John 3:3‑8 (NIV) 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
(ESV is very similar in these verses in its wording, especially in 5–6.)
Here are some theological elements and clarifications that give deeper understanding to what being “born again” means, what “water and Spirit” possibly refer to, and how the imagery of wind (or the Spirit) functions in the Christian life.
Here is an updated version of the message, integrating these theological nuances, as if written by a native speaker of English:
The Wind of the Spirit
Jesus declared in John 3 (NIV/ESV) that a person must be born again—born of water and of the Spirit—in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Unless one undergoes this spiritual rebirth, the Kingdom remains invisible and inaccessible.
When He says “born of water and the Spirit,” He isn’t speaking of two separate, sequential births, but of one unified work of God:
We are born once physically (of flesh), but that alone leaves us spiritually dead. We need the new birth—God’s supernatural work. It’s not human effort; we can’t renew ourselves. We must receive God’s Spirit. This is regeneration.
Jesus uses the image of wind to help Nicodemus—and us—grasp how the Spirit’s work is both mysterious and real: you hear it, sense it, but don’t position it or direct it. It comes from God and leads where He wills.
This explains radical changes in a believer’s life. When someone truly meets Christ, their desires, values, behaviors change—not primarily by will-power, but by the Spirit working within: hatred for sin, hunger for God’s Word, new compassion, moral transformation. External demonstrations follow the inner reality.
Ezekiel 36 and other Old Testament passages promised this. Jesus is saying: “That promise is here. The Kingdom is breaking in.”
If you haven’t yet made that decision—turn from sin, receive Christ—you’re not missing a ritual. You’re missing the life-transforming power of the Spirit. The Christian life without the Spirit’s new birth is like hearing wind’s sound, but not knowing where it comes from or where it goes—you sense something, but you lack substance and power.
Be baptized (in accordance with your understanding and conviction), repent sincerely, invite the Holy Spirit—you’ll find that inner transformation. And you’ll recognize that the Spirit’s wind is real, unseen but mighty, pushing you into God’s purpose for your life.
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After the fall of Adam and Eve, God not only drove them from the Garden of Eden but also cursed the ground because of their sin:
Genesis 3:17–19 (NKJV) “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it”: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you… In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground.'”
This curse signified more than just agricultural hardship. It was a cosmic consequence of sin (cf. Romans 8:20–22), affecting all creation. Man, formed from the dust (Genesis 2:7), would now return to it, and all creatures—also formed from the ground—were subjected to this futility.
This illustrates an essential theological truth: sin never only affects the sinner; it defiles the environment, relationships, and all creation. The fall disrupted not only fellowship with God but harmony with the entire created order.
The curse intensified with Cain’s sin of murder:
Genesis 4:10–12 (NKJV) “And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth… When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.’”
Here, the curse evolves from general hardship to personal divine judgment, suggesting that human wickedness amplifies the brokenness of creation.
This progressive curse reveals a pattern: increased sin invites increased divine response—not always through immediate destruction, but through the deepening groan of creation (Romans 8:22).
Then comes a prophetic moment:
Genesis 5:29 (NKJV) “And he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.’”
The name Noah (נֹחַ – Noach) means “rest” or “comfort.” Lamech, Noah’s father, speaks prophetically, hinting at a messianic typology—a theme fulfilled ultimately in Christ.
Theologically, Noah is seen as a type (foreshadowing) of Christ:
This typology is crucial: Noah’s ark points forward to Christ, who is our Ark of Salvation. Just as Noah saved a remnant from God’s judgment through obedience, so Christ saves us from God’s wrath through His obedience (Romans 5:19).
After the flood, Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings, and God responded with a covenant:
Genesis 8:20–21 (NKJV) “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord… and offered burnt offerings… And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…'”
Here, we witness the power of substitutionary atonement. Noah’s offering pointed ahead to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
Genesis 9:11–13 (NKJV) “Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood… I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”
The rainbow becomes a symbol of mercy, yet it does not mean the curse was fully lifted. Suffering and death continued (cf. Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel). The earth remained under judgment, awaiting a more perfect Redeemer.
