What is Passion Week?

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good , for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is one of the most difficult passages to obey because this requires our heart to believe and walk in it. Our feelings get in the way when we don’t understand why things happen the way they do. Or, when relationships don’t work out, or you don’t get the job you want or your hectic schedule seems to keep you from doing what you want seems to NOT work together for the "good." Why God would allow pain and suffering or when conflicts at work keeps us up at nights. Or when marriage life is starting to become more of a chore than “marriage.” Even having children and doing all that you can for your child seems to take a life burden. You love them and God gave them to you but when life is out of control or busy, it seems that you can’t see how God can work things out for the “good.” You have to ask yourself what is “good” and who defines it? When we define “good” it doesn’t seem to look or hope the way we want that “good” to look. To be honest most people don’t really know what that “good” is. I think that is the issue in most cases. It is we ourselves that define what “good” is and that “good” doesn't always work out the way we hope and it seems like it’s beyond our control. For many of us, this "goodness" that we create on our own, seems to break apart when life conflicts come our way. This is the reason why God first tells us in order for that “good” to be “good” we must “love God.” Jesus’ first two commandments are for us to “Love Him” with all our hearts, soul, and mind” (Luke 10:27). God wants to give us the “good” but He requires us to “Love Him” beyond anything else. When Eunice brought up her article (Something to Consider: Does the Bible contradict itself?) on Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother …, he cannot be my disciple” the word “hate” had a unique understanding. She wrote, “.. the strong word choice here was deliberate and used on a comparative basis in order to show just how great the difference must be between our devotion to Jesus and our devotion to to everyone and everything else.” So when God is saying “Love Him” or setting a devotion to Him beyond all else first means for us to prioritize God first. Meaning that when you set God as first before you do anything else or that when life issues come your way, you seek Him first and ask God about all your concerns. It means for us to talk to Him first before talking to others about life issues. In order for us to know what “good” is we have to speak to the one who is the giver of all that we know to be true and “good.” When we do this and give devotion to Him then what we thought was our own “good” is nothing in comparison to what God’s “goodness” is for us. We can only see possibly one step ahead of us but God sees a 100 feet in the front, back and the side. We can only see what we see but God sees us in all different directions. And this is where we have to “trust” in God who sees us in all our direction of life. This is why when scripture tells us “And we ‘know’ that for those who love God…” the word “know” means that we have a relationship with God on a daily basis. Without the relationship we will not know how “all” things can work together for “good." God not only shows us what "good" is for us but He also sees the "greater good" 100 feet in front, back and the side of us. Things we cannot see, He will see for us when our devotion is given to Him. So God will turn and make something “good” from the “bad” situations of our lives when we walk in that “trust” in Him through a relationship that does not waiver but steadfast. We must do our part in loving God first and He will surely make everything work out according to His purpose and plan for you. Even if you're rushing off to work, school or whatever you're doing, take a time and spend a few moments with the Lord. Prioritize Him first and you will witness the “goodness” of His work in you. Blessings, Pastor Joseph

For many believers, the validity of the Bible may be an unquestionable aspect. For them, it is a true and everlasting guide on how to live life because the very backbone behind it, an all-knowing and all-powerful God, is without blemish and carries all wisdom and power (Psalm 19:7). It is assumed that every word in the Bible has been placed to perfection for the benefit of those who choose to believe in it because every word was breathed out by God (2 Timothy 2:18). However, some may be skeptical or outright disagree with the validity of the Bible due to supposed contradictions. The following statement is a conclusion drawn by the American Atheists association : “What is incredible about the Bible is not its divine authorship; it’s that such a concoction of contradictory nonsense could be believed by anyone to have been written by an omniscient god. To do so, one would first have to not read the book, which is the practice of most Christians; or, if one does read it, dump in the trash can one’s rational intelligence –– to become a fool for god, in other words.” These are some very strong claims that can be burdensome for any Christian to address– no matter what point of their spiritual journey they are in. It may make you wonder: Does the Bible really have contradictions? How can it be trustworthy if it does? To set a foundation of what we’re unpacking, a contradiction is defined as “a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies both the truth and falsity of something.” In other words, the statement alone must declare that something is either true or false; it cannot be both. The atheist association provides several examples of so-called Bible contradictions on its website and, when the logic above is applied, the excerpts do seem contradictory on surface level. The following verses are listed under the “Family Relationships” section: “Honor thy father and thy mother…” Exodus 20:12 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 The first verse comes from the Old Testament and it lists one of ten commandments God gave to the Israelites through Moses. The commandments were given to the chosen people of God as guidelines on how to conduct themselves as a group completely set apart from the rest of the world. The word “honor,” or “kabad” in Hebrew, can also be interpreted as glorify, respect, prize, or to show reverence. This command firstly encourages familial stability but, when the rest of the verse that wasn’t included on the website is taken into account, it’s also an example of how God promises goodness and restoration for those who make the choice to obey and follow Him. When we honor and respect our parents, God says that our “days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). The Lord wasn’t giving His people commandments for His own enjoyment, nor to try and take control over them. All of God’s commands were made in His people’s best interest and He desires to bless and reward them as they make the decision to obey. The second verse fast forwards to the New Testament when Jesus is addressing great crowds that have accumulated as a result of experiencing His healings and miracles. In this verse, Jesus is making it very clear to this large group of people that following Him is not an easy journey. We must be willing to lay everyone and everything down to be His disciple, even our own selves. Jesus should be our number one priority and all other relationships should be of lower importance. “Miseó,” the Greek word for “hate,” can also be interpreted as love less or esteem less. It can be confusing to think that Jesus used such a strong word, especially because it is more widely known that Jesus’ main message throughout His ministry was to love our neighbors and enemies (Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 5:44). However, the strong word choice here was deliberate and used on a comparative basis in order to show just how great the difference must be between our devotion to Jesus and our devotion to everyone and everything else. The verse also does not explicitly mention mothers and fathers (as Exodus 20:12 reads) but everyone else as well. Luke 14:27 further raises the stakes of what it truly takes to follow Jesus by comparing it to bearing a cross– which ultimately leads to death on a cross. This is a call for those who desire to be Jesus’ disciples to surrender all self-seeking ambitions and interests until one’s life comes to an end. Although these points seem surprising and harsh, Jesus was graciously revealing the whole truth about following Him fully, and how we can do so, to avoid any confusion about what it means or doesn’t mean to follow Him. In essence, Jesus was directing His disciples to prioritize God above all else. In the simplest way possible, Exodus 20:12 refers to a God-given command on how we should treat our parents, with respect and honor, while Luke 14:26 refers to where our priorities should lie as a follower of Jesus. As you can see from this article alone, an