Do you now believe?

John 16:30-31
Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?"

In this scene, Jesus has explained things to his disciples using clear language rather than parables, and his disciples voiced their appreciation for that. They went further to proclaim their believe that Jesus is from God, since they now thought they understood His teachings. Then Jesus challenged them whether they really believed now?

We may hear and read the teachings of Jesus. We may even serve Him and His church in non-trivial and tiring ways. Or we may be continuing to live in our lives of sin. The question to reflect on, as our Lord Himself puts it, "Do you now believe?" Can we still fail if we believe? Can we still live outside His promises when we believe? Only the Lord Himself can answer those questions, and for that, we need to be close to Him

Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep

John 4:11
The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

Just continuing from the previous post, we often forget who Jesus or God is. Miracles are so rare that, even when it happens, it seems such an extraordinary thing. If we get used to the idea that Jesus is Almighty, then the miracles would not be surprising at all. In fact it would be surprising if God's deeds are not miraculous. So do we really know God to the point that whatever he does, we would not be surprised by it? So if Jesus says he will give us living water, just take it and be thankful - he has a lot more from where that came from.

Where then do You get that living water?

John 4:11
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

There must be several times in our lives for us believers, when we questioned God's promises. It may be like the seemingly innocent question of the woman at the well. We meant no hostility towards Jesus when we ask those questions. We earnestly wanted to know how Jesus could do something for us which seems so incredible.

Therein lies the danger in which we are actually doubting our Lord's divine ability. It is not wrong for us to not understand or comprehend how Jesus can do remarkable things for our benefit, because our minds and intellect are very limited. However when the question arises from doubt, then it shows that our faith in our Lord has wavered because we are doubting His divine nature. If He said He can do it, He surely can do it.

Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved

2 Corinthians 12:15
though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

Continuing on Paul's explanation about service, he declares that the more he loved others, the less he is loved. This could be in terms of his service to others. Besides preaching the gospel, he willingly serves them without demand for anything in return. When he preaches in various places, he ends up living in the community for a certain period of time. He did not just go to preach for a few days and then leave. Instead he lived with the people for some time and assisted them in understanding how to live out the gospel. While doing this, there would be physical demands on himself such as financial and labour costs. Paul bears most of this himself and served others out of his abundant love.

I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls

2 Corinthians 12:15
I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls

Here Paul is candidly telling the people that he served, that he did not want to be a burden for them. He made his own income and did not depend on those whom he served. His life is an example of dedication to serve others without any earthly compensation. His whole motivation was to serve Christ by serving His children. His conduct was such that there was nothing that could be spoken against him, so that his work in winning people to Christ cannot be compromised.

To give His life a ransom for many

Matt 20:28
"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus said this as he explained His requirement of service in response to Zebedees' mother asking to place her two sons closest to Him. This is in contrast to the world's view of service and stature. From Jesus' point of view, being in His service means to serve others totally, even at the expense of ourselves, forgoing any glory, recognition and gratitude.

Paul is a great example to this. Having been the great persecutor of the followers of Yshua, he was totally turned around. In his service to Yshua, he became a servant to others so that they could be won over for Christ.

Be still, and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

God is the magnificent, indescribable Creator and Father of all. This verse simply calls us to be quiet and meditate. SELAH

She has done a good work for Me

Mark 14:6
“But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

Jesus defended the woman who used an entire bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus. The criticism came in the pretext that the perfume can be sold and the money could be used to fit the poor.

Jesus saw through this fake rationale. Jesus had no problems in accepting the luxury gesture on Himself. Instead He did not challenge the fact that we need to care for the poor. In fact He put it into perspective that, He himself will only be on earth for a little while and would have no change like this one, to show love to Him.

Do we show genuine love towards Jesus, or do we try to satisfy all the requirements? "Perfected love casts out all fears". We should not be afraid of anything else and not be hindered in any way to worship the Lord with extravagance, as He deserves it.

