Blessed Resurrection Day!

Dear Loved Ones, Brethren & Friends,

When God Says ...

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).

The Resurrection Power is Our Paradigm Lift!

Our Lord Jesus Christ went through mock trials, swung between insults and tortures. He carried and dragged the cross, with His blood oozing, through the streets of Jerusalem. He climbed the cross on Calvary. He gave His life to die. No one takes it from Him! He gave it to give us life!

He entered the grave. On the third day He came out. Death and grave couldn't hold Him!

He did it because our great, great, grand father Adam had fallen! In the beginning, by grace we were designed to live in the garden, forever. But Adam messed it up. He surrendered the garden to the forces of darkness.

The second Adam, who is our Lord Jesus Christ, came. He defeated the forces of darkness and the grave by His finished work on the cross and rising from the dead. The garden is restored. He took it back! Now we are a new creation by faith in Him. We can live in the New Garden by His grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

The same power that raised our Lord Jesus Christ is in us!

This is indeed a Blessed Day of Resurrection for us all by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11 ESV).

And I Say, AMEN!

Lovingly,

The Friases and PFC Missions Families

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 John 4:25-26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:25-26 KJV)

When the Lord Jesus Christ decided to take the road less travelled through Samaria, it looked at first that it was just a simple matter of going for a short-cut way. But, with the course His interaction with this woman took, we now can see that their convergence is divinely set from heaven. They started their exchange with varying points about water. Then the revelation of the woman's relationships and the state of it came up, she consciously evaded to bring up the controversy of religious worship between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Lord purposely overlooked her bait and revealed to her that the time has come to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

Now, as the woman shifted to open her knowledge of the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus gives an extremely profound revelation, I AM! (John 1:26 NIV) He is the Messiah! I Am is come, sent by the Father. He is the same God, the I AM, who appeared to Abraham and said I AM God Almighty (Jehovah El Shaddai)! (Genesis 17:1). He is He who appeared to Moses at the burning bush, and, “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”” (Exodus 3:14 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:24 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 KJV)

This is the profound truth, "God is Spirit". He is not confined to space and time. The reality is, He is Omnipresent and Omniscient. God is infinite (1 Timothy 6:16) and He is invisible, manifest in the image of Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:15). We are called to commune with Him in our true nature that permeates every aspects of our lives - in the spirit, and not in the flesh.

Hypocritical religious worship is a sham, and their use of the name of Christ Jesus violates the essence of true worship to the One true God. It is not what God desires. It is a display for people to see and be mesmerized for the deception, a tool by the enemy of one's soul to be deprived from God's gift of life eternal. Our worship, grounded in the truth of God's Words, transcends to our living by faith, walking in the spirit not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

We are prompted by this passage to approach and worship God, not in our earthly nature. Here, we are reminded to get back to the beginning. We are to come and dwell in His presence, worshipping in our true being of who we are. Now in Christ Jesus by grace through faith, we are restored in our heavenly nature. In Him, we are in our image in the likeness of God that we've been created. In Christ Jesus, we come to worship Him in spirit. God desires us to come in our state when He formed us, as 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.” (Genesis 1:27 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:21-23 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:21-23 KJV)

When the Lord said "believe me", He calls attention to the woman and us too, with what He is about to say. As she professed Him being a prophet, it is of importance to take seriously the Words He speaks. It is not a matter of dispute where and how to worship God. The truth is, worship is not confined to any place or time, as it was from the start. Religious worship under the law is not what God desires and is now in the past. Grace and truth has come in the person of Christ Jesus (John 1:17).

The Lord affirmed that Samaritans, as with other gentiles and pagans, worship totally out of ignorance from truth. Their worships are corrupted and far from truth. Their worships are abhorrent to the One true God. They are of no value, done out of ignorance from the truth. While the Jews in general who were the custodians of God's promises and Words, do worship the true God they claim to know, but as the Lord Jesus recognized, their worship too were futile. They corrupted it by doctrines of religion that they concocted and pursued zealously. They've fallen from grace and truth that God desires.

The Lord Jesus Christ declared that the time for true worship has come. Grace and truth is in her presence and us too, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our worship is not anymore dictated by corrupted doctrines. It is not the worship by religion borrowed from pagans and human precepts, of rituals, customs, traditions and of self efforts made by men. Worship is not only at certain elaborate places and appointed time designed by religious enterprises to hold captive the souls of many led astray. Definitely not worship to images of dead men and women. We are to worship in spirit and truth, the Lord Jesus declared. We now have direct access to the Father as it has been from the beginning, through grace by faith in Christ Jesus.

