Self righteousness stinks.

Luke 18.9
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

When Adam disobeyed God and lost his position and nature, he tried to fix it by making aprons by sewing fig leaves together. You see, the problem was internal and it could not be solved by wearing a suit of fig leaves. This is beginning of religion in our planet.

God replaced their fig leaf suit with coats of animal skins. This coat was a reminder to them that their works cannot and will not save them. This coat was reminder to them that the seed of a woman will come and crush Satan's head. This coat was a reminder to them that the Messiah will come. When Adam made aprons of fig leaves, he tried to be right with God based on his works. When you think you are right with God because of what you do, because of who you are or what you have, you start despising and judging others. Self righteosuness always despises and judges others. They think they are better than everybody else because of who they are and what they do. Friend, thats dangerous.

This is the reason why Pharisees seperated themselves from other people like tax collectors because they thought everyone else were sinners. The biggest enemy of Gods kingdom for you is religion where a man tries to be right with God based on his works. All of our works are filthy rags in the sight of God and no flesh can boast in the presence of God. We are right with God not because of who we are or what we do but because of who Jesus is and what He has done. Friend, the revelation of this righteousness because of the finished works of Jesus will help you love and respect every human on earth and never judge or despise them. Grace is the reason you are righteous so lets extend the same grace to others. Hallelujah.

Jesus wept.

Luke 19.41
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it

The Bible only records two instances where Jesus wept. One was, while he saw Mary and the others weeping for Lazarus. In this verse, we see Jesus weeping again. But this time its for the spiritual ignorance of his people.

Ignorance is disastrous. God says in Hosea 4.6, my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. He said my people, the people of God. Think about it. Notice, they lacked knowledge not because they had no access to it but rather they rejected the knowledge of God and neglected it. This means that they didn't make Gods word first and final in their lives. They made other things more important than the word. Therefore, ignorance is a choice. We live in a day where the word is available to us at our finger tips. So therefore today if we are ignorant of the things of God its because we decided to be.

Jesus wept over the ignorance of his people. This shows his immense love for us. You see, unless you know the word, you can't believe and unless you believe God cannot do anything for you. Hebrews says without faith it is impossible to please God. Friend, I encourage you, not be ignorant about the things of God another day. Start now. Go to a good bible based church where you are fed the word of God and I promise, you will never be the same again. Remember, ignorance is a choice and its highly expensive. Psalms says, as soon as you get the word, light comes. When light comes, darkness flees. Glory to God.

Where is your strength?

Ephesians 6.10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Paul says to the church that we are to draw our strength from the Lord and from his mighty resurrection power. In the epistle of Ephesians, we see all that God in his great grace has given to the church because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The Holy Spirit is commanding us here to be strong in who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ and what you can do in Christ. He tells us to be strong in the redemption, in the inheritance, in the calling and in the resurrection power that he has given to every believer because of the finished works of Jesus Christ. Many times, believers depend too much on their flesh. The flesh would include their family status,  their background, their education, their achievements, their bank accounts, their professional position, their works, talents, skills, contacts etc. Paul says that we put no confidence in the flesh. Jesus said flesh counts for nothing, it's the spirit that gives life. We must develop our confidence in who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ and what we can do in Christ. In Christ, we have a new identity. This identity must dominate our thinking so that we can be used mightily by God for no flesh can boast in the presence of God.

We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might by consistently confessing our In Christ realities.  Find out In Him scriptures especially from the Pauline epistles and confess them daily. Give those scriptures a good amount of meditation and let these sink in your heart and mind. Make it a reality and let it govern your life. You will never be the same.

Is Jesus God?

John 9.38
Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

The scripture here refers to a blind man who was healed by Jesus and this man believed in Jesus and worshipped him. While Jesus was being tempted by the devil to worship him, he responded by quoting scripture from Deuteronomy saying, You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. Jesus never stopped the man who received his sight or others from worshipping him. You see, Jesus is God in action.

Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. Jesus is the connection between God and man. He is where God and man meet. Jesus said in John 14.6, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. By saying this, Jesus concluded that there's only one way to God and thats Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Colossians 1.15 says He is the image of the invisible God. No one has seen God at any time for God is a spirit, Jesus came to reveal God to us for He is the radiance of Gods glory and the exact representation of his being. If you ever desire to know God, know Jesus. God showed himself to the world in the person of Jesus Christ. Infact one time Philip, one of his disciples asked him to show the Father. Jesus responded by saying, He who has seen me has seen the Father.

Friend, the spirit of the antichrist doesn't believe God came in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The world says Jesus is just a prophet, a good man, a brilliant man or even a great man. Sure He is but He's more than that. He is God. He is fully man and He is fully God. He is the God man. He is the one who brought God to man and man to God. He represents God to man and He represents man to God. What a wonderful Saviour we have! Jesus Jesus Jesus. Jesus is Lord.

