Jesus Raises the Son of a Widow

Luke 7:11-17

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he tht was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

Nain is a city in Galilee and Jesus went into this city and many of His disciples and men followed Him. Wherever Jesus went, His disciples and many men followed Him. Some sought the miracles in their lives and others simply followed Him to hear Him teach and to witness miracles. None that followed were ever let down and they were never disappointed but always were uplifted and encouraged by His power. We who follow Him today will also never be let down and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Where else can we run to, but to Him who is our refuge and strength for He is our only helper in times of trouble?

When Jesus came near the city gate, He noticed a dead man being carried out and this man was the only son of his mother and she was a widow. She who was a widow must have faced so many troubles in the world already and right now she is suffering the loss of her only son. The heart of this mother must have been really sore and grieving bitterly. So many people from the city were with her. These many people have well done in mourning with this woman in sorrow.

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said unto her, “Weep not”. Our Lord is a God of compassion. When we, His children are filled with sorrow, He is full of compassion unto us and His words to us who are mourning are: “Weep not!” These two words that proceeded out of the Master’s mouth were worthy enough to console a grieving soul. He passed by the city gate and His heart ran out to the woman who needed Him the most. He reaches out to the needy, the suffering and the troubled in a very special way and He wants us to do the same.

He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. He was moved with compassion for this widow and He was not going to let her down and His words were accompanied with mighty acts. He touched the bier and they that carried the coffin stood still. I can only think that the men who carried the bier stood still as they sensed the power of God flowing through the coffin to the corpse inside. He commanded the dead young man to arise. Along with His special touch, He spoke the words of life into this dead man. He that was dead arose and began to speak. The dead man not only did arise at Jesus’ command but also started speaking. The life of the living Lord ran into every part of his body in an instant. Jesus then delivered the young man to his mother. This mother who was grieving moments before, now held her son with full of life and energy. He has power over our life, power over the wind and the sea and power over everything in this universe. He is the God of all creation! When we are filled with awe at the work of His hands, how much more should we wonder when we see Him face to face?

A fear that was godly came upon all that witnessed this miracle and they inevitably glorified God. They thought that a great prophet is risen when in reality He was here to save the entire mankind and provide the everlasting way. They further went on to say that God has visited his people and in fact God has sent His only begotten son so we through Him can have eternal life. They spoke these words because they wondered at His work and were rejoicing not just for the grieving woman but also for themselves because they were glad to be a part of this special visitation. And this rumor of Jesus went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout the entire region round about. The news about Jesus spread like a wildfire throughout the region. When we who have experienced the miraculous hand of God in our life, live out the glorious life of Jesus in us, who will not speak of the power in us? This will make people wonder where we got this special life. Let us live out the victorious life of Jesus here on earth. As I say this, I know the many trials and attacks that befell me; He will help us wade through the trials of life in an amazing way if we simply trust Him. Are you ready to completely trust in Him? The Word of God clearly speaks that Jesus was a walking wonder when He lived here on earth and we with the power of Jesus in us shall be walking wonders to those around us. May the living Lord fill our life with miracles such as these and may we be mighty witnesses of Him and His power!

Tomorrow: Samaritan Woman at the Well – Part I

A Damsel with a Spirit of Divination

Acts 16:16-18
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

After Paul and Silas baptized Lydia and her household (please see Lydia, a True Believer of the Lord), they were heading out to prayer. These men of God, Paul and Silas were on their way to indulge in an act near to the heart of God. They were about to commune with God by praying. A damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met them on their way. This damsel was a servant girl who brought much gain to her masters by soothsaying. Here is a servant girl that suffered from an evil spirit and the masters took advantage of the evil spirit to make much profit, as opposed to seeking a release for her. Their only aim was worldly gain which is worth nothing compared to the heavenly gain. They who are of the world mind the things of the world seeking the temporal benefits that are simply futile. As Romans 8:5 says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” The spirit of divination is an evil spirit that foretells future based on the omens and some supernatural power that is against the Spirit of God. Man has a tendency to seek and know what is likely to happen in the future and this tendency or desire is not according to God. People who seek the will of God in their lives follow the leading of the Spirit of God because the Word of God is a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path (Psalm 119:105).

The same damsel with the spirit of divination followed Paul and Silas and cried saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation”. The evil spirit said it right and James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” The evil spirit within the girl is confessing that these men are the servants of the most high God that show the way of salvation. Yes, even the demons believe that there is one and only one God that is the Most High. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Here the apostles Paul and Silas are not just wrestling against flesh and blood but against the rulers of the darkness of this world. We too as children of the Most High God wrestle against these powers but the hand of God is above every principality, power, and rulers of the darkness and even against the spiritual wickedness. The blood of Jesus Christ on us will cover us against these powers. We have no reason to fear these forces for Jesus has stamped them all under His feet by dying on the cross of Calvary and by the resurrection power we also have victory against the wicked forces.

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. Paul was grieved because of the spirit that dwelled in this girl. The Spirit of God in Paul must have sorely grieved as well. We who have the Spirit of the Lord in us are anointed by the Lord to proclaim liberty to the captives (Isaiah 61:1). The girl is held captive by the evil spirit and thus was about be set free from this bondage by the apostle Paul. We are also anointed to set free those that are held in captivity by the enemy. The spirit of divination came out of the girl the same hour. The spirit that troubled the girl for a long time came out the same hour when Apostle Paul proclaimed liberty to her in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” We can claim this promise of God in our lives when we go out to deliver the people from the power of enemy. We have been given the power of God to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Enemy is trampled under feet and nothing shall by any means hurt us. I am claiming this wonderful promise today in my life and this day may you claim this promise for your life too. We all can rejoice in the Lord for we have been given this glorious power over enemy. Let us rejoice in the Lord! Hallelujah.

Tomorrow: Jesus Raises the Son of a Widow

A Disciple Named Tabitha or Dorcas from Joppa

Acts 9:36-42
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

In the city of Joppa now called as Jaffa there lived a certain disciple whose name was Tabitha which means Dorcas. Dorcas means graceful and swift antelope. This woman was truly graceful and swift for she was full of good works and almsdeeds. She made clothes for the poor and the widows. She was the woman who worked willingly with her hands as it says in Proverbs 31:13. She stretched forth her hand to the poor and reached forth her hands to the needy as it says in Proverbs 31:20. She was one woman the poor and the needy looked up to. She was a woman both with faith and deeds. She fell sick and died. The poor, the needy and the widows were bereft of a friend who lend them a helping hand, provided clothing when needed and took care of them when nobody did. They washed Dorcas after her death and laid her in the upper chamber where all that were benefited from her surrounded her corpse.

Lydda was near Joppa and the disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda. They sent two men for Peter desiring that he would not delay his coming. The disciples could not afford to delay Peter’s coming. Peter arose and went with them. He made himself available and responded to their call without delay or hesitation. They were confident and trusted that Peter could perform a miracle and thus relieve the poor, the needy and the widows. Here was a woman whose survival was vital for the multitudes that were stricken in poverty. They knew Peter was one of the closest disciples of Jesus who could raise Dorcas from the dead just like Jesus did, for all power in heaven and earth was passed on from Jesus to the disciples. Like Peter may we also rush for the things of God and not procrastinate for we know not what tomorrow brings our way. While there is still time for us may we carry on the mission of the Lord Jesus that is vested on us humans.

When Peter came in thither, they brought him into the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. All that were gathered there stood by Peter weeping and showing the garments that Dorcas made for them. Here they were showing her mighty works and were hoping Peter would bring her back to life so they could be provided for. The poor and the needy were expectant that Peter would see her works while she was with them and thus restore her to them. One person could make a difference in the lives of so many. Yes, we too can make a difference by doing deeds that support the poor and the needy. James 2:15-16 says, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” Let us accompany our faith with deeds for faith without works is dead.

