Proverbs 19:3 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:3 NKJV)

This passage says that people stray the wrong path and wreck their lives by their own stupidity, then blame God for it. Wisdom of the world already has its own trouble. How much more when man's folly is added to it. And, there's the devil with its agenda to "kill and destroy." Without God, anyone could definitely wander into a tangled way. Yet, still people ignore God's counsel... then vilify Him when things go south. This reminds the naked truth of what is written: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness;” (I Corinthians 3:19 NKJV)

We are to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV)

Let's reflect on these verses deeply. Allow it to touch our hearts. Focus on which that touches a tinge in the core of our being - perhaps pride, feeling of self-righteousness, or self-centeredness, or ego, anything that gives the wrong impression we can wade through life without God and His Words. Yeah, let God's Words soak us. Let's not be like a fool who frets against God of the repercussions of his foolishness. 

Yes, we are to meditate or mutter His Words again and again. His Words, with all His promises, will come to pass (Ezekiel 12:25). Allow His Words enable us to do His will through grace by faith in Christ Jesus. In Him, we are called to be light of the world, as Apostle Paul exhorts with these words: “Do everything without complaining, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

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.

Proverbs 19:2 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.” (Proverbs 19:2 NKJV)

He emphasizes the importance of keeping our being in the knowledge of Him and His Words of truth. We are warned: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” (Hosea 4:6a KJV)

In this life's journey destructive traps and snares await our every step, as this fallen world is littered with it. We can't just wander through life oblivious, like the fool and the ignorant, whose feet dash to sin. Apostle Paul warns: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV)

Hence, as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, we are to be conscious in our walk in this life. We ought to be equipped with the full knowledge of His redeeming grace. We are called to stand with zeal at all times, as Apostle Paul challenges us with these words: "Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 19:1 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” (Proverbs 19:1 NKJV)

This should drive us to zealously consider the essence of living. We are to be aware that possessions or the lack of it come and go. While character defines who we are and where we are going. Poverty is an event. It is a hiccup encountered in the journey, where you can choose to get out of or choose to be stuck in, depending on how your values are built. When we walk in our integrity and godly virtues built upon the foundation of God's Word, even if we are poor we are already better than a man (even a rich one in the standards of the world) whose conducts are foolish and wicked.

Whatever season we face, let's stay on track. We must be grounded in God's Words, resting in grace by faith in Christ Jesus. He promised and it is written: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1:1-6 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.

Proverbs 18:24 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV)

With this verse, God is reminding what matters most in friendship. He wants us to be in the know that quantity, as what Facebook brags about, can never replace quality of friendship. Like, we have a friend in the Lord Jesus, who loves us that He gave His life for us, so we can have life and life everlasting. He is a friend who truly loves us which He demonstrated by dying for us. On the same fashion, He commanded us to love as well, and be ready to lay our lives for those we love. Such a quality friend ‘closer than a brother’, indeed! “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16 NIV)

And, for those who truly seek the Lord and receive His atoning sacrifice by having an intimate relationship Him, not religion but rather have a personal kinship with our Lord Jesus Christ, He gives this reassuring declaration - “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

"The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly." (Proverbs 18:23 NKJV)

He gives us something to ponder upon how material possessions could adulterate a person's demeanor. A poor man in his state of need is compelled by his circumstances to behave with meekness and humility in his pleas. The have nots are at the mercy of those who have lots. Those who have much, tend to depend on what they have. Ill-primed for stewardship, they forget their source. They become audaciously arrogant in looking down upon those below their worldly status. Yeah, they are conscious of their position of possessions!

That is not so in the kingdom of God. Whether you're up or down; rich or poor - that's using the world's warp way of labelling, it is wise always to approach your hope and source for blessings in a lowly, as well as, in a posture of purity and trustworthiness. We must be in the know: No one can own anything in this life other than his or her soul. That’s all everyone can have - their soul. Things you believe or thought you own, not really. As you leave this world, you leave it behind, too. Even your body, it’ll return to dust. You only have your soul as you go to your destination - heaven or hell.

