10/07/2025

Jonah



The Global Message of Jonah

The theme of Jonah is God’s saving mercy toward the nations of the world. The Lord’s compassion is not only for insiders like Jonah and Israel but also for outsiders like the Ninevites. Jonah vividly displays the heart of mercy God has for all people groups of the world, even those known for their godlessness. If only they will repent, God’s compassion is available to any persons from any nation or ethnicity.

Jonah in Redemptive History

God’s global intent. God called Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28). This commission was hindered with the fall into sin, but was given in grace once more to Noah and then to Abraham and the patriarchs (Gen. 8:17; 9:1; 17:20; 28:3; 35:11). Abraham, however, was called not only to be fruitful and become “a great nation” but also to “be a blessing” so that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:2–3). Abraham and his children were to be a channel of divine blessing to the whole world.

Built into the Old Testament story from very early on, then, is God’s desire to reach the ends of the earth with his goodness and saving mercy. Israel was not called out and chosen by God solely for her own sake—she was called out so that she might bring blessing to the nations (Isa. 42:6–7; 49:6). 

Part of the tragedy of Israel’s persistent faithlessness and idolatry over many generations was their ethnocentrism: they turned their focus inward rather than spreading divine blessing to the nations around them. Paul speaks of Israel’s failure in this regard many times, as in his letter to the Romans (Rom. 2:1–29). Jesus too addresses the Jewish failure to bring God’s blessing to the nations, as in the parable of the tenants (Matt. 21:33–46; compare Luke 24:47John 10:16Acts 1:8).

Jonah’s role in God’s global intent. This inward focus of Israel is also seen in Jonah. The prophet at first refuses to go to Nineveh, the godless Assyrian city, because, he says, “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 4:2). Jonah failed to see that God’s compassion was for all people; the very “steadfast love” he had received in the belly of the great fish (2:8) was the “steadfast love” he did not want to share with the nations (4:2), yet which they desperately needed, and which God stood ready to give to them.

With the coming of Christ, the blessing of God finally begins to flood out to the nations. Indeed, Jesus’ commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel picks up and extends the commission given to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and subdue the earth, multiplying not only physically but also spiritually (“make disciples of all nations”; Matt. 28:19). And one day the blessing experienced by the Ninevites will be fulfilled in cosmic proportions as Jesus Christ is worshiped by a “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

Universal Themes in Jonah

The compassion of God. This is the key theme of Jonah. It is the note on which the book ends, as the Lord asks a despondent Jonah, “Should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11). God’s merciful compassion is not restricted to insiders. His mercy is for all who repent. Divine compassion is shown not to those who think they deserve such compassion but to those who receive it with repentance and humility—as the Ninevites did.

God’s sovereign purposes. God does whatever it takes—from a storm at sea to a great fish to the miraculous response of repentance by the Ninevites—to bring his boundless compassion to the nations. As Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6). God delights to invite his people’s glad participation in what he is doing in the world, yet he is not bound by their obedience or disobedience. No matter how God’s people respond, God will accomplish his saving purposes for the world.

The universal need for grace. The Ninevites needed grace for their wickedness. But Jonah, the insider, the prophet, also needed grace. He was shown grace in the belly of the fish, and yet his heart remained stubborn even at the end of the story. He is resentful, refusing to feel the same pity for Nineveh that he felt for a small plant (Jonah 4:5–10). In short, he is a sinner—a hard-hearted man who is in need of mercy, the same mercy that God extended to the Ninevites. The steadfast love shown to Israel is needed by Israelites just as much as by the godless nations to whom Israel was called to bring it. The story stops where it does precisely in order to make this point.

The Global Message of Jonah for Today

The message of Jonah is an urgent call for the global church to extend to others the compassion they themselves have received.

One way we do this is through tangible acts of love such as financial generosity, hospitality, sharing of resources and personal possessions, and advocacy on behalf of those in need politically or socially. One thinks, for instance, of the alarming rate at which human trafficking and slavery are spreading. Such horrors demand active advocacy.

A second and even more crucial way we can extend compassion to others is through the spoken word, just as Jonah did (Jonah 3:3–4). Mindful of the “steadfast love” God has shown to us in Christ, we speak to others of the same steadfast love that is available to all the peoples of the world, regardless of class, ethnicity, or any other socially defining marker. The gospel of Christ crucified is that which is “of first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3), and we gladly and courageously pass it on to those who have not heard it.

We speak the gospel to lost people with confidence, knowing that the results are in God’s hands. Humanly speaking, no one in Nineveh was less likely to respond to Jonah’s preaching than the king. But God sovereignly caused Jonah’s preaching to pierce the hearts of the Ninevites, “from the greatest of them to the least of them,” including the king (Jonah 3:5–9)!

09/02/2025

What is a mangrove?

I have been intrigued by mangroves for a long time.

