The Gospel of John 21:13 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.” (John 21:13 KJV).

The setting is the beach at the Sea of Galilee or Sea of Tiberias, which the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ instructed the disciples to go to see Him there (Matthew 28:10). This is His third post-resurrection encounter with the disciples. Of course, when Apostle Peter came to this place, it brought back to his innate being his love for fishing. He could not cast off the nostalgic memory of his life’s trade while huddling with his fellow apostles. The urging to go fishing drove him strongly to go out and fish. They all went together to fish all night without a catch. As they head back ashore, the Lord was already at the beach preparing grilled fish and bread for breakfast.

This scene brings to remembrance the Lord’s miraculous feeding of 5000 men with limited supply of fish and bread (Matthew 14:14-21). In that incident, the disciples gathered Twelve baskets of leftovers, One basket for each apostle to bring home (John 6:13), which gave us the reassuring message that the limited supply we have that we place in the Lord's hand are multiplied. The extra baskets of supply also assures us that the Lord provides us with more than enough. We are blessed, so we can be a blessing. 

This setting here in the shore of the Sea of Galilee is such a comforting assurance for us whose faith is in our Lord Jesus Christ. He provides all our needs. His Words remind us: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:12 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.” (John 21:12 KJV).

The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ invites the hungry fishermen to join and dine with Him. He, who is fresh from the grave in His glorified body, is set to have breakfast at the beach. And, He has taken a new look. The Lord Jesus Christ is in His heavenly nature, with His former earth suit, so to speak, refitted for the ethereal environment of heaven. So, in simplistic illustration, the disciples were like looking at a friend wearing a new hairdo and a new outfit style. Hence, Apostle John highlighted their not daring to ask “who are you?” The disciples knew He is their Master and Lord.

This is a very reassuring message for us. We, who put our faith to fully rest in the grace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, will also be transformed in the last day to be like Him. It is written: “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:10-11 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.” (John 21:10-11 KJV).

The Holy Bible carefully use Words with messages that establish our faith and intimate relationship with our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn’t need to use Words just to fill up its pages. Every detail, to the least article, conjunction and preposition, bear messages of great importance. So do with numbers, parables and illustrative stories it tells. Here, in these passages, Apostle John with the unction of the Spirit of the Lord, conspicuously reveals the number 153 fishes caught for a reason. It is therefore with consciousness that we uncover the message of this revelation.

In this early morning, we find the Lord Yeshua by the shore grilling fish for the disciples returning from a catch-less night of fishing. He called them out to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They did and hauled in 153 large sizes of fish, that Apostle Peter counted. Yet, their nets didn’t break. For me, this is an assurance that as we follow the Lord’s Words of instruction we can always hope for abounding blessings.

The Lord Jesus in His messages use fish as the metaphor for humanity. He invited His first disciples, to ““Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”” (Mark 1:17 NIV). When He died on the cross, He paid the penalty of humanity’s sins - past, present and future. His resurrection freed us all from the power of sin and death and empowered us for a mission to be “fishers of people”. By faith in Christ Jesus we are totally freed from sin because He has risen (1 Corinthians 15;14&17). This, He accomplished by being crucified on the cross during the feast of “the Passover” or “Ha Pesach” in Hebrew. With Hebrew alphabet being represented by numbers, adding the numbers representing "Ha Pesach" gives a total of 'an hundred and fifty and three'.

This great catch of fish is therefore a message reminding the disciples and us who put our faith in Christ Jesus. The Messiah died on the day of Passover feast and rose from the grave to give us new life. Now, in Him, we are made a new creation as ‘fishers of people’, as it is written: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:9 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.” (John 21:9 KJV).

This is such a poignant expression of care and supply, the risen Lord Jesus Christ manifests to the disciples at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. While they dragged and grappled with their nets, having caught nothing after a long night of fishing, the Lord Jesus warmly prepares breakfast of charcoal-grilled fish and bread for them. This signifies not merely sustenance but a deeper fellowship with His disciples. Notably, this charcoal fire recalls warm comfort during Peter's earlier denial of the Lord at the courtyard of the High Priest’s palace (John 18:18), signaling the stage for Peter's eventual restoration. The event unfolds as a vivid reminder of the Lord’s unwavering love for His disciples and to all of us who believe, reinforcing the lesson that it's in His strength and guidance that blessing is found, rather than our own efforts.

The passage emphasizes that the Lord is our divine provider of the physical needs and deeper spiritual hunger within us. Also, as Apostle John captures it, the great catch of fish symbolizes the future harvest of souls. This illustrates how God uses the labor of His followers - you and I, exemplified by the apostles, who are made born again by faith in Him. Through His resurrection from the dead, we are now empowered to extend His mission in the world. This morning at the beach, we have not just a picture of a miraculous meal. This is our invitation for intimate relationship and service, affirming the message that spiritual nourishment often comes wrapped in the ordinary moments of life, where the Lord meets us.

