The Gospel of Luke 11:53-54 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.” (Luke 11:53-54 KJV).

In these passages, we can sense the intensity of hostility of the religious leaders against the Lord Jesus Christ. Their reactions to the Lord’s chastisements of woes they heard is an attempt by the enemy to trap or provoke Him into saying something they could use for a false accusation. The scribes and Pharisees vehemently oppose the Lord Jesus and resolved to trap Him in His words—as a demonstration of the intense opposition of religious legalism to the grace of God. This is reflective of our present day world environment, where we witness some people in media silencing the voices of those who bring up the message of the Holy Bible in public discussions.

Hence, as the Lord Jesus leaves, after pronouncing woes on their hypocrisy, the religious leaders' hostility escalates. They badger Him with tricky questions, seeking a pretext to accuse and kill Him. With malicious intent to "trap him into saying something they could use against him," show they're focused on silencing Him, rather than understanding His message of grace.

These expose the religious leadership's desperate attempts to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ, revealing their hardened hearts and inability to receive God's saving light, setting the stage of their ultimate plan to crucify the Lord. This, the Lord Jesus faces willingly for us, as the Prophet Isaiah prophesied: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 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 11:52 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52 KJV).

The Lord Jesus in His final declaration of "woes unto you" to the religious leadership, He again addressed the lawyers, who holds monopoly of expertise in understanding at whims their religious laws. We learn in this passage that they have taken away the key of knowledge from the people, the Lord reveals. Yes, they take away the key of knowledge from people by their flawed interpretation of the Scriptures and their man-made creeds and traditions. This hindered those who sadly were duped to follow them from understanding the true way to enter the presence of God and His Kingdom.

The lawyers and scribes of religion burdened people by their focus on keeping the law and their man-made doctrines, purposely to hide the truth of the Scriptures, especially that which concerns the promised Messiah. Because they relied on their own righteousness and “good works”, and hindered others from entering the Kingdom of God by teaching a warped understanding of God's word, they too did not enter themselves. The Scriptures said this oath: “better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).

This, therefore, reminds us who have been reborn in Christ Jesus by faith, that we must stand strong in the Lord’s Words to Nicodemus the Pharisee. It is written: “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, 5 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 11:49-51 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.” (Luke 11:49-51 KJV).

These passages are amazingly sharp and true! The Lord’s pointed words towards the hypocritical religious people are severe. Why are His pronouncements so harsh? How can He say as such? We can surmise several reasons why the Lord’s words are so direct and strong:

Firstly-He, the Messiah, the Son of God (whose name is above all names) is greater than the great figures and prophets of the past generations. He comes for His people, but the religious leaders murder Him to protect their interests and legalistic religion.

Secondly-The Lord Jesus wants them and the religious people of these days to realize, out of His compassion, how utterly flawed their approach to relationship with God had become.

Thirdly-The Lord Jesus wants them and us to see how horrendous and fatal is following and protecting religious doctrines and worldly precepts can be. Rather than religious concepts, our relationship with our Father and Creator must be shaped by the message of grace and truth, not by laws. Let it be revealed that the law is just a crisis management apparatus for a broken world. God’s grace by faith in Him is what the people of the world need, not laws.

Fourthly-The Lord Jesus confronts them as they idolize the past, without recognizing their connection to the sins of the past.

Yes, His words were sharp and harsh. However, they’re true and needed, then, as well as in the now! The sins against the blood of those who perished are demanded of this generation unless they come to grace and be saved by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Scriptures declare: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 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 11:47-48 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.” (Luke 11:47-48 KJV).

The “woes to you” messages of the Lord Jesus against the religious leaders were directed at their focus on outward religious acts (like building tombs for dead prophets of the past) while inwardly rejecting God's living message in their now moment. The Scriptures reveal that God gave the law to show man's inability to keep it, exposing weaknesses and leading people to realize their need for a Savior (Galatians 3:19-22). The Pharisees, Priests, Sadducees and lawyers/scribes represent an "old wineskin" system of legalistic rules that could not contain the "new wine" of the grace of God (Mark 2:22).

These "woes to you" of the Lord Jesus highlight the hypocrisy of the scribes, Pharisees and religious people, who honored dead prophets with polished tombs while their fathers killed them, and they themselves planned to kill Him. It emphasizes that God looks at the heart and the need for a transformed life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not by outward display of morality or by phony charade of honoring the past.

