Who will take the son?

May I have your undivided attention, and allow me to take this opportunity and talk to you about something more important than what you may be looking for. I promise you it's worth listening.

God loves you and He cares for you, so much that He gave His son to die in your place. He wants you to know that He has got everything that you need. Job, money, prosperity, house. Many people are in stress because of these thing, families are torn apart because of the stress for money. They need it yet they don't have it. Are you in need of some of these? All these things are found in God (Matthew 6:31-33) but first you need to accept Jesus as the Lord and savior.

There is a story about a wealthy man who had all the riches in the world. He had businesses, live stock, farms, cars, hotels, all you could think of. But he only had one child a boy. He sat down one and made his will and testimony and he gave everything to his son. The time came when he passed on, and his lawyers made a decision that they will sell everything on an auction sale.

They made an announcement, people came from all over the country. Some came to buy this man's businesses, some came to buy his live stock, some came to buy his hotels, cars the farms.

The time came and everyone was prepared as the lawyers began the proceedings of the auction sale. The lawyer mentions that the man had stated in his will that before anything could be sold, they must first begin with the boy. The was brought infront and sat on a chair, the auction began. The lawyer asked "who will take the son"? No one made an offer. He asked again, but no one wanted the son.

Time was moving, people didn't want the son but the wealth. The lawyer pleaded with them "people, we can not move forward. With the proceedings until someone takes the son". Still they were not interested in the son. Until some old man decided he has had enough of the delay. he said I'll take the son so we can move on with the proceedings. Everyone clapped their hands thanking the old man for removing the obstacle before them.

The old was called upfront and singed the documents that he takes the son. Then the lawyer made another announcement: "people I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we are no longer going to continue with the sale. The boys father gave everything to his son, so whom ever who takes the son he gets everything".

My brother, my sister if you accept Jesus, you inherit everything that God has given to Him. Take Jesus and be made the son of God alongside Him. (Romans8:17) take Jesus and benefit to all the riches of Heaven.

The Greatest Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13   This is by far the greatest prayer of all. Why? Because Jesus taught it and because it has everything that you need to pray for. Because it's the kind of a prayer you need to pray when you talking to God the Father. verses 6-8

Allow me to break it down for you. [9 Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.] You call God as the father, you place yourself in a submissive position. You claiming your rightful place as a heir of heaven (Ephesians2:6) that way you get His attention. Tell me of a father that won't pay attention to his child when the child shouts "Daddy"? You praise Him telling Him that His name is holy. You make Him melt with love. Tell me of any man that will not be happy and melt if he's being praised by his clan names. Why would God be sad if you as His child praising Him.

[10  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven]. You invite His kingdom, you invite the whole Heavens into world, you invite His presence into your world. You pray for His will to happen in your life, in your world. You give Him authority over your entire life. You asking Him to take over everything and rule everything in your life as much as He rules over everything in heaven.

[11  Give us this day our daily bread.] You pray that God be the provider in your life, you pray that He sees to your needs.

[12  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors]. You pray for forgiveness, because we sin everyday and need to be forgiven for our sins. Sins we do knowingly, sins we do not by purpose. You also commit yourself that you have forgiven, because for you to be forgiven, you also need to forgive.

[13  And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.] You pray for protection that God must protect you from temptations, you pray for deliverance from any bondage of sin, you pray for deliverance from demonic spirits, from sickness and attacks from the devil. You pray for all of these to Him because this is His Kingdom He rules over it with His power and Glory forever and ever. Amen.

We have prayed all sorts of prayers and have taken this one for granted, but this Is the greatest prayer that we need to pray everyday. Jesus gave it for a reason. Let us not forget it after we have prayed all types of prayers, and pray this one. God bless you.

Let go and let God

I want to speak to someone who may have lost hope, someone who might be discouraged, someone who just might be feeling beaten and defeated by the situations or difficulties they are facing in their lives right now. It might be anything you are going through, you may be sick or your loved one is sick. you might have lost your job; you might have lost your parents; child; spouse; house, I mean anything. It does happen at times that we find ourselves in situations like these and when we look at them we tend to lose hope. God promises us that He has good plans for our lives. [Jeremiah 29:11- for I know the plans I have for you, the are not to destroy you but to prosper you.] Well, at times circumstances makes you feel like what the scripture is saying is not true. When you lose your parents both of them at the same time, it's not easy to find the positive in that. the pain you go through at that point in time is unthinkable.

If you lose your child, as a parent it's not easy for you to handle, because you obviously had big dreams for your child and no parent wants to bury their children, but they all hoping that their children will bury them. When you or your spouse is sick and the doctors have told you that there's nothing they can help you with anymore, You just have to accept that your situation will remain the same till your last day on earth. The thought that there is no one alive that can help you is enough to drive you mad. But in all that God is saying that He knows the plans He has for you.

It may happen that you have been going through all this pain and you've been praying to God day in and day out and yet nothing has changed.  Pastors and prophets have prayed for you yet there is no change in your situation. you haven't received your miracle. Somehow, that could even make you to begin to doubt the word of God in your life, it could make you to lose hope in Him. under normal circumstances it is understandable for you to feel so, but I want you to keep this in mind that He said He has good plans for your life and just hold on to that.

I know that you might be asking yourself that "how is it possible for me to hold on to these words while I have lost both my parents, my health has been declared to be at it's worst?" [Romans 8:28 for we know that everything works together for the good of them who LOVE the Lord, and are called according to His purpose.] It will be hard to understand this if you do not love God, you need to love Him and give your life to Him. The scripture says 'for them who love the Lord'. so it all begins by loving God, it begins by being in a relationship with Him. You can never be able to hold on to His word if you are not in a relationship with Him. You can not be called according to His purpose if you're not in a relationship with Him. Your life could not be according to His plan if you're not in a relationship with Him, because you would be rebellious towards His purpose for your life. So everything begins with a relationship with God.