Our risen Lord Jesus and great Shepherd shall not leave us in want. As He prepared breakfast on the shore of Galilee, in this early morning waiting for the disciples returning from a night of failed fishing trip, we too have the assurance of His provision, as the psalmist testifies: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:5-6 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:7-8 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.” (John 21:7-8 KJV).

In these passages, we observe the impulsive Peter rushing to be with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. His action is so typical with his nature. Acting on his feelings and emotions in a spur, as soon as, he hears John ‘the disciple that Jesus loved’ says “it is the Lord”. Peter wraps his outer garment around him and jumps out of the boat making a dash through the water to be with the Lord.

Coming into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, like Peter, is what we ought to do. The Lord Jesus loved that of Peter, and of us too, having such zeal. Yes, he is the picture of us in his unmasked impulsive attitude. He is imperfect, just like us. But, one thing he possessed that we too must - is his eagerness to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus unpretentious. In the midst of hasty and often reckless actions, let’s have that enthusiasm towards the Lord. It is preferable for us to be enthusiastically hot in the Lord, than lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16).

Peter was a fisherman. The Lord Jesus Christ had called him through a miracle of a large catch of fish. In that occasion, when Peter saw the Lord’s wondrous work, he fell down at the Lord's knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”” (Luke 5:4-8). The Lord called Peter to ministry again with a large catch of fish. Yet, most amazingly in this instance, the fisherman left behind the miraculous large catch and go rush towards the Lord. For the sheer joy of being in the presence of his risen Lord, Peter left the gift to be with the giver! What about us?

Like Peter, we should have the attitude to always seek being with our Lord Jesus Christ. As children of God by faith in Him, we have this assurance, as the psalmist testifies: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:4-6 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.” (John 21:4-6 KJV).

Peter and his fellow disciples went a whole night’s fishing without a catch! Then dawn came with a query from the shore - "Friends, haven't you any fish?" Then, “He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” ” (John 21:4;6 NIV).

This mundane holler and interaction brought back to recollection that moment several years back. “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” (Luke 5:1-6 NIV).

Hence, in this deja vu moment, responding should be easy. Attending to God’s Words will surely result to abundance of blessings. In one occasion of the Lord’s teaching sessions, “… a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”” (Luke 11:27-28 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 21:1-3 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:1-3 KJV).

At the tomb, the angel told the three women: ““Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”” (Mark 16:6-7 NIV). In a confusing moment, what do you do when you don't know what to do? That’s where the disciples were, not really sure what they were supposed to do. With the Lord Jesus risen, their confusion was deep and expected. They’re amidst a new, life-altering event. But, they have the Lord’s instruction where to go.

We see two crucial things though, that they did to face this unprecedented time. They huddled bound by something, and by One that welds together. While only Seven disciples are identified by name in these passages, we can be certain all of them and some other believers are present gathering and comforting each other. They came here, at the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberius, as instructed. It all started here for Peter and his fellow fishermen when the Lord called them to “follow me” (Matthew 4:19). Now, in this focal moment, they are back in their familiar habitat. And, as always, there’s that tendency to fall back to old habit when things are tough. They all went and go fishing and caught nothing.

In other words, when all else are confusing, and you're not sure what to do, as the Lord’s redeemed through grace by faith in Him, we are to stick with each other and follow His instructions. Especially in this present time of our Lord’s return fast drawing close, Scriptures remind: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:30-31 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30-31 KJV).

On the view of the world, perhaps a complete biography of our Lord Jesus Christ would be much more amazing and entertaining, with a mind framed for entertainment. But, would that add value to instill faith? Perhaps it would, but perhaps not. Apostle John, however, guided by the Spirit of God, recorded his account to incite faith, and chose his material carefully to draw seekers to the Lord. His record of the gospel is very different from Matthew, Mark and Luke who all presented the human nature of the Lord and His mission in varying perspectives. Matthew opens his account to show the Lord’s royal genealogy through the line of David back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1). Mark presents the Lord’s human ministry assigned by the Father, ushered in by John the Baptist who prepared His way (Mark 1:1-9). Luke, establishes the Lord’s true humanity to relate with us, as shown in the complete account of His genealogy tracing from Joseph to Adam - the first created being (Luke 3:23-38).

Apostle John is giving us a deeper understanding of the Lord’s divinity. He is the Word who existed from the beginning with God (John 1:1-2). John selected few of the Lord’s messages of truth, with manifestations of miracles, signs and wonders He performed. He focused in depth on the Lord’s interactions with a few people. He didn't give us many miracles, signs and wonders, but instead selected a few. John wrote these to help us believe in Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah) and the only begotten Son of God. He, just like the other Gospel writers, knew that if we were to find life, it would be in Christ Jesus our Lord. During our quiet moments and private appointments with our Lord, it is very spiritually edifying to reflect, with muttering the Gospel of John, again and again. It enriches our faith in Him and bring our relationship closer with Him, our God and Father (1 Corinthians 8:6).

