BUYING AND SELLING, MARRYING AND BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE – A PROPHETIC SIGN FOR THE CHURCH
Jesus Christ warned that the moral and spiritual conditions of humanity in the last days would mirror those of Noah’s and Lot’s generations. His words were not merely about historical events; they were prophetic indicators for the Church to remain vigilant.
Notice the activities Jesus listed—eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, and building. None of these are inherently sinful; they are part of ordinary human life. However, in Noah’s and Lot’s days, these common pursuits became ultimate pursuits, pushing God to the margins of daily life. The warning is clear: when normal life blinds people to eternal realities, judgment will come unexpectedly (Matthew 24:37–39).
This sign applies to two distinct groups:
1. Those who do not know God (the world)
2. Those who profess to know God (the Church)
1. THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD
In Genesis 6 and 19, we see societies drowning in moral corruption and spiritual apathy. People in Noah’s day indulged in violence, gluttony, and unlawful marriages (Genesis 6:2, 5). In Lot’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah were infamous for sexual perversion and pride (Ezekiel 16:49–50; Jude 1:7). Both generations ignored God’s warnings through His servants and were overtaken by sudden judgment.
Today, we witness similar patterns:
Corruption and bribery are commonplace in commerce (Proverbs 11:1).
Immorality and serial marriages/divorces are normalized (Matthew 19:4–6).
Drunkenness and excessive partying are celebrated rather than condemned (Galatians 5:19–21).
Paul describes this end-times moral collapse in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV):
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
Such conditions among unbelievers are a prophetic alarm—the return of Christ is near.
2. THOSE WHO PROFESS TO KNOW GOD (THE CHURCH)
Yet Jesus’ warning was not only for the world. His parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14 reveals a sobering truth: even those invited to His kingdom feast can miss it through distraction.
Luke 14:16–20 (ESV)
A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
The excuses were not sinful in themselves—purchasing land, conducting business, and marriage are good gifts from God. However, they reveal a heart more consumed with earthly priorities than with the kingdom of God.
Jesus also warned in Matthew 13:22 (NASB) about the seed choked by “the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth,” which renders the Word unfruitful. Many believers today are in this state: prayer neglected, fellowship forsaken, and devotion crowded out by careers, family obligations, and social pursuits.
THE COST OF EXCUSES
The master’s response in the parable is severe:
Luke 14:21–24 (NKJV)
Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.… For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.
This reveals a sobering truth: grace rejected is grace forfeited. Those who continually excuse themselves from God’s call may be left out when the door closes (Matthew 25:10–12). Just as the flood swept away the unprepared and fire consumed the indifferent, so judgment will come suddenly upon those unready when Christ returns (1 Thessalonians 5:2–3)
A WARNING AND A CALL
Which group do you belong to?
Are you eating and drinking for pleasure, or in gratitude to God (1 Corinthians 10:31)?
Are you buying and selling with integrity, or compromising for gain (Proverbs 20:23)?
Have legitimate blessings—work, marriage, family—become excuses to neglect God.
The call of Christ is clear:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you
(Matthew 6:33 NKJV).
LIVING READY
The apostle Peter exhorts us:
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God”
(2 Peter 3:11–12 NASB).
The true mark of readiness is not merely knowing prophecy, but living in holiness and undistracted devotion. The Bridegroom is coming—will we be found prepared, or preoccupied?
FINAL EXHORTATION
Let us lay aside excuses, repent of misplaced priorities, and serve the Lord with undivided hearts. Ordinary life—work, marriage, family—is good, but must never replace the ultimate call to love God supremely (Deuteronomy 6:5; Revelation 2:4).
Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus!
What Are the Fiery Darts of the Wicked in Ephesians 6:16?
Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul reveals the reality of our spiritual warfare: a battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). We are called to stand firm by putting on the full armor of God, including the shield of faith, which protects us from the enemy’s fiery darts — the subtle and destructive attacks of Satan.
But what are these fiery darts? And how do they seek to destroy God’s people?
Understanding the Fiery Darts
In ancient times, fiery darts (or arrows) were weapons designed not only to pierce but to ignite and consume. Arrows were dipped in pitch and set ablaze, so that when they hit, they spread fire as well as inflicted physical injury. This symbolism shows that Satan’s attacks are not only meant to wound but to spread destruction, confusion, and fear, setting ablaze everything in their path.
