The story of the prodigal son contains the whole Gospel, because it gives hope to every person, even the greatest sinner.

This young man, who didn’t just take his father’s money and spend it all. He kind of told his father that he considered him dead, because the son inherits after his father’s death. So it wasn’t just an innocent mistake, it was a deeply conscious act of rejection of his father.

But even after this act of renunciation, the father is the first to run out to meet his son and does not even wait for him to ask for forgiveness. This is God’s style. He always knows and loves His child. Our Heavenly Father will never deny me, He humbly awaits my return and when I just think about repentance, He runs out to meet me.

In this regard, I would like to tell a short story about a little girl. During the war, a little girl would go out on the road and wait for her dad, who was at the front. She would often hear people say: It’s no use standing here, the soldiers are all wearing uniforms, they are dirty and look alike. You won’t even recognize your father when he comes. But the girl would answer: “My dad will recognize me!”

“My dad will recognize me,” that’s the Gospel. My dad will recognize me, even if I’ve been away from home for years, like the prodigal son, my dad will recognize me when I come back. 

Even if I were stripped of everything, even if I were abused and stripped of my dignity like the prodigal son, my Father would recognize me. My Father would always see in me the dignity of His child.

Protect our peace:  It is vital in the day we live to learn how to protect our peace. Our peace was purchased at the cross.

This powerful scripture reminds us of the price Jesus paid on the cross for our salvation, healing and peace.

So often, the focus of this scripture is placed on salvation and healing and rightly so. But our peace was also purchased on the cross and sometimes we overlook this important revelation.

The question here is that do we live with the same level of conviction that our peace was paid for at the cross? Just as our healing was paid for, our peace was also paid for by the death of Jesus Christ.

It is crucial to remember that there is a battle for our peace. The enemy will do everything he can to steal our peace, knowing the worth God has placed on it.

The peace that Jesus gives us is not like the peace the world gives (John 14:27) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” It is a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that can only come from Him (Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Spending time in the word of God and in His presence regularly will build our awareness of the peace He has already given to us. Aligning our thoughts with His, will clear out the chaos and confusion that often surrounds us. We must remember that we are the steward of peace in our life and we must actively protect our peace. We may not be able to control the chaos around us, but we can control our inner world through the fruit of the spirit. We can take back our peace which we may have unknowingly given away.

Jesus said John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” This Scripture shows that God’s peace will always triumph over the world’s version of peace because it is Himself, the prince of peace.

Continue to pursue peace just as we would pursue healing.

We are once again reminded of the wonderful GIFT OF GOD, the exhibition of Great Love and the Ultimate Sacrifice made for us. The GIFT OF GOD, given voluntarily, without payment in return and without any effort by us, the Apostolic children of God. This GIFT, the GRACE and MERCY we received from God by the sending of his Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us, thus securing Eternal Salvation from sin. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

As Apostolic children of God, we are in a world full of challenges. However, by GRACE we are not part of the world, but are fellow citizens with the Saints (Holy People) and of the Household of God, remain steadfast and confident in the GRACE, MERCY and LOVE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, knowing that “all will be well” in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” However, it is imperative that we recognise and place our frailties (weakness) before God — by doing this we guarantee the full Power of Christ in our lives. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Apostle Paul declares, “And He (the Lord) said unto me, My GRACE is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weakness), that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Children of God, Know that the GIFT OF GOD, unlike man, is consistent, unwavering and always predictable. Therefore, do not build your future on the arm of flesh, which will fail you. Build on the wonderful GIFT OF GOD.

James 1:17 “Every good Gift and every perfect Gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness (not unpredictable), neither shadow of turning”

Spiritual warfare is very crucial. Because many of us are not aware of the reality of the spiritual world. Many people do not believe in a demonic world but they just simply think that this world is just a physical world.

There is the reality of two Kingdoms in play.

1. The Kingdom of God
2. The Kingdom of Satan

These are two parallel worlds. In this reality there is a war going on but unfortunately many are not aware of this warfare.

What are the enemies of our souls?

1. The world.

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Bible says do not be conformed to this world. Grammatically means; stop copying the world.

Knowingly or unknowingly, we are copying the world but unfortunately, we are not aware of it because it becomes our way of life. Copying the world means it was another way of this superficially: fashion, materialism, luxury cars, luxury life, and shopping etc… The deeper one is the philosophy of the world. On the internet, how the world is becoming more and more together in terms of values worldly things. It is unhealthy.

2. Flesh

Romans 7:14-15. “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

People in the world know something’s wrong with their lives but they cannot seem to overcome it. What

do they do? They justify. Do not justify your doing system but justify your belief system instead because the solution is Jesus Christ.

3. Devil

Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Our enemies are organized by world, flesh, and devil. Our struggle is not flesh and blood. It is not our family members; the reality is not people, but Satan the ruler of the darkness. Satan has so managed the situation where we pit one belief against another belief, and we think our enemies are people, but it is not. It is the power behind.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

We need to know that spiritual warfare is very real and we must be on the alert all the time. The world, the flesh, and the devil, these three work together against us. So put on the full armour of God. The only one and hope that we have is Jesus Christ in order to overcome our adversary in our daily spiritual warfare.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesian 6:10.

To watch deadly destruction within ourselves.