The apostle Paul speaks directly to this:
Romans 8:20–22 (NKJV) “For the creation was subjected to futility… because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”
The curse was paused, not removed. The final removal will come not through water, but fire:
2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
Just as Noah was a righteous man in a corrupt world, so Christ was the sinless man in a sinful world. Just as Noah offered a pleasing sacrifice, so Christ offered Himself (Hebrews 9:14). Just as Noah saved a few, Christ offers salvation to all who enter His “ark”—the Gospel.
1 Peter 3:20–21 (NKJV) “…eight souls were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
The flood prefigured baptism—the judgment of the old and the birth of the new.
Jesus Himself declared:
Matthew 24:37 (NKJV) “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Just like in Noah’s time, people today are indifferent to divine warnings. They live in sin, pleasure, and rebellion, unaware that judgment is coming—not by flood, but by fire.
Revelation 21:1 (NKJV) “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…”
Just as the earth was once renewed after the flood, it will one day be fully renewed in righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).
God delays judgment not out of negligence but out of mercy:
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Repentance is not mere remorse—it’s a complete turning away from sin, followed by baptism:
Acts 2:38 (NKJV) “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…’”
Jesus Christ is our Noah. The time to enter His ark—His Word, His body, His salvation—is now. Once the door is shut (Luke 13:25), judgment will fall.
He will soon return, destroy the present world system, and restore the earth. A new Eden is coming—a paradise without pain, death, or sin (Revelation 21:4).
Isaiah 65:17 (NKJV) “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
May the Lord bless you.
The dictionary defines “inheritance” as receiving property after the death of its owner. In Scripture, too, inheritance often rests on the principle that ownership transfers only after death, either literally or symbolically (as in a covenant or will). Thus, an heir may manage or steward an inheritance ahead of time, but only after the “testator” (the one giving) dies does the inheritance legally (and fully) become theirs.
In a spiritual sense, this parallels what the Bible teaches: God made a covenant with His people, promising them an inheritance that becomes theirs through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Hebrews 9:16‑17 (NIV) says:
“In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”
Here the author of Hebrews is arguing that the New Covenant—the inheritance God promises us—could not take effect until Christ died. Without the death, there is no legal transfer of what is promised. In theological terms, Christ’s death is the “price” or the “guarantee” (KJV: “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins,” Hebrews 9:22) for the inheritance.
In Hebrews 9:15 (NIV) the inheritance promised under the New Covenant is described as “eternal redemption” and a “promised eternal inheritance” for those called and cleansed by Christ’s blood.
When Paul prays in Ephesians 1:18 (NIV), he asks that believers might know “the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
The heirs are those who are in Christ, those who have trusted in Him, been regenerated by the Spirit, and live in covenant relationship with God. Paul refers to them variously as saints, God’s children, co-heirs with Christ. The promise of inheritance is tied to faith and to Christ’s finished work.
To understand why Christ’s death is central to inheritance, it helps to consider:
This inheritance is both already and not yet:
Because wording sometimes affects nuance, here are a few version-related notes:
When we study the Old Testament, we find the stories of faithful men and women—patriarchs, prophets, kings, and servants of God. They were chosen, used mightily, and blessed by the Lord, yet many of their lives were marked by imperfection. Why?
Because the Mosaic Law, though holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), was never meant to perfect mankind—it served as a temporary guide, a shadow of the reality that was to come in Christ (Hebrews 10:1).
Romans 8:3 (NKJV) “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son…”
Let’s consider King David. The Bible calls him “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), yet he committed acts that today would be considered sinful—he married many wives (2 Samuel 5:13), and he orchestrated the death of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11). His son Solomon took it further with 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3).