It might happen that you love God and you gave your life to Him, you are a born again Christian yet you've been praying and your prayers haven't been answered. One of the reasons why your prayers are not answered is your commitment to Him. We have this problem of seeking God only when we need a miracle, when things are going right we don't even think about Him. We treat God like a booty call, we treat Him like a one night stand. but God wants intimacy with you, He won't respond to booty calls. He wants you to be committed to Him, it's all or nothing. He don't just want half of you, but all of you. Then again you might say to me that you are committed to Him, you gave your all to Him. The truth is, it does happen that even if your are that committed to Him, you find that there is this situation about your life that just won't change. You may have prayed all kinds of prayers, even prayed in tongues, casted demons out, shouted until you went polite. Yet there's no change in your situation. The question is, "What could be wrong"? could it be that you are doing something wrong? well God says: "be still and know that I am God" [Psalm 46:10] when God tells you to be still, He doesn't say that you must be still while things are going right, infact when something is being still. that means there has to be a storm but it stood still to it's foundation. God asks you to be still in your situation, He doesn't say when the storm is over you can be still, but right in the middle of your storm be still and know that I am God. because I know the plans I have for your life. what we seem not to understand is that, what you are going through right now may be a set up for you to receive greater things from God.

God may let you go through pain just to reveal Himself to people, He may let you go through poverty and supply for your needs just to make His name know among the people that surrounds you. He could let you go through these things, but He won't leave you. He will be with you. I'm not saying that now you should now stop praying, continue to pray even when things don't change. but I just want you to change the type of prayer you are praying. It could happen that you've been praying for deliverance or healing or prosperity or wealth. and all those prayers haven't been answered. [Matthew 26:39] when Jesus was going through difficult time He prayed to God to remove the cup in front of Him, that cup was filled with suffering; pain all the suffering you could ever imagine. But when He prayed for it to be removed, He then said "let not it be my will, but let your will be done". you see many times we pray for things we desire, but we do not pray for the will of the Lord. I want to encourage you today that you pray for the will of God in your life. the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples is now making sense. "let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". I want to encourage you today to start praying that prayer, to start meditating on that prayer. that prayer has everything you need to do when you speaking to God. you praise Him; you glorify Him; you give Him authority over your life.

Pray for the will of God, say Father let your will be done over my life, over my finances, over my health, over my family, over my property, over my job, over my kids, wife, husband, mother, my daddy. Father take control over everything. That should not be hard to trust on, for He said He has good plans for your life. it's time you let go and let God take over, your own efforts have failed. they haven't been successful.

Who are You?

This might sound like the easiest question somebody may ask you, and you would easily and quickly answer it. Yet it can be tricky and a difficult question.
As a young boy who grew up in a family of Christians. I knew about God and I was brought up by the word of God. I always wondered and wanted a deeper about myself "Who am I really".
I understood that there are some parts of the body that form this structure called human, the hands, head, feet. And I always asked myself, if this is my body, my feet, my hands, then who am I? I wanted to know more than just my name. More than just this body, I wanted to know and understand the real me. The person beyond all that I could see. I had not yet given my life to Christ at that time. Well I couldn't get an answer to my question, and I never asked anyone about it. So I got no answer to it.

When I accepted Jesus as the Lord in my life and as I grew in knowing Him. Things began to be more clear. The scripture began to make sense to me as I read the Bible. I finally figured out the answer to my question through the word of God. (1John 1:1-3) "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through, and nothing was created except through him."

This scripture reveals how everything was created. Verse 3 says nothing was created except through him. God spoke the word and said let there be, and it was. We find how God did that in Genesis1 God created everything by just speaking the word, "Let there be". When He was to create man He then said in verse 26: "Let us make man in our own image". This show that humans are different to all other creatures, because they are created in God's image. The word "image" means "reflection". If you want to see yourself you will stand in front of a mirror and look at the reflection of you. So God created humans as His own reflection.

Who is God then? The bible said in John1 the word was with God and the word was God. So if this is so, then how is it possible that God can look like me? Does this mean as I look at myself I see the word? Well of course you can't see the word. But let me reveal this for you. When God was making man, the process changed. He never spoke the word anymore. (Genesis 2:7) "then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person." You see this time God took His time and built the body from the dust, and when He was finished a man was not yet alive. He was just the body lying on the ground with no use. But here is the wonderful part of this process, "He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person."
This is to show us that with out breath a body is nothing, it's dead. God put life INTO the body. The body is just the house or the temple where this breath lives. Somehow it's coming clear that who am I. I am the breath, I am the spirit inside this body.
(1Corinthians 6:19) "don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You are not your own." My body is the temple of the Holy spirit. Remember what God said: "let us make man in our own image." so this tells me that I am the spirit, the spirit of God.
(John 4:24) "God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth".

You can't see the spirit, so God knew that He can't just let his spirit to just wonder in the air. So He had to make room for it which is the body in this case. So the answer here is that I am not the body that can be seen, but I am the spirit that is kept in the body. I am more than just the outward appearance, I am The spirit of God, I am the reflection of God for I am made by the image of God. I represent God on earth, I am god to all other creatures on earth.

What Defines and Directs your Lifestyle?

