Category: Today’s Word

Genesis 3:1-6. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

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The most tragic event in the history of humanity is the separation from God. This is called original sin. It is the state of life and spirit completely cut off from God and seized by the devil. As a result, all have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), and spiritual death came upon everyone (Eph 2:1).

How did it happen? The devil, “the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), tempted the first man and woman to rebel against God by breaking God’s covenant with them (Gen 2:16-17). The devil offered something irresistible: “You will be like God” (Gen 3:5). Unfortunately, Adam and Eve took the bait, and that was the beginning of all the curses that came upon the entire human race.

Who is the devil, the one who carried out this terrible act? He is also known as the great dragon, the ancient serpent, or Satan, who has been leading the whole world astray (Rev 12:9). He was once one of the chosen Cherubs, spreading his wings over God’s throne. God placed him on His holy mountain, and he walked among the jewels that sparkled like fire (Eze 28:14).

According to Isaiah 14:12-14, Lucifer, the morning star, fell from the sky. All the nations on earth had bowed before him, but he was cut down. Why? He had always told himself, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Does it sound familiar? That was the same lie the serpent told Adam and Eve (Gen 3:5).

Satan’s rebellion against God did not succeed. Having lost the war against Michael and his angels, he was cast down to the deep pit—Sheol, the place of death (Isa 14:15, Rev 12:9). He is filled with anger because he knows he doesn’t have much time. Before he is finally locked up in hell, he plans to cause as much destruction as possible, bringing suffering, disasters, calamities, and death (Gen 3:16-20).

Even now, people live under the power of the devil (Ac 10:38). When making choices, God is not there—only “I” exists (Gen 3:1-6). They are not interested in anything spiritual—only worldly things (Gen 6:1-5). Rather than considering God’s will, covenant, or plan, they are obsessed with what benefits them most and is more advantageous for their success (Gen 11:1-4).

This is why unbelievers are destined to live as children of the devil (Jn 8:44) and worship idols (Ex 20:4-5). As a result, they suffer mentally (Mt 11:28) and physically (Ac 8:4-8). When they finally leave the earth, they will be eternally condemned in hell (Lk 16:19-31) and leave generational curses to their children (Mt 27:25).

People are desperately seeking a way out of the power of Satan, sin, and hell. They practice all kinds of philosophies or ways of life and choose religion as a last resort. However, religion has no life. It is the act of idolatry that God detests. Religion has no power over Satan, sin, or hell. The devil controls and works behind all religions.

The only way to escape from this fundamental problem is the gospel that Jesus is the Christ. Knowing that we cannot escape from the pit where we have been trapped as captives, God has given us the gospel first: “He [Christ] will crush your [Satan’s] head” (Gen 3:15).

Jesus finished the work of the Christ when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead. That is why anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 Jn 5:1). God will give them the right to become children of God (Jn 1:12). They will be eternally set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2).

This gospel, which had been hidden for ages, has come to you! It is not something you earned, but it is the gift of God. By grace, God chose you before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4)—even before you did anything right or wrong!

So, enjoy rest, peace, and joy in Christ. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Live your life for the sake of the gospel—the life best lived!

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for settling all my problems—past, present, and future—through Christ. Help me enjoy the gospel in all circumstances and live my life for the sake of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ephesians 2:1-3. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

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The nations in the world are rapidly advancing. Modern technology affects every aspect of our lives, including our lifespan. Why, then, do people continue to wander in suffering? Why is the condition of human hearts and minds getting worse than ever before? Why are our young generations living in despair without knowing the purpose of life?

Scripture states why. Since the separation from God, the Everlasting Father, everyone has become a spiritual orphan, dead and lost in sin without knowing how to return to Him (Eph 2:1).

Under the power of the devil, the father of lies, everyone has been living as a spiritual beggar, living on the crumbs tossed by the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Eph 2:2). Since birth, everyone is by nature deserving of wrath (Eph 2:3).

Our sins and transgressions continuously bring disasters and calamities to our lives. As a result, spiritual, mental, and physical afflictions have become a permanent part of our lives. We accept it as fate.

