The Gospel of Luke 19:39-40 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:39-40 KJV).

These verses convey the profound truth that creation itself is designed to worship God. The verity about the Lord Jesus being the Messiah is so deep that it cannot be suppressed. Even if people are cowed into silence, the universal creation will bear witness and cry out to His greatness.

The Pharisees and the religious leaders often try to quiet exuberant faith out of jealousy or religious legalism. Our Lord Jesus reminds us that we should never let anyone shame or pressure us into silence about Him. He is our Savior. He is worthy of our praise and worship.

Celestial bodies, hills and soulless things of all creation are often declared in Scripture to praise God (Psalms 98:8; 148:3 & 9). All of creation was made for God's glory, and inanimate stones would rightfully step in to offer praise if humans fail in their duty, as these passages reveal.

The Lord’s holy and written words declare: “The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” (Isaiah 43:20-21 NIV).

At the heavenly throne, creations proclaim:

““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”” (Revelation 4:11 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 Luke 19:37-38 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:37-38 KJV).

These verses highlight the disciples’ emotional and spiritual, unashamed joyful praise, as the Lord descend the Mt of Olives. Being children of God in Christ Jesus, these challenge us to never let criticism or fear of being "too exuberant" shame us into silence about our faith. We worship Him as He is worthy!

It serves as a reminder of our "time of God’s visitation". Just as the crowd recognized our Lord Jesus as King, the passage encourages believers to continually open the gates of their hearts and surrender their lives to Him as their triumphant Almighty God. Declaring "peace in heaven and glory in the highest", He is going to be rejected by the world and slain. Peace could not yet be established on earth. Instead, His impending death on the cross secures peace in heaven and in our hearts —meaning the debt of sin is fully paid to satisfy God's justice and allowing believers to be forever forgiven in heaven’s eyes.

Our Lord Jesus Christ intentionally rides a donkey into Jerusalem to fulfill the prophecy, symbolizing that He was coming in meekness and gentleness to bring salvation. It is prophesied: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9 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 Luke 19:35-36 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.” (Luke 19:35-36 KJV)

These passages give us a preview of God's unmerited favor, focusing on two major spiritual truths. We see the disciples throwing their clothes over the donkey as a beautiful picture of submission and worship, with the garments Biblically representing a person's life, identity, and best efforts. By stripping themselves of their garments to make the Lord Jesus a comfortable seat, the disciples were declaring, "We are laying down our own comfort and our own works to exalt You as Lord." This is a pure act of surrender and worship that we too must emulate by faith.

The fact that our Lord Jesus Christ chose an unridden, untamed donkey—a colt that’s normally wild and difficult to control—is significant in drawing the message of Grace. Just as the Lord Jesus sat peacefully on this untamed animal and guided it to display the New Covenant of Grace in action. Under the Law (striving in our own effort), we are like wild donkeys trying to be good, which inevitably leads to failure. But, when we allow our Lord Jesus (the King) to "sit upon our lives" and take the reins, He brings us peace, direction, and strength. We bear to manifest His purposes effortlessly because His grace is doing the heavy lifting.

These, therefore, bring us to the realization of sharing the pure massage of truth as our praise and worship in grace. It is written: “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:15-16 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 Luke 19:32-34 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him.” (Luke 19:32-34 KJV).

By these passages, we continue to look through the lens of grace, sovereignty, and divine provision of God to understand the power of His Word. These reveal that our Lord Jesus Christ orchestrates every detail of His life. Just as He speaks His Words to the disciples exactly where to find the young colt. He has already gone ahead to prepare the way and to provide for our needs.

The word "Lord" in Greek is Kyrios. This signifies supreme authority. These verses teach that when Jesus our Lord "needs" something from our life—our time, our possession, or a situation we are in—it is a reminder that everything we have and who we are belongs to Him. Yet, He gives every person the free will. Yielding to His call by choice brings you directly align into His divine purposes and blessings.

The fact that the earthly “owners” of the donkey freely let the disciples take the animal once they heard: "the Lord needs it" - points to the absolute, undeniable sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the sovereign "Lord needs" any area of your life (that can be your lost peace, finances, or destiny), He has the ultimate intent and power to untie it from the cords of struggle.

The Lord’s Holy and Written Words remind us these, as it is written:

* “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

* “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.”(Romans 6:22 NLT).

* “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 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 Luke 19:28-31 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him” (Luke 19:28-31 KJV).

These passages show our Lord Jesus Christ now about to enter Jerusalem. It displays our Lord’s divine foreknowledge and His nature as a gentle, humble King of grace, rather than a military conqueror. This is our Almighty God. With His Divine Control and Foreknowledge, He knew exactly where the colt would be and what the owner would say. It shows that He is in absolute control of His destiny and is willingly going to the cross out of love, rather than being a victim of religious plot.

The "Lord Needs It", simple but authoritative as it is, the owner freely released the donkey colt upon hearing the words. Instead of riding a proud, aggressive warhorse, our Lord Jesus rode on a humble donkey! This symbolizes our Lord Jesus bringing His unearned peace (shalom) and unmerited favor to humanity, fulfilling the prophecy of a coming gentle King.

The same message our Lord Jesus has for you and I, He has need for what we possess. He needs it to have it multiplied and bless it with power. When we release what we have to our Lord, He returns it back with power like the staff of Moses that divides the Red Sea (Exodus 24:16). He was instructed by God to throw on the ground his sheepherding rod and he did. Then he got it back with power, as he obeyed God’s command to catch it by the tail. It is written: “The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—” (Exodus 4:2-4 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 Luke 19:27 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” (Luke 19:27 KJV).

This passage now shifts focus to those that reject the reign of the Lord’s kingship by grace. This serves as the dramatic close of the Parable of the Minas or Pounds that highlight the Lord’s kingly return and the reign of His grace.

The nobleman that represents our Lord Jesus Christ, who ascends to heaven (the "far country") is returning as King. The "citizens who hated him”, representing the religious world and those who audaciously reject His unmerited favor, are doomed. Judgement is meted upon them at the end of days.

The reign of our Lord Jesus Christ under His grace teaches us that salvation is entirely based on receiving Him by faith as our redeemer. You cannot casually accept His blessings while rejecting His Lordship and salvation. This verse serves as a stark warning to those who deliberately and objectively reject His grace. They choose to remain His enemies, facing ultimate judgment.

This emphasizes strongly that for true believers, the New Covenant of Grace is the time for unmerited favor, not judgment. This point out that while the Lord’s enemies face absolute destruction as the parable taught, God's children are affirmed, as it is written: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 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 Luke 19:24-26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.” (Luke 19:24-26 KJV).

The penalty for lack of faith and not possessing the gift of grace given is harsh, as these concluding passages of the Lord’s parable of the Minas or pounds reveal. By these, our Lord Jesus gives us the principle of grace and faithful stewardship. The "minas or pounds" (money) represent the gifts, talents, and the gospel of grace that God entrusts to every believer. The servants who invested their minas represent those who really take hold and use their gifts to bless others for the glory and honor of God.

The lazy servant failed to invest his mina because of a wrong, fearful view of his master. These verses highlight a fundamental principle of God's favor: those who understand and operate in His grace are provided with the capacity to produce and receive increases. While those who do not understand grace (those who "do not have what they have gotten, and sulk in the material world) lose even the appearance of what they had built on their own self-efforts, even what they hide under their mattresses.

These affirm the Lord’s declaration, as it is written: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 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 Luke 19:22-23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?” (Luke 19:22-23 KJV).

These verses highlight the "wicked servant" in the Parable of the Minas who, out of fear and wrong belief, hid his master's money because he viewed him as an "austere" and hard man. This reveals the danger of a wrong view about God, operating under the law, instead of grace. This servant suffered from a poor, distorted portrait of God. He sees God as demanding, harsh, and as one constantly looking to punish him for failing. It shows that work-driven mindset cripples those who believe wrongly as such, causing them to operate out of fear rather than faith and dependence on the grace of God.

The master questioning the servant why didn't he at least put the money in the bank to earn interest, shows that this servant is paralyzed by fear stemming from wrong belief. This also warns against “slothfulness” in a professed believer’s way of life caused by a fearful, performance-oriented wrong believing. When you focus on your own performance and believe God is a harsh taskmaster who demands more than you can provide, you become unproductive and "hide" the gifts and the potential God has given you. We can never provide the demands to work under the law. We fall short (Romans 3:23).

These, therefore, put us in the know that we must truly understand God's unmerited favor, stop viewing Him as an "austere" man and harsh judge. We must see Him as He is, a generous loving Father. This realization shifts us to right believing, stop from operating in fear, and rather, operate in faith and be fruitful. From the beginning we are expected to be fruitful and multiply. It is written: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” (Genesis 1:27-28 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 Luke 19:20-21 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.” (Luke 19:20-21 KJV).

These passages usher in the fearful servant returning his pound or Mina wrapped in a cloth, saying: "Lord, here is your pound... For I was afraid of you, because you are an austere man." We must always be reminded to look these through the lens of grace vs. law and take hold of several takeaways we can learn from. He hides his mina out of fear, viewing his master as an "austere”, hard man. He represents a person living under law-consciousness. Misjudging the master’s character, he became paralyzed and unfruitful.

This servant basically accused his master of being a conman. This is exactly how the enemy wants you to view God. When those who claimed to believe view God as a harsh judge waiting for them to fail—rather than a loving Father who showers them with unmerited favor—they operate under fear and debt. The servant’s excuse shows a mindset that trusts entirely on self-effort, fearful of punishment.

Trying to earn God's blessings with fear that He will penalize you when you fail places you under the curse of the law. This mindset brings "dead works" that leave you stressed, guilty, and spiritually unfruitful, totally in contrast with the blessings of grace, resting in the Lord’s finished work. It is not God’s intent for us to be unfruitful. He draws us to His grace by faith in Christ Jesus to be connected with the vine who is the Lord. It is written: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 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 Luke 19:18-19 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.” (Luke 19:18-19 KJV).

These passages show the second servant reports to his returning master that his pound (money representing a gift of grace) has earned five more, a good 500% return. The Pound (or Mina in other version), given by the master, represents the Lord’s unmerited favor. So, we continue to look these verses through the lens of the gospel of grace rather than works or legalistic and religious efforts. These parables unveil the unearned, unmerited favor and gifts God gives to believers. This is to be received by faith.

By being "faithful" in this context isn't about you sweating it out performing good works to impress God. Rather, it is about trusting and operating under the grace you’ve been given. Those who multiply their Minas or pounds are those who embrace and rely entirely on the grace of God. The proportionate rewards over multiple cities represent the authority and rule believers will enjoy in the Lord’s coming eternal kingdom, given according to how much they rested in, or "traded" (engaged) with His grace. Here, in these passages, the five cities rewarded the second servant to rule over is proportionate with his accomplished service on earth totally dependent in the Lord’s grace.

The revelation of corresponding promotion of authority as reward by His grace provides for a productive, a fruitful, and a generous life in Christ Jesus our Lord while still in temporal earthly life. Our life in overall is described, as it is written: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!” (Proverbs 11:24-26 MSG).

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 Luke 19:16-17 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:16-17 KJV).

Here’s a very profound lesson on God’s radical rewards by His grace and His"quantum leap" generosity in our faithful stewardship. The first servant to give an accounting of his trade achieved an amazing 1,000% return. The seed given him, which the Master calls "very little" was multiplied by ten times. This illustrates the smallness of our quantitative earthly achievements in light of God’s limitless Kingdom resources.

This is the system of God’s grace on display. By our faithfulness to rest in His grace, yielding fully our lives to be loved by Him, He supernaturally multiplies the seed we are given to meet our needs abundantly with excess, so we can be a blessing. The blessings we gain will be blessings not only for us but for the figurative “ten cities” under our charge. This is our kingdom promotion to greater domain of resources and eternal rewards given for our faithfulness in handling the little earthly things we are provided.

Let us therefore take this as our serious nudging to be in the consciousness that: “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 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 Luke 19:15 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” (Luke 19:15 KJV).

This passage is given to us not as a terrifying test of works or anxiety, but as an encouragement to rest in God's grace and operate from the place of His unmerited favor. The nobleman, who represents the Lord Jesus, returns from the far country - that points to heaven where He’s affirmed of His kingship. Though the citizens that refer to the religious Jews rejected Him, He’s always been the chosen King from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6).

With wisdom, through the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things (John 14:26), we reflect this verse on the lens of God’s unmerited favor. Not on the demands of the law for performance-based works of self-effort. This focuses on the Lord Jesus returning as King, being who He is before time began. He called His servants to account for the gifts of grace He entrusted them with. The Mina or money given represents the Gospel of the Grace of God that He entrusts with every believer in equal, lavish measure.

You and I, who are blessed to receive the grace of God, are empowered to increase and prosper this gift. We are to let this grace work in us from the inside out by total surrender of our life in our Lord Jesus Christ through faith. When our King and Lord returns, He will call us to account how much we’ve gained by allowing His grace to work in our life. We are reminded to do the work trading in the grace of God. In one of the Lord’s encounter with the crowd, the Scriptures reveal: “Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”” (John 6:28-29 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 Luke 19:14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:14 KJV).

In this passage, the Lord illustrates that the "citizens" representing the self-righteous religious Jews, the world’s religious system and the pagan world who reject Him. They reject His free gift of grace in favor of self-effort, the Law and doctrines of men. Their rebellious cry of rejection, "We will not have this man to reign over us," points to the modern world's rejection of God's unmerited favor. Worldly people prefer to rely on their own performance rather than having the Lord Jesus as their loving Savior. They assume the role of God on their lives.

The good news of the covenant of grace is, when the Lord Jesus reigns, He supplies His people with His righteousness and blessings. The citizens’ hatred stems from their being duped by the deception of the enemy of the soul using a worldly alternative in religion - represented by the Pharisees, priests and Sadducees, making people believe in a god other than the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our God is the God of grace, not of rules. He is the God who loves us first so we can love Him the moment we yield to be loved by Him. The citizens of the far country represent the Lord’s fellow Jews and the world that rejected Him. This, therefore, reminds us to take lesson from this parable and be in the posture of acceptance to His love and reign.

It is of the utmost that we must be cognizant of His love, and surrender ourselves to be loved by Him, as it is written: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:16-19 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 Luke 19:11-13 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:11-13 KJV).

The Lord Jesus, now nearing Jerusalem, tells the Parable of the Minas to correct the crowd’s perception that God's physical kingdom would come immediately. Those that follows Him expected instant establishment of an earthly, political kingdom and overthrow Roman rule. So, He tells them: keep "occupying till I come" in embracing the New Covenant of God’s unmerited favor, resting by faith in Him, and reign in life through His grace.

The story is about a nobleman going to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before leaving, he gives his ten servants ten minas (equal amount of money-representing grace, for each of them) and commands them to "do business till I come". In the context of grace, the minas are gifts given by the nobleman who represents the Lord Jesus. The ten servants (with the number 10 pointing to the ten commandments that shackled them in the law mindset), are to steward the gift of grace they received during his absence. “Doing business" or "occupying" until the Lord returns is not about striving for worldly and religious endeavors. It is about reaching out to all, sharing the gospel of the grace of God through the purity of His holy and written Words. The servants are expected to move away from law efforts, be transformed and spiritually reborn children of God in Christ. They are expected to behave as those who found and have grasped the message of truth. You and I, who are now set free from the world and religious systems, are to be occupied freely giving the gift of salvation by grace to all in our proximity both physically and the cyber space.

The Minas represent God’s grace given in equal measure to each one by God’s unmerited favor through faith. Our job is not to earn more grace, but to "trade or share" what we've already been given for others to believe and rest in it. This we do ‘til the our Lord Jesus Christ returns, keeping at heart the Lord’s words of oath, as it is written: “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:46-47 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 Luke 19:9-10 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10 KJV).

Reflecting these passages through the lens of the Lord’s gospel of grace, we are touched by how the Lord Jesus treats Zacchaeus with compassion. The Lord Jesus declares Zacchaeus a son of Abraham based on his submission to the Lord’s grace, not legal observance to be perfect. We watch the Lord’s unmerited favor at work, with the Lord not demanding that Zacchaeus change his lifestyle first before visiting his home. Our relationship with God is not a matter of religious transformation of ourselves by ourselves to be like Him. It is a matter of us coming to Him in total surrender as we are yielding to His grace to be transformed from the inside out by the power of the Holy Spirit and His Words.

That’s what happened to this publican named Zacchaeus. The Lord declared him son of Abraham, not so much of his family ancestry, but as to his recognition of the Lord’s grace. He came to see the Lord as he was. No religious make over. He came a sinner as he was branded by religious people. He yielded himself to the Lord when called to come down from a tree. Now he is saved by the One who climbed to a tree, hanged for Zacchaeus’ and all humanity’s salvation from their sins. That includes you and I, in our posture of coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, helpless, lost as we were once and needed salvation. In Him we’re saved by grace. 

In our worst state, by act of surrender, as with Zacchaeus, to all those who have yielded their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ, now is the time to come and be saved by grace. His holy and written words declare: “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”(2 Corinthians 6:2 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 Luke 19:8 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (Luke 19:8 KJV).

In this passage, we see the ultimate example of how grace transforms a person’s being from the inside out. Zacchaeus—a wealthy and despised tax collector who cheated his own fellow Jews, stood stunned. The Message Bible paraphrase says, “….. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”” (Luke 19:8 MSG).

As revealed, the Lord Jesus did not give Zacchaeus a demand list of laws and rules or require repentance before entering his home. Our Lord Jesus simply extended him acceptance, grace and unconditional love. His spontaneous hospitality was not an attempt to earn God's favor, but the result of encountering the Lord’s grace and love. This manifests that experiencing the Lord’s unmerited favor and forgiveness naturally lead to a transformed life, producing generosity and moral renewal.

This un-assuming taxman Zacchaeus is in direct contrast with the Rich Young Ruler, who attempted to pander the Lord. He calls Him Good Master. The Rich Young Ruler boasted his presumptive law-keeping and walked away sorrowful when asked to give up his wealth (Luke 18:18-23; Mark 10:17-22; Matthew 19:16-22). Zacchaeus on the other hand (a notorious publican and labelled sinner with nothing to boast about) received the Lord joyfully in his house and willingly offered to give half his wealth away.

This voluntary act of Zacchaeus is our reminder to stay rooted by faith in our Lord’s grace and love, not our perceived possessions and accomplishments. We must remain stirred and mindful to reflect on the Lord’s question with wonder, as it is written: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 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 Luke 19:7 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7 KJV).

This verse exposes the clash between human judgment and divine grace. When the crowd of religious and law-based-mindset people that followed the Lord Jesus Christ on His way to Jerusalem witnessed that He chooses to visit the home of Zacchaeus - a corrupt tax collector, they grumble. These religious crowd marked Zacchaeus as a public sinner. And they judged the Lord Jesus for opting to associate with him. These people operate under a "works-based" religious system, akin to the present day world environment. They believe that God's presence is reserved only for the morally qualified and “people’s award recipients” whose names are marked on their “good works”.

The Lord Jesus who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14), instead of condemning Zacchaeus or giving him a list of rules to observe, He offered him acceptance and friendship. He embraced Zacchaeus by His radical grace and love. This highlights that He did not wait for Zacchaeus to clean up his life before offering salvation. He extended His grace and love first, as He did to us all even when we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). The process of renewal and transformation starts to manifest in a person upon experiencing this unconditional love of the Lord, that triggers a change in Zacchaeus. The Lord’s unmerited favor gave Zacchaeus the power to freely repent and freely give. Which reminds us all of the Lord’s instruction: “You received without paying; give without pay.” (Matthew 10:8b 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 Luke 19:5-6 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.” (Luke 19:5-6 KJV).

As the Lord Jesus passes through the city of Jericho, He came to the spot where the despised chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, tries to get a glimpse of Him up a sycamore tree. The Lord looks up, calls him by name, and tells him to hurry down because He "must" stay at his house. Zacchaeus joyfully scrambled down the tree, stunned and thinking ‘what a luck’ he has just gotten. Even though he came simply curious and trying to see this famous man, the Lord Jesus was actively seeking him out. This illustrates that God searches for those hated by the world and lost, by His divine grace.

By calling the outcast, wealthy tax collector by name and telling him that He is staying at his house, the Lord Jesus offered him grace and fellowship instead of judgment. He extended Zacchaeus radical acceptance to salvation. Our Lord Jesus said He must stay at Zacchaeus's house today. Zacchaeus responds with urgency and joy. His welcoming obedience, shows that true transformation begins the moment you eagerly accept our Lord Jesus Christ into our everyday life. This is our reminder, as Scriptures affirmed: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2 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 Luke 19:1-4 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.” (Luke 19:1-4 KJV).

In this story about Zacchæus, we watch on display the comforting picture of radical unmerited favor. This filthy rich chief tax collector named Zacchaeus wanted to see our Lord Jesus who’s passing through the city of Jericho. But he faced physical limitations for he’s short and small that he could not get through the wall of crowd blocking him. But, he could not be deterred. He finds his way to see the Lord Jesus. He is our example of one who truly seeks God, that no matter your state of being as this drama unfolds, if you have a desire to meet the Lord Jesus, you can. He will meet you where you are.

In this city, the people looked at Zacchaeus and others like him with disdain. As corrupt publicans, 'they deserved judgment'. For many of the people around him, especially the religious people, he is a sinner not worthy to hang around with. He merely represents "dead works" and human decadence. But, here he is determined to see God. So, he climbed a Sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of the Lord. His act of faith will show us that God notices our sincere desire to know who the Lord Jesus is.

This man is an exemplification of one in a state of worldly decay, viewed deplorable in the eyes of the law, by the religious system and by the benchmark of humanity. But, unbeknownst to him, his conscience is responding to the call of grace. By pursuing to see the Lord Jesus, he is responding to the Lord’s command to seek God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33). He and those who are still lost in this presently darkened world is assured to find the Lord, as it is written: ““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 Luke 18:42-43 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” (Luke 18:42-43 KJV).

These passages give us a very beautiful and comforting declaration from the Lord to the persistent blind man. This follows the Lord’s compassionate interaction with him, saying: ““What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”” (Luke 18:41-42 NLT). This is such a powerful illustration of disproportionate grace to receive God's abundant supply of blessings entirely through faith rather than human merit of performance.

The blind beggar did nothing impressive to earn his sight; he simply cried out for mercy from the depth of his lungs and believed. The man’s healing was both physical and complete salvation/wholeness (sozo in Greek). Faith is not a difficult work you must perform. It is simply believing that God is the "source and giver" who wants to meet your needs. This shows that God's grace is always available if we trust Him.

We are meant to "receive heaven's supply". When the blind man received his sight, he followed the Lord Jesus naturally glorifying God, demonstrating that transformation comes from encountering God's goodness and grace by faith, not from following strict rules. Instead of trying to perform or work to earn God's blessings, we rest in His unmerited favor by faith and allow His grace to empower you and I. Gratefulness and worship draw people of faith to praise God. In the epistle of Apostle Paul, Scriptures say as it is written: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1-3 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.