Just as ancient soldiers needed shields large enough to cover their bodies and quench the flaming arrows, so believers need faith that completely relies on God’s power (Psalm 18:2; Hebrews 11:6).
The Enemy’s Fiery Darts
1️⃣ The Tongue: The Weapon of Deception and Division
Satan often uses words as fiery darts — whether through false teachings, slander, or divisive speech — to stir up conflict and lead people astray.
James 3:5-6 (KJV)
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… and it is set on fire of hell.
Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden through the serpent’s words (Genesis 3:1-6). False doctrines begin with words — carefully crafted lies that twist God’s truth (2 Peter 2:1).
👉 Application: As believers, we must:
Guard our own tongues so that we do not become instruments of Satan’s fire (Ephesians 4:29).
Refuse to allow harmful or deceptive words to take root in our hearts.
Test every teaching against Scripture (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11).
2️⃣ Trials and Temptations: Designed to Make Us Fall
1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
The enemy uses fiery trials and temptations to try to break our faith and lead us into sin. Remember how Jesus warned Peter:
Luke 22:31-32 (KJV)
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…
Temptations often come unexpectedly, aiming at our weakest points. But God promises that no temptation is beyond our ability to bear in Him
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
👉 Application: We overcome the fiery darts of temptation by:
Clinging to God’s Word as Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Staying vigilant in prayer (Matthew 26:41).
Trusting in God’s faithfulness to provide a way of escape.
3️⃣ Threats, Fear, and Doubt: Designed to Intimidate and Paralyze
Satan uses fear as a dart to weaken our courage and stop us from fulfilling God’s calling. Like fiery arrows, fear spreads quickly if not quenched.
Consider the opposition the Israelites faced when rebuilding the temple:
Ezra 4:4-5 (ESV)
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose..
Out of fear, they stopped the work — until God, through Haggai and Zechariah, stirred them to action (Haggai 1:1-9).
Fear is a favorite tool of the enemy, but God commands:
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
👉 Application: Like Daniel in the lions’ den and the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-18; 6:22), we must:
Refuse to bow to fear.
Trust that God is our deliverer (Psalm 27:1).
The Power of the Shield of Faith
The shield of faith is not faith in faith itself, but faith in the living God — in His promises, His power, and His presence. Faith enables us to quench every fiery dart because it looks beyond the visible threat to the invisible God who is sovereign over all:
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Romans 8:31 (KJV)
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Final Encouragement
Yes, Satan fires many fiery darts — through harmful words, temptations, and fear — but by standing firm in faith, we can extinguish them all. Guard your speech, weigh every word you hear, stay prayerful, and fear no evil. Remember:
Psalm 91:5 (KJV)
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.
May God bless you richly.
Please share this message with others.
TEACH WHAT YOU LIVE AND PRACTICE
As followers of Christ, we are called to integrity—not only in what we teach but in how we live. Never teach what you don’t practice yourself. Do not urge others to fear God while your own heart is far from Him. Don’t encourage others to pray if prayer is absent from your own life. Our lives must reflect the truths we proclaim, or our witness loses its power.
Teaching what we do not live leads to spiritual hypocrisy. This was the sin of the Pharisees, who placed burdens on others that they themselves refused to bear. Jesus strongly rebuked them:
Matthew 23:2-4 (NKJV)
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Their lives were a contradiction: they had the knowledge of God’s law, but their hearts were far from obedience (Isaiah 29:13; cf. Matthew 15:8). They loved to be seen as righteous but failed to do what was truly right before God.
Paul warned against this same inconsistency:
Romans 2:21-24 (NKJV)
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.
Here Paul draws from Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:20, showing how Israel’s failure to obey God’s law caused His name to be mocked among the nations. When we preach what we don’t practice, we misrepresent the holy character of God and become stumbling blocks to others (cf. 1 Peter 2:12).
In contrast, true servants of God live out the message before they proclaim it. Ezra is a clear example:
Ezra 7:10 (NKJV)
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra followed the right order: first, he sought the Lord’s law; second, he obeyed it; and third, he taught it. This threefold pattern reflects God’s design for all who would be His witnesses: seek, do, teach (cf. James 1:22 — “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”).
Even Jesus, our perfect example, lived what He taught. He said:
John 13:15 (NKJV)
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
The apostles followed this model, urging believers not only to proclaim Christ but to walk in Him (Colossians 2:6) and to set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV).