Faith is a seed. Sow it.

Luke 17.6
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Jesus is the author and the perfecter of our faith.  He is the teacher of our faith. Jesus is a man of faith. He lived and walked by faith because it is only by faith you can please God. Jesus said He pleased the Father at all times. So in these verses Jesus is teaching his disciples about faith.

Faith is a seed and it must be sown into the ground for the work to begin.  Unless a seed is sown, it remains a seed but when its sown, it produces much fruit. What is it that you want to change, He says take your faith and sow it in that mulberry tree, fig tree, mountain or whatever situation you want to change or any challenge that you are facing. Remember, the seed must be sown into the ground. The bible says darkness was over the face of the deep. God saw darkness all around and He wanted to change it. So he planted the seed of faith into the darkness by speaking,' Let there be light'. As the seed was sown into the ground, the work started and the Bible says there was light. So you plant the seed of faith by speaking. We need to speak Gods word. We must speak Gods word. Speak, Speak, Speak. Whatever challenge you are facing today, speak the word of God into that challenge and release your faith. Jesus said everything is possible for him who believes.

Faith is a seed and it can do the impossible but it needs to be released into your situation fields. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Be it marriage, children, job, finances, house, business, future or any situation, if you release or sow your faith by speaking Gods word, you will see the glory of God. Dont give up believing. Dont give up speaking. Jesus is Lord.

Who's the enemy?

Who's the enemy?
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

Ephesians 6.12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

One of the keys in spiritual warfare is knowing who the enemy is. Satan is our enemy. He is the only enemy of a believer. Flesh and blood meaning a human being can and will never be our enemy. Once you know your enemy, you can direct your time, energy and money in the right direction. Don't be mad at people, love people.

Paul said Satan is the enemy of all righteousness. He hates humans because we are created in the image and likeness of God. He cannot touch God so he tries to harm humans and by doing so he tries to touch God. When Adam disobeyed  God, he handed over his authority to Satan. Satan became the god of this world and has caused havoc in this world. But in the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son Jesus. By his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus defeated the enemy, completely paralysed him and stripped all authority from him. Therefore you and I, we are dealing with an enemy who is defeated. If you are in Christ, Satan has absolutely no authority over you. You have authority over Satan and that authority is in the name of Jesus. The blood of Jesus has given you victory over the devil, his forces and his kingdom. Peter says the devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He is the king of ignorance. As long as believers are ignorant of their victory in Christ over the devil, they become victims of the traps of the devil.

Satan uses people to harass, pressure and persecute believers but once you know who the real enemy is, you can love people and forgive them for yielding to the devil. Jesus told us to love our enemies because he knew who the real enemy was. Jesus, while on the cross forgave people because he knew who the real enemy was. Satan is your enemy. He's a defeated enemy. Your victory is in the name of Jesus. Have faith in the name of Jesus and exercise your victory over the enemy by holding fast to your word confession. Revelation says they overcame the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Jesus is Lord.

"People are not my enemies, Satan is the enemy. Because I know this, I always love people even those who yield to Satan and oppose me. Satan, I resist and oppose you in the name of Jesus and nothing you do can stop me. I live in peace with all men and I walk in love. Hallelujah”

Honesty is our only policy!

Proverbs 11.1
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord , But a just weight is His delight.

As children of the Most High God, pleasing Him is our daily objective. This verse tells us what God delights in and what He absolutely hates.

Its important for us to know that God hates dishonesty, cheating and deception. He is against such behaviours and conducts. No matter where you are and what you are doing, in order to have Gods blessing on our work, we must be honest and do all that we do with integrity and transparency. For with such things God is well pleased. Proverbs says one who trusts in riches shall fall. A person who loves and trusts money gets involved in dishonest practices. Timothy says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Jesus said we cannot serve both God and money. Judas was dishonest because He stole from the money that came into the ministry of Jesus. God hates and abhors dishonesty.

Every dishonest practice is a result of lack of trust in God. When a person doesn't trust God to provide for him and his family, he gets involved in cheating, deception and dishonest practices. The root of all sin is not trusting God.  Faithfulness is the key to promotion. When you are faithful in what God has given you, He will promote you and expand you. We don't need all these worldly practices which guarantees a failing future. Friend, you have the mighty Holy Spirit in you and He will help you live and walk honestly and with integrity. Trust God to meet all your financial needs rather than trusting yourself. Tithe, Sow and Help the poor. Put His kingdom first and you will never be broke another day in your life for the blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow to it. The best is yet to come!