The word "mangrove" is used in at least three senses:

  • Most broadly to refer to the habitat and entire plant assemblage or mangal,[13][17] for which the terms mangrove forest biome and mangrove swamp are also used;
  • To refer to all trees and large shrubs in a mangrove swamp;[13] and
  • Narrowly to refer only to mangrove trees of the genus Rhizophora of the family Rhizophoraceae.[18]


The word "mangrove" is used in at least three senses:

06/02/2025

Jehoshaphat's Reforms


Jehoshaphat's Reforms

19 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”

Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: 10 whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”[a]

Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 19

Jehoshaphat's Reforms

19 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”

Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: 10 whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”[a]

14/01/2025

Persecution of Christians in Nicaragua!



For the first time in the report’s 18-year history, Nicaragua is featured in response to extreme oppressive measures targeting Christians, notably the mass detention and expulsion of clergy.  
Father God, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua, stop the present ersecution in Jesus'mighty name Amen!
The report features first-hand testimonies from survivors of anti-Christian attacks, in addition to details of incidents based on information obtained from ACN’s local contacts.

10/01/2025

Important verses for our heart!


Trust in Jesus! 

You Must Be Born Again

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)

 Ephesians 4:32 says “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

08/01/2025

Psaume 9 - Je louerai l'Eternel de tout mon coeur...


  1.  Je louerai l'Éternel de tout mon coeur, Je raconterai toutes tes merveilles.
  2.  Je ferai de toi le sujet de ma joie et de mon allégresse, Je chanterai ton nom, Dieu Très Haut!
  3.  Mes ennemis reculent, Ils chancellent, ils périssent devant ta face.
  4.  Car tu soutiens mon droit et ma cause, Tu sièges sur ton trône en juste juge.
  5.  Tu châties les nations, tu détruis le méchant, Tu effaces leur nom pour toujours et à perpétuité.
  6.  Plus d'ennemis! Des ruines éternelles! Des villes que tu as renversées! Leur souvenir est anéanti.
  7.  L'Éternel règne à jamais, Il a dressé son trône pour le jugement;
  8.  Il juge le monde avec justice, Il juge les peuples avec droiture.
  9.  L'Éternel est un refuge pour l'opprimé, Un refuge au temps de la détresse.
  10.  Ceux qui connaissent ton nom se confient en toi. Car tu n'abandonnes pas ceux qui te cherchent, ô Éternel!
  11.  Chantez à l'Éternel, qui réside en Sion, Publiez parmi les peuples ses hauts faits!
  12.  Car il venge le sang et se souvient des malheureux, Il n'oublie pas leurs cris.
  13.  Aie pitié de moi, Éternel! Vois la misère où me réduisent mes ennemis, Enlève-moi des portes de la mort,
  14.  Afin que je publie toutes tes louanges, Dans les portes de la fille de Sion, Et que je me réjouisse de ton salut.
  15.  Les nations tombent dans la fosse qu'elles ont faite, Leur pied se prend au filet qu'elles ont caché.
  16.  L'Éternel se montre, il fait justice, Il enlace le méchant dans l'oeuvre de ses mains. -Jeu d'instruments. Pause.
  17.  Les méchants se tournent vers le séjour des morts, Toutes les nations qui oublient Dieu.
  18.  Car le malheureux n'est point oublié à jamais, L'espérance des misérables ne périt pas à toujours.
  19.  Lève-toi, ô Éternel! Que l'homme ne triomphe pas! Que les nations soient jugées devant ta face!
  20.  Frappe-les d'épouvante, ô Éternel! Que les peuples sachent qu'ils sont des hommes! -Pause.

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

07/01/2025

Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit,



Psalm 115

Verse 1
To you alone, O Lord, to you alone,
and not to us,
must glory be given, because of
your constant love and faith-
fulness.
Verse 13
He will bless everyone who honours
him,
the great and the small alike.
Verse 15
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 30 verse 20
The Lord will make you go through
hard times, but he himself will be
there to teach you, and you will
not have to search for him any
more.
If you wander off the road to the
right or the left, you will hear
his voice behind you saying,
"Here is the road. Follow it."
Jude 20
But you, my friends, keep on building
yourselves up on your most sacred
faith.
Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
and keep yourselves in the love
of God, as you wait for our Lord
Jesus Christ in his mercy to give
you eternal life.

06/01/2025

Bible verses for healing!

6 January 2025


Jeremiah 30:17



For I will restore health to you,

    and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
    ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’

“Thus says the Lord:

30:18

Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
    and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city shall be rebuilt on its mound,
    and the palace shall stand where it used to be.
19 19  Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,
    and the voices of those who celebrate.
I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;
    I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.

20 Their children shall be as they were of old,
    and their congregation shall be established before me,
    and I will punish all who oppress them.
21 Their prince shall be one of themselves;
    their ruler shall come out from their midst;
I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me,
    for who would dare of himself to approach me?
declares the Lord.
22 22 And you shall be my people,
    and I will be your God.”

27/12/2024

1 Corinthians 1 ESV The message of the cross is the power of God





Greeting

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[c] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being[d] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[e] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”