No Compromise is FAITHFULNESS

In John 14:6-7 NLT says, “6 Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had really known Me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!”

In John 3:16-17 NLT says, “16 “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”

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Topic: Fruit of the Holy Spirit & God’s Promises for All Our Every Needs

Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples,

Pastor Elias Aguilar Busuego Jr PhD DTM

Founding Pastor – Home Fellowship Churches – https://homefellowshipchurches.org

The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – FAITHFULNESS #4

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

We need to understand that love is the first characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is well placed at the head of the list, for it permeates all the rest of the attributes. Somehow, if we live a life of love, the other virtues will attend us all the days of our lives. Love is the key that unlocks the entire fruit basket of Galatians 5:22-23, as well as permeating in the LOVE Chapter of the book in the Bible – New Testament – 1 Corinthians 13.

Jeremiah and Pashhur & Jeremiah’s Complaint

In Jeremiah 20:1-2 NLT says, “1 Now Pashhur son of Immer, the priest in charge of the Temple of the Lord, heard what Jeremiah was prophesying. 2 So he arrested Jeremiah the prophet and had him whipped and put in stocks at the Benjamin Gate of the Lord’s Temple.

In Jeremiah 20:7-12 NLT says, “7 O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. 8 When I speak, the words burst out. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So, these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke. 9 But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in His name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it! 10 I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They threaten, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.” 11 But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before Him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.”

This event took place during the reign of Jehoiakim of Judah. Jeremiah preached at the valley of the son of Hinnom, the center of idolatry in the city. He also preached in the Temple, which should have been the center of true worship. Both places attracted many people; both were places of false worship.

Pashhur was the official in charge of maintaining order in the Temple (see Jeremiah 29:26 for a description of the responsibility). He was also a priest and had pretended to be a prophet. After hearing Jeremiah’s words, Pashhur had him whipped and put in the stocks (locked up) instead of taking his message to heart and acting on it. The truth sometimes stings, but our reaction to the truth shows what we are made of. We can deny the charges and destroy evidence of our misdeeds, or we can take the truth humbly to heart and let it change us. Pashhur may have thought he was a strong leader, but he was really a coward.

In Verses 4-6 described that this prophecy of destruction came true in three waves of invasion by Babylon. The first wave happened within the year (605 B.C.). Pashhur was probably exiled to Babylon during the second wave in 597 B.C. when Jehoiachin was taken captive. The third invasion occurred in 586 B.C.

In Verses 7-12 described that Jeremiah cried out in despair mixed with praise, unburdening his heart to God. He had faithfully proclaimed God’s word and had received nothing in return but persecution and sorrow. Yet when he withheld God’s word for a while, it became fire in his bones until he could hold it back no longer. When God’s living message of forgiveness and love becomes fire in our bones, we also will feel compelled to share it with others, regardless of the results. Amen!

Faithfulness is a fire in the bones. It may forswear, renounce, disown, or reject its loyalty in moments of weak faith, but it will not stop burning. Faithfulness does not make compromises as Esther said prior to approaching the king, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Faithfulness is not to find or follow a way between extremes or be neutral. It does not make a shameful or disreputable concession.

The Cross stands as the ultimate example of facing our extremities without any sense of compromise. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the no-quit Christ who demonstrated how to hold to principle – even to the point of death.

So it is that when we tell anyone of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must begin with His death. One cannot even begin to understand the life of our Lord Jesus Christ without understanding His death. It is here at the Cross that His biography begins.

Self-sacrifice is the fearsome way to say “self-denial.” Jeremiah had denied himself in favor of what God wanted. Jeremiah understood that we must spend the small coins of self-denial in order to buy the great commitments of our lives. Anticipating our dying keeps us remembering that life is inherently serious. Jeremiah’s life was being poured out in utter faithfulness, with no hint of compromise. Amen!     

