Posts

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 4: LOOKING BACK WHILE MOVING FORWARD

Image
WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 4: LOOKING BACK WHILE MOVING FORWARD Luke 9:61–62 (NIV) Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus Christ replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” In Part 3, we uncovered the danger of delayed obedience through the phrase “ first let me… ”. We learned that even good responsibilities can become excuses, and that trying to secure a backup plan before obeying God often reveals divided loyalty. True discipleship requires immediate and undivided response. Key Phrase “...and looks back…” Opening Thought   It is possible to be moving forward physically, yet remain attached emotionally. Many people start the journey with Jesus, but their hearts are still tied to what they left behind. In the Kingdom, direction matters—but so does focus. Insight 🔍 This man sounded willing: “I will follow you, Lord…” But again, there was a...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 16: WHOEVER LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST  PART 16: WHOEVER LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME  Luke 10:16  "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest means carrying Christ’s authority—how people respond to His messengers reflects their response to Him. In Part 15, we saw that cities with great exposure to Jesus’ miracles and teaching were held to greater accountability when they refused to repent. Familiarity with truth without response leads to deeper judgment. Scripture Focus Luke 10:16 says: "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." Jesus now defines the spiritual chain of representation: the Father, the Son, the sent disciples. This establishes the seriousness and authority of their mission. The Principle of Representation 1. Messengers represent the One who sends...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 15: WOE TO YOU, CHORAZIN AND BETHSAIDA (Luke 10:13–15)

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST  PART 15: WOE TO YOU, CHORAZIN AND BETHSAIDA  Luke 10:13–15  "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago… And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades." Key Thought : Exposure to great spiritual light without repentance leads to greater accountability before God. In Part 14, we learned that Jesus warned it would be more bearable for Sodom than for towns that rejected the message of the kingdom. This showed that responding to the gospel is a serious matter with eternal consequences. Scripture Focus Luke 10:13–15 says: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago… And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades." Her...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 14: IT WILL BE MORE BEARABLE FOR SODOM

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 14: IT WILL BE MORE BEARABLE FOR SODOM  Luke 10:12  "I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest carries both privilege and responsibility—how people respond to the message has eternal consequences. In Part 13, we saw how Jesus prepared His disciples for rejection and instructed them to shake the dust from their feet as a peaceful yet solemn testimony when a town refused to receive them. The message of the kingdom was to be delivered faithfully, regardless of the response. Scripture Focus Luke 10:12 says: "I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." With this statement, Jesus introduces a sobering reality: rejection of the gospel is not a light matter. It carries spiritual and eternal consequences. Why Jesus Mentioned Sodom The city of Sodom was widely known in Jewish history as a symbol of extreme...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 13: WHEN YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST  PART 13: WHEN YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED  Luke 10:10–11  "But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’" Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest requires faithfulness even when the message is rejected. In Part 12, we saw how Jesus instructed His disciples to combine compassionate action with clear proclamation—healing the sick while declaring that the kingdom of God had come near. Scripture Focus Luke 10:10–11 says: "But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’" Jesus now prepares His disciples for the reality that not everyone will receive their message. Partnership with God includes learning how to respon...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 12: HEAL THE SICK AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST  PART 12: HEAL THE SICK AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM  Luke 10:8–9  "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’" Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest means demonstrating the kingdom through both compassionate action and clear proclamation. In Part 11, we learned that Jesus instructed His disciples to remain in one house, teaching contentment, integrity, and the importance of building deep, trustworthy relationships where God opens doors. Scripture Focus Luke 10:8–9 says: "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Jesus now combines two dimensions of ministry: meeting practical needs and delivering a spiritual message. The disciples were to minister to both body and soul. The Twofold Nature of Kingdom ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 11: STAY IN THAT HOUSE

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST  PART 11: STAY IN THAT HOUSE  Luke 10:7  "Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house." Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest requires contentment, integrity, and commitment to the relationships God provides. In Part 10, we saw that Jesus instructed His disciples to declare peace over a house and to discern receptivity through the response they received. Peace functioned as a spiritual indicator showing where God had prepared hearts. Scripture Focus Luke 10:7 says: "Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house." Jesus now gives instructions about stability and contentment in ministry. After identifying a receptive household, the disciples were to remain there rather than searching for better accommodations. Why Jesus Told Them to Stay in One H...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 10: PEACE TO THIS HOUSE

Image
PARTNERING WITH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST PART 10: PEACE TO THIS HOUSE  Luke 10:5–6  "When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you." Key Thought : Partnering with the Lord of the harvest requires discernment to recognize where God is opening doors through peace.  In Part 9, we saw that Jesus instructed His disciples not to greet anyone on the road, teaching them to maintain urgency and disciplined focus so that social customs would not delay God’s assignment. Scripture Focus Luke 10:5–6 says: "When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you." Jesus now shifts from instructions about the journey to instructions about engagement—how His workers should interact with people and discern receptivity. The Meaning of Declaring Peace In the biblical context,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular posts from this blog

THE LIFE CYCLE OF SIN AS CHILDBEARING PART 2: THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF SIN

Image
THE LIFE CYCLE OF SIN AS CHILDBEARING PART 2: THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF SIN  James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  RECAP of Part 1 In the previous chapter, we explored how sin begins with Conception (desire) and grows when nurtured, much like a child in the womb. Today, we will continue with Maturity and Birth, where sin becomes visible through our actions, and finally Death, the ultimate consequence of unchecked sin. Let’s explore these final stages and understand the seriousness of allowing sin to grow unchecked in our lives. Then, after desire has conceived , it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown , gives birth to death . James 1:15 (NIV) 3. Maturity and Birth Sin gives birth to full-grown actions. Just as a child reaches full maturity in the womb before birth, sin, once nurtured, reaches its full stage and manifests as outward actions. What began as hidden desire now becomes v...
Read more

JUMPSTARTING YOUR LIFE—THE POWER OF DIVINE CONNECTIONS PART 8:WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW

Image
THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION Romans 1:11-12 (NIV) "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Welcome to Part 8 of our Series, Jumpstarting Your Life: The Power of Divine Connection.  In Part 7 , we saw how my landlady’s son, who had once been stranded, later became a helper to another driver stuck in the mud . We learned that helping others after receiving help is a key principle of life , and sometimes, we must recognize when we need assistance instead of struggling alone. But what if the real issue isn’t about getting help but knowing when to move on? PART 8: WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION I have a friend named Kwame who had been driving an old car for years . It wasn’t just any car—it had been his first car, filled with memories. One day, after heavy rain, he...
Read more

WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION

Image
WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION  1 Kings 19:4 Ezekiel 22:30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the sake of the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].” (AMP) Becoming Watchmen Over God’s Servants Recap of Part 6: Yesterday, we exposed the reality that some ministers are hiding secret sins—not because they don’t love God, but because they don’t feel safe to confess. We were reminded to pray, not punish, and to cover, not cancel. Heaven is still searching. God is still looking. Not for another preacher. Not for another platform. But for a gap stander. An intercessor. A spiritual defender of those who are too exhausted to pray for themselves. Throughout this devotional, we've uncovered the hidden battles of pastors and ministers—the emotional lows, the secret temptations, the heavy loneliness, t...
Read more