We are just temporary stewards of what passes through our hands. Better we steward it by faith in Christ Jesus, then we can have treasures saved in heaven. Be always in the conscious knowledge, as it is written: "The earth is the lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all, its people belong to him. For, he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas, and built it on the ocean depths. Who may climb the mountain of the lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.” (Psalms 24:1-5 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:22 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22 NKJV)

He points us back to the beginning: - Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18 ESV)

We are designed for companionship. Man and woman belong with each other. That's how God meant it to be. Without each other, each is incomplete. Alone, man lacks his better half. A good wife makes man complete at his best; made whole and inseparable by God, as Lord Jesus proclaimed- 'the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate.” (Mark 10:8b, 9 ESV)

When God established marriage in the garden, He made it a tripartite relationship with Christ Jesus by faith the binding force to weld two into one. She, the wife, is a part of man and a gift from God, as it is written: "Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:22-24 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:21 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)

He reveals the power of the words our tongue declares. Spoken curse brings death and defeat. Spoken declaration of blessings and hope in God's promises bring success, prosperity and abundant life. Hence, it's good and helpful to have these nuggets of daily reflections and reading devotionals of God’s holy and written Words. I am doing this for me, and sharing with you beloved PFC brethren and everyone who seeks the truth for right believing.  With hope in grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we can partake together these heavenly food for the good of our spirit.

In so doing our tongue can acquaint with words that proceed from the mouth of God. So we can eat the fruit of life, as we rest in the grace of the Lord by faith in Christ Jesus. It is written, ‘For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do, good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12)

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.

Proverbs 18:20 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.” (Proverbs 18:20 NKJV)

He reaffirms the key role of our mouth in having God's favors come to pass for us. In as much as we utter words with our mouth to empower the faith in our hearts, we are to declare with our mouth God's favors and blessings to fill our hearts and satisfy our needs.

The state of our life is a result of what we declare on our lips. If we constantly declare failure, we become a failure. If we verbalize every negative complaints, emotions and thoughts, that would be prophesying the outcome we will get. Complaints of aches, pains and hopelessness take a person to a place of sickness, torment and defeat. What we say and pronounce in our lips foretell our future.

In order to be blessed and victorious, we shift to the language of hope and victory day in and day out, even if what we hear and see show otherwise. The truth is we are redeemed from the curse of sin to live in the blessings of grace. So, with our lips 'let the redeemed of The Lord say so' (Psalm 107:2).

We must not agree and succumb with the lies of 'reality' that we see. It can be deceptive, at times. We defy the reality of problems and challenges with our mouth's declarations of faith on God's promises and victory, in Jesus name. One such attitude we can mirror on is that of Jabez, whose name his mother gave means pain. He defied that label with declaration of faith, when he prayed, as it is written: "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that, you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:19 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: And their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19 KJV)

The wisdom here is to avoid offense against anyone, especially with brethren and kinship. Never allow the devil to erect concrete walls of contentions. We are cautioned to - “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV)

Since a close relationship is deep and precious, it is better to avoid such conflicts in the first place. However, if conflict does arise, we being in an emotional flesh walking in an emotional world, Lord Jesus gives this reboot protocol: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24 ESV)

And, in Christ Jesus by faith, we have this reminder to hold on. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:18 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.” (Proverbs 18:18 NKJV)

This reminds that an unbiased and impartial way of breaking an impasse, by drawing straws or casting lots with prayers and total submission to God, puts an end to disputes between headstrong contenders. It is entrusting in God's hands and infinite wisdom the execution of judgement on a difficult dilemma that could not be fairly resolved by man's limited ability. God sees the whole picture. He sees through the heart of men. He doesn't just rely on the body language and the vocal expression of the mouth. And, He sees the end from the beginning.

In all situations we are faced with, where we always don't see the whole context of things, especially when it impacts other parties we care and love, or even adversaries where injurious conflict could erupt, in ALL decisions and settlements we make has to be done with God's divine direction. It may not be to everyone's liking. But, one thing's sure, God's way is fair and just.