But Peter asked them all to leave the chamber, and kneeled down, and prayed. Peter desired to be alone for he wanted to kneel down and pray. When we kneel down and pray may we also choose a quiet and lonely place where we can commune with God directly without any disturbance. As it says in Matthew 6:5-6, may we not pray publicly so that our prayers are noticed by men but let our prayers be secretly addressed to the Father in heaven. There is so much power in the prayers offered in the secret closet like the power in Peter’s prayer. We also see that he knelt down as he prayed. Kneeling down represents his humility before God for he knows very well his dependency on God through Jesus Christ. He beseeched the Lord for a miracle here.

He turned himself to the body and said “Tabitha, arise!” He addressed the body that lacked life and spirit by saying “arise”. By faith he knew that a miracle will come to pass for his faith in the power of God over death was so great. He saw the risen Lord and was thus confident about God’s power over death. He besought the Lord not for life in some useless vessel but in the vessel that was a blessing to so many others around her. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Her spirit was brought back into her body and she opened her eyes. When we turn from our wicked ways and repent of our sins the eyes of our heart are opened and the eternal life flows into us. Here Tabitha opened her eyes thus reflecting that she was no longer dead but alive. The moment she saw Peter, she sat up. She sat up to show her reverence to the man of God.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. Peter gave her his hand to give support to the fellow Christian. May we also support our fellow believers and lift them up when they are falling away. Many backsliding Christians need our support to lift them up from falling to the world and its ways. Peter had called the saints and the widows and had presented Tabitha alive. They who were in grief because of the loss of a beloved sister witnessed a mighty miracle wrought by a man of God. They had faith that Peter could restore Tabitha to life and their faith was multiplied upon witnessing a mighty miracle. The news of Tabitha’s return to life spread across the entire city of Joppa and many believed in the Lord.

May we like Dorcas choose the deeds that support the poor, the needy, the widows and the least of our brethren for these deeds are unto the King of Kings (Matthew 25:40). May our faith not be mere words but supported by actions. God will help us carry out such deeds when we seek His help and start out in faith.

Tomorrow: A Damsel with a Spirit of Divination

The Girl Vexed with Devil made Whole

Matthew 15:21-28
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus went to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Sidon was the first born of Canaan (Genesis 10:15) and was the mother city of Tyre (Isaiah 23:12). Tyre and Sidon are related to Canaan and Jesus went to these coasts. Jesus’ departing to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon is similar to Elijah’s departure to Zarephath of Zidon as mentioned in the blog The Widow at Zarephath – Part I. God had spoken to Elijah to go to Zarephath and dwell with a widow there for she found favor in God’s eyes and was about to experience abundant grace of the Almighty at a juncture when famine was prevalent, through a great prophet sent as a savior unto her although she was not a Jew. Jesus went to these two coasts to preach the good tidings of great joy, to perform mighty miracles and to show His care and concern to men of every kindred.

A woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David. Though this woman was of Canaan, she cried unto Him for mercy. She pleaded not for a worldly favor but for His mercy. May we also in our humility cry out unto Him for His mercy! She knew that He was a Lord and Son of David. She knew pretty well that He was a Jew but yet approached Him for she must have heard of His mercy and grace. The news of Savior spread to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon as well and how she longed for this Savior’s mercy. She besought Him and was full of faith that He would grant her, her sincere plea. She sought His mercy as her daughter was grievously vexed with devil. She was a caring mother who could not see the suffering of her daughter. We as parents must seek the best interests of our children and plead the Lord for His mercy upon them. When we in faith carry our requests on behalf of our children, He will not shun us away. We have an ultimate friend who not only carried our sins and grief but we are privileged to carry our burdens unto Him in a prayer. He waits to hear our requests and pleas.

He answered her not a word. She brought in this request unto Him knowing pretty well that she can find His mercy and grace but Jesus did not respond to her. Many times in our lives too when we carry our requests to Him, He does not respond. He waits to build the right character in us, a character that is more pleasing to Him than our current state. Waiting does shape in us a special trait called patience for without patience what is a person in Christ for? And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. The disciples now intervened and pleaded the Master to send her away for she cries unto them as well. The intervention of His disciples is much like our intercession for the other people. Look, the Master now speaks! We are His disciples and the disciples’ asking Him to send her away is suggestive that they were tired of her pleading not only to Jesus but also to the disciples. Here is a woman who cried unto the Master directly for His mercy and when He did not respond approached His disciples and pleaded them. We too should request the people in Christ to pray for our sakes. We should not get tired of praying and pleading. When we do not hear from Him, that is when we should be more fervent in our prayers and seek the other believers in the Body of Christ to uphold our requests. The disciples spoke to the Master on her behalf and wanted Jesus to send her away. Although it is not clear whether they wanted the Master to grant her the request, I can imagine that they wanted Him to grant her request so that she would not bother them anymore.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus is now saying that He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel and not for the gentiles. He was thus testing her endurance to stand the test of faith and hang on to her petition although He did not address her directly. He is a God of mercy and grace and I am confident that she had heard of Him thus. But what He is saying now contradicts His character but will she still believe and trust in Him? He was testing her of this. He tests us as well and his silence for our petitions implies that He is working His character in us. It is not that He put a deaf ear to our requests. He is well aware of the urgency of these requests yet He makes us wait so that we are turned into pure gold that stood the test of fire.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. She did not get offended when He said He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She did not apply to her and say that she is not a Jew and hence give up. Instead she turned around and worshipped Him. This woman was a woman of great faith and she worshipped Him when all she senses is a person turned down. She humbles herself and much to a human’s surprise worships Him. She says, “Lord, help me!” She is begging for His help for she very well knows that the help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). John 1 clearly explains that the Light of the World, Jesus was with God from the beginning. So this Canaanite woman believed in the authority of Jesus over every power and principality and especially over the devil that troubled her daughter.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Jesus is responding to her who sought His help that it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to dogs. The children here are the Jews while the dogs are the Canaanites or gentiles. He referred to her as a dog. But her answer speaks the humility with which she accepts herself as a dog. The Master will not look down upon us His children but will see if we are humble enough to enjoy His divine blessings. He was simply testing her faith, her humility and her perseverance. Her answer was that the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their Masters’ table. She is just asking for a crumb of blessing from the tons of blessings that the Master has for His children. She is willing to wait at the Master’s table and be blessed by a little crumb that falls off the table. Oh, how great is this woman’s faith and endurance?

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Now the Master moves in an amazing way in her life and fills her with His mercy and compassion. He was impressed by this woman’s faith. He granted her of her one petition and her daughter was made whole that very hour. Her daughter though not right besides her received His blessing that very hour and the mother here rejoiced in this miracle and in the Lord before her. Her heart must have overflowed with joy that is beyond explanation. Her prayer for her own daughter is an example to us parents today. We should hang on to our petitions for our children and beg Him of His mercy and worship Him even though the situation does not fade away. He shapes heavenly character in us and one day we will be mightily blessed like the way this woman was blessed. He is hearing our pleas and though He seems to not respond, be encouraged that He is shaping His character in us and when He sees us like He wants to see us, our request will be granted. Amen!

Tomorrow: A Disciple Named Tabitha or Dorcas from Joppa

The Woman with a Spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:11-13
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

First of all, I would like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord fill your hearts with praises as you reflect on all His wondrous blessings on you this whole year!

Today we will see how a woman with a spirit of infirmity was healed by the Lord Jesus. She was in the synagogue where the Master was teaching on a Sabbath. This woman had a spirit - an evil spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. This bent her down and could in no wise lift up herself. She probably had to walk with great difficulty and was completely bent down for the spirit made her so. What impresses me the most is the fact that she made it to the synagogue on the Sabbath irrespective of how she was. She diligently sought the Lord even though she was stricken with infirmity for eighteen years. We should also get into the House of the Lord to seek Him and worship Him with the best of our abilities. His grace is all sufficient for us and He would not let us go empty. Psalm 84:4 says, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” This woman could not stand straight and lift up herself but she will be lifted up by the Almighty for He will lift up a standard against this evil spirit. Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” God has the power over the enemy and this evil spirit that troubled her for eighteen years will leave her in an instant for the Master commanded the spirit to leave her. Jesus will chase the spirit out of her in an instant for this woman chose to be in the House of God where Jesus was. Let us also make it a point to dwell in the House of God where Jesus is and not linger in the world and mind the things of the world on Sabbath.

