Saturday, December 13, 2025

Thursday, December 11, 2025

“The soul that truly desires to please God must expect warfare. Grace does not dwell in a soul that lives in comfort and avoids every cross.”

ST. MACARIUS

St. Macarius speaks with the blunt clarity of someone who has lived the spiritual life without illusions. His words cut straight through the comfortable, domesticated version of Christianity many people quietly slip into—the version that imagines holiness as a gentle drift rather than a battle of the will. Macarius refuses that fantasy. He confronts the reader with the uncomfortable truth that the path to God always involves conflict, sacrifice, and tension.

The idea of “warfare” may sound harsh, but within Christian spirituality it is a precise term. It describes the interior struggle between virtue and vice, light and darkness, generosity and self-indulgence. Anyone who has tried to be patient, forgiving, humble, or pure in a world that constantly rewards the opposite knows exactly what this warfare looks like. Growth costs something. Grace transforms, but transformation is rarely painless.

Macarius warns that grace does not settle comfortably into a soul that avoids every cross. Avoiding hardship, rejecting sacrifice, or clinging to comfort creates a kind of spiritual stagnation. A life built around ease leaves no space for the radical dependence on God that grace requires. The saints—Macarius included—became saints not because they lived perfect lives, but because they embraced the difficult moments that carved humility and trust into their hearts.

There is a paradox here. The very struggles we try to escape are often the places where grace does its deepest work. The cross we avoid becomes the cross that would have strengthened us. The spiritual warfare we fear becomes the battlefield where God teaches us courage. Macarius’ lesson is uncompromising: if you desire to please God, you must be willing to be shaped by moments that are uncomfortable, demanding, and refining.

This is not an argument for suffering for its own sake. Christianity never glorifies pain as an end; instead, it recognizes that love grows when we choose faithfulness over ease. The one who perseveres discovers that grace is not a fragile ornament but a force that thrives in adversity.
In a world obsessed with comfort, Macarius reminds us that comfort is not the goal. Transformation is. Holiness is. Union with God is. And these require a soul willing to fight the inner battle and carry the cross laid before it.

The article ends on a simple truth:
A life without spiritual struggle is a life without spiritual growth.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

It’s not covetousness.

It’s the ache of love.

Covetousness in Scripture is the desire to possess something that does not belong to you — a grasping, demanding spirit that says, “I must have this for myself,” even at the expense of God’s will or another person’s good.

But grief — the pain of losing someone, the longing for their presence, the sense that a part of your heart has been torn out — is not sinful desire. It is the cost of having loved deeply.

Think of Jesus:
When Lazarus died, Jesus wept. He didn’t rebuke Mary or Martha for longing for their brother. Their pain wasn’t covetousness — it was love expressing itself through grief.

Here’s how to tell the difference:

1. Covetousness grasps. Love grieves.

Covetousness says: “I must hold on. I cannot accept what God has allowed.”
Love says: “I miss you because you mattered.”

When your desire is simply that the person were still here because they were woven into your soul, that is love.

2. Covetousness demands control. Love surrenders pain.

Covetousness tries to control outcomes — to keep what cannot be kept.
Love brings the broken heart to God: “Lord, this hurts. Help me bear it.”

Your longing is not rebellion; it is human.

3. Covetousness is self-centered. Love is relational.

If your heart hurts because you miss the person — their voice, their presence, their companionship — that is love expressing the depth of what was shared.

Covetousness would look like:

refusing to let them go when God is calling them home
wanting them for what they do for you, not for who they are
But grief is none of these.

4. Love hurts because love was real.

When someone becomes part of your everyday life, losing them feels like losing a limb.
You’re not wanting to own them.
You’re not trying to take something that wasn’t yours.
You’re simply feeling what humans were never originally created to experience: separation.

That pain is a sign of genuine affection, not sin.

5. God understands this longing.

God Himself describes Israel with this same ache:

“How can I give you up?” (Hosea 11:8)

Not covetousness. Love.

The fact that it hurts means your heart worked the way God designed:
to bond, to cherish, to feel, to remember.

So what you’re feeling is love — wounded, aching, longing love — not covetousness.

Healing from a loss like this is not quick, and it’s not linear — but it is possible. Here are the steps that truly help, spiritually and emotionally, grounded in Scripture and real human experience.

1. Stop feeling guilty for hurting

You cannot heal from pain you feel guilty for having.

Grief is not a lack of faith.
Grief is not covetousness.
Grief is the heart saying, “Something precious is missing.”

Even Jesus wept.

Let the tears come. Every tear is a step toward restoration.

2. Bring the raw pain to God — not the “edited” version

Pray honestly. Say what you truly feel:

“Lord, I don’t know how to move forward.”

“This hurts more than I can carry.”

“Why does the absence feel like a wound?”

“Hold me together because I’m falling apart.”

God heals what we reveal. David did this in the Psalms, and “God was close to the brokenhearted.”