The Lord Jesus, in one of His moments alone with the Father, proclaimed these Words of prayers and supplications: ““I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:28-29 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:28-29 KJV).

Exclaiming "My Lord and my God!", Thomas - the skeptic and unbelieving believer, is now restored as a believing believer. His encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ was definitely an “Ah-Ha” moment for the Apostle Thomas who at last has gotten it. By his exclamation, he rightly addressed the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This should be a provocation for us in our now moment of reflection. Perhaps, each one should ask: is the Lord Jesus having the right place of sovereignty in my life? If not, we must take this our Ah-Ha moment too and surrender to His Lordship by truly believing so we can all be free from the shackles of religion and every worldly creeds.

The Lord’s declaration to Thomas is a profound message to us in this age, whose faith in Him made us a new creation. For us who have not physically seen it but believed, Apostle Peter in his affirming epistle exhorts us: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:27 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27 KJV).

Grappling with disbelief after the resurrection of his Lord and Master, this is a pivotal moment for Apostle Thomas when the Lord Jesus Christ directly addressed his skepticism. During the past week, He doubted the testimonies of his fellow disciples, asserting that he would only believe if he could touch the wounds of the Lord. This demonstrates a major human struggle with faith that resonates with many people of this age, particularly in a world filled with deception, skepticism and uncertainty.

In this Sunday night’s gathering of the Lord's disciples, the Lord Jesus appeared with Thomas present and invited him to inspect His wounds, in a tone embodying divine grace. This invitation isn’t merely to satisfy his skepticism. It serves as mirror for us to reflect on to be grounded in our faith. This is to incite and nurture Apostle Thomas's faith, leading him to proclaim, “My Lord and my God.” This declaration, not only confirms the reality of the resurrection of our Lord and Thomas’ Lord, but also underscores the Lord’s divine nature. Recognizing and declaring Christ's Lordship is key to a truly living faith. With this passage, “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”” (John 20:27 NIV), the Lord Jesus is challenging all believers. We are to navigate by faith and wisdom through the sea of doubts, exemplify our personal encounters with Him and transform our doubts into profound belief.

Scriptures remind us, as it is written: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.” (John 20:26 KJV).

This passage is another pivotal and powerful moment of revelation to depict the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He appeared again to the disciples on the Second Sunday after His rising from the dead while they were gathered in the same room with doors closed. Gathering as such, emphasized the existence of threat against the Lord’s disciples, especially with conspiracies hatched by the religious authorities swirling around Jerusalem concerning the Lord’s ‘missing’ body. They bribed the soldiers who guarded the tomb to lie that the Lord’s body was stolen by the disciples while they were asleep (Matthew 28:12-15). Thus, this deepen the disciples’ cautious hunkering to gather secretly in the same room with doors safely shut.

Unlike the Sunday before, in this night’s get-together Thomas for obvious reason showed up. He is the stubborn unbelieving believer, who behaved like any doubter would - insisting to see the nail marks on the Lord’s hands and spear hole in the Lord’s side, to believe. In this Second Sunday gathering, the Lord appears again, despite the closed doors. He displayed the power of intangibility, passing through physical barrier, solidifying the reality of His resurrection. Again, He greets them "Peace be unto you", not only to reassure the disciples and us - His redeemed by faith, but also to unleash the peace which transcends understanding that He only can give by His resurrection and victory over sin and death.

This peace is the kind of peace the Lord Jesus gives us (John 14:27). Apostle Paul calls us to let it rule in our hearts, as it is written: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:24-25 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25 KJV).

It is amazing to note, how could have Apostle Thomas missed this Sunday evening when his fellow apostles were gathered together after the Lord’s body was found missing? Was he gallivanting around in this stressful day, considering that the Lord Jesus Christ was just crucified, buried and His body not in the tomb, with Mary giving them the good news that she saw Him alive? Or, was he just living up to his name Didymus, a double-minded man?

His stubborn unbelief and, in fact, demand (John 20:25) for outrageous proof, goes well beyond skepticism. Refusing to accept the eyewitness accounts of his closest friends, brethren, fellow apostles and disciples, position him to earn a suitable moniker. With the benefit of hindsight, having the knowledge we gathered from the revealed truth of God’s holy and written Words, we maybe tempted to judge these disciples, especially Thomas. We wonder how could they be so slow to get a grasp on these chain of events. But, we are blessed with certain angle to have the advantage of the fullness of the gospel available to us now. What we can see clearly now, could have easily flown over their heads. And, for us too, in their position at ground zero, we may had missed it, as well.

So, we should be thankful as the Lord’s redeemed by grace through faith. And, let us rest in the comfort of our fellow believers’ prayers that we may receive complete knowledge of God’s will and wisdom, as Apostle Paul revealed in His exhortation. He declared: “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” (Colossians 1:9-10 NLT).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23 KJV).