This is a good question that you should ask yourself. Is your lifestyle being defined by what you see around you. Is it defined by the lifestyle of your peers. Is it defined by what you see on TV everyday? As a Christian, more especially the youth, what defines and direct your lifestyle?

Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." (AMP)

Do not be adapted by the ways of this world. Paul warns christians here about the lifestyle of the world we live in.

Yes it is true that because of peer pressure people end up doing things they really don't want to do, sometimes they do things just because it's the "in-thing" and everybody is doing it. Well that is dangerous especially if you are a child of God.

If I may speak of the few things that the youth found themselves into, one of them is drinking alcohol. I know some may challenge this saying Jesus did turn water into wine so it's ok to drink wine. I will explain how is it wrong.

If you are a christian, and doing this you are being rebellious against God. We all know what alcohol has done into our nation, broken families, road accidents, people find themselves in situations they would not have put themselves if they were not drunk.

The bible warns us about drunkenness "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler, and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 (AMP)" This scripture warns us what wine and strong drink can do to a man. Men can end up raging and brawling and doing things in a drunken stupor that are very unwise and that they will also regret. How many times have we heard the expression when someone talks unwisely after drinking too much?  They say: “That was the alcohol talking.”

Yes wine on it's own is not bad,  When I say wine i speak of a drink that is alcohol free, because Jesus did not turn water into an intoxicating wine but sweet wine. To an extent that all those who tasted it said the master of ceremony kept the best wine for later. It doesn't talk about people being drunk after they have had that wine.

It is when you are drunk where things begin to be wrong and sinful and that could only be from an intoxicated drink. That is when God is not pleased.
"(KJV) 1Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Drunkards shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Now we all know that people drink to get drunk, obviously that is against God's will. Some People drink only because it seems cool and certain people do it, that's when you are being conformed.

Another example is body piercing and tattoos. If I could ask why do people pierce their body? They would say It's just to look good. There is no harm in it, yet on the other side it poses danger to your spiritual being.

They piece their nose, tongue, stomach, multiple earrings on their ears. some even in unspeakable places. Yes they do it to look good, but the most correct answer is that everyone is doing it, and it's the "in-thing", it's trendy.

Now, I don't want anyone who has pieced or has tattoos to feel like I'm condemning them, but I want to reveal how dangerous a harm less piercing and a tattoo can be if you are not aware of the spirits beyond that. So that even if you have done it not being aware, you must pray to God to protect you from these forces behind it, and for those who were still thinking of doing it, you will know about it and don't pursue it.

What does the bible say about that?
Leviticus 19:28 “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” 
 The bible warns us about doing these things.

Tattoos and body piercing originates from witchcraft. When the verse talks about doing it for the dead, that's when the witchcraft part of it comes in. Some tattoos have devilish images such as a scary skull, snake, ugly demonic image or sign and all. This without knowing, attracts evil spirits into your life. Just to have that satanic display in your body is enough to make you part of that spirit.

We can see some Rock music stars with these kind of tattoos and piercings, and we can see how devilish they look. So if your life is conformed by these things you are being rebellious to God. We know that no parents in their right mind will want their child to have a tattoo. Kids have these tattoos and piercing out of rebellion of their parents. That does not please God, The bible speaks of honoring parents in Exodus 20:12 and in Colossians 3:20.

There is so much to be said about these things, but I won't mention all of it. I just want to show you how dangerous to let your life to be determined by the things of this world. It may seem harmless but it can destroy your whole life. I know some one might say, but it's just a small flower that I have as a tattoo. (Song of Solomon 2:15) says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

It's the little foxes that kill the whole vine, because they can't reach to the grapes so they eat the branches. Such is the case with our spiritual life, the little things we allow and do may be disastrous for us.

A simple thing like a greeting signature by your favorite movie star, or a celebration signature by your favorite soccer star. If you do not understand the meaning of those hand signs, you might find yourself inviting satanic spirits in your life. I've seen some soccer players as they celebrate after scoring a goal, that does not mean they are satanists, but they just might have seen someone they admire do it and they copied it. The same goes for you, you see your friends doing these greeting signs yet you don't know what it means but you end up doing it too because it looks cool and you want to fit in and you want feel "Macho". Only to find that it's a satanic symbol. This is why God warns us not to be conformed by the things of this world.

In verse Romans 12:1 Paul ask us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. God needs our bodies to be clean and free from all these things I've just mentioned. But it does not mean that if you've already done these things you can no longer be a child of God, as long as you repent and move away from all these things. God will accept you with that tattooed and pierced body (with the rings removed). There are a lot of christians with tattoos that are serving God in truth. They just gave their lives to God and He is working through the though they have tattoos.

If you haven't done it yet, this is the warning for you. Do not do it. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit you have to glorify God with it. Keep it clean.

How do you move away from all these things? By the transformation of your mind, that's what Romans 12:2 also says. Do not look at the things that happens in this world and try to fit in with them. If you want a beautiful life, prosperous life, it is found in God. Wealth is found in Him. The bible says in Matthew 6:33 "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." (AMP). Seek first His face and what ever you need in life it shall be given to you.

Do no be conformed by the life of this world, it's disastrous.

BE LIKE CHILDREN

I once came across this fascinating story that I couldn't help but find a powerful message out of it. So allow me to share it with you.

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.

Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the top musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station

was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

My conclusion to this is : How many times do we miss the presence of God in our lives.

I'd like to break this story down bit by bit and reveal something powerful from it.

We are always in a hurry to get or go to some destination. We also do this when we are in church.

"Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule." (Some people would walk pass the house of God "church" and somehow feel that there is something happening inside, but they would just carry on and go where ever they are headed to and not get in and feel the love of God.)