3. Name what you lost

Sometimes you’re not only grieving the person —
you’re grieving:

shared routines

the comfort of their presence

the future you imagined

parts of yourself that grew with them

Naming the losses prevents the pain from feeling vague and overwhelming. It becomes something you can bring to God piece by piece.

4. Allow yourself to remember without trying to resurrect

Memories are healing when you honor them, not when you use them to punish yourself.

Healthy remembering:

“I’m grateful for what we shared.”

“This shaped me.”

Unhealthy remembering:

“I can’t live without this person.”

“I’ll never be whole again.”

You are still whole — just wounded. Wounds heal with time and God’s touch.

5. Accept that healing isn’t forgetting

You don’t have to “move on.”
You have to move forward.

Healing is when you can:

carry the memory without collapsing under it

walk without the constant stabbing pain

feel the love without the crushing sorrow

You don’t lose them by healing.
You carry them differently.

6. Let God reshape the empty space

This is the part only God can do.

When someone was deeply woven into your life, their absence leaves a space.
You cannot fill that space with distraction or denial.
You let God slowly reshape it with:

His presence

new strength

new connections

a renewed sense of purpose

Healing is not returning to who you were before.
Healing is becoming someone deeper, softer, wiser.

7. Let others help you carry what is too heavy

God often heals through:

conversations

presence

community

someone who listens

You don’t have to explain everything.
Just being around others can remind your heart it is still living.

8. Give yourself permission to feel joy again

Sometimes the hardest part of healing is allowing happiness to return without feeling disloyal.

Joy does not replace the person.
Joy is a sign that the scar is forming.

You honor their memory by living well, not by living wounded.

9. Healing is not instant — but it is certain

If you keep turning toward God rather than shutting down, healing will happen.

Not all at once.
Not in a straight line.
But day by day, the piercing ache becomes a gentle ache,
the sharp wound becomes a scar,
and the scar becomes a testimony of love, not loss.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1771985323511212

You Are Privileged

“You Are Privileged: Why Choose the Road of Pride and Turn Away?”

Sermon: You Are Privileged

Beloved, every breath you take is evidence of one truth: you are privileged by God. Not privileged in the worldly sense—money, position, success, or earthly advantages—but privileged in the deepest, eternal sense. Out of all creation, God has chosen you, a human being made in His image, to receive His love, His grace, His Word, and the invitation to inherit His kingdom. Heaven is not offered to trees, mountains, birds, or beasts. Angels marvel at the grace given to humanity, because redemption was never offered to fallen angels—but it is offered to you. This alone is privilege beyond comprehension.

Yet, despite such mercy, many still turn away. Pride blinds. Self-reliance hardens. Worldly desires distract. And the very ones who were created to walk in the light choose instead to wander in the shadows. The question we must confront today is simple yet sobering:

If God has privileged you with His calling, His truth, and His salvation, why choose the road of pride and turn away?

1. The Privilege of Being Created in God’s Image

From the beginning, Scripture reveals the uniqueness of humanity:
“So God created man in His own image.” This means you are not random, accidental, or meaningless. You were designed to reflect God’s character, God’s creativity, God’s love, and God’s purpose. No other creature was created with such dignity.

To be made in His image means you were created to know Him, to enjoy Him, and to live with Him forever. The ability to pray, to worship, to understand spiritual truth, to walk by faith—none of this exists in any other being on earth. Nature can show God’s power, but it cannot know God personally. Only you can.

This is privilege.

And yet pride tells people:
“I don’t need God.”
“I can live my own way.”
“I don’t need to submit to anyone.”
“I want to be my own master, my own king.”

But when a person rejects the One in whose image he was formed, he abandons the very purpose of his existence. Pride is self-destruction disguised as self-confidence. It convinces people that independence from God is liberation, while in reality, it is slavery to sin.

2. The Privilege of God’s Calling

You are privileged because God called you. The gospel reached your ears. Many live their entire lives never hearing the message of Christ clearly once. But you have heard it. Some do not have access to the Bible, but you have one. Some live in spiritual darkness without hope, but you have been given light.

The fact that God pursued you, spoke to your heart, stirred your conscience, and opened your eyes to His truth is evidence of divine privilege.

Yet pride whispers, “Another time.”
“Later.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Enjoy life first.”
“Don’t be too serious about God.”

Pride delays repentance. Pride suppresses conviction. Pride excuses sin. Pride says, “I will obey God, but only on my terms.” And in doing so, a person rejects the miracle of God’s calling and chooses the noise of the world over the voice of the Father.

3. The Privilege of Christ’s Sacrifice

Beloved, consider the price paid for you. The Son of God left heaven, took on flesh, walked among sinful men, and went to the cross for you. Angels long to look into this mystery. Creation cannot fathom it. The greatest privilege any human has ever received is this: Christ died for you.

He died your death.
He carried your punishment.
He took your place.
He opened the door to eternal life.

And yet some still turn away.