And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him. Yes, He will call us unto Himself when we draw ourselves to where He lives. As we seek Him, He will pull us much closer to Him. The past three days as I relied on some fruits and water from midnight to 5PM along with my “The Healing and Resting Place” family seeking the Lord’s face, He tremendously showered me with His love and grace. I could perceive His power over me for I am weighed down with spinal issues and body aches. He put a new song in my heart, a song of praise that lifted me up and helped me rise above my body, in Spirit and Truth. The Spirit of God murmured unto me that He would not leave me nor forsake me. He did a mighty work in me and will do even mightier works in you as you seek Him diligently like the way this woman with a spirit of infirmity did.

His strength will be made perfect in your weakness. I am asking you to seek Him even in your infirmities and weaknesses and He will reveal Himself to you and provide His grace to keep you. Yesterday I was listening to a testimony of a brother in Christ, Christian Claudio and he said he prayed a special prayer in prison “God if you will not get me out of this prison at least get me through”. Yes, not only was this brother blessed with God’s grace, but he was also able to get out of the prison much before his actual release time! Praise God!! You also can be released from the clutches of the enemy and from your infirmities and weaknesses. Just trust Him and seek Him and He will help you rise above the struggles in your body.

He said to this woman that she is loosed from her infirmity. In a moment she was loosed from her infirmity. She who had struggled for all these eighteen years was released from this evil spirit in a moment! Yes, He has the power to perform a mighty miracle such as this, in your life too. This woman did not seek the Lord to release her from the evil spirit but instead she simply came in to the House of the Lord to worship Him even though she was struggling from the infirmity that caused her to bend down.

And Jesus laid His hands on her and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. No words can explain the miraculous power of the Master. His power is not only over sicknesses and infirmities but also over Satan and its every wicked plot against us. His power will be released on us so that the power of Satan will be loosed from you like in this woman’s case. What thrills me is that this woman glorified God immediately. Such are the works of the Master that we can glorify Him and people around us can witness who He is. He some times allows things from the enemy in us, so that His power is manifested in us and our hearts are lifted up in a special praise to Him. Remember, that the enemy’s strongholds can be loosed in a moment. Although the enemy’s plot against us prevails and weighs on us heavily for a season, in an instant He can release us from this bondage. If you are stricken with something that is heavily weighing down on you, please be encouraged that He can release you. Claim His promises for you today and seek Him amidst your trials, His grace will keep you and the God of impossibilities can release you from your troubles in an instant. No matter what, seek His face today, you will be comforted and the Spirit of God will keep you. May you thank God, worship Him and praise Him today in a very special way even if you are not all perfect and He will surround you with His grace and mercy that will not fail you.

Tomorrow: The Girl Vexed with Devil made Whole

Jesus Heals Simon Peter’s Mother-in-Law

Mark 1:30-31
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Luke 4:38-39
And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

The healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law by the Lord Jesus is recorded in Mark 1:30-31 and Luke 4:38-39. We see in Luke 4:38 and Mark 1:29 that Jesus arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon (also known as Peter)’s house. Mark 1:29 says that Jesus along with James and John went to the house of Simon and Andrew. Simon and Andrew were brothers who were fishermen turned into fishers of men for the Lord Jesus. They used to cast nets to catch fish but now they catch men and bring them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jesus was at the synagogue to worship the Lord God and preach the good tidings of great joy and now was headed out to Simon’s house. Wherever Jesus went, He ministered unto the people, performed miracles bountifully, released them that are in bondage and proclaimed liberty to the captives. He wasted not a single moment on earth. His life truly was meant for our sakes and every action of His depicted that His purpose was to fulfill the will of His father and to save the sinner, heal the sick, provide love for the broken-hearted, be a father unto the orphans, support the widow and thus provide redemption to the mankind by giving His life as ransom for us.

He heading out to Simon’s house speaks of the close relationship they enjoyed. Anon they told Him of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law and how she lay sick with fever. They implored Him to heal her for they pretty well knew He can and will heal her. Their faith made them urge the Lord to heal her for she loved the Lord and ministered unto them always. She was a privileged mother-in-law in that she found the favor of the Lord like Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law. Two mothers-in-law mentioned in the Bible were thus well favored and blessed abundantly. Simon’s mother-in-law was blessed for she lived with Simon whose house was frequented with the disciples of Jesus.

Per Mark, the Lord Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and as per Luke, He stood over and rebuked the fever. In both narratives we see the power of God over sickness and ailment. When God’s power either by His touch or by His word is released on us every sickness and infirmity is banished. One touch of His grace is enough as my eighty four year old friend says. This is the touch we all should plead the Lord for. This touch can transform any heartbreak into a melody of praise. Let us all lift up our voices in an anthem of praise to our Lord and may it rise high above and be a sweet sound in His ear that it delights Him and He chuckles because of it. He rebuked the fever and it left her in an instant.

Peter’s mother-in-law immediately started ministering unto them. How wonderful is this woman that in an instant she rose up and went straight to serving them? Ministering unto the Lord and His disciples should be our main occupation for no vocation can excel before this. This is her way of showing her gratitude to God and may we make this our way as well. We are all men and women given a choice to follow Lord Jesus or not. Let us make the wise choice of following Him the rest of our lives and let us make ministering unto God and His men our duty as well.

Tomorrow: The Woman with a Spirit of Infirmity

Jairus’ Daughter Raised from the Dead

Luke 8:50-56
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead is recorded twice in the Bible in Mark 5:23-24, 35-43 and Luke 8:41-42, 49-56. This incident is intertwined with the healing of the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years. We see in Luke 8:41-42that Jairus a ruler of the synagogue approached Jesus and fell at His feet. Jairus was not an ordinary man but a ruler of the synagogue and he falling at the feet of the Lord Jesus shows his humility. He besought Lord Jesus to come into his house for his only daughter who was twelve years old was on the verge of death. Here we see a man so desperate and desiring to seek the Lord’s favor falling at the feet of the Lord. Sure enough the Master started out to go to Jairus’ house. Jesus hears our humble requests and understands our desperate state and does respond to our pleas. But as He started out the multitude thronged Him and here is where we see that the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years was healed for she had faith in the Lord. What is interesting is Jairus’ daughter lived happily for twelve years and now was on the deathbed and the woman with the issue of blood suffered for twelve years and desperately desired to be healed. In both cases we see twelve years; in the former twelve years of a happy life and in the latter twelve years of suffering and both sought the Lord earnestly for a miracle after twelve years. While Jesus had a conversation with the woman suffering from the issue of blood to confirm her of her healing, something happened in Jairus’ house.

Luke 8:49 says, “While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master”. News arrived from Jairus’ house that his twelve year old daughter was dead. He who besought the Lord for healing of his daughter was informed that his daughter is dead. The men who brought the news also suggested that Jairus need not trouble Lord Jesus. Our petitions are not a trouble to the Master because His power will be manifested in us when in faith we hang on to our petitions which are not asked amiss. Before even Jairus could respond, Jesus responded, “But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” These words from the Master are simply powerful and they are just what Jairus needed. When Jairus heard the news no mention is made on how he reacted but I can perceive that he was in fear for otherwise the Master would not have said “Fear not: Believe only”. These four words are what we need to rest on when stricken by troubles and struggles that the enemy poses on us. When we believe on the Lord Jesus we shall be made whole. I can imagine the anxiety of a parent when the child was sick and on the deathbed but to keep up the faith even when she is dead is truly difficult. But when it is the Master himself saying that she shall be made whole, there is no reason to fear. We, who are struggling with sickness as I am today, can boldly trust in the words of our Master, “FEAR NOT: BELIEVE ONLY and WE WILL BE MADE WHOLE!”