Having received the Holy Spirit, the gift of breath the Lord Jesus gave to bring many to newness in life which He gave first to the apostles and to us who followed their faith, we are sent to proclaim the Lord’s true gospel (good news) of grace to the world. The resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ is bestowed on us, equipping us to reveal to all sinners that in Christ Jesus their sins - past, present and future, are already forgiven. They can receive this gift by believing in Him, receive Him and be born again. Those who reject this truth, that they (the apostles - the pioneers of faith) and us (believers in this age) reveal from His holy and written Words, will retain their sins and forgo the gift of eternal life. 

Apostle Paul testified to the importance of this commission that, as with the disciples, we too must respond being recipients of the Lord’s saving grace by faith. We must have the same attitude, as Apostle Paul was. He professed, as it is written: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:24-25, 27 KJV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:22 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:” (John 20:22 KJV).

In the beginning, God created man from the dust. Scriptures say: “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (Genesis 2:7 NLT). His Spirit breathed on us made us a living being. But, then our ancestor Adam, succumb to Satan’s bait. He had fallen and sinned. Mankind died for that fall (Genesis 2:17; 3:19). Man’s tainted blood of sin and death was passed on to every person physically born into this world. We needed to be renewed (Ephesians 4:23-32).

Driven by His love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was in the beginning was the Word (John 1:1), stepped down into this world. Scriptures declare: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” (John 1:14 MSG). He was born as a baby destined to die to give us new life, by His resurrection from the dead. When He put on the cloth of immortality, 'death was swallowed up in victory' (1 Corinthians 15:54). Hence the Lord Jesus Christ, in His risen state, breathe a new spirit to the disciples and to all who believed, giving a new life as a new creation.

So, as we put our faith in our risen Lord Jesus Christ, He breathes in us the Holy Spirit and we are born again as a new creation. The truth revealed by the risen Lord Jesus Christ to Apostle Paul, being the Lord’s redeemed by grace through faith in Him, we are assured as it is written: “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:15-17 NIV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:21 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21 KJV).

Most often in this world, peace is expressed in a selfish way of withdrawing from the chatter of the world, even from those we are supposed to be close with. For the Lord Jesus Christ, peace is an infusion received from times spent alone in closeness with His Father (Matthew 14:13, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16), so He could go and minister to the world. He calls us to find our peace spending time with and in Him, to minister to the world, as well, as we too are sent by the Lord. He gives us the peace rooted in His victory over death, His presence in us through His Holy Spirit, and His assurance of our future with and in Him. This brand of peace fuels our passion for doing the work of Christ Jesus and for being sent by Him into the world to bless it with His grace.

This peace He gives us is not of this World. In His Word the Lord Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27a NIV). This peace flows from the embrace of His love, in oneness with Him through our prayers and supplications. In the epistle of Apostle Paul, we are reminded to -“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:19-20 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20 KJV).

It had been a roller-coaster weekend for the Lord’s disciples. He was arrested, falsely tried, and executed. They had eaten Passover with Him and then abandoned Him in His time of need, except for John who stayed with Him and stood at the foot of His cross. They’re marked as wanted men: As followers of one who's falsely condemned as a criminal and crucified, and in this evening of Sunday, they were huddled in a locked room in fear for their lives. They heard from Mary and other ladies that the Lord was alive, but couldn't quite grasp it fully because it’s out of their usual sphere of exposure or even hope - there having no precedent to rationalize with.

Then suddenly, He was in the midst of them. They heard His voice and were both comforted and thrilled with His familiar greeting, "Peace be with you," which the Lord proclaimed in Hebrew, "Shalom!". He showed them His nail and spear wounds, and there He is among them. Suddenly, joy rushed in and wiped out their every other emotions. Each one of them proclaimed: "The Lord is alive! I see him with my own eyes! He lives!" And, so do we, by faith!

Yes, by the power of the Lord’s resurrection, we are given a new life, as the same Spirit who raised Him from death dwells in us by faith in Him. It is written, Scriptures affirm: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:11-13 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:18 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:18 NIV).

In an era of prejudicially charged culture, where women were treated intellectually inferior, no one would have thought of the most compelling assignment Mary was entrusted with by the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We know that she witnessed the Lord’s crucifixion ordeal. She was the only woman not affiliated to the physical family of the Lord standing at the foot of the cross. She was one of the first - together with other women - another Mary, Salome and Joanna, at the empty tomb to see and talk to the Lord (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12). And with the Lord’s instruction, she hurriedly finds the Lord’s disciples to share her encounter. She declares to them that she has seen the Lord and relayed the pivotal message the Lord entrusted to her. “Jesus said, “…‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”” (John 20:17b NIV).

This message brings to light the deep familial intimacy established between the Lord and us - His post-resurrection believers. This reminds us that we share in the divine inheritance and relation with God that the Lord Jesus enjoyed. This bond is rooted in hope, grace and faith that the Holy Bible brings, encouraging us to trust in God's promises and the power of the Lord’s resurrection, as reflected in this passage. This ought to draw us - each and every believer, to share our experiences in Christ Jesus, thereby fostering community in faith as children of the Most High God.