The core message that we must, therefore, get hold on is that all sins (past, present and future) have already been punished in Christ Jesus on the cross. The judgment that the Lord speaks of for those who continue the cycle of rejecting God's truth in Him, points to the consequences of not accepting Him and His sacrifice. For believers under the new covenant, they are saved by grace through faith, and their sins are not anymore remembered. To Gentiles and (Jews) house of Israel alike (Romans 10:12), Scriptures affirm: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”” (Hebrews 8:10-12 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 11:46 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.” (Luke 11:46 KJV).

The Lord Jesus continues His “woe to you” message to the Jewish religious leadership. In this instance, He is directly addressing the lawyers, in response to one of them that complained. He warns against self-righteousness and performance-based religion, where religious leaders burden people with load of laws, while neglecting love and justice. This highlights that grace and God's abundant supply of peace, not human effort, bring true wholeness, contrasting with the bitter fruit of trying to earn God's favor through works of religious laws.

The scholars (lawyers and scribes) of the law, like the Pharisees, imposed heavy loads with their laws on people, but wouldn't lift a finger to do it - which they could not. No one can perform the demands of the "law". Only the Lord Jesus can, the reason He came to supply the demands of it with His grace by dying on the cross for all people. The Jewish religious leadership with their hypocritical enforcement of their laws, while rejecting the Lord Jesus and His message of grace, demonstrates a heart devoid of compassion and love.

This, therefore, serves as our pop-up alert, that instead of the "thou shalt/shalt not," of the law, we should look to the Lord’s grace that says "I will," which emphasizes God's supply in grace and the Lord’s perfect obedience as the source of righteousness, not our own performance. In Him, we have righteousness through faith, as Apostle Paul testifies: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” (Philippians 3:8-9 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 11:45 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.” (Luke 11:45 KJV).

Here, we observe a lawyer, one of those scribes or scholars who are experts in their religious laws, complains after the Lord Jesus denounces them and the Pharisees with damning woes. The Lord rebukes them for their use of the Scriptures as tool of control and for their oppressive and external focus on the law. It hinders people (including them) from finding the true "key of knowledge," who is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This transpired at a dinner where the Lord Jesus was invited by a Pharisee. After He publicly chastised their hypocrisy (for their rigidness on external cleanliness while their inner being are full of greed and wickedness), a lawyer (an "expert" in the Law of Moses) protested.

The lawyers and scribes or scholars of their days and in present day religious and worldly climate are so focused on the letter of their laws and doctrines of men, which only brings condemnation and sin-consciousness, rather than point people to the Lord Jesus Christ, the true source of life, health, and freedom by grace. These legalistic, worldly and religious approaches - then and in these days, prevent both themselves and others from entering into a true, loving relationship with God in Christ Jesus.

Whence, this reminds us children of God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, to be circumspect in our daily walk in this life so as not be ensnared by religious and worldly nets and traps. We are still in the world. Scriptures caution us with these words: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 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 11:44 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.” (Luke 11:44 KJV).

In this passage, the Lord Jesus proclaimed another grievous woe, issuing a serious rebuke upon the religious leaders of the Jews. The Lord reveals their hypocrisy is akin to unmarked graves which outwardly appear clean and manicured but are inwardly rotten. Peering this verse through the lens of grace versus the law, gives light on the Pharisees and scribes’ self-righteousness as a hidden source of spiritual defilement. Their deadly contagion affected those that follow them who are unknowingly deceived by their religious creeds.

The Lord Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, as they are, with their religion being merely an outward show, as all religious are. They are focused on the surface appearances and hapless cling to traditions rather than an authentic inner transformation of the heart. They love seats of honor and conspicuous public greetings, seeking praise of men instead of giving glory to God.

This, therefore, is our reminder being children of God through grace by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord that we must not be caught up with their hypocrisy. Sadly, the cultures and traditions of these religious Pharisees and scribes are being copied for perpetuation in this present day religions. Many of them are clutching the Holy Bible, but teaching those they deceive with precepts not from God’s holy Word, that which they scavenge from the garbage of world. They follow the cues of the world’s culture and morals to define who they are as a person and as family, rejecting God’s design. They allow worldly sciences to creep into their doctrines. 

