The friends who read my messages every day should be happy with the revelations of the Lord given through His Word. I know Christians full of problems who, when asked if they will do anything to get rid of them, immediately say that they have tried everything, but that's life. I tell them that Jesus didn't promise a life of defeat, but a life of abundance (John 10:10b; Matthew 7:11).

The majority of evangelical churchgoers have not yet been born again, and it is sad to recognize that this has not been the emphasis of the preaching from the pulpits. Nicodemus came to Jesus during the night and began to praise Him, praising Him for everything He did and acknowledging that the Lord was sent from God. However, the Master soon interrupted the compliments and made it clear to him that it was necessary to be born again - the primary condition for entering Heaven.

Nicodemus was a ruler of the synagogue, one of the masters of the Mosaic rite, and he didn't understand what his salvation meant (John 3.1-6). In our churches, there are people who exalt the Lord, but have not tasted the gift of salvation and therefore live outside of God's operations. Those who have not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit don't understand that they lack something, and those who have been baptized also need to understand that their faith needs something more.

We have to get God's people rooted in Christ, the Rock of salvation. Those who haven't really given themselves to Jesus, but like the services, will wonder if it was they or the Lord who made a mistake when He returns, because they will stay here. God never makes mistakes. Every Christian must be rooted in the Lord in order to go to Him in their moments of suffering and anguish. The process is normal for those who have planted the seed; however, if it hasn't fallen into good soil, the root will never deepen (Matthew 13.18-23).

Christians who don't produce children for God miss out on the best of life with Jesus. After all, they are His inheritance. We need to wake up those who don't understand why they don't go deeper into the Lord. They live like the Israelites of the past, without worrying about tomorrow, wanting only to prosper and live well. This is possible for those who are already established in the Word. Your land needs to be productive!

The next step is not to run away from the daily struggles, but, with God's power, to undo the enemy's plots, which continually want to separate you from the Master. Now, giving your heavenly Father the attention He deserves will make you successful in everything you do (Psalm 1:1-3). The saved never lose a battle, but stand up in the Master's Name and win. What kind of person are you? God only has children who accept Jesus and are born again (John 1.12).

Every Christian must wait for the Almighty to confirm them as His property, so that the biblical promises can be fulfilled in their lives. This is the divine seal on your ministry as king and priest (Revelation 5:10). From this validation, you will be as strong as the faith that dwelt in Jesus and made Him blessed!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

This verse is the answer to the requests of many people who pray not to leave the good Way. When they witness discussions about the complete and holy determinations of the Bible, they are in doubt as to how they should proceed. The Holy Spirit has given this short but profound teaching: we must walk in Jesus as He has been revealed to us. When we heard the Word in the beginning, faith in Christ came into our hearts.

Some never learned about the Creator God; others were taught that He didn't exist and everything was already formed in the Universe. Some didn't understand what they heard about the Being who made all things, but others did. So they agreed with the narrative as they heard it. It was as if they already knew the Bible.

When we receive Jesus as Savior, we have the feeling of having achieved what we were looking for without knowing what it was. That's the difference from someone who has been drawn to a religion and embraced it because they liked the atmosphere or the ritual. With the Gospel, it's different, because when we believe in the truth revealed about Christ, wonderful peace floods our soul (John 14:27). This is life-changing!

With inexplicable simplicity, we receive the Savior into our hearts, then the internal battle we were facing ends, and soon comes the bonanza. Then, when other struggles sent by the enemy come, our understanding will be different from the thinking of other times. After all, we have the certainty that we are loved by God. In this simplicity, the Holy Spirit inspires us to continue serving the Lord. We can't go back a millimeter (Hebrew 10:38).

After salvation, we feel better than before, because the confidence that has entered our hearts doesn't allow us to punch the wind (1 Corinthians 9:26). Unlike in the past, we know what we want and where we're going. With Christ, our lives will be successful, because we have faith and the power to undo any onslaught from the evil one (Luke 10:19). There's nothing better than feeling and seeing God at work. After all, we are more than conquerors in Him!