Arise, let us go from here

John 14:31
But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Jesus had just taught His disciples of the coming Holy Spirit that will be with all believers, when Jesus leaves earth. In addition, the Enemy is also moving fast because the coming of the Holy Spirit also signals another milestone in God's plan where He will restore earth again.

So the last statement here is the call by Jesus to rise up and go. It is a call to action, not tallying around. There is a sense of urgency in Yshua's mission. Now two thousand years had passed, and God's patience of trying not to lose anyone unnecessary, may seem long to us. Some of us no longer have that urgency. That is why we need to be reminded that the Yshua's mission is still on - we still need to arise and go with His message, as His Coming Again is nearer.

Arise, shine; For your light has come!

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.


It is well agreed upon that the latter half of the book of Isaiah is filled with hope in God, through the promise of a Messiah. The command in this verse is "Arise, Shine". How much more so that this command should apply to us that are living after the birth of Yshua the Messiah.

This is more than just a call to lift up our spirits, although that must begin first. It also mean that, once we come to know Yshua, that we actually arise out of our old lives. Having risen, then we are called to Shine - this is none other than shining the light of our Lord. Once we believe in the Lord, we are definitely being called apart - the question is do we go on to a new life or do we fall back to our old routines.

Rise, let us be going

Matthew 26:46
Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

In one of the key events in Jesus' life, the Transfiguration, the disciples who were with him fell asleep. Probably the disciples were meant to be witnesses to the whole Transfiguration which would be such a blessing on them. However their physical tiredness overcame them.

There may have been a brief rebuke of the disciples by Jesus, it is difficult to be certain without knowing the way the Lord spoke the words. Even if they were rebuked, Jesus did not dwell on their weaknesses. Instead He urged them to their next tasks - "let us be going".

The disciples must have regretted falling asleep at that time, and possibly in the future. But Jesus encouraged them to move on and they did. They did catch the last part of the Transfiguration and John wrote about that precious experience. They did not let a simple drawback or regret affect their lives negatively in the future. 

Arise and eat

1 Kings 19:5
Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel[a] touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

Elijah had just won a great victory over all the false prophets and had them destroyed. Jezebel was incredibly angry at this and swore to destroy Elijah. After learning of this threat from the Queen, Elijah was terrified and ran into the wilderness to hide.

This may be very puzzling for many readers, even believers. God had just showed His hand and helped Elijah defeat all the other prophets in public. But now, Elijah was seen running for his life. The question is what happened to his faith in God.

Elijah seemed to be utterly terrified. He prayed to God asking to die - and many commentators thought that he was depressed at this stage. We could not understand what Elijah went through nor what happened to his faith. It does seem that he was overcome with fear and felt defeated.

God's help to Elijah came in the form of an angel who twice said "Arise and eat". This apparently simple command, when obeyed by Elijah, was able to bring him back to reality - which is that God was with him. His fear obviously drove him to forget about simple things like eating. When the angel told him to arise and eat, and his obedience to God's servant, enabled him to pull himself together. Perhaps we too are surrounded by circumstances that overwhelm us and we cannot see good reason. Sometimes God's commands are simple and powerful, we just need to listen and obey.

Awake, you who sleep

Ephesians 5:14
Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Although the literal meaning of this shows that Christ has the power to resurrect, the context of this is about walking in the light. So the command to wake from the sleep and arise from the dead is also meant as advice to the believers who are still living in this world.

Essentially, the sleep and the dead here points to the spiritual state of believers who are not walking in the light or who have not overcome whatever situations they are in. The command that Christ will give you light guarantees that Christ will give us victory and the ability to overcome. Perhaps another thing of note is the action commands to awake and arise. This command seem to indicate the believers also need to put the effort to wake themselves and rise up, knowing that Christ is there to support them.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

Romans 14:7
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 


When we accepted Christ in faith and as the Lord, we are no longer our own masters. Previously we may have lived in a way of looking for our own benefits or advantages - some may even call it selfish. However, after accepting Christ we belong to him. So Paul is trying to encourage all to live for Christ. This is reflected in our whole being, in everyday circumstances, where we put our priorities and how we treat others. This is tied in to another phrase that whatever we do, we do it unto the Lord.