analysis to truly understand the context of two verses takes much more effort than to just read them and make snap judgements. My hope and prayer is that when anyone is faced with opposition or accusations related to the Word, the first inclination would not be to get discouraged, but to be motivated to dive deeper into the Word and seek the Lord for guidance and discernment. Questions like these should not bring about more doubt, but be used as an opportunity to be more intimate with God and build your faith. When we desire to understand God’s Word more and make the effort to do so, He will surely guide you and provide understanding (Proverbs 1:5). Here are some points to keep in mind if you are ever faced with the statement “The Bible is full of contradictions” or if you don’t know where to start in your journey to understand the Word on a deeper level: Ask the other person for specific instances in the Bible where there are contradictions. If they can provide specific examples, ask them if they are willing to search for the deeper context within each verse to have a better understanding. Start your quiet time or research of the Word with a prayer. God wants us to learn more about Him and know His truth (James 1:5). There is immense power in simply asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you understanding as you read. If you are stuck or confused on a specific verse, start by asking yourself the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, why? These simple questions can help you learn more about where and how that verse fits on the timeline of God’s Word. In the 66 books of the Bible written by 40 different authors over the course of 1,500 years, they all proclaim the one true God and only one way to salvation. Though each author wrote with their own unique writing styles and personalities, they recorded exactly what God intended. The differences in writing styles or emphasis are not the same as contradictions. All the authors’ unique emphasis are all streamlined to give a cohesive connection about God. Some more things to consider: Have you ever come across verses in the Bible that were confusing or seemingly contradictory? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God and His Word? How can you encourage those around you to analyze the Bible in a deeper way? SCRIPTURE: Psalm 19:7 (ESV) “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;” 2 Timothy 2:18 (ESV) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Exodus 20:12 (ESV) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Luke 14:26-27 (ESV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple,” Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV) “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 5:44 (ESV) “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Proverbs 1:5 (ESV) “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” James 1:5 (ESV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” “Something to Consider” is a thought-process through the lens of the Bible, helping believers process current issues pertaining to the culture of our time. Eunice Sung Journalist “Fervently seeking God for His truth to be revealed, only by His grace and strength.” sungeunice16@gmail.com

What is Fasting? It will be helpful to begin our discussion by providing a definition for fasting. What is fasting? Fasting refers to the practice of intentionally and willingly refraining/abstaining from food, beverages, or both for a determined amount of time to instead focus on, work towards, or achieve a desired result, outcome, or goal. What is not included in the biblical definition or meaning of “fasting”? The call to Biblical fasting is not about refraining from using the internet, social media, television, video games, electronic devices or any other sort of entertainment, routine, or fun activity. Escaping, refraining, or abstaining from these other things for a period may be helpful to one’s spiritual health and growth, however this is not the same as the call to biblical fasting; these actions are in the biblical category that include the call to “deny” self (Luke 9:23; Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24) and the call to “lay aside every weight” (Hebrews 12:1-2). May we not make the mistake of confusing the meaning of biblical fasting with the meaning of these other actions or spiritual disciplines. Biblical fasting specifically involves the abstaining from food and beverages; these other acts of self-denial are also very important and can be helpful additions to or work in conjunction with the practice of biblical fasting, but they must not be defined as the discipline of biblical fasting. If you are led by the Lord to also deny yourself from music, television, social media, or any other thing, then let it be specifically a refraining from those types of entertainment and activities that are not of God. The Bible teaches us that: “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything” (1st Corinthians 6:12). Ungodly entertainment and activity distract and deter our hearts and minds away from the Lord and they prevent us from being sensitive to or even hearing clearly from the Lord. Especially while participating in a time of fasting led by the Lord, the type of entertainment that we enjoy, read, listen, watch, and participate in should be about and honoring to the Lord ( The goal is not to tune the world out or turn the world off, but to cultivate and nurture an environment in your life and activity that enables you to better hear from the Lord, through His word and through prayer. The Bible, Christian worship/praise songs, Christian books, etc.. are important resources to utilize to grow and strengthen our relationship with the Lord. May we be reminded: “ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)” What are Four Main Types of Fasting found in Bible? (Please Note: it is recommended that you please seek a medical professional/physician if you are uncertain about starting a fasting journey) 1. Full/Complete/Comprehensive Fasting This type of fasting involves the intentional refraining/abstaining from both food and beverages for a prolonged amount of time (for days or weeks). This fast includes no foods or beverages. Biblical Examples : Nehemiah 1:4 // Ester 4:1-17 // 1st Samuel 31:13 // 2nd Samuel 12:15-23 // 1st Chronicles 10:12 // Luke 2:36-38 // Acts 9:9-19 // Acts 13:1-3 // Acts 14:19-23 For those who are medically healthy and able to participate in a Full Fast (from all foods and all beverages), this is the suggested plan for fasting. The only beverage that may be allowed (if needed) is water; it is NOT biblical fasting or a biblical approach to drink any other fluid or beverage or mixture besides plain and clean water. 2. Partial/Selective/Specific Fasting This type of fasting involves the intentional refraining/abstaining from specific/certain types of food and beverages for a determined amount of time (for days or weeks). This fast includes only vegetables and water , but no other foods or beverages. Biblical Examples : Daniel 1:8-21 // Daniel 10:2-3 For those who are beginners to fasting, those who are still nursing, those who have severe medical conditions, or those who have dietary restrictions, or those who are elderly, this Partial Fast is the suggested or recommended plan for fasting; this is a lighter strenuous course for fasting. The only beverage that may be allowed is water; it is NOT biblical fasting or a biblical approach to drink any other fluid or beverage or mixture besides plain and clean water. To provide more specific guidance regarding the Daniel Fast : All meats and animal products are prohibited (meat, eggs, fish, dairy, etc), as are sweeteners prohibited (any added sugar, natural sweeteners like honey or agave, etc), no caffeine, no alcohol, no solid fats, no yeast, no additives, and no processed foods. The Daniel Fast generally includes vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, and water. 