The biblical heroes of the past acted in this way, demonstrating a strong faith never seen before. True believers in Jesus are not seen by their outward appearance - wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars or living in a noble neighborhood - but by their testimony of tranquility and humility. Even rich Christians are happy to help those who have little knowledge of the faith. Christ satisfies!

Keep walking in Christ the way you found Him. Fear is gone, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding has filled your being (Philippians 4:7). Now that short-tempered person is no more. The saved person becomes meek, bending before the Truth, and does not resolve things with violence. This is the way God wants you to act. Being polite to everyone becomes normal!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

          The apostle Paul rejoiced in the order and steadfastness of the faith in Christ demonstrated in the works of the Colossians. This impressed him to such an extent that, by order of Heaven, he recorded it in his letter to those brothers. Many saved people all over the world have endeavored to follow their example. Anyone who doesn't understand or imitate these decisions is at fault with God. He wants to see His people acting like those Christians!

           Many facts may seem small, or just a whim of the servants of Bible days, but they were written by order of the Holy Spirit, who is the real Author of the Holy Book. We know that these events were mentioned to give us a greater insight into what God wants His people to know and practice. The Bible contains everything for us to learn and improve in order to be useful in the Lord's harvest (2 Timothy 3:15,16).

           The foreigners who were converted were practitioners of pagan religions, so they needed to learn how to behave properly before God, without scandal. Those who weren't taught to follow in the Master's footsteps would certainly be inclined to believe in heresies. Then, without knowing the right way to serve the Lord, they would accept lies and sin many times. The way of Zion must be taught!

         Today, the same danger surrounds those who are considered enlightened. With the advance of science, and of sin too, there are two great enemies. The first is the courage of educated people who think they are superior to men and the Creator and deny the existence of God, using untenable arguments. Even so, they persist in saying that to believe in the Lord is to join the unlearned. Poor doctors!

           The second is the worship of the flesh, in which sex is in the spotlight. Its importance is undeniable, because without it, no one would have been born. However, this does not mean imagining and indulging in practices condemned by the Bible. In fact, such behavior fights against life. To give someone such a teaching is to reduce them to a slave to something that should be done out of love.

           Returning to the firmness of faith in Christ, it is important to emphasize that, without it, we are devalued and reduced to individuals who sell themselves to survive. They dishonor faith, which could be the strength of holy feelings. There is no sadder picture than watching many people relegate the act that created them and brings joy to the couple to a disgusting and uncontrolled custom.

           It's good to see people who previously lived in moral and honorable perdition accept Jesus and become true examples of holiness and happiness. Divine work needs servants rooted in Christ's teachings. Outside of His doctrine, all that exists are the actions and reactions of the kingdom of darkness in the lives of its subjects.

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

           Every saved person - especially those who, after converting to Jesus, discover that the person who led them to Christ wasn't living the true Gospel and was indulging in the practices condemned by the Bible, without having the ideal behavior of God's children - must do what the verse in this message directs: fit themselves well to the Word. Otherwise, you will never grow up to be a holy temple in the Lord.

           The Most High's goal for us is that we grow to be holy temples in Jesus. Without this, it is impossible to have communion with Him. There are Christians who haven't got right with the Scriptures and have become a problem for the church, bearing bad witness to their faith in the Savior. They don't think about what will happen to them at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), when they will have to answer for what they have done good or bad through their body. You have to adjust to the teachings of the Bible.

       Without careful examination and an open heart to learn from the Lord, you will never enjoy fullness in Christ. Some not only fail to live worthily, but also experience the actions suggested by the thief, so they are never happy with the salvation they have achieved. Never allow the devil to dictate how you proceed on your God-given mission, because the end will be worse than the beginning.