Why?
Because pride refuses to kneel.
Pride refuses to admit, “I need a Saviour.”
Pride says, “I am not that bad.”
Pride insists, “I can save myself by being a good person.”

But no amount of goodness can erase guilt. No amount of effort can cancel sin. Only Christ’s blood can wash you clean. Only Christ’s sacrifice can make you whole.

To walk away from Christ is not merely rejecting religion—it is rejecting the greatest act of love ever shown to you. It is turning from the only One who can rescue your soul from eternal death. It is choosing darkness when light has already shone upon you.

4. The Privilege of Receiving God’s Blessings

Every blessing in your life—protection, provision, opportunities, answered prayers, health, strength, mercy in moments of weakness—these are evidences that God is mindful of you.

You may say, “But my life is difficult.”
Yes, but even in hardship, God has kept you. You are still alive. You are still breathing. You still have a chance to repent, grow, and rise.

You are privileged because God did not let you die in your sins.
He did not let the enemy destroy you.
He did not allow your mistakes to end you.
He kept you, because He still wants you.

What response does such privilege require?
Humility.
Gratitude.
Surrender.

Yet pride looks at blessings and says, “I earned this. I deserve this. I did this myself.”

Pride steals God’s glory.
Pride forgets God’s goodness.
Pride claims ownership over what was given by mercy.

This is why Scripture repeatedly warns that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When pride sits on the throne of a person’s heart, blessing cannot flow freely. God will not crown a heart that refuses to bow.

5. The Privilege of Being Offered His Kingdom

Of all the privileges we have in Christ, none compares to this: you are invited to inherit the kingdom of God.

A kingdom where
• sin cannot enter,
• death has no power,
• tears are wiped away,
• joy never ends,
• righteousness fills the atmosphere,
• and God Himself dwells with His people.

What earthly privilege can compare?
What honor in this world surpasses an eternal crown?
What success on earth can compare with everlasting life?

Yet people still choose the world.

Why?
Because pride says,
“I want the kingdom of earth now, not the kingdom of heaven later.”
“I want pleasure now.”
“I want recognition now.”
“I want control now.”
“I want to be lord of my own life.”

Pride exchanges an eternal kingdom for temporary comfort.
Pride trades a divine inheritance for momentary indulgence.
Pride sells the soul for the applause of men.

But beloved, the world is passing away. The desires of the flesh, the pride of life, the pursuit of fame and pleasure—all will burn like straw before the fire of judgment. Nothing the world offers can go with you into eternity. Only Christ lasts. Only salvation matters. Only the kingdom is forever.

6. Why Choose Pride? Why Turn Away?

Let us be honest: people choose the road of pride because it is easy. It allows you to stay the same. It allows you to run your life as you please. It avoids repentance, confession, and surrender. Pride feels comfortable because it keeps self on the throne.

But pride is a deceiver.

Pride promises freedom, but delivers bondage.
Pride promises strength, but produces downfall.
Pride promises happiness, but leads to emptiness.
Pride promises success, but brings destruction.

Scripture is filled with examples of people ruined by pride:
• Lucifer was cast down from heaven.
• Pharaoh hardened his heart and destroyed his own nation.
• Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity.
• King Saul lost his throne.
• The Pharisees rejected the Messiah standing in front of them.

Every proud path leads to ruin.

And yet humility leads to life.
Humility opens the door to forgiveness.
Humility invites God’s presence.
Humility ushers in grace, blessing, and transformation.

The question is not whether God is willing to save, bless, forgive, and restore. He is. The question is whether you will humble yourself to receive it.

7. A Call to Return to Humility

Beloved, you are privileged.
You are chosen.
You are loved.
You are called for a purpose.

So why walk away? Why live as though God has not extended mercy to you? Why continue in pride when the Father stands with open arms?

Today God calls you back to humility.

Humility is not weakness—it is wisdom.
Humility is not humiliation—it is liberation.
Humility is not losing—it is gaining Christ.

To be humble is simply to say:
“God, I need You.”
“God, I cannot walk without You.”
“God, I surrender my pride, my desires, my sins, my plans.”
“God, take Your rightful place on the throne of my heart.”

When pride dies, spiritual life begins.
When pride falls, grace rises.
When pride is crucified, Christ is exalted.

8. Returning to the Privilege of Sonship

The story of the prodigal son is a picture of pride and privilege. The son was privileged—loved, protected, and provided for. But pride made him say, “I want my inheritance now. I want freedom now. I want to do things my own way.” And he left.

But when his pride led him to ruin, he humbled himself and returned.

And what did the father do?
He ran to him.
He embraced him.
He restored him.
He clothed him with honor.

Beloved, the same Father waits for you.
Your privilege has not been cancelled.
Your calling has not expired.
Your inheritance is still reserved in heaven.
But you must come home.

9. A Final Appeal

You are privileged—not because you earned it, but because God is gracious. You are privileged because you have been chosen, called, redeemed, and invited to His kingdom.