3. Intermittent/Alternating/Occasional Fasting This type of fasting involves the intentional refraining/abstaining from both food and beverages for a determined amount of time each day or for specific days out of the week. Intermittent fasting , for example, includes consuming one meal a day. Biblical Examples : 1st Samuel 7:6 // 2nd Samuel 1:11-12 // Judges 20:26 // Luke 18:12 // Acts 10:30 Please note : the portion size for this one meal per day must be the typical and regular portion size that you would normally eat for that meal. Water is the only beverage that is recommended for this fasting plan. 4. Supernatural/ Miraculous Fasting This type of fasting involves the intentional refraining/abstaining from all foods, beverages, and water for a prolonged amount of time ( for weeks ). This fast includes no foods, water, or beverages. Biblical Examples : Deuteronomy 9:9 // 1st Kings 19:8 // Matthew 4:1-2 (Please Note: this type of fasting is NOT being recommended) What are some reasons for Fasting? There are two main reasons why people may decide to practice fasting. People may practice fasting for religious (spiritual) reasons/purposes or for non-religious (non-spiritual) reasons/purposes. An example of a non-religious reason why people may practice fasting is to seek after physical health benefits: weight loss, body detoxification/cleansing, etc. However, in this article we will discuss the practice of fasting for religious (spiritual) reasons/purposes. Many people practice fasting for religious reasons; however, for a follow of Christ, it is very important for us to approach fasting from a Biblical perspective by going to the Bible to help us understand and participate in this spiritual discipline and practice in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to the Lord. The practice of fasting in the Bible is often accompanied by prayer and is usually associated with times of worship ( Luke 2:36-38 ), mourning (2nd Samuel 1:11-12; Nehemiah 1:4; Ester 4:1-3; Joel 2:12-17), repentance (1st Samuel 7:6; Daniel 9:1-19; Jonah 3:1-10), deep spiritual need (2nd Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 69:10; Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29; Acts 9:9) or seeking the Lord for wisdom/guidance/direction/strength/confirmation regarding an important decision, situation, event, or journey (Ezra 8:21-23; Ester 4:4-17, Matthew 4:1-2; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:19-23) Should believers practice Fasting Today? To help us in our journey to gain a better understanding about Biblical Fasting, a very critical point must be introduced into our discussion. In Matthew 6:5-15 , Jesus gives instructions for praying in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to the Lord. In this passage, Jesus uses a specific phrase that is so instrumental and vital to our understanding of this entire portion of Scripture regarding prayer; Jesus uses the phrase “ when you pray ” three times (in verse 5, verse 6, and again in verse 7). Jesus did not say ‘If you pray’ or ‘just in case you pray’ or any other phrase such as these, but instead he said: “ when you pray ” . By using this phrase, Jesus is teaching us that prayer should be an expected, a normal and a regular part of our life as followers of Christ; a life of prayer is not to be rare and optional in the life of a believer. This idea is not new or foreign to the teachings of Jesus, it was included in what is known as his ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew 5, 6 and 7); In this teaching, Jesus also uses the phrase “ when you give ” twice (Matthew 6:1-4) and “ when you fast ” twice (Matthew 6:16-18). The healthy practice of giving, prayer and fasting should be an expected, a normal and a regular reality and discipline in the life of a follower of Christ. Jesus gives instructions, helps us understand, and provides us with guidance on how we must exercise these lifestyle spiritual disciplines in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to the Lord. When should we Fast? Fasting is not to be viewed as a rare occurrence or an optional practice in the life of a believer in Christ. An awesome portion of Scripture that points to the necessity of the spiritual discipline of fasting in the life of the believer is found in Matthew 9:14-17; the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast ?” (Emphasis added). Whether these men knew it or not, they were making a very insightful and perspective observation; as they watched, examined, and studied the behavior and lifestyle of the disciples that were devoted followers of Jesus, they noticed and realized that Jesus’ disciples did not engage in the spiritual discipline of fasting at all. Jesus’ response to them was a lesson for them and is a very important reminder for us today as well. Jesus replied: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast ” (emphasis added). Jesus’ disciples had no need for fasting because He (the Christ, God present in human form) was physically there with them and all they needed was physically present, available, and accessible within and through Christ. A parallel account of this event is found in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 2:18-22) where Jesus’ reply to the same question was made even clearer : “ Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast . The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day ” (emphasis added). Therefore, Jesus prepared and provided them with the understanding that when He would no longer be physically present with them, then and only then will they have need for the spiritual discipline of fasting as a regular and normal part of their life and ministry. We find a third account of this event in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 5:33-39) and we find another observation regarding the disciples of John the Baptist. Luke 5:33-34 says: “ And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink. And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days ” (emphasis added). They were coming to examine and investigate to see if Jesus was the true Messiah and the one that John the Baptist had been preparing them for. It appears that the disciples of John the Baptist (who along with John the Baptist had been awaiting and preparing for the arrival of Christ’s 1st Coming) were taught that fasting was to be an expected, a regular and a normal part of their life and lifestyles. May I be so bold as to suggest that we (The disciples of Christ of today ) should have lives and lifestyles where we “ fast often and offer prayers ” as we await and prepare to meet the Lord, Christ, and King at His 2nd Coming. What is the Main Purpose of Biblical Fasting? The Bible teaches that: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2). Furthermore, the Bible explains that: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25). Left only to ourselves, with our plans, our will, our way, etc.. (without God) leads only to wrong decisions, harm, destruction, and death. We are all called by Scripture to: “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord , and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8) . When we hear the admonition and warning to “turn away from evil”, we rarely realize or receive the understanding that in God’s sight: engaging in our own decisions without Him, our activities without Him, our deeds without him, our plans without Him, our ideas without Him, our will with Him, and refusing to “acknowledge him” in all our ways is seen by God as ‘sin’ and as “evil.” The spiritual discipline of prayer is so beneficial in helping us navigate through our decisions; but we must not forget that God has also given us the spiritual gift of fasting to equip and prepare us as well. The main purpose for participating in the spiritual discipline and practice of biblical fasting is for it to be an act of complete surrender to Lord and humbling of self to seek after the Lord’s heart, His thoughts, His mind, His purposes, His perspective, His will, and His plan in any situation and through any circumstance. The Bible teaches us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1st Peter 5:5; 2nd Samuel 22:28). We must always remember the Lord’s declaration, He proclaims: “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Bible teaches us that “ Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do” (1st Corinthians 8:8). Therefore, fasting is not a way for us to earn or pay for anything from God. Fasting is not about trying to manipulate or control God. Fasting will not make God to do anything that is outside of His will or His character. Biblical Fasting is about surrender, being changed by God and coming into agreement with God’s plan; it is about being spiritually prepared, equipped and empowered to carry out your role in His divine plan and purposes. The spiritual discipline of Fasting is a gift from the Lord; He has given us this as way to help us in becoming spiritual prepared/positioned, in humbling ourselves, focusing our attention on the Lord, enhancing our sensitivity to spiritual truths/realities for any situation, and empowering us to come into agreement with God’s Will with the right motives and perspectives from the heart. (Ex: Ezra 8:21-23; Psalm 35:13; Romans 6:12; Romans 8:12-17) How should we be Fasting? Jesus teaches us that when we fast, it can be a challenging journey, but it should not be viewed by the believer as a burden or duty. Fasting is a privilege that we get to experience and participate in as a form of worship in spirit and in truth to the Lord. In the passage that we discussed above (Matthew 6:16-18), Jesus explains to us that we must not let how we practice the discipline of fasting be physically or outwardly obvious in such a way that it shows any attention seeking behavior or is being done to “be seen by others”. We are not called to fasting so that we can get approval, recognition, respect, or praise from other people. Also, Jesus teaches us that when we fast , we must do so in such a way that it is honoring and pleasing