Despite these, God still used David and blessed him—but we must understand this was not a license for sin, nor was it a pattern for us to follow today. These actions were tolerated under the Old Covenant due to the hardness of human hearts, not because they aligned with God’s perfect will.
Acts 17:30 (NKJV) “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent…”
Matthew 19:8 (NKJV) “He said to them, ‘Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.’”
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it—to complete, embody, and clarify it. He showed us the spiritual depth behind the commandments, which were often misunderstood or reduced to external observances.
Matthew 5:17–18 (NKJV) “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Colossians 2:17 (NKJV) “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
The Old Covenant—including its priesthood, sacrifices, temple rituals, and moral regulations—pointed forward to Christ. They were incomplete without Him.
Hebrews 10:1 (NKJV) “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never… make those who approach perfect.”
It’s a dangerous misinterpretation to say, “David wasn’t baptized, so I don’t need to be” or “David had many wives, so polygamy must be acceptable.” This thinking ignores the progressive revelation of God’s will, which was fully revealed in Christ.
Jesus said:
John 3:3 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
And again:
Mark 16:16 (NKJV) “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Baptism is not optional—it is an act of obedience and the public testimony of our new life in Christ (Romans 6:3–4; Acts 2:38).
Jesus restored God’s original design for marriage—one man, one woman, united for life (Genesis 2:24).
Matthew 19:9 (NKJV) “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery…”
While Moses permitted divorce due to human weakness, Jesus affirms that God’s original design never included divorce or polygamy.
Many false doctrines have arisen—such as purgatory, or the idea that the dead can be prayed into heaven. But Scripture is clear:
Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”
There is no “second chance” after death. Once a person dies, their eternal destiny is sealed—either with Christ in paradise or separated from Him in eternal judgment (Luke 16:19–31; Revelation 20:11–15).
David was a great man of faith, but he is not our final example. Jesus is. David sinned and needed God’s mercy just like the rest of us. But Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15) and is the only perfect standard we are called to follow.
John 14:6 (NKJV) “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
Matthew 17:5 (NKJV) “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Acts 4:12 (NKJV) “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Do not rely on traditions, partial truths, or the examples of Old Testament saints. Christ is the fulfillment of all things. Trust in Him, obey His words, and receive the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 1:1–4 (NKJV) “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person… sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels…”
These are the final hours of mercy. Share this message with others so they too can come to know the full truth of the gospel and be saved.
Be blessed—and may you walk in the fullness of God’s revealed will through Christ Jesus.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” — Matthew 5:6, ESV
Hunger has the power to change perception. When someone is hungry, even bitter food can seem sweet. But when a person is full, even the richest meal loses its appeal. The book of Proverbs puts it this way:
“One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7, ESV)
This is not just about physical hunger—it’s a reflection of the spiritual condition of the soul. A soul that hungers for God is willing to embrace even the hard truths of Scripture with joy. But a soul that is self-satisfied—filled with pride, tradition, or spiritual complacency—will reject even the sweetest parts of God’s Word.
Scripture frequently compares the Word of God to honey, highlighting not just its sweetness, but also its eternal value and life-giving nature.
“My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:13–14, ESV)
Honey in the Bible symbolizes:
King David echoed this when he wrote:
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, ESV)
One of the greatest dangers to the Christian walk is spiritual complacency. When we believe we’ve “arrived,” when we view our denomination, knowledge, or religious status as enough, we lose our hunger—and with it, our capacity to taste the sweetness of truth.
This was the problem of the Pharisees. They had the law, tradition, and status, but they had no hunger for righteousness. When Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35), stood before them, they rejected Him.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40, ESV)
Like the Pharisees, we too can become so “full” of religious activity that we stop seeking the living Word.
A soul that hungers for righteousness will obey the Word, even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or countercultural.
Consider the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. After hearing the gospel from Philip, he didn’t wait for a religious service or a ceremony—he acted immediately.
“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ … And they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:36–38, ESV)
This kind of instant obedience is the mark of spiritual hunger.
