The Gospel of Luke 20:9-12 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.” (Luke 20:9-12 KJV).

The Lord Jesus tells this parable of the “wicked tenants”, to the people gathered with Him in Jerusalem. It paints a vivid picture of a vineyard owner, who is God, sending servants (representing the prophets) to collect his harvest, only to have them repeatedly sent away empty-handed and beaten by selfish tenants - the husbandmen, that represent the religious leadership of the Jews.

The owner is God the Father, who lovingly planted the vineyard and provided everything it needed to thrive. The vineyard is the nation of Israel - the descendants of Abraham, God’s chosen people. The husbandmen are the Jewish religious and community leaders, who were entrusted with guiding and caring for God's people but sought to use their positions for personal gain and control. They are perpetuated by today’s enterprises of religious people, deceiving many using the Lord’s name in vain.

The servants represent the long line of Old Testament prophets sent by God. For centuries, God patiently sent messengers to direct the people toward righteousness through yielding to His grace. But, the religious leaders stubbornly rejected, abused, and sometimes killed them. Hence, this is our awakening nudge to be set free from all forms of religious system. They are the instrument used by the enemy of our soul for many to be held captive in wrong belief. We must act now to enter in God’s grace and be set free. Let us be set free by faith in the Son! “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

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

When God Says …

“And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:8 KJV).

This passage tells us that our Lord Jesus disrupt the sly motives of the skeptical religious leaders, by not divulging by what authority He is doing what He does. We just watch divine wisdom at work, with the Lord Jesus outsmarting His accusers, showing how He protects His ministry from those trying to trap Him before His time. Those religious chief priests and scribes audaciously confronted Him with questions about His authority.

The Lord Jesus "turning the tables," by answering their question with a question, reveals that those who reject God's evident grace won't receive more answers intellectually. The religious leaders were so "demand-oriented," relying on the strict demands of the Law. Instead of submitting to the grace of God—the free heavenly "supply", they pursue trapping the Lord in a debate.

Because the Pharisees, Priests and Scribes hardened their hearts and refused to acknowledge the plain truth within their grasp, they’re caught in their own trap. Our Lord Jesus brilliantly gave them a dose of their trick withholding further revelation, by famously saying, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

This is a brighter-than-sun warning to all who walk haphazardly in this world going with the flow of where the wide world and deceptions of religions are going. It is time to stop resisting and enter into our Lord’s invitation to rest in His unmerited favor by faith in Christ Jesus. For Scriptures declare: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 20:5-7 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.” (Luke 20:5-7 KJV).

The religious leaders, in questioning the Lord’s authority, they intended to trap Him. But knowing their hearts, the Lord exposed their hypocrisy by asking about their opinion of John the Baptist's baptism. This moment highlights the self-righteousness of the Pharisees versus the grace-based divine authority of the Lord. Trapped by their own game of entrapment, the Pharisees and priests backed off from answering the Lord’s question. They fear the crowd that they aim to gain applause from. That’s the design of religion - to please people instead of God.

The scribes and chief priests didn't want the truth; they wanted to trap our Lord Jesus Christ. They were threatened by His message of grace and truth that sets people free from the law. Our Lord Jesus knew they were dishonest and draw them in their own trap with their fear of the crowds. John the Baptist’s ministry prepared the way for the Messiah. By refusing to answer whether John's baptism was from heaven or man, the religious leaders gave away their rejection of the very Spirit of God.

Through His overarching message of the New Covenant of God’s grace, our Lord Jesus highlights that authority doesn't come from human approval or rigid religious rules. While the Pharisees demanded answers to defend their own religious control, our Lord Jesus operated out of complete reliance on the Father’s grace and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Hence, as sons and daughters of God in Christ Jesus, this reminds us to operate by the leading of the Holy Spirit. 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 20:3-4 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” (Luke 20:3-4 KJV).

In earlier passages, our Lord Jesus is confronted by the chief priests and leaders who demand to know by what authority He is doing miracles and teachings. Instead of answering them directly, our Lord turns the tables and answers them by asking a question about John’s baptism in these two succeeding verses. Such a masterclass in how He disarmed His legalistic accusers with heavenly wisdom. He disarmed the religious hypocrisy of the chief priests and scribes who challenged His authority because they relied on their own self-effort of righteousness. By asking them whether John's baptism was from "heaven or from men" (Luke 20:4), the Lord exposed their true motives. They weren't seeking truth; they were protecting their man-made religious systems.

When we walk in heavenly wisdom by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we rest in God’s grace. The Holy Spirit gives us "a mouth and wisdom" that our adversaries cannot negate or contradict. Our Lord Jesus didn't rely on human debate; He used God's wisdom to overcome the trickery of the Pharisees' and in our now - the trickery of present day religious enterprises and the enticements of the world. In Christ Jesus we have the Holy Spirit to lead us (Romans 8:14).

Most of all, we must remain in His love by yielding our lives to be loved by Him. Let nothing ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). We have the reassuring promise, as it is written: “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 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 20:1-2 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” (Luke 20:1-2 KJV).

While in the midst of one of His daily teachings in the temple, the Lord Jesus was challenged by the religious chief priests and scribes as to whose authority He teaches and performs miracles. This is a start to the defining clash between the demands of the law and the supply of God’s grace. These religious leaders are self-righteous. They reject the Lord’s grace, and refuse to accept that God's power is displayed freely through the Messiah.