Nothing in the world can settle the fundamental problem of sin—original sin, sins of the father, and the actual sins we commit. No religions, no philosophies of the world, and none of our good deeds can set us free from the law of sin and death. This is the consequence of the spiritual separation caused by the devil (Gen 3:1-20).

Furthermore, having lost the Creator God, who deserves our praise and worship, humanity has idolized themselves, money, and pleasure (2 Tim 3:1-5). Deceived by the devil, people have become their own god (Gen 3:5).

People realize, often too late in the last days of their lives, that nothing in the world can satisfy their thirst and hunger. Without meeting God, there is no true happiness, rest, and peace (Mt 11:28-30). People wander their entire lives, searching for a map that may lead them back to God. But there is only one map given to us that will lead us back to our Father.

Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). He is the True Prophet, the only way back to God. As our True King, He destroyed the power of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). As our True Priest, He ended all the curses of life of a spiritual orphan and adopted us as children of God (Rom 8:2). He is the Christ, the Son of the living God! He rose again from the dead and works powerfully in us through the Holy Spirit.

So, stop wandering because your search is over. Stop living like an orphan or a beggar. Jesus promised, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (Jn 14:18).

Jesus kept His promise by sending His Spirit to you when you received and believed Him as the Christ. The Holy Spirit came to be with you and will never leave you (Jn 14:16), teach you everything (Jn 14:26), and show you what is to come (Jn 16:13).

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for searching for me as I was searching for You in vain. I am so happy to know that I have been found in Christ. Use my life to share the gospel, the only map leading to You, with those still searching for the answer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)

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Jesus said this when He sent out His disciples to preach the gospel. Even if you offer a “cup of cold water to one of these little ones,” God will not forget it. Then how much more will God reward those who give the gospel of life to someone?

Scripture says that God has chosen evangelism as the means of salvation: “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21).

We cannot know God through anything we understand or do. That is why God has given us the good news that Jesus is the Christ. He has chosen us as His instrument to carry the gospel to all nations.

Jesus called us to save lives from eternal destruction—the greatest blessing of all: “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mt 4:19). All we have to do is follow Him.

He called us not because we were qualified but because He wanted us. He called us to be with us. He wanted to send us out to preach the gospel. To that end, He has given us the power to drive out demons (Mk 3:13-15).

But why did Jesus give us the authority to drive out demons? The whole world is under the control of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19). In Jesus’ name, we drive out demons that have taken over the people’s minds and today’s culture. He has given us the spiritual authority to trample on snakes and scorpions. He will deliver us from all harm. He wants us to bring His healing to those suffering from all kinds of illnesses (Mk 16:15-20).

Thus, we must consider the limited time available for individuals, the present age, and the world. Everything we see now will eventually end when the gospel is told worldwide and spread to every nation (Mt 24:14).

Jesus promised that we would be His witnesses in every part of the world (Ac 1:8). That was His last promise before ascending into heaven after the resurrection. Thus, evangelism must be of the utmost importance in our lives.

Unfortunately, many believers live lives that have nothing to do with evangelism. Some consider evangelism very difficult, and some think it is only for people with unique gifts and training.

But evangelism is a natural life movement for those given life. If the blood of Christ has saved you, evangelism is simply introducing Jesus to others living under the power of the devil (Ac 10:38).

That is why evangelism is one of the greatest blessings given to us. Satan fears evangelism and tries to keep us from proclaiming the gospel. If you know, believe, and confirm that Jesus is the Christ, evangelism will occur in your daily lives. If you are with Christ, enjoying life and power in Him, you won’t be able to help speaking about what you have seen and heard (Ac 4:20).

It is not about doing evangelism or not. The question is how close evangelism is to your lives. Throughout history, God’s time has always been the time of evangelism and missions—saving lives. So, tune your life’s schedule to God’s time of evangelism. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33).

The resurrected Lord has commanded us: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:18); “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”(Mk 16:15); “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:19); “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Ac 1:8). He is inviting you to a life best lived—the life of the evangelist.

Living the life of the evangelist itself is a blessing. But God will not forget even the most minor thing you do for the sake of the gospel, like giving a cup of cold water. Jesus also promised,

“I can promise that everyone who has left their home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farm for me and the gospel about me will get a hundred times more than they left. Here in this world, they will get more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms. And with these things they will have persecutions. But in the world that is coming they will also get the reward of eternal life” (Mk 10:29-30).

