Christian Searchlight

  *_"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me."_* *Psalm 23:4 (AMPC)* *_EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE!_* _*My friend, today you can experience God’s presence in your life. Say to yourself, “The Lord is with me and I have His favour, blessings, and protection.”*_ _*Sense His shadow covering you. His shadow is a picture of nearness. You are not trying to get into the secret place; you are already there in Christ. In Christ, you can’t get any closer to God.*_ _*In the Old Testament, God showed Moses, the great patriarch, only His back parts (Ex. 33:22–23). That’s the old covenant—because of man’s failure, God was always departing and the children of Israel only saw His back.*_ _*The picture of the new covenant is God sending His only Son, Jesus Christ. It is the picture of the father running toward the prodigal son in spite of his fai...

  *_Honoring the Word of God: The Attitude Christians Should Embrace_* As Christians, we are called to have a reverent and humble attitude towards the Word of God. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient texts or a book of human wisdom; it is the living and inspired Word of God, given to us for instruction, guidance, and transformation. Our attitude towards the Bible reflects our relationship with God and our desire to know and obey His will. Sadly, there are those who claim to be Christians but do not take the Word of God seriously. They may dismiss it as outdated, irrelevant, or even foolish. However, it is important to understand that when someone belittles or mocks the Bible, they are actually revealing their own spiritual condition. Proverbs 14:6 tells us, *"A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands."* Those who mock the Word of God are unable to grasp its true wisdom because they lack understanding and spiritual disc...

A Call to Submit to the Word of God_* The Bible reveals to us the powerful and deceptive nature of Satan, who was able to deceive a third of the angels that were in the very presence of God. This astounding truth should awaken us to the immense power that Satan wields over those who do not submit to the Word of God. It serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual battle we face and the importance of aligning our lives with the truth of God's Word. In the book of Revelation, we gain insight into this sobering reality. Revelation 12:4 describes how the dragon, representing Satan, drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. These fallen angels, once in the presence of God, were deceived and swayed by the cunning tactics of the enemy. This serves as a profound illustration of Satan's ability to deceive even the most elevated beings. If Satan could deceive angels who were in the very presence of God, how much more vulnerable are we as mere men and women? The powe...

  *Ask whatever you wish, and it will be granted.* I believed many of us, especially when we are _young_ to the Word, would have claim this verse John 15:7, with a blank cheque mindset. And, some of us would have even combined it with Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given.” Then, the reality sets in. We asked God, “where is it? When is it coming? I did _all_ you said, yet I am still struggling with the “lack” of it. Why God? What have I not done? Tell me God .. tell me…” My friends. God’s Word is precise. Hebrews 4:12 _“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even as far as the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrows, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”_ So, when you pray to God, when you talk to Him, when you quote Him, you need to learn to be *precise* too.  Do not half-quote, mis-quote and worst quoting it out of context. Read the entire paragraph, study the original meaning of the ...

 *_The Power of Peace and Unity: Building a Healthy Family Foundation_* Within the family unit, the importance of peace and unity cannot be overstated. As parents, we have a responsibility to foster an environment of love, respect, and harmony, especially in front of our children. Our actions and words greatly impact their emotional well-being and shape their understanding of healthy relationships. It is crucial for parents to exercise self-control and refrain from engaging in harmful behaviors, particularly when conflicts arise. One aspect to address is the detrimental effect of parents throwing tantrums or displaying inappropriate behavior when their  feelings are hurt. Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us, *"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."* These verses emphasize the importance of treating one another with kindness...

  *The Spirit of God* 1 Corinthians 2:10 to 16  “God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” Ephesians 1:15 t...

  *_Having eternity in mind_* *So Job died, old and full of days.* ~Job 42:17 The interesting story of Job. A story that deals with the problems of pain, the problems of suffering. Why do the righteous suffer? Why are the ungodly oftentimes prosperous? Though there is no firm answer. Righteous people often suffer, and what we know is we don't know the reason. Good people often experience pain; godly people sometimes die young; righteous people are often sick; we don't know the reason. Sinners are many times prosperous; we don't know the reason. But because we don't know the reasons, we should not draw false conclusions as Job did saying things like: "It doesn't pay to try to live right. It doesn't pay to try to be good, because you're going to get afflicted anyhow." Those were wrong conclusions that Job drew from his experiences. What we need to realize is that this present suffering is not worthy to be compared with the glory that is going to be r...