Do not trade this privilege for pride.
Do not exchange eternity for temporary pleasure.
Do not lose your inheritance by hardening your heart.

Today, choose humility.
Choose repentance.
Choose surrender.
Choose the path that leads to life.

God has already extended His hand.
Will you take it?
God has already prepared the kingdom.
Will you walk toward it?
God has already poured out His love.
Will you receive it?

Let every proud thought fall.
Let every rebellious desire break.
Let every worldly distraction fade.
And let Christ be enthroned in your heart.

Because you—yes, you—
are privileged to be counted among those who can receive God’s blessing
and inherit His kingdom.

Do not turn away.
Come, and walk the road of humility that leads to everlasting life.

Amen.

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Adulting: Are you doing adulthood 'wrong' if you are not getting married or looking for a home anytime soon? Experts say the real problem isn’t your choices, but the “silent roadmap” you’ve been conditioned to follow.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/adulting/friends-different-life-stages-house-marriage-babies-5528221?cid=fbcna&fbclid=IwY2xjawOgoaNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeVwYSnAmpj2DCDFe4C-4l-j91vxB6wyB-YQgu4VeV4Kg2qi92GY_hNCmpWx4_aem_epx1Pp8zDMYEBtgq5JDSaA

Friday, November 28, 2025

When A Man Has No One But God

Thursday, November 27, 2025

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs 25:27

SERMON: TRUE HUMILITY – THE SWEETNESS THAT DOES NOT DESTROY

Text: Proverbs 25:27 — “It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.”

Introduction — When Sweetness Becomes Poison

Honey in Scripture represents sweetness, delight, pleasure, abundance. In the ancient world, honey was the sweetest natural thing a man could taste. It was desirable, but if eaten in excess, it caused sickness. The same is true for the human soul: certain things are good in measure, but deadly in excess — especially self-glory.

Solomon takes this physical truth and applies it to a spiritual reality:
Just as too much honey harms the body, the pursuit of our own glory harms the soul.

This verse strikes directly at the heart of pride, self-promotion, ego, and the endless human obsession with being noticed, honored, admired, praised, or elevated.

Our entire modern world is built around honey:

likes, views, followers
recognition, status, self-branding
being known, being admired
projecting one’s achievements
building a name for oneself

People want sweetness, and Solomon says:
“Be careful. Sweetness can make you sick.”

This sermon explores the deep warning of the text:
The pursuit of personal glory destroys humility, corrupts the heart, distances us from God, and turns spiritual honey into poison.

1. Honey Is Good — But Not Too Much

The Bible never says honey is evil.
Likewise, it is not wrong to receive encouragement, gratitude, appreciation, or honour when God Himself brings it to you.

There is a difference between:

accepting honor humbly
and
seeking honor aggressively.

God honors faithfulness.
People may appreciate your service.
That's normal and healthy.

But the Scripture warns:
“Not good to eat much honey.”

Too much sweetness leads to:

nausea
imbalance
sickness

And the human heart is extremely weak in this area.
It does not take much sweetness — a compliment, a praise, a recognition — before pride begins to rise.

Most people do not fall because of hardship. They fall because of success.

Many do not stumble because of trials. They stumble because of praise.

Honey blinds more people than bitterness.

2. The Dangerous Sweetness of Self-Glory

The second part of the proverb says:

“So for men to search their own glory is not glory.”

Meaning:
When you chase glory for yourself, it loses all real glory.
What the world calls “glory” is actually hollow, empty, and shameful in God’s eyes.

Self-glory is a counterfeit crown.
It looks shiny but it has no eternal value.

Why is self-glory so dangerous?

Because:

It steals glory from God
Isaiah 42:8 — “My glory will I not give to another.”
It inflates the ego
Pride is the root of all sin (Proverbs 16:18).
It creates self-dependence instead of God-dependence
A man seeking his own name forgets God’s name.
It makes us compare ourselves with others
Pride thrives in competition.
It destroys relationships
A proud man cannot submit, cannot forgive, cannot love.
It kills spiritual hunger
A man full of self-glory no longer hungers for God’s glory.

True humility cannot coexist with self-exaltation.
The moment we seek our own fame, we lose sight of Jesus.

3. Biblical Examples of Honey Becoming Poison

a. King Nebuchadnezzar – “Look at my great Babylon!”

He ate too much honey — self-glory — and God struck him down until he acknowledged the Most High.

b. King Uzziah – Strong until he became proud

When he became famous, his heart was lifted up, and he was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16).

c. The Pharisees – Loved the praises of men

Jesus said they did everything “to be seen by men” (Matthew 23:5).

They sought honey and became spiritual sick.

d. Lucifer – The first sin in the universe

Not adultery, theft, or murder.
It was pride:

“I will ascend…I will be like the Most High.”

He overate honey — and fell from glory.

4. Glory Belongs to God Alone

One of the greatest spiritual insights you will ever learn is this:

Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

True humility is simply this:

God is center, not me
His name is above mine
His kingdom, not my empire
His will, not my ambition
His fame, not my reputation

The humble man is free because he doesn’t need the applause of men.
He finds joy in God alone.