Stephen’s Vision Supported Jesus Christ Claims

In Acts 7:51-60 NLT says, “51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One – the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” 54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” 57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”

Indeed, many prophets were persecuted and killed: Uriah (Jeremiah 26:20-23); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:1-6); Isaiah (tradition says he was killed by King Manasseh; see 2 Kings 21:16); Amos (Amos 7:10-13); Zechariah (not the author of the Bible book but the son of Jehoiada the priest; see 2 Chronicles 24:20-22); Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2). Our Lord Jesus Christ also told a parable about how the Jews had constantly rejected God’s messages and persecuted His messengers (Luke 20:9-19).

Stephen launched into a long speech about Israel’s relationship with God. From Old Testament history, he showed that the Jews had constantly rejected God’s message and His prophets and that this council had rejected the Messiah, God’s Son. He made three main points: (1) Israel’s history is the history of God’s acts in the world; (2) people worshiped God long before there was a Temple, because God does not live in a Temple; and (3) Lord Jesus Christ’s death was just one more example of Israel’s rebellion against and rejection of God.

Stephen saw the glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, standing at God’s right hand. Stephen’s words are similar to our Lord Jesus Christ’s words spoken before the high council (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69). Stephen’s vision supported our Lord Jesus Christ’s claim and angered the Jewish leaders who had condemned our Lord Jesus Christ to death for blasphemy. They would not tolerate Stephen’s words, so they dragged him out and killed him.

People may not kill us for witnessing about our Lord Jesus Christ, but they may let us know they don’t want to hear the truth and try to silence us. Let’s keep honoring God in our conduct and words; though many may turn against us and our messages, some will follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, Stephen’s death had a profound impact on Paul, who later became the world’s greatest missionary. Even those who oppose us now may later turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

The Wisdom of God

In 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 NLT says, “17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News – and not with clever speech, for fear that the Cross of Christ would lose its power. 18 The message of the Cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”

In this large and diverse Corinthian church, the believers favored different preachers. Because there was as yet no written New Testament, the believers depended heavily on preaching and teaching for spiritual insight into the meaning of the Old Testament. Some followed Paul, who had founded their church; some who had heard Peter in Jerusalem followed him; others listened only to Apollos, an eloquent and popular preacher who had a dynamic ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:24; 19:1).

Although these three preachers were united in their message, their personalities attracted different people. At this time the church was in danger of dividing. By mentioning our Lord Jesus Christ 10 times in the first 10 verses, Paul makes it clear who it is all preachers and teachers should emphasize. God’s message is much more important than any human messenger.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verses 17-18 explained that when Paul said that our Lord Jesus Christ didn’t send him to baptize, he wasn’t minimizing the importance of baptism. Baptism was commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 28:19) and practiced by the early church (Acts 2:41). Paul was emphasizing that no one person should do everything. Paul’s gift was preaching, and that’s what he did. Christian ministry should be a team effort; no preacher or teacher is a complete link between God and people, and no individual can do all that the apostles did. We must be content to operate within the gifts God has given to us, and carry out His plan wholeheartedly. (For more on different gifts, see 1 Corinthians Chapters 12 and 13.)

Some speakers use impressive words, but they are weak on content. Paul stressed solid content and practical help for his listeners. He wanted them to be impressed with his message, not just his style (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). You don’t need to be a great speaker with a large vocabulary to share the Good News effectively. The persuasive power is in the story, not the storyteller. Paul was not against those who carefully prepare what they say (see 1 Corinthians 2:6) but against those who try to impress others with their knowledge or speaking ability.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 19 stated that Paul summarizes Isaiah 29:14 to emphasize a point our Lord Jesus Christ often made: God’s way of thinking is not like the world’s way (normal human wisdom). And God offers eternal life, which the world can never give. We can spend a lifetime accumulating wisdom and yet never learn how to have a personal relationship with God. We must come to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God to receive eternal life and the joy of a personal relationship with our Savior.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verses 22-24 described that any Jews considered the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ to be foolish, because they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king accompanied by signs and miracles. Our Lord Jesus Christ had not restored David’s throne as they expected. Besides, He was executed as a criminal, and how could a criminal be a savior?