_*"And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”*_ *John 6:35* *_FEED ON CHRIST!_* _*In John 11:53, we see an unexpected response toward Jesus when He performed the astounding miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. From that day on, it says the chief priests and the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus—the One Who opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf ears, cleansed those with leprosy, and raised the dead!*_ _*Why? And what does this tell you about what was in their hearts?*_ _*In order to be a chief priest or a Pharisee, one needed to be a student of the Word of God from a young age, and to know the Torah from front to back. Yet the religious leaders, who were zealous for the law and knew all about the Torah, were the very people who plotted to kill Jesus.*_ _*Now lean in and listen closely to what I am about to say. They had head knowledge but they did not have a heart for the person of Jesus. The...

  *Are you worthy of God’s love today?* We are often bothered that we are not good enough. When we miss a mark, be it in passing an exam, or in scoring an “A”, or in missing a promotion, or a deal, or an opportunity in our life.  So when things of this world caused us to fall below the mark, we start to question ourselves if we are good enough.  To some of us as believers, it goes even further to question if we are worthy enough for God to bless us. Stop. Do not fall into the self-pity and self condemnation trap. You are not God. Let God be the judge if you are good enough. He knows you before you even know your parents. Remember at the top of your mind, _John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life._ _Romans 5:6,8 For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Chri...

  What prevents your prayers from being answered? There are several situations that block answers to our prayers.  1 Living in disobedience to Scripture: Proverbs 28:9 states, “if one turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.” (An abomination is something that is detestable to God.) Revelation 3:15-16(ESV) [Jesus said] “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm,  and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Praying to Impress Others: When you pray in church, be sincere, God knows your heart. Don’t pray to draw attention to yourself. Don’t pray long flowery prayers to make others present think you have a close relationship with your Lord. Instead, look to communicate your petitions to God in simple, clear-cut language that is sincere, honest, transparent and comes from your heart.   Matthew 6:7-8(ESV) “And when you pray, do not ...

*HAVE YOU SHARPENED YOUR AXE TODAY?*  Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees. “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!” Very motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. “I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…” Reflect on this:👇 Our lives are like...

  *_"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."_* *Genesis 12:2* *_BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!_* _*What does it mean to be an heir of the world? Let’s take a look at Abraham’s life to see what the Lord did for him. God’s Word tells us that Abraham did not just become rich. He became very rich.*_ *_“Well, you may ask, being an heir of the world refers to spiritual riches.”_* _*Hang on, that is not what my Bible says. According to Genesis 13:2, Abraham was “very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” Now, if financial blessings are not part of the blessings of the Lord, then are you telling me that the Lord cursed Abraham with wealth?*_ _*I am so glad that God defined Abraham's riches very specifically. God must have foreseen a generation of people who would argue that He is against His people experiencing financial success, so He said clearly in His Word that Abraham was very rich in livestock, silver, and go...

  *_Genuine Faith: Embracing Personal Relationship over Superstitious Beliefs_* In our journey of faith, it is crucial to discern between genuine trust in God and superstitious beliefs that attach undue power to objects or external rituals. True faith is not rooted in the notion that certain actions or items possess inherent spiritual efficacy, but rather in a personal relationship with God and a heartfelt response to His will. God desires an intimate connection with His children. He wants us to respond personally to Him, not through a mere reliance on external symbols or rituals. While attending church, partaking in Communion, teaching Sunday school, or wearing a cross can be meaningful expressions of faith, they should never become substitutes for a genuine relationship with God. Scripture warns against superstitious beliefs and practices that attribute special powers to objects or rituals apart from God Himself. Instead, let us anchor our faith in these biblical truths: _*Person...

  *_"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."_* *1 Peter 2:9* *_THERE IS JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU!_* _*It is the Lord’s manifested presence, His glorious power working in your heart and through your hands that will cause everything you touch to prosper with the Jesus-kind of results. In fact, even your harshest critic will have to conclude that the Lord is with you and is prospering the work of your hands!*_ _*Beloved, stop looking at your outward circumstances or the position you are in. Whether your employer is a believer or not, Jesus can make ALL that you do prosper when you depend on His unmerited favour in your career!*_ _*And believe me, when that begins to happen, your employer will sit up and notice that there is something special about you. You will stand out in a crowd!*_ _*Remember that the same Lord who was ...

*_Prioritizing God in Our Daily Lives: Being Good Stewards of Our Time_* In the busyness and routines of our daily lives, it is easy to get caught up in the demands and distractions that surround us. However, it is essential that we consciously make an effort to prioritize God, His Word, and fellowship with believers. Today, let us delve into the Scriptures and explore the significance of being good stewards of our time and ensuring that our commitments do not overshadow our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Matthew 6:33: *"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."* Our primary focus should be on seeking God's kingdom and righteousness. By making Him the priority in our lives, we position ourselves to receive His abundant blessings and provision. Let us put God first in our daily routines and decisions. Ephesians 5:15-16: *"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the ti...