When the Bible gives hard instructions, such as:
The “full” person makes excuses. They say:
But the hungry person sees even these commands as sweet. They don’t argue with Scripture—they submit to it.
Paul warned Timothy about this attitude in the last days:
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)
When God’s Word says one thing and your tradition says another, whom will you follow?
Jesus confronted this issue head-on:
“And he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!’” (Mark 7:9, ESV)
Let us be people who hunger for God’s truth more than we cling to denominational labels, cultural habits, or religious customs. If God’s Word says to abandon image worship, we must obey—even if it offends our upbringing. If it says to dress with modesty and purity, we obey—even if it costs us popularity.
Why? Because we want heaven, not just religion.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV)
God doesn’t fill those who are full of themselves—He fills those who hunger for Him. The question is: Are you hungry?
As long as you are hungry, keep eating honey—keep consuming the Word. But if you find yourself losing that hunger, be careful: nothing else will satisfy your soul.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8, ESV)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, ESV)
Remain rooted in the Word. Stay hungry for truth. Don’t settle for tradition, popularity, or religious status—press in for righteousness.
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, ESV)
May you always be blessed, you who earnestly seek the Lord.
DO YOU KNOW THE TRUE GOD?
When the Lord first brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He did not find them perfect as He desired. This was because during their time in Egypt, there was no proper system for worshiping the true God (Yahweh). The Israelites had only a shallow knowledge of the God of Abraham. They carried vague traditions — that long ago, God appeared to their father Abraham and made many promises (Genesis 12:1-3). They had heard how God brought famine on the land and revealed future events to Joseph (Genesis 41), but they didn’t fully understand the nature or holiness of God. They only knew He was powerful and would rescue them from trouble.
As the Israelites lived for generations in Egypt without fresh revelation, their understanding blurred. They began to think of the God of Jacob as one of many gods, like the Egyptian pantheon (Exodus 32:1-4). They assumed that God could be represented by idols, as the Egyptians did. Observing that Egyptians sacrificed to their idols yet prospered, they wrongly concluded the God of Israel was similar — sacrifices could be offered without personal holiness or moral transformation.
This misunderstanding was common in ancient times. People often interpret God according to their cultural surroundings. For example, a visitor might expect a family to behave like their own but be surprised when customs differ. The Israelites’ mindset was similarly shaped by Egyptian culture and false religious practices.
God knew their hearts were not yet ready. This is why He led them through the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33-34). The wilderness was a place of testing, teaching, and revelation (Deuteronomy 8:2). It was there God gave the Law — the Ten Commandments and other instructions — to reveal His holiness and character (Exodus 20).
After their miraculous deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12), the Israelites quickly began to complain (Exodus 15-17). Why? Because they did not yet understand that God is holy and hates rebellion and grumbling (Isaiah 1:13-17). They treated Him like Egyptian gods — distant and powerless to respond to complaints.
They even made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32), an act of idolatry showing their failure to grasp God’s holiness and exclusivity. They thought God could fail them, so they sought alternatives.
Their sins angered God because they showed ignorance of His true nature. They misunderstood that God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not just another god, but the one true, sovereign, holy God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
It took a long time for Israel to learn this. When God gave them the Law, He declared Himself to be the only God worthy of worship and called His people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, ESV: “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”). This call to holiness is central to the covenant relationship — God’s people must reflect His character.
Israel’s gradual understanding shows us how important revelation and obedience are in truly knowing God.
Understanding God in the New Testament
The New Testament continues this call to holiness. Believers are urged to prepare their minds, be self-controlled, and set their hope fully on Christ’s grace (1 Peter 1:13-17, ESV). They must not return to former ignorance or worldly desires but be holy in all conduct, because God who calls is holy.
Paul also warns in Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewal of our minds, that we may discern God’s will.
Practical Application
You cannot say you are delivered from sin yet continue in idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, or blasphemy (Galatians 5:19-21, ESV). True conversion involves repentance and holiness (Hebrews 12:14, ESV: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”).