We are to worship Him in temples not made by human hands. He doesn't dwell in temples made by men no matter how massive and extravagant those are (Acts 7:48). We glorify and worship Him every moment of our lives and in our hearts. By His grace through faith in Christ Jesus, scriptures declare: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:19-20 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” (John 4:19-20 KJV)

This statement seemed to show that this woman is no fool after all. Recognizing that the Lord is a prophet who comes from God, as she posed a question about worship and the place to worship, this woman could be seeking the truth. Sadly, religious circles created serious misconceptions about worship. On the surface, she sounds like dodging the Lord's probe into the depth of her soul, though. But, the Lord heard and entertained her with words of import that we must consider, as well. Yes, this is a broken woman and spiritually lost. She is an outcast in her community. Yet, she could be on her way to be an insider in God's Kingdom.

Listening to the tone of her questions and statements, she exudes yearning to know the truth about God and His Words. In a sense, her queries and responses to the Lord Jesus are also probing to draw close to God. She is seeking to worship God in the right place and in the right way, as one who truly rests in grace by faith in the One true God. She reveals that her forefathers say they worship 'on this mountain', which she may be pointing to Mount Gerizim. This is the mountain on which the Samaritans worship God in protest to the Jews who worship in Jerusalem.

But, this woman needs to know as we too, should. What matters is that we worship as one acceptable to God from and in our heart. It is written: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:

F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:17-18 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” (John 4:17-18 KJV)

It is amazing to watch this woman's life unravel. We are seeing new light of the plot for this encounter between the Lord Jesus Christ and this woman. Looking back how the Lord Jesus purposely 'had to go through Samaria' despite the established norm for Jews and Samaritans not seeing eye to eye, we are now made aware for His reason. It is not about taking a short cut, nor to rest at this well seeking for water to drink. It is about an empty parched soul of a woman's broken life.

At first glance of this unraveling, she can be easily viewed by many, then and now, as a person of shady morals based on the surface that one sees. She comes to the well when no people around, which we could surmise she's avoiding people that dislike her lifestyle. And, now she affirmed she was five times divorced and presently living with someone not even her husband. As it appears, people could easily make their prejudicial view. But, it must be remembered that on the same way in the Jewish culture, Samaritan women could be easily divorced and rejected at whim by their husbands for no reason. Just like these days' ungodly culture, where marriage is treated lightly. We watch marriages ended merely for reasons of "unreconcilable differences". Looking deeply, this woman could be a victim of being entangled with the wrong people. Most of all, she is a woman thirsty for things of God. And, the Lord knows. Hence, He intentionally meet her on this site - at the well!

Her candor positioned her right on the spot. The Lord Jesus came wanting to get to the heart of the issue so He could bring His "living water" to the barren and parched recesses of her soul. He comes to do the same for us today, too. The Best if heaven came seeking for the worst of the world. As we remain resting in grace by faith in Him, we have this promise from His holy and written Words: “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2-3 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:16 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.” (John 4:16 KJV)

This response of the Lord Jesus Christ to the woman's ask for the water (that becomes a spring of water welling from within), is a shift out of the flow of their conversation. It brings up several revelations to reflect on. It hints that the woman's asking was insincere, as can be sensed by her tone, that bear signs of scoff and sneer. It also reveals the Lord's omniscience, testing to draw truthfulness and conviction from this woman to lay her life into the open. This command the Lord gave saying "go call your husband" was intended to strike the core of this woman's heart, to bring her out of the messed life she is in and be postured for restoration. This sets the woman to be brought out of the dark into the light and lay bare her parched soul.

Yes, that's the intent of God's every Word. It extracts us out of whatever mess we are in. His every Word is designed to bring us unto the truth. By His Word, He chose and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9b). Being His children by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we are blessed to have His Word speaking to us like the air we breathe. And, His Word is the air we breathe! And, it also gives light in our day to day walk. This woman is blessed, having the opportunity to hear the Lord's corrective Words. It gives light unto her path. It is the lamp unto her feet. Scriptures remind, as the psalmist affirmed: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:

F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:15 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” (John 4:15 KJV)

In this setting during Bible times, like in other remote and undeveloped parts of the world, it takes hard work and laboring through craggy paths under the hot sun to find and obtain literal water. It must be exciting for this woman to hear about the kind of water that keeps her from wanting to drink again and again and again! Hence, with her mind framed in the physical water that she fetch laboriously from the well, while trying to avoid the crowd, she must be excited to have this opportunity to ask "Sir, give me this water."