Paul understood the blessing of evangelists which come from above: “worth of knowing Christ Jesus,” “to gain Christ and be found in him,” “to know the power of his resurrection,” “attaining to the resurrection from the dead,” “that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me,” “straining toward what is ahead,” “to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,” “our citizenship is in heaven” (Php 3:1-21).

To Paul, the people he had saved by the power of the gospel were his greatest reward. Paul anticipated the crown he would be proud of—those who had come to Christ through him. They were his hope and joy (2 Thess 2:19-20).

So, resolve today: only Christ (Ac 1:1), only the kingdom of God (Ac 1:3), only the Holy Spirit, and only Christ’s witness (Ac 1:8). This is everything an evangelist needs to overcome the power of Satan and the world.

Do not be swayed by anything or anybody. Only those who believe Jesus is the Christ overcome the world (1 Jn 5:1-5). Do not be discouraged. The One with all authority in heaven and on earth lives in you. Jesus promised: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:16-20).

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as an evangelist for such a time as this. Fill me with Your strength so I may keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”

No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” (Luke 16:19-31)

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Scripture states that the last day of everyone’s life, the end of this age, and the end of this planet will surely come. After that, everyone will face judgment (Heb 9:27). Today’s Word is a parable Jesus told to illustrate life after death.

Who will go to heaven? The children of God. Who will then go to hell? Not the evil people but the children of the devil. We all are sinful by nature. However, the children of the devil will end up in hell. This is a terrifying truth.

If you believe Jesus as the Christ, you will go to heaven not because you do not have sins but because your sins have been settled by law (Rom 8:2). The unbelievers will spend eternity in hell not because they have many sins but because their sins have not been forgiven—the sins they committed, the sins of their fathers, and, worst of all, original sin.

When the unbelievers leave this earth, the devil and his angels will take them to hell, and they will be tormented with burning sulfur before the holy angels and the Lamb (Lk 16:23, Rev 14:9-11). However, when the children of God leave this earthly home, heaven’s gate will open, and the angel of the Lord will take them home to heaven (Lk 16:22).

The only standard of God’s judgment is Jesus Christ: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 Jn 5:11-12). Those who have eternal life will spend their eternity in heaven; those who don’t will end up in hell.

Many people have a misunderstanding regarding life after death. They believe they will be rewarded with life in heaven if they suffer like Lazarus, but if they live like the rich man in Today’s Word, they will be punished in hell.

That was not what Jesus taught in this parable. The truth is that anyone given life through Christ, even a beggar like Lazarus, will spend eternity in heaven. Anyone who does not have life, even if they may possess everything in the world, will end up in hell.

Some religions emphasize only the reality of life on earth, so they diligently work to build heaven on earth. However, Scripture does not teach this. Even some religious groups insist on a specific time or date for the Second Coming of our Lord. They entice people by performing miracles and signs and showing all kinds of false visions and dreams. Their followers drop everything to prepare for deliverance while their leaders accumulate wealth and power themselves!

Jesus was clear about His Second Coming: “So always be ready. You don’t know the day or the time when the Son of Man will come” (Mt 25:13). The gospel about the kingdom of God will be preached throughout the world. It will be spread to every nation. Then the end will come (Mt 24:14).

This is why we should continue to preach the gospel at all times. There is nothing to worry about if you are in Christ, enjoying and proclaiming the gospel in your daily life. The earlier Jesus returns, the better. Anytime will be just fine. Do not be deceived.

So, know and enjoy what God has freely given you in Christ. You have eternal life through Christ (Jn 20:31). You get to experience this life to the full (Jn 10:10). You have been given the right to become children of God (Jn 1:12). You have been saved from the power of Satan, sin, and hell (Rom 10:9-10).

Since the day you received and believed Jesus as the Christ, you have been living in heaven here on earth (Php 3:20). God has rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and brought you into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col 1:13). You are God’s chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God (1 Pet 2:9).

The Holy Spirit lives in you, guiding and empowering your life. The forces of darkness will not stand against you. God’s army of angels will surround you wherever you go. You have full access to the things in heaven through prayer. You now have new directions in life—proclaiming the gospel to all nations.