Worldly customs like immodest dress, obsession with appearance, and behaviors rooted in pagan or worldly culture contradict the holiness God requires (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
A Call to Repentance and Faith
If you want to walk with God, repent and seek true understanding. God cares about both spirit and conduct (James 2:14-26). Holiness is not optional for His followers.
Baptism by immersion in Jesus’ name is essential as a public declaration of your faith and part of your salvation journey (Acts 2:38, ESV).
In Summary
Prayer
May you come to truly know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the Holy One who calls you to holiness and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
The story of the man born blind in John 9:1–41 is one many have read or heard numerous times. Yet, there is a profound truth within it something hidden, which every believer needs to reflect on carefully. Take time to read the passage again, this time with a quiet heart and a seeking mind. Then, let us ask: Is divine intervention in our lives always a sign that we’ve truly encountered Christ? Does receiving healing or success mean we’ve seen His face?
Let’s read it again together:
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him… 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
Why did Jesus send him to wash in the Pool of Siloam rather than healing him on the spot? Could Jesus not have opened his eyes right then and there?
Jesus chose to use the process involving obedience, movement, and faith. The pool is named Siloam, meaning Sent, symbolizing Christ Himself as the One sent by the Father (John 3:17).
This teaches us that spiritual breakthroughs often require obedience before full revelation is received. God’s work in us unfolds over time, not always instantly.
Physically, yes his eyes were opened. But did he truly see Christ? Did he recognize Him?
Surprisingly, no. After receiving his sight, he didn’t even know who Jesus was. He couldn’t identify Him, didn’t know His face or where He went. He simply returned home, resuming his normal life. It wasn’t until much later after interrogation, rejection, and isolation that he truly encountered Christ.
When the man began publicly speaking of Jesus, he was questioned, challenged, and rejected:
In that era, being “put out of the synagogue” was a severe punishment. It meant total rejection social, religious, and familial isolation. The Jewish culture was fully interwoven with religion; being removed from the synagogue meant losing identity, community, and respect.
John 9:34 “They answered him, ‘You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?’ And they cast him out.”
Only after being cast out did Jesus find him again:
John 9:35-38 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.”
He had received his physical sight earlier but only now does he see Christ spiritually, personally, intimately. And when he sees Him, he worships.
Today, many say they’ve “seen God” simply because their prayers were answered: a job came through, a disease was healed, or a door was opened. But the question remains:
Have you truly met Christ? Have you seen His face?
Receiving blessings from God is not the same as encountering the Person of Jesus. The man born blind didn’t know Jesus when he was healed he only met Him after he was rejected by the world and remained faithful to the truth.
Like his parents, many believe in secret but won’t confess Christ in public fearing rejection.
John 12:42-43 (ESV) “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
True encounter with Christ often comes outside the camp, in the place of rejection, where the world and even religious institutions have cast you aside.
Hebrews 13:13 (ESV) “Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”
Jesus is not always found within the structures of religion, denomination, or titles. He is often found outside, where the rejected, humble, and sincere seek Him.
1 Peter 2:7 (ESV) “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
Christ is the Stone many religious builders rejected. But He is the true foundation. If you’re looking for Him among the proud, the powerful, or the popular you might miss Him.
Luke 13:24 (ESV) “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
The way to Christ is narrow, difficult, and often lonely. It requires denial of self, taking up your cross, and being willing to be misunderstood or rejected.
Matthew 16:24 (ESV) “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Maybe you’ve been to your own “Pool of Siloam”a church, a crusade, a prayer mountain, a prophet’s meeting and received healing or deliverance. But the real question is:
Have you met Jesus Himself? Have you seen His face?
You can receive a miracle and still not know the Miracle Worker. The blind man received sight, but only when he stood boldly for Christ and endured rejection, did he finally encounter Jesus and say:
“Lord, I believe.” (John 9:38)
Revelation 3:20 (ESV) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Jesus desires fellowship, not just religious observance. But you must open the door even if it means rejection by the world.