Who wouldn't desire for this water? This woman, while she maybe in the natural mindset, said the right words for asking to have this water. We don't know her motives, as well as her body language as she interact with the Lord Jesus Christ. She may have said it with a smirk, or even scoffingly. But, she declared it by the spoken words from her mouth. There is power in the words that we speak (Proverbs 18:21), especially as we ask anything from God, in the name of Christ Jesus. And this woman is asking directly from Him. The Lord Jesus said in one of His teachings: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:13-14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14 KJV)

In these passages the Lord Jesus presented to the woman, and to us, two choices of water she and us can choose to drink, a natural cistern water or a spiritual spring water. Firstly, He said to her that one who drinks of the water from a natural cistern will temporarily quench the thirst, but it will not eliminate the thirst totally. It only gives a temporary relief. But, secondly, He said that the spiritual spring water that He gives, by a single drink it becomes a spring of living water welling and springing from within her, and us too, to life eternal.

The Lord Jesus Christ is figuratively talking of the kind of water not locally sourced. It is one that is not from the natural realm but imported from the supernatural dimension of heaven. He is of course talking about the Holy Spirit, whom He promised that the Father in heaven will send to them who ask (Luke 9:11-13). We are given this assurance when, like the Samaritan woman, we ask, too. The Lord Jesus said in one of His teachings: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:11-12 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” (John 4:11-12 KJV)

It is amazing to note that this woman that the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to is totally in contrast to the well educated man, Nicodemus, whom He encountered earlier (John 3:1). He was a man of stature and viewed highly by his peers being in a position of power. He was looked up to, while this is a woman looked down by the community. In their culture, she is deemed an outcast due to her lifestyle of living. She is a lonely woman coming to fetch water in the heat of the day, which time seldom you see people at the well.

But watching the direction their interaction is going, she is a woman that expressed curiosity and wit. She showed a deeper grasp and discernment beyond the literal, about the water that the Lord Jesus was talking about. She revealed some sense of prying recognition of who she is talking to, that can give her the kind of water better than the water from the centuries-old well that her forefather Jacob dug. This is a well that satisfied the thirst of many generations before her, which sustained their livelihood. Yes, she is talking to Him who can fill her thirst with the living water. She is being prodded to be vigilant in guarding and maintaining the condition of her life. Especially, her heart (and ours too), which God reminds, as it is written: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:

F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:10 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” (John 4:10 KJV)

The Lord Jesus totally disregarded the woman's somewhat spiteful remark alluding to the ongoing rift between the Jews and the Samaritans. He lifted their interaction to a totally new level about the 'the living water that He could give her.' Knowing the woman's level of thirst that only God's gift of living water can satisfy, the Lord feeds it into her curiosity. He challenged her with the intriguing statement 'if only she knew the gift of God.' Yes, if only she knew that He, who asks her for a drink, actually has the living water that she needs in her present state of spiritual dehydration.

The water that the Lord is ready to give her, and to us too by believing in Him, is one that wells up as a spring from within to those who receive it. This water flows from the throne of God to those who receive the saving grace of Christ Jesus by believing in Him and be born again, as it is written, Apostle John the beloved testified: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2 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 John 4:9 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9 KJV)

Profiling a person based on how they look, speak and dress is the only explanation how this Samaritan woman knew the person asking her for a drink is a Jew. Qualifying based on their outward appearance has always been in flagrant use from the beginning. And, this continues to be the tools by many to date, to identify people, sadly, for prejudicial purposes. That's always been the nature of a sinful humanity who refuse to be reborn and transformed by the exceeding love of God through grace and truth by faith in Christ Jesus. Jews and Samaritans being at odds, they must have an identifying mark on each other so to ensure they keep away from each other.

But, this woman was not encountering a typical Jew. She is in for a very special rendezvous of grace and truth in the person of Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of God (John 1:17). She is blessed with a special visitation from heaven's BEST, to bring her the special gift of salvation. This woman being a half Jew from the ancestry of Joseph who inter-married with gentiles, hence she is a half gentile, like you and I, is the representation of the lost souls of the world. Her salvation by faith and those Samaritans who believe would be among the first beneficiaries of the Lord's rescue mission here on earth.