If we bypass personal obedience and rush into teaching, we risk becoming mere performers—preaching the Gospel for applause or gain rather than out of genuine love for God and His people (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:17). Our teaching must be rooted in a life transformed by Christ.
The Gospel is most powerful when preached first through our actions and then through our words. We cannot teach what we do not live without becoming hypocrites or self-seekers.
May the Lord Jesus grant us the grace to seek His truth, to live by it, and only then to teach it. Amen.
Why Did the Holy Spirit Prevent Paul from Preaching the Gospel in Asia? (Acts 16:6-7)
Answer: Let’s take a closer look at the text in the book of Acts and explore the theological significance.
Acts 16:6
They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them from preaching the word in Asia.
7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
8 So, they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
At first glance, it may seem puzzling that the Holy Spirit would prevent Paul and his companions from preaching in a region that was in dire need of the Gospel. However, understanding the broader biblical context and God’s sovereign plan helps clarify why the Holy Spirit took this action.
1. The Timing of God’s Plan for the Gospel
Theologically, this incident highlights the sovereign will of God in determining the timing and spread of the Gospel. There are strategic moments in God’s redemptive plan, and the Gospel is not to be preached everywhere at any time—God has set the times and seasons. As we see throughout Scripture, God’s mission unfolds according to His divine timeline.
In the Old Testament, God often appointed specific times for His messages to reach His people. For example, in the book of Ecclesiastes, we read:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Similarly, Jesus emphasized the divine timing for the expansion of the Gospel in Matthew 10:5-6, when He instructed His disciples to focus their mission on Israel before the broader Gentile world.
Matthew 10:5-6
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The timing of the Gospel’s spread to Asia may have been part of God’s redemptive timeline. The Holy Spirit’s prohibition on Paul’s preaching in Asia demonstrates that God was guiding His apostles according to His perfect will and purpose, which had a specific order.
2. God’s Will to Protect and Direct the Mission
Another theological consideration is God’s active guidance and protection over the mission of His church. The Holy Spirit’s leading was not simply a prohibition; it was a redirection. God had another path for Paul to take, one that would be more fruitful for the spreading of the Gospel at that specific time.
Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.
Here, God provided Paul with a vision to redirect him toward Macedonia, where Paul would eventually plant churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. This guidance emphasizes that the Holy Spirit’s restrictions were not random, but part of God’s plan to ensure the Gospel reached the right people at the right time.
Romans 8:14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
This verse points to the deep relationship between believers and the Holy Spirit. When Paul was redirected, it was an example of how believers are to be responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, trusting that His direction is always for God’s glory and the good of His people.
3. The Role of Other Servants in the Mission
God’s plan for reaching the world through the Gospel is not solely dependent on one individual or one group of believers. It is a collaborative effort. In this case, while Paul was prevented from preaching in Asia, other servants of God may have already been sent to these regions or were later prepared to take the message to Asia at the right time.
Romans 15:20
And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation.
This principle is echoed in Paul’s own writings—he respected the work of others and understood that the Gospel is spread through many different hands. Just because Paul could not go to Asia did not mean the people of Asia would be left without the message of Christ. God often uses different vessels at different times for His mission.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds the church that one plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
4. Rejection of the Gospel: The Hardening of Hearts
A final theological point to consider is the possibility of rejection. The Bible teaches that when the Gospel is preached, some will accept it, and others will reject it. There comes a point when God allows people’s hearts to harden, especially when they continually reject His message. This theme appears throughout Scripture, particularly in passages where God allows people to follow their own desires, leading to judgment.
Matthew 13:14-15
Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.
Jesus’ words reflect a deeper reality about the rejection of the Gospel. There is a point at which a city or a people becomes so hardened in their rejection that God no longer sends messengers to them. In Acts, we see this principle in action when Paul shakes the dust off his feet after facing resistance in places like Antioch (Acts 13:51).
Acts 13:51
But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
This action symbolized the rejection of the Gospel and the sealing of judgment. Perhaps, in Asia, there had already been enough rejection, and the Holy Spirit had determined that it was not the right time to bring the Gospel to these cities through Paul.