Now in Christ Jesus by faith, with the Holy Spirit in us, as adoptive children of God, by Him we cry, ‘Abba Father’ (Romans 8:15). Yes, by this good news of our Lord’s resurrection, that Mary had the privilege to share first - “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:18 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” (John 20:18 KJV).

What a great privilege it was for Mary Magdalene to be the first person chosen as the instrument for women to be restored by the Lord in her rightful place of significance in a society that treated women unfairly. She was the first to see and speak with the risen Lord Jesus Christ in His glorified physical state. Being the harbinger of the good news of the Lord’s resurrection, Mary is a metaphor for the church (the body or group of believers who are born again by faith in Christ Jesus. This is not a building or institution or religious group). She’s the pioneer bearer to reveal the Lord's resurrection power to many starting with the Lord’s brethren disciples and to future believers in our time who truly embraced the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, free from the hypocrisy of religion.

Sadly though, many are being duped into the perpetuation of religious enterprises of the Jewish priests in this present day. But, the truth of God’s holy and written Words is available to us. By grace in our Lord Jesus’ finished work on the cross and His resurrection power, while we are still walking on this planet, we have the truth available for us to be set free (John 8:32). We just have to come to the Lord Jesus Christ as we are, like that thief on the Lord’s side at the cross (Luke 23:40-43). Let us believe in the only begotten Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:29).

Let us, therefore, rest in His grace and love to be born again into a new and living hope. As the Lord’s redeemed by His grace through faith, Apostle Peter exhorts us with these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:16-17 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:16-17 KJV).

Mary Magdalene stooped and peered inside the tomb from the entrance with the massive stone cover rolled away. She saw two angels sitting at both ends of the rock bed where the Lord was laid. They asked ‘woman, why are you crying?’ To which she responded with the thought that the Lord’s body was moved somewhere else: “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” Unbeknownst to her, the risen Lord Jesus Christ was standing behind her!

When the Lord called her by name, recognizing His voice she turned exclaiming in Aramaic "Rabboni" or "Master" in English and moved to hug Him (John 20:16). The Lord cautioned her not to cling to Him, for now, as He still has to ascend to the Father and our Father in His glorified body. He instructed her to tell this to His brethren, as well. This is such a very touching display of affection. With our faith in Him, totally surrendered to His love, this tells us that not only for Mary, but for you and I, as well, He calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1).

Recognizing the Lord’s voice is our litmus test of who we are in our relationship with Him. We will know that we are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. To those of us who truly receive Him as our Savior and are born again by faith; not held captive by religion with its religious mambo jumbo, He proclaimed this truth: “my sheep listens to my voice.” It is written: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:27-30 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:14-15 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” (John 20:14-15 KJV).

Mary Magdalene, finding the tomb empty, ran to get Apostles John and Peter, who inspected the grave and left without seeming to have much to say (John 20:2–10). This left Mary alone, crying, after which she looked in to see two men (angels) sitting in the tomb where the Lord was laid (John 20:11–13). She explained her grief, but apparently did not realize she spoke to messengers of God.

Mary, was in a state of confusion and mourning, with eyes blurred with tears in a dim dawn light (John 20:1) would never have assumed the figure who stood behind her was the same person she saw mangled and buried just few days before. When He spoke, Mary did not fully realize it’s the Lord. For the moment, her thoughts were locked to the idea that someone has taken the Lord’s body. She assumed this is the person tending the graveyard. Hence she responded "I just want to know where His body is, please."

Mary is a woman of human frailty, just like us. She is overwhelmed with pain and concern, seeking to know and to find the missing body of her Lord. The kind of attitude that we all must have being followers of Christ Jesus by faith. We must remain in the posture of seeking Him no matter what our issues and circumstances are. As we earnestly seek Him, like Mary did, we'll always find Him. Abiding in His grace, we have the assurance of His Words. In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord Jesus Christ gives this assurance: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:11-13 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” (John 20:11-13 KJV).

Mary's woeful presence outside the Lord’s tomb weeping, being the first person to discover His missing body, gives historic significance to lift women’s importance in a society dominated by men. In this era, women were considered of low stature both intellectually and trustworthily. They’re relegated to insignificant tasks and are of no influence in society at large. This attests to the authenticity of the gospel, for revealing the truth of a woman in such a profound role, contrary to the anti-women culture of the time. Being the first at the tomb gave her the privilege as the woman remembered to discover, and break the news - the body of the Lord Jesus Christ was missing!