As God's children by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, let’s remain strong and steadfast in faith to stand against the pressure building up over us. Our identity must remain as what God declared who we are, as revealed in His Words. The Holy Scriptures, therefore, edify us with these words of Apostle Paul to Timothy : “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17 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 11:43 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.” (Luke 11:43 KJV).

The Lord Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocritical love of honor, prestige, and outward appearances, specifically their desire for prominent seats in synagogues and overt greetings and salutations in public places. It shows their thirst for human acclaim and to be served, rather than do genuine services before God. This unmasks the core of their hypocrisy. And, this verse highlights that true spirituality focuses on internal purity and serving God humbly, not on self-exaltation or seeking worldly recognition, a point that the Lord Jesus emphasizes by contrasting their love for status with God's true expectations of justice and love.

The "chief seats" in synagogues were places designated to identify positions and point of visibility, indicating that the Pharisees and religious leaders love it. Their pride and desire to be seen as important religious figures, give away their true nature. They enjoy public greetings showing they sought validation and honor from people, making them more concerned with reputation than humble and righteous service. They exemplify hypocrisy at its worst—performing religious acts for show, while neglecting inner spiritual reality, colliding with the fruit of the Spirit in grace by faith in Christ Jesus.

As children of God, born again in spirit through faith in Christ Jesus, we are standing totally released from the grip of religion and the world. We are set free! And, Apostle Paul exhorts us with these words: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 11:42 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Luke 11:42 KJV).

With this passage, our Lord Jesus Christ starts proclaiming woe of damnation for the religious Pharisees’ wrongly placed efforts of self-righteousness. He is highlighting the motive behind their action, which is what religion is all about. It’s the motive! Just like the world at large is, who hates all things about God, especially those of us that believe in the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who sends His only begotten Son - Christ Jesus our Lord. The world who claims there is no God actually believe in themselves as their god. That’s the reality. Religions believe in a god they made up for themselves, just like what the Israelites did as they molded a statue of a golden calf then look to it as god (Exodus 32:1-23). Some even use the name of our Lord Jesus and names of dead people to label an image, put it on a pedestal then look to it as one with power as their gods. Some look other creatures and things. Those are of religion and the world, and are not of the true God of the Bible. That’s where we are in this passage as the Lord Jesus stumbles upon one of them who invited Him to dinner. They claim the Word of God - the Holy Bible as their source of guidance, but do things contrary to it and not of it, and reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here, our Lord Jesus knowing the heart of this Pharisee, out of His compassion for this lost soul, rebukes him with woe of damnation and dismay, based on His reading of the content of this man’s heart. The Lord is not condemning their tithing of herbs and other little things, but their self-righteousness that neglects justice and love, to perform religious acts and rituals without a transformed heart. It contrasts with true believers under the Grace of God who worship with tithing from a heart full of God's love, seeing the Lord Jesus as their great High Priest, not a taskmaster. What truly matter is that justice and love, as well as, those other things are to be manifest as fruit of grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, with the unction of the Holy Spirit, and not by work of self effort to earn applause and accolade.

We are therefore reminded, including those Pharisees, all the religious and worldly people, that what pleases God is not the score of ovations, nor count of followings and likes in social media platforms and the crowd. What pleases God is our faith in His only begotten Son (John 6:29). It is written: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 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 11:37-41 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.” (Luke 11:37-41 KJV).

In our contemporary lingo, the Lord said to the host Pharisee affront, “I know you Pharisees buff the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid Pharisees! Didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.” (Luke 11:39-41 MSG).

In the preceding verses, the Lord Jesus warned the risk that what we may assume as light in us can actually be darkness. Here, He also warned them who invited Him over for a meal that they should take a look inside themselves. They spend a great deal of time, energy, and worry over being clean outside. While being clean outside was good, the bigger issue is, what's in the inside? Are their hearts clean? Knowing them and their values, the Lord Jesus challenged them to do something that would reveal just who they really are, in and outside. He speaks of their greed. While they may be religious and seem righteous on the outside, He knew that greed was consuming them on the inside.

In our present age, the Lord's challenge still stands - we ought to take a look on the inside. And the monster on the inside for a lot of us today is still the same: greed. No religious nor worldly philosophy can cleanse this spiritual ill. Only the supply of God's grace in Christ Jesus can make everyone, who believe in Him, clean and sanctified inside out. Yes, we’re once unclean. But now in Christ by faith, Scriptures declare: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 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 11:35-36 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.” (Luke 11:35-36 KJV).