Lessons for Today: The Sovereignty of God in the Spread of the Gospel
Theologically, we are reminded that the mission of God is not solely dependent on human efforts, nor is it limited to any one person or method. It is God’s mission, and He directs it according to His sovereign will and purpose. Our role is to be faithful to His guidance, to trust in His timing, and to recognize that He is always at work—even when we don’t fully understand the reasons behind certain delays or redirections.
Isaiah 55:8-9
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.
As believers, we must embrace the mystery of God’s plan, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit might guide us in ways that seem puzzling or even frustrating, but we can trust that His will is perfect and always for our good and His glory.
What Is an Example of Solid Food as Mentioned in Hebrews 5:12?
Question:
The Bible teaches that milk is for spiritual infants, while solid food is for those who are mature in the faith. What, then, is an example of this “solid food”?
The Biblical Context
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Here, milk refers to the elementary teachings of the faith, while solid food refers to the deeper truths of Christian living and the exercise of spiritual discernment.
What Is Milk?
Hebrews 6:1-2 lists what the milk represents:
Hebrews 6:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
These are foundational doctrines:
✅ Repentance from dead works
✅ Faith in God
✅ Instruction about baptisms
✅ Laying on of hands
✅ Resurrection of the dead
✅ Eternal judgment
These are essential, but they are spiritual milk — necessary for new believers, but not enough for spiritual growth toward maturity.
Examples of Solid Food — Deeper Spiritual Truths
1️⃣ Loving Your Enemies
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
💡 Theological Insight:
Loving one’s enemies reflects the very heart of God (Romans 5:8). It demonstrates Christlike character and maturity because it mirrors God’s love for us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:10). This teaching challenges the natural human instinct for revenge and self-preservation, requiring the believer to rely on the Spirit’s power (Galatians 5:22-23).
2️⃣ Understanding God’s Purpose in Suffering
Philippians 1:29 (NKJV)
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
💡 Theological Insight:
Suffering is not merely something to endure, but something God sovereignly uses to refine and sanctify us (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Mature believers see suffering as part of God’s loving discipline and preparation for glory (1 Peter 4:12-13).
3️⃣ Spiritual Discernment
Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV)
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
💡 Theological Insight:
Discernment is essential for navigating false teaching (1 John 4:1), distinguishing between good and evil in complex situations (Romans 12:2), and applying God’s Word faithfully. It grows through constant practice and obedience, not mere knowledge (John 7:17).
4️⃣ Submitting to God’s Discipline
Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV)
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
💡 Theological Insight:
God disciplines His children out of love (Hebrews 12:6). Mature believers understand that discipline shapes their character and produces righteousness. This reflects Christ’s own obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8)
5️⃣ Self-Denial and Bearing the Cross
Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
💡 Theological Insight:
This is the call to die daily to self-will, sin, and worldly desires (Galatians 2:20). A mature believer embraces this as the path of true discipleship and conformity to Christ (Romans 8:29).
6️⃣ Humility and Selfless Service
Philippians 2:3-8 (NKJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself… Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
💡 Theological Insight:
True maturity is marked by Christlike humility — putting others before oneself and serving as Christ served (Mark 10:45). This goes far beyond outward acts; it reflects an inner transformation (Matthew 23:
Solid Food Requires Ongoing Growth
As the Apostle Paul says:
Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Solid food is the deeper, often harder truths that stretch us toward Christlikeness. It calls us to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), to practice righteousness (1 John 3:7), and to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).
Conclusion:
Milk lays the foundation. Solid food builds us up into the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Let us move beyond the basics, asking God for grace to feed on His Word deeply, so that we may grow into mature, discerning, Christlike believers.
The Church as Part of a New Believer’s Life
When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, it is vital to understand that the church is not simply a building or a denomination. The church is the community of God’s redeemed people—those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ and gathered together to worship, serve, and glorify Him.
The New Testament presents the church in several powerful images that help us grasp its nature and purpose:
1. The Church as the Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV) —
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Every believer is united to Christ and to one another. Just as the parts of a human body function together for the good of the whole, so each Christian has a unique role and spiritual gift to contribute to the health and mission of the church (see Romans 12:4-5). To refuse fellowship with the body is to hinder both your own growth and the body’s effectiveness.
Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) —
“From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
2. The Church as the Bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV) —
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
This image reminds us that the church is in a covenant relationship with Christ. Just as a bride is devoted to her husband, the church is called to purity, love, and faithful submission to Christ as its Lord (2 Corinthians 11:2). To belong to Christ is to belong to His church, living in holiness as we await the great marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
3. The Church as the Family of God
Ephesians 2:19 (ESV) —
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Through Christ, we are adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family (Galatians 4:4-7). This means we share in His promises, His inheritance, and His love. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, called to care for, encourage, and bear with one another (Romans 8:16-17, Colossians 3:12-14
4. The Church as the Temple of God
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) —
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
As God’s temple, the church is His dwelling place on earth. The Spirit of God lives within us collectively as the church and individually as believers (Ephesians 2:21-22). We are called to purity and holiness because God’s presence demands a holy habitation (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Why the Church Is Essential for the Believer
1. For Spiritual Growth
The church is where believers are fed, equipped, and built up through God’s Word and the ministry of the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV) —
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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.
Growth in Christ happens as we sit under sound teaching, participate in worship, and exercise our spiritual gifts.
2. For Worship
God delights in the corporate worship of His people.
Psalm 95:6 (ESV) —
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
The church gathers to glorify God together, expressing our love and devotion through song, prayer, giving, the Word, and the sacraments (Acts 2:42-47).
3. For Prayer and Support
Believers are called to pray for one another and bear one another’s burdens.
James 5:16 (ESV) —
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
When we are weak, we need the strength of the body to lift us up (Galatians 6:2).
4. For Equipping for Ministry
The church is where believers discover and develop their spiritual gifts to serve God’s purposes.
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) —
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
How Often Should We Attend Church?
As often as possible. The early church gathered frequently, both daily and weekly (Acts 2:46, 1 Corinthians 16:2).
Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) —
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Faithful gathering helps guard us against sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13).
Dangers of Withdrawing from the Church
You become spiritually weak and vulnerable to temptation (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
You miss out on accountability and encouragement.
Your gifts will not flourish as they are intended to serve the body (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Choosing a Faithful Church
Not every group that calls itself a church is truly Christ’s church.
1 John 4:1 (ESV) —
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Look for a church that:
Preaches Christ as the only foundation of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Calls people to repentance, righteousness, and holiness (Acts 20:21).
Reminds believers of eternal realities—heaven and hell (Matthew 25:46).
Welcomes and operates in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:12).
Pray for discernment and seek godly counsel as you choose where to worship.
Key Scriptures to Remember
Hebrews 10:25 — Do not neglect meeting together.
Psalm 122:1 — Rejoice in going to the house of the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 — Two are better than one.
Final Encouragement
As a Christian, make it your habit to be faithful in gathering with God’s people.
Avoid lateness in worship.
Stay alert and engaged in the service (Acts 20:9—Eutychus fell asleep and fell from a window!).
Where two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, He is present (Matthew 18:20).
May the Lord bless you as you commit to His church!
The Right Way to Read the Word of God (the Bible)
As we’ve already seen, reading the Word of God increases the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. The Bible is the primary nourishment for our souls — just as the body cannot survive without food, the spiritual life cannot thrive apart from God’s Word.
Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
This truth reminds us that our survival and growth as believers depend on the Word. The Scriptures are the means by which we are fed, strengthened, and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Reading the Bible:
➡ Nurtures spiritual growth
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2, ESV)
➡ Renews and transforms our minds
“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.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)
➡ Provides guidance, encouragement, and correction
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
➡ Reveals the will and purposes of God for our lives
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, ESV)
This is why no believer can separate their life of salvation from a life devoted to the Word of God.
Two Key Approaches to Reading Scripture
When you set out to read the Bible, it helps to understand two essential approaches:
1️⃣ Reading to know the whole Bible
This is foundational. To understand the context and message of any single passage, you need a broad grasp of the entire story of Scripture — the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation.
If you read 6–7 chapters daily, you can read through the whole Bible in about six months. But don’t stop there. Continue reading it again and again, for the Word never runs out of depth.
➡ “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, ESV)
2️⃣ Reading by context or theme
This involves studying specific books, chapters, or topics in greater depth. It often requires guidance from teachers or mature believers (see Acts 8:30–31) and careful reflection, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate the text.
➡ “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26, ESV)
How to Begin Reading Your Bible
✅ Have your own Bible
Ensure you have a complete Bible — both Old and New Testaments (66 books) — so that you can read the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
✅ Set aside quiet time daily
Make it a priority to have uninterrupted time for the Word. Jesus Himself withdrew to quiet places to pray and commune with the Father (Mark 1:35).