"A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk." (This woman represents these Christians whom when they are at church, in the presence of God, they give their offering with out even acknowledging the presence of the Holy spirit. They give offering just because they feel it's part of procedure. They think their offering is everything, they think by just going to church and it's time for offering then they give it's all done, but God wants a relationship with they. He wants intimacy with you.)

"A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work." (This man represents some of the Christians that when they are in church they always looking at their watches wondering when will the service finish because they probably need to be somewhere else after the service. In that manner that person is not entirely there and will not really feel the presence of God and won't hear Him speaking to him, may not receive what God has for him that day)

"The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist." (This is the part I'm more interested on and that caught my heart, it reminds me of the book of Matthew 19: 13-14: 13  Then little children were brought to Jesus, that He might put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14  But He said, Leave the children alone! Allow the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain or hinder them, for of such [as these] is the kingdom of heaven composed.

This whole story in my conclusion it revolves around this scripture. That we should be like children, be patient, kind and pay attention into every little detail that may mean nothing to someone old or grown up.

It's amazing that out of all the people that were walking past this violin player, it's only the kids that paid more attention to him yet they surely didn't know him and that he may be the greatest violin player. It is the same with Christians, you'd expect them to know and notice and feel the presence of God, but they'll be in too much of a hurry to notice or pay attention.

Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is for such (as these kids). Let's be like children before God, be eager to listen to Him, long for his presence. Let nothing else matter but to sit at His feet.

No one knew who that Violin player was really, they even did not notice when he was gone. Sometime we don't notice that God has left us, why? Because we do not pay attention to Him. "IN THE 45 MINUTES THE MUSICIAN PLAYED, ONLY 6 PEOPLE STOPPED AND STAYED FOR A WHILE. ABOUT 20 GAVE HIM MONEY BUT CONTINED TO WALK THEIR NORMAL PACE. HE COLLECTED $32. WHEN HE FINISHED PLAYING AND SILENCE TOOK OVER, NO ONE NOTICED IT. NO ONE APPLAUDED, NOR WAS THERE ANY RECOGNITION." We get into church and give offerings that we think are all that is required of us, and we don't take time and seek the face of God. We are always in a hurry.

But there will be a day that we will realize that God has been in our mist yet we did not realize it. I can imagine how some of these people felt when they came to realize that this violin player they walked pass on the station is the greatest violin player in the world, and that they could have heard him play for them just for free. Now they must have a ticket to enter just to hear him play the same song in the Arena. How would it feel to come into realization that God has been there beside you yet you did not pay attention, now that you need to hear Him speak you realize that it is too late. You have been busy with your daily earthly things, sin and you never took time to give your life to God. You shall seek people to preach the gospel and it would be too late.

Be like Children, they pay attention to every little detail. Pay the same attention to God and His word. Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be yours.

How to break away from sin

Great speakers and preachers have either written or preached about this topic, but I can't help it not to share on it aswel. Allow me to take this parable Jesus used in the book of Luke15:11-24. I know that it has a different meaning, but I also find a message different from it's true meaning that Jesus was saying.

Luke15:11-24(amp)

11  And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; 12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. 13  And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. 14  And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. 15  So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. 16  And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. 17  Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! 18  I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. 20  So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. 21  And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! 22  But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. 23  And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, 24  Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry. I believe that we are not perfect and we all sin, it may be a small or a huge sin. But before God it's a sin. The fact that someone is a Christian doesn't make them perfect, but it only means they have been redeemed and they received grace. It also don't mean they don't sin.

It's either we do it unknowing or someone led us to do it, or we just decided to sin. Yes it is possible that you can sin not knowing that what you are doing is not right and God doesn't like it. You are just trying to do a right thing but in a process you end up doing the wrong thing.

People can lead you to sin aswel, especially family members. But I want to focus on this one aspect of sin which is the one where you decide to go against Gods word. Most times we make a decision to rebel against God. Like the younger son on this parable, he decided to ask for his inheritance from his father while he is still alive. He basically was saying I don't wanna be living under your authority anymore. He was rebellious against his father.

We do become rebellious against God by committing in to sin while we know very well that what we are doing or about to do is against God's will. Sometimes people wanna go and taste sin, just to try and experience life on the other side. And you find them stuck in sin for a long time. Sometimes you would find a great preacher of the word of God being deep in sin, why, because he had made a wrong decision and committed sin. Some are still in church preaching, some are still in church every sunday they take their bibles and put on their uniform as if they are pure before God yet they are being slaves of sin, sin they made choice to commit. But Jesus says in Luke 19:10  "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus seek for you, everyday every sermon that is being preached to you on sundays. Jesus is calling on you.

But here is a trick, God will not force Himself on you. (Genesis 3:8-10) when Adam and Eve have sinned God came and called them out, not because He did not know what they did and where they were hiding, but He needed them to make a decision to come out and confess their sin to Him."Here I am Lord". You have to make a decision, you have to take first step (Luke 15:18  I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.) You have to first come to your senses and realize that you have sinned, then take the decision. Confess your sin and go to the father. Luke15:20 don't just end up by saying I will go, but stand up and go to the father.

You must be willing to serve God with everything, your entire being. (Luke15:19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.) You must not demand forgiveness but offer yourself to Him, to be His servant. Come acknowledging your unworthiness, but the love of God will restore you as His son.

We serve a Loving God, He rejoices for one sinner that repent from sin"Luke15:23-24". He will accept and welcome you home with great joy. Jesus said Come to me all ye who are weary and tired and I'll give you rest. You go to Him not to the church not to your friend, listen, as the prodigal son went back to his father he eventually went back to his community. So is you, as you come to God you will eventually go back to church, but your focus should be unto God.

