2 Samuel 14:25“In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” Shalom. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be forever praised. Welcome again to our study of God’s holy Word. Today, we shall briefly reflect on the life of a man named Absalom, the son of David. There is a lesson to draw from his story. Absalom was one among the many sons of David, but he was distinguished by something rare—a unique physical beauty that surpassed all his brothers and everyone else in Israel. The Bible says Absalom was exceptionally handsome—not only among his siblings, but throughout the entire nation. From the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, there was no physical defect in him. Every part of his body was flawless and admired by all. Even more notably, the Bible highlights his hair. It was so thick and heavy that he could not go a full year without cutting it—otherwise, it would weigh him down. 2 Samuel 14:25–26“In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut it once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.” Two hundred shekels is estimated to be over two kilograms in today’s measurements. Imagine how burdensome that must have been if he failed to cut his hair annually. To put that in perspective, scientists estimate that it would take about thirty (30) people with very thick and fast-growing hair to match the annual hair weight of Absalom. His hair was extraordinary. When the Bible points out physical traits like this, it often serves a symbolic or prophetic purpose. The mention of Absalom’s hair is no coincidence—it plays a role later in his story. You may take time to read the full account from 2 Samuel chapters 13–18, but in summary:Despite his charm, looks, and popularity, Absalom harbored an evil heart. He plotted to overthrow his father David and seize the throne. Not only that, but he sought to kill David and defile his father’s concubines publicly (2 Samuel 16:22) as an act of humiliation. He even killed his brother Amnon to avenge his sister Tamar but showed no signs of forgiveness or justice, only bitterness and vengeance. Absalom, though outwardly admirable, was inwardly corrupt. His charisma and speech drew the hearts of many (2 Samuel 15:6), but his true intentions were wicked. Eventually, when he led a rebellion and forced David to flee, a battle broke out in the forest of Ephraim. The terrain was treacherous, full of thickets and vines, and the Bible says more people died due to the dangers of the forest than by the sword. 2 Samuel 18:6–9“David’s army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword. Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.” His beautiful hair—once praised and admired—became his noose. His own glory trapped him. Helpless, he hung there until Joab came and killed him (2 Samuel 18:14–15). His beauty and pride led to his downfall. Theological Reflection This story is a solemn reminder that external beauty or gifts can become a trap if the heart is not submitted to God. The things we boast about—our looks, our wealth, our influence—can become the very things that destroy us if they are not placed under the Lordship of Christ. Proverbs 16:18“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Absalom used his appeal and charm to manipulate, deceive, and rebel. But it all ended in shame and death. What he trusted—his image and strength—became his downfall. Just like Absalom, many today are trapped by their own “beauty.” A young woman may rely on her physical appeal and lose the fear of God, believing she can get anything she wants. A rich man may trust his wealth and ignore the need for salvation. A talented preacher may fall because of pride in his gifts. But Jesus warned: Matthew 19:24“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” If your beauty, fame, or possessions draw your heart away from Christ, then those very things will one day hang you. Just like Absalom, you may find yourself trapped where you cannot escape. That’s why now is the time to turn to Jesus. Don’t let your strength or beauty become your noose. Repent, believe the gospel, and walk humbly before the Lord. Micah 6:8“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Let Christ be your covering—not your appearance or reputation. What truly matters is the hidden person of the heart. 1 Peter 3:3–4“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” If you’ve been trusting in your physical beauty, wealth, fame, or personal charm, return to God today. Repent and ask for His mercy. Let His Word shape your identity—not the admiration of people. May the Lord bless you. Please share this message with others. If you’d like to receive more teachings via email or WhatsApp, kindly leave your details in the comment box or contact us at +255 789001312.