✅ Keep a notebook and pen
Write down insights, questions, and reflections to help you remember and apply what you learn (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
✅ Begin with prayer
Ask God for wisdom and understanding. The psalmist prayed:
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
(Psalm 119:18, ESV)
✅ Obey what you read
God blesses not just the hearing of the Word, but its practice.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
(James 1:22, ESV)
Additional Encouragement
Reading Scripture with other believers can help you grow in understanding and accountability (Colossians 3:16). Seek out friendships with those who share your hunger for God’s Word. Avoid company that leads you away from God’s purposes, especially during this season of spiritual growth (Psalm 1:1–2).
Just as a newborn feeds many times a day to gain strength and grow, so must we feed on the Word of God daily and often.
Anchor Scriptures for Your Journey
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
May the Lord bless you as you commit yourself to His Word, and may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit for Every Believer(Acts 2:39)
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not for a select few, but for every believer in Jesus Christ. As Acts 2:39 (ESV) declares:
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
This means that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to empower, guide, and sustain us as we live out our salvation. The Spirit enables us to live at the standard God desires—holy, fruitful lives that bring Him glory (John 15:8).
The moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you (Ephesians 1:13):
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
While you may not have felt a physical change, His presence is real. The evidence of His work becomes clearer as you continue in obedience and faith (John 14:23).
Key Works of the Holy Spirit in a Believer
1️⃣ He guides us into all truth and opens the Scriptures to us.
The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word so that we can understand and apply it.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
(John 16:13, ESV)
Just as Jesus promised, the Spirit helps us discern spiritual truth (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
2️⃣ He teaches and reminds us of Christ’s teachings.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
(John 14:26, ESV)
The Spirit not only helps us understand doctrine but also brings God’s Word to mind when we need it most (Psalm 119:11).
3️⃣ He helps us in our weaknesses, especially in prayer.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
(Romans 8:26, ESV)
This shows our total dependence on God—even in prayer—and the Spirit’s active role in drawing us into deeper communion with the Father.
4️⃣ He empowers us to overcome the flesh.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:16, KJV)
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…
(Galatians 5:17, KJV)
By the Spirit’s power, we crucify the sinful nature (Romans 8:13), producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
5️⃣ He convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
(John 16:8, KJV)
The Holy Spirit keeps us sensitive to sin and calls us to live in holiness, conforming to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
6️⃣ He gives spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)
The Spirit sovereignly distributes gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). These gifts equip the Church for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).
7️⃣ He empowers us to boldly witness for Christ.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…
(Acts 1:8, ESV)
The Spirit gives courage and clarity to proclaim the Gospel, just as He did with Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2).
How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Spirit is present in every believer, but we are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), meaning we must yield to His control daily.
✅ 1) Separate yourself from sin.
Holiness invites the fullness of the Spirit.
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
(Luke 9:23, ESV)
Turn from sinful habits and pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:21).
✅ 2) Submit to the laying on of hands by spiritual leaders.
God sometimes uses this means to stir up the Spirit’s work.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 8:17, KJV)
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
(2 Timothy 1:6, KJV)
✅ 3) Devote yourself to prayer.
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(Matthew 26:41, ESV)
Pray daily and ask God for the gift of praying in the Spirit (Jude 1:20). Allow your mouth to engage fully in prayer—true Spirit-filled prayer is not silent but expressed.
✅ 4) Immerse yourself in the Word of God.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…
(Colossians 3:16, ESV)
The Spirit speaks through Scripture. The more you know God’s Word, the more you’ll recognize the Spirit’s voice and leading.
Conclusion
When you give the Holy Spirit full place in your life, His power, guidance, and gifts will be evident. As the Apostle Paul wrote:
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25, ESV)
I Am Ready for Baptism
Baptism is one of the first steps of obedience that Jesus commands for all who believe in Him. Some people may argue that baptism is unnecessary or unimportant. But, dear friend, do not take this lightly. Even if it seems unimportant to you, it is highly significant to the One who gave the command—our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why should we be baptized?
✅ Because it is the Lord’s command.
Baptism is not optional; it is part of the Great Commission Jesus gave to His followers:
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
✅ Because Jesus Himself was baptized as an example for us.