When the Lord asked the Samaritan woman for a drink to break the 'ice' between them - so to speak, He is breaking the barrier with everyone too with these reflection blogs, that many - if not all, who stumble upon this reflections may come, believe and be saved by His grace. Yes, we were once lost (before we receive the Lord's saving grace). But, as with the Samaritans, now we're found. True salvation has now come to our house, as with Zacchaeous the tax collector. “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”” (Luke 19:9-10 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 4:7-8 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)” (John 4:7-8 KJV)

This setting gives us a picture of:
A well, located at the outskirts of the city, away from the contamination of city traffic and human congestion. And this well is one of a historic value passed on by many generations over the centuries from the time it was dug by Jacob whose name God changed to Israel.

A Samaritan woman coming to fetch water, on the peak of noon! Usually, village people tend to converge at the well early in the day. They come, not only to gather water but to gather tidbits of news and current events in the community and perhaps, the world. This woman's choice of time coveys the message that she's avoiding social contact with her fellow villagers.

But, surprise! Surprise! There's one she could not avoid. And, guess who? A Jew! A thirsty one, Lord Jesus who sat by to rest, as His disciples went to the city to buy food to go.

Samaritans and Jews are in a rift. A chasm of divide lies between them. They hated each other and do their best to avoid having to do with each other. But, here we are in this scene where the Lord Jesus purposely set Himself to meet this woman in such a very meaningful location, at the well which Jacob, the patriarch of the Jews and Samaritans, dug centuries past.

And, when He asks for a drink, the Lord Jesus Christ said the best opening remark to break the ice of ethnic, social and gender divides between them. Those walls must be crushed. This request, as a metaphor, revealed God's thirst and longing to reestablish closeness with the souls of His masterpiece creation. This, He also profoundly declared on the cross, as it is written: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”” (John 19:28 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 John 4:4-6 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” (John 4:4-6 KJV)

These passages reveal that the Lord, by heavenly wisdom, unflinching in the midst of malice by the religious and political leaders in Judaea, continues to move around and to Galilee through Samaria. This is where the Lord Jesus meet the first Gentile recipient of the gospel of grace - the Samaritan woman. The Samaritans are partly Jewish from the heirs of Joseph who married the pagan inhabitants of the land. Hence, they are partly Gentiles and hated by the Jews, who avoid having contact with them. By design, the Lord made the point of traveling through the region.

How Jacob acquired this piece of land is in Genesis 33:17-20. After reconciling with Esau, his estranged brother, Jacob looked for a plot of land to settle his family. He found and bought it from the sons of Hamor. It was here that Jacob was renamed "Israel" by God, and became the patriarch of both the Jewish and partly, the Samaritan people (Genesis 32:28). Later, in Genesis 48:21–22, Israel (Jacob) would give this piece of land to his son, Joseph (Joshua 24:32).

It was at Jacob's well that at about meal time hour the Lord Jesus rested, wearied from the journey. This reveals the fact that Jesus was fully, completely God, and yet fully, completely human as well. He experienced the same struggles as we do (Hebrews 4:15). He battled spiritual issues, as we do (Matthew 4:3–4). And, He had to put up with the limitations of a human body.

Hence, we are reminded as children of God by grace through faith to: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11 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 John 4:1-3 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) he left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee.” (John 4:1-3 KJV)

The Lord Jesus, being conscious of the timetable of His mission, is so careful not to let outside forces to influence the fulfillment of it. As this passages reveal, now John the Baptist having accomplished his role to prepare the path of the Messiah, the focal purpose of the Lord's ministry has began to unfold. And, the religious machinery are also beginning to notice. More people who seek cleansing of their sins are coming to be baptized by the Lord's disciples. He has baptized more disciples than John the Baptist. And, this did not slip from the attention of the religious fanatics in Jerusalem.

Heaven's timing is what the Lord is committed to obey. He follows the will of the Father (John 6:38). So, as this is not the 'right time', He moves along to Galilee. Yes, He moves through cities and villages. So, in this time we have now of God's dispensation of grace, through the Lord's finished work on the cross, we are so blessed as He is now within us always in Spirit. Yet, during His time in the flesh, confined by limitation of the physical realm, we are assured as it is written: “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 9:35 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 John 3:34-36 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:34-36 KJV)

These passages drive in the absolute truth that those who put their faith in Christ Jesus will be saved, but those who reject Him will face the wrath of God. Yes, that's by believing in the only begotten Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent to speak the pure Words of God, undefiled by the rigmaroles and rituals of religion and precepts of men. God has given Him the Spirit without measure. As we totally depend in His grace, we are saved! It is written: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)

As gentiles and once sinners, we - you and I, were separated from God. But, good news we have! Scriptures declare: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13 NIV). We are now postured by faith to receive the provisions of grace by the finished work of Jesus on the cross, because of the Father's love. Apostle Paul stressed this truth for us with these Words of exhortation: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 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.