  *_Embracing the Blessings of Delegating Responsibilities_* In our journey through life, we often find ourselves burdened with various responsibilities and tasks. The weight of these responsibilities can sometimes lead to burnout, exhaustion, and a sense of being overwhelmed. However, as we look to the wisdom of Scripture, we can discover a valuable lesson in avoiding burnout: embracing the blessings of delegating responsibilities. One biblical example of this principle is found in the life of Moses. As the leader of the Israelites, Moses was faced with the monumental task of guiding and governing a vast multitude of people. Recognizing the potential for burnout, Moses wisely heeded the advice of his father-in-law, Jethro, and appointed capable leaders to assist him in the task of governing and resolving disputes among the people (Exodus 18:13-27). By delegating these responsibilities, Moses not only lightened his own burden but also empowered others to contribute and utilize thei...

  *_"Every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household."_* *Exodus 12:3* *_JESUS, OUR TRUE PASSOVER LAMB!_* _*Jews worldwide celebrate the Passover feast. The feast, which has been kept for generations, commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Ex. 12:14).*_ _*The night before the Israelites left Egypt, the destroyer went through the land killing the firstborn of man and beast. Only those households with the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts were spared.*_ _*God had told the Israelites, “Take a lamb, a lamb for a household.” It was a lamb for each family. This tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our true Passover Lamb, is for whole families to be saved!*_ _*So your children are blessed once you receive Jesus. Your unsaved spouse and grandparents are blessed too, because Jesus is now the Lamb for your whole household. Your unsaved loved ones will enjoy the blessings of the saved...

  _*Don't Be Overconfident in Your Strengths*_ And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD.. And the LORD said to him: "I have heard your prayer.. Now *if you walk before Me* as your father David walked..to do according to all that I have commanded you.. *then I will establish* the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever. *But if you..turn from following Me*...then I will cut off* Israel from the land." 1 Kings 9:1,3-7 I would like to just point out one thing from the above scripture. A lot of times there come warnings from the Lord to us by various means. And quite often when God speaks, we think, "Oh, it's not necessary to talk to me about that, Lord, you know that's one area where I just don't have any problem." But let me suggest whenever God speaks to you about any area of your life, you listen carefully because God doesn't waste words. And if He talks to you about some issue in your life, you can be sure...

  _*The Proof of Genuine Love for God*_ *"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."* ♡Mark 12:30-31♡ Loving God wholeheartedly means giving Him our entire being, not just our actions. It involves an attitude of the heart that shows itself in our relationships with others. It is not just about our religious practices such as Bible reading, prayer, or holiness. Jesus said in John 13:35, *"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."* This means that our love for God is reflected in the way we treat and love others. Our love for God should motivate us to show love, kindness, and compassion to those around us, especially our family and friends. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul tells us that even if we do gre...

  HOLD FIRM TO YOUR DREAM.  Gen. 37:5 &9  5. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren, and they hated him yet the more. 9. And he dreamed yet another dream and told it his brethren, and said, Behold I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. There are dream and vision killers. Be very careful who you share your dream with. When God gives a man dream, He may not show him what you will encounter on the road to fulfilling the dream. Be sure of one thing, He will lead you as He did with Joseph. There are many great soldiers of Christ with great dreams, but the enemy of their souls has collected the glorious future using Delilah and Potiphar's wife of this world. Both Samson and Joseph were enticed by sex. Samson fell but Joseph did not trade his dream for what has no eternal value. Friends, what is that thing that the enemy dangled before you in exchange for your DREAM? It may look spiritual,...

  *_God's Blessings are not Earned but Given Freely by His Grace_* "I also realized that *the portions for the Levites had not been given them;* for each of *the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field."* ~Nehemiah 13:10 So remember just a little while back, everybody had read the law and they said, "Oh, we're going to serve God. We're going to write the covenant. We're going to sign. We're going to tithe. We're going to support the temple. We'll give money. We're going to do these things." Didn't take them long to fall away from that commitment. Isn't it interesting how quickly we can turn away from the vows that we have made to God? How easily we can break vows? The vows were really made in sincerity. Growing up as a child, wanting to be better, wanting to be good, wanting to do the right thing. "Oh God, I'm going to pray everyday this week. Oh God, I'm going to live for You this week...