The apostles left an example for us to follow as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. When they chose the man to take the place of Judas in the apostolic ministry, they came before the Lord, they prayed and they cast lots. It is written: “So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:23-26 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:17 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

"The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him." (Proverbs 18:17 NKJV)

He describes us a picture of an unfolding court scene which The Message Bible paraphrase puts this way: 'The first speech in a court case is always convincing— until the cross-examination starts! (Proverbs 18:17 MSG)

That's how court proceedings go. Each one postures to win no matter how, depending on wit and ruthlessness of each other's lawyer.

But, on the high road, we are to take an even-keeled administration of decisions and judgments of what is good or bad, right or wrong, in our domain of responsibility - our homes, vocational grounds and areas of relationships. In times of conflict, we hear and examine all angles of every issue in fairness and with care. If partiality and bias can lead to error in judgment, so does rush to conclusion without hearing the whole gist of the matter. We are to be mindful that each and every wrong decision we make, always have significant consequences. Damages are incurred. Lives can be shattered. Relationships are severed. Homes are broken. Souls can be exiled to lifelong regrets or even eternal repercussion.

That is not to be how it should. As believers in God, who accept and declare Jesus our Savior, our benchmark for settlement of disputes is His holy and written Word. Apostle Paul gives these caution and instruction how to settle matters for children of God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. It is written: "When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers! Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:16 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.” (Proverbs 18:16 NKJV)

This passage declares again this world’s reality. A gift can buy privileges and attention of people in power.

‘Great men’ in authority face temptations to compromise their judgment for a gift or favor given by a corrupt and selfish person desiring their help. Rulers are often offered benefits of material things, more fame or more power for promoting the cause of an amoral giver.

But, thankfully we are given lessons to learn from God's holy and written Words. Gifts are good when given for God's glory and to bless others, not for corrupting to harm others for self-gain. Gifts are to be offered as sacrifice of praise unto the Lord. As it is written: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV)

We are all entrusted with gifts from God. Heavenly gifts and talents, He bestows upon us all, special gifts for higher calling. As His children by faith in Christ Jesus, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV)

And, Apostle Paul gives this admonition: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:15 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15 NKJV)

He is reminding us that everywhere we turn around us is a veritable smorgasbord of tools for knowledge, discernment, understanding — wisdom in action. If only our heart is unto it and our ears and eyes strain and seek for it, as this passage reminds.

If we pay attention on what God surround us with, and listen or watch for it, knowledge can be learned from: our parents, spouses, children, friends, employers, songs, testimonies, people in line at the grocery store, someone fixing your car, the majestic colors of the wild flowers on the field, a bird perch on the mulberry tree, or a handsome dog named Archie who always executes the best pose when a camera swings its way.

When we know who we are in the eyes of God, we begin to appreciate the abundant wisdom revealed through the beauty of His magnificent creation. We will come to the unshakable knowledge and realization that where there is a beautiful design, there is a Master Designer. We will know we are His creative masterpiece. And, the Creator holds us by the palm of His hands, we being His children by faith in Christ Jesus. Wisdom is born, as it is written: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” (Psalms 111:10 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14 NKJV)

He brings to our awareness the importance of our spiritual strength to hearten our physical body in times of health challenges. When the body is sick, this scripture says, it is sustained by the spirit. The spirit conquers physical affliction!

When our spirit is strong, we overcome any challenge we may face. It may be serious life issues about physical health or financial issues or test in relationships. Declarations of faith in the name of Christ Jesus, according to the promises of His Word, in prayers and self-talk will enable restoration of wholeness to a broken spirit. Self-talk to bless the Lord is important, like King David did. He said to his soul: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1 ESV)

A broken spirit makes a broken body. A spirit that is whole makes a body that is whole. We keep our spirit strong and whole when fed by God's Words. We are to have regular intake of God’s holy Word like the air we breathe, as Lord Jesus said: "But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

Yes, let's quicken our spirit with reminders of God's Words in our devotionals and times of solitude with God, with utterance of praise as the psalmist declares:
"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!" (Psalms 105:1-4 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.

