There are two areas of a believer’s life which show the world around them how serious they are about their relationship with Jesus. The first is the pursuit of personal holiness, followed by active participation in an authentic Jesus loving, Bible believing, Bible teaching, Bible practicing local church.
Messenger: Brian Hopkins
When you include regular prayer and fasting as part of your relationship with Jesus, you will not regret it. God is faithful, He is just, and He always fulfills His promises. Especially for those who are closest to Him. You want to be closer to Jesus, start praying daily and adding in fasting for more urgent matters.
From the very beginning, God wanted every person to become more than what we ended up as. God wants us to be more than sinners. More than self-centered. More than simply good people, doing good things. Therefore, the plan was always Jesus. He wants every believer to embrace this idea of being made for more. Made for more than just this life here on Earth. Made for more than just your job. Made for more than just your hobbies. Made for more than just your struggles.
Today, more than ever in history, Christians need to understand the significance of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their heart. Once understood, the believer will begin to truly experience, not just His presence, but also His powerful work. There is nothing more reassuring and peaceful in life than experiencing the powerful presence of God’s Spirit as He works in our daily lives.
In this passage, Jesus continues to pronounce His seven “woes” upon the Jewish leaders of the day whom He repeatedly calls “blind guides,” “serpent,” and “hypocrites.” Toward the end of the passage, we find Jesus almost breaking down under the burden of His sorrow over His chosen people who just don’t understand the nature of His Gospel and failed to recognize their long-awaited Messiah in the hour of their visitation.