Listen to the cry of the unbelievers. No one can escape from the fundamental problems they face. Scripture states that everyone is born with the fundamental problems of Satan (Rev 12:9), sin (Rom 3:23), and separation from God (Eph 2:1).

They are caught in the devil’s trap of self-reliance and self-centeredness (Gen 3:5), corruption and worldly pleasure (Gen 6:1-8), and pride and worldly success (Gen 11:1-9) their entire lives. They are also caged in the devil’s frame of powers (Ac 13:4-12), economy (Ac 16:16-24), and the culture of this dark world (Ac 19:8-41).

That is why every person is destined to live as a child of the devil (Jn 8:44), worshiping idols (Ex 20:4-5), suffering mentally (Mt 11:28) and physically (Ac 8:4-8), eternally condemned in hell (Lk 16:19-31), and, in the end, leaving generational curses to future generations (Mt 27:25).

God is calling you to save them by the power of the gospel revealed in His Word—”Moses and the Prophets” (Lk 16:29). This is His heavenly mandate. When you hold on to it, you will see the actual condition of the world: millions of lives perishing without knowing Christ and, worst of all, the indifference of God’s people and church.

Living with a divine mandate is so critical that Jesus spent forty days talking to His disciples about the kingdom of God. Jesus promised the power of the Holy Spirit for you to carry out His heavenly mandate (Ac 1:8).

So, live today with the heavenly mandate God has given to you. This is the best life you will ever live.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for preparing a place for me in heaven. For the rest of my life, I will live as an evangelist, proclaiming the gospel to those who have no hope for life after death. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

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Millions of people are suffering from terminal illnesses, with only a few months to live. However, Scripture states that the days are numbered for all of us (Heb 9:27).

Scripture also teaches us that our spirits never die and last forever. When we leave this earth, our spirits continue into eternity. The question is whether we will spend eternity—in heaven or hell (Lk 16:19-30).

There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time. There is a time to be born and die (Ecc 3:1-2). That is why today matters. Thus, we must realize how short our lives are to become wise (Ps 90:10-17). How we live today determines how we will die.

When you are in Christ and living your life in line with what God desires the most, you do not have to fear death (Ac 27:24-25). Your True King Jesus destroyed the enemy who holds the power of death (Heb 2:14).

However, Scripture is clear about judgment after death. The unbelievers living in the background of hell—without knowing Christ—will enter the judgment of destruction in the fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41). The believers living in the background of heaven through Christ will enter the judgment of rewards (Mt 10:40-42).

The unbelievers are destined to spend their eternity in hell, not because of their evil deeds, but because of their identity as the children of the devil (Jn 8:44). The believers are destined to spend their eternity in heaven, not because of their righteous acts, but because of their identity as the children of God (Jn 1:12). Everyone goes home, where they belong, whether it is hell or heaven.

To take away the sins of many that brought the curse of hell, Christ was offered as a sacrifice. He came to rescue us from the background of hell and bring us into His glorious kingdom.

Anyone who hears Christ’s promises and believes in the One who sent Him has eternal life. They will not be judged guilty. They have already left death and entered life (Jn 5:24).

Therefore, if you are in Christ, you already live in heaven, here on earth (Mt 17:21, Php 3:20). When your body finally fails, you simply change your address from earth to heaven. This is a marvelous assurance we have in Christ!

Discover the reasons for God’s calling. Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fisherman. You will bring in people, not fish” (Mt 4:19). Through your life, God desires to bring back to Him those whom He appointed for eternal life. You just need to follow Christ.

The Lord called you because He wanted you. He called you to be with you. He wanted to send you out to proclaim the good news that He is the Christ. To that end, He gave you the power to drive out demons (Mk 3:13-15).

No matter what happens in your life today, do not be discouraged. Jesus is alive and coming back again! He destroyed the devil’s work by His death and His resurrection.

He eternally set you free from the power of sin and death and obtained eternal redemption for you who believe in His name. You now have the confidence to approach the throne of God, asking for His grace and mercy (Heb 4:16).

God, who raised Jesus from the dead, has given you the eternal hope of resurrection. The resurrected Christ sits on the throne of God and lives in you through the Holy Spirit with all authority in heaven and on earth.

Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:16-20), preach the message of healing to the sick (Mk 16:15-20), encourage and strengthen the believers (Lk 24:16-35), and save the next generation from today’s culture of darkness (Jn 21:15-18).

Life is too short to do anything other than what God desires most. Let us not waste our lives on the things of the world. Instead, let us continue to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, evangelism and missions, until we meet Him face-to-face at our home in heaven.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for the wisdom to number my days. Fill me with godly sorrow that leads to life. Help me live wisely, not like fools, making the most of every opportunity You’ve given me for doing good in these evil times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The biggest obstacle in our lives is unbelief. We often forget who our Father is. He is Jehovah, the God of creation, who rules everything. He knows everything about you. He gives life and takes it away. Your life is in His hands. And He numbers your days on earth.

He can curse or bless. No one can escape from His presence. He is always with you. This is marvelous knowledge for you, whom God has chosen as His own.

This is why renewing our faith in God each day should be of the utmost importance in our lives. We must first restore the saving faith God has given to us through Christ, who has finished everything on the cross by declaring, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). So, consider everything in your life finished.

With this faith, let us run the race before us and never quit. Let us remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and He is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on the cross. But He accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy He could see waiting for Him—those whom God had appointed for eternal life. And now He is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. Let us think about Jesus, who endured such opposition from sinners so that we will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:1-3).

We should also renew our faith in the power of God. This power created everything from nothing (Gen 1:1). This is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:19-20). This is the power of the Word that can change everything (Ac 6:7, Ac 12:24, Ac 19:20) and heals (Heb 4:12). This is the power from above that will place us as Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth (Ac 1:8).

Never forget that the Holy Spirit is guiding your life (Jn 14:26-27). His hand will guide you, and His steady right hand will hold you fast wherever you are (Ps 139:10). The Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth. He will bring all things to your remembrance. He will teach you what you ought to say.

So stop worrying about anything! Start communicating with the Holy Spirit and listening to Him in prayer in all circumstances (Eph 6:18). Do not be discouraged by your shortcomings and weaknesses. Do not lean on your own strength. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay strong in the Lord and His mighty power (Eph 6:10).

Nothing happens by accident in your life. Everything happens while God is with you. Know that God is in complete control: life, death, curse, and blessing. So nothing can be a problem. It is God who allowed every problem in your life. He is blessing you with an opportunity for you to confirm that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the solution to all your problems. Discover God’s plans in all this.

God loves you and is pleased with you because you are in Christ. You are a very special “seed” God has prepared for such a time as this (Isa 6:13). You are a “remnant” to whom God will restore everything (Zeph 2:7). By the power of the gospel, you will not only survive in any situation, but you will also thrive and conquer the world (Rom 8:37).

Cultivate spiritual strength to the point where you can stand alone. Only then will you not be intimidated by anything. Experience spiritual power until you are not envious of anything. Exercise your spiritual authority until you do not have to compromise with anything.

Become a person of faith for world evangelization. God has called you to be a good soldier of Christ. Know who you are. Be aware of all the strategies of your enemy, the devil. In the battle against the enemy, God will fill you with His mighty power. Do not get entangled by the things of the world because you now belong to God’s army. God will take care of you.

Strip off all of your civilian clothing and put on the whole armor of God. You will need them to endure hardships along the way and ultimately win. Most importantly, keep communicating with your commanding officer, Jesus Christ, in prayer. Like an athlete, follow the directions of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. Like a hardworking farmer, persevere until the harvest season (2 Tim 2:1-7). Fight the good fight! Keep your faith alive!

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for always being with me. Open my eyes to see the evil schemes of the devil. Help me realize the reasons for the spiritual battle before me. Surround me with assurance, thanksgiving, Your Word, faith, and peace from enjoying the gospel. Help me confirm Your promise of victory in prayer on every occasion and boldly proclaim the mystery of Christ to all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:18-20)

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The most important mission field is right where you are: your family, your church, your campus, and your workplace (Mt 18:20). Wherever God is sending you, that is the place where God’s plan lies. What is then God’s plan? Making Christ known in places where Christ is not known.