Luke 8:51 says, “And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.” He entered Jairus’ house with Jairus and his wife and the three of His closest disciples i.e. Peter, James and John. He allowed the ones who would witness a miracle for they trusted Him and the three of His disciples that walked closely with Him. Do you walk so close with the Lord and trust Him so well that He could use you as His closest disciple to perform a mighty miracle? We are all His disciples and followers but are we His closest disciples with whom He can walk over to bring victory over death? The death I am referring to here is the spiritual death that eternally separates us from the love of our Father if we do not trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In other words, do you trust Jesus enough so that He can bring salvation to many souls on this earth and save them from eternal death?

Luke 8:52-53 says, “And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.” One can only imagine the sorrow surrounding a bereaved family. They were weeping and wailing over Jairus’ daughter’s death. But Jesus asked them not to weep for she is not dead, but is sleeping. Their reaction was scornful and suggested that they completely lost hope at this point. They knew and believed she was dead and their scornful laugh reflected that they lacked trust in His words. On the other hand, I Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” This clearly states that we are not to be filled with sorrow concerning the death of a beloved like others that have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so also will He bring with Him, those that sleep in Jesus. This should assure us of our reunion with our beloved people. This should be our hope.

The next three verses Luke 8:54-56, speak of the mighty miracle that Jesus performed to demonstrate that He had the power over death. This was demonstrating the resurrection power of Jesus, the power to raise us from the dead when He comes again. He simply called out to Jairus daughter: “Maid, arise”. His word is sufficient to raise us from the dead. And her spirit came back into her, and she arose straightway. Though our mortal body suffers death, our spirit does not. All it takes for Jesus to rise us up again is to command the spirit to unite with the body like He did to Jairus’ daughter. He commanded to give her meat. Her parents were astonished. The parents were not only happy to see their daughter alive but also trusted Jesus and His power to heal and raise the dead. The onlookers who were scornful were probably astonished too. This gave them all an opportunity to witness a miracle so powerful and be ashamed at their distrust. But God’s intention is not that we be ashamed but that of grace. His grace and power are fully to be praised by us for they are simply worthy of our praise and honor. Without His grace and power we are sure to wander and get lost. Trust Him today that He would perform a miracle so powerful and mighty as in the Jairus’ daughter’s life.

Tomorrow: Jesus Heals Simon Peter’s Mother-in-Law

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Matthew 9:20-22
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The incident of the woman with the issue of blood is recorded thrice in the gospels viz., Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-22 and Luke 8:43-48. Matthew has it recorded concisely whereas in Mark and Luke it is recorded in full detail. This woman had a disease with the issue of blood for twelve years. She must have been worn out and debilitated for this many years. Mark 5:26 says, “And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”. This woman had consulted many physicians and spent all that she had but the situation did not get any better but rather grew worse. Physicians need the wisdom while treating their patients and remember even physicians need a physician and therefore operate only under the limitation of their knowledge and understanding. But the physician of all the physicians is Jesus Christ. Commit your sicknesses unto this super physician and by saying this I am not asking you to refrain from consulting a doctor. You commit your sickness unto Him and believe that He will bring healing your way. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” This woman after trying everything and exhausting herself of all possibilities has come to a state where she trusted that only this super physician can heal her. Her problem is not the kind that she can discuss openly and therefore she approached Jesus stealthily. She only wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Matthew 9:21 says, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”

Mark 5:29 says, “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” The woman’s only desire at this point was fulfilled. She felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. In an instant the issue of blood that she had for a dozen years stopped. She approached Jesus furtively and received the healing as well. Can this testimony so great be restricted for her alone? No!

Luke 8:45 says, “And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” The self same moment the Lord sensed that somebody touched him. He questioned as to who touched Him. Peter and the other disciples that were with Jesus were puzzled by this question for the multitude thronged Him. They wondered at His question because so many pressed Him. While their question had a meaning based on something they witnessed, the Lord’s question had a superior meaning for He sensed what his disciples and all others did not. Luke 8:46 says, “And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Jesus perceived that virtue is gone out of Him. This virtue was a celestial merit that had the potential to heal the physical body much like the divine merit to cleanse a sinner from all sins. This woman sought the virtue of this superior quality for she knew that a virtue any lesser had no power to heal her. Are you longing for this celestial merit from Lord Jesus Christ today? Are you tired of trying everything possible here on earth? Then, you are blessed with this virtue. Turn to Jesus Christ who owns this virtue and has the sole authority to pass it on to you. Just seek Him and ask Him and you shall have it. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. This woman did exactly what Matthew says and it was given unto her and it will be given unto you too!

Mark 5:32-33 says, “And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.” Here the Lord knew who touched Him and turned to see her directly. She feared and trembled for she perceived what was done in her. She received this mighty healing clandestinely and is now subject to see the one from whom she received the healing. She came and fell before Jesus Christ and told Him all the truth. This gave her the opportunity to share her testimony to all the people around Jesus.

Matthew 9:33 says, “He (Jesus) said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” The woman who was trembling with fear was sincerely comforted by the divine physician. And the woman was made whole from that hour! When this great a tempest surrounds us and there is nobody to share our sufferings, there is only one who will walk us through victoriously. Trust the one who can walk us through and can even lift up a storm so severe. May God grant you the comfort and heal you by passing on His virtue to you. Just desire to touch the hem aof His garment and this garment is His robe of righteousness that can wash away our sins and our sicknesses; Just believe and you will be healed!

Tomorrow: Jairus’ Daughter Raised from the Dead

Mary at the Feet of the Lord

Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

As Jesus and His disciples went by, they entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received them into her house. Martha had done something that is eminently good in receiving Jesus and His disciples. She did wonderful by choosing to serve the Lord and His disciples. Jesus and His disciples most likely entered Martha’s house without prior information. She probably had to procure all the provisions to cook and serve a sumptuous meal for such a mighty guest and His disciples. She must have run errands to fetch all that she needed and then must have engaged herself in preparing a variety of dishes and serving at the Master’s table. She definitely was working hard and took all the time and the trouble to entertain her valuable guests and make them happy. But was this grand course of preparation needed when she could have finished her preparation well ahead in a minimal time with less or no exertion? Would the Lord Jesus ever desire such luxury from His vessels designed to simply honor and glorify Him?

While serving the Lord is important, does it excel before our communion with Him? No! Our communion and fellowship with Jesus Christ should be our first and foremost priority. Martha could have entertained her guests and satisfied them without overly dedicating her time and efforts for mundane tasks. These tasks could very well be reserved for some other luxurious guests desiring such treatment. She could have simply served something quick and easy yet delicious, and dedicated her time to listen to Jesus. His discourse was high and mighty and where else can she listen to Him more closely than in the comfort of her own house? Yes, serving the Lord is much better than a worldly activity but given a choice between serving the Lord and communing with Him, wisdom would lead us to choose communion before serving. Serving is good as long as we are not cumbered with a load of care. When our serving turns cumbersome then it takes us away from the Almighty. Without dwelling at His feet, our serving is worthless because our own hunger for bread of life turns into starvation. While starving for bread in our own Spirit, our serving turns into just another ordinary task free of the Spirit of God. Only when we have absorbed from the Master’s throne of grace can we squeeze out the Spirit onto others around us.