When men praise him — he thanks God.
When men criticize him — he leans on God.
When men forget him — he does not mind, because his identity is rooted in God, not in popularity.

5. Why the Heart Loves Sweetness

The desire for praise, approval, recognition, or validation is rooted in the fallen nature.

We want to feel important.

We want others to see our achievements.

We want to be admired.

We want to be respected.

We want to be somebody.

This is the inner hunger of the flesh.

But if you feed the flesh with honey, it grows stronger and demands more.

This is why people become addicted to:

affirmation
public praise
compliments
achievements
status
social media attention

The more they receive, the more they want.

The flesh will never say “enough.”

Only humility kills that craving.

6. The Cure to Self-Glory: Looking at the Glory of God

The surest way to kill pride is not by looking at yourself less, but by looking at God more.

When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he cried:

“Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5)

Not because God humiliated him,
but because God’s glory exposed his nothingness.

The closer you come to the greatness of God,
the smaller you realize you are.

The brighter the light,
the more clearly you see your dust.

The more you behold His holiness,
the more you understand your need for His mercy.

Humility grows in the atmosphere of God’s glory.

7. Jesus — The Perfect Example of Humility

Philippians 2:5–8 shows Christ’s humility:

He is God, yet He took the form of a servant
He deserved honour, yet He accepted shame
He could command legions of angels, yet He humbled Himself
He washed the feet of His disciples
He was silent before His accusers

Jesus, the One who truly deserves eternal glory, did not seek His own glory.

He said:

“I seek not mine own glory.” (John 8:50)

What an astonishing statement.
The Son of God refusing to seek His own glory — how much more should we refuse it?

If the sinless Christ did not seek His own glory,
how much more should sinners avoid self-promotion?

8. How to Walk in True Humility

1. Acknowledge God in everything

Say like David:
“Not unto us, O Lord, but unto Your name give glory.”

2. Serve in secret

Jesus said the Father who sees in secret will reward openly.

3. Accept obscurity

You don’t need to be noticed to be valuable.

4. Receive praise carefully

Let gratitude rise, but let pride die.

5. Give credit to others

Lifting others is the mark of true greatness.

6. Confess your weaknesses

Pride hides.
Humility admits.

7. Remember your origins

Everything you have — talents, strength, breath — is from God.

8. Look to the cross

At the cross, the boasting of man dies, and the grace of God shines.

9. The Bitter Reality of a Life of Self-Glory

A person who seeks his own glory becomes:

insecure
competitive
jealous
easily offended
hungry for praise
exhausted from keeping up appearances
empty on the inside

Self-glory leads to burnout because you must constantly perform to stay relevant.

You must keep producing, keep impressing, keep maintaining an image.

It becomes slavery.

The Scripture is mercifully warning us:

Don’t eat too much honey. Don’t chase glory. It will destroy you.

10. God Himself Lifts the Humble

While the proud lift themselves,
the humble wait for God to lift them.

1 Peter 5:6 — “Humble yourselves…that He may exalt you in due time.”

When God exalts you,
no man can bring you down.

When you exalt yourself,
God Himself will bring you down.

Let God write your story.
Let God build your name.
Let God open the doors.
Let God fight the battles.
Let God reward your faithfulness.

It is safer to be exalted by God than by men.

Conclusion — Don’t Eat Too Much Honey

The world says:
“Promote yourself.”
“Push your brand.”
“Show your achievements.”
“Let people see your greatness.”

But Scripture says:
“Not good to eat much honey.”

Self-glory is a sweetness that destroys.
Humility is a sweetness that heals.

Choose humility.
Choose the way of Christ.
Choose to decrease, that Christ may increase.

And one day, when all earthly crowns turn to dust,
when all human praise fades into silence,
when all applause becomes meaningless —

the humble will shine in the glory of God forever.

Amen.

can satan use AI or chatgpt to turn people away from God

Will the forces of darkness or Satan use tools like ChatGPT to draw people away from God?

Short answer:

Yes—Satan can use any tool, technology, or human invention to deceive. But God can also use the very same tools for His glory. What matters is the heart of the person using it.

1. Satan Has Always Used Whatever Tools Are Available

In Scripture, Satan used:

a serpent (Genesis 3)
lies and twisted words (Matthew 4)
kings and governments (Daniel, Revelation)
people’s desires (James 1:14)
even Peter’s mouth temporarily (Matthew 16:23)

So yes, Satan can use technology—internet, social media, entertainment, and even AI—to:

spread lies
distract minds
numb people spiritually
promote sin
weaken faith
create confusion
encourage self-centeredness instead of God-centeredness

The enemy does not care what the tool is.
He cares about the influence it produces.

2. But Remember: Technology Is Not Satanic by Itself

A hammer can build a church or break a window.
Fire can cook a meal or burn a house.