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light

Matthew 10:27
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

Jesus taught many things and some are compressed into one sentence, this verse is one such wisdom from our Lord. So it appears God speaks to us in the dark. The dark is not necessary the physical night, but perhaps a dark period that we are going through in life. But God does not just tells us things for ourselves because the next part is to "speak in the light". Even in our times of need or trouble and God speaks to us, He is already planning to use us for someone else. Logically, He would be telling someone else to speak to us. The last part of the sentence also validates this, because when we are out of our darkness, the message that God has given us, He wants us to "preach on the housetops" so that others can benefit.

Speak, for Your servant hears

1 Samuel 3:10
Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

It seems that in the Old Testament times, God spoke in an audible voice to His people or did He? For sure, we know that God spoke and the prophets heard Him. Also although God never changes, the "dispensation" changes, meaning the way He spoke to His people and this change was necessary in the different layout of history which He designed.

Getting back to the speaking, whether it was audible or not, God did speak and Samuel did hear. More importantly was the response of Samuel, who is ready to hear more. The dispensation may have changed, the way God operated may have changed from calling prophets to letting the Holy Spirit guide us now. What does not change is the fact that God is still calling us. The question is are we open to hearing God?

But let not God speak with us, lest we die

Exodus 20:19
Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”


A few things can be said of this statement which reveals the attitude of the people towards God.
Fear - they rightly fear God because God is perfectly Holy and Awesome while they are sinners.
Worthiness - Being humans and knowing that they have done many sinful deeds, they would realize how unworthy they are.
Distance - they could have been spiritually far from God. Instead of calling on God, their lack of relationship with the everlasting Lord, means that they were more comfortable to speak and listen to God through Moses.

You will keep him in perfect peace

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Our minds are incredibly complex - served in most part by the amazing organ called the brain. It is more than just the physical brain - the mind has a connection to our spirit, and is regarded as the source of our soul. Everyday the mind can entertain an infinite variety of thoughts. God has one advice for us, and that is to keep our minds focussed on Him.

Firstly we need to trust God to keep our minds on Him. Secondly we must will it to make our minds focussed on God. Thirdly the rewards for keeping our minds on God is perfect peace. This would be the peace described as "surpassing understanding". When we go through trouble it is worthwhile to think of God and remember His promises. When we are successful or going through blessed moment, we still need to keep our minds on God lest we fall far down.

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high,
and behold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by number:
he calleth them all by names
by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power;
not one faileth. 

In the same context as the last passage, these verses introduces the magnificence of God as the Creator of all. People going about their daily business may easily overlook God; this is true thousands of years ago as it is today.

The evidence of God is all around us. The cure for a society may be as simple as just stopping and looking up. Then we see the heavens, the trees, mountains and the world which is just so perfectly put together. Perhaps then we would realise our place in His Kingdom.

The everlasting God Neither faints nor is weary.

Isaiah 40:28
The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.

The context of this quote is in the chapter of Isaiah which is delivered to comfort the children Israel and God's people throughout the generations. Have we ever thought that God did not hear us when are petitions and prayers are not answered? This may lead to the reasoning that God is too busy with too many other people (wrongly thinking God is limited) or that our matters are not important enough (wrongly putting down our own worth with respect to God).

The Scripture assures us God does not get tired. He has the infinite power to sustain us, gives strength and power to the weak. Our part is that we must wait on God and believing on God's promises is faith, rather than just believing on His existence like heathens do. To those who believe and wait, He promises:
"They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul prays that the believers will be sanctified. The sanctification process should be for all believers. It means to make pure and perfect. Although we still live in a sinful world, the Holy Spirit will guide the followers of Christ to sanctification if only we let Him.

Living in a sinful world will lead believers to battle with sin and tempations constantly. Many times, human will itself will not be able to win over tempations. It is only with the help of the Spirit that we can stand and be sanctified. This is also a process of surrender to Him and to entrust our battles to Him.