How to break away from sin? By following these few steps I have just pointed out, and repent. I hope that this will be useful to some who have been troubled by sin.

You are the Salt

(Matthew 5:13)  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

This was during the sermon on the mount, where Jesus was speaking to His disciples. These disciples represent you and me and the church of Christ in this generation. He tells them that they are the salt. The same mandate that Jesus gave to His disciples is still applicable to us today.

One can't help but think what did Jesus mean by that. In the ancient time salt had value, it had value in such a way that sometimes the Roman soldiers were paid their salaries in salt. Sometimes, not always. That's how valuable the salt was back then. Jesus wanted to emphasize the value of His disciples on earth.

Now what are the characteristics of salt? What was Jesus saying about His disciples here? Could it be that since salt adds taste in food so should we also add taste to this world we live in? Should we add flavour in to other peoples lives?

As the whiteness of the salt, could it be that we should be pure as Christians? Could it be that it means we must be sin free. Maybe since the salt stings when it comes with the wound so should we as Christians sting the world for their sins and rebuke them, judge them? I don't think that's what Jesus was saying.

However, salt has another important purpose which just might be what Jesus was referring to. Salt also works as preservative for decay. His disciples understood the metaphor when Jesus said "you are the salt of the earth", why? Because they themselves were the fisherman when Jesus found them. They were familiar with that function of salt as the fish they use to catch would quickly rot when they pack unless they pack it in salt, it won't spoil and will last longer when packed.

So as Christians we are to prevent the sin from decaying the world we live in. How? By the way we live in the world we are in, in the community. By showing love to our neighbours, by giving to the poor and preaching the Gospel. We have Christians that would care less about other people. Christians who are not in good relationship with their neighbours yet Jesus expect us to be the salt that prevents sin decay in people, but instead of being peace makers we are at war with others. Let alone others, we have Christians who can't stand each other in the same church, they are enemies.

As the church, we need to serve the community we are in. Be the influence in that community. The church must take care of the needy, the orphans. It must show them love and preach the Gospel. Not rebuke people, must not judge them. For if we do so, then we would have lost our saltiness and be deserving to be thrown away.

That's what Jesus warns us about when He said: "But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." I know someone may wonder how does the salt loses it's saltiness. Yes in the time we live in today salt can never lose it's saltiness, but in that time of Jesus it would. once it has it would be of no use so they would throw it in a pathway where people walk. That was to make sure that grass do not grow tall in that area so the pathway could be clear. It be comes poisonous. So people would trample on it.

So I we disobey God we become corrosive and poisonous, but Jesus does not say we lose our salvation. He said saltiness so if you feel you have not obeyed God, repent and be restored.

Jesus continue and say: "14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. " How do you light the world? By the lifestyle you live amongst other people. When you want to see the effectiveness if the light, wait until it's dark. It doesn't matter how little that light might be, but in the dark everyone will notice it. It will catch attention to everyone. That's the kind of a lifestyle we need the live as Christians, as the church. Be there for people in their darkest hour, bring hope and love.

If you are the light you can not be hidden, you like a town built on a hill. You shine for everyone.

Have you lost your saltiness, have you put your light under the bowl? Have you bee disobedient to God's word? There is still a way. God is a God of Restoration, He will restore you. Repent and be forgiven and be restored.

Oh how happy are the poor in Spirit

(Matthew 5)

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The word Blessed literally means "oh how happy". So Jesus literally said "oh how happy are the poor in spirit," somehow I don't think that the poor in spirit could be happy, mostly people who are poor in spirit and living in poverty can be very bitter. And being poor in spirit does not necessarily make them happy, yet Jesus said: "blessed are the poor in spirit."

Jesus is not talking about physical poverty here, notice that He said poor in spirit. This is in opposition to being proud, when a man comes in to a real confrontation with God. When you get to a true confrontation with God you result in to a poverty of spirit. A person who is proud and haughty has not yet had a true confrontation with God, for they don't see themselves as wicked and sinful.

(Isiah6:1,5) Isaiah writes, "And in the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and his train did fill the temple...Then said I, woe is me! For I am undone; and I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell amongst a people of unclean lips" this is what happens when a man has a true encounter with God "Woe is me! I am undone"

Daniel, when he saw the Lord said, "My beauty was turned into corruption" (Daniel 10:8). When Peter had his confrontation he said, "Depart from me; for Lo, I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8). The man who truly sees God sees himself in truth.

Jesus said we do err because we so often are comparing ourselves with others around us. And when I look at you, I don't look near so bad. When I look at your flaws and your faults I'd be, well, I'm not too bad. Look at them. But when I look at the Lord, that purity, that holiness, that righteousness, I say, Oh, God help me. Woe is me, I'm undone. That is what poverty of spirit is. It's a true evaluation of myself, not in the light of man but in the light of God, where I see the real truth about me and it brings me to that, oh God help me. I need help. The same thing that Paul said, "Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

That is the result from the true confrontation with God, and Jesus said happy is that person. Remember, this was the sermon on the mount. This message was not just for anyone, but for the disciples of Jesus. And in this generation I'll say it's the church, Christians, people who call themselves as children of God.

Jesus was telling us that you can't have the spirit of pride yet you say you are saved. Something about your spirit should change. When a Christian has a spirit of pride then you must know they haven't had a true confrontation with God. Why? Because you have realized that you are poor in spirit and you need God to comfort you and renew your spirit.