Technology carries the nature of the one using it.

AI, chat systems, and digital tools:

do not have spirits
do not have wills
do not have beliefs
do not have allegiance to darkness or light
They simply reflect data, programming, and user input.

What determines whether it is used for good or evil is the heart of the person seeking counsel and the content they choose.

3. God Always Uses What Satan Tries to Use for Evil

Consider how God redeemed:

Joseph’s betrayal (“You meant it for evil, God meant it for good.”)
the cross (the darkest act became salvation)
persecution (which spread the gospel)

Satan can use technology, but God can overpower him anytime.
He can use AI to:

spread the gospel
teach Scripture
support pastors
answer spiritual questions
encourage believers
defend truth
bring clarity to people hurt by false teachings

You are, right now, using this tool to grow in the Word.
That is God using it for good.

4. The Real Battlefield Is Not Technology — It Is the Human Heart

Satan does not primarily attack devices.
He attacks desire.

His battlefield is:

our mind
our will
our attention
our priorities
our spiritual hunger
our affections

Satan’s main goal is that:

people stop loving God
people become distracted
people live for themselves
people doubt Scripture
people pursue sin

He doesn’t care if he uses:

a conversation
a movie
money
relationships
the internet
AI

The weapon changes; the strategy does not.

5. How You Can Stay Spiritually Safe Using AI

1. Test every answer against Scripture

Even when the answer is good, the Bible is final authority.

2. Stay submitted to the Holy Spirit

He teaches, convicts, and guides into truth.

3. Avoid sinful or harmful uses of technology

Satan enters through doors we open.

4. Use AI as a helper, not as your God

Never let it replace prayer, church, or Scripture.

5. Guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 — “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

6. Use the tool for God’s glory

If you use it for Bible learning, sermons, discipleship, prayer, and spiritual growth, then God is using it for His kingdom.

6. Final Conclusion

Yes, tools like ChatGPT can be misused by the forces of darkness.
But no, ChatGPT itself is not of darkness, demonic, or spiritually possessed.
It is simply a tool—neutral by nature, powerful depending on purpose.

What matters most is:

your discernment,
your intention,
your heart’s alignment with God.

If you stay close to Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and prayer—
no digital tool can pull you away from God.

In fact, God can use the same tool to make you stronger, wiser, and more grounded in truth.

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

SERMON: “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Matthew 6:10

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He placed this petition at the very heart of the Lord’s Prayer. Before asking for daily bread, forgiveness, or protection, He commands us to pray first for God’s rule and God’s will. These words are short, but their meaning touches every part of a believer’s life. They show us how a Christian should think, hope, desire, surrender, and live.

Let us break down the meaning.

1. “Thy Kingdom Come” — A Cry for God’s Rule to Increase

The “Kingdom of God” is not merely a place, but God’s reign. When Jesus says, “Thy Kingdom come,” He is teaching us to desire:

A. The Kingdom in our hearts

Before God’s Kingdom conquers the world, it must conquer me.

It means:

“Lord, rule over my desires.”
“Let Your righteousness replace my sin.”
“Let Your Word decide how I live, not my emotions or the world’s pressure.”

The Kingdom comes when:

the proud become humble,
the sinful repent,
the stubborn yield,
and the self-willed surrender.

Praying “Thy Kingdom come” is first a personal submission:
“Be the King of my life.”

B. The Kingdom in the world

When we pray this, we are asking:

That Christ be known
That souls be saved
That darkness be pushed back
That righteousness prevails
That truth reigns over lies

It is a missionary prayer. “Thy Kingdom come” is asking God to extend His rule in families, schools, nations, governments, and communities.

C. The Kingdom in its final glory

We are also longing for the Second Coming of Christ, when:

evil is destroyed,
justice is established,
and Jesus reigns forever.

This prayer says:
“Lord, come quickly. Finish Your work. Let all creation see Your glory.”

Thus, “Thy Kingdom come” is both a present prayer—“Rule in me now”—and a future hope—“Return and reign forever.”

2. “Thy Will Be Done” — The Surrender of All We Are

After praying for God’s rule, Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will. This means:

A. “Not my will, but Yours.”

It echoes the prayer of Christ in Gethsemane.
A true Christian does not ask God to bless his plan; he asks God to replace his plan with God’s plan.

Praying “Thy will be done” means:

“Even when I disagree, Your will is right.”
“Even when I don’t understand, Your plan is good.”
“Even when it hurts, You are still perfect.”

This is the hardest prayer for the flesh to pray, but the most powerful prayer for the spirit to surrender.

B. “On earth as it is in heaven”

How is God’s will done in heaven?

Perfectly
Joyfully
Immediately
Without complaint
Without resistance

So Jesus is saying:

“Father, let me obey You the way angels obey You—fully, joyfully, immediately.”

This removes:

half-hearted obedience
delayed obedience
selective obedience
conditional obedience

It calls us into whole-hearted obedience, the obedience of heaven.