Greeks, too, considered the Good News foolish: They did not believe in a bodily resurrection, they did not see in our Lord Jesus Christ the powerful characteristics of their mythological gods, and they thought no reputable person would be crucified. To them, death was defeat, not victory.

The Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ still sounds foolish to many. Our society worships power, influence, and wealth. Our Lord Jesus Christ came as a humble, poor servant, and He offers His Kingdom to those who have faith, not to those who do all kinds of good deeds to try to earn salvation. This looks foolish to the world, but our Lord Jesus Christ is the mighty power of God, the only way we can be saved. Knowing our Lord Jesus Christ personally is the greatest wisdom anyone can have.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 25 described that the message of Christ’s death for sins sounds foolish to those who don’t believe. Death seems to be the end of the road, the ultimate weakness. But our Lord Jesus Christ did not stay dead. His resurrection demonstrated His power even over death. And He will save us from eternal death and give us everlasting life if we trust Him as Savior and Lord.

This sounds so simple that many people won’t accept it. They try other ways to obtain eternal life (being good, being wise, etc.). But all their attempts are futile. The “foolish” people who (we, too, who are Born-Again Christian believers) simply accept our Lord Jesus Christ’s offer are actually the wisest of all, because they alone will live eternally with God. Amen!

We preach our Lord Jesus Christ crucified. How can the message of the Good News reach others? So many scoffs or turn away. But as we are faithful, God supplies power to continue on, power to overcome. Our steadfast defense of God’s kingdom will evoke His steadfast defense of our lives.

Somebody ask the question, “Where do we find the power to be a disciple?” The answer is Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is Christ who supplies the recipe for the relationship. Faithfully He has stood by, supplying us with the power to stand for Him.

So once again, where do we find that living water, which refreshes us by His faithfulness? Where do we find the power to hang in there in this world? Where do we find the power to keep going when the going really gets tough? Where do we find the power to continue to believe in love in a world that is filled with hate? Where do we find the power to continue to work for peace in a world that is addicted to violence? Where do we find the power to continue to believe in good in a world that is filled with so much evil? Where do we find the power to continue to believe that ultimately, God’s kingdom will come and God’s will, as revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ, will be done in all of the creation? Where do we find the power to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in this world?

This kind of power can be found in our faithfulness – there or nowhere! Amen!

The Whole Armor of God

In Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT says, “10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

In the Christian life we battle against rulers and authorities (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan, who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8). To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armor. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church/fellowship. The whole body needs to be armed. As you do battle against the “mighty powers of darkness,” fight in the strength of the church/fellowship, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit. Amen!

In Ephesians Chapter 6 Verse 12 described that these who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies – they are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat our Lord Jesus Christ’s church/fellowship. When we believe in Jesus Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Him and back to sin.

Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until our Lord Jesus Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us.

If you feel discouraged, remember our Lord Jesus Christ’s words to Peter: “Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18).

This beautiful metaphor of our faithfulness and God’s provision is made more picturesque, charming, pleasing, or striking by a challenge. God’s protection is pictured as soldier putting on armor. Each piece is described by the function it provides. But the main ideas of the metaphor occur in Verses 10 and 14. Verse 10 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” And verse 14 says, “Stand firm.”

We are to take our stand, says the apostle. But our stand against what, or rather, against whom? Remember, the Lord’s Prayer says, “Deliver us from the evil one” Matthew 6:13). The evil one is that present, ever challenging force that daily strives to destroy our faithfulness. We may be sure that if Satan had his way, all our intentions to stand true would crumble.

So, Paul urges us to dress for the onslaught. We have to wear the armor, clothing ourselves for the fray. If Satan had his way, God’s intentions for us would die in self-concern and ineffective commitments. How can we serve others? The answer lies in standing firm in our commitment to do right.

We will notice that, of the full panoply of armor, only in Ephesians 6:17 do we come across the single piece that is offensive in nature. All the other pieces of armor mentioned are for our defense; only the sword of the Holy Spirit is given for our offense.

