Keep The Faith

Elijah Must Come and Restore All Things Short Introduction Throughout Scripture, God sends voices of warning, mercy, and restoration before moments of great change. Jesus’ words about Elijah remind us that God still calls His people to return to Him with humble hearts. This message is both ancient and present—an invitation to prepare ourselves for what He is doing in our day. Opening Scripture Matthew 17:10–11 (NIV) 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.” Introduction Jesus spoke these words during His first coming, when He came to take away the sins of the world. In this moment, He hinted that John the Baptist had come in the spirit of Elijah—preaching repentance, confronting corruption, and ultimately facing martyrdom. Prophetic Fulfillment Malachi 4:5–6 (NIV) “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before...

Exploring the meaning of “eternal life” as Jesus described it — a life of knowing God. I’ve been thinking about something this morning. In John chapter 17, Jesus gives us one of the clearest definitions of eternal life found anywhere in Scripture. John 17:3 (NIV) “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” For a long time, the English phrase “eternal life” has felt a little vague to me — almost like a distant, abstract idea. But when Yeshua (Jesus) describes it, He doesn’t talk about endless time at all. He talks about knowing God . That made me wonder: What do the original Greek words actually say? And why do we translate them as “eternal life” or “life eternal”? I was going to open my Ultimate Bible Study Suite on my Kindle, but I came across something even more helpful: a detailed Greek breakdown from Abarim Publications. Looking at the Greek Text In John 17:3, the phrase tran...

I woke up early this morning and I remembered that I was dreaming about LOVE. I was specifically dreaming about the medic, Desmond Doss, who is credited with saving more than 70 solders lives, even enemy soldiers', during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific. He did it without carrying any kind of protection for himself. He refused to carry a weapon or take a person's life. When he enlisted into the Army, he told them this and was almost rejected for service. They thought that he wouldn't make a good solder, but they took him anyway. He went through literal hell from his commanders and fellow soldiers, but he never quit/gave up. Click the link and go down to the 'Synopsis' of the movie. The movie, ' Hacksaw Ridge ', based on true events. It is well worth seeing if you haven't already. (maybe without children). His whole character was amazing, hard to believe, and is one example of LOVE (AGAPE LOVE). The kind of LOVE that Father God...

The Heart That Will Stand on Judgment Day A reflection on forgiveness, missed moments, and the love that prepares us for the Day of the Lord. If today were Judgment Day, and Yeshua (Jesus) finished shining His light on your life and then said, “I never knew you,” how would you feel? How would I feel? If today were that day, I don’t believe I would do well. There are so many things I have done — and not done. What I would regret most are the missed opportunities to speak with someone when I felt that gentle nudge inside. I think about it, weigh the reasons for and against, and by the time I finally decide to act, the moment is gone. The person is gone. These moments pass quickly. When we feel led to speak to someone, we should simply go. Don’t overthink — just go. In the book The Celestine Prophecy , these moments are called coincidences, but they are meaningful. If not for that moment, then for a later one. I’ve repented many times, yet I often fall bac...

Why Do We Do Good Works? We talk often about faith, salvation, and obedience — but beneath all of it sits a deeper question: Why do we do good works at all? What motivates us? What shapes our understanding of righteousness, mercy, and love? Across different faith traditions, the answer varies. But Scripture invites us into something far more profound than duty, reward, or fear. Different Traditions, Different Motivations Many Muslims understand good works as part of the final judgment — where deeds are weighed, and reward or loss follows. Many Jews understand good works as obedience to Torah — a life shaped by covenant faithfulness. Christians, however, often find themselves caught between two strong scriptural currents: Salvation by grace through faith Faith proven genuine through works Both appear clearly in Scripture, and both must be held together. Saved by Grace — Not by Works Paul writes with unmistakable clarity: “For it is by grace you hav...

Unity Series: Love Moves Us Into Action I used to think compassion and love were the same thing. They felt similar—both warm, both tender, both stirred by seeing someone hurting. But lately, as I’ve looked honestly at my own life, I’ve realized something uncomfortable. I can feel compassion… yet stop there. I can ache for someone, but not move toward them. I can care, but not act. And that’s the difference. Compassion feels. Love does. When Scripture speaks of the Father and of Yeshua (Jesus), compassion is never passive. It always becomes movement, sacrifice, giving, healing, restoring. Divine compassion acts , and that action is what Scripture calls love . John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love gives . 1 John 3:16 (NIV) “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Love lays itself down . This is the pattern ...

A reflection on Jesus’ perfect obedience, the meaning of LOVE in God’s law, and how the holy books reveal the unity of God’s nature. From what I understand about Muslims, they believe that Yeshua Jesus is just a prophet. The Jews don't accept Yeshua Jesus as the Messiah. Both don't believe that Jesus is who he says he is because they think he disobeyed God's laws. Was Jesus disobedient? NO, on the contrary; he was perfectly obedient. He obeyed all God's laws. Isn't LOVE most important? All the laws are summed up in this one decree: "LOVE your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:8–10 (NIV) Love Fulfills the Law 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one comm...