C. God’s will over my feelings

We often pray guided by fear, desire, or pressure.
“Thy will be done” realigns us.

It means:

If God opens a door → walk through it.
If God shuts a door → trust Him.
If God delays → wait on Him.
If God redirects → follow Him.

It means: “My feelings do not rule me; Your will does.”

3. The Prayer That Changes Everything

These two phrases reshape the entire Christian life.

A. They destroy selfishness

Most prayers are “my will, my desire, my plan.”
Jesus flips it:
Start with God, not you.

B. They align us with God’s mission

When we pray this way, we are not trying to bend heaven to earth; we are asking heaven to come down and transform earth.

C. They bring peace

Why?
Because when we want God’s will, we will never be disappointed.
God never fails His own plan.

D. They produce holiness

When a person sincerely prays:

“Your Kingdom come,”
“Your will be done,”

sin loses its power, pride melts, worldly desires fade, and obedience becomes sweet.

4. Personal Application

A. In trials

“Thy will be done” means God has a purpose even in my pain.

B. In decisions

I don’t choose based on convenience, fear, or opportunity.
I choose based on God’s direction.

C. In conflicts

Not my pride, not my ego, not my anger—
Your will be done.

D. In spiritual battles

We submit to God and resist the devil.
When His Kingdom comes in us, darkness cannot stay.

5. A Final Picture

When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,” we are placing the crown on God’s head instead of our own.
We are stepping off the throne of our lives and inviting the true King to sit where He belongs.

It is not a small prayer; it is a total surrender.

And when God’s Kingdom governs your heart, and God’s will controls your steps, then your life becomes an instrument of heaven on earth.

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matthew 12:30 Do not fear or be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. For I will never leave you or forsake you. Go

Sermon: “With Christ or Against Christ”

Text: Matthew 12:30 – “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.”

There are some statements Jesus made that are so sharp, so clear, so unbendable, that no one can hide behind excuses or grey areas after hearing them. This is one of those statements. Here Christ removes all neutrality, all middle ground, all self-made zones of convenience. There are only two positions in the spiritual realm: with Christ or against Christ, gathering with Him or scattering abroad.

This verse was spoken in a context where Jesus was not addressing atheists, not addressing pagans, not addressing people who openly hated God. He was speaking to deeply religious people—men who thought they were defending God, honouring Moses, and protecting the purity of Israel. Yet Jesus said that in opposing His work, in rebuking His ministry, in resisting His message, they were actually against God Himself, even though in their own minds they believed they were serving Him.

This is extremely important for our generation, because the greatest resistance to Christ often does not come from the openly wicked, but from the self–righteous, the proud, the religiously trained, or those hardened by tradition and personal pride. And sometimes it is even a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or a pastor who, thinking he is doing good, ends up standing against the very purpose and mission of God.

So today let us consider this statement of Jesus under three headings:

Christ Leaves No Neutral Ground
To Resist the Gospel Is to Resist God
How a Man Who Rebukes You for Preaching Christ Stands Against God

1. Christ Leaves No Neutral Ground

Jesus did not say, “He who is against Me is against Me.” That would be obvious. Instead, He said something far deeper: “He that is not with Me is against Me.”

This shows us that neutrality is an illusion. There is no spiritual Switzerland. A man who says, “I am not for Christ, but I am not against Him either,” imagines a third category that Jesus Himself never allowed.

Why?

Because Jesus did not come to offer an opinion or a philosophy to be admired.
He came as:

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
The King of Kings
The rightful Lord of every heart
The Judge of the living and the dead

No one can stay neutral toward a King who demands the throne. As C. S. Lewis once said, “A man can no more remain neutral toward Christ than he can remain neutral toward gravity.”

If He is God, then to ignore Him is rebellion.
If He is Lord, then to delay obedience is disobedience.
If He is the Savior, then to reject His call is to embrace spiritual death.

Jesus did not say “with My teachings,” or “with My moral ideas,” but “with Me.”
To be with Him means:

to believe Him
to love Him
to follow Him
to obey Him
to stand publicly for Him
to gather others to Him

Anything less is already a position of opposition.

One may not speak against Christ with their lips, but if they refuse to stand with Him, they silently side with darkness. The human heart cannot remain empty; if Christ does not rule it, sin and the world will rule it. Therefore Jesus draws a clear line that no one can erase: you are either with Him or you are against Him.

2. To Resist the Gospel Is to Resist God

Jesus continues: “He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.”

Here Christ reveals that His mission is to gather—to gather lost souls into the kingdom, the sheep into the fold, sinners into grace, the broken into healing, the condemned into forgiveness. Every preacher of Christ, whether a pastor, missionary, or ordinary believer, joins Him in this sacred work of gathering.

But Jesus says that anyone who does not gather with Him is not simply lazy; he is actively scattering.
A person might say:

“But I’m not scattering! I’m just staying silent.”
“I’m not against the gospel; I just don’t want to get involved.”
“I’m not opposing preaching; I just don’t like that you are preaching to others.”