If you’re only looking for Christ in your blessings, in success, or in religion you may never truly see Him. But if you’re willing to stand with Him in truth, even when it costs you everything, He will reveal His face to you.
Matthew 5:8 (ESV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Let us seek Him with all our hearts, walk the narrow way, and be willing to be cast out so that, like the blind man, we may one day truly see Him, and say:
“Lord, I believe.”
Jesus once said:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (ESV)
Many believers stop here, thinking that loving Christ is simply about obeying His commandments. However, this is not the complete picture. If it were enough, Jesus would not have asked Peter an additional question one that reveals a deeper dimension of love.
Let’s read from:
John 21:15-17 (ESV) “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
From this passage, we learn that loving Christ involves more than obedience it includes a deep, active concern for His people. Jesus gave Peter three responsibilities that complete the expression of love:
These are not mere poetic words. They describe a practical, spiritual duty for every believer especially those who claim to love Jesus.
To keep God’s commandments is to understand them, love them, and live by them not just to recite them. For those who truly love God, His commands are not burdensome.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 (ESV)
Why are they not burdensome? Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, empowering us to obey. The yoke of Christ is gentle, and His burden is light (see Matthew 11:28–30). We are no longer under the bondage of law, but rather under the freedom of grace that enables obedience from the heart.
Moses expressed this principle in the Old Testament:
Deuteronomy 30:10–11 (ESV) “If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law… then you shall turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.”
True obedience doesn’t flow from fear or slavery, but from love and relationship. Yet, keeping His commandments alone does not fully express our love for Christ He also calls us to care for His people.
What does it mean to “feed His lambs”? Lambs refer to young believers those new in faith or still growing. Feeding them means nurturing them with sound doctrine, spiritual encouragement, and biblical truth.
Importantly, Jesus said, “My lambs.” They do not belong to us they belong to Him. This means we cannot feed them with our own opinions or traditions, but only with the pure Word of God:
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” 1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
Each of us has a role to play. If you see a fellow believer wandering, struggling, or confused, don’t ignore it. Christ calls you to feed them not with philosophy or empty motivation but with the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Jesus also said, “Tend My sheep,” meaning to care for and protect them. Again, the sheep belong to Him. We are not their masters; we are caretakers under His authority.
One of the greatest dangers to God’s flock is false teachers and deceivers. Jesus warned us clearly:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
These false prophets disguise themselves as believers. On the outside, they may seem holy but inwardly, they are filled with sin and deception. These are not just fake “prophets,” but also fake pastors, fake evangelists, and even fake worshippers people who claim the name of Christ but live in darkness.
Paul also warned the church:
1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV) “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler not even to eat with such a one.”
Protecting the flock means exposing error, guarding against deception, and teaching the sheep to recognize wolves. If we truly love Christ, we cannot be silent while His people are being led astray.
Tending to God’s flock is not just the job of pastors or preachers. It’s the duty of every Christian. In the family of God, older siblings help guide the younger ones. Similarly, mature believers should disciple, protect, and build up the faith of others.
Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV) “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
We must not say we love Jesus, and yet neglect or ignore His people. Love for Christ includes love for His body the Church.
True love for Christ is expressed in three ways:
Let us not merely profess love with our lips, but demonstrate love with our lives.
John 21:17 “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
May the Lord help us all to truly love Him not only by obeying His Word, but also by feeding and protecting His flock.
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (ESV)
God bless you.
Judges 14:13–14 (ESV)
“And they said to him, ‘Put your riddle to us, that we may hear it.’ And he said to them,
‘Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.’”
This riddle was born out of an extraordinary and divine encounter in the life of Samson. As recorded in Judges 14, Samson was traveling with his parents to Timnah, a Philistine town, to arrange a marriage with a young woman he had seen there.