Martha had a sister called Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word. This is similar to Ruth laying at Boaz’ feet all night and thus was redeemed. Mary gave up all her chores and took upon her the only task that is needed. She completely resigned herself from the world and sat at the Master’s feet to listen to Him. It appears that she paid no attention to others at home including her own sister but was simply focused on Jesus. She was absorbing the Master’s teachings and enjoying His fellowship. This troubled her sister Martha who was doing all the activities around her house to keep the guests entertained in serving them. She deviated from the one thing that the Master desires and is now caught up with emotions surrounding her sister’s negligence. Had she joined the Master and His disciples, these emotions would not have captured her. Having chosen to be burdened with a load of care, she was drifting away from the Lord. This caused her to question the Master’s judgment when in truth we have no right to question Him. Her question to Jesus was, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” Her question was indicative of whether the Lord cares that she is tackling everything alone. The Lord of course cares for Martha and desires her to be at His feet too. Martha first chose the most wonderful by having Jesus and His disciples at her house but her act so wonderful was now turned into being cumbersome because she made it so. Now she is about to pull Mary away from the Master and her question says that she was speaking out of emotions rather than in Spirit.

Jesus directly addressed Martha saying, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” He speaks to us directly and addresses us by name when we are struggling with questions and concerns. Jesus’ answer says that Martha is careful and troubled about many things. These many things are pertinent to the body but only one thing is needed for our Spirit. Martha neglected that one thing that the Spirit desires and that is to be at the Lord’s feet. Mary chose that part and Jesus was not willing to take it away from her. He will not take it away from Mary and will not take it away from those of us who make this our primary goal in life.

This message spoke to me personally, as many times I engage in too many activities that strain me physically and draw me away from the Lord. These activities give me very less or no time to be with the Lord. These past few days the Lord has been ministering to my heart about communing with Him and in fact He cares for us so much that He conveys this message by striking a blow some times. Pay attention to His voice and sit at the Lord’s feet and be filled by Him. When we commune with Him we will be refreshed and renewed in our Spirit and the spiritual strength that we gain can help us serve Him in ways that please Him. Today will you make a decision to be at His feet from this time forth and even forevermore and refrain from being cumbered with a load of care and trouble?

Tomorrow: The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Ruth at the Feet of Boaz till Morning

Ruth 3:14-15
And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

On Nov 7th and Nov 8th, we discussed on how Ruth followed her mother in law Naomi all the way from Moab to Bethlehem of Judah and received the blessings of the Lord Almighty. Today we will see how Ruth lay at Boaz’ feet the whole night and what the message for us in this current day and age is. I would like to thank my brother Dr. Sunil Mahanthi for taking his time to expostulate the scriptures related to Ruth and Boaz.

Boaz was a mighty man of wealth who was generous in allowing Ruth to glean among the sheaves as well. Leviticus 19:9-10 says, “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.” Also in Deuteronomy 24:20 it says, “When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.” Boaz verily followed the Law of the Lord. He took great delight in doing so and his generosity to Ruth simply certifies that.

Naomi, Ruth’s mother in law was eager in seeking rest for Ruth. Naomi knew that Ruth was a young widow and she hated to see her spend the rest of her life without a husband and a family. She mentioned to Ruth that Boaz was winnowing the barley in the threshing floor that night and she wanted Ruth to wash herself and put on her raiment and reach the threshing floor but not reveal herself to Boaz until he has completed his eating and drinking. Ruth 3:4 says, “And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.” The clear instructions of Naomi are not to be read mockingly for there is a message that the Spirit of God has for us today. Naomi’s instruction to uncover the feet of Boaz is suggestive of the covering of the Lord God for us. We are covered by His robe of righteousness. After uncovering the feet of Boaz, Naomi knew that Boaz will tell Ruth what to do. She also knew that from that time onward Ruth will be under the covering of Boaz.

In asking Ruth to reach the threshing floor in the night, Naomi was well aware of the forces of darkness prevalent at that hour. But she knew her daughter in law, her virtues and moral values so well that she let her go out at that time. Also Naomi knew her kinsman Boaz and his morale that she trusted him to do the best for her daughter in law. Ruth who left her land, people and strange gods to be with her mother in law, did not hesitate to step out in the dark hour and followed every bit of instruction given by her mother in law. Ruth knew pretty well that her mother in law only desires the best rest for her and so took the risk of following the redemption plan of Naomi. God already has implemented the redemption plan for every nation and kindred. The redemption plan was fulfilled by God’s only son Jesus Christ. In trusting Jesus Christ we will be redeemed. Yes, the plan is for everybody including the gentiles like me. Ruth a gentile and a moabitess was about to be redeemed by Boaz an Israelite. The whole incident happened in Bethlehem of Judah portraying the future redeemer (Jesus Christ)’s birth in the same place.

In the midnight Boaz realized that there was a woman at his feet (Ruth 3:8). Ruth says, “And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.” Ruth’s humble answer that she was Boaz’ handmaid speaks of her character. She thought not high of herself and laid at Boaz’ feet because she knew that she was just seeking his grace and mercy to redeem her. She requested Boaz to spread his skirt over Ruth. She just sought his covering. She knew very well that under his care and protection she will be safe and secure. We, as the children of the living Lord should just lie at the Lord’s feet and plead His covering for us. Under His covering we are well cared for and need not be anxious about anything. Ruth also says that Boaz is a near kinsman. By this she is implying what the kinsman can do to her and that is to redeem her. Our nearest kinsman is Jesus Christ. He was born just like you and me but of a Virgin and hence His birth was free of sin because He is God born as a man and lived the life of a complete man. He understands our struggles and sufferings much more than anybody ever can do. Who else can redeem us but He who has the authority to do so and that is Christ alone?

The words of Boaz to Ruth were: “And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Boaz addresses Ruth as a daughter because he was much older than her. Her words say how impressed Boaz was by her character and her generosity to her mother in law. Her kindness to her mother in law is her first virtue while her second virtue is that she did not go after the young men either rich or poor. Her latter virtue is much more applaudable than her former as she is a young woman who could have sought to win the hearts of young men. But she chose that which was much better for her and Boaz though much older in age than Ruth had the authority to redeem her and by the law of the land should redeem her. He is assuring Ruth that he will do all that he is required to do. For Ruth, in Boaz’ assurance is much more happiness than going after the men in the world for Boaz sure will take her as his wife while with the other men that is not guaranteed. She chose to live by morale than by passions and the rest she gets is eternal. Our Lord God sees as His children and is watching over us and He is ever ready to take us as His own.

In Ruth 3:12 Boaz says, “And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.” Boaz is aware that there is a nearer kinsman than himself and so wanted to enquire if the nearer kinsman will be willing to redeem her. He knew the law of the land better and more importantly he is aware of his own limitation if the other nearer kinsman chooses to redeem Ruth. Boaz adds, ”Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.” What is guaranteed at this point is Ruth’s redemption either by the other nearer kinsman or by Boaz himself. Boaz did not send her away at that time in the night but asked her to wait till the morning. With Ruth’s redemption guaranteed she can rest at the feet of Boaz peacefully. Ruth 4:14 says, “And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.” Ruth did lay at his feet till the morning.

We should rest at the Lord’s feet all night long and when we wake up in the morning we will be filled by the Lord God. Ruth 3:15 says, “Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.” This clearly says that when we rest at the Lord’s feet all night long we will not leave empty handed. We will be filled by the bread of life like Ruth was filled with six measures of barley. Vail signifies her covering and dignity and now her covering was Boaz. Boaz, her covering is filling her with the bread and this bread will ever sustain Ruth and her family. From this time forward she will never be hungering and her vail will be full of bread. Yes, our covering is Lord Jesus Christ and He will sustain us with the bread of life to our hungering souls and this bread has the potential to fill us forever!

May we all like Ruth choose what the Lord desires for us! His choice for us is the best and may we yield to His will. The plan of redemption can save any sinner and so let us turn to God’s redemption for us through Jesus Christ. May the Lord help us to be at His feet from the dusk till the dawn for we are sure to go with full hands!

