God also is bearing witness both with signs and wonders: then the sons are free

What does God try to tell us today? “For many are called, but few chosen.” This statement appear twice today, in Matthew 19:30 and 22:14. Why did Jesus say that and to whom? Is this verse speaking of the Jews, who had been first in the things of God at one time, becoming last, and the Gentiles, who had been last, becoming first in the things of God? “God calls everyone to salvation but that doesn’t mean His standards are low. He calls and equips, furnishing all that we need to be in right standing with Him. But those who don’t put on that robe of righteousness by faith will be eternally separated from Him, regardless of whether they were in church among the true believers or not.” (Living Commentary, Andrew Wommack)

Prior to these verses, in Matthew 19:30 Jesus also states, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” In context He was in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, healing great multitudes. The Pharisees came to test Him, little children were brought to Him to be blessed, and a rich young ruler came to Him asking what more good thing (if any other than what he has already done) he has to do to have eternal life. He asked Jesus, “what do I still lack?” (Rather ironically, since he was adamant that he has done all to deserve eternal life). He left disappointedly and sorrowfully. The disciples later queried Jesus who can be saved if riches, achievements and earthly status and recognition cannot give a man precedence over others in terms of entering into the eternal life that only Jesus can give.

What has this got to do with today’s blog title “God also is bearing witness both with signs and wonders”? A lot. In fact, all.

The Holy Spirit reminds this truth in Hebrews 2 which is aptly subtitled, “Do Not Neglect Salvation”. I quote:

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Jesus came to earth, born into a human body, yet demonstrated He is from God and of God, representing every aspect of God. Everything He said and did showed the audience then and now the witness of God Himself of what Jesus came for and what He had accomplished finally before He left earth.

And this is still the message today. God also is bearing witness both with signs and wonders. God is still bearing witness. Signs and wonders, divine healing and divine health. Miracles and wonders. transformation of lives and relationship. Supernatural abundant provisions according to God’s richness in glory. Reconciliation and restoration. The fulfillment of God’s good, perfect, and pleasing will in the believer’s life: spirit, soul and body. All started from Jesus’ time, and is still ongoing. This is grace in action, by God Himself.

Last question: Why does God ever bother? Since few responded anyway. I asked the same too. As I pondered, I heard this reading from the audio Bible, Matthew 18:11-14.

¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

¹² “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? ¹³ And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. ¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

What more can we ask the Father in heaven? His heart is for every lost one, even right now. Take heed.

καίnotes 2022-12-26

Christmas joy: grace, grace

What greater gift than this can ever be given to mankind? Love, Joy, Peace! Grace! Grace!

Zechariah 4:7

⁷ ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

John 1:14

The Word Becomes Flesh 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:6

which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

2 John 1:3

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

καί notes, 2022-12-24

the gift in a song: listen

https://youtu.be/0TQBujm45WQ
This is Grace | 20schemes music

A Christmas gift: Our Father which art in heaven

Here is the good gift for this time! Thinking of God as our Father in heaven. Reading the Gospels about Jesus and His Father (God) always gives an imagine of the two as Father and Son doing things together, God teaching and showing how He does things, and Jesus observing and listening with full concentration and admiration. Jesus, the Son of God was born to this earth as a human baby. He had to learn how to live His natural life on earth from His earthly parents, while simultaneously learning everything supernatural from God. The Gospels recorded Jesus speaking of God as “My Father” 56 times. And these were recorded during the short span of three and half years of Jesus’ ministry.

John recorded the most number of times. Let us read and ponder what the Lord Jesus is saying to us about God, His and our Father in heaven. We can notice the close relationship. We can also note that Jesus is telling us a lot of things about the kind of relationship God wants to develop with us as His children.

Jesus has declared that He and His Father are one. Jesus also says this of us (His believers): “I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” And His Father is our Father. This is the greatest assurance today. As we are united with Christ and God, we have nothing to fear or worry about. His house is our house. His lives in us and His divine life is our real life. He does things with us, speaks to us and teaches us. He gives us all good gifts. He loves us to the extent of giving His Son to us, to redeem us so that we can return to Him and be reconciled with Him as His children. He sent His Son to purchase our life, pay for our healing and divine health too.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

John 2:16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

John 5:43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

John 6:32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

John 8:19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8:38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”

John 8:49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.

John 10:17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

John 10:18 No one takes it (life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

John 10:37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;

John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:7 The Father Revealed “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

John 14:12 The Answered Prayer “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

John 14:28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

John 15:1 The True Vine “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.

John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.

John 16:10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, …‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

2022-12-20

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much

“as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us.” Really this is what we need today. I am thankful for the miraculous event that just happened, but not exactly “just happened”, that has demonstrated the goodness of God, which has been working since the beginning!

I left for an important journey recently with a rather uncertain heart as to what the immediate future would be when I return. Three days before I traveled I prayed in the spirit and wrote down what my heart prompted and assured me in a note book. I received and wrote down in a second note book further specific prompts after praying again in the spirit on the day before the travel day (which happened to be the day of the major event). I placed the two note books on the PC table and left. I also called an old friend and told her the prompts about the coming event. She remarked that it would be a miracle if that happened.

As assured in my spirit, the journey was good and a great reunion time for family, filled with love, joy and peace. On the other side of the ocean, the event unfolded like a drama keeping all spectators in suspense. Finally, the conclusion came out, and the miracle came to pass.

When I returned I looked at the notes and marveled at the exact winning number and names of the crucial individuals, winning and/or losing.

On a personal level, this is very important to my relationship with my Father in heaven. My belief in Jesus, His birth, death, and resurrection. My encounter with the Holy Spirit and trusting him to guide my steps in life. An ability to hear Him and be led by Him is what matters to a believer and follower of Jesus. Without this compass for life, I would be quite lost in a hectic and increasingly unreal world on this earth.

On a macro level, I am happy to see hope has materialized and taking substance albeit rather slowly in an infancy. Whilst I have always remained as an observer-bystander, this recent journey has opened my eyes to see the younger generations and their hopes and dreams. I have been praying for them but this is the first time I really look at the future seriously, and the legacy we need to leave behind.

To sum up, I see hope. I see the goodness of God. I see the Joseph boom years starting afresh for a new generations (pleural as there are several together). This is not a new prophecy. This was what I received in my heart often in contrary to pundits/woe-sayers predicting market depressions.

The first group of apostles/disciples of the early church often encountered tumultuous and seemingly uncertain circumstances, overt impossible challenges and mean obstacles/opponents. Yet they managed to press on. They reached their goals. They miraculously overcame all odds and fulfilled the tremendous assignments and super-human callings the Lord had given them. Reading their letters I marvel at their optimism and positive words and exaltations to build up others. Not one was worried about the economy. Not one lacked. Not one sick.

What assures me is that they all saw hope and the manifestation of the substance of hope, through their faith in God’s goodness. They all have the Holy Spirit to give them this assurance and manifestation of exactly what Jesus has told them and assured of happening.

This is not an article on economic forecast. This is just my personal testimony of how good God is.

I have been led this morning to read Ephesians 2. This is a message of reconciliation, or rather, conciliation. The good news of conciliation is for all people groups. Now all of us can come to the Father through the Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. (Ephesians 2:18)

What does God want of us being fully joined together in Christ Jesus? Here is the answer:

Through Him you Gentiles are being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)

Have a blessed Christmas! Be conciliated.

Your friend and brethren,

καί notes 2022-12-02