The father’s presence or presents Week 25, 2026

 I think the elder son had genuine cause for displeasure. How come the father gave him nothing to celebrate with after years of slaving for the man? Is that not the way to discourage loyalty? Celebrate the returnee lavishly whilst giving nothing to the faithful.

Are you very sure the father gave him nothing all those years?

Of course, yes. It is well documented; he would have appreciated even a goat but had nothing Lk 15:29(ISV)  But he answered his father, 'Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a feast so I could celebrate with my friends.

It’s a pity you can’t see what he had and was in danger of losing. Many people miss it also

What could that be? He was affirmed as the bona fide owner of the present estate. Lk 15:31 (ISV)  'My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

His father’s presence. Did you notice it was the first thing he reminded the son about? It took me many years to realise it. But what was at the father’s heart was not the estate. His presence meant more.  In anger, the son was risking the most important thing - the presence - because of a matter of presents to the younger son. Lk 15:28(ISV)  "Then the older son became angry and wouldn't go into the house. So his father came out and began to plead with him. What comes first is not “everything I have is yours” but, “My child, you are always with me”. In serving God that comes first also Mk 3:14-15(GNB)  and he chose twelve, whom he named apostles. "I have chosen you to be with me," he told them. "I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons." 

What’s the use of the presence without the presents?

Ah! Abomination. Heresy! You know this parable is about God the Father and us His children. The presence was what the younger son first lost before wasting the presents. Lk 15:13(ISV)  A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living. Many people are seeking God simply to get presents from Him. Jn 6:24, 26-27(ISV)When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. Jesus replied to them, "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were completely satisfied. Do not work for food that perishes but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him." They don’t often please God and regularly leave Jn 6:66(ISV)  As a result, many of his disciples turned back and no longer associated with him. The presence of God is the principal thing, not his presents or effects. Moses shows us that is what to look for. Then Moses told the LORD, "If your presence does not go with us, don't bring us up from here. Ex 33:15(ISV) 

I see. In all life’s situations or challenges that’s what I will always seek. Ps 17:15(ISV)  But as for me, justified, I will behold your face; when I awake, your presence will satisfy me.

The rich man and Lazarus Week 24, 2026

 This parable is a bit confusing. Is Jesus trying to teach us that rich men go to hell and poor men go to heaven? Is it a law that if you enjoy here on earth you suffer for eternity?

For one thing that story is no parable. Jesus never mentioned names in parables. He specifically mentioned father Abraham (who we know) and Lazarus in this story. A lot of the times the parables  begin with “And He told them a parable saying…” as in Mt13:24, 31 Whether a parable or not, what does this mean? Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish Lk 16:25(ESV) .  Will all who are rich go to hell? Is poverty the key to paradise? Is paradise a reversal of this life’s conditions?

The life after death is indeed a reversal for those who have been suffering for the faith, 2Tm 2:11-12(ESV)  The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; however it is not poverty that took Lazarus to paradise or wealth that landed the rich man in hellfire. That much was clear to the rich man.

Now you have me confused. Where is all this stated in the story?

Look at Lk 16:30(ESV)  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ This clearly shows he knew what brought him there: his failure to heed the warnings given while he was alive on earth and repent. That is what he wanted by making the request in Lk 16:27, 28(ESV): And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’  It was not riches. Have you forgotten Abraham was a very rich man? Gen 24:34, 35(ESV) I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. If it was wealth that took the rich man to hell then Abraham too should have been in hell.

Oh, I see. A second matter: salvation is by grace through faith, right? Why is it written in Lk 16:29(ESV) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’?

Moses and the prophets all prophesied about the coming Messiah and bear witness to salvation by grace through faith. Lk 24:25, 27(ESV)  And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Remember Rom 3:21(ESV) says But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: Whosoever has the heart for God and listens to Moses and the prophets repents at the preaching of Christ. Those who refused to hear Moses and the prophets refused to believe even when Jesus rose from the dead. That’s what Abraham foretells in Lk16:31(ESV). He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ Don’t be like them.

Avoid aborted success Week 23, 2026

 The church is doing very well now, sir. Our numbers are up..

Why do you say we are doing very well, is it just because our number has increased?

How many churches are experiencing any increase in number? We are definitely doing well.

Hmm. Be careful. 2Cor 10:12(ESV)  Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. You may say we are doing well but there is a danger, we must double down.

Welfare needs? Doctrinal soundness? We were taught growing churches must be careful about those. In the first century they caused problems, but the Lord is there to help us.

Can you not see what I am seeing? We are growing, but is this where God programmed us to be at this time? Have you heard of the Joash phenomenom? That is what bothers me more.

I’ve never heard of it. What has it to do with us?

There is a heaven ordained victory per time for everyone, every church, as was for King Joash: 2Kgs 13:17(ESV)  And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” The tragedy is that he fell short of it. 2Kgs 13:18, 19(ESV)  And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped.  Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.” his true success in making an end of the Syrians was aborted

I still don’t get it. What has that to do with us? Where is the threat?

Three victories look like success, but the prophecy, the capacity and mandate was victory until he made an end of Syria. He stopped too soon. Yes there are clear signs of progress in this congregation, but we are far from the capacity, not yet within the mandate. The greatest tragedy now would be to relax in prayers and evangelism, saying “Yes we have made a mark, others are not moving so well”. If we stop now the prophesied mark for us may be lost.

Prophesied? I didn’t know there is a specific mandate for us in terms of targets.

Have you never read Eph 2:10(KJV)? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. For each person, each congregation, in each season God has targets and divine expectations. That is what to focus on and compare with to know if we are doing well. We need more labour.

Why did Joash lose it? When  rebuked  he could have simply collected more arrows and shot!

In spiritual matters there are such things as times and seasons, certain opportunities are season bound. God made it clear to David in the Rephaim Valley battle. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines 1Chr 14:15(ESV).                                        Are you in personal danger of aborted success in life and walk?