         The adjustment required must be perfect, or it will never take place. Notice that Paul used the term being fitted together, which means no looseness or openness. The fact that we are not in Heaven is still serious, because if there is any unconfessed or abandoned sin, the connection with the Lord will not work. Beware of sins that are considered small by some! They seem unimportant, but let's remember the little foxes that harm the vineyard (Song of Solomon 2.15).

         We have been made houses of the eternal God, but the fact that we are not well adjusted hinders our growth to the position of holy temples. The Word declares that without sanctification we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). This is no mere detail. Without holiness, God will not dwell in us. How can the Most High dwell in us if we don't see Him, feel Him or have communion with Him? Let's seek sanctification.

        I think that on the day of Christ's return, a large part of the saved will not go up with Him. Then the damage will be great. Why not give ourselves to the Lord as we should, if we have the opportunity to improve our ways? (Jeremiah 7:3). Remember: the Church is represented by the ten virgins who were to go to the Lord's wedding. They were prepared, but at the right time, five of them didn't have the oil and didn't go in (Matthew 25.1-12). Watch and pray!

       The letter to the Hebrews gives the following warning: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Hebrews 2.3) You see, Christ's return can happen without us realizing it, so we must never let ourselves be deceived by anything. Let's reflect: if Jesus were to return now, would we go up with Him? Let's grow to become temples of God!

          In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

It is to the Christian's detriment that he fails to carefully examine the Scriptures about his position in the Kingdom of God. Even knowing that the Gospel is the Good News for those who accept Jesus as Savior and Lord - and are therefore born again - many do not pay the slightest attention to the Word in this regard. One of our rights in faith in Christ is to have access to the Father in the same Spirit, the same channel used by His Son.

Think with me: how many blessings do we miss out on because we don't examine the Word? The Master commanded: You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5.39) Just as He recognized Himself in what was written, we will discover who we are in the Lord and what we can have from Him. We must act on this truth in order to improve our fellowship with people.

         Answer honestly: have you ever seen the greatness of this revelation? How will you proceed from now on? There is no reason to live far from the Lord, frustrated and even upset at not having your requests answered by Him. God's children have to show, day by day, who they are and what they can do; otherwise, they will never be able to enjoy the life provided by Jesus.

         When we understand this, we get to the best of faith in Christ, because we will also do the works He has done. That's what matters! By giving God true praise for His wonderful salvation, we obey His instructions. This is how He wants us to act. Making the Father glorified in the Son is the best praise we can give Him (John 14:13). Wake up to live in victory!

We can continually use the same access as the Savior and we will never be surprised or at the mercy of fate. The faith granted by Christ is our lot. With it, we will go to the Father to solve any problem and we will come back with the answer. Pastors need this access whenever they are in the pulpit; then they will truly be ministers of the Lord's goodness.

         Access to the Father is open to those who have become new creatures, because there is no way that God could have excluded us. After all, the divine gifts are never annulled, as the Word says: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  (Romans 11.29) That's why Christians will never wake up to a message from Heaven saying that the Lord has thought better of it and decided to cancel some words in the Bible. He remains faithful!

       The idea that the Holy Bible needs to be rewritten is from none other than Satan. Even though the Heavens and the Earth pass away, what God has said will remain forever (Luke 21.33). There never is and never will be an update of the Scriptures, because they are exactly what God planned before He even began creation. Poor those liars! They need to turn to the Lord quickly if they are not to perish!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

Before Jesus came into the world, there were two peoples at enmity - Jews and Gentiles. We, who are not descendants of Abraham by blood, were in the group of Gentiles. But today, there is no longer this separation before the Lord, because Christ came so that every man might be born again in Him: For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation (Ephesians 2.14).