Flee from sin Shalom. Welcome to study the Bible and be reminded of the truths we’ve already learned. The one thing that we as God’s people must fear above all in our times today is sin. We are not to fear demons, witches, or even Satan himself. What we must fear first and foremost is sin. Because sin is the doorway to all those other things. Therefore, with all our strength and all our efforts, we must avoid sin. And we avoid sin by fleeing from it—meaning, we must leave it behind at any cost. The Holy Spirit is called the Helper in the Bible — “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16, ESV) Do you understand what a helper is? A helper is someone who assists you in doing something you have already begun doing. He is not the one doing the task for you; he adds strength to what you’ve already started doing. So when we get saved and receive the Holy Spirit into our lives, His work is not to forcefully prevent us from sinning—not at all! That is not His role. His work is to help us overcome sin! He gives us counsel; He gives us reasons why we shouldn’t do the bad and should do the good. And when we obey His counsel within us, the desire to sin dies instantly. That’s when we find ourselves living without committing sin. And the more you train yourself to obey Him, the more those sins continue to die inside you. It’s just like anything else—when you stop practicing something for a long time, you forget it and lose the experience of doing it. (The act of losing the experience is what it means to die to that thing.) Likewise, when you lose the habit of committing the sins you used to do, because you’re now obeying the Holy Spirit, the experience fades and eventually disappears completely. You become dead to sin. “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11, ESV) You become the kind of person who, no matter the circumstances, cannot commit fornication, cannot curse, cannot steal, cannot take bribes, cannot hate others, etc. Now, the big problem many of us have is failing to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We think that when He comes into us, He acts like a dictator who will destroy our sinful tendencies and stop us by force from sinning. Because of this misconception, many people find that when they receive the Holy Spirit and “relax,” they end up being defeated by sin and continuing in sinful lives. Then they begin to ask themselves why others are able to live in victory, but they are not. Let me tell you: once you decide to follow the Lord Jesus by repenting of your sins—sins the Holy Spirit has made you aware of—the next step is to obey Him. And you don’t obey just by saying words like “I OBEY YOU, LORD” with your mouth. That is only the beginning of obedience. You must obey in action. This means that if you were committing a certain sin, you leave it at once! You don’t go around asking for advice. You use all your mind, all your strength, and all your soul to leave it. And in this, you don’t even need to be prayed for. For example, let’s take the sin of sexual immorality—which includes adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, watching pornography, masturbation, etc. This sin cannot be cast out by prayer! Don’t go to a minister and say, “Pray for me to stop this sin or that sin.” There’s no such prayer! I’m telling you this because some of us were once like that—we thought prayer was the solution. We fasted and prayed but nothing changed—until we read the Scriptures, learned the truth, and the truth set us free. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, ESV) So, beloved, don’t waste your time doing research that others have already done and proven—otherwise, you’ll just go in circles and end up where you started. The solution to sexual sin is to FLEE! Fleeing means walking away from that sin with no strings attached. It means if you’re living with a man or woman in sin, you suddenly leave them and cut off the relationship! If they call you, tell them plainly that you are now saved and you both need to repent and return to God. If they don’t understand, then save yourself—don’t look back or feel pity. Don’t answer their calls… Don’t try to reason with them while still meeting up and chatting. If they text you, don’t reply—even if they cry tears of blood begging to reconcile, do not be moved. Save both your soul and theirs by fleeing from sexual immorality. If necessary, block the number. Don’t talk to them at all. Look at the example of Joseph. Potiphar’s wife desired him, and once Joseph realized it, he stopped speaking to her. “And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.” (Genesis 39:10, NIV) How can you say you want to stop fornication and still text and talk with your sexual partners? How can you say you want to stop sexual immorality while still socializing with random men and women, watching lustful soap operas and movies that stir up passion on your TV? How can you say you want to stop watching porn while it’s still saved on your phone, and you’re still part of WhatsApp and Facebook groups with such content? Or say you want to stop drinking while you still have bottles of alcohol at home and hang out with drunkards? The same applies to every other sin—the solution is to FLEE! Leave! Some sins may even require you to move houses or neighborhoods. That’s the cost of abandoning sin. That is the cost of obeying the Holy Spirit. If you don’t want to flee in that way and instead seek prayers or laying on of hands, you may end up being prayed for by everyone and still get possessed by even worse spirits. Your condition will get worse because you lacked the necessary knowledge. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6, ESV) Dear reader, you’ve heard/read this—you won’t be able to say you were not warned on that day. If you obey the Holy Spirit today, He Himself will help you fulfill your resolve. But if you don’t, the decision is yours. I hope you will obey, and may the Lord help you. So, if you are not yet saved or you are lukewarm, you’re at risk of being spit out. Before that happens, make a quick turnaround. Obey the Holy Spirit today by leaving sin at all cost. After abandoning sin, seek the proper baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Lord Jesus, as written: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38, NIV) The same Holy Spirit who began a good work in your heart will help you accomplish what seemed impossible. Sin will no longer be hard to overcome because Christ’s yoke is easy: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30, KJV) You will find joy, peace beyond understanding, and realize how far you were from the glorious life in Christ. Sin will no longer be appealing in any way. God bless you. Please share this good news with others, and if you’d like to receive these teachings by email or WhatsApp, send us a message using the comment box below or call this number: +255 789001312. Join our WhatsApp channel here >> WHATSAPP
Shalom, and welcome to our study of the Word of God. Among the people who followed the Lord Jesus, there were four distinct groups: The Multitudes,The Disciples,The Twelve Apostles,The Pillars. 1. The Multitudes This was the first group. They would gather only to hear the teachings of Jesus and receive healing for their diseases. Jesus often spoke to them in parables, and after the teachings or healings, they would return to their regular lives. 2. The Disciples This group consisted of about 70 or slightly more. They followed Jesus, but not everywhere. These were people who chose to serve Him in many of the places He went, and they were also sent out to preach the gospel.Luke 10:1 (NKJV):“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” 3. The Twelve Apostles These were chosen from among the 70 disciples.Luke 6:13 (NKJV):“And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.” The apostles were much closer to Jesus than the disciples or the multitudes. They shared meals with Him, walked with Him, and were privileged to ask for explanations of parables in private—something the other groups could not do. 4. The Pillars This final group was the most intimate with Jesus. It consisted of three apostles—Peter, James, and John—who were considered Pillars.Galatians 2:9 (NKJV):“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” (“Cephas” is another name for Peter – see John 1:42.) These three had a special relationship with Jesus. Whenever He wanted to go alone for deep prayer or to reveal divine mysteries, He took only them. Example 1: The Mount of Transfiguration Luke 9:27–30 (NKJV):“But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”“As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.”“And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah.” Only these three saw this transfiguration and heard the voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35). Example 2: In Gethsemane Matthew 26:36–40 (NKJV):“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.'”“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.”“Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.'”“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'”“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?'” Jesus separated the other nine apostles and took only these three into His most sorrowful moment, showing their elevated spiritual intimacy. Even after Pentecost, these three continued to be central. The Book of Revelation, filled with prophetic visions, was entrusted to John, one of the Pillars. This shows how close these men were to the Lord. Why Were These Three Chosen as Pillars? Because they loved Jesus deeply and wholeheartedly. God is not partial (Romans 2:11). The reason these men were closer to Jesus was their wholehearted devotion, meditation, service, and self-denial for His sake. James 4:8 (NKJV):“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Peter boldly declared, “Even if all are made to stumble, I will never be made to stumble.” (Matthew 26:33) Though he had weaknesses, his love and courage set him apart. James and John once asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left in His kingdom (Mark 10:35–37)—a request showing their great love and desire to be near Him. John leaned on Jesus’ chest during supper (John 13:23–26), and it was to him alone that Jesus revealed Judas would betray Him, whispered in a voice only John could hear. Their Intimacy Made Them Pillars Their obedience, sacrifice, and eagerness made them candidates for deeper divine revelations. They were available for every mission Jesus had, even if it meant hardship. This commitment is what elevated them before God. And this remains true today: if you desire to become a pillar in God’s house, draw closer to Him. Revelation 3:12 (NKJV):“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Let us not be content with merely being believers or disciples—let us strive to become Pillars in the Kingdom of God. The Lord bless you. Please share this teaching with others. If you would like to receive more studies via email or WhatsApp, leave a message in the comment box below or call +255 789001312. Maranatha!