(Matthew 5:4): Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Happy are they that mourn. But having come to a real awareness of myself in the light of God, coming to that poverty of spirit, my heart is broken over my own condition. I mourn over my failures, over what I see of myself and in myself. But the promise of the Lord is: they shall be comforted.

As the Lord begins to minister to me, the power of his Holy Spirit and his strength, and i begin now to experience those victories of Jesus Christ in my life and that makes me indeed happy. But it doesn't come until you realize that you are helpless, powerless, you have no strength and ability. Then you cry out of your helplessness and you begin to experience the power of God in your life.

Saved by Grace

 
(John3:16)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This was the greatest act of Love. But first, why would God do such a thing? Why did He do it? What is it that the world had done to deserve such grace and mercy? The truth is; nothing. People had sinned against God, but there is only one reason that I can give why God did it. That is the love God had for mankind. God loved humanity so much that even when they deserved to die, He chose to save them by sacrificing His only begotten son Jesus.

Why did He love mankind so much? (Genesis1:26) it's because in the beginning when He created the earth and everything in it, when He was about to create a man He said "Let us make man in our image in our likeness" The reason why God loves mankind is because mankind is created in His own image.

But what went wrong between mankind and God that made them to deserve to die? It also began in the garden where mankind sinned against God. They were deceived by the devil because the devil was jealous of the relationship between man and God. That is where a separation between man and God began.

God made way for mankind to ask for forgiveness for their sins (Leviticus 4). Blood of lambs and goats was used for cleansing and offering to God so their sins will be forgiven. Still that blood was not good enough to wash away the sins of man. Then God sent His only son to be the Lamb and be sacrificed in place of all the goats. His blood was to replace that of the goats.

But for Jesus to fulfil that task it was going to come with great suffering and pain. It would cost Him to lay down His life, it would cost Him to shed His blood, it would cost Him give up His Throne and become a man amongst men.

 

Jesus was prepared go through all of that just to save mankind. He was prepared to give up everything for us, to die in our place. Who would do that for you? Nobody but Jesus can and has ever done that for us.

 

 

 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 

Luke 23

(Verse 1-7)

 

(I)Jesus is on trial before Pilate, and He is falsely accused of perverting the Nation.

(II) Telling people not to pay taxes to Ceaser. Remember, Jesus was the one said pay Ceaser what is due to Him.

(III) For claiming to be a King. Saying He is Christ the king of the Jews. But Pilate found no fault in Him.

But they were the more fierce. In response to that the Jewish leaders became more angry and made noise shouting, and emphasized their accusation that Jesus was a leader of insurrection (running a rebellion against Roman Government). This was a crime that any Roman governor had to be very careful of. The reason why they said that was to make sure that Pilate will have no choice but to find Jesus guilty.

They were still making false accusations against Jesus.

And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod: Pilate remained perplexed and unwilling to make a hard choice for Jesus; so he tried to do nothing - he sends Jesus on to Herod, because Jesus was from Galilee, the area where Herod ruled.

Jesus has a second trial before Herod.

 

Verses 8-12

When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him: Herod had surely heard much about Jesus, but his only interest was a desire to be amused and entertained; he never took Jesus seriously.

Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing: Jesus saw right through this wretched, shallow man, and has nothing to say to Him. This, the same man who murdered John the Baptist, now regards Jesus as a miracle worker for his own entertainment. Even when others vehemently accused Him, Jesus had nothing to say to Herod.

Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him: This shows what Herod really thought of Jesus. When Jesus refused to entertain him, Herod entertained himself by mistreating Jesus.

 

Third Trial before Pilate

(Verse 18-23)

We find Jesus back before Pilate, still finds no fault in Jesus but afraid to let Him free. Then he chose to chastise Him. This may sound like Pilate suggests a light punishment. But the chastisement he has in mind is not light at all. The Roman custom of scourging was a brutal whipping. The victim of a Roman scourging was tied against a post, and struck with a whip that had bits of glass, sharp rock, and metal tied to the end of leather cords. The whip would be struck at the top and dragged down the back, until the victim’s entire back was a bloody, open wound. Many people died just from this scourging. But if Jesus is an innocent man, why even this? Could we imagine a judge saying, "You’re innocent, so you only need to pay a R10, 000 fine"?

Still the religious leaders would not hear of it, But Pilate believed he had a way for Jesus to escape death. He planned to release Him according to the custom of releasing a prisoner every Passover season.

Pilate figured, "If this man claimed to be king, and was even the slightest bit hostile to Rome, then the crowd will love him. These Jewish leaders don’t want Jesus to go free, but the crowd will sympathize with him." For there was a custom in Rome that during the Passover they must release one prisoner, so he asked the crowed who must we release?

They shouted Release Barabbas, away with this man. The crowd, whom Pilate was convinced would release Jesus, instead condemned Him. Because of this, Pilate found it impossible to go against both the Jewish leaders and the crowd. But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" It is a strange, almost insane scene: a cruel, ruthless Roman governor trying to win the life of a miracle-working Jewish teacher against the strenuous efforts of both the Jewish leaders and the crowd.

We may imagine that many in this crowd had, just a few days before, been crying "Hosanna" to Jesus. But there are always plenty of people who will do whatever the crowd does. So the crowd rejected Jesus and embraced Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father," and who was a terrorist and a murderer.

If anyone should be able to say, "Jesus died for me," it was Barabbas. He knew what it was to have Jesus die on his behalf, the innocent for the guilty.

The Character Barabbas:

We don’t know much about this character, except that he is a leader of insurrection; Murderer: Thief and a Rebel. It’s now Jesus vs Barabbas. The son of a living God vs a crook, thief and a murderer. This is wrong, this a man that deserve to be crucified because of all the crime he’s committed, but Jesus. What has he done but heal, restore, deliver, open blind eyes.

