Escape The Corruption In The World (Sunday, March 1st, 2026)

My dear brothers and sisters, when we shared communion earlier, I was reflecting on how the early church in the book of Acts continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine. You might wonder, is this different from Jesus’ doctrine? Not at all. We have this doctrine through the scriptures, written by holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit. This written word is the primary way the Lord speaks to us today, providing a foundation for everything we need to live our Christian life.

Escaping the World's Corruption

I felt led to share from 2 Peter 1:1-4. Peter writes to all who have received a faith as precious as ours. He reminds us:

"Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4 NASB 1995)

God has already given us everything we need for a godly life. But we must have the true knowledge of Him. Without staying grounded in scripture, it is easy to have an incorrect understanding of Christ or to apply an "Old Testament" mentality that focuses only on earthly, natural blessings.

A Different Kingdom, A Different Priority

Often, our prayers reveal where our hearts truly lie. Are we primarily praying for careers, wealth, and status?. These are the things the Gentiles seek after. Jesus tells us:

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NASB 1995)

We are in this world, but we are not of it. Like Daniel in Babylon, we should not be corrupted by the system around us. If we are preoccupied with worldly things, we risk becoming "fleshly" or "worldly"—infants who can only handle milk instead of the solid food of spiritual maturity. True maturity isn't about knowing deep theological theories; it’s about whether we are actually obeying God and reflecting His nature.

Guarding the Heart

Apostle John also warns us about the pull of the world:

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16 NASB 1995)

The world tries to reach us through our physical appetites, what we see, and our desire for status. We must examine ourselves: do we value what the world values—power, wealth, and charisma—or do we value what God values?.

Sometimes we pretend we can’t tell the difference between a godly desire and a worldly one, much like the farmer who "couldn't" distinguish between his black horse and his white horse. But the closer we get to God, the more clearly we will see His heart. Let us repent of our worldliness and hold fast to the promises that allow us to partake in His divine nature.

Seek The Lord And His Timing (Sunday, February 22nd, 2026)

Grace and peace to you all. I am so blessed to share what God has placed on my heart today, especially following Brother Badhri's powerful words on God's timing. It is truly ironic—and proof of God's sense of humor—that we are both speaking on the same theme today.

The Rodeo of Life

I often think of our walk with Christ as being in a rodeo. Imagine a cowboy on a bucking bull: he’s hanging on for dear life with one hand while the other is lifted high. That is us. In one hand, we are gripping the journey, and with the other, we are lifted up in desperation, crying out, "God, I need You to show up!".

We often set deadlines for God—thinking if He shows up by 3 o'clock, we'll be okay. But I believe God often waits until 4 o'clock—past the point of our human possibilities—to enter into what I call divine timing.

A Hidden Tragedy: The Wedding at Cana

We all know the story of the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. It seems like a beautiful success: a family was saved from public embarrassment, and the celebration continued with the best wine.

But I want to suggest that this story ended in a tragedy. Why? Because although the wine was restored, the bridegroom and the family never realized it was Jesus who rescued them. They were so focused on how great the wine tasted that they missed the Great Man who provided it. The tragedy is when God moves in our lives, but His glory remains hidden from those around us.

"Jesus said to them, 'Fill the waterpots with water.' So they filled them up to the brim." — John 2:7 (NASB 1995)

A Public Testimony: The Resurrection of Lazarus

Contrast that with the story of Lazarus. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, but by the time He arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. In Jewish custom, the spirit was believed to leave the body after three days. By waiting until the fourth day, Jesus ensured there was no doubt: Lazarus was truly dead, and only God could bring him back.

Jesus didn't delay because He didn't care; He delayed because He wanted to turn a private issue into a public testimony. Because He waited, many of the Jews who were there to comfort the family saw the miracle and believed in Him.

*"Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?'"John 11:40 (NASB 1995)

Trusting the Silence

Sometimes we feel like our book has been closed and the story is over. But God is a companion who walks with us and weeps with us in our pain. If you are in your "three days" of waiting, do not let the silence discourage you.

His silence is not His denial. He is working in the details, waiting for the perfect moment to add a new chapter to your life and reveal His glory to the world.

Take Heed And Fulfill Your Ministry (Sunday, February 15, 2026)

Beloved brothers and sisters, as I was meditating over the last several days, the Lord placed a specific verse on my heart that I wrestled with and struggled through during my preparations. I believe with certainty that the Lord wants to speak to each of us today through a specific instruction found at the end of the book of Colossians.

In Colossians 4:17, the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Colossae with a message for a man named Archippus:

"Say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'" (NASB 1995).

We don’t know much about Archippus, other than Paul also calling him a "fellow soldier" in the book of Philemon. But what we do know is that he had a ministry given to him by the Lord—and so do you.

Understanding Our Ministry: Reconciliation

For a long time, I thought "ministry" only referred to those employed by a church or working as full-time missionaries. But the Word of God has widened my worldview. To minister simply means to serve. While we are called to glorify God in everything we do, there is a specific spiritual ministry the Lord has entrusted to every believer: The Ministry of Reconciliation.

As 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NASB 1995) tells us:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.".

If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus, you have been reconciled to God. Consequently, God has now given you the command to be a witness so that others may be reconciled to Him as well. This is not just for "full-time" workers; this is a priesthood of all believers.

A New Covenant Ministry

This ministry is not like the Old Testament priesthood, which was restricted to the tribe of Levi and focused on external rituals. We serve under a New Covenant, where the veil has been torn, and we all have access to God’s presence.

Paul contrasts these two ministries in 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NASB 1995), noting that God:

"...made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.".

We are not ministers of condemnation or death, but ministers of the Spirit, of life, and of righteousness. You are a "letter of Christ," written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, intended to be read by those around you—your family, your co-workers, and your neighbors.

Identifying the Hindrances

If we all have this ministry, why do we often fail to fulfill it? Sometimes it is because we don't realize we have one, or we are fearful of rejection. But often, we simply get sidetracked by doing things our own way or losing our focus.

I want to highlight three specific "thorns" from the Parable of the Sower that choke our effectiveness (Mark 4:18-19):

  1. The Cares of This World: Difficulties like job loss, sickness, or family problems can overwhelm us. While these are real, the Lord uses them to teach us to trust Him rather than our own strength.

  2. The Deceitfulness of Riches: Material wealth has a powerful pull on the human mind. As Matthew 6:24 (NASB 1995) warns, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and wealth.".

  3. The Desires for Other Things: In our modern world, work and hobbies can become preoccupations rather than just occupations. Even Paul was a tentmaker, but he never let his business distract him from his primary calling.

My Charge to You

God has placed you in strategic places—not just to earn a living, but to be His witnesses. The Ministry of Reconciliation isn't necessarily about inviting someone to a church building; it is about using the words God gives you to reconcile them to Himself.

Do not be discouraged if you feel inadequate. No one takes this honor upon themselves; it is received when one is called by God (Hebrews 5:4). The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. When we pray for laborers, the Lord often sends the very people who are praying.

Take heed to the ministry you have received. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, seek His will, and be faithful with the light He has given you.