Tomorrow: Mary at the feet of the Lord

Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon

I Kings 10:6-7
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Queen of Sheba was a wealthy queen who traveled all the way to Jerusalem to test King Solomon’s wisdom. She came not empty handed but with a train of camels that carried spices, gold and precious stones for King Solomon (I Kings 10:2). This is similar to the wise men of the east that came to see Jesus after his birth following the star in the east all the way to Bethlehem of Judah (Matthew 2:1-2). Queen of Sheba came to Israel following the outstanding report that she heard of King Solomon. She who was King Solomon’s equal heard of him concerning the God of Israel. She wondered if all that was told about him was true. She arrived personally to test the King’s wisdom and to hear his words of wisdom. She chose to commune with a godly man and to experience the truth herself. In doing so, she was bountifully blessed and in return blessed King Solomon. Out of royal generosity the King granted Queen Sheba what she requested and much more. What she returned with to her royal kingdom was not just material gifts but something that no man can ever steal from her… WISDOM!

King Solomon told her of everything and concealed nothing from Her Majesty. She personally witnessed the wisdom of the King, the house he had built, the meat at his table, the positioning of his servants around the table, the attendance of his ministers, their apparel, his cupbearers, and his ascension to the house of the Lord. She was so amazed that there was no more spirit in her. What is to be noted is that the queen surveyed King Solomon’s glory and the wisdom with which he ruled his kingdom and his passion to worship the Lord God by offering sacrifices. A gentile queen was thoroughly impressed by the King of Israel. She said that the report she heard in her own land of King Solomon was not even half of what she saw. She further added that King Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity exceeded the fame which she heard. The report of the queen after seeing with her own eyes surpassed what she heard. She was convinced about King Solomon’s wisdom and nobility that her report simply authenticated her conviction. May God transform our lives so that our lives reflect His divine wisdom and glory so that people around us truly testify of our faith!

Remember, the people around you are watching you to see if you walk the talk of a Christian. You represent Christ’s Kingdom and His glory. Your life is a living testimony of Lord Jesus Christ and you are a light in the dark world. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” King Solomon represented his Lord by his divine wisdom which was talked about widely that this fell in the Queen of Sheba’s ears. She came to witness this wisdom personally. Are you a true witness of Jesus Christ that the words spoken about you depict your passion for the Lord?

Queen of Sheba chose to commune with a man of God and was awestruck by what she saw with her own eyes. How much more will you be satisfied when you commune with Jesus Christ? His divine wisdom will freely flow into you and your face will shine with His glory. The people around you will see you and praise the God you trust. May our lives exemplify the one in whom we trust and by whom we are sustained and of whom we boast about!

Tomorrow: Ruth at the Feet of Boaz till Morning

Haman at the Queen’s Banquet

Esther 7:1-6

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

In yesterday’s message we saw that King Ahasuerus raised his golden sceptre for Esther and eagerly enquired of her petition. The King was ready to give even half of the kingdom to Queen Esther because she found favor in his eyes. Esther’s answer was (Esther 5:4): “If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.” She invited the King and Haman to a special banquet. Haman was elated at this special invitation and went home with a joyful heart. But, on the way to his home, he noticed Mordecai at King’s gate and was filled with indignation against Mordecai as it says in Esther 5:9: “Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.” Haman’s joy was short-lived and when he saw Mordecai at the King’s gate making no obeisance to him, he was filled with indignation. When he reached home his wife Zeresh suggested (Esther 5:14): “Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” Proverbs 27:1 says “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” You can see in this blog how a man who considered himself so high and mighty was pulled down all in a single night.

The same night that Haman’s wife Zeresh suggested the evil plot to prepare gallows and hang Mordecai, King Ahasuerus was restless and he commanded that the book of Chronicles be read for him. Esther 6:2 says, “And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.” Mordecai had done a mighty act and saved the King’s life when Bigthana and Teresh had sought to kill him. He had informed Queen Esther of the evil plot against the King and thus protected him from falling as a prey in the wicked hands. An act so noble and so sincere, will it ever go without being honored?

The King was determined to honor Mordecai for his sincere act as Haman was entering the King’s court to speak to the King to hang Mordecai on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai. King sought the advice of Haman as to how a person that King delights to honor should be honored. Haman in his pride and dignity thought that the King was about to honor him and gave an elaborate plan for himself. He did not realize that the King wanted to honor his opponent, the man against whom he was raging in anger and was about to kill. The King ordered that Mordecai be honored per Haman’s plan. Haman had to follow the King’s order and honor Mordecai per his plan in its entirety. He was now humiliated before Mordecai. Not just that, his evil plot against Mordecai was simply thwarted and utterly destroyed. He went home completely disappointed and explained his wife Zeresh and the wise men what befell him and they said (Esther 6:13) “If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him”. Those who plotted against Mordecai were now saying that Haman will not prevail against him. Right then it was time for the banquet hosted by Queen Esther and the King’s chamberlains hasted Haman to the banquet. He who planned to go to the banquet merrily was now in a state of fear and shock. See how quick and fierce the end came to wicked Haman. It all happened so quickly that Haman did not get a chance even to breathe. Psalm 73:19 says, “How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”

Queen Esther was given the privilege of conveying her petition to the King and she said (Esther 7:3) “If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request”. Furthermore Esther added (Esther 7:4): “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.” The moment came when Esther revealed her true identity as a Jewess. She had already won the King’s favor and he greatly delighted in her. Would he not grant her, her royal petition for her own sake and her people’s sake? The King enquired of who the person was and Esther responded: “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.” The King was filled with wrath against Haman and Haman had to plead the queen for his own life. The King’s wrath was so great that he reacted instantaneously. Esther 7:10 says, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.” Could anyone withstand the mighty King’s wrath? No, never!

Our heavenly King is ever ready to hear our prayer and supplications and grant us peace that passeth all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When an earthly King could grant a petition in a way that is fully in full favor of God’s chosen, how much more should a heavenly King grant our petitions in our favor? He is a God who shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). The wicked Haman was destroyed by King and so will the wicked prince of this world (Satan) be destroyed by our Father in heaven. Haman was subject to pride and what befell him was what he plotted against Mordecai. In the same way Satan today is full of pride and is operating according to his own whims and fancies and what befalls him is what he is plotting against God’s people and even more. Know therefore that His grace is on us His people and while His grace is abounding let us turn from our wicked ways and repent of our sins. Upon seeking His forgiveness and grabbing His forgiveness, let us cry out for all others around us like the way Esther did and plead the King of Glory for these souls. He sure is eagerly waiting to hear our supplications and His saving arms are outstretched for every soul. Let us go with the Great Commission vested on us, completely trusting that He will save those we reach out to and give them eternal life whereby there is no tear, no sorrow, no pain, no fear, no starvation and no trouble. In the heaven we will be free of the enemy and his roars and he cannot devour us like he is doing today. There in the presence of the Father we will rest safe in the arms of our Savior Jesus. Now we just need to hang on to the cross and lead a victorious life with the resurrected Lord! Oh, how I look forward for my homeland, SWEET BEULAH LAND!

Tomorrow: Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon

King Held out the Golden Sceptre for Esther

Esther 5:1-2

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

In the message on October 11th Called to Bring Deliverance from Sin, we saw how Mordecai urged Queen Esther to go to King Ahasuerus to raise supplication unto the King to stop the decree against Jews. The King’s decree was to destroy the Jews based on the plot devised by wicked Haman for he noticed that Mordecai who was a Jew did not pay respects to him when he passed by the King’s gate as did the other men. His main intention was to get rid off Mordecai somehow. So he came up with a plan to destroy him by destroying the entire Jews in Shushan. Haman did not know that Esther was a Jewess for she kept it a secret as suggested by Mordecai.

Esther’s response to Mordecai was (Esther 4:16): “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” In other words, Esther agreed to go before the King Ahasuerus and plead on behalf of her people knowing fully well that she could perish. She urged all the Jews in Shushan to fast for her while she and her maidens fasted too. She was carrying the burden of all her people and representing all the Jews before the King. This is much like Christ bearing the burden of all of us on His back and carrying the same burden to the cross on our behalf representing us before His father, God Almighty. The fast that she had was in preparation for this great event that was not easy.