Joseph was an ordinary person like you, but when he realized his true mission field and discovered God’s plan of world evangelization, God had done extraordinary work throughout his life. Though sold as a slave to the house of Potiphar, he earned the trust of his master (Gen 39:1-6). Though falsely accused and put in prison, he gained the trust of the warden and Pharaoh’s officials (Gen 40:1-23). Even Pharaoh had to acknowledge the presence of the Spirit of God in Joseph’s life: “So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God'” (Gen 41:38). Joseph saw God’s plan for his life in the land of Egypt.

Start small. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, a child of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people, you shine like lights in a dark world as you hold firmly to the word of life (Php 2:14-16).

Throw off your selfish motives. You don’t need anything else but Christ. Stop making excuses. You found the greatest worth in Christ. Live with reasons. You have been given the highest goal in Christ. All the “heroes of faith” lived like this, and the world was unworthy of them (Heb 11:1-40).

God is ready to give you the unique blessings He prepared. Discover and experience the uniqueness of the gospel in your life (Ac 1:1-14). Ask God’s unique plans in every meeting (Ac 2:9-11). Discover God’s unique blessings in your home (Ac 16:25-40). You will then discover God’s unique reasons for your business and occupation (Ac 18:1-4). You will see the work of God being displayed in your region (Ac 13, 16, 19).

Begin with the “you” God made, what God has freely given to you, and the place God has sent you. No matter how weak you may feel, you possess what God desires. You may think you cannot do anything significant, but you stand where God’s greatest will is.

Do not be shaken by your own problems. Do not just endure your problems. Instead, enjoy your problems as you possess the answer to all your problems in Christ. Do not be deceived by the conflicts arising in your life. Know that it is God’s time to renew your mind. Do not be alarmed by the crises in your life. They are a God-ordained opportunity to see another door He is about to open.

God is sending you to your mission field today. You have been entrusted with the mystery of the gospel that has been hidden for ages. Experience first the blessing of Christ (Ac 1:1), the kingdom of God (Ac 1:3), and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:8). Make Christ the center of your life. Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Change your present source of strength to the one that comes from above. Only then will you be able to hear God’s urgent call to your mission field. It is God’s plan that His kingdom be established wherever you are. God has specific plans for every person you will meet throughout the day. Deliver life and hope in Christ to each person. Encourage them. Pray for them. Serve them as you would serve Christ.

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Prayer. Father, turn my life into Your mission field. Help me experience Your presence wherever You send me so I may save lives by the power of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

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Do you know how much you are worth? God the Father planned to redeem you and liberate you from the kingdom of darkness long ages past. God the Son, Jesus, fulfilled that plan by His death and resurrection. God the Spirit applied the finished work of salvation when you believed Jesus as the Christ. The Triune God lives and works powerfully in you. That’s how much you are worth. And the Word of God guarantees every spiritual blessing God has poured onto you.

God intensely loves you: “He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph 3:17). You make your Father very happy. You are a holy and noble one before God, who finds all His delight in you (Ps 16:3). So do not be discouraged by anything. Live confidently in the love of God. Nothing can separate you “from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39).

Today’s Word also states that you are God’s temple because the Holy Spirit lives in you. When you received and believed Jesus as the Christ, the Holy Spirit made you God’s temple, His church. When we, the saints, gather together in Jesus’ name, we become the church (Mt 18:20). Any place you go—your mission field, your workplace, your campus—is the church. When our work is done on earth, we return to our eternal home in heaven.

So, never forget that you are a child of God Most High. Because the Holy Spirit lives in you, nothing can destroy you (1 Cor 3:16-17). He will never leave you. He will lead your life and give you peace (Jn 14:26-27).

The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth and tell you what is yet to come (Jn 16:13). He will fill you with strength from above (Ac 1:8). He will work powerfully in you and through you by answering your prayer (Jn 14:14). You have been given an incredible authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Lk 10:19). To assist you who will inherit His kingdom, God will mobilize His angel armies and accomplish His plan (Heb 1:14).

You belong to heaven and have the right to exercise all the privileges as a citizen of heaven (Php 3:20). With everything you have and in everything you do, you will testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. And the Lord will be with you to the very end of the age (Mt 28:16-20).

You do not have to ask for these things because they have already been given to you. These are the blessings God has promised to His children. They are yours. So, know and enjoy your blessings in all circumstances through prayer. Live with the assurance that God saves, answers, forgives, leads, and gives you victory.