Both Gentiles and Jews need to learn that Jesus came to restore man's communion with God through conversion to the Gospel. Then these two peoples became equal in Christ. For centuries, the sons of Ishmael and Isaac have been fighting over something that is not the Lord's will. As a result, innocent people die who haven't even begun to live, and worse, without salvation

The church fails when it doesn't try hard enough to announce to the world the Good News of what Jesus has done on behalf of everyone, and then hatred escalates. We can't leave it to others to do the work, because we will be held accountable by God for the task He has given us: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  (Mark 16.15,16)

The Lord had greater purposes than giving salvation to those who believed in Christ; after all, His feelings are perfect. Unfortunately, fallen man didn't understand how he should act. In his death, Christ did more: having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace (Ephesians 2.15) He hasn't changed His plan, so let's do our part?

As a born-again Christian, you can't wish death on anyone. Now, how to do the work if the world is divided into religious factions? You see, this is one of the Holy Spirit's missions: And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16.8) So it's time for the Holy Spirit to use us to minister the Good News to the people, and He will convince everyone of the Truth.

Before Christ returns, the world will know the true power of God, which will sweep through all nations, convincing the lost of their need to be born again. Thus, we will see Jews preaching the Word to the Arabs, and they will rejoice in the seed of faith in Christ. This is not utopia, but the truth that everyone needs to believe. Without the new birth, no one will enter the eternal Kingdom of the Father.

        The revelation that the Spirit of God gave Paul is to kill enmity. It will cease to exist with the anointing to be poured out on the world. It will be the greatest revival of all time. Those who are alive in those days will also consecrate themselves, seeking the oil for D-Day, which will come when no one is waiting. Without the Holy Oil, you will not enter the Glory of the Father (Matthew 25.1-13).

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

            As we learn from the Lord through the Scriptures, we discover why God did not allow the man recreated in Christ to produce what he needed on his own and, through pride, to sin, causing his spirit to fall into the devil's hands again: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  (John 15.5).

           What we need is already prepared in the Scriptures. Then, through our secure communion with God and His Word, we learn what belongs to us and, with a declaration of faith, we take possession of the blessing. This applies to any evil that tries to take hold in body and mind, as well as temptations that incite us to think or act outside what is permitted in the Bible. We are set free!

         After conversion, it's good to maintain a life of prayer and read the Scriptures daily. In this way, our lives would be easier to lead, since we would be warned when the enemy approaches us with his proposal to act outside of biblical standards and, once again, be his slaves. We have been given the freedom to enjoy the goods of God's Kingdom!

         There is much more to God than we think or have been taught. Those who stop reading the Bible have no idea what they are missing out on because they don't know about the power of the Most High, and so they live in difficulty. Meditate on the Lord's affection for those who live in His presence, as Elijah, one of the inhabitants of Gilead, did. By consecrating himself to God, this prophet was given the mission of confronting the king of Samaria and prevailed against him.

      Elijah minced no words before Ahab and delivered the Lord's message. The king of the North wouldn't listen to him, so, as Moses did before Pharaoh, he also cast his “plague”, saying: And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” (1 Kings 17.1). God's envoy announces the words of the Most High!

        Elijah then went to the hiding place prepared for him by the brook Cherith. He stayed there for a long time, until he received orders to go to Zarephath and Sidon, and then to stand before Ahab. With the anointing from on high, the prophet confronted the furious king, ordering him to take the prophets of Baal and the idol-post - 850 in all - to Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-19). In a demonstration of obedience to the Almighty, Elijah brought down fire from heaven, and the people exclaimed that only the Lord is God (vv. 22-39). Great is our God!

           The heavenly Father doesn't want to see His people in misery, overwhelmed by sin, crying day and night, saying they don't know why God doesn't help them or answer them. Give up your inner life of evil desires and turn to the One who died so that you might live to the full (Isaiah 55.7). The Lord wants to give you abundant life, filling your mouth with good things, but he can only do this if you apply yourself to studying the Word and serving him with all your soul.