These passages warn us to ensure the light we receive is truly from Him our Savior, and not from darkness pretending to be light, or maybe a product of self-deception. These critically warn us against deception of false gods by doctrines of religion and philosophies of the world. We must be discerning, guided by the Holy Spirit who we must invite to come in our life, through the knowledge of His Word. Living in us, let Him lead us in our every move and teach us as we come to partake His Word. Let not our ego, pride, or worldly views cloud our judgment, which can cause us to mistake darkness for light. We must totally yield our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ by faith dependent on His grace.

This, therefore, is calling us all believers to focus our spiritual eyes entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ by faith through His grace. He is the source of true light, He being the First Light pronounced by God in creation (Genesis 1:3). Let’s allow His love, truth and righteousness to permeate every part of our lives. Like a lamp, with its light glowing standing on a lamp stand in a house, the Light of the World (John 8:12) fills our whole being. Hence, as children of God, we are not called to sulk. We are to stand on visible vantage with the light of God's words shining through us in our discussions and interactions. In Him, by our faith, the Lord Jesus affirms: ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 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 11:33-34 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.” (Luke 11:33-34 KJV).

In these passages, the Lord Jesus uses the metaphor of a lighted candle in a house, representing a healthy eye to a person's body. These teach us that the spiritual message of truth (light) should not be hidden but displayed openly so all those in proximity of the light should not grope in the dark. And these put us in the know that those whose inner being is lighted by a healthy "eye," are determined whether they see and live in God's light or are living in spiritual darkness. This, therefore, is stirring us to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Words. He is the ultimate Truth and LIGHT, rather than the merchandise of this world or religious membership.

A healthy eye perceives the truth in Christ Jesus. Our faith in Him fills our being with light, while a "bad" or corrupt eye locked on the offerings of the world leads to darkness, warning us to guard our eyes and stay focused on our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the LIGHT of the world (John 8:12; 9:5). We are to rest in His grace by faith. For in Him, we have the LIGHT! Let not this LIGHT be hidden in a bushel of fear and shame [He warns about being ashamed of Him and His words (Luke 8:26; Mark 8:38)]. We are to share Him and His Words to all that we love, and most all - those that the Lord Jesus loves, who are in our proximity both physically and electronically. Let’s keep our eyes and life sustained by His Words, as it is written, the Psalmist declares: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 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 11:32 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” (Luke 11:32 KJV).

This passage draws us to the Gentile people of Nineveh that repented at Jonah's inferior message. So, they will condemn the people in this generation of grace - Jews and Gentiles alike, then and now, at judgment day for rejecting Him, "who is greater than Jonah." He is the Lord who brought the ultimate message of truth and salvation. This highlights greater accountability and impending doom to them that reject the Lord's presence in the flesh, and His message and offering of grace. The Lord Jesus contrasts the receptive and repentant, pagan city of Nineveh with His own Jewish people, who demand signs. Yet in spite of the signs, they refuse to believe, emphasizing that His presence and miracles are far superior revelation demanding a greater response by faith.

The Lord Jesus reveals Himself as being superior to Jonah (and Solomon), He being the only begotten Son of God with a supernatural message and greater works of miracles. The people of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s simple warning. Here, in the generation of the Lord's grace revelation, despite hearing the message of grace and witnessing the work of miracles, they refuse to repent. This demonstrates a dense spiritual blindness. Hence, the Lord Jesus in this passage warns that the pagans of Nineveh will stand with the religious people of the generation of grace at the judgment day to condemn them for their unbelief, showing that religion is not the way to be save from judgment.

Rejection of God’s grace in the Lord Jesus Christ, by opting for religion and the offering of the world, is humanity’s gravest sin that surpasses the disobedience of even the most wicked nations. It leads to severe consequences at the last day. Unbelief brings condemnation and judgement, as it is written: “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 3:18 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 11:31 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Luke 11:31 KJV).

In this verse, the Lord Jesus uses the Queen of the South who is the queen of Sheba as powerful example, that she will rise in judgment to condemn the people of this New Covenant of Grace generation that reject Him. The queen traveled from the far ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. But here, His own people reject Him who is "greater than Solomon" present among them. The Lord Jesus is highlighting their greater accountability and deeper spiritual blindness despite receiving a far superior revelation of God's wisdom and presence with works of wonder. The Queen of Sheba was a Gentile ruler from a distant land, identified as the modern-day Ethiopia, who journeyed to visit and test the wisdom of King Solomon of Israel with hard questions. She was amazed by his wisdom and the blessings of God upon him and his people.