The Gospel of John 3:31-33 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” (John 3:31-33 KJV)

The Lord Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemus, indicates that He is the only One who has come from heaven (John 3:13). His message is His own first-hand knowledge from above. This is why He is the only authentic and valid source of spiritual truth. There is none other, but Him alone! And, only those who believe His message can be saved (John 3:18).

These passages reveal that those who refuse to listen and receive the common and earthly things that the Lord Jesus teaches have no hope of comprehending the spiritual things He came to speak to us (John 3:12). He came to speak to us of life eternal by grace through faith in Him (John 10:25-28).

Hence, these passages serve us our wake up call! And, let's be reminded that:“Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:10-12 ESV)

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

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

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

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

The Gospel of John 3:29-30 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:29-30 KJV)

Why people were flocking to Jesus (v. 26), John the Baptist explained that it is a natural reaction for the bridegroom to receive the bride. He likened himself to the best man of the bridegroom, appointed to arrange the wedding, to overview it, and preside at the feast. When the friend of the bridegroom finished his job, he had to get out of the way. His joy is the culmination of his role which is the arrival of the bridegroom. John was content of his mission as the “voice in the wilderness."

John the Baptist asserted that the Lord Jesus Christ had to take the center stage. Jesus had to increase and be lifted high. He had to decrease and withdraw to the background. Jesus is divine. He is not (vv. 31). The Lord's teaching is divine (vv. 32–34). And, His heavenly authority is divine (vv. 35, 36). Hence, John the Baptist willfully encouraged his disciples to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

We, too, are to look upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith, the way John the Baptist did. He alone is worthy of our worship. Apostle Paul affirms in his exhortation to the Philippians: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 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 John 3:27-28 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.” (John 3:27-28 KJV)

Responding to the Jews' incitement of jealousy, John frustrated them with a very inspiring response they did not expect. These people are really not up for the truth. They are hapless minions used by the devil to thwart God's plan of salvation for mankind. But, conscious of his mission, John the Baptist dropped the naked truth before them as the course of his assignment unfolds to its completion. All through the tenure of his mission, John the Baptist has always openly and repeatedly declared that he is the voice in the wilderness preparing the path of the coming Messiah. 'He was sent as a witness to testify concerning the Light' who is greater than him. And, the Light is Christ Jesus, who is already come!

Taking the attitude of John the Baptist as lesson, we too by faith in Christ Jesus are to stay in our lane rooted in grace on the rock of God's promises. We are reminded not to be swayed by every schemes presented before us. Apostle Paul reminds: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14). We have His Words and the Holy Spirit to guide and help us. We receive everything from heaven what we need to finish our course like John the Baptist. What God starts in us, He finishes! (Philippians 1:6). We have to be rooted in faith, and not held captive by religion.

Apostle Paul edifies us with these exhortations to the believers in Corinth: “Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.” (1 Corinthians 1:7-9 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 John 3:25-26 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." (John 3:25-26 KJV)

These passages reveal that the enemy of our soul, the devil, was and always at work from the time Eve gave in to its deceit. He works through the outfit of religion, along with every other forms of confusion, then and now. In this scene, using the religious Jews, he tried to drive a wedge between the Lord's and John the Baptist's disciples, by trying to sow conflict, so to establish the supremacy of their religion over the lives of many. They attempted to incite competition between the Lord and John the Baptist. They do not know that what they watched was the Father's plan unfolding. The religious Jews were minions of the prince of darkness, used to keep many from the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Their religious enterprises, their hold to power and their fame were threatened. Hence, they became subservient pawns of the enemy, the devil.

As we too watch in this day and age, many religions are deceiving many from the truth and drawing them to follow pagan based creed of customs and rituals. They even use the name of Jesus, but do not honor His Words. They promote doctrines made by men to enrich their institutions and pursuits to gain elaborate material possessions at the expense of the souls of many. The Lord Jesus warned of the religious Pharisees' yeast then, and us of the present day religions, as well..

The Lord Jesus gave this warning to us through His disciples: “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1 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.