On the way, Samson was suddenly attacked by a young lion. But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart “as one tears a young goat,” though he had no weapon in his hand (Judges 14:6, ESV). This astonishing feat was so casual to Samson that he didn’t even mention it to his parents.
Some days later, when Samson returned to Timnah, he passed by the same place and saw something incredible. Inside the carcass of the lion, bees had made a hive, and there was honey inside it. He scooped out the honey and ate it, sharing some with his parents without telling them where it came from (Judges 14:8–9).
This was truly a miracle. Bees are among the cleanest insects in creation known to seek out flowers and fragrant places, not death or decay. It is unnatural and unheard of for bees to build a hive in a dead animal’s body, let alone produce sweet honey in such a place.
Even more puzzling, we know that bees typically need months to produce a significant amount of edible honey. Yet here, in a very short time, there was already an abundance of honey inside the dead lion.
This event was not just an oddity; it was a message from God. Samson perceived a deeper spiritual truth behind it, and from that experience, he composed his riddle:
“Out of the eater came something to eat, Out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14, ESV)
He gave this riddle to the Philistines during his wedding feast, knowing full well that no human wisdom could unravel it. Only God, or Samson himself, could reveal the meaning. The Philistines, desperate to win the challenge, coerced Samson’s bride to extract the answer from him. Eventually, under pressure, he revealed the secret.
Their answer?
“What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” (Judges 14:18)
Samson was furious, not because they solved it but because they did so through deceit.
The spiritual lesson is profound:
Sometimes, the greatest blessings, sweetness, and provision come from the most fearful, threatening, or dangerous situations.
In modern language, Samson’s riddle could be paraphrased this way:
“From what should have devoured me, I received nourishment. From what threatened my life, I found delight.”
This points to a deep truth in God’s economy:
The Lord brings sweetness out of sorrow, provision out of pressure, and miracles out of messes.
As Romans 8:28 (ESV) declares:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Like Samson, the prophet Elisha demonstrated this same spiritual confidence. When the king of Aram (Syria) surrounded the city to capture him, Elisha’s servant panicked. But Elisha said:
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16, ESV)
God opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw an angelic army surrounding them.
Later, during another siege on Samaria (2 Kings 7), the people were starving. The situation was so dire that donkey heads and dove droppings were being sold for silver. But Elisha declared:
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel.’” (2 Kings 7:1, ESV)
It sounded impossible, but God caused the besieging army to flee leaving behind abundant food and wealth. What the enemy intended for destruction became the very means of deliverance.
Just like Samson’s lion, the enemy who threatened them became the source of God’s provision.
Joseph, falsely accused and thrown into prison, waited for years in suffering. But he never cursed God or complained. Instead, he waited, trusting that even in that dark place, God would bring purpose.
And He did. Joseph went from prisoner to prime minister in one day lifted by the very Pharaoh who could have executed him. Out of the “lion” (Pharaoh), came the “honey” (promotion and salvation for his people).
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20, ESV)
Dear brother or sister in Christ,
If you’ve committed to following Jesus at any cost, do not be discouraged by trials, persecutions, or fierce opposition. Understand this:
The enemy that seems ready to destroy you may become the very channel through which God provides your blessing. Just as bees miraculously made honey in the carcass of a lion, God can create joy, wisdom, provision, and breakthrough in the most unexpected and terrifying places of your life.
As 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) reminds us:
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
Do not grumble in trials like the Israelites in the wilderness. Many missed their promised land because they failed to see that their suffering was a path to glory.
Samson’s riddle is more than poetry. It is a powerful spiritual principle:
“Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14)
Let this be your confidence:
Therefore, be strong in the Lord. Hold your peace. Trust Him in the trial. There is honey in the lion even if you can’t see it yet.
Amen.
When the Lord God created Adam and Eve, He did not create them simultaneously. First, He formed Adam, and later, He created Eve from Adam’s rib. The marriage of Adam and Eve was the very first wedding, and it was officiated by God Himself.