Pilate asks: Who do you want and they say “we want Barabbas”. The Roman soldiers took the keys and released Barabbas from the chains, he walks down the platform.

I can imagine what he was thinking at this point in time. “Yeah, my people love me, I don’t know who this Jesus guy is, but all I know is that my people love me”. He doesn’t think of turning back to Jesus and say: “I owe you everything now that you have set me free”. As Jesus stood there, it was like He’s saying: “its fine Father let them have Barabbas”. Because the father had to treat Jesus like Barabbas so He can treat Barabbas like Jesus. But Barabbas thought it was his people that set him free. No it wasn’t. It was the love from the heavenly father.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God fell upon us. God sent His son for us, even though He knew that some of us will walk away from him.

 

26. As they led Him away. Jesus was not in a very healthy physical appearance. He was weak from the brutal beating, He suffered from a sleepless night, He suffered from an emotional stress of being abandoned by His disciples, He suffered from walking for more than two and a half miles.

Before Jesus took the cross, He was whipped - scourged - as Pilate had earlier promised (I will therefore chastise Him, Luke 23:16). The goal of the scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death. "As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin.

Before they led Jesus His clothes were stripped off. Just like all other victims of crucifixion He had to carry the wooden cross. Can you imagine the dry wood to rub against the open wounds on His back? The cross that was carried by Jesus weighed about 300 pounds which is 136 kg twice as much as those who usually was carried by other prisoners, those would weigh around 34 to 57 kg. Why? Because Jesus carried the sins of all humanity. Because of all these, Jesus was weakened and could not carry the cross. And a man called Simon carried it for Him.

As custom one of the Roman soldiers would walk in front of the prisoner with a board written with the crime they committed, and in Jesus it was written this is the King of Jews.

28. As they led Him women mourn for Him and He tells them "Daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me, but weep for you and your children" Jesus was saying, do not weep for me, but for those who do not accept me. Because the pain you see me enduring here is not mine, but for you and your children.

Then He says: "For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" Here was saying "if they do this to an innocent man imagine what they would do to the guilty".

34. We find Jesus now being crucified and He cries out "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" Here we do not hear Jesus telling them that He forgives them, but He is praying for them that crucify Him. Jesus was fulfilling what He said in Matthew 5:44 "pray for your enemies and those who persecute you".

The combination of scourging and crucifixion made death on the cross especially brutal. The victim’s back was first torn open by the scourging, then the clotting blood was ripped open again when the clothes were torn off before crucifixion. The victim was thrown on the ground to fix his hands to the crossbeam, and the wounds on the back were again be torn open and contaminated with dirt. Then, as he hung on the cross, with each breath, the painful wounds on the back scraped against the rough wood of the upright beam and were further aggravated.

When the nail was driven through the wrists, it severed the large median nerve. This stimulated nerve produced excruciating bolts of fiery pain in both arms, and often gave the victim a claw-like grip in the hands.

Beyond the excruciating pain, the major effect of crucifixion was to inhibit normal breathing. The weight of the body, pulling down on the arms and shoulders, tended to fix the respiratory muscles in an inhalation state, and hindered exhalation. The lack of adequate respiration resulted in severe muscle cramps, which hindered breathing even further. To get a good breath, the victim had to push against the feet, and flex the elbows, pulling from the shoulders. Putting the weight of the body on the feet produced searing pain, and flexing of the elbows twisted the hands hanging on the nails. Lifting the body for a breath also painfully scraped the back against the rough wooden post. Each effort to get a proper breath was agonizing, exhausting, and led to a sooner death.

35-38.They mocked Jesus saying if you are the son of God save yourself. (Matthew 4:3) Jesus didn't save Himself not because He could not do it, but because if He did then humanity was never going to be saved, we were never going to be able to see God. Jesus knew His purpose for hanging on that cross. They pierced Him blood came out until water came out, Jesus shed all His blood until there was none left in Him and water came out.

As He bled, His blood was replacing that of the goats, His blood was paying our debt. Jesus suffered a great deal on that cross just to save you and me. He was given sour vinegar to drink which was the wrath of God that was supposed to fall upon us. He took it for us.

He then shouted with a loud voice, in John 19:30 we find what did He say, He said it is finished and He said in to thy hands I commit my spirit. Jesus fulfilled what He said in John 10:18, He was not killed but He laid His Life. The curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.

The curtain was a symbol of separation between man and God. And as it was torn it meant two things.
(I) Man now has direct access to God. (Remember, Jesus said "I am the way and the truth, no one come to the Farther besides me" [John14:6] in other words you must accept Jesus in your life and have access to God. You take Him and you have a way to God.
(II) It symbolizes that God no longer dwells in a Temple. (1John4:15) Anyone who confesses that Jesus is the son of God, God abides in him and he abides in God.

 [Revelations 3:20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listen to my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and will at with him and he will eat with me.

Jesus said: he who accepts me accepts the one who sent me. [Matthew 10:40]
It was Love that God had for us; it was the Grace of God that we received on the cross. Jesus didn't have to do it but He did. We are Saved through that Grace and mercy.

The Secret Place

"He that dwells in the secret place of the most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1)

The word "dwell" also means to "Live" or "reside". so if a person asked you of your dwelling place, you would possibly take that person to a physical place or give them a physical address.