It is very comforting to note that when Mary stooped down to look in the sepulcher, the angels did not warn ‘fear not’ as they usually do. Rather they asked her with concern - ‘why are you weeping?’ One of the things you would admire about Mary Magdalene is her resolve to hang on to her Lord and Master in the middle of her confusion, loss, pain and sorrow. As far as she knows, her Teacher is dead, yet He is still her Lord. So often, we qualify our faith in His Lordship based on our outward circumstances. If things aren't going well, we question why He ignores us and our prayers. Sometimes, if we are honest, we question His being our God and Father. So, in such moment of doubt, let's remember Mary at this moment of confusion and horror. Let's follow her example and hang on tenaciously to our faith in Christ Jesus even when (and especially when) we don't understand what is happening!

The Scriptures profoundly remind us these. Through prophet Isaiah, we are enjoined to … “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:4 NIV). And the Psalmist called on us to — “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:9-10 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.” (John 20:9-10 KJV).

The context of these verses is crucial to grasp the significance of the events unfolding this momentous Sunday. They’re in a state of confusion and disbelief, trying to make sense of what they had just seen. In their spiritual blindness [in the absence of the Holy Spirit, who is still to come, as the Lord promised (John 14:16-17;26)], they could not grip a hold of the essence of resurrection. There was no precedent to relate with, except for the miracle of Lazarus raised back to life. Yes, they knew not yet the scripture as we now know. Yet, as revealed in earlier passage “John saw and believed”. And, we should, too, being now recipient of the blessings and power of the Lord’s resurrection. We are reborn and made new by believing in Him.

Apostles John and Peter have stepped into the most amazing revelation in the history of the universe, and how did they react? They went home!? Why didn't they go out into the streets of Jerusalem and shout the good news? Why didn't they tell everyone at once within earshot that the Lord Jesus Christ was alive? I'm not sure. But it is certain, there is something powerful revolving about what they did - "they went home." This alerts us that our faith in the truth we receive must be lived and shared at our domain, first and foremost. We must live and make it manifest its fruit there. Home is where it must be sown to thrive. Faith has to be shared and allowed to flourish with the people we love and know, as well as, who know our highs and lows, and who watched and experienced our disappointments. The Gospel should start to radiate where we are. So, they went home.

This is therefore prompting us - it's time we take our knowledge and power of the resurrected Lord Jesus to home turf, first! Then, let it touch those who are in our proximity. Keeping our personal commitment in our intimate relationship with the Lord to attain the gift of resurrection from the dead rooted in our being. By His holy and written Word, we seek Him and know Him more. Let’s follow the attitude of Apostle Paul. In his testimony, he declared: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11 NIV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:8 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” (John 20:8 KJV).

Still referring to himself in the third person, Apostle John saw and believed! Yes, He finally entered the sepulcher and saw closely the evidence that it was deliberately placed where it was. The mere fact that the cloth was there, purposely laid by itself, was proof enough that it was put there as a sign. For Apostle John, seeing it neatly folded, immediately tells him that it was the Lord Jesus Christ. He is alive!

Looking at this piece of evidence gives John a jolt of realization. The predictions that the Lord Jesus shared with them, as recorded by Mark, Luke and himself, are now shaping to fulfillment. In one occasion, while they were in Galilee with the Lord Jesus, it is written: “because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”” (Mark 9:31 NIV).

In another occasion, while they were in a village around the border of Galilee and Samaria, Luke recorded - “Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”” (Luke 18:31-33 NLT).

Now, in this moment of truth in the empty tomb, Apostle John seeing the evidence realized. And we too, being children of the Most High God in Christ Jesus, must realize to be deeply rooted in faith. This is it, what the Lord Jesus meant that he - John, himself recorded while they were in Jerusalem. When the Jewish leaders demanded for a sign. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19 KJV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:6-7 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” (John 20:6-7 KJV).

These passages certainly marked the unrelenting action that unfolded in this Sunday morning that followed the week of stress-filled drama, culminated by the Lord’s gruesome crucifixion. Here, we see great signs of hope and promise with the napkin wrapping of the Lord’s head separately placed from the linen clothes that Apostle Peter saw as he went straight in the sepulcher. He was following behind Apostle John who came first but did not enter. Yet John saw it too, peeking from the entrance. The burial clothes and head napkin were neatly piled on different places. (These clothes and napkins are the customary dressings used by the Jews in burying their dead. It’s in contrast to the present practice to dress them with their best and favorite outfits). This impulsive action of Peter is very typical with his nature. He is one, just like many of us, who acts without thinking and at times regret it later. This time, perhaps Peter did it right with eagerness to be in the presence of the Lord, as John followed to enter and affirmed what he saw from afar. These clues are signs of events happening with profound significance.

The sight of the linen clothes and head wrappings left behind, neatly piled conspicuously, send a reassuring message to Apostles Peter and John, and all of us who believe. These, they saw without the benefit of knowledge that we now have. They experienced it real-time at ground zero-in the tomb, without the benefit of hindsight of the full outcome that we are now privileged to know. All they have is the Lord’s Words given to them before His death. Those Words were spoken with no available precedence to relate to.