“These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.”—Psalm 50:21 (NKJV) Greetings to you in the glorious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Welcome to the study of the words of life. Why is it that sometimes we are quick to sin, quick to gossip about our neighbors, quick to commit adultery—even though we claim to be saved or close to God, we still easily indulge in watching pornographic images online and engage in masturbation? It is because we assume that God is like us. We think, “He understands—it’s just the normal weaknesses of the flesh.” Worse still, when we notice that God does not immediately punish the evil we’ve done—like the time we watched filthy images online and He remained silent, and the next day we did it again and still nothing bad happened, then later we committed sexual sin and yet life went on normally—we continue going to church, singing in the choir, praying, and everything seems fine. When we begin to accept bribes, and see that nothing bad has happened to us, it becomes a routine—even though we say we are Christians. This continues year after year, and in your heart you think, “Even God understands these things, that’s why He hasn’t punished me.” You believe He is just like you. You think He sees evil the same way you do. You treat Him like a fellow human who overlooks these “small things.” You think He could never leave or punish you for things like that. But today, listen carefully to what the Word of God says: Psalm 50:16-22 (NKJV)“But to the wicked God says:‘What right have you to declare My statutes,Or take My covenant in your mouth,Seeing you hate instructionAnd cast My words behind you?When you saw a thief, you consented with him,And have been a partaker with adulterers.You give your mouth to evil,And your tongue frames deceit.You sit and speak against your brother;You slander your own mother’s son.These things you have done, and I kept silent;You thought that I was altogether like you;But I will rebuke you,And set them in order before your eyes.Now consider this, you who forget God,Lest I tear you in pieces,And there be none to deliver.’” Look again at verse 21:“These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you.”Do you see that when God remains silent about the secret sins you are committing, it doesn’t mean He is pleased with you! You say you are saved, yet you harbor secret sins that you know are an abomination before God. But because God hasn’t spoken to you or struck you down, you’ve become comfortable. You think God is just like you and that He will always tolerate your ways. No! He says, “I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.” God doesn’t just say He will punish or correct you. No—He says He will tear you apart. And we know that to be torn is something a wild beast like a lion does. That means He will destroy you severely—so much so that you will not be able to stand again, no matter who prays for you or preaches to you. That is why He says:“There will be none to deliver.” This message is to those who have forgotten God—those who once belonged to Him, but became too familiar with Him, thinking He is just like them and ceased to fear sin before Him. If you are one of them, then this is your moment to repent sincerely. You may have just a short time left before you encounter those claws of God. (Do not seek to experience the other side of God’s wrath—it is terrifying.) If you’ve been secretly repeating sins that displease God for a long time and He has remained silent, it is better you stop now. Because His silence does not mean He is like you. So take this moment to strengthen your salvation, and God will forgive you and withhold His wrath from you. 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Remember, we are in the last days. There’s no need for more proof that we are living in the season of the Lord’s return. The current state of the world says it all. This is not the time to have one foot in Christ and the other outside. This is the time to go all in for the Lord, because the Rapture can happen at any moment. 2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV)“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” May the Lord bless you. Please share this message with others. If you would like us to send these teachings to you via email or WhatsApp, send us a message in the comment box below or call this number:📞 +255 789001312 Join our channel by clicking here >> WHATSAPP