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

The Lord warns that there are things unknown to us and others that will be revealed to us little by little. The things that are in the Scriptures, however, belong to the converted and their children forever: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29.29) The “safe” of the Most High is foolproof and contains all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

         Since the saved are in Jesus, they can ask for access to these riches in order to know how to talk to anyone about spiritual reality and take possession of all that He has accomplished. In this way, they will please the hearts of the Father and the Son, who in turn will dwell in those who give them love, having and keeping the commandments (John 14.21). Think with me, why did the apostle receive this revelation and put it in the Scriptures? So that, by obeying the Word, we can be successful in life!

        Those who lack wisdom fail to gain the blessings that rightfully belong to them, because they lack knowledge about what they need to do to avoid being destroyed by the evil one. God's Word reveals the need for this understanding: Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4.7) You are ready to receive it after you have obtained the principal thing.

        King Solomon spoke of wisdom in a masterly way, comparing it to the excellence of light in contrast to darkness: Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. (Ecclesiastes 2.13) We are saved to shine God's light into hearts dominated by the darkness of sin. If we don't realize the importance of this, we will never know how to respond to those who come to us to know the heavenly blessings.

Solomon received this virtue from the Lord in order to be successful in his reign. In the same way, the saved will receive it. The wise king spoke further about this important gift from God: For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. (Ecclesiastes 7.12) He showed that, like money, wisdom serves as a shadow, but it is more excellent because whoever acquires it has their life changed for the better.

          In Jesus are the treasures of wisdom; that's why, in the synagogue of Capernaum, He made everyone marvel at His words: And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! (Mark 6.2) The same can happen to those who are in Christ.

         The treasures of science are also hidden in the Lord; that's why, when we use His Name, we see wonders happen, to the point where people exclaim: “It's not possible that this has happened before our eyes and we've seen nothing to show God's action in this place!” Without a doubt, the Father wants to use us to make the people around us fall down in tears at His stupendous power. Seek the excellence of Jesus!

         In Christ, with love,

         R. R. Soares

Our condemnation was certain not only because of the inheritance of sin we received from Adam, but also because of the mistakes we made, consciously or unconsciously. When Jesus descended into hell, dying on the cross for us, He paid the price by suffering our sins and, in the filthy cellars of the kingdom of wickedness, He took away the power of the devil and his fallen angels to oppress us (Colossians 2:15). Today, we are free indeed.

In a nutshell, Christ spoke about our situation after we accepted Him as Savior and Lord: Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8.36) Anyone who has understood Jesus' invitation can declare themselves saved, without fear of being happy. That's exactly what happened when we received Him and became God's possession. You became God's possession, and the Lord doesn't want that to be undone (Romans 11:29).

We need to teach the saved under our care that they are free from the wiles of the devil. We have an obligation to beget children for God as Jesus did when he walked in the world, teaching with authority, and not like the teachers in the synagogue. The Master said: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  (Luke 10.19) That way, there will be real Christians!

Never put fear in the hearts of church members, nor subdue them to stand at your feet. If you do, you will pay a high price at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus spoke about following His example: For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  (John 13.15) Believe and live; otherwise, your faith will do nothing for your life. And what have you traded it in for?

We were resurrected together with Christ. Now, tell me: did Jesus come back to life with a disability? Some would argue: “He spent three days buried and, according to science, his neurons would have been destroyed”. But God does every work perfectly. The Savior and those who were resurrected did not return to vegetate; in fact, they rose completely healthy. You have been remade in Christ!

Saved by grace, we have been raised up in Christ and seated in heavenly places in the Son of God (Ephesians 2:4-7), which gives us authority over our lives. Think about it: we have been seated with Jesus to judge, by His Word, everything that concerns us. The saved cannot continue in error, doing the devil's will, and expect the Lord to fulfill His promises to them. They must judge themselves by what God says!

Let's take our place in Christ with modesty, without considering ourselves responsible for having such power. We have to fulfill the plan of the Most High and give the glory to the one who deserves it: Jesus. Our life will be successful when our love for Christ is demonstrated with holiness, sincerity and humility. The Lord loves us!