The verse says he who dwells in a secret place, so which is this secret place that is being referred to here? We know the meaning of "secret". This means this place is private, it is only known by you. Verse 9: "Because you have made the Lord which is your refuge and the most high your Dwelling place." Now this takes us away from the idea that the secret place is a physical place. Because if you live in a secret place, and you have made God your dwelling place. Then God is the secret place. Psalm 90:1 "Lord you have been our dwelling place and our refuge in all Generations." God is and has been our secret place in all generations.

Jesus speaks of a secret place in Matthew6:6 He says if you pray go to your private room and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Now this confirms what verse 9. From above revealed to us. From the main verse, if you dwell in a secret place and verse 9 says God is your dwelling place, Jesus says the Father is in secret and sees in secret. Then God is your secret place, when Jesus says go into your private room. We can think of every private area, but the truth is that the most secret place you could ever find on earth, is in God Himself. So when you pray in secret you are having a one on one conversation with God.

It means when you pray in secret you don't have to even utter a single word. You don't have to shout, you must pray from within your heart. Jesus said don't be like the hypocrites who pray so they will be heard by people. So the most effective prayer is the one that is done in secret, be cause it is said direct to God.

This kind of a prayer you can pray it in the middle of the storm, when you facing trouble and you don't a chance to go down on your knees and pray. You just pray from within you and God answers in the open. I'm sure most of us have experienced that kind of a prayer. You will face trouble but it won't harm you if you dwell in the secret place. Psalm 90:10 there shall no evil befall thee. God promises us that you will never be conquered by evil, yet it may come against you. But you will call upon God and He will be with you,(verse15) because you live in Him.

He that dwells in a secret place shall Abide under the Shadow, now this tells us that if you live in God you shall remain stable. That's the meaning of the word "Abide". Evil will attack, but you will remain stable under the Shadow. The shadow represents the protection of God. You shall remain stable under the protection of the Almighty.

Now let's look at the function of the shadow. The shadow blocks the sun and provides protection, but the shadow here in this verse represents the Supernatural power of God. The word supernatural means "it is beyond the laws of nature" in other words the shadow here is the protection of God that says, what is impossible with men it is possible with God. We see this protection of God in the Bible when children of Israel were crossing the Red sea. The laws of nature will tell you that it is impossible to separate water with nothing blocking them and also have a dry land in between. But with God it is possible. We see it again in the wilderness when water came out of the rock, I tell you even today the laws of nature will tell you it's impossible to have water coming out of a rock, but with the supernatural power of God it is possible.

So the shadow of the Almighty is that power of God that says what is impossible with nature, it is possible in Him. To remain under that protection you need to dwell in God. Maybe sometimes you do pray and it seems like nothing is happening, it seems like God is not hearing your prayers. You feel like God has left you and forsaken you.

My brother my sister, check your position. Are you still dwelling in Him? You need to dwell In Him then things will change. He will do as He says in His word. You need to live in Him and Him in you (John15:7)

make God your secret place.

The Promises of God

The promises of God are always true and they stand forever. Amazingly most of them they come in times of trouble.

Proverbs 3:25-26(KJV): "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

God knew we would be living in a world that would have many fearful things happening in it; yet, He made provision so that we need not fear. God promises His children that He will watch over us and care for us. 
Verse 26 this is the promise that God will be our confidence and He shall keep our foot from being taken. He does not promise that we will not encounter trouble, He does not promise us a smooth sailing life, He does not promise us that we will not face attacks from devil, but that in the time of trouble He will be with us.
He said He will never leave nor forsake us "Deuteronomy31:6"

This in other ways means that everything that we go through, everything that the devil throws at us has to go pass God first. So we shouldn't fear in time of trouble for God is with us. (ISIAH 41:10) also here the promise comes at a time of trials and tribulations.
The words "fear not" appear 144 times in the bible, emphasizes that we should not fear.

The perfect example of this we find in the book of Job.
Everything that Job went through, everything that the Devil threw at him had to go through God first.
It would have been easy for anyone to think that God had left him at that point in time if we were in Job's situation. even his wife told him to curse God, but Job understood that God is by his side and he said "I know my redeemer lives" (Job 19:25). God allows things to happen in our lives because He knows we can handle them and that He will be with us through them.

Another example that we find in the bible that in every storm situation that comes our way, God is with us. We find it in the book of (Mark 4: 37-41 KJV) 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

This is amazing because it's a confirmation of God's word the He will be with us in time of trouble, and here we see the Lord Himself with these disciples in the storm. In verse 40 He asks them why are they fearful. remember that previously in the book of ISIAH God said Fear not for I am with you. So Jesus is questioning their fear here.
You see the problem here was that they did not know who Jesus was, if they knew they would understand, but they feared even more. 41: they asked among themselves what manner of is He that even the wind of the sea obey him. They missed it, it was God Himself with them in the Storm.

But there is always a condition to all promises of God. (Psalm 91:14) " Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."
15: "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him". God gave a condition and a promise. We ought to love God and make Him our hiding place, then His promises shall be ours. In the same book verse 9 and 10 he says: "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
This is the condition of which you can receive the promise of God.

In Genesis 12 we see God making a Covenant with Abram, but in verse 1 we see a condition. Abram had to get out of the land he was living in. And in verse 2 and 3 He gives His promises. How does these promises affect you and I? How do we get to qualify for these promises?
Genesis 17:4 " As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations." God promised Abram that he will be a father of many nations.


Does this include you and me?
Galatians 3:29 you must accept Christ your Lord and saviour, then these promises made to Abraham are all yours
The Promises of God are mine.
Do you have Jesus in your life? Is He the Lord in your life? Then all these Promises of God are yours.

This is the little I can share with you on this topic, may the Lord Gob bless you.