One of the most vital responsibilities we have as believers is to deeply know Jesus Christ. This is not a light duty—it is the very foundation of our salvation. Without a true understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done, we cannot fully grasp our identity in Him, nor can we appreciate the grace we’ve been given. A lack of understanding leads many to despise this grace and ultimately to spiritual ruin. “And until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”— Ephesians 4:13 (ESV) Knowing Jesus Is Not Just Head Knowledge The call to know Christ isn’t about knowing trivial details—like what He looked like, what food He liked, or how He styled His hair. No. We are called to know the position and role He holds in God’s eternal plan. The more we understand this, the more we will love and revere God. No one has fully comprehended the magnitude of Christ’s role, but as we grow spiritually, that understanding increases. The more we know Jesus, the deeper our reverence becomes. The Significance of Jesus’ Death: The Case of Barabbas Let’s reflect on a striking event from the Gospels that reveals the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. Before Jesus was crucified, Pontius Pilate presented a choice to the crowd: to release either Jesus or a notorious criminal named Barabbas—a murderer and rebel (Matthew 27:16). Barabbas was rightly imprisoned, awaiting execution for his crimes. Everyone agreed he deserved death. But in a shocking turn of events, the people cried out, “Release Barabbas!” And so he was set free—while Jesus was condemned in his place. “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted… they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas… They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’”— Matthew 27:15-22 (ESV) Imagine Barabbas, expecting death, only to be unexpectedly released. He must have been confused: “Why me? I’m guilty!” Yet standing nearby was Jesus, bloodied and silent, crowned with thorns, the true Innocent One. Barabbas walked away free because Jesus took his place. This is not just a story from history—Barabbas represents you and me. We were guilty, deserving judgment, but Jesus took our punishment. He was mocked, beaten, and crucified so we could live. “He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by His wounds we are healed.”— Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) Grace Is Not Cheap—It Cost Jesus Everything Jesus didn’t just carry our sins like a bag on His back. He became sin for us. “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”— 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) His humiliation raised our value. His rejection secured our acceptance. While Barabbas celebrated freedom, Jesus was scorned in his place. Many today are unaware that the blessings they enjoy—life, breath, provision—are all because of Jesus Christ. Even those living in rebellion benefit from God’s grace made available through Christ. Don’t Abuse the Grace of God This grace we now enjoy will not last forever. A day is coming when the door of mercy will close, and the Church will be taken up (raptured). Then the Great Tribulation will begin—a time of God’s wrath upon the earth. “Because you have kept my word… I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.”— Revelation 3:10 (ESV) There will be no more preachers urging people to repent. Instead, judgment will pour out: rivers will turn to blood, incurable sores will strike mankind, and terrifying darkness will cover the earth. All these are described clearly in Revelation 16. “They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues.”— Revelation 16:9 (ESV) Do not think this is a fairy tale. Just as the world was shocked by COVID-19, these judgments will be far more severe. The sun will darken, the moon will turn to blood, and deadly plagues will strike the earth. There will be no safety, no hiding place. A Stern Warning from Hebrews “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment…”— Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV) “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has profaned the blood of the covenant?”— Hebrews 10:29 (ESV) Do not take this grace lightly. If you are not yet saved, the door of mercy is still open. But you must repent—not just feel sorry—but truly turn away from sin. What Does It Mean to Repent? To repent means to turn around. You abandon your sinful lifestyle and submit to Christ. This includes: Turning away from sin (Matthew 3:8) Being baptized in water in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38) Receiving the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; Acts 2:4) Do it with all your heart. Jesus is not just a figure in a story—He is our only hope of salvation. Final Encouragement If you’ve read this far, don’t just scroll or comment. Make a decision. Let this message stir your heart to change. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”— Hebrews 3:15 (ESV) Jesus Christ is important—not only for the past, not just for the future, but for you right now. May the Lord bless you and give you the courage to respond to His call. If you’d like to continue receiving teachings like this, feel free to join the WhatsApp channel provided.