Every time you pray, know that the Holy Spirit works powerfully in you, the kingdom of God comes, and God’s angel armies will be mobilized. As a result, the kingdom of darkness falls, and Satan’s strongholds are demolished. Enjoy your unique identity in Christ and use your authority in His name. Live a privileged life of Christ’s witness and His ambassador.

Always remember that you are God’s pride and joy. Do not let the world define who you are. Do not let the devil fool you. Stand firm on the Word of God. Live victoriously as you hold onto only Christ (Ac 1:1), the kingdom of God (Ac 1:3), and the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:8).

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for making me Your temple, where Your Spirit lives. I will not worry because You are leading my life. I will not be discouraged because You are with me. I will not grow weary because You fill me with Your strength. Use my life to testify to the gospel before all nations. 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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God gave us a certificate of guarantee issued by His kingdom. That is Scripture. He did not give us the Bible just to read, study, analyze, or discuss. When He gave us His written words, He intended something vital.

Scripture was written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in His name (Jn 20:31). That is it! God wanted to give us life. The entire 66 books of the Bible testify to life through Christ.

The central message is that the offspring of the woman will crush the head of the ancient serpent (Gen 3:15). Anyone who enters the Ark will be saved (Gen 6:14). The only way to freedom from the slavery of Satan, sin, and hell is the blood of the Lamb (Ex 3:18).

God came to be with us—Immanuel—to set us free from captivity (Isa 7:14). To liberate us from the occupation of the kingdom of Satan, God revealed the mystery of the Christ (Mt 16:13-20). That is the message God has been communicating with us through Scripture.

Tragically, many believers miss the essence of Scripture, Christ, and hold onto something else such as miracles and signs, regulations, traditions, and religious rituals. For example, God commanded the Israelites to observe the three festivals to experience the blessing of salvation (the Passover), the power of God (the Festival of Unleavened Bread), and the blessing of heaven (the Festival of Ingathering). But, they completely missed the point, thereby observing the festivals religiously.

God gave the Ark of the Covenant to instill in them the importance of His covenant. Again, they idolized the Ark, and so God removed it from the face of the earth. God then gave them the Tabernacle to explain again about Christ. Even that has become only a sacred artifact of many religions.

The New Testament testifies to God’s marvelous work of salvation on Calvary, which fulfilled His covenant—the crucifixion of His Son (Jn 19:30, Ac 1:1). The risen Lord appeared on Mount Olive and spoke about the kingdom of God over forty days (Ac 1:3).

God also opened a new chapter of His work through the Holy Spirit in Mark’s upper room (Ac 1:8, Ac 2:1-4). God has fulfilled all of His promises concerning the Christ. All of that was recorded in the Bible so that we may experience Christ, the kingdom of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as well!

God did not make His way of salvation complicated. He gave us the Word that we may believe the Creator God became a man to be with us (Gen 1:1-13, Jn 1:1-14). That is Christ Jesus. It is only through Christ that we can be saved. Because this is not something we can do, it was given by God (Ac 4:12).

The Word of God is living and active. When we hold onto it, we will live (Heb 4:12). Because the Word is salvation for us, it will stand forever (Isa 40:8). Nothing will disappear from Scripture and even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until it has all been done (Mt 5:17-18). 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 (Rev 1:3). Everything 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 the Scriptures give us (Rom 15:4).

Also, the things that happened in the past are examples for us. God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (2 Pet 2:6). These examples should stop us from wanting the things of the world (1 Cor 10:6-11).

In addition to believing the Word, we must also discover and experience the Word. We must first acknowledge the authority of the Word. Nothing can compare to the only name (Ac 4:12) and the only way (Jn 14:6).

We must also acknowledge the infallibility and the inerrancy of Scripture (Mt 5:17-18, Rev 1:1-3). We can be sure that God’s Word given to us will be fulfilled. God’s Word will also last forever and lead us into the future (Isa 40:8, Rom 16:25-27). And Scripture gives the ultimate answer to all our problems (Jn 19:30, Mt 16:16). We do not need anything else.