 In Christ, with love,

          R. R. Soares

Although he was on the cross, Christ still had one last battle to fight: to take back from the devil the power he had stolen from Adam, with which he oppressed mankind. The Savior went all the way in His mission to give man complete freedom: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2.15).

The Son of God never sinned, but the moment He received our iniquities, sicknesses and infirmities, the Father abandoned Him, because He couldn't stay by His side. The Most High is the Holiness of holies, the Consuming Fire. So, if He had remained by the Son's side, He would have struck Him dead. When God left Him, the Savior exclaimed: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27.46) What an hour!

On the cross, Jesus died twice. The first time was spiritual death, separation from God. You see, Christ is the second Adam. The first died when he disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3). In the second, the sins and evils were laid on the Savior. At that crucial moment, Jesus said He was thirsty and was given vinegar: So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19.30). Then He descended into hell (see Isaiah 63).

The prophet spoke about Christ's fight against the devil in order to strip him of the authority that was actually ours, but was usurped from Adam when he fell into transgression: Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? – “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63.1). Hallelujah!

No one was with the Lord when He went to hell, not even an angel. He had to win our victory by Himself: “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. (Isaiah 63.3). This symbolic language expresses the fierce battle against the kingdom of death.    

The Son had left all His glory as God and came as a man to carry out the Father's plan. Being the only one without sin, the choice fell to Him: As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3.10). You see, our salvation almost didn't take place. The Holy One came to sanctify us with His blood and will soon return to take us to Heaven!

We should never waste time on religious matters and cults that promote someone as an intermediary between the Lord and man. This has nothing to do with the Gospel. It is a practice to be rejected by sensible people. The only One we can glorify is the heavenly Father, in the person of His Son, Jesus. Anyone who departs from this truth is lost in a religious tangle and, if they don't turn to the Word, they will remain that way. Mercy!

   In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

           Let's examine the statement repeated three times that David reigned. This shows that we must also fulfill the ministry given to us as a proof of our love for the Lord. Many people will feel ashamed on the Last Day because they didn't deal with the talents they were given. Because of this, they may meet the same end as someone who was given a talent and did nothing (Matthew 25.14-30). Never play with God's commands!

           David dedicated his life to composing Psalms and worshipping God. All in all, he spent 40 years as a warrior and king of Israel. He made every effort not to shame the One who had called him to His work when he was still a shepherd. Even though he was young, he had more sense than his brothers who stayed at home, because he worked in the pastures looking after his father's possessions. David took his mission so seriously that he killed a lion and a bear to protect the sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-36).

       One of the most important biblical messages reveals what Jesus did on behalf of humanity, but many don't claim this blessing because they don't know what the Bible says: To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1.5b,6). What will they do from now on with this clear statement?

         David knew how to act as king as soon as God called him. And when he received the government, he set to work. He took possession of this position and would not prevaricate. Joshua, for example, when he understood that the Lord had given him the power to fulfill his mission, believed this: No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1.5).

         Abner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and made him king in the place of the one God had anointed, disregarding God's direction over Jesse's son (2 Samuel 2.8-10). For seven years, David saw fit to wait for the Most High, so as not to cause scandal in the house of God. David declared: I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40.1). He knew that God would do everything at the right time.

         The Lord's servant must learn to walk under the command of the Holy Spirit, so as not to give in to the desires of human nature, as the Scriptures say: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5.16). God has taught us to walk by faith so that we don't give in to the flesh. This is possible. Never let the devil get his hands on you, resist him and his temptations. Then, terrified, he will flee from you (James 4:7).

God has made you sovereign over everything that concerns you, including your family. Do as David did: reign. Don't keep crying out for power, because Jesus has already given it to you: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8).

          In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

Those who have been born will have their day of departure for eternity. The person who has accepted Jesus and remained faithful to the end, practicing the good works prepared for them, will be received with the greatest joy by the Lord (Ephesians 2.10). However, those who did not heed the Lord's warnings will not be invited into the Kingdom planned since the foundation of the world. Poor lives! They didn't love the Savior or His coming, so they will be sent to the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25.31-46).