We as Christians, have already made the most important decision of our lives. We have     surrendered our lives to Christ. But we have probably discovered by now that the Christian life is not problem free. Yes, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to provide guidance and strength, but we still struggle to live the way we know we should. This is because we are battling two enemies: Satan and ourselves. Our nature was changed when we came to know Christ. 1 John 4:13 ‘Hereby know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit’. But the Spirit dwells in our body of flesh, which is why we still find ourselves to do the right thing.

All of us commit individual acts of sin. But we may have noticed that certain sins seem to be more of with certain sin patterns or habitual sins – behaviours we fall into when we try to get our needs met apart from God. The source of that struggle is called the flesh or the old man. And if we live in that rather than by the spirit, these habitual sins will distract us from our pursuit and keep us from maturing in our journey with our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Chronicles 26:16 “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense”.

2 Chronicles 32:26 “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah”.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate”.

Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things doth the lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination to him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

We must be ever thankful to Christ for His gift of Grace in our time, Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”.

Let us always pray that the Spirit, by Grace, will help us overcome the old man.

When we hear these words, particularly in conjunction with those found in Matthew 25:31-32. Questions could be raised. When will this judgement take place? Who are “the least” of Jesus “brethren”? Today no answer is provided to these questions. That is why some ignore everything instead of asking what Jesus actually wanted to convey. Everything you do, you do to Me (Matthew 25:35-40). Whatever good you neglect to do, you have not done to Me (Matthew 25:42-45).

Today Jesus expects us to act. That which we do will not be in vain. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats”. (Matthew 25:31-32). These words alone will no doubt provoke protest among many people. They will say, ‘There will be not enough room for them.’ ‘How will so many people, these billions who have ever lived on the earth be assembled at the same time?’ Everything is possible for God as well as His son. “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”. (Matthew 19:26).

It states further, “He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the king will say to those on His right hand, “Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:32-34). Ultimately the words are uttered, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

The particulars of what was done are found in Matthew 25:35-39. “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”

Let these words penetrate our inner being, have an effect, and trigger something within us. In all our activities as God’s servants and children let us remember, what we have done to “the least” we have done to the Lord Jesus. From this viewpoint, it will be very easy for us to do good to others. We will gladly work in God’s work and vineyard.

Everything we do we do to Him, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”. (Colossians 3:23) And one day that which Jesus said will be fulfilled. “And, behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according to his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

Sometimes we have a thought. We can assume that it was inspired by the Holy Spirit within us. Yet we do not have much time, or we do not take the time. Perhaps we also want to do very little. We lack the motivation to pursue this thought and to do something in God’s noble and beautiful work for a fellow brother or sister in faith, someone who is ill, needy, those who face hardship or are being persecuted because of  their faith and find themselves abandoned. When we visit such souls and do good to them, then remember,  “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”.

1 John 4:7-8

“Beloved, let us Love one another: for Love is of God; and every one that Loveth is born of God; for God is Love. He that Loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love.”

God is Life

We have been Baptised in the death of Jesus Christ and were Resurrected with Him as new human beings in a new Life. Therefore, we died in Christ! In Romans 6:8-11 ^“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We are again reminded; Jesus overcame this world on our behalf. Therefore, by the Grace of God this world has no dominium (ownership) over us – we are merely in this world, but not of this world. However, to withstand and to be protected against the snares and temptations of this world we have to pray that we walk in God’s light and remain participants and beneficiaries of God’s mercies. Jesus Prays to God the Father in John 17:15 and 20. “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Neither Pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word”.

The Opposite of Life is Death, but this is not our concern because we live in Jesus Christ and are promised Eternal life in Jesus. In John 11: 25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

God is Love

God showed the Ultimate Love by sending His Son to this earth to be Sacrificed on the Cross for our sins and thereby allowing us the Grace to be Saved. Always remember that God First Loved us, therefore we have to sacrifice our own wills and allow God to replace its content with Love. Love endures everything with expectations of greater and better things to come.

We have to Love and Cherish God and His Institutions (His Holy Church and Commandments) affectionately, with devotion and Passion. With this Perfect Love we do not have to fear anything (Romans 8:31) “If God be for us who can be against us?”

Treat our fellow brothers and sisters with Love, compassion and patience – despite our differences we have become one in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

Our text word was spoken by a man brought up according to the laws of Moses and taught to whom God listens, and to whom He does not; for he said, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.”

The meaning of the word ‘sinner’ in this context must be clearly understood. All men are sinners. According to the original meaning of the word this means that all men are intellectually or physically no longer able to reach the goal that God had created them for.

The text, however, says that God sometimes does and sometimes does not listen to man’s prayers. If the literal meaning of the word ‘sinner’ was meant, God would never listen to any man, because all men are sinners.

God wants all men to be happy and to attain the goal He has set for them. This goal is that man should always love God and all that has been created; with heart and soul being healthy and happy. According to the Old Covenant, God is love, and He wants to help us and listen to us, even though we are sinners.

Many of our prayers cannot be answered because our hearts are not pure enough; they are full of obstacles, the greatest of which are the grudges we hold against our neighbours. We incline to think those who openly do wrong are worse than those who do it secretly, without our knowledge. Unforgiveness cannot be seen either; it is hidden in the depth of one’s heart.

Jesus teaches that God’s love, peace, and joy are incompatible with an unforgiving heart. Bearing grudges openly increases the hurt.

Our eyes have been opened. We are allowed, like the blind man, to see Jesus Christ. We must therefore do as He wills. When we find that difficult, we shall have sympathy with others. Let us not waste time, but do what Jesus, the great doctor of the soul has advised us to do.