in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. We must be mindful of the motive and condition of our hearts and let that be reflective in the quality care that we have for ourselves (both inwardly and outwardly) during our time of fasting. God will reward those who practice fasting in a biblical way that honors Him and brings glory to His Name. We invest a significant amount of time each day on the activity of eating and drinking. We spend a considerable amount of time making choices about food and beverages, in the purchasing, moving, deciding, planning, preparing, sharing, enjoying, distributing, partaking, eating, drinking, packing, storing, and everything else that is involved with activity of eating and drinking. Biblical Fasting provides us with the opportunity to redirect and use our desire to satisfy our physical hunger as a catalyst or internal heart cry to choose instead to satisfy our spiritual hunger and desire for the Lord. Instead of receiving your physical energy and strength from eating and drinking, chose instead to seek spiritual energy and strength from the Lord. Moses teaches us about the Lord, reminding us by saying: “ And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord ” (Deuteronomy 5:3). Moreover, Jesus proclaims that: “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). The act of fasting is a physical, mental and a spiritual journey. During your time of fasting, instead of choosing to fill up your stomach with food and beverages, you will choose instead to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-21) and fill up on the Word of God (Colossians 3:16-17). The goal is to focus and seek the Lord when your physical body feels hungry. Jesus reminds us that we are to “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41). Do not surrender or cave into the temptation of the physical food, but instead enjoy and consume more of the spiritual food/nourishment that flows from God’s word. When you fast , physical hunger can be overcome and satisfied by letting your spiritual hunger be satisfied and fulfilled in the Lord. When you fast, prayer is key and plays an important role in helping you remain faithful, strengthened, and consistent with the decision and conviction that Lord impresses upon your heart before, during and after your time of fasting. The spiritual disciplines of both Prayer and Fasting are especially amazing when practiced together. Biblical fasting helps to focus our prayers, cultivate an undivided heart/mind, strengthen our confidence/faith in God and intensify our determination to seek the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Biblical fasting helps to renew our reliance and dependance upon the Lord and His Word. Jesus reminds us to: “ ...seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). May we never forget: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) May we proclaim with the Lord Jesus: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1st Corinthians 10:31). At all times, but especially during the time of fasting, may we be mindful to rely on Christ to fulfill all our needs, now and forevermore. Amen (Philippians 4:19 ).

What is the will of God for you? What is the will of God for you in this season of life or what is the will of God for your work, relationship, finance, and so on? Especially when you have to make a decision or plan things out in life. Many believers are wanting to know what is the will of God for me ? We know what Jesus said about the greatest commands or two great obedience we must do, “Love God and love your neighbor” ( Matthew 22:34-40 ). We also know the desire of God, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” ( John 3:16 ). We also know that God has given every follower of Jesus the “Great Commission” or the highest priority of assignment above all other assignments, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …” ( Matthew 28:18 ). What then is the will of God? “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). So, another way of saying this is, “Not everyone who says, ‘Jesus, Jesus,’ will enter the God’s kingdom but the one who ‘does’ or ‘obey’s’ the will of God , desire, or plan of God will enter heaven.” There is much to unpack just within this one verse and in the entirety of 21-23, because these same people have also prophesied in Jesus name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name (v. 22) but will not enter the kingdom of heaven. These people did supernatural works in Jesus’ name, yet Jesus himself says, “And then will declare to them, ‘I never knew you ; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (v. 23) and continues with, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). The word, “knew you” means a deep relationship or intimate relationship, meaning these people did miracles under Jesus’ name, but they didn’t have a deep relationship with God. Jesus’ will is for us to have a deep relationship with Him above ALL else and Jesus knows you personally when you “obey” His words. When you “obey” His words, then your house will be built upon the rock. The parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32 , gives us a clear picture of what it means to do the will of God. 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘ I will not ,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went . 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘ I go , sir,’ but did not go . 31 Which of the two did the will of his father ?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him . This is a very powerful illustration of the will of God. The Father gives the first son a command “ go and work in the vineyard ” but like many of us in the beginning, we don’t follow God’s command initially like loving God with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength as Jesus commanded. So, the first son says, “ I will not ” which means he is rejecting God’s Words and rebelling against God. In essence, he is sinning against God. What is very interesting is in Matthew 4:17, Jesus comes on the scene and delivers his first message to the Jews, declaring, “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The word “ repent” means “ change of mind ” and the first son eventually repented before his father and “ went ” meaning he eventually “ obeyed ” his father’s word. Many of us associate the word “repent” with being “sorry” and because of guilt or shame, or that we sin (rebellion against God), we “repent” and we “repent” each time we sin, but God is not asking us to say, “sorry,” He is wanting us to change our mind. Why? and What is the difference? When we apologize or say sorry, it impacts one particular behavior or instance, but when we “repent,” or “change our mind,” our entire perspective of all sins changes direction. Our projection and direction of our soul (identity) heads towards heaven and the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome all obstacles when we truly change our course of direction. Remember, what controls all of our body, including our emotions is our mind. When we just say, “sorry” or “apologize” we will just face another or different issues, and it becomes an unending cycle of saying, “I’m sorry.” We don’t overcome or change, but “change of mind” takes us on a new perspective because our mind is headed in a new direction. When we “ change our mind ” we’re able to move our entire mind towards the light. We were projected towards darkness, but with the true heart of “repentance” God helps us turn to the light “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Changing our mind helps us to see the mind of Christ, which would in turn help us see God’s truth. This is how repentance works, by changing our mind, we change the direction of our walk, and as more steps are taken towards God, we see more of Him. The more we see God, and as we walk closer to Him, we can hear God’s voice clearly. Thus verse 30 makes sense about the condition of our heart in doing God’s will, “And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘ I go , sir,’ but did not go .” The other son clearly did not move or obey on the father’s command. In other words, we can say with our lips, I believe in Jesus and even read the bible, but don’t actually follow or do what God says, then we will never understand the will of God. Moreover, James 1:22 tells us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Once we “change our mind” through God’s working in our hearts, we desire and want to seek, follow and obey His words. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” ( 1 John 5:14 ). The only way we can know God’s Will is for us to repent to God and have the confidence and assurance through our prayers that heaven will hear us. So, in closing of knowing God’s Will 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Repentance will change the course of your direction, and it will change your life. Once you begin your journey of obedience to His will through God’s Words, you will hear His voice and you will have freedom to do His will.