On the third day Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the King’s house. King was seated on his throne of majesty and when he saw Queen Esther, she found favor in his eyes. We like Queen Esther should represent the people we are called to minister to. When we represent the people that are about to perish in the world and intervene on their behalf by raising supplications, the Lord God will surely shower His grace and favor on us. He will not only hear our plea but will also surround the people we uphold with His grace and mercy. The enemy has a plan to destroy the people but the enemy’s plan will be annihilated by the Almighty God because He reigns forevermore and is in control of everything including the enemy. He is the creator of heavens and earth and our help comes from Him alone (Psalm121:1-2).

King Ahasuerus raised his golden sceptre for Queen Esther and she went near and touched the top of the sceptre. This golden sceptre symbolizes his sovereign authority and power. Yes, our Lord God will raise His golden sceptre when we intercede for the people out in the world who know not His salvation, who are given to the vile traps of the enemy and subject to the temporal passions. He will let us touch the top of His sceptre to listen and answer our humble entreaties. When we take our requests to the Lord in prayer we should also accompany our prayers with fasting. Matthew 6:17-18 says, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Esther when she went before the King was dressed appropriately and probably she did not have the appearance as though she fasted. The King very well knew that she had a plea and by allowing Queen Esther to touch the top of the sceptre was willing to hear her plea and answer accordingly.

Esther 5:3 says, “Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.” King Ahasuerus was so gracious to the queen and was ready to hear her request and willing to even give half of the kingdom. Our father is a gracious Lord and is waiting to hear our prayers and supplications for therein His heart rejoices. He answers our humble prayers in His own sweet way for He cherishes in us and our communion with Him. Won’t you intercede and lift up the people of the world and pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is accepted and that they all might have everlasting life?!?!

Tomorrow: Haman at the Queen’s Banquet

Esther Crowned as the Royal Queen

Esther 2:17
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

When the wrath of the King was subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she did unto him and what was decreed against her. King’s servants advised him (Esther 2:2-4): “Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.” The King’s servants were advising him on an extravagant process in order to crown the next queen. The young virgins were to go through a purification procedure and the maiden that pleases the King was to be crowned the queen. What level of pleasing a carnal mind free of spiritual thoughts needs? No matter what the King’s servants or the King had on mind, God had a definite plan as to who should be the next queen.

There was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai, a Benjamite who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away (Esther 2:6). Mordecai had brought up Hadassah who was called Esther, his uncle’s daughter when she became an orphan. Esther was fair and beautiful to look upon. When the King’s commandment and decree was passed Esther also was brought into Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai the keeper of the women. What is interesting and worthy of our thought is that she won the favor of Hegai immediately. Esther 2:9 says, “And the maiden pleased him (Hegai), and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.”

Esther followed Mordecai’s instructions and Mordecai had charged her that she should not reveal her people or her kindred. She was a Jewess, brought as captive along with his cousin Mordecai and his family. But the King and his people did not know that she was a Jewess; she just was charged to keep it a secret and she did so. Esther was well taken care of by Mordecai and he walked daily before the court of the women’s house to know how Esther did and what happened to her. This is a great example of how to care for children either adopted or own and how the children should respect and obey their parents.

The women that were in the house were set to all manner of purifications for twelve months. When it was a woman’s turn to go before the King she was given whatever she desired. In the evening she went to the King and the morrow she returned to the second house of the women and kept under the custody of Shaashgaz another of the king's chamberlains. She went not to the King unless she was called for by name.

Now, it was Esther’s turn to go to the King during the seventh year of his reign. She desired nothing more than what Hegai appointed for her. Here as well we see Esther’s utmost simplicity in not desiring anything more than what was appointed already and yet she found favor of all of them that looked upon her. Esther 2:17 says, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” What a joyous occasion it must have been for Esther and Mordecai for she was crowned the queen… An orphan and a captive crowned as queen! How wonderfully God operates in exalting the most humble. The King who was without a queen for four years was also greatly delighted to have a queen for him at last. So great was his happiness that he made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Esther was a humble and a simple person who respected and obeyed her cousin Mordecai who took care of her. She embellished herself with simplicity and had no hint of arrogance in her. This is in contrast to Vashti who was arrogant in rejecting the King’s commandment (check yesterday’s blog) knowing fully well the King’s sovereignty, although the King was commanding in his gaiety and merriment for he had authority to do what he desired. She lost her position as a queen just because she thought she had the authority to reject King’s commandment or at least it appears she thought she had the authority that she did not have. Esther on the other hand proved herself to be a virtuous woman far worthier than rubies (Proverbs 31:10). He who humbles himself will be exalted by God. James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Tomorrow: King Held out the Golden Scepter for Esther

Vashti’s Refusal to Appear

Esther 1:10-12

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

King Ahasuerus was a powerful King that reigned from India to Ethiopia with altogether one hundred and twenty seven provinces under his authority. In the third year of his reign, he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom for about one hundred and eighty days to many princes, nobles and their servants from various provinces. This King was filled with vainglory and was ostentatiously displaying not just the grandeur of his kingdom but of his own character which was against God’s. He dwelled in his pride and was now making a public display of the same not realizing what this pomp was about to bring him. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom”. He attributed all his achievements to his own strength and might as opposed to God and His grace. After this he made a great feast to all that gathered there for about seven days and served drinks in golden vessels and had royal wine in abundance. They all drank per their wish and none was compelled as was the law during those days. In serving and being served by drinks the heart of the King was merry with wine and so were the hearts of the men around him. In such a state they must have involved in frivolous activities that far outweighed their regular activities when in a good sense free of drinks.

While the King and all the men had a royal feast in the palace, Queen Vashti entertained her lady guests in the royal place away from men. The custom of Persia in those days was not to inter mingle men and women in their celebrations. When the King’s heart was merry he sent King’s seven chamberlains Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas to bring Queen Vashti before the men with royal crown on her head for she was beautiful to look upon. These chamberlains merely executed the King’s order for their duty was so. Queen Vashti refused to come before the King and his men and the chamberlains returned to the King without the queen with them. King who was exultant and exuberant at the pomp and pride of his kingdom was now belittled before all the men because the queen refused to come before him. The King was raging in anger at his own wife’s refusal to appear before him and his men. Was the queen being disrespectful to her husband? Or was the King going against his land’s customs and acting foolishly? We can very well see that the King’s orders were against the land’s traditions and Queen Vashti simply used her common sense in refusing to follow King’s order for she knew that they were all drunk. Queen Vashti’s refusal was justifiable to her and the women in the chambers.

While it seemed right to the queen to refuse to obey King’s orders, the King and his men thought it an outright mistake on the queen’s part. It hurt their ego and especially King’s pride was shot beyond measure. King sought the counsel of his seven princes Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan who knew the times well. Memucan responded saying (Esther 1:16), “Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus”. Their fear was that “this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes”. The queen acted wisely in her own eyes according to the customs of the land. She would have been fairly respected by men and women if she just would have followed King’s orders for what seems right to the King would have been well accepted by the people in the Kingdom. The King Ahasuerus followed the advice of his prince Memucan and his advice was (Esther 1:19): “That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she”. Queen Vashti preserved her dignity and esteem but was now stripped off her royal privilege to be a queen. She did what was better for her because it was better for her lose her royal crown than to be a public spectacle.

Queen Vashti’s choice directly impacted her and she lost her royal crown. The King too was now without a queen in the palace. The King who reveled in his mighty kingdom was now humiliated by the queen before all the men. Had he been in his senses this would have been averted. God used the King’s folly for some good cause. God turned around the situation in protection of His chosen ones. Queen Vashti’s choice was reasonable to her and she made a decision that later God used to bring providence to Jews.