Although He was without sin, Jesus chose to be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). If He, the sinless Son of God, submitted to baptism, how much more should we who have been saved by grace?
Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.
✅ Because baptism is an outward sign of an inner reality.
Baptism is a public declaration that you have been united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It symbolizes that you have died to sin and now live a new life in Christ.
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Who should be baptized?
✅ Those who believe and repent.
Baptism is for those who have consciously placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have turned away from sin. It is never presented in the New Testament as something done for infants or those who have not personally believed.
Acts 2:41 (ESV)
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:12 (ESV)
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
When should a person be baptized?
✅ As soon as possible after believing.
In the New Testament, people were baptized shortly after believing in Jesus. There was no long waiting period or requirement for advanced spiritual maturity. Baptism marked the beginning of their new life.
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, ‘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 16:33 (ESV)
And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
What is the correct mode of baptism?
✅ Baptism by full immersion in water.
The biblical pattern shows people going down into the water and coming up again—symbolizing burial and resurrection.
John 3:23 (ESV)
John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized.
Acts 8:38-39 (ESV)
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away.
✅ Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
This is consistent with baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because Jesus embodies the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9).
Acts 10:48 (ESV)
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts 19:5 (ESV)
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What if I was baptized as an infant or not by immersion?
✅ You should be baptized again in the biblical way.
If you were baptized before you personally believed or not by full immersion, it is right and proper to be baptized according to the teaching and example found in Scripture.
Where can I be baptized.
If you are saved and ready to take this step, look for a Bible-believing church that practices baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. If you need help arranging for baptism, feel free to contact us:
📞 +255 693 036 618 / +255 789 001 312
Scriptures to remember about baptism
✅ Colossians 2:12 (ESV) — “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
✅ Galatians 3:27 (ESV) — “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
May the Lord richly bless you as you take this step of faith.
Is It Appropriate to Celebrate Palm Sunday?
Question: As believers, is it acceptable for us to carry palm branches on Palm Sunday when entering church or walking in a procession?
Answer: Palm Sunday marks the Sunday before Easter, commemorating the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This event is significant because it fulfills Old Testament prophecy and highlights Jesus’ messianic identity.
In Matthew 21:1-11 (ESV), we read:
When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord needs them,” and he will send them at once.’ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
This passage shows the deep significance of the event: Jesus is publicly acknowledged as the Messiah, the King prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 (ESV):
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.
Theological Implications:
Messianic Fulfillment: Jesus intentionally fulfills the messianic prophecy, openly declaring His identity and mission.
Praise and Recognition: The people’s actions—spreading cloaks and waving palm branches—are acts of praise, worship, and acknowledgment of Jesus’ kingship. The palm branches symbolize victory and triumph (cf. Leviticus 23:40).
The Meaning of Hosanna: The cry “Hosanna” means “Save us now,” expressing the people’s hope for deliverance through Jesus.
Is it Scriptural to Celebrate Palm Sunday Today?
The Bible does not command or prescribe the celebration of Palm Sunday or any annual commemoration. The early church focused on the resurrection (Acts 2:24-32) rather than commemorative rituals.
However, celebrating Palm Sunday as a time to remember and reflect on Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy, His kingship, and the path to the cross can be a meaningful form of worship—if done with theological soundness.
Guidelines for Observance:
Proper Intent: Carrying palm branches as a symbolic act of praise and remembrance is biblically consistent. It parallels how the Israelites used palms to celebrate God’s deliverance (Psalm 92:12).
Avoid Idolatry: The palm branches must not be treated as objects with inherent spiritual power or used in superstitious practices (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).
No Magical Thinking: Using palms as talismans to ward off curses or cast out demons departs from biblical teaching and can lead to idolatry and syncretism.
Warnings:
Scripture warns against practices that substitute ritual for genuine faith (Isaiah 1:11-17). Worship must be in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
Relying on objects rather than God’s power is a form of idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5).
Conclusion:
While Palm Sunday is not a commanded celebration, it can be a valuable opportunity for believers to meditate on Jesus’ kingship, His fulfillment of prophecy, and the path to salvation. Observed with a correct understanding and devotion to God alone, it is a wholesome practice. But if it becomes mere ritual, superstition, or idolatry, it grieves God.
May we always worship Christ sincerely, recognizing Him as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
God bless you.