With the faithful protection of God’s armor, we are ready to go to battle. We are sent out to be faithful in our warfare with Satan. He is called by many names: the evil one (Matthew 13:19), a murderer (John 8:44), the devil Ephesians 6:11), our enemy 1 Peter 5:8), the great dragon, or ancient serpent (Revelation 12:10). But by whatever name we meet him, we are to employ God’s armor for our protection and the sword of the Holy Spirit for our faithful advance as we fulfill God’s calling to serve Him. Amen!

In Ephesians Chapter 6 Verse 18 explained how can anyone pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers our habitual response to every situation we meet throughout the day. Another way is to order our lives around God’s desires and teachings so that our very life becomes a prayer. We don’t have to isolate ourselves from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. We can make prayer our life and our life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. We also should pray for all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, let’s pray for all Born-Again Christians we know and for the church/fellowship around the world. Amen!

Hope In Our God, Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness

In Lamentations 3:21-24 NLT says “21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!””

In Jeremiah’s darkest moment, his hope was strengthened with this assurance: God had been faithful and would continue to be faithful. Jeremiah saw both God’s judgment and God’s steadfast love. In the time of judgment, Jeremiah could still cling to God’s love, just as in times of prosperity he had warned of God’s judgment.

In the original Hebrew, the first four chapters in Lamentations are acrostic poems. Each verse in each chapter begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 has 66 verses rather than 22 because it is a triple acrostic: The first three verses begin with the equivalent of A, the next three with B, and so on. This was a typical form of Hebrew poetry. Other examples of acrostics are Psalms 37, 119, and 145, and Proverbs 31:10-31.

Jeremiah saw one ray of hope in all the sin and sorrow surrounding him: “The unfailing love of the LORD never ends. . . . Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.”

God willingly responds with help when we ask. Perhaps there is some sin in our lives that we thought God would not forgive. God’s steadfast love and mercy are greater than any sin, and He promises forgiveness.

Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God’s faithfulness. God had promised that punishment would follow disobedience, and it did. But God also had promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep that promise also. Trusting in God’s faithfulness day by day makes us confident in His great promises for the future.

Jeremiah’s book of Lamentations reminds us that God’s never-failing compassions are new every morning. Jeremiah exults in that wonderful assurance that so often marks our worship: Great is thy faithfulness! The faithfulness of God should be a constant impetus for us to be unyielding in our support of the truth. God loves us and has called us to produce for Him exactly what He has promised us: No-compromise faithfulness. Amen!

“Great is your faithfulness” is the testimony of all who have borne the faith in pain and triumph. Need is the master of our music. Our faith is to be greater than our heart. Faithfulness is the virtue of perseverance.

Indeed, God is faithful. And when we have been faithful, He will constantly supply His protection and His blessing, and they will arrive regularly which each new sunrise. Amen!

Now, let’s talk about “Prayer and “Salvation”.

Prayer is the key that unlocks and reveals faith. Effective prayer needs both an attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates complete reliance on God. Thus, there is no substitute for prayer, especially in situations that seem impossible.

So, let our hearts and minds in tune with God, in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. We as Born-Again Christians have been tried and cleansed, we have moved freely into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is more powerful than it was before our trials. We are at home in the presence and fellowship of God, for we are heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, more like Him that we could ever have dreamed possible. So, let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. Amen!

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable as we have studied and learned last time. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom (fruit of the Holy Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the first of the list > agape love of God, and in our treatment of others. Amen!

Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship, let me encourage our brothers – and sisters-in-Christ, and I want my readers and listeners to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others’ needs. Because all, we as Born-Again Christian believers are strong in certain areas and weak in others. We constantly need to monitor the effects of our behavior on others.

In these FAITHFULLNESS Series of Podcast, we will learn the following PURPOSES of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

• To receive God’s blessings
• Get a habit of spiritual dependency
• To have a persistent commitment to the right
• No compromise
• The Road That Ends in Victory
• High Art of Persistence

On every Podcast, I always have three (3) questions we can answer from only these two (2) Sources: The Bible and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit. The following are:

First is about our > Observation: What do these passages or Scriptures say to you?