Proverbs 18:13 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV)

He gives a handful of lessons to be learned meditating and reflecting on this passage:

* It is arrogant to answer before you hear the full statement.

* It is rude to answer and interrupt a question.

* Responding without listening makes one a fool.

* A mouth not in tandem with ears that listen makes a stupid person.

* God provided every person a pair of ears and a mouth for a reason.

* Not responding before you hear it all, honors and respects the person you are having a conversation with.

So, for the children of God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, Apostle Paul reminds: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:3-5 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:12 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.” (Proverbs 18:12 NKJV)

He gives us an eye opener, we must consciously be aware of. Disgrace or honor does not happen by chance. It's the end result of precursors orchestrating towards such predictable outcomes. Pride presages ruin. Though, being proud has a good side, in its validating role at every step of our journey. It affirms self-confidence and heartens excellence. But, when it crosses the line from affirmation of one's self-worth (amour pro pre) into the realm of haughtiness and self-love (amor propio), as one looks at self better than everyone else, it augurs a fall.

On the other hand, godliness and modesty never fail to herald acclamation and triumph. As a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus, we are called to humility and service. The Lord Jesus declares that when He said, as it is written: "The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11, 12 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:11 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit.” (Proverbs 18:11 KJV)

This tells the reality that when there is so much focus on hoarding the material things of the world, in the Message paraphrase it says - “The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.” (Proverbs 18:11 MSG)

But, the psalmist says this: “They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave.” (Psalms 49:6-9 NLT)

Such a sad truth to come to grips with, especially to one whose wealth raised him to a pedestal of arrogance and conceit. Riches blind many from seeing that redemption is only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a sacrifice for all. Hence, being His beloved, we are reminded always: “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10 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.

Proverbs 18:10 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 NKJV)

He continues to keep us in the know that we have a secure and dependable place of refuge. He calls us – the righteous. We, the foolish in the world, the weak, the lowly and the despised, He chose us! It is written: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-30 NIV)

He assured, we can run into the cover of His Mighty Power with our faith, as the Psalmist declares: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:1-11 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:9 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“He also that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Proverbs 18:9 KJV)

Work is part of the system of living. God worked for six days at creation, and continues to do so. It is written, Lord Jesus said: “So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”(John 5:17 NET)

God commissioned Adam to work on tending the garden (Genesis 2:15). Yes, after the fall weeds appeared due to the curse of sin. It added a load for man to work on (Genesis 3:17-18). Then the fallen humanity rebelled and refused to work. Just like we are witnessing now. Solomon called them slothful and great waster!

These are people who either do not want to work or slack at what they do. They think that they deserve a paycheck, just by showing up. They deserve a job - they deserve a bonus, a vacation, they deserve health care - they deserve everything - but not necessarily for the reason of having worked for it. Some even demand these ‘their rights’ as they lay on their couch clutching their potato chips and hugging on their game consoles! What great a waste of resource and opportunity to be blessed and be a blessing!

We must be in the know of the good news! The curse on the earth by Adam’s sin is already cleansed by the shed blood of Jesus. Being born again by faith in Him, we are restored in the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), set apart from the pagan world. Regardless of what the world does, as children of God in Christ Jesus, we are called to work righteously with diligence. We are blessed to be a blessing. The scripture says: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” (Colossians 3:23-25 NLT)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:8 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.” (Proverbs 18:8 NKJV)

He warns us that, yes gossips are enticing to hear. Its sound waves are easy to catch by one's satellite discs - called ears. It goes straight to the processing center of the brain. Then, it is embedded and stored in one’s inner being, waiting for the next unfortunate instance of broadcast airtime. Sadly, it could not be contained. It always comes out and spreads as a virus of lies. It infects the soul. When it rolls, it becomes unstoppable. It is like a twister wrecking to pieces everything on its path. It's a curse to its author, as it always reverse course devastatingly to where it starts. It isolates people under its wreckage. It destroys integrity, breaks promises, betrays trust, and severs relationship with families and friends.