And, yet here we are watching the chosen people of God, the Lord's fellow Israelites whom He came for to save and bring back to reconciliation with Him and the Father, rejected Him. He is much greater than Solomon that a Gentile queen sought to learn from his wisdom. These religious Jews, especially the religious leaders - the Pharisees, the Priests, the Sadducees and the Scribes, blinded by doctrines of their religion, failed to see and accept God in their midst. This, therefore, is our serious reminder that we must take heed to rest in His grace by believing in Christ Jesus, God who is in our midst. Scriptures declare, as it is written: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:22-23 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 11:29-30 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.” (Luke 11:29-30 KJV).

In response to the religious people’s repeated demand for a sign, these passages focus on our Lord Jesus Christ as the ultimate sign, proclaiming “the sign of Jonah” which points to His death and resurrection. It gives us insights from the lesson of knowing the prophet Jonah stayed three days and nights in the belly of a great fish (Jonah 1:17). The Lord Jesus emphasizes that true faith is not borne out of demanding constant miraculous signs but on a heart that accepts the truth of His redemptive work.

The Lord Jesus called those religious people an "evil generation" for continually demanding extraordinary signs to make them believe, despite the evidence of His words and miraculous works. Hence, the Lord Jesus proclaimed with finality that the only sign given to that generation is the "sign of Jonah the prophet". These affirm that just as Jonah, the sign to the Ninevites, was in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights, He would be in the heart of the earth for the same period before being raised from the dead in power. He is greater than the prophets, yet many of the Jewish religious leaders refused to acknowledge Him.

For us believers of today, the greatest sign is the Lord's resurrection. Those who call themselves Christians should place their trust in the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord on the cross. They should not place their trust in their religion whatever denominational wall of doctrines they lean on, nor in their own efforts nor the pursuit of more signs and wonders. True faith in the Lord’s holy and written Words is built on the reality and truth of the Lord’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. It’s the truth that brings rest, healing, righteousness and life by grace through faith. Not by rituals of religion nor by works to observe the law of thou shalt and thou shalt not. Scriptures declare, as Apostle Paul testifies: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 2:21 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 11:27-28 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28 KJV).

These passages of the Lord’s interaction with a woman in the crowd give insight that true blessedness does not come from physical lineage of family tree but from a spiritual connection established by hearing and obeying God's Word. The Lord Jesus emphasizes that this obedience flows from grace through faith, not human effort or a legalistic mindset of religion.

The Lord Jesus, in using the woman's praise of His mother as a mirror of contrast, highlights the importance of spiritual relationship by hearing and doing God's will, rather than a natural, physical or familial connection. The highest form of honor and blessedness is found in actively living out the teachings of God's Word, a characteristic Mary herself exemplified through her obedient submission to God. This obedience is a fruit of faith to receive God's grace, rather than a burdensome work of self-effort to observe the demands of the law. The focus should be on receiving the Lord’s love and the supply of His grace through faith, not on our own effort of earning some kind of award points in order to be worthy, the hallmark of religious teachings.

"Hearing the Word" is not just a casual reading of the Bible, but engaging with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, allowing Him to communicate to our souls, leading to our transformation. The Word who is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1) is power. Every time we partake His Words in our meditation and reflection, we’ll never be the same. His Words renew our hearts and minds to move us from where are to where God wants us to be. Scriptures remind, as it is written: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 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 11:24-26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

A cleaned empty house must be occupied and lived in, lest spiritual squatters come in and possess the house. This house analogy of the Lord is referring to our physical being - our human flesh and life, of which He demonstrated when He sweeps clean the evil possessed mute. The Lord Jesus warns that the swept off evil will not rest, finding no other host, without trying to get back in when it finds the place still empty. It won’t come back in alone. It invites many worse evils to come and move back in with. It reminds of the case with another man in Gadarenes who was possessed with a legion of devils, which the Lord Jesus cast out into the herd of swine in Luke 8:26-33.