This is how God spoke about Jesse's son: And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13.22). We can't be like those who don't love the Lord, indulging in practices condemned by the Scriptures, without paying due attention to God's directions. Whoever does not turn to the Most High will be condemned. Mercy!

    The apostle Paul was used to warn us of the dangers we are subject to when we don't keep watch on divine promises: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, (Ephesians 5.15). The day will come when we will be taken out of this life, whether we like it or not. Then we will enter the world of Truth to give an account of our deeds. The books will be opened and we will be judged by what is written in them (Revelation 20:11-15). Where will those who never read the Bible go?

Some people are so cunning, and innocent too, that they think they will find a good excuse to pass eternal judgment. They think that the Lord, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, is not intelligent. Jesus spoke about our responsibility to meditate on the Scriptures: You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5.39). Free yourself now from the devil's lies and believe in Christ!

      David was irreproachable, because he knew how to live what God envisioned for him. Jesse's son was no different from us. Even when he sinned, he repented until he received a new heart, which no longer allowed him to be deceived (Psalm 51). So he left this life to be at the side of the Almighty. You urgently need to check the way you live. Know this: whoever is not born again (John 3:3-5) will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

      We will sleep with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest of the Lord's servants. Now, entry will be forbidden to anyone who has not loved God. The Most High has given a sign that you are saved, saying that before you go to live with Him, the Father and the Son will already be dwelling within you: Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  (John 14.23). What do you say?

       Don't miss the opportunity to be redeemed by the Lord. By your decision to become a servant of Christ, God will dwell in you: But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21.8). Accept Jesus now and be happy always!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

        From among David's sons would come the successor to the kingdom of Israel. But it would be God's choice, and the people would accept it. So Solomon became king and sat on the throne in his father's place. Solomon was called a wise man by his father and was given the task of executing Shimei, who had done evil to David when he was fleeing from Absalom. David let the new king decide how Shimei would be punished.

       After his father's death, Solomon sent for Shimei and reminded him that he had cursed David by following him and throwing stones at him: Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. (1 Kings 2.36) Shimei thought he had been warned, but because he had an evil heart, he would err again. Watch out!

        Solomon made it clear that if he left the city of the great King, he would die, and it would only be his fault: For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.” (1 Kings 2.37). There's no way that someone could flout a royal order and stay alive, because at that time, the king had that prerogative, he was the law. However, Shimei watched and did not transgress, living within the imposed limit.

      The Word states that Shimei said to the king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. (1 Kings 2.38). Despite this agreement, he decided to leave without asking permission. After all, in his mind, the motive was just, even though he knew the punishment he would suffer. We must keep to the letter of what we agree with King Jesus, because penalties will come if we don't obey Him.

      We need to keep a watchful eye on the instructions of Scripture, so that we never go off track. We have to put our attention on the Word, because God will judge us by our actions. The Bible says: Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are in Gath! (1 Kings 2.39). Shimei didn't even care that he wasn't allowed to fetch the servants, so he went on his way!

          Our attitudes bear witness to the Lord, who will never fail to honor His declarations. If we break our commitment to him, we will be punished. Some saw Shimei and his servants in Gath and told the king: And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. (1 Kings 2.41). Anyone who doesn't honor their vow to God will suffer the consequences. Respect your covenant with the Lord!

        Shimei should have been killed for the wickedness committed against David. When Absalom was killed and David returned to reign, he sought him out and asked for clemency so that he could stay alive. David told Solomon that he should judge the misguided man wisely, and he did!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

           While fleeing from his son Absalom, David was cursed by Shimei, son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin, who threw stones at the king (2 Samuel 16:5,6). David didn't stop to kill him, but he continued to beat him, until he couldn't stand it any longer in his madness against God's anointed. Later, when he saw that the king was right and Absalom was wrong, Shimei went to David and stood before him, asking for forgiveness. David then showed that he was the man after God's own heart (2 Samuel 19:16-23).