The chief priests and scribes represent the Old Covenant of the Law, which is characterized by a "demand" on human performance. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the person of the New Covenant of Grace, who is the source of the constant "supply" of God’s love, healing, and unmerited favor.

When the religious leaders demand, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?" (Luke 20:2), they were driven by a transactional mindset. They want to know the Who, while rejecting the very source of their salvation and the Person who is the answer to their question right in front of them. This teaches that true authority comes not from keeping religious rules, but from trusting in the only Son of God and His finished work on the cross.

These warn all believers today not to fall into the religious trap of mixing the demands of the Law with the New Covenant’s supply of Grace. As the Lord’s followers, we must shift our focus from the demands of trying hard to observe the law, to totally depend on the abounding supply of God's grace. That, we do by drawing near to His thrown of grace, as it is written: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:47-48 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.” (Luke 19:47-48 KJV).

These passages provide the insight to discern a dramatic magnification of the clash between legalism and grace. The Lord’s daily teaching in the temple captivated the common people. On the other hand, the law-minded religious leaders, scholars and political leadership plotted to destroy Him, highlighting how grace exposes the true color of the religious and political systems of self-effort and vested interests.

In earlier verses of Luke 19:1–10, our Lord Jesus extended grace to Zacchaeus, which transforms him from the inside out. In these verses 47–48, as the Lord Jesus teaches daily in the temple, the common people "hung upon His words"—meaning they had an anxious desire and eagerness to listen. This shows how God’s grace is wildly attractive to the broken, the unprivileged and the weary. Whereas, the religious and political elites were only focused on outward measure of performance.

We note that the Lord Jesus didn't use the Ten Commandments to condemn Zacchaeus, but rather lavished His grace on him. Grace acts as the catalyst for right believing transforming a person's life from within, turning a notorious scammer into a generous giver. Let’s also be continuously transformed by submitting our bodies in the grace of God by trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ. Scriptures remind us these words of Apostle Paul’s exhortation: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 12:1-2 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:45-46 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Luke 19:45-46 KJV).

With these passages, we are given the analogy of the temple representing our body as a believer and follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. This shows to us that the Person of Grace, who is our Lord Jesus in us, empowers us to cast out the "thieves" of anxiety, sickness, and other agents of defilements intruding our body - the temple of God.

As revealed in the New Covenant of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), your physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God desires this temple to be complete, healthy and whole. The “merchants” who turned the temple into a marketplace represent the "thieves" of sickness, anxiety, and stolen joy. These spiritual forces of darkness are constantly trying to rob you with your life. We must prevent our temple from becoming a den of thieves. Rather we must maintain it as a "house of prayer" and make it a House of Power, by totally yielding our life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him come in our temple and cleanse us. We see that after the Lord cleansed the temple, the blind and the lame came to Him and were healed.

The temple merchants further represent the law in a system of "doing good to get good”. It contrasts head on with grace, where we come to God’s house not to trade, but to freely receive His heavenly blessings, healing, and unmerited favors through the finished work of Christ Jesus our Savior. Scriptures affirm, as it is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 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 19:43-44 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:43-44 KJV).

Our Lord Jesus Christ continues on His declaration of lament upon the city of Jerusalem for its tragic disregard of God’s unforced rhythm of grace. The Lord Jesus who is the Person of Grace, wept over Jerusalem's impending destruction because the people rejected their Messiah and missed their "day of visitation". Rather than an angry God, it reveals a Savior longing to protect them like a mother hen, but limited by human free will.

Jerusalem’s impending destruction by the Romans (which happened in AD 70) occurred because they chose to rely on their own effort of self-righteousness under the law rather than receive the peace and unmerited favor offered by our Lord Jesus Christ. They missed the Lord’s time of visitation. These passages dovetail with God’s promised shield in Psalm 91:4. Our Lord Jesus wished to gather the people safely under His wings, but He cannot force His protection upon those who refuse it. One must consciously choose to receive it by faith.

This is our warning that rejecting the New Covenant of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ leaves people vulnerable to the consequential curse of the fallen world, as they forfeit the tangible breakthrough and deliverance God came to offer. We are, therefore, reminded to remain steadfast in faith having received this deliverance by His grace. And everyone is called upon to reflect on these words of assurance and promise, as it is written: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:4-6 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 19:41-42 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” (Luke 19:41-42 KJV).

When our Lord Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, the city of David of whose royal lineage He physically came, He wept beholding the city. He grieved because the people, especially the religious leaders, rejected their true Prince of Peace. They choose to rely on their religious performance and self-effort.

While the crowds and the disciples were celebrating Him, the Lord wept (sobbing deeply) because He saw their spiritual blindness. They wanted a conquering king, but missed their loving Savior offering unearned favor and peace. Trying to earn God’s blessings through the Law blinded them to see the free gift of His shalom (peace, provision and wholeness). The Law is so holy. It is given as a mirror that shows flaws, but it cannot save or provide the demands for righteousness before God.

True peace cannot be found in human merit. That’s the tragedy of the religious leadership in Jerusalem, as they look to their own works instead of resting by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, those who depend in His grace and rely on His finished work on the cross as we should by faith, enter His rest. But those who choose to follow religion, and those who look to their self-effort to observe the law, shall not enter His rest. It is written: “For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”” (Hebrews 4:3-5 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 19:39-40 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

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

At the heavenly throne, creations proclaim:

““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”” (Revelation 4:11 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:37-38 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:35-36 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:32-34 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:28-31 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:27 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:24-26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:22-23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:20-21 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of Luke 19:18-19 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

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

When God Says …

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

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

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

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

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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