God created all humans to have 3 parts, the spirit, soul, and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s desire is for our faith to grow and give us life and to start building the process of healing beginning with our spirit, then soul and body. And not just parts of these but the whole of these parts. So consider a picture of 3 circles with the most inner part as “spirit” (human spirit), then “soul” as the second outer circle, then “body” as the last circle on the outside. The human spirit is the deepest part of a person and with our spirit we can communicate with God through prayer. No other creature on earth was created like this. When you accept and repent before Christ our body becomes a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19) and the Holy Spirit starts to clean out and sanctifies our human spirit, so that our prayer life can be stronger because our connection is not broken. If you want to grow in your spiritual life, then your connection to God in prayer must be strong. So consider a Wifi (internet connection) capability to the fifth-generation network that is 5G which is a super fast downloading and uploading speed. But even with a fast 5G network, any severe weather condition can hinder and dampen the network speed. Some severe weather conditions can even create power outages or black outs that cannot connect. With God in our spirit, you’ll have a 10G capability or higher, but it all depends upon our desire to connect to the Lord. If you want your Wifi to be connected all the time even in severe situations or trials of life, it's best to stay connected to a power source that will never disconnect and never fail you. Even when faced with daily challenges in life, your “spirit will be at peace knowing that God’s Spirit will take control when others have failed. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they lost their internet connection or “spirit connection” with God and they covered themselves and hid behind trees, hoping God would not find them. However, because of what Jesus has done on the cross, we are now able to receive this “spiritual connection” or Holy Spirit again and have connection with God. For the believers who sin, it is our repentance and making things right before God, brings our connectivity back with strong speed. This is the importance of the “human spirit.” 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 . (Genesis 2:7) The next circle is the “soul” , our personality or identity. Our “soul” defines who we are. it is with our soul, we can think, reason, consider, remember and examine all things from our heart. We can find our passion in life and what drives us to finish even in the midst of difficulties. Our soul drives us to the finish line. The body is a “vessel” or “host” for the soul and it gives the body life and its vitality. So consider a soul as nothing more than what it gives a body life and it doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or not. Every human being that has breath has a soul. As the Lord enters through our spirit and starts to work in our soul, then God in His will and in His perfect timing will heal the physical and the internal organs of our body. God will work the tangible things in our body and our physical body is the external sign or the visible part of how others see us. This is why God tells us to physically “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19). God’s desire is for our physical bodies to be his hands and feet in expanding God’s kingdom and it is our “spirit” in the Lord that is what we deliver and share the good news with. So, when our spirit is connected to God, and our soul (identity and personality of who we are) becomes a new creation in Christ, then our desire is to trust and obey and move into sharing the good news of Jesus is how all of our 3 parts connect and move in unity. Finally, what goes to heaven, soul or spirit? “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). So, it is here we understand that it is our “spirit” (those who accepted Christ as savior), who will enter the kingdom of heaven. Our personality and identity (soul) will not return to the Lord.

To my church friends and family. Early in the morning during prayer, this revelation came into my mind and I couldn't shake it off. So, I decided to write it down. Only when you have the time, please read it and consider the questions. Thank you for your time and my apologies in advance if any of the statements or questions will be provoking your thoughts towards any negative view. This is not my intention. Please consider and pray about what is happening to our churches today. My hope is to awaken and spiritually discern the believers to see clearly God's path and His Truth. For in Him, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Is Spiritual food greater than Physical food? For believers of Jesus Christ, is our spiritual food greater than physical food? Most Christians would say "Yes" to this question, but in reality, many Christians' behavior says "No" and follow the wide gate. Currently, in Montgomery County, Maryland, restaurants are open, but everyone has to wear a mask to enter. However, when eating, everyone sits down and takes off their masks to eat and converse with family and friends (No six feet apart and no masks). For the physical food, you can sit and take your masks off and have a wonderful fellowship with friends and family, but yet for spiritual food and in many churches today, you are still required to keep your masks on and be six feet apart. Today in Montgomery County, Maryland, when you walk into a church, you are required to wear a mask, but when you sit down and are ready to eat spiritual food, you are STILL REQUIRED to wear your mask. Even when you want to have a conversation with your family or friends inside the church, you are required to wear a mask. Inside the restaurant, and seated you are allowed to take your masks off and enjoy each other's laughter, joy, fellowship, food, and even to pray. You can even sing and pray without masks when the physical food is present, but yet we must wear a mask inside the church, six feet apart, and sing praises to God in the House of the Lord. In the house of the food , we are free to sing, pray, talk and have the joy to our belly's content, but be stricken with chains of rules when spiritual food is present at a church. Is physical food greater than spiritual food? I had a meeting with 8 other pastors for lunch in Rockville, Maryland. We all walked in with masks and ordered our food. This was our first gathering of Pastor's fellowship since the lockdown, so we naturally hugged and welcomed one another. No one checked to see if any of us was vaccinated or not. No one asked if any of us had any symptoms of covid or knew of anyone that did. No one needed any passport to get into this restaurant, at least for now. Two out of the eight had major heart surgeries. Two of us also had strokes and one is still taking medication for his cancer. So, you can imagine, everyone is taking precautions but it all changed when the food came out. We all sat down next to one another, inches apart with masks on at first, but when the food came out, everyone took off their masks to pray . Then, we had a great time of conversation and catching up with laughter and joy. Not a single person ate with their masks on . Not one person talked to one another with their masks on. Everyone had joy, laughter, and great fellowship without their masks on and no six feet apart. But as soon as the food was done eating, most of the pastors put their masks back on. They started to talk to one another and fellowship continued with their masks on. "What just happened?" was the thought that came to my mind. When the physical food was present, we all saw each other's food in their mouth and teeth and talked with great freedom, but once they were done with the food, they put their masks back on. I and one another pastor were the only ones without a mask. At first, I got really confused. I thought to myself, "What is the difference? Why is everyone wearing a mask when the food is gone? Why is everyone talking, laughing, and having joy and praying when the food was present and not wearing a mask but as soon as the food was gone, people went back to wearing the masks?" This was very strange. What was the difference between the physical food being present and everyone taking their masks off to pray, eat, talk, and laugh but inside the church we are still required to wear a mask and be six feet apart? Are restaurants and physical food greater than spiritual food and churches? Why is the presence of physical food in restaurants greater in freedom than in many churches? "Am I the only one seeing this," I thought to myself. When a former president of the United States can have a large birthday party with a few hundred people, with no masks and no social distancing inside a facility, and celebrate his birthday, then why can't churches open up and have that same freedom to celebrate the risen Lord? When the food was present, everyone took off their masks and had a great time of fellowship, but inside the church , when we sit down and are ready to eat spiritual food, we still must wear a mask and be at a social distance? Why are churches still limited to six feet apart and wear masks when restaurants host many parties with no distance and no masks when ready to eat, drink and be merry? Do the places of physical food have a greater benefit than the places that offer spiritual food? Romans 12:2 tells us, " Do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Have we come to the point of conforming to the world? Why are we not "testing" so we can "discern" the will of God? Are we not transformed by the renewal of our minds? Why are followers of Jesus Christ, sitting down, ready to eat spiritual foods, but still be six feet apart, wear a mask, and sing praises and give thanks offering to the Lord with masks on? Why is the world greater in giving freedom and joy than the Christian churches? Romans 12:1 tells us, ". . . by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Are we offering our bodies as a sacrifice to the physical world without any consequences in the spiritual realm? I am not questioning the rules of a county but I am concerned with the spiritual welfare of the body of Christ. If we are to give a facility that offers physical food freedom to pray, laugh, and have joy, and even to sing without masks, then we should give freedom to churches that offer the greatest food that nourishes our souls and sing praises and thanksgiving in the house of the Lord. I would ask that we all pray and first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness as we ponder upon these questions of our season. Matthew 7:13-14 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. “ Something to Consider ” is a thought process through the lens of the Bible, helping believers process current issues pertaining to the culture of our time.