Now, look into the Word the way God intended. Discover the Christ God sent, not the religious Christ you want. You will then realize God’s pleasing and perfect plans for you, your family, and your church. You will also see what God has prepared for you and what He will do in the future.

Meditate on it day and night. The Word will heal your spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body. The Word will even guard your thoughts and feelings in your heart (Heb 4:12). You must taste only once how good the Word of God is (Ps 119:103).

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for the Word that guarantees all I am and all I have in Christ. May the power of Your Word take over my spirit, soul, heart, mind, and body. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. (John 14:16)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

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Tragically, the world is driven by those filled with the spirit of Satan. They have taken over today’s politics, economy, and culture. They continue to promote the agenda of Satan in every area of our lives. As a result, people follow the ways of the world that will ultimately lead them to destruction.

Worse yet, the believers do not believe in the reality of the Holy Spirit—the working of God’s infinite power. We do not understand why Jesus emphasized only the Holy Spirit before ascending into heaven (Jn 14:16, 14:26, 16:13). We do not see what happens when filled with the Holy Spirit—the working of God’s power, which enables us to become Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth (Ac 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is the greatest blessing we all received when we believed Jesus as the Christ. We, the children of God, have been given the right to experience the power of God through the Holy Spirit. This is the only way to overcome ourselves, the world, and the enemy, the devil.

First, know that the Holy Spirit lives in you (Jn 14:16, 1 Cor 3:16). This is why you will not perish, and nothing can destroy you. The evil one cannot harm you (1 Jn 5:18). Unfortunately, many believers don’t believe this crucial truth. That is why we live like unbelievers. Learn to live in the reality of the Holy Spirit; the work of God will be displayed in you and through you in an amazing way.

The Holy Spirit is also leading your life. He will not leave you as orphans. He will guide you every step of the way. He will teach you everything and help you remember the Word (Jn 14:26). You will experience a peace that the world cannot give (Jn 14:27).

God will open your eyes to see the mystery of the gospel in the Word. God will also fill you with the power from above through His Spirit so that you may stand as Christ’s witness in your mission field. He will also tell you what He is about to do (Jn 16:13). He will open your eyes to see visions, and you will dream dreams (Ac 2:17-18). This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

The work of God was displayed to those who believed in only the shadow of the coming Christ during the Old Testament (Gen 3:15, Gen 6:14, Gen 12:1-3, Ex 3:18, Isa 7:14). God has fulfilled His promise to those who held onto the covenant of Christ during the New Testament (Mt 1:21-23, Jn 19:30, Mt 16:16).

And now, God is working through the Holy Spirit in us and through us as He has done in the lives of the Early Christians (Ac 1:8, Ac 8:26-40, Ac 13:1-4). Who can stop the work of the Holy Spirit? Who can stand up against the power of the Holy Spirit? No one. We are the witnesses to all this.

How, then, can we experience the filling of the Holy Spirit? We should just believe it because God promised it. We often make mistakes looking for some physical phenomenon. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing (Jn 6:63).

The work of the Holy Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You hear it, but you don’t know where it is coming from or where it is going (Jn 3:8). Do not try to limit the work of the Holy Spirit in the physical world.

What is the most accurate way of experiencing the filling of the Holy Spirit? First, enter into the mystery of the gospel (Mt 16:13-20, Ac 9:1-15, Ac 11:25-26, Php 3:1-21, Php 4:10-13). Also, embrace the Word and evangelism with all your heart (Ac 1:8, Ac 2:1-47, Ac 6:1-7, Ac 8:4-8, Ac 13:1-4, Ac 16:6-40, Ac 17:1-9, Ac 18:1-4, Ac 19:8-20, Ac 19:21, Ac 23:11, Ac 27:24). And enter into the deep enjoyment of prayer in all circumstances, where you will discover the true source of power (Eph 6:18).

God is looking for a few who know the mystery of the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the only way to take back the world from those filled with the spirit of Satan. That is why God has called you—to be with you through the Holy Spirit; to send you out to proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ; to give you authority to drive out demons (Mk 3:13-15).

Why don’t you respond to His call today?

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for filling me with Your Spirit. Open my eyes to see the reality of the world, the mystery of the gospel in the Word, and the absolute covenant of Christ in these last days so that I may stand as Christ’s witness to the ends of the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.