As believers in Christ Jesus, saved in grace through faith by His blood, we are to despise lies and slanders. Gossips are to be spurned. It is a kind of trifle we should not touch nor take, tasty it may be. We are instead to have regular intake with right handling of God’s Words of truth. We are to heed Apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy, as it is written: "Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.” (2 Timothy 2:14-17b 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.

Proverbs 18:7 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says…

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7 NKJV)

He gives another warning to guard our speech at all cost. Unrestrained, it leads to trouble. We are to behave like we should as a true child of the Most High God in Christ Jesus. We are to function and speak like an envoy of Christ Jesus in this world, as we are, having been reborn in spirit when we receive His Lordship.

Our declarations are powerful. Hence, we should not mimic a fool ensnared by the blabber of his lips. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, indeed. There's no room for foolishness in the words that come from our mouth. For a fool, who rejects God and His Words, there is an untamable creature in that cave called mouth. The Scriptures said - “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 ESV)

Our mouth holds the fate of our soul. Lord Jesus warned: “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 NIV)

As the redeemed of the Lord Christ Jesus by our faith in Him, apostle Peter exhorts us with these words: “For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12 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.

Proverbs 18:6 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.”
(Proverbs 18:6 NKJV)

He is giving a heads up that where there is raucous and strife, it raises a red flag - a fool is present!

The presence of fools must be avoided. Being in their proximity, serves no benefit to anyone. To God's children by faith in Christ Jesus, these words of instruction are given: “Avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, and fights about the Law, because they are useless and worthless. After a first and second warning, have nothing more to do with a person who causes conflict, because you know that someone like this is twisted and sinful—so they condemn themselves.” (Titus 3:9-11 CEB)

Every sane and wise person, one who has been reborn by faith in Jesus and who cares for his life and destiny, is imperatively instructed: “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:7 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:5 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

"It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment." (Proverbs 18:5 NKJV)

He cautions us the risk of providing advocacy to wicked ways. This is His reminder to those who are on the seat of justice dispensation. In the Message Bible it says: “It’s not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.” (Proverbs 18:5 MSG)

This admonishes everyone that connivance with crimes and sinful acts directly affronts the nature of God and direction of His Words. It tramples upon the core value of right virtues and deprives justice to the innocents and the righteous. God’s Words warn: “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”(Jeremiah 22:3 ESV)

As children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, we are to uphold Godly living day by day. We must hate the works of darkness and evil, but be compassionate to those who languish in the dark by leading them to the path of light. The scriptures exhort us with these words: "Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven (Jude 1:22-23 MSG)." This is the reality we face bearing the name of Jesus. This hostile world hates the righteousness of God. Hence, the Lord Jesus Christ gives us this assurance: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:4 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.” (Proverbs 18:4 NKJV)

This passage cautions us with hints of the contrast between the deep and perhaps deceitful words of a person, and the truthfulness of the wise words coming from the mouth of God.

As deep waters hide what lurks underneath, a person’s words may hide the intent of his heart and thoughts. [Though, to the ears of the mature and wise who is guided by the Spirit, a person's word could reveal its real intent]. Only the naïve takes everyone’s words at face value. And, the scriptures scorn the naïve (Proverbs 1:32). Early in His ministry, adoring crowds outside Jerusalem followed Jesus, but John notes, “Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people, and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man (John 2:24-25).”

The wellspring of God's wisdom, like a bubbly stream, reveals the truth. Truth that makes us free is found only in God's holy and written Words! The truth is laid bare to those who seek it. Those who seek it will find it. And, the truth of God's living Word declares: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:

F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:3 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.” (Proverbs 18:3 NKJV)

This is pointing to a person’s state of living. The wicked is one who is operating outside the grace of God. His presence brings the atmosphere of contempt. This gives a picture of arrogance that’s abhorrent to look through the lens of God's divine plan and purpose. This clearly warns that wickedness (that is the state of separation from God) brings contempt that leads to dishonoring God which ends in disgrace and eternal destruction. But, the truth is, for everyone who would just come to God, have faith in Jesus and totally depend in His finished work on the cross, favors abound that leads to eternal life.