In all His humble state, the Son of God stooped down to the level of a human being forsaking the royal prestige and went all the way to the cross bearing the sin of the mankind. He was raised from the dead and is seated on the right hand side of His father. He soon is going to come back to take us, His chosen unto Him. What good are we before the Son of God that we should glory in our vanities? Let us all cast our pride at His feet and adorn ourselves with the beauty of humility for therein rests His grace in abundance.

Tomorrow: Esther Crowned as the Royal Queen

Remember Lot’s Wife!

Luke 17:28-30, 32
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife.

Genesis 19:26
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

During the days when Lot lived in Sodom with his family, the land of Sodom was filled with sins of all kinds. There was sexual immorality at its prominence alongside some strange sins and this grieved the heart of the Lord and His wrath waxed greatly. But Lot was one righteous man and he chose to live in Sodom among the heathen given away to diverse lusts. The angels of the Lord paid a special visitation to Lot to speak to him of the upcoming destruction and to save his family from the peril. Genesis 19:1 says, “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.” Lot was at the gateway of the city waiting to perform a good deed or may be he was communing with God in a quiet place away from the city, while the rest of the Sodomites were involved in the common actions of today like drinking, buying, selling and planting. These two angles were among the three visitors (Genesis 18:2) that visited Abraham to reveal what the Lord God intended to do for Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleaded the angels to save Sodom and Gomorrah for ten righteous men in the city. Abraham was directly pleading for the sake of Lot and his family. We know very well that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Lot who paid his respects to the angels invited them to his home to be with them for he knew very well the sinful actions of the city and wanted to protect the angels from the evil men of Sodom. Lo and behold, the evil men did notice the angels resting in Lot’s house and wanted to commit the unpardonable sin with the angels. Little did they realize that the angels had the power of God to destroy them while saving the righteous men. Their eyes were so blinded and their hearts hardened that they could not differentiate the angels from themselves. This is the sorry state that has stricken our generation too. May we all bow down in humble adoration to God and plead for our own generation. The evil men were struck blind by the hand of God and Lot was rescued and so were his unmarried daughters.

Angels reasoned with Lot and explained him what God was going to do to Sodom and Gomorrah and asked him to bring all his relations into his house. Genesis 19:12 says, “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place”. The angels wanted to save not only Lot but all who he desired to be saved. This shows their generosity to save but would the people of Sodom take advantage of this great a salvation? His own sons in law thought it a mockery and were not willing to be rescued. Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” This saving grace is similar to that of Lord Jesus Christ’s. His salvation is so great and how can we escape if we neglect this great salvation. For negligence of such a wonderful gift will lead to destruction as it did to Sodomites and also the Noah’s generation except Noah and his family. It is the same today and will be alike when the Son of Man, Jesus Christ returns. The pleasures of the world pave the way for men and women to yield to the desires of the flesh and the end result is going to be disastrous for the Son of Man will soon return to take away the saved and destroy the sinful. The time is yet given unto us to accept Jesus Christ and to confess and repent of our sins which might be as red as scarlet for His forgiveness is unfathomable by us and has the power to cleanse us completely. Won’t you turn from the wicked ways and give your life to Jesus Christ?

The angels grabbed the hands of Lot, his wife and the hands of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city and said (Genesis 19:17), “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” The angels’ instructions to flee for their lives, not to look back and not to stop anywhere in the plain were serious and they meant it for Lot and his family’s own good. God’s intentions and plans for us are always good and trustworthy. How can we pay a deaf ear to the Almighty’s instructions? Even at this point the angels were gracious and generous to Lot for they heard Lot’s requests and responded in Lot’s favor. But will all the four pay complete respect to the angels’ words?

In Genesis 19:26 we see one person’s negligence to the angels’ instructions and what befell her. “But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot’s wife did not either trust the words of the angels that Sodom and Gomorrah would be utterly destroyed or still had a longing for the temporal benefits of the land along the lines of losing their hard earned property. This lady had a longing for her earthly possessions that was greater than her longing to trust and obey the Lord. Many of us today are like Lot’s wife. Do we trust our Lord and obey Him? Do we believe that where He is leading us is the safest and the best place for us? Yesterday my cousin sent me a wonderful line and I would like to add it here for it is just right and fits our discussion. The will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

The Savior forewarns us in this generation of the sin of Lot’s wife. When we leave our past to follow the ways of the Lord, we are not to look back like Lot’s wife lest we become pillars of salt. The best response to Lord’s call is to move farther away from the passions of the world and not even to loiter like Lot and his family when they were summoned away from Sodom and Gomorrah by the angels sent by God. After forsaking our former lives affiliated with world we should not look back or grieve the dainties of life that are temporal that lead to destruction. The Master has already designed the best place for us and so may we yield to His desire and plan for us. May the Lord God help us to align our will with His and give us the strength to resist the traps of the enemy to pull us back into the world!

Tomorrow: Vashti’s Refusal to Appear

The Widow at Zarephath - Part II

I Kings 17:7, 22-24
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

From yesterday’s blog, we see that the widow at Zarephath was blessed by Elijah’s presence with her family during the time of famine. Today we will see what befell her during Elijah’s presence after the famine. The son of this woman fell sick and his sickness was so sore that there was no breath left in him. In other words, her son died due to sickness. He didn’t die due to famine but by sickness. The family was able to get through the famine because the Lord supplied them with enough food to survive. But now, the son died due to some other cause and this is sickness. God brought this sickness for the boy to show the woman His power over death. This is the same power by which the Son of God, Jesus Christ was resurrected from death to life. This demonstrates that when we die the death due to sins, the new resurrected life would be all for God’s glory because Jesus Christ is in us. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The woman was filled with grief and lost hope after her son’s death. She started retrospecting her own life and wondered if Elijah was there to bring her sins to remembrance and slay her son. “And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?” In fact, Elijah too was surprised at her son’s death. The Lord God operates in mysterious ways to show how loving and caring He is. He who took care of this woman and her son during the famine, would He let her son die after the famine? Nay, He was going to bring out the wonderful words out of this woman’s mouth; words of praise and words that acknowledge Him as the true God. She was a woman from Zidon and Zidonians had no knowledge of the true God. So God is about to perform a miracle over death because something so mighty can truly convict her and bring her to the knowledge of the true God.

Elijah took the woman’s son from her bosom and carried him to where he abode and laid him on his own bed. Elijah could not see the woman’s grief and now was going to plead His God for her son’s life. Elijah’s words to the Lord were: “O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?” He is questioning God if He brought this evil upon the widow with whom he sojourned. God directed Elijah to go and stay with this woman during the famine and she showed him kindness by allowing him to stay in her house all through the famine. Now the death of her son made her wonder if Elijah was with her to slay her son by remembering all her sins.

In the next verse we see that Elijah stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD. When Elijah stretched himself on the child three times he breathed over the child the breath of the Lord in Him. Genesis 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” When God created the first man Adam, He made him out of dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The same breath of God is in you and me. The son who died lacked this breath of God and Elijah breathed over this son the breath of life given to him by God as he stretched over him. Then Elijah cried, “O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.” Elijah now lifted up His voice to the only God who has power over death putting all His confidence and trust in Him.

The Lord heard Elijah’s cry and “The soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” I Kings 17:23 says, “And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.” The woman who was wailing and weeping turned to see her son living. Psalmist says in Psalm 30:11, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” This praise was the woman’s now. The Lord has turned her mourning to dancing and He put off her sackcloths and girded her with gladness. The Lord proved to this woman how magnanimous He is. He took care of this woman and her son during the famine and He now has revived her son from death to life. She can be safe by trusting this God who can walk her through any trial including death. She was able to say to Elijah, “Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.” She now can simply trust the words of this man of God for they are TRUE. This is the kind of witness that God expects of us human vessels. He puts us through fire and shapes us and transforms us so our hearts can be lifted up in a wonderful song of praise to Him. Amen!

Tomorrow: Remember Lot’s Wife!