In these passages, the Lord Jesus is using the house parable to warn us that merely removing a spiritual problem (like an unclean spirit, addiction, or sin, without replacing it with God's presence, leads to a worse spiritual state, as the evil spirit returns with seven more, making the final condition much more severe than it is in the first. The Lord Jesus uses this to show us that self-righteousness or a temporary fix isn't enough. A person must fill the "swept and empty house" (that is his/her life) with the presence of God and His Word for true, lasting transformation, otherwise they become vulnerable to intensified evil captivity.

So, it is therefore our admonition and cue, especially for those who have not invited the Lord Jesus in their life, now is the moment. Free from religious red tape with its rigmaroles and rituals, just you and the Lord Jesus hidden from the sight of people and the world, believe and let Him come in! He says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 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 11:23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” (Luke 11:23 KJV).

This passage emphatically declares a state of war between good and evil. This gives notice that there's no spiritual neutrality; people must choose sides in this battle between the Kingdom of God and Satan. One must make that conscious decision of actively supporting Christ's work in faith (gathering) or passively/actively opposing it for not believing (scattering). The Lord Jesus is emphasizing that allegiance to Him is critical for our sakes, especially when confronting accusations that His power comes from evil, highlighting that indifference or neutral stance to His mission is to align with the enemy, with eternal ramification.

It is therefore a strong tacit call for wholehearted devotion, urging people to actively build up God's kingdom, as manifestation for believing in the Son (John 6:29), rather than remaining apathetic which leads to self-condemnation (John 3:18). In essence, the Lord Jesus is saying, "If you aren't helping build my kingdom, you're helping the enemy tear it down". One can’t claim to believe and not plunge in the vast provision of the Lord's grace, allow the Holy Spirit's fruit to be manifest by faith in Him our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-24). Doing good to share the Holy Word of God that we have, as fruit of His grace through faith becomes a natural flow of our living. The Scripture is urging us: “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 11:21-22 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” (Luke 11:21-22 KJV).

In these passages, the Lord Jesus uses the parable of a strong, armed man guarding his palace to illustrate that while Satan (the strong man) keeps his possessions (lost people) securely captive, the Lord Jesus (who is the Stronger Man) has come to overpower him, disarm him, and reclaim the captives. It demonstrates God's kingdom invading and defeating evil. This is in response to religious and worldly people's accusation that He casts out demons by Beelzebub (the prince of demons). This asserts that the Lord's power over demons proves stronger than Satan and is actively liberating captives from darkness, taking them as “spoils of victory” restored in the light of the kingdom of God.

This illustration is the Lord’s forceful clarifying response to the false accusation against His heavenly miracles, showing that His ability to cast out demons meant He is conquering Satan, not working with him. This affirms the arrival of God's kingdom on earth, where the ultimate battle against evil is being won by our Lord Jesus Christ. This assures us that the Lord Jesus is mighty to deliver and save us from Satan's bondage. The Holy Scriptures affirm and proclaim, says the Lord:“It is I speaking in righteousness, mighty to save” (Isaiah 63:1b). And… "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save” (Zephaniah 3:17a).

We are saved by His death, so that by His life we shall live. It is written: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:9-10 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 11:18-20 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” (Luke 11:18-20 KJV).

Addressing the accusation that He casts out demons by the power of the devil, the Lord Jesus stresses out in these passages that such an act would be illogical, as Satan would be dividing his own kingdom against itself. The reality is, the Lord’s ability to cast out demons proves that a stronger power—God's power—is at work, which signals the arrival of God's kingdom on earth and the defeat of Satan's rule. The Lord Jesus asserts that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan (Beelzebub, the prince of demons) were empowering Him to cast out demons, Satan would be working against his own interests which ensure his own kingdom's self-destruction.

The core of the Lord's message is that He is the "stronger power of the light" who has subdued Satan’s "strong power of the dark". His miraculous works, like casting out demons, are evidence of His superior mighty power and divine authority. The implication is that because He is successfully casting out demons, the Kingdom of God has arrived and is actively breaking the stronghold of Satan on Earth. The miracles He performed are clear manifestation (or an "unconscious testimony" from even His enemies) that His miraculous works originated from God, not evil. By their accusation of Him casting out demons by Satan’s power they self-condemn themselves, for they will be judged by their Jewish sons who claim to cast out demons by the power of God.

We are therefore reminded, as His children by faith, we are now covered by His love in the higher covenant of grace, through the Son that the Father loves. He brought heaven down with power, doing greater works that the Father shows Him. The Scriptures attest - “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” (John 5:19-20 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.