Here we see a person who dishonors God, by rejecting the saving sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross. Yes, Jesus loves him and us so much! He died in our behalf, so ALL that we need for life and Godliness are already provided to us by grace. We are to wisely just take that step to receive His Lordship and rest in His grace. Not religion with its rigmarole of rituals and dos and don'ts. We posture in right believing to give Him thanks and praise! So, by faith in Christ Jesus, honor we give.... “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:2 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.” (Proverbs 18:2 NKJV)

God is giving another litmus test for us to self-check so we can recalibrate our wisdom gauge. That is godly wisdom-gauge, of course, not of the world. This passage is saying that when a person does not take delight and pleasure in understanding and learning, it is a sign a person could be drifting to be a fool. Specially, if all he wanted is just to spill the beans from his heart.

If we discern and sense this kind of attitude in ourselves, God is prompting us to do a resetting of our course of direction. Hit re-set at once! Get back to grace in Christ Jesus and allow the guidance of Holy Spirit to lead. Kneel before the Lord and call His name, the name above all names, Christ Jesus our Savior.

He says- "-I will hear from heaven..." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

He promised- “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.” (John 14:26 GNT)

He reveals to us heavenly favors coming for our future and destiny - “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 18:1 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says …

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1 NKJV)

This tells of a person separating and isolating himself from wisdom. He is one who intends to walk in godlessness. He separates from those who offer Godly advice and counsel concerning his choices and lifestyle. Rather than receive it - he utterly rejects it - even runs away from the people who offer it. He fights and resists. This man wants nothing to do with God. He seeks his own desire and pursuit.

This person's action directly collides against God's call to come to grace and be set apart as His child. God calls all the redeemed by the blood of Jesus through faith, to be separated from the world. He said: “Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NIV). God speaks of separation from the spirit of this present world. Yes, we are in the world, but we are not "of" the world. That is the separation that God wants for us to be, not doing what the world does. Rather, do the will of God by the grace of Christ Jesus through faith in Him.

When we receive the Lordship of Jesus by faith, we become citizens of heaven. We are sent as God's envoy to deliver His message of reconciliation to the world - so that all can dwell with Him in righteousness, forever. It is written: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 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.

Proverbs 17:28 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV)

Silence is a fool's camouflage from stupidity. The tip is: speak only if you have to!

A person of few words will lead others to think he is wise - even when he is a fool! That is what this proverb tends to allude. It is not intended to encourage a fool to be a quieter fool. It is meant to remind the wise that talking incessantly is trouble - and will make him look like a fool.

The fool mentioned here is a man who harbors hatred of wisdom. This verse is a cue for us to just stop and listen. But sadly, we often want to get in the "last word," or offer our thoughts on anything that pops in the air. Mostly, that is just overactive ego. So, the wise thing to do is to disengage our mouth and engage our ears. God gave us two for a reason. Listening helps us learn about others and their thoughts and feelings. We don't need to broadcast ours, haphazardly and untimely, in the wrong settings.

It's time indeed to shut our lips. If there's a need to speak, let's spare our words and have restraint. It doesn't mean that we stipple our voice or sulk. It just means that we listen and discern better, be guided by the Spirit of God. Wisely choose words of life rooted in the Lord's holy and written Word. Let the Holy Spirit prompt our talk.