From the beginning, God gave the first human a name Adam. However, when He made Eve, God did not personally name her. Instead, it was Adam who named his wife and called her Eve, because “she was the mother of all the living” (Genesis 3:20).
“The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” Genesis 3:20 (ESV)
This name, however, came not from God, but from Adam. Why did God withhold naming the woman Himself? As we go deeper, we’ll understand the spiritual significance behind this.
In our daily lives, we recognize that names carry weight and authority. The name of a president carries more influence than that of a local official. Similarly, a business with a strong name or reputation easily attracts more customers than an unknown one. This shows that a name is not just a label it carries identity, authority, and honor.
God gave the name Adam to the first human being, and this name held both honor and dominion. Through this name, humanity was entrusted with both physical and spiritual authority over creation. What’s even more remarkable is that God gave this name not only to the man but to both Adam and Eve.
“This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
Male and female He created them, and He blessed them and named them Man (Hebrew: Adam) in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:1–2 (ESV)
Did you catch that? God called both of them “Adam.” That was the single name given to them their shared identity. Eve’s name was a secondary, earthly distinction given by Adam. But before God, their identity was one Adam.
However, after their disobedience when they ate the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve lost their place of honor. They were expelled from the Garden of Eden. With that, the power of their name diminished. Creation, which once submitted to them, turned hostile. Animals no longer feared man; thorns and thistles grew from the ground instead of fruit (Genesis 3:17-19).
Their spiritual authority crumbled. But God, full of mercy, had already prepared another Adam the Second Adam to restore everything that the first Adam had lost.
This Second Adam is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45), who also has a bride. But unlike the first Adam’s bride who was taken from his physical side, the bride of Christ is spiritual the Church taken from His pierced side at Calvary.
“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” John 19:34 (ESV)
From this, we understand that the Church is born through the blood and the water symbols of redemption and cleansing. Hallelujah!
“For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” 2Corinthians 11:2 (ESV)
Just as God did not give Eve a new name apart from Adam, so too the bride of Christ does not receive a separate name apart from Christ. She is called by His Name.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)
This means that the only name recognized in heaven for salvation, identity, authority, and spiritual power is the Name of Jesus.
Jesus, before His crucifixion, prayed to the Father:
“I have manifested Your Name to the people whom You gave Me out of the world…” John 17:6 (ESV)
“I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known…” John 17:26 (ESV)
The Church (His bride) bears His Name, just as Eve shared Adam’s. In the spiritual realm, when angels or demons see the Church, they see Jesus, because the Church carries His Name not just on the lips, but in the heart.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
The bride of Christ is anyone who:
Believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior,
Has genuinely repented of sin,
Has been washed by His Blood and Water which includes baptism in water in His Name,
Lives a holy and surrendered life to God,
And remains faithful in heart and conduct.
This person is spiritually united with Christ and shares His Name. Just as Adam and Eve shared one name before God, so Christ and His true followers share one spiritual identity.
You cannot walk in full spiritual authority unless your identity has been changed. Just as Jacob became Israel, and Abram became Abraham, you must be born again to carry the Name of Jesus in truth and power.
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)
It is my prayer that today, Jesus does not pass you by. If you haven’t yet surrendered to Him, receive Him today. Let Him change your name, identity, and destiny. Let Him bring you under the protection and authority of His name a name that is a strong tower:
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)
Remember, the Name of Jesus must live in your heart, not just rest on your lips. If the Name of Jesus is truly in you, then whatever you speak in faith will align with God’s will and carry power. But if you’re lukewarm or unsaved, that Name will have no effect in your life.
What is your name in heaven?Are you still walking in the old identity, or have you received the name that is above all names JESUS?
If you’ve not been born again truly repented, baptized in His Name, and filled with His Spirit you are still outside the covenant, and the spiritual forces will continue to torment you.
But the moment you enter Christ through faith and obedience, you receive His Name, and with it comes His authority, His protection, His power, and His life.
Be blessed.