But Jesus sees deeper into the invisible kingdom. To oppose gospel preaching is to scatter the sheep. To discourage evangelism is to hinder souls. To silence the message of Christ is to push people back into darkness.

The Pharisees thought they were protecting religion. Jesus said they were fighting God.

In Matthew 12, Jesus heals a man possessed by a demon. The Pharisees see the miracle, hear the truth, and yet accuse Him of being empowered by Satan. Jesus answers them with this devastating statement: “He that is not with Me is against Me.”

In other words:

“You think you are defending God. But in rebuking the work of God, you are resisting Him.”

This has always been the pattern:

Moses’ authority was opposed by religious traditionalists in Israel.
Jeremiah’s prophecy was condemned by priests who thought he was too bold.
John the Baptist was rejected by Pharisees who thought he was too radical.
And finally, Jesus Himself was crucified by religious leaders who believed they were protecting their nation and honouring Moses.

Every generation sees people who rebuke the truth while believing they are on God’s side. But the question is not: Do they think they are right?
The real question is: Are they standing WITH Christ?

3. How a Man Who Rebukes You for Preaching Christ Stands Against God

Let us now apply this to a situation many believers face: someone rebukes you for preaching Christ. They tell you:

“Stop talking about Jesus.”
“Don’t preach here.”
“Don’t share the gospel with people.”
“You should keep religion private.”
“Don’t bring Christ into this conversation.”

Some do it out of irritation, some out of pride, some out of worldly mindset, some out of fear of man, and some out of spiritual blindness.

But whatever the reason, Jesus has already defined what this action means: to rebuke the preaching of Christ is to stand against God Himself.

Let us consider why:

(1) They oppose the very mission of Christ

Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
When a person rebukes you for seeking the lost with the gospel, they are working against the purpose for which Christ came into the world.

They are not disagreeing with you, they are opposing the whole mission of God’s redemptive work.

(2) They hinder the Holy Spirit’s work

The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to:

convict the world of sin
open hearts to Christ
draw people to salvation
glorify Jesus

When someone tries to silence the gospel, they attempt to silence the voice of the Spirit who is at work through the message. Scripture calls this “resisting the Holy Ghost” (Acts 7:51).

They are not merely uncomfortable; they are resisting God.

(3) They discourage the church from gathering souls

Jesus said that those who do not gather with Him scatter.
Someone who discourages gospel preaching automatically becomes a scatterer—someone who pushes people away from the truth, away from conviction, away from the possibility of salvation.

The devil does not need to send demons to silence evangelism; he often uses ordinary people who simply tell believers to “keep quiet.”

(4) They place themselves in direct opposition to Christ’s command

When someone rebukes a believer for preaching Christ, they are opposing:

Jesus’ Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
Jesus’ call to witness: “You shall be My witnesses.”
Jesus’ example: “He went about preaching the kingdom.”

To tell a Christian not to preach Christ is to tell Jesus that His command is unwise, unnecessary, or offensive. It is to contradict the Lord of heaven.

(5) They reveal a heart not aligned with God’s values

A man who rebukes gospel preaching is showing:

that he values human comfort over eternal souls
that he fears man more than God
that he prefers silence over truth
that he does not grasp the seriousness of eternity
that he loves the world more than the kingdom

This is why Jesus says there is no neutrality.

A heart that belongs to God will never oppose the preaching of Christ.
A heart that loves Christ will rejoice when the gospel is proclaimed.
A heart filled with the Spirit will never rebuke someone for sharing salvation.

Therefore, when a person rebukes you for preaching Christ, no matter how polite or religious they may seem, they are revealing their spiritual position:

They are not with Christ.
Therefore, they are against Him.

A Word to the Believer Who Is Rebuked for Preaching

If someone rebukes you for preaching Jesus:

Do not be discouraged
Do not be ashamed
Do not remain silent

You are standing where the prophets stood.
You are following the steps of Christ Himself.
You are obeying the Great Commission.
You are doing the work heaven rejoices over.

In fact, opposition is often a sign that you are doing something right. The devil never attacks a silent Christian. The world never rebukes a believer who hides his faith.

But when you speak the name of Jesus, when you carry the cross in public, when you lift up the gospel, the kingdom of darkness trembles—and the world will try to silence you.

Stand firm.
Speak truth.
Fear God, not man.
And remember Jesus’ words:

“Blessed are you when men shall revile you… for great is your reward in heaven.”

Conclusion

Jesus’ words ring with unchanging authority: “He that is not with Me is against Me.” There are only two sides—Christ’s side or the world’s side. The one who encourages the preaching of Christ stands with God. The one who rebukes it opposes the very heart of heaven.

So let us be people who stand boldly with Christ, who gather with Him, who lift up His name, and who refuse to be silent. And may we never fear the rebuke of man, for it is better to be approved by God and rejected by the world than to be welcomed by the world and found standing against the King of Kings.