As children of God in Christ Jesus, we rest in the counsel of His Words, and be reminded, as it is written - “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
(James 1:19-22 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 17:27 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” (Proverbs 17:27 NKJV)

This passage tells me that we ought to be measured in the pronouncements that come out of our mouth. The kind of person we must be is he who has knowledge and understanding. We must be aware that spoken words are containers. Depending on the heart it comes from - it can bring a blessing or a curse, life or death. We are to understand that words can have a negative or a positive impact in a hearer’s life. It can build or destroy. A person devoid of that knowledge can release a barrage of words that can kill a dream, shatter a relationship, demolish a spirit and send a soul to eternal destruction. Those are the words that not only be spared and restrained - but, for a person who has understanding, must delete and acid-wash. The Lord Jesus warns: "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37 NIV)

This is a reminder that a man who understands God's Word should be of a calm spirit. Not easily excited to blurt careless utterance of destructive words. He speaks words of hope, joy and love through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Words he utters propel us to God's higher calling for our lives. Yes, if we must, we are to speak God's edifying Words unsparingly and without restraints.

The transforming power of His Words, we must declare and release upon our lives:

I confess the Lord Jesus is my Lord and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9);

I am strong and courageous. I will not be afraid of anyone, for the Lord my God goes with me. He will not fail me nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6);

God is working all things for my good (Romans 8:28);

God’s plans are to prosper and not to harm me. He is giving me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11);

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13);

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.(Joshua 24:15);

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” (Psalms 139:14 AMP);

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 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.

Proverbs 17:26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.” (Proverbs 17:26 NKJV)

According to this passage - punishing the righteous is not good. Which, unfortunately, what can be seen going on right now in this world. Even in this 'greatest nation on earth' in an increasing occurrence. Those who do things right and good are being cancelled or being threatened to be. Many are penalized for being productive and prosperous. The reason is because society is drifting away from God. They now call what is good, evil and what is evil, good. Historically, that is a sign of a society positioning for eminent downward spiral to depravity. God’s Words warn, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20a NIV).”

Not only are the God-fearing are being scorned - but they are being attacked and persecuted simply because they are right. Consider in today's world in which the Godly man says - 'biblically designed traditional family unit must be preserved', and 'unborn children must be protected' [honoring God and the revelation of His Words]. These create problems with an ungodly society that says: we should not only tolerate all sodomized family set ups, devious gender choices and shed innocent blood - they say, we must all celebrate with them! They coerce and force the people of God to sign in to it with mandates from un-godly authorities.

As children of the Most High God in Christ Jesus, we must take a stand with God and His Words. Yes, we should love those who are lost and un-godly. But, not placate them. Rather, share them the truth, as Jesus did - He is our Prince of Peace and He was stricken for the inequities of the world. We are to stand firm on the Word of truth in God's abounding grace and love, knowing that the Word is Jesus. It is written: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14 NLT)

Whether they believe it or not - their choice - our nation, society and world need to know this truth -
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

Proverbs 17:25 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God says...

“A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.” (Proverbs 17:25 NKJV)

This is a deeply painful reality to those who have gone through it and to those who are in the midst of it. The fool in this passage comes from the Hebrew word "כסיל (kesil)", which refers to someone who is unable to deal with the issues of life in successful or practical Godly ways. This is a person who is unwilling to be corrected or taught, or one who refuses to learn anything from anyone, most especially from the parents who raised him and from God who formed him in his mother's womb. The psalmist called this person "stupid" (Psalms 49:10 ESV).

The parents of such a child are painfully broken. The father is filled with grief. The mother, who carried this child in her womb, is filled with a deep confounding bitterness. It is very difficult for her to process, watching the choices and actions of the child with whom she's been linked by the life-giving umbilical cord. We're it not for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, these parents may have faded into hopelessness and surrender. Praise God!...by faith in Christ Jesus they hang on, and hold on to hope. They have all the reasons to. They pray! Yes, they rested in God's grace! They remained still! Waited on the Lord! Grateful for the comforting words of the psalmist - “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalms 27:13-14 NKJV)

Yes, there is hope in the Lord for such a son. All he needs to do is come to Jesus who died for him in his foolishness. God loves him and is calling him. He just needs to respond! It is written: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

God's Words call upon every parent to: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV) and, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4 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.