These manifestations must have brought to Apostle Peter’s remembrance his interaction with the Lord Jesus while they were in the district of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13). These must also solidify our ground of faith resting in the Lord’s grace through His finished work on the cross. In that interaction with the Lord, Apostle Peter wrongly rebuked the Lord Jesus Christ. For that mistake, he received a very serious chastisement from the Lord. It is written: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:21-23 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:5 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.” (John 20:5 KJV).

Apostle John arrived the tomb’s entrance first, but hesitated to enter. His hesitance speaks volumes about reverence for the sanctity of the space the Lord laid on, reflecting Jewish cultural values of the time. He is mindful of his Master’s love. Looking in the empty tomb to see the burial clothes neatly piled, Apostle John saw that it is not a mundane work of robbery. Rather, by the way the linen clothes were set, it is a deliberate act of miracle. He recognized that the empty tomb not only exposed the absence of the Lord’s body but marked a pivotal moment of the Lord’s redemptive mission.

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ came with a mission to accomplish. That is to redeem us from the power of death and the grave. This passage revealed that a stone sepulcher carved in a rock has no power to hold Him to go henceforth to complete what He started. When He put on flesh and moved into our neighborhood, the work to set us free was set in motion. The sight of the linen clothes lying reveals to Apostle John and us that the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18) completed His mission.

The empty crypt that Apostle John saw stooping to peek, affirm the Words God revealed to the prophet Hosea. The grave has been destroyed. For you and I who are made children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, we have the Lord’s promise, as it is written: ““I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”” (Hosea 13:14 NKJV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:3-4 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.” (John 20:3-4 KJV)

This must have been so traumatic to experience, as it is imagining the scene now unfolds. With the tense environment they’re in, as they watch their Master and Lord crucified, fear of what’s going to happen next is what’s in their mind. And now, this news of their Master’s buried body stolen, these disciples were in a state of shock. Yet, in God’s grace, we can of course observe that Mary Magdalene’s faithfulness was so awe-inspiring. She was one of those few brave followers of the Lord who stood by the cross. And, in this early morning, she is the first person to visit the Lord’s tomb. Evident to one who devotedly cares, she was extremely concerned that the Lord’s tomb was broken in. Hence, she sprinted to alert her fellow disciples.

Now, in a somewhat preordained setting, she stumbles into Apostles Peter and John, who are the two contrasting members of the Lord’s closest apostles. Pater is one who always boasts of his love for the Lord, but failed bigly by his terse denial of knowing the Lord three times. While John, is one who boasts of being ‘the disciple that Jesus loved’ and was the only man mentioned standing by the cross as the Lord was crucified. Here, we watch them react to the report of Mary, as they both sprinted to the tomb. The disciple that relies on the Lord’s love got there first.

This gives us the message that the one who rests on the Lord’s love wins. Our love is inferior. Let us, therefore, let God’s love in Christ Jesus overwhelm our lives. Being born again and made children of God by faith in Him, let us rest in His grace and be lavished by His love. Not by our self-effort to win His love. It is inferior. All our righteous acts are filthy rags before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6).

We must therefore settle down in believing like Apostle John. And, along with him, let’s recognize as he prompted us to - “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:2 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” (John 20:2 KJV).

The tomb is empty! Seeing the sepulcher wide open with the stone cover rolled away and without the benefit of hindsight, in her real-time observation, Mary Magdalene assumed the worst: the Lord’s body was stolen and moved to a place they do not know. She may have not been aware that the tomb was sealed and guarded for the past three days by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62-66). In panic mode, by instinct she ran to notify Apostles Peter and John, not knowing that behind her urgency she was bringing the Good News of eternal ramifications.

Again, here Apostle John refers to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23). God so loves us (John 3:16). This indirect reference to himself was his usual declaration to yield and boast of the Lord's love, as we should. Peter, James, and John were the closest of the Lord's first followers (Matthew 17:1; 26:37). Why James was not mentioned here is not clear. It is likely, he simply wasn't present when Mary Magdalene broke the news. Hearing her serious report, they weren't waiting to clarify. They're ready to run and see.

The open tomb proclaims the victory. The grave is stripped of its power to hold those whose faith is in Christ Jesus. This passage reminds us of the foundational truth “…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 ESV). This incident ushers in the hope and promise of salvation that is central to our faith, being born again by His grace. In Christ Jesus, we’re set free from the grip of death and the grave. It couldn’t hold Him, as it is written: “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:24 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 20:1 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” (John 20:1 NIV).

The stone was rolled away! This marked an era of a new life. The grave was vanquished. It could not hold the Lord. The seal that contained the stench of a rotting body was broken. The stench was cast to oblivion, replaced by the aroma of the new morning breeze of freedom to live. The stunning sight of the sepulcher’s open entrance, with stone-lid removed, marks a moment of hope.

