Immanuel (Eph 1:13-14). Experience your heavenly background where the incredible power of the Triune God is present.

God the Father still carries out His covenant through the Word; God the Son executes the work of the Christ, destroying the curses of Satan, sin, and hell; God the Spirit applies the blessing of salvation, empowering us so that we may stand as Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. The work of the Triune God is hard to express, but it is real.

You must also believe that when you pray, your Father will give you the best gift of all: the filling of the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13). He will not withhold anything from you. He even let His own Son suffer for us and gave Him for all of us. So now, with Jesus, God will surely give us all things (Rom 8:32).

Because our True Priest Jesus lives in us, we can come before God’s throne with confidence, where we receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it (Heb 4:16).

When you meet with God in prayer, you will taste the greatest joy of all—being with Him. When you ask for anything in Jesus’ name, God will do it, and His glory will be shown through the Son (Jn 14:13).

As you experience the presence of God, you will grow strong in His grace and see His plans accomplished in you and through you. You can pray and ask God for everything you need in every situation!

Learn to live a life of prayer. Never stop praying (1 Thess 5:17). You may wish to set aside specific times for prayer (Dan 6:10, Ac 3:1). Like breathing, make prayer the rhythm of your life. Also, praying with other believers is powerful and effective (Mt 18:19-20).

When you pray, begin with praise by acknowledging who God is (1 Chr 29:11-12). Your Father, to whom all greatness, power, glory, victory, honor, and everything in heaven and on earth belong. The Ruler over everything.

Do not hide your guilt and the sins you committed before God (Ps 32:5). Experience the blessing of forgiveness by holding onto what your True Priest Jesus has done on the cross—breaking the power of sin over you.

Always give thanks to God for everything, believing in God’s perfect plans in all circumstances (Eph 5:20). Don’t forget to lift others in your prayer, as your prayer for them is powerful and effective (Jas 5:16). Of course, you may present any requests to your Father (Mt 7:7-8).

God is not expecting some tremendous religious faith from you. He wants you to believe in Him. To that end, remain in the Word (Jn 15:7). Hold on to God’s promises and His plans revealed in the Word.

Finally, know the power of the name of Jesus when you pray (Jn 14:14). Ask by faith (Mt 21:22). Believe that you have already received the things you asked for, then they will be yours (Mk 11:24).

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for the privilege of prayer. Teach me how to live a life of prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.