        Now, when he ordered Solomon to put Barzillai's sons at his table, David didn't forget Shimei or the stones he had thrown at him, but he kept the forgiveness he had given him, teaching Solomon that the word given must be kept, so that the person who has trusted us will never be disappointed. The most beautiful picture is to see someone who has done something against us repent, confess their mistake and ask us for forgiveness. God acts!

           Shimei had failed cruelly. He couldn't have thrown stones at the king. You see, David was no longer a boy and could have defended himself, but he didn't. He didn't deserve such treatment. He just didn't deserve such treatment from someone who didn't know his son's reasons for persecuting him and wanting to take the kingdom by force. However, the Lord was merciful to Simei, making him realize his mistake and giving him the courage to seek out the offended party and ask for forgiveness, and he did!    

           There are Christians playing with fire. They know they've sinned and need to confess their iniquity, but they don't do the right thing. Jesus instructed us to forgive the genuinely repentant person: Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him (Luke 17.3). There are those who believe that a “little sin” doesn't need repentance, but that's not true.

         Some say that fanatics want everything to be perfect, forgetting that the Word of the Lord teaches this, not man. Many people will despair at Jesus' return because, on their own, they have decided to add their own thoughts to the holy doctrine; however, this is not what Christ said. For example, many fought to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but today they no longer speak in tongues or consecrate themselves to God. What can we say?

         Well, if someone doesn't care about eternal life and the conditions for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, they should prepare themselves, because many will be forbidden to enter it. Jesus told of ten virgins who were prepared to enter into marriage (Matthew 25.1-13). There was no sin in them, but five of them had no oil left in their lamps. Then, while they were out getting it, the bridegroom arrived, and they were left out of the wedding. What happened?

         Five of them were reckless and lacked the oil that would light the way. Because of this, they were prevented from entering into the eternal marriage with the Savior. Jesus declared: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is (Mark 13.33). So, what will your decision be?

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares

When Absalom tried to overthrow his father to be king of Israel, David had to flee so as not to face him (2 Samuel 15). Jesus warned us that, before his return, the situation in the world will be like this: Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. (Mark 13.12). What Absalom did is a rehearsal of what is to come to a greater degree, for the devil will act furiously, knowing that he has little time left.

The spirit of rebellion will prevail in homes where children will rebel against everything and everyone, disrespecting their parents' authority, without caring that they won't live long. Many will act in their own interests, but those who bow before the Word will prove that serving Him is the best decision. The only homes that will be left out of the evil perpetrated by their children will be those where the fear of God has been taught and accepted.

The end of those who leave God's presence will be between earth and heaven, as happened to Absalom: Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. (2 Samuel 18.9). It's not good to rise up against the Most High!

David left Jerusalem in a hurry because his rebellious son wanted the kingdom at any cost. In order not to face him and see him die in sin, like a wicked man, the king fled to a place determined by God. There, he found three friends who took him in and helped him. Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim  brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.” (2 Samuel 17.27-29) The Lord rescued him!

If you find yourself in a similar situation, don't panic. The Most High knows your need before you ask for help, as Jesus said: For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  (Matthew 6.32). David sought God's Kingdom first and saw divine action in his life (Matthew 6.33). Take care of the Lord's Kingdom, and He will take care of you!

When giving final advice to Solomon, who would reign in his place, David mentioned those friends who had come to his aid, ordering his successor to be beneficent - the art of doing good - and to place them among those who would eat at his table. David showed this affection towards those who had been used by the Lord to help him. It's good to meditate on this command and do the same for those who are your true friends. Gratitude is good for you!

As for those who turn a blind eye to someone's need, where will they be counted? There will be no mercy for anyone who is not merciful (James 2:13). Always accept the Lord's guidance. He will surely reward you for being a faithful servant!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares