The Gospel of Luke 13:25-27 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:25-27 KJV).

These parabolic passages provide stern warning from our Lord Jesus Christ that the opportunity for salvation (the "narrow door") is set for this physical lifetime and demands urgency, so as not to miss it. After this physical realm, the door is shut. It’s over and gone. There’s nothing one can do. No amount of prayers and indulgences from concerned loved ones can change the reality that every being dies once physically then judgement for eternal destiny. The choice to believe and receive the Lord’s gift of salvation by grace is now!(Ephesians 2:6-8).

The Lord is teaching in these passages that mere association with Him—listening to His teachings, or reclining with Him at dinner table (like some Pharisees and Scribes did) or casual familiarity (as most of the crowds that pursue Him)—does not equal to salvation. The Master of the house will eventually shut the door, leaving only those with true, transformative faith that receive salvation by grace to enter God’s Kingdom. The rejecting religious hypocrites, along with the unbelieving world, the Master will shut the door on their faces.

Yes, everyone must take it seriously. Come, believe and rest in His grace! This realm of living is the only opportunity for humanity, as it is written: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 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 13:23-24 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:23-24 KJV).

These passages deal on our Lord’s interaction in one of His teachings in the cities and villages He passed through on His way to Jerusalem. A man raised a question whether only a few will be saved. This is such a revealing question, that carries concern for many people’s destiny. This sends a signal of warning for those who are still sitting on the fence of unbelief whose fates are drawing away from the Kingdom of God. As the Lord Jesus responds with instruction to enter the straight or narrow gate, reveals the difficulty and hindrance of entering it.

The “straight gate” refers to a restricted entrance representing the singular path to the Father and salvation into the kingdom of God. The direction to enter the "narrow door," is not a call to work for salvation through intense self effort, but as a call to abandon self-endeavor and rely entirely on the Lord’s finished work. To "strive" highlights the struggle to abandon humanity’s tendency towards self effort, and release from shackles of religion and worldly ways to able to turn around and focus on our Lord Jesus Christ to rest in His love. Only a few enter this gate due to religious and worldly bagages, as shown by the religious leaders of the day that the Lord Jesus rebukes harshly for their hypocrisy.

Hence, this stirs us to realize that only by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, rather than human works, ensures you and I to enter the Kingdom of God by grace. Let us, therefore, be reminded always by His words to Apostle Thomas, the Lord “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 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 Luke 13:22 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:22 KJV).

This passage depicts the Lord Jesus Christ traveling toward Jerusalem, teaching in cities and villages along the way. This context emphasizes that His journey is a deliberate, purposeful march toward His ultimate sacrificial death and resurrection. He is actively spreading the gospel, knowing the time is short, while moving toward His mission of redemption.

The way to the cross is what the "journeying toward Jerusalem" highlights and points to. Our Lord Jesus Christ is focused on the final phase of His mission to fulfill His destiny to save humanity. It is His divine appointment set before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:17-21). Despite the pressure of knowing His impending death, He is consistently teaching in the cities and towns He is passing through using His journey to instruct people about the Kingdom of God in their midst.

We too are in a journey to our ‘Jerusalem’ of divine appointment set before time begun (Ephesians 1:3-10), whether we know it or not. Now, for sure, we know! Let us navigate towards our ‘destiny’—with faith, totally yielded to His grace—knowing that God goes before us, being His children through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us proclaim this truth as we go along to prepare those on our way for the impact of His Kingdom in our lives.

Fearless by remaining faithful always, we will get through. We are not going through it alone. We have our Lord’s promise:“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.…” (Isaiah 43:1-3a 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 13:20-21 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” (Luke 13:20-21 KJV).

In these passages, our Lord Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to yeast (leaven) hidden in “three measures of meal”, emphasizing that although the Gospel may seem trivial and unimportant in the perspectives of the world, with its hidden beginnings, it possesses a quiet, irresistible power to permeate like a yeast and transform the entire world. This parable highlights how God's Kingdom expands from within, changing individuals and society from the inside out. Like the work out-of-sight to raise the dough, the Kingdom of God grows internally and quietly like the yeast, rather than through outward, forceful, or physical and political might. The Almighty power is in the Kingdom of God, in the presence of the Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as this analogy alludes to the “three measures of meal.”

The moment the gospel is "sown" in the people’s lives in societies, its permeating process cannot be stopped. It will eventually affect every part of the "dough". Each and every being is touched by God’s love and the message of grace and truth, whether they recognize and acknowledge it or not. It is for each and every person to choose how to respond. It’s not by force. It’s by wisdom of knowing.

Ultimately, all those who are touched by the Gospel of the grace of God must choose to receive or to reject, to believe or to refuse. And, the Scriptures warn the consequences of each of every person’s choices. It is written the Gospel declares: ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 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 13:18-19 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” (Luke 13:18-19 KJV).

This mustard seed to tree parable is a picture of the supernatural, exponential transformation in the Kingdom of God, starting from small insignificant beginnings within a believer. This emphasizes that, like a mustard seed, when the Word of God is planted in a person’s heart, it grows by itself to produce massive results. The seed (Word of God) has inherent power to grow into a large tree, representing how faith in Christ Jesus grows from small beginnings to a massive, life-altering reality.

Our focus is to be on our Lord Jesus Christ as our source of everything, which leads to resting in His grace rather than stressing out in human efforts. In this reality, the parable encourages believers to trust that God's word embraced in their lives will bring about great, positive outcomes, regardless of how tiny their moment of faith may seem initially.

Our Creator designed our hearts as a soil to grow whatever is sown in it, especially when the Seed of His Word gets in contact with it, with faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. In one of His sermons, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates in the parable of the Sower and the soil, explaining that a receptive heart is the good soil. This, He affirmed to bear much fruit by His grace, as it is written: “But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”” (Mark 4:20 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 13:15-17 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.” (Luke 13:15-17 KJV).

These passages serve as a powerful reveal of our Lord’s grace overcoming religious legalism. It shows the "daughter of Abraham" was set free from eighteen years of satanic bondage, showing that human need and deliverance take precedence over strict, religious adherence to their warped interpretation of God’s Sabbath intent. The religious leaders were concerned with strict and cold religious rules shaped by human creeds and hypocrisy. They forbade rendering caring for people in need on Sabbath, yet attend to care for their animals. Just like in today’s society, where we watch the world and some religious people crying loud for animal rights and at the same time take the rights of unborn babies to live. But, our Lord Jesus is set on providing human need and restoration, demonstrating that the Sabbath is a time to receive blessing, not a day of restriction.

God’s holy word does not haphazardly drop information for no reason when the specific number “18” is emphasized. It is a number signifying bondage in the Scriptures, noting that our Lord Jesus came to deliver people from long-term sickness and infirmity, and in some cases disability from birth. Declaring the woman as daughter of Abraham with emphasis, highlights her access to blessings under the covenant of grace.

This is, therefore, our call to muster courage in faith, being children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, to stop striving and allow our Lord Jesus to lift our burdens. He heals and sets us free to stand straight and worship God. This affirms what was prophesied. Many are healed as it happened at the house of Peter’s mother-in-law, it is written: “That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.””(Matthew 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 Luke 13:14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” (Luke 13:14 KJV).

It is amazing how religion can warp the minds and perspectives of those who are held captive by its deceptive creeds. This synagogue leader, an equivalent to this age’s so-called “church” leaders, exemplifies the blindness that the eye-patch of religion provides. Instead of praising and glorifying God for the restoration of one of his long-suffering congregant, he sees instead a perceived infraction of their stiff religious laws. It dashes out compassion and love, towards his fellow “church” member in dire need.

This synagogue leader, enraged by the Lord’s healing a woman on the Sabbath, rebukes the crowd, instructing them to seek healing on a "work" day, and not on Sabbath day. It highlights conflict between rigid legalism, valuing religious rules over compassion to people in need. Love and compassion are the hallmarks of the Lord’s gospel of grace. This verse exposes religious hypocrisy, prioritizing, as the Lord later notes, religious customs and traditions, man-made interpretations of the Law over mercy and love for salvation of the lost souls.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus shows that the Sabbath was intended to celebrate liberation, and He corrects a narrow, cold view of the law, by prioritizing divine compassionate love. God’s intent for Sabbath is not a legalistic and rigid religious day off, but a, "finished work" rest in Christ Jesus, where believers cease striving, to receive favors and healing by grace. When we enter His rest by faith in Christ Jesus, our Father works. “And this was why the Jews were persecuting the Lord Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath rest. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”” (John 5:16-17 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 Luke 13:10-13 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:10-13 KJV).

These passages show us a powerful demonstration of the Lord’s compassion and grace. It highlights how He brings freedom to those bound by infirmity, regardless of their long suffering. This instance is one of several healings performed by the Lord Jesus on someone that did not seek for it (John 5:5-9; Mark 5;1-20). Just by being in His presence, our need triggers His compassion to provide what we need. We must always be in His presence and we’re never be in wanting for He provides our needs. He knows what we need. Let us, therefore, enter into our Sabbath rest in His presence and give Him glory. As in this occasion, by the Lord’s restoring declaration and touch of the woman, He touches and restores us!

Unfortunately, many at times, we don’t realize our need. We just accept the circumstance we are in, like this woman having her situation of stooping for Eighteen years. Perhaps, her mind rationalizes: it is just a normal process of aging or natural impact of the environment she’s been through. Yes, we hear some say: “I’m getting weak due to aging!” That’s a wrong proclamation! We are absolutely not! God designed us to stand strong to the test of time and against the earth’s harsh offerings. Yes, in spite, in this sinful world, as many people thought, life indeed is a sinister withering proposition.

But, the truth of God’s word is, to those of us who are called children of God in Christ Jesus, when we’re getting older, we’re getting stronger. It is written, He declares: “Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25 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 Luke 13:6-9 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9 KJV).

What a beautiful illustration of God's grace, patience, and second chances! Rather than a harsh threat of judgment, we see our Lord Jesus Christ - the gardener, intervening on behalf of the fruitless fig tree - representing us, the believers. He offers to cultivate and nourish it, showing that our Lord Jesus never gives up on us, and is committed to let us bear much fruit.

In these verses, our Lord Jesus Christ is basically reminding us that we are on borrowed time. And, in Him, we've been extended a season of grace to be fruitful. So, we've got to be fruitful. And, we will! No more playing around with religion and matters of the world. This parable is a picture of second chances through grace, with the Lord’s intercession. While the fig tree - representing us, produced no fruit, the Lord Jesus - the gardener, intercedes to care for it (to loosen the ground around and fertilize it) rather than condemn and destroy it. By this, He offers Grace for us to have the potentiality to bear fruit.

And, we will bear fruit, not because of our self effort, but because of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit who is in us when we believe in Him, and rest upon His grace. The Holy Spirit, who lives in us the moment we receive His Lordship over our lives, produces His fruit through us. We, being the branches, connected to the Lord Jesus - being the Vine, bear much fruit (John 15:5). Freed from the passions of the flesh, Scriptures affirm, as it is written: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24 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 Luke 13:1-5 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 KJV).

These passages demonstrate that in suffering does not mean victims are worse sinners than others that are spared, as happened to some Galileans. Hence, it draws to the Lord’s call for all to repent not for behavior modification, but as mindset transformation, specifically, moving from self-righteousness to resting in grace by faith in Him in order not to perish. The Lord Jesus quashes the idea that tragic deaths are direct punishments for specific sins. This also reminds us that true repentance is not a display of remorse by religious rituals of indulgence and penance. True repentance is coming into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, rest in His grace by faith. Then, let the Holy Spirit lead in every aspect of living. In a darkened and sinful world tragic events happen. What matters is that we are secure in the mighty hands of God in Christ Jesus.

The core message of the Gospel of the Grace of God is to stop relying on self-effort of trying hard to follow the law of thou shalt and thou shalt not. Instead, we must choose to trust in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for our salvation and eternal life.

This brings to light the tragic deaths of Galileans and tower victims—as warnings against viewing catastrophes as divine punishment for sins. We must know that the enemy of our soul - the devil, brings destruction, while our Lord Jesus brings life. We must shift our focus on our Lord Jesus Christ and rest in the comfort of His rhythm of grace by faith. In our walk of life, we follow the unction of the Holy Spirit guided by the light of His Word, which is the lamp unto our feet and light unto our path (Psalms 119:105). We rest assured that God is not a punisher (John 3:17), and that we should not live in fear, but rather rely on His grace and love.

Remaining unrepentant, one is certain to perish these passages remind. When the gentiles repented and received the Holy Spirit upon hearing the message of the Gospel, the disciples were in awe. It is written: “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” (Acts 11:18 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 12:57-59 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.” (Luke 12:57-59 KJV).

With these passages, the Lord Jesus teaches us through the lens of the New Covenant of grace, to emphasize that the "accuser" and "judge" represent the law and the penalty of sin that humanity cannot satisfy on its own. These warn us about the danger of choosing observance of the Law of Moses instead of receiving Grace in Christ Jesus by faith.

The "accuser and adversary" points to the devil’s advocate in moral law or a person’s own conscience that many choose to rely on and/or allow themselves to be deceived to rely on. Being "on the way" refers to people’s lives between the cradle and the grave — the period of opportunity to settle their spiritual debt of sin under the law before facing eternal judgment. The reveal of "settling on the way" means accepting our Lord Jesus Christ as our substitute, instead of self- performance to observe the law or reliance in religious deception. Since we cannot pay the "last penny" of our sin debt, our Lord Jesus paid it in full at the cross.

The "prison" is what waits for one under the law. Those who reject grace and choose to stand on their own merit through the law and religion, they are handed over to the "judge." Under the Law, there is no release until the debt is fully paid, which is impossible for man to satisfy, leading to "endless time" of trying and then eternal death.

It is only by grace through faith in Christ Jesus we can be set free from this debt. Scriptures affirm: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through FAITH in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of DEBT that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:11-14 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 12:54-56 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56 KJV).

These passages bid us to discern the "signs of the times". Specifically, we are to recognize the nearness of the last days and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as people follow weather forecasts. He emphasizes that while people are skilled at analyzing climate and worldly trends, many fail to recognize the spiritual reality of living in these times. As we casually recognize signs of rain or heat in the sky, we must understand the significance of the present times we have in light of Biblical revelations.

Our Lord Jesus is urging us to be spiritually alert, understand the present season, that we are in the time leading up to the Lord's return. He cautions us against being oblivious to the spiritual atmosphere, urging all who believes to be observant of the "signs of the times" rather than just physical, natural signs of the weather.

In essence, He reminds that as the world grows darker, as His redeemed by grace, we must look up, knowing that His return is very close. No one knows the moment. But, we must be expectant and ready. Hence, we are called to be vigilant, as it is written: “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:42-44 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 Luke 12:51-53 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” (Luke 12:51-53 KJV).

These verses provide insights in regard with division in the light of grace, and the cost of following Christ Jesus our Lord. The "division" is not the purpose the Lord Jesus came. It is the world’s consequential reaction of the gospel's impact, as the "sword of truth” that sets apart from error those who believe from those who do not, and those who are in the light from those who are in the dark.

These forewarn that following the Lord Jesus Christ can lead to conflict, even among the five closest family members (the father, the mother, the son, the daughter and the daughter-in-law) when some accept the truth and others reject it. Salvation is by grace in Christ Jesus. Yet. following Him can bring resistance, particularly when one stands firm in faith. Sinful humanity’s arrogance is so strong to resist God’s offering of unmerited favor. That’s the kind of attitude the Israelites’ displayed in rejecting the Lord’s grace to do things by their own self effort, while the Lord was rescuing them from bondage in Egypt.

In spite of what the Lord has done by His grace; He took them out of Egypt, loaded with plunders that the Egyptians gave them (Exodus 12:36). None of them were feeble as they journey through the desert. They were feed by God, protected with pillars of cloud during the day and pillars of fire during the night (Exodus 13:21-22). They murmured and complained, yet by His grace none died. God’s provision of grace is available to all who are in His presence. But, at the foot of Mt Sinai they rejected His grace. They arrogantly say: “all that the Lord has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 19:8). Then, around three thousand of them died resulting from their worship of the golden calf (Exodus 32:28).

Hence, it is no surprise that even those who say they believe in God reject the message of grace in Christ Jesus. The more so it is with the unbelieving world. Our Lord Jesus warns us with assurance being children of God by grace through faith in Him. It is written: “Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:21-22 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 12:49-50 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:49-50 KJV).

These passages do not convey a message of damnation. Rather, it reveals an urgent longing of our Lord Jesus Christ to release the fire of God's love and grace upon the world. Using the imagery of "fire" the Lord Jesus is not warning of a destructive judgment. Instead, He is giving us a signal that the consuming fire of God’s love and the Holy Spirit is coming. He expresses His intense desire for this fire to be already kindled—a yearning for the Gospel of the grace of God to be preached and for hearts to be set ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Fully embraced by faith in Him, this fire burns away legalism, cold hearts, and rigid religious customs and traditions, replacing them with a passionate, vibrant, and thriving life lived in His grace.

The "baptism" our Lord Jesus Christ refers to is not John's baptism in water, but His imminent, overwhelming immersion into suffering and death on the cross. The Lord Jesus being in human flesh expresses distress and pressure asking "how am I straitened/distressed 'till it is accomplished?”, because the full payment for sin had to be completed before the Holy Spirit could be poured out. The emphasis is placed on the necessity of His sacrifice to bring about the restoration of grace, where the "fire" of the Holy Spirit can come and live in all believers.

In Christ Jesus our Lord, by faith in Him through grace, cleansed by His blood, He sends the fire of the Holy Spirit to make us His temple. In Him we have the Holy Spirit in us to lead and direct us how to live in grace. The work expected of us is to rely and follow His unction from within us in all that we do and say. The Holy Bible affirms, as it is written: “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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” (Romans 8:13-15 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 Luke 12:47-48 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48 KJV).

These passages bring us a radical message viewed through the lens of the gospel of the grace of God. Totally in contrast against the traditional legalistic and religious teachings that focus on fear and threat, so to work hard in self effort, we are given notice to rest in the Lord’s finished work by grace. The beatings of many or few blows are the natural, destructive outcomes of living under the law or trying to earn righteousness by works, which leads to being under the enslavement of sin and consequential condemnation. But by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not under condemnation (Romans 8:1). Hence, these passages give warning about the loss of rewards or blessings for failing to walk in God’s grace by their identity as a child of God, rather than a threat of losing salvation or being cast into hell.

When the Lord Jesus says: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded"(v. 48), He is giving us a call to good stewardship of the grace, truth, and spiritual gifts that have been entrusted to us, rather than respond to the demand for a law-based performance. It reminds us that with the provision of grace ("being given much"), resting in it by faith there is much fruit to bear as we abide in that freedom, not exploit to abuse it, as displayed by religious system.

This is not a push to work hard in self effort, but rather an urging to labor for rest by faith being attached to the vine to bear much fruit. The Lord Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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 15:4-5 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 12:45-46 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:45-46 KJV).

Still speaking about the story of master and servant, here the Lord Jesus presented a scenario of that servant knowingly neglecting to do what's expected of him. Buying time to do things contrary to his assignment, he presumed his master will not be coming home for an extended period. He starts mistreating servants under his charge and indulging himself with pleasures of the world, probably saying to himself “eat, drink and be merry!” That’s the tendency when one’s thought is focused on things of the world. The pull of material cravings become abnormally strong to disregard. There’s nothing wrong with the material things in the world. These are blessings God provides while we are sojourning here. The material things of the world are useful seeds for sowing things spiritual, when our focus are things heavenly. But, when things of the world are wrongly placed in the order of importance, it can become a curse, not a blessing, as what we watch unfold for this servant in the Lord's parable.

The servant being highlighted, mirrors those who professed to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ through striving in legalism and religion, not fully yielded to the Lord’s amazing grace by faith. Some of them say they are save by grace, but still continue to work hard to impress God. Our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ who is represented by the master in the story is totally bonded by His grace in faith. We are His chosen disciples for believing in Him. We are loved and secured by the shield of His sovereignty over our lives as we remain settled trusting in Him. We must never, at any instance, shift our dependence away from Him.

Hence, this parable is not a threat against believers who are reborn in spirit and are saved by grace. This is a warning for the religious, for the self-righteous, and for those who do not believe in the gospel of the grace of God. Even as they profess to believe, still as these passages proclaim, their portion is among the unbelievers, the heathen and the sinners. It is written: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”” (Revelation 21:8 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 12:43-44 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.” (Luke 12:43-44 KJV).

The Lord Jesus, continuing on His parable of the Lord and His servant, highlights on the servant who kept his vigil waiting for his Lord’s return. Through the lens of grace, this focuses on service that stems from within by faith rather than from outside force of religious fear or from the demands of self effort by the law. As we reflect on these passages, we must be conscious of the grace of God. We must be aware that religion focuses on "striving" by works-based righteousness. But the Lord’s grace-based message emphasizes that the "work" of the believer is to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ (John 6.29) and trust in His finished work.

We are reminded that "find so doing" refers to our daily routine of living dependent in the Lord’s grace and trusting Him in the midst of life's challenges and pressures. The blessing comes from not acting out of fear, but resting in the knowledge that our "Master" (the Lord Jesus Christ) is good and is returning to reward us, not to condemn us. We have the assurance, that with our faithfulness, He entrusts on us more of His kingdom's blessings and authority. Scriptures affirm to give us - His saints, the whole heaven, as it is written: “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’” (Daniel 7:27 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 12:41-42 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?” (Luke 12:41-42 KJV).

These verses speak of the "faithful and wise steward" appointed by the Lord Jesus for their belief, in the context of grace, for stewardship, and readiness for the end times, rather than a message of fear or condemnation. A truly "faithful and wise" servant is one who understands the Master’s heart of grace and love. Faithfulness is not about strict religious obedience, but about sharing the good news of grace and feeding others with the "food" of the gospel of the grace of God.

The Lord Jesus is speaking to all who believe and totally depend on the sufficiency of His grace (2 Corinthians 12:8). He is urging us to be "wise" by embracing fully the New Covenant of grace in Him, where all of us who are truly redeemed by faith are empowered by it to serve effectively, rather than working out with self-effort for fear of being punished. We are therefore reminded in these passages not to be pushed by fear to work hard in self effort while waiting for the Lord’s coming, lest we be caught up drained out by religious rituals that leads to nowhere but away from our true God. We rest in the comfort of the Lord’s grace with lamps filled with oil through meditating and reflecting on His Words. His word is the lamp upon our feet and the light upon our paths (Psalms 119:105). We are to learn the lesson of the ten virgins, five of whom missed their bridegroom as they ran out of oil.

Let's not miss the moment coming soon, and must be a wise steward. We must eagerly reflect on the Lord’s parable with awareness that the virgins represent the believers, and the bridegroom represents the Lord Jesus who is coming. It is written: ““Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13 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 Luke 12:39-40 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39-40 KJV).

As God’s chosen one by faith in Christ Jesus, we must live in constant readiness for the set but unrevealed timing of return of our Lord Jesus Christ (the "Son of Man"), just as a homeowner guards against a thief that may come at a time one least expect. The Lord's coming will be at a surprising time. He comes with blessings to those He finds vigilant and ready. In earlier passages the Lord used the analogy of a master returning from a wedding to emphasize that we don't know when He will come (midnight or early morning). So, we must always be watchful and spiritually alert, not complacent.

These words remind us to live every moment in the awareness of our Lord’s imminent return. We are to spend our time not through anxious works, but by trusting in His finished work. We rest to enjoy the blessings and comfort of His grace. When He returns at any moment, we won’t be surprised and caught off guard. He finds us - His people by grace, not scrambling in fear, but ready to receive Him with celebration. Why the Lord is using a thief as an illustration? It signifies the great loss for lethargy. But, as we keep watching, we rejoice when He comes to fulfill His promise. He said: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3 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 Luke 12:37-38 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” (Luke 12:37-38 KJV).

These passages highlight the profound promise of grace of Christ Jesus, where the Lord, upon His return, serves those who believe, waiting and watching for His coming, regardless of it being early or at the third watch. Rather than judging them, He comes "girding Himself to serve" them reclining at His table. This is an affirming oath of the Lord’s ongoing care, where He provides, heals, and blesses believers, fulfilling their needs, and ensure they bear the fruit of their faithfulness. Instead of fearful anticipation of judgment, by grace this frames us in readiness of living in the assurance of His love and finished work, which keeps our believing hearts "awake" fully attentive to His presence.

The imagery of the Master (our Lord Jesus Christ) serving the servants, shows us that He continuously nurtures and provides for His people. Being found "awake" is manifest in our trust in His provision, even in times of adversity. This assures us that He desires to prosper and heal us, urging us in this passage to rely on His grace rather than self-effort.

These paint a picture of the New Covenant promise, where the Lord by His grace through faith in Him is actively blessing and caring for us - His followers, ensuring we are prepared and provided for until His return. These passages promise blessings to those ready for His return (or, in a practical sense, those who rely on Him daily). This includes believing and experiencing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, not just in heaven. We, therefore, wait! The Psalmist declares, as it is written: “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14 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.