Encouragement

As Jesus passed through the crowds and the palms were laid before him, he went straight to the Temple.

When Jesus was teaching He only acknowledged two gods.  In Mark 12:29, Jesus quotes the Jewish declaration known as the Shema:

“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”‬‬‬‬‬‬

He speaks of the One True God. There is none other! He makes a clear distinction in His acknowledgement of who God is. Later He speaks of the false God:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” – Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

When He comes to the Temple the last time, He follows the Passover lambs in. He has been there many times and has seen the tradition and ways of man. Everywhere He looked there was mammon. The moneychangers exchanged the foreign currency of the pilgrims who came from other nations for the acceptable Tyrian Shekel, approved for Temple offerings. They set up exchange booths and charged excessive fees.

Jesus had already taught that the rival god of the world was man. 

This distinction does not leave any gray area. The language here is of a love or hate relationship. He speaks of loyalty and service to one or the other. There is no doubt as He entered to pray that He expected anything but prayer. Nothing that reminded Him as a young man in the Temple, where God conversation was evident.

He described it as being about the Father’s business. Now it was just business; the god of mammon has taken up residence.

John gives his account in chapter 9: He drove the buyer and sellers out of the Temple. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers. Knocked over the seats of those selling doves. Knowing personally how significant was the sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost descended like a dove at His inaugural as the Lamb of God.

John even writes that He made a whip out of cords and drove them out. He had exposed the Pharisees and others many times and they would go away angry. But they did not take action. But this was different. He took it upon Himself to cleanse the Temple of corruption, exploitation, and the turning worship of wealth into a profit-benefiting system. 

They had become servants of mammon. Jesus brought His own personal earthquake—shaking the very core of Judaism and its hypocrisy. It was then the Jewish leadership began to implement their plan to kill Him. Believing all the evil that had been stored up in their hearts. Taking their thirty pieces of silver and buying themselves a betrayer. 

Wealth would no longer take over worship. The master had come to the house, His house.  This shaking was a separation of righteousness and unrighteousness, of those who love God and those who hate Him.

One day soon He is coming back to Jerusalem with His mighty earthquake and will divide the Temple Mount. Where the Temple will be and where the Dome of the Rock now stands. Once again declaring His authorship and ownership of everything.

Onward and upward we go. Let His cleansing come to His church in Jesus’ Name.

He is Risen and Risen indeed. 

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬‬‬‬‬

With all the speculation, prophetic prediction, and rapture debate, this word stands out.

When the Holy Ghost writes first concerning our relationship with the Lord, that is exactly what He means. Mockers will come and sow doubt on Jesus’ promise, just as Satan did to Adam and Eve. He mocked God.

Paul writes in Galatians 6, “Be not deceived, God cannot be mocked.”

Their mocking is to discredit the three events instituted by God. They dispute the creation, the flood, and the present heavens are destroyed by fire.

Peter again says, by His Word: This is promised, destruction and judgment are coming on the ungodly. This truth on God’s timetable is measured. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. For the truth of God’s grace these last 2,000 years, plus, is that He is patient and long-suffering, calling man to repentance. He desires that none should perish.

Do not let the times erode your belief in His promise to return.

The angels say to the disciples: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

So, the message to all believers:

• Don’t freeze in awe.
• Get on with the mission.
• Hold onto hope.

He goes up → the Spirit comes down → the church moves out → Jesus comes back.

Maranatha!

“For the sake of Your name, Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your faithfulness, destroy my enemies, And eliminate all those who attack my soul, For I am Your servant.” – ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬‬‬

David’s prayer for deliverance, where the psalmist asks God to preserve their life, bring them out of trouble, and destroy their enemies, all for the sake of God’s name, righteousness, and steadfast love, recognizing they are God’s servant.

It is evident that the top two priorities in His relationship to God are worship and prayer. He continually praises, offers up sacrificial worship, and desires His presence daily. In his prayer life, he continually calls and cries out to Him. In this, God knew he was a man after His heart.