What is a prophetic music ministry? Why do churches do praise before the message or sermon? 1 Chronicles 25:1 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals . And in verse 2, list the names and, “Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.” Through verse 4 and 5, it continues with names of those in service for the king and then in verse 6, “They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God.” For many years, I have read through scripture multiple times, but this time, God’s words captured my attention to the revelation that the musicians can serve in prophecy “ with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals.” Other versions illustrate the following: NIV “the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by” KJV “who should prophesy with” NASB "who were to prophesy with” NLT “to proclaim God's messages to the accompaniment of” This is all “in the house of the Lord” for “the service of the house of God.” And, “in the house of the Lord” we are all to manifest our hearts in worship “who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord” (verse 3). Our heart attitude to prophesy is with thanksgiving and praises for the service of the house of God. What is the difference between “Prophe c y” and “Prophe s y?” When I think of prophe c y (Noun: A prediction of a future happening), God wants us to prophe s y (Verb: To state that something will happen in the future). 1 Corinthians 14:1 reminds us, “. . . earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” To get a basic understanding of “Prophe c y” is a “message from God” and “Prophe s y” is to “proclaim a message from God” and the one who does or says it is a “prophet.” With that said, we have to keep in mind, since the Bible is complete, it is imperative to understand that God knows the past, present, and future. Any authoritative word about the future is already stated in the Word of God and man is to be His spokesperson, interpreting His Word properly. 2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. We have to keep a solid reminder that “The Bible IS the Final and Complete Revelation from God.” No man can predict what God had already spoken through His word. God is the creator and distributor of time of past, present, and future. It is our responsibility to decode what God has already encoded. So, what does prophecy mean for today? The New Testament gives us a good picture and manifestation of this spiritual gift. 1 Corinthians 14:3 ( Amplified Bible ) But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them]. So, what does all this mean, and how does “prophecy" relate to musical instruments? Let’s begin with few questions to help us process these revelations. How can we edify and promote spiritual growth through songs and musical instruments while giving thanks and praise to the Lord? How can we give encouragement and compassionately comfort others accompanied by musical instruments? How can we proclaim God's messages to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God? David is a good example of a prophet (Acts 2:29-31), who was filled with the Holy Spirit and wrote much of Psalms foretelling of the coming Messiah. David prophesied through Psalms and music: Psalm 2, 16, 22, 34, 69, and 110. 1 Chronicles 25:1-8 explains that David and the chiefs of the service set apart three family groups of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with lyres, harps, and with cymbals (verse 1). They prophesied with musical instruments. In other words, they wrote songs to proclaim God’s messages. In 1 Chronicles 25:1 the word “prophesy” (Hebrew “naba” pronounced “naw-baw”) is a verb meaning “ under influence of the divine spirit .” In other words to speak or sing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So for those who are in a praise team or are Christian singers and musicians, this shows that “prophecy” is not always “a message from God” but under the influence of the Holy Spirit to sing songs and use instruments in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. What is very interesting is that this task of organizing and setting apart by David and the chiefs took much time and effort in developing the prophetic music ministry within the temple. The Hebrew word “sar” meaning chiefs, captains, rulers, governors, and leaders were mostly of military personnel. Praise and giving thanks through prophetic music were so important that even a king and his military generals were assigned and set apart for the house of worship. Who said, you can’t swing a sword and play the soft and peaceful lyre? Surely, David was a mighty warrior, and their leaders thought otherwise. The prophetic music ministry was a well-planned and intentional strategic effort. This was of high importance to be “in the house of the Lord” for “the service of the house of God.” If this was very important to David then it meant that this prophetic music ministry was also important to God. Why? Why was this prophetic music ministry so important to David? David viewed this prophetic music ministry as meant to be used with instruments and songs that praise and gave thanks to the Lord as a key vital life to the entire nation of Israel . The spiritual vitality of the temple required this prophetic music ministry. This made sense as to why many “who were skillful” was chosen and “trained in singing to the Lord” (1 Chron. 25:7). Even those who are “small and great, young and old alike, the teacher as well as the student, cast lots for their duties to worship in the house of the Lord. So, then the question would be, are churches today through praise giving thanks proclaiming God’s message? Are our songs proclaiming the gospel? Can Christian musicians today have the ability to play prophetically on their instruments in such a way as to release the anointing to the people? "The prophetic musician sees further than the task of music because it is a ministry requiring knowledge beyond the physical task of playing notes in the right order. It is a music of divine appointment to comfort, encourage, strengthen, confront and stir people to higher goals, or take us to another level of worship" (Excerpt from "The Musician" by Kerry Wright). In Closure Now, I have a greater understanding as to why churches do praise and then a message in the house of the Lord. This is the prophetic music ministry and worship of the church in which leaders (small and great, young and old), sing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming God’s messages. Then the following passages started to be more clear: 1 Samuel 10:5-6 5 After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now, even a harp played by David to drive the evil spirit away soothed King Saul’s soul, “Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well” (1 Samuel 16:16). 13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. 15 But now bring me a musician .” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him (2 Kings 3:13-15). After the musicians played, then Elisha prophesied about the “dry streambed full of pools” (2 Kings 3:16) and that “He will also give the Moabites into your hand” (verse 18). This all started to make sense as to why music and singing were a major part of worship in the temple during David’s reign along with all small and great, young and old. David brought up, “. . . 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise” (1 Chronicles 23:5). David was so passionate about this ministry that he even made his own musical instruments for the house of the Lord. In essence, prophetic music ministry is prophesying through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is more than our natural talent and abilities. This is about our surrender to God so that the Holy Spirit can release His Spirit to proclaim God's messages to the accompaniment of lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. Under the divine inspiration and the revelation of His words, God will release His fulfilled purpose and the presence of Jesus will become a blessed reality. The prophetic music ministry will edify our spiritual growth, singing and using lyre, harp, and cymbals will encourage our souls, and His words will comfort us in the house of the Lord. King Hezekiah Restores the Temple Worship 2 Chronicles 29:25-30 25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. May the spiritual vitality of the church come back to the House of God and edify, encourage and comfort all who seek our savior, Jesus. Amen and Amen.