For Mary Magdalene, who once was healed by the Lord Jesus from demonic possession (Luke 8:2), to have the privilege to see it first assured that God’s plan for women and for those who are blessed much, are made bearers of the good news. God is not respecter of persons. But, He is a respecter of faith. Mary Magdalene was one of the Lord’s faithful followers. She witnessed the Lord’s execution and stood at the foot of the cross when He declared “it is finished” (John 19:25-39). Like Apostle John, she too recognized the value of being the Lord’s beloved. And we, as well, being the Lord's redeemed by grace through faith in Him, must recognize and honor His love for us.

The power of grace and truth rolled the lid off the tomb. The grave has been stripped of its power. The Lord Jesus Christ entered it corruptible and came out incorruptible. The grave is defeated. It is written, Scriptures affirm: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 KJV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 19:41-42 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:41-42 KJV).

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus decided to put their private faith in the open with an extraordinary gesture. Maybe exhausted and disillusioned by the injustice of their fellow Pharisees, Priests and council members, or grieving over the loss of the One upon whom they’ve rested their messianic hopes, they decided to give the Lord, in His death, what the Jews refused to give Him in His life - to honor Him as King and Messiah.

Joseph’s request may have caught Pilate by surprise. The Lord Jesus was dead sooner than he expected, (as the Lord Jesus gave His life. No one takes His life. Neither Pilate nor the priests nor the religious authorities). Perhaps Pontius Pilate was relieved that this problem was finally taken cared of. But he was probably even more stunned that a member of the Council was standing before him, willing to risk his position and reputation to give the Lord a proper burial. Their normal way of handling, a criminal's body would have to be dumped into an empty grave or pauper’s field, buried ignominiously under mounds of dirt and rocks. Their action fulfills the prophecy that He would be buried not in an empty field but in a rich man’s tomb, fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:9).

They buried the Lord Jesus Christ in a borrowed new sepulcher in a garden and prominent place near Golgotha where nobody could mistake the miracle, so much so that His enemies had to bribe the Roman soldiers assigned to guard the body of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:11–15). Joseph and Nicodemus are used as witnesses to bear the good news of the Lord’s redemptive love, sacrifice and death to the world, so those who believe and embrace the good news are made alive to God in Christ Jesus. This, Apostle Paul affirms as it is written: “For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10-11 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 19:40 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” (John 19:40 KJV).

This action that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did, reveals a very deep message of symbolic spiritual significance. Wrapping the Lord Jesus in linen - filled with spices according to Jewish custom, demonstrate not only a physical preparation for His burial. This echoed the image of the Child born wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger. He came into this world swaddled in rags with cattle’s scent and leaves cloaked in perfumed linen fabric. This heralds the fulfillment of His eventual victory over death, bringing hope to all who believes. God loves us. He gave His Son. Thus, even in this moment of deep grief in death, there lies an expectation of joy in life everlasting (John 3:16).

Nicodemus' taking part in the burial of the Lord made him religiously unclean for the Passover celebration as per the practices of Jewish priests. His actions were politically suicidal. Openly identifying himself now as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ along with Joseph of Arimathea, put him in the hit list of his fellow parishes. He could be put in prison by the Jewish authorities because of this association. The cross and the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, however, drew his heart to follow Him. The fulfillment of prophecies about the Lord and His own Words called forth the courage of both of these men when they had everything to lose. In this moment of decision, Nicodemus stepped out of darkness into the Light of the world (John 8:12). In the process, these two influential and respected men could provide important testimonies that the Lord Jesus Christ actually died. They prepared his dead body for burial and placed Him in the tomb!

Yes, now by faith in Christ Jesus, as we declare Him sovereign in our lives, we have hope for resurrection. Our Lord and Redeemer was buried - sown perishable so He can rise imperishable, as it is written: “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:

F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.

The Gospel of John 19:39 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.” (John 19:39 KJV).

Nicodemus appeared at a very crucial time. With Joseph of Arimathea successfully granted by Pilate his request to bury the Lord’s body before the Passover Feast, sets the stage for Nicodemus to come out of the closet of fear. He is the only one among the religious establishment mentioned to have shown to seek the Lord. He once saw the Lord Jesus secretly at night (John 3:1-2). He spoke in the Lord’s defense among his peers (John 7:50-52). Here, he joins with Joseph of Arimathea, a rich member of the Jewish council (Matthew 26:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50), to help prepare and bury the body of the Lord before the Sabbath Passover feast. He came with extravagant supplies of perfume and preservatives (weighing around 100 lbs) to be used for the usual Jewish preparation of the Lord’s burial.

Yes, it’s not too late for Joseph and Nicodemus to come to the Lord Jesus to receive the gift of salvation by grace. That’s also true to any one who has not come out of the dark into the light. As we believe, it is by His grace we are chosen out of darkness and brought into the light who is Christ Jesus (John 8:12-14). Just like with Joseph and Nicodemus, who had come out from the shadows, you and I can come out as we are, no need for religious makeovers.

You and I, the moment we believed and received the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ and are born again, we are chosen and bestowed with the royalty of priesthood. It is written: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477

Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.