There are four keys in these two verses that are good for us to see:

First, for the sake of Your name. It is His name that gives us access to Him. It is in His name that we uphold. It’s so important in our prayer life that Jesus gave the disciples His name. “My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

Secondly, in Your righteousness. Our righteousness is as filthy rags; it is unacceptable in His Presence. We are instructed to seek the righteousness of Jesus. In which we received when we were born again. We are clothed, robed, in His righteousness. Standing faultless before the throne.

Third, in Your lovingkindness. His faithfulness and new mercies are great in keeping His covenant to us. His steadfast love never ceases, and no matter our failures, it does not change in any way. No Never!

Fourthly, for I am Your servant. He reaffirms his personal commitment to God’s will and purpose.
He has answered God’s call and choosing of him. He knows He will never abandon His servants.

In closing, there is one repeated word: Your. This is the focus of prayer, fixing our eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith. Be honor and glory to His name.

“Arise and shine” the prophet Isaiah calls out to the people of Israel, “For your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1).

This is a wake-up call with an equal amount of optimism and purpose spoken to the people of God who might have wanted to pull the covers back over their head. As Paul wrote, “Awake thou who sleepest, and Christ will give you light.”

Jesus said, “Do not hide your light under a bushel.” It is the light that shines forth in us that brings glory to God. Giving God glory starts with recognizing that God is the source of life, truth, love, and all good things. It’s saying (out loud or in your heart), “God, You are worthy.”

This can happen through prayer, worship, or simply thanking God. When you give God glory, you’re not taking credit for everything yourself. Instead, you’re acknowledging God’s role—your abilities, opportunities, and successes as gifts rather than something you earned alone.

Actions matter just as much as words. Showing love, humility, honesty, forgiveness, and compassion reflects God’s character and gives Him glory.

In this sense, your life becomes a “picture” of what God is like. Giving God glory means making God visible and honored through how you think, speak, and live—so that others (and you yourself) see more of God, not just you. Two angelic declarations that manifest heaven are “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Glory to God in the Highest.” The announcement of the birth of Jesus was full of the Glory of God.

How powerful is our confession when we simply say, Glory to God! It is a part of our giving to Him. He alone deserves all of the Glory. Blessings!

We know and have heard many sermons on joy. It is one of the wonderful evidences of the Holy Ghost, especially the baptism in the Holy Ghost! I remember after receiving Him the most joy and gladness I had ever experienced. For righteousness, peace, and joy are in the Holy Ghost. We are baptized in Him and receive the Kingdom of God with great joy.

The night of Jesus’ birth, the heavens were filled with great glory and great joy. This great joy was announced to and for all people.

Be joyful unto Him and bless His name was a chorus we sang during the pouring out of His Spirit in the late 60s and 70s.

Great joy in the Bible centers on God’s presence, salvation through Jesus, and the hope of His coming kingdom. It was accompanied by and highlighted by angels announcing Jesus’ birth as “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The disciples’ overwhelming happiness at His resurrection and the spread of the Gospel was a supernatural, enduring joy deeper than circumstance. It is an eternal fountain springing up in us. It is God’s delight to see joy in His people.

Heavenly Moments of Great Joy

Jesus‘s Birth: Angels proclaimed “good news of great joy” to shepherds, marking the arrival of the Savior. 


Jesus’ Resurrection: The disciples experienced “fear and great joy” running from the tomb, and later returned to Jerusalem “with great joy” to praise God.

The preaching of the gospel through all the world: The inclusion of Gentiles brought “great joy” (Acts 15:3), showing the joy of God’s kingdom expanding with salvation and new life. Jesus spoke of His joy being in believers and John the Baptist leaped in the womb at Mary’s greeting (Luke 1:44). 

During this season and the celebration of His Birth, let us receive His wonderful joy and may we be filled to overflowing with it. Glory to God in the Highest, and great joy to all!

-KC