Christians and non-Christians alike may know of this renowned Bible verse, John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” But... why? Why in the world would an all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite being like God love us, human beings? What was the point in Jesus enduring that painful persecution and ultimately being hung and killed on a cross for us? Why does God love us that much? It seems completely absurd but, when it comes down to the truth, it’s relatively straightforward: God loves us because He is love. God is the very root and definition of love (1 John 4:8, 16). You may be thinking, “How can someone just be love?” But don’t worry, because even those who have been believers of Christ for many years struggle to fully understand the depth of God’s love and how it works; it’s that wide and great and deep. But, we can try to have a better understanding by going back to the beginning, back to God’s original intention of our relationship with Him. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:26-27). One of the main reasons I believe God loves us is because He created us. We are not merely animals roaming this Earth without a purpose, nor are we the equivalent to any other creature on this earth. We were made in God’s image so we have all been designed with a specific intention and to be a reflection of Himself, the perfect, almighty God. Although the following comparison comes nothing close to the love that God has for us, the best way for me to imagine it would be the relationship between a parent and child. A loving parent does everything in their power to care for their child. Even before the baby is born, before the parents even know what the baby looks like or what the child’s personality will be like, the parents are usually already in preparation mode. From frantically buying all the baby’s necessities (crib, stroller, diapers, baby bottles, etc.) to reading and researching anything and everything about how to raise a child, all of the parents’ time and energy goes into caring for their coming baby. But the work doesn’t stop there. Once the baby is born, the parents are doing everything in their power to keep the baby happy, safe, well-fed and cared for. To go even further, the work still doesn’t stop there. As the child grows and experiences new stages of life, the parents are right there beside them – guiding them, teaching them, disciplining them – all out of their love for the child. The baby didn’t do anything to deserve the parents’ love. It was simply brought into existence by the parents. Despite the countless headaches and heartaches the child may continue to give the parents as they grow, the parents have this love for the child because they are the parents’ precious creation. There are obvious and numerous exceptions to this example and it may not be a perfect, nor remotely close, representation that many people can relate to. However, I believe this is the closest we can get to visualizing a small piece of what God’s heart may be like towards us. God created us and He desires for us to be with Him. This is why He provided a way, through Jesus’ death on the cross, for us to be reunited with Him again. We did absolutely nothing to deserve it and we, in fact, deserve the complete opposite. We were bound for death and destruction, but God made a way for us to have complete salvation through His love. And the best part is, there is nothing that can come between us and His love for us. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39). Some more things to consider:  1. Do you feel loved by God?  2. Can you think of a time when you felt God’s love in your life?  3. How can you love God? SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)   “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” John 3:16-18 (ESV)   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)   “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 John 4:7 (ESV)   “Beloved let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:16 (ESV)   “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:19 (ESV)   “We love because he first loved us.” “Something to Consider” is a thought-process through the lens of the Bible, helping believers process current issues pertaining to the culture of our time. Eunice Sung Journalist “Fervently seeking God for His truth to be revealed, only by His grace and strength.” sungeunice16@gmail.com

A Sign from God In the weeks leading up to the sermon series New Chapter, I asked some of the married couples to write to me on the following questions: What is the one thing about your spouse that was the final confirmation to knowing for certain he/she was the right person for you to marry? Did you ever ask God for a sign that he/she was the right person for you to marry? (Michelle and Abner) For me and Abner, I didn’t like him or speak to him in the beginning when we first met we met in school in philosophy class. We were also in a group the whole semester and the only time I spoke to him was when we were doing group work. When the semester was about over, we started talking about random things, and then I learned that he is a believer also. So from then on we spoke about everything like church, family, etc. but I always saw him just as a friend but he liked me more than a friend. I had a lot of trust issues and I never dated or was in a relationship before Abner so I was just always careful and didn’t want to get hurt, but Abner was respectful and patient. We clicked just like that. Before I met Abner, I asked God that I wanted a husband who loves God, comes from a good Christian family, is educated, knows how to handle money (cause I can’t ) , and is kind-hearted . And that’s exactly how Abner is. Also, when we were courting, I asked God that I want him to propose to me on New Year’s Eve . And Abner did just that. Those two signs were the confirmations from God to me. Can you ask God for a sign? In the book of Judges, God tells Gideon to, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” However, Gideon is uncertain because, “my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). In other words, he has doubts about what God really can do and what he can do. He is also indecisive and uncertain, even when God proves he can do it. Gideon still obeyed, but still hesitant and on his first attempt at obeying God, “Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night” (Judges 6:27). It is interesting when Gideon was afraid of God’s command and uncertain he was given the opportunity and permission to ask for a sign, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me ” (Judges 6:17). Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel (Judges 6:33). Even with all the signs from God and His strength and power to support Gideon, he is still asking for a sign. Judges 6:36-40 36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone , and it is dry on all the ground , then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece . Please let it be dry on the fleece only , and on all the ground let there be dew .” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. Here Moses was uncertain, afraid, and indecisive about His calling in life and willingness to serve the will of God, even when God spoke to Moses directly, he doubted. Exodus 3:9-12 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you , that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” So God is giving Moses a sign. Can you ask for a sign? Yes! If you are seeking the Lord and have a relationship with Him. Why? Why would God give you a sign? Because a sign from God will strengthen you and give you hope and because He believes in you. So, what sign was the head servant asking for? Genesis 24:10-14 10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor . 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘ Drink, and I will water your camels ’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” And God responded with a clear sign from the servant’s prayer. [Please read towards the end] ______________________________ (Cece and Danny) Everyone knows me and Danny's story. But I prayed to God if we were meant to be. Specifically, when he didn't like me (I still can't understand this). I prayed that God would turn my feelings off if we were not meant to be, but feelings got stronger. So, then I prayed if we were meant to be, to turn his feelings on (Danny) , like a switch, God turned them on. Boom boom bam got married and then a child. In all, I'm glad we were friends first, despite me enduring a one-sided love for a while. It felt like a kdrama (From Korean Drama Shows) but it all worked out. Now for a sign. I didn't ask God for a sign but I was given one. [Like Moses] One day we were at a gas station and Danny prayed for this homeless guy out front, unashamed of people around. One guy originally ignored the homeless man and the guy went into the store but when he came out of the store, he saw Danny praying for the homeless man and he stopped in his tracks and went back and gave the guy some money. That's when I said, I wanna marry this guy!! He was not embarrassed to pray for others in unexpected places and his prayer moved someone else heart to help the homeless man. ___________________________________________ (Nicole and Delace) One thing about Delace that confirmed for certain that he was the man for me was that he had a heart for