Second is about our own > Interpretation: What do these passages or Scriptures mean to you?

Third is about how we can apply > Application: How do the meaning of these passages or Scriptures apply to you or to your situation?

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer or you have relatives, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and people in your circle of influence, please take a look and/or guide them to one of our ministries, “An Invitation to Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

Let’s give an opportunity for the lost souls to experience on being Born-Again Christian as explained by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of John 3 in the New Testament of the Bible.

It is as simple as A, B, & C > Admit, Believe, & Confess. All Born-Again Christian believers prayed this simple prayer, we called “Sinner’s Prayer”

“Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge and admit that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ who was born of Virgin Mary, died on the Cross for the penalty of my sins, and rose again that I may have the eternal life. I confess and declare Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. Please comfort, guide, and help me Holy Spirit to live and grow in my spiritual life according to Your Words, purpose, and perfect will of God, in my Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

If you prayed this, “Sinner’s Prayer” sincerely in your heart, you are Born-Again Christian believer. However, you are a spiritual baby who needs to grow up. (See 1 Peter 2:2). You need to find a church or fellowship to grow spiritually. We are glad to establish or bring the fellowship to your own home if it is safer by appointment.

Now, let me pray for all of you:

Father God, we come into your presence in our Lord Jesus Christ name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and forgiveness you have done on the Cross of Calvary, and continue to intercede for us in prayer. Thank you, Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. Thank you for the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage and strength. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Words, obey them, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth that sets us free, and apply them in our lives, in our Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

Let’s praise and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Give all thanks to God for all answered prayers.

Please send your > Praise Reports (answered prayers) and New Prayer Requests via email to: trinityblessings@homefellowshipchurches.org. God bless you all and our families!

A Message to be Blessed:

A Call to Repentance and Be Blessed

In Malachi 3:7-15 AMPC says, “7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it”, says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 2:2.] 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight”, says the Lord of hosts.

If the people would obey God, giving as they should, God would flood His people with blessings. There would be an overabundance of God’s blessing if He was given what He requested.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse – See 2 Chronicles 31:11; cf. 1 Chronicles 26:20; Nehemiah 10:38; 13:5, 12. If the temple storehouses were empty, it was the people’s fault. God had already blessed them with enough to give a little back to Him.

Instead of destroying our crops (blessings), God would make them come in greater abundance than we had ever imagined possible (Amos 4:9; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 8:12). The devourer – probably referring to locusts, though the word here is general in meaning (Baldwin). In the Near East, locust swarms are known for their ability to damage huge tracts of agricultural land (see note on Joel 1:4).

A delightsome land – All of the blessings promised to Jacob would come to pass if the people would obey God (Deuteronomy 33:29; Zechariah 8:13). Their land would be a delight to all who saw it (Daniel 8:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:7-12 was the people’s departure from God as reflected by their neglect of tithes and offerings. Two annual tithes were required according to Israelite law – one for the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21), and one to be used in worship at the annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:22). A tithe was required every three years to provide for the needs of the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There is debate as to whether this tithe for the poor was in addition to or served as a substitute for the tithe used in worship.

The New Testament pattern for tithing is proportionate giving – a person is to give “in relation to what you have earned” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Certainly a tithe should be given proportionate to one’s wealth, but not all proportionate giving is a tithe.

The anticipation of blessing for obedience to God’s command to tithe was based on the Mosaic covenant, which promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Malachi 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Generally, God will meet the needs of His own people (Psalm 34:9-10; Philippians 4:19), but that is not an unconditional guarantee. There certainly were and are exceptions. Yet, where God chooses not to provide physically, He gives sufficient grace to go without (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:14-15 was that the people were guilty of arrogant words against God. They were saying, “There is no prophet who is serving God,” and “God is not concerned about justice.” God responded by showing that He did distinguish between the wicked and the righteous. The righteous would be blessed, and the wicked would be judged.