  _*Obedience to the Lord: Moving Forward to the Next Season*_ As we journey through life, God has prepared many stages and seasons ahead for us. It is up to us to move forward to the next one through obedience to His will and His ways. In Deuteronomy 28:1, the Lord said, *"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth."* God will not force us into the next season if we are not willing. He has given us free will to choose to obey Him or not. But I want to encourage you to be obedient to the Lord, because in every season, there is something for us to learn and to be ready for the next one. For example, perhaps the current season is about learning to control our anger and emotions. If we are unwilling to learn and be fixed on our fleshly ways, then we won't be able to get to the next level God has pr...

  *Acts 22:8 ’I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’* The world has many definitions of this word “persecute” or “persecution”. (1) “persecute” — subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or their political beliefs. (2) “persecution” — persistent annoyance or harassment. What does the Bible say?  “persecute” in the original Hebrew defines as “to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) — chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).  Simply put, when we are persecuted, we are in the process of “running away” from a thing that caused us to flee, and to escape.  Let’s be honest here. How many of us are “running away”, or about to “run away” or already given up and ran away … ? I would say all of us. Yes, all of us.  The things of this world persecutes us as believers. On account of His name, we are...

  _*The Constant of Change: Finding Peace in God's Plan*_ Life is full of changes and transitions, and it can be difficult to accept them when they come. We may be content with the way things are now, but eventually, we must move on to the next chapter in life. However, we can take comfort in knowing that God is always with us, no matter what season we are in. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, it says, *"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."* This means that each season of our life has a purpose, and we should embrace it instead of resisting it. When we resist change, we are actually resisting the plans that God has for us. For example, when students graduate, they may be scared or unsure of what the future holds. But Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. God has a plan for our lives, and if we trust Him, He will guide us to the right path. Similarly, when a single person gets married, they may have to ...

  *_“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.”_* *Psalm 91:14* *_God So Loved Us!_* _*What qualifies you for God’s protection? I ask this question because I have heard many ministers whose teachings make it seem like you have to qualify for God’s blessings. They make it sound like God blesses you only if you are able to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This also applies in the area of your protection. When they read, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him”, they conclude that God’s protection is dependent on us fulfilling the condition of loving the Lord perfectly.*_ _*Unfortunately, such teaching robs you of the faith to believe God for divine protection over yourself and your loved ones. Anything that is dependent on our efforts is on a shaky foundation, because no matter how “good” a Christian we think we are, our love for the ...

  _*Possessing Earthly Riches with a Heavenly Mindset*_ There is nothing inherently wrong with being rich or having many possessions. In fact, throughout the Bible, we see examples of individuals who were wealthy but still loved the Lord and were faithful to Him. For example, Job was a man of great wealth and possessions, but he remained faithful to God in the midst of great suffering. However, we also see examples of people who were led astray by their wealth. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 was not willing to sell all he had and follow Jesus because he loved his possessions more than God. We also see the story of King Ahab, who allowed his desire for more possessions to lead him into sin. The issue is not with the possessions themselves, but with our mindset towards them. If we see our possessions as something that we have achieved through our own strength, then we have missed the point. Everything we have comes from God, and we are merely stewards of His blessings. Our ...

  _*Character vs. Reputation: What Really Matters?*_ Our society places great emphasis on reputation and public image. However, it is important to remember that a person's character is what truly matters. Character is who we are in the eyes of God, while reputation is what others think of us. Jesus warned against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who projected an image of piety that did not reflect their inner reality. He called them out on their false projection, saying, *"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—beware of their hypocrisy"* (Luke 12:1). Jesus knew that the time would come when everything would be revealed, and all that is secret would be made public. The gap between what people think we are and what God knows we are will be bridged. There will be no difference between private and public life—everything private will be made public. We will be known as fully as God knows us. Therefore, it is crucial that we prioritize our character over our reputation. We should ...

  *_“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”_* *2 Kings 6:16* *_More with Us than against Us!_* _*In the days of the prophet Elisha, the king of Syria seized upon an opportunity to capture Elisha who was in the city of Dothan. He mobilized a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city one night. He wasn’t prepared to take any risk of the prophet escaping.*_ _*Early the next morning in Dothan, when Elisha’s servant went outside, he saw troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. He and Elisha were completely surrounded by enemy forces intent on killing them. The servant flew into a state of panic and cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15).*_ _*Put yourself in the shoes of Elisha’s servant. You (and I) would probably have been filled with fear too. But here’s where I want you to pay close attention, because there is a powerful truth I want you to catch. Without faltering, Elisha calmly told his se...