the Lord and he protected not only me but all the women in his sphere of influence. To be so respected and honored by a young man was not typical in my experience, and even when he developed feelings for me, he wanted to protect my heart. That was an overflow of his love for the Lord and it was obvious that it wasn't just an act. I definitely DID ask God for a sign , but it was about the guy I was dating--not about Delace. I ended up meeting with a trusted older woman from our church, and as she was talking with me and praying with me and God was speaking to my heart. In those moments it became abundantly clear that the guy I had been dating but still wanted to reconcile with was NOT the man for me, but rather Delace was exactly the man who had been being prepared to be my husband (poor guy). I walked out of that meeting, saw Delace, and I knew. I was overjoyed and apprehensive, but there was no doubt in my mind. __________________________________ (Young and Brian) For me and Brian, no big signs. But it was important that everyone approved, including Jade, our dog who is no longer with us. Most of you know how brutally honest the men in my family are. If they don't like my best friend of mine, they will make it known! Everyone including Jade approved. I don't know if we will ever know if we are right for each other. But I do know that God has been doing work in our lives And I know he will continue to work… _____________________________________________ (Sangmi and Jae) At the beginning of 2016, I started praying for my future husband. I prayed to God, I want a husband who loves Jesus the most, is fearing the Lord, and truly believes in the word of God. A few months later, Jae and I got closer and started dating. Later I found out that Jae had a crush(?) on me and started praying for a relationship in the beginning of 2016 as well. More importantly, before I met Jae, I was a different person. I always had carried this sinful nature in me- being very negative, dark, and depressed which I wasn't even aware of myself. During the early stage of our courtship, God revealed my sinful character through our relationship. Through Jae and our relationship, God showed me how sinful I have been during all of my lifetimes. I realized that it always caused issues from my past relationships with people, which I really did not show outside, but deep inside of me, I always have had this ugliness. As soon as I was aware and acknowledged this sin, I repented before God. I really wanted to be changed, but I knew that I won't be able to change by my own strength. I asked the Holy Spirit who has the power and authority to turn me into a new person. I shared this with Jae and asked for prayers too. My negative character was also affecting Jae, and he was having a hard time as well. I think he was almost ready to end our relationship at that time. I was so sad to see someone who I really liked be hurting because of my weakness for the first time. I was desperate. God is amazing- as soon as I started to repent and pray, the Holy Spirit covered me with the blood of Jesus, and I could feel that it was gone. I did not know what it was back then, but looking back, I think I was always hopeless and depressed. After this incident, I was different. People came to me and said, "Sangmi, you look different," "Hey, you look happy these days," etc. Even Jae was recognizing- "You are a different person now." "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV Later, Jae told me that he was amazed and could truly believe that God can change everything. He told me it was one of the moments that he wants to marry me (씨익). He thought, '*gasp* she decided to change herself for me…?" We both started to learn that it was not just about us and our relationship but something beyond us. After this, our relationship became stronger. There are many other things God has been working in our lives, before and after we got married. I also agree with what Young says, God will continue to work and teach us how to obey and glorify Him. _______________________________________ (Wu and Sue) In my mid-20s, I had a very rough time- trying to figure out my identity at work, church, and amongst friends. I was also broken from relationships- unhealthy and toxic relationships from the past. During this time, my old church united with another church. Still broken, I wasn't looking for a relationship- in fact, I didn't even bother praying for a significant partner because I was depressed in thinking about having a relationship. One night (Friday night worship service) I remember seeing Sue praying so fervently after the service was over. I never envied someone so much, because I wanted to have that moment of pure surrender and connection with God through prayer because I was desperate for a change. Who would've thought that the person I envied the most at the time would become the person I would commit to for the rest of my life? It's amazing how God not only shows you what you need but also pairs you up with someone who can remind you for the rest of your life! I never asked God for a sign, but he did confirm Sue was the one I needed to be with. If you know me, I like to know and learn about a lot of things. In fact, I always thought I could do anything and everything. I was so full of myself, and I was confident that I was always right. To come and think about it, God had to break me in order to put me on a path that would lead me to the place I am today. And let's just say Sue was the hammer. She was the only person that I've met who stood strong, and tell me what I was doing wrong- to discern what I thought was right but is wrong, and always looking out for what was best for me. To come and think about it, my friends would tell me what I WANT to hear while Sue would tell me things that I NEEDED to hear (still to this day lol). ____________________________ Wow! I am truly thankful for all those married couples who wrote in and addressed those questions with honesty and transparency. God moved everyone’s heart and for some to be given a clear sign for a compatible person for marriage. This was the case for Isaac. His mother had passed away and his heart was grieving for a compassionate and loving person to be coming along his journey. However, not just any person who has compassion for a hurting person but a very specific plan of God and a specific person that God has in mind. And, this was the case for Rebekah. When the head servant of Abraham asked God at the end of his 700-mile journey to find a wife for Isaac, he asked for a very specific sign. This was his prayer, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink and I will water your camels’ -Let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this, I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master” (Genesis 24:12-14). Not only did Rebekah gave the servant of Abraham a drink when he asked, but she on her own will served even the camels and made sure that they all had water to nourish. It’s not an easy task to fill water for ten camels. Most especially in the near east at that time would not even allow a man to talk to a woman, let alone a young lady, but she gave a man who was thirsty and diligently served to have the animals drink. This tells you something wonderful about Rebekah. Her character was of compassion and willingness to serve those who were weak and to go the extra mile even to help the animals when she didn’t need to. Most people when they are not required to help others look at the ten large camels and think of this load as overwhelmed and stressed to even consider the hard work. There were many from the city getting water for their own families, yet Rebekah in her heart served the thirsty servant of Abraham and his ten camel’s, along with her own family in which she had to serve. This was the exact compatibility God would connect to Isaac because God knew he needed someone to fulfill’s God’s promise and Rebekah was chosen and sign confirmed through the head servant of Abraham. When you ask for a sign, God gives you more than one. The head servant asked for a sign, but he made a vow to Abraham that he would find someone from his hometown. God kept His promise and fulfilled his promise that His seed would carry on towards Jesus, but it all started from the servant's prayer. Genesis 24:23-27 23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor .” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.” There is one thing that I realized was an important aspect about those people asking for a sign from God; they all have a deep relationship with God. From Gideon, Moses, and the head servant of Abraham, they all have a relationship with God and God responded to their relationship by fulfilling their request. So, can you ask for a sign? Yes, but before asking for a sign, we should ask for a deep relationship with a Living God who is the one who can give us signs. Questions to consider: How is your relationship with Jesus? Do you pray often or daily to grow your relationship with God? How is your personal devotion to the Word of God? [Your personal devotion through the Word of God (Bible) can help you understand your relationship with God]. Once you establish your daily relationship with God, what specific signs would you ask God? [Remember, always consider the reasons for asking for a sign. Are the signs to expand God’s kingdom or are they for something else.]