He who was going to redeem Israel

Luke 24:21
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

The followers of Jesus seemed to be quite dejected on the third day after His Crucifixion. It is not clear how many actually understood Jesus' prophecy that He will rise again. In any case, their confidence seem to have deserted them.

It actually turns out that, on the third day, the Lord rose again. Is this the light beyond the tunnel? Can we see the Light yet? In the times of trials, will we feel abandonend, or cling on in faith, to the promises of Yshua Ha Masiach?

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering

2 Timothy 4:6 
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Following from the previous post about willingness of being a drink offering, this is about after being a drink and the trials that come because of it. How to we respond to such trials that come as a result our service to God? The thing to do is to steadfastly go through it without complaining or self-pity.

There may be various different suggestions to go through this such as hardening our wills, determined to follow through what we set out on doing and set our will to align with God's will. Also we should bring this back up to God who hears us. There are different ways to deal with this and there is no reason not to include God - the Holy Spirit as our supreme Councillor.

If I am being poured out as a drink offering

Philippians 2:17
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Paul is talking about letting ourselves being used in the service run by other fellow believers for others. Essentially the point to be made is that the other fellow believers who are running or organizing the services will get the recognition. However those who help them behind the scenes may not be known for their work.

The emphais Paul makes is that we should be willing to be used by our fellow believers in their service to others. Like a drink offering that is poured out, it is used and forgotten, yet it is an essential part of our service. All the hard work done behind the scenes may not get recognition from other humans but God our Father knows our hearts and our works.

For the love of Christ compels us

2 Corinthians 5:14
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 

Paul summarises accurately the source of his motivation which is the "love of Christ". This has changed his whole life, as it should with ours. It did not matter what people thought of him, what hardships and persecution that he had to go through. This causes a single minded to pursue what God wants us to do.

Although it is not mentioned explicitly, the love of Christ in us can only be manifested if the Holy Spirit is working. All believers are given the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. However, we must be open to receive the Holy Spirit in His power, only then can the power of God be manifested in our lives. It is a matter of asking to have none of us, and all of Him in our lives.

We have been made as the filth of the world

1 Corinthians 13
being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul was referring to the believers being made the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things. They are being regarded as the lowest members of society. Yet the implication is that Paul would continue his work of preaching the gospel, even though this is the reason he is made filth of the world.

To preach the gospel, that is to make known to the world that the kingdom of God has come, may put us in similar position of being rejected by the society. The challenge is whether we would willingly do this for our Lord Yshua, knowing that these are the consequences.

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel

1 Corinthians 9
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Paul stating that he needs to preach the gospel, almost being compelled to do so. The word 'woe' adds significant weight and urgency to it, implying that there is really no other option for him. This is not to say Paul is reluctant, on the contrary, there are many evidences of his strong willingness to do so on his part. However this also says that the Lord compelled Paul to preach the gospel, especially appearing to Him in such a fashion on the road to Damascus.

When a believer reads this and ponders, he will be asking himself, does God require all born again believers to preach the gospel, beyond giving a personal testimony about their conversion. By looking from the Bible itself, we see there are different roles including pastors, teachers, evangelists and so on. And another fact to remember is that preaching of the gospel is not the condition of our salvation. So there is no question of being saved if we believe and accept Jesus as Lord after our repentance. Another way to answer this is if one feels compelled to preach the gospel, and not out of personal gain, then that could be the calling to preach.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel

1 Corinthians 1
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

A few things we can learnt from this passage. Firstly, Paul is very clear of his mission. Just as John the Baptist was appointed to preach repentance and baptize the people in water, Paul's mission was to preach the gospel. The gospel is the good news of salvation through faith in our Lord Yeshua. Paul could have done many things, but his main purpose was to preach the gospel.

The second part is that the way he preached the gospel did not depend on wise words to be effective. Here we have to imagine beyond Paul's writings in the New Testament. Although Paul was educated and eloquent in his writing, his contribution was guided by the Holy Spirit. Moreover, his writing was quite a different task to the many days and years that Paul spend preaching the gospel directly in person to other people. The core of the gospel must be, not due to the power of convincing words, but the work done by Christ on the cross.