We have all been given “looks”. Looks that span from intense affection all the way to intense rage.
One of the most moving looks is a look that says, “I know you have messed up, but I love you and forgive you.”
Luke 22:61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
What a gut wrenching look that must have been. Peter bravely declaring, “I’ll die with you!” Now cowarding away and denying his Master.
I wonder what He saw when their eyes locked on each other? I wonder if Peter had flashbacks of Christs’ teachings or of the miracles? Maybe he heard in his mind the echo of Christ’s words as He said, “I came to seek and save that which is lost.” Perhaps he remembered when Christ blessed 5 loaves of bread and two fish; bringing about the feeding of 5,000+ people. I wonder if he remembered the power of being in the mount of transfiguration or when Christ told Lazarus to, “Come forth!”
I don’t know what went through Peter’s mind, but what I do know is that what he saw caused him to remember and to weep bitterly.
I believe what He saw was unconditional love. I believe what he saw was the way Christ saw him at that moment. I believe he saw what Christ knew he could be if he’d repent and be saved. I believe he saw the look that said, “You are why I’m giving my life willingly.” I believe at that moment, Peter saw the past, present, future, and how they all culminated for this moment right here and now.
The Messiah, the savior if the world was going to die for all mankind. He would take the sins of the past, present, and future upon His shoulders and cover them with every ounce of His blood.
And just to show Peter that His love was indeed unconditional. Christ told the women, “tell my disciples AND PETER.” Christ knew what Peter was feeling and wanted him to know that He still loved him and would forgive him.
What one look can convey! That look has been presented to each of us. My hope is that we all turn out the way Peter did…changed.
The prayer meeting is the litmus test of the church -Jim Cymbala
A litmus test reveals the true condition of something.
Prayer exposes the spiritual reality beneath the surface.
Why prayer is the test:
– You can grow a crowd without prayer.
You cannot grow a church without it.
– You can have programs without prayer.
You cannot have power without it.
– You can have music without prayer.
You cannot have anointing without it.
– You can have sermons without prayer.
You cannot have revival without it.
What the prayer meeting reveals
1. It reveals hunger
People come to what they value.
If the church values God’s presence, they pray.
If the church values convenience, they skip.
2. It reveals unity
Prayer meetings expose whether the church is a family or an audience.
3. It reveals dependence
A prayerless church is a church that believes it can manage without God.
4. It reveals spiritual temperature
You can measure the heat of a church by the heat of its prayer room.
The one thing Jesus explicitly commanded: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
One preacher stated, “The prayer closet is the Cinderella of the church.” The good thing about priorities is they can be rearranged again. May we become convicted and challenged to re-prioritize prayer again, understanding its necessity for the vitality of our lives.
In Scripture, “God knows the heart” is never a free pass
When the Bible says God knows the heart, it’s usually in contexts like:
– Judgment (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10)
– Exposure of hidden motives (Hebrews 4:13)
– Condemnation of hypocrisy (Luke 16:15)
– A call to repentance (Psalm 139:23–24)
The biblical message is:
“God knows your heart—and that’s exactly why you should fear Him, repent, and obey.”
It is never:
“God knows your heart—so you’re fine doing whatever you want.”
“God and I have an understanding” is spiritual self-deception
That phrase is basically the modern version of Israel saying:
> “We will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.” (Jeremiah 18:12)
People who say “God and I have an understanding” are really saying:
– “I know what God says, but I’m choosing my own path.”
– “I want the comfort of religion without the cost of obedience.”
– “I want God’s blessing without God’s boundaries.”
But Scripture is unambiguous:
God has never made a private deal with anyone that contradicts His revealed will.
Not once.
Every covenant God ever made was:
– Initiated by Him
– Defined by Him
– Bound by His character
– Consistent with His Word
God does not negotiate sin.
He does not tailor holiness to personal preference.
He does not rewrite righteousness to fit someone’s lifestyle.
God knows the heart—and the heart is the problem.
Jeremiah 17:9–10
Matthew 15:19
Romans 3:10–18
The heart is not a justification; it’s the indictment.
If anything, “God knows my heart” should make a person tremble, not relax.
What people mean is: “I want God on my terms.”
And that’s the oldest sin in the book.
Adam and Eve wanted:
– God’s presence
– God’s blessing
– God’s garden
…but their own authority.
Modern Christians often want:
– God’s forgiveness
– God’s protection
– God’s comfort
…but their own lifestyle.
It’s the same rebellion with a churchy vocabulary.
When people use these phrases, they’re not just avoiding obedience—they’re avoiding transformation. They’re insulating themselves from conviction. They’re creating a false peace.
And false peace is more dangerous than open rebellion because it feels spiritual while being spiritually deadly.
Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), he isn’t talking about a single attitude. He’s describing the entire inner posture of Christ; the way He thought, chose, valued, and responded. Scripture gives us a surprisingly clear picture of what that “mind” looks like.
1. A Mind of Humility (Philippians 2:6–8)
Christ “made Himself of no reputation.”
He willingly laid aside His rights, His status, His glory.
What this means for us:
– We stop fighting for recognition.
– We choose servanthood over status.
– We embrace God’s will over personal comfort.
2. A Mind of Obedience (Philippians 2:8)
Jesus was “obedient unto death.”
Obedience wasn’t an action — it was His mindset.
What this means for us:
– Obedience becomes our default posture, not an occasional act.
– We obey even when it costs us.
– We trust the Father’s wisdom above our own.
3. A Mind of Compassion (Matthew 9:36)
“When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion.”
What this means for us:
– We see people through God’s eyes.
– We respond to need instead of retreating from it.
– Compassion becomes a reflex, not a reaction.
4. A Mind Set on the Father’s Will (John 4:34; John 6:38)
“My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me.”
“I came… not to do My own will.”
What this means for us:
– God’s will becomes our sustenance.
– We stop living by impulse and start living by assignment.
– We measure success by faithfulness, not outcomes.
5. A Mind of Meekness and Gentleness (Matthew 11:29)
“Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
What this means for us:
– Strength under control.
– Responding gently even when provoked.
– Being approachable, teachable, and peaceable.
6. A Mind Anchored in Truth (John 17:17; Matthew 4:4)
Jesus lived by the Word, quoted the Word, trusted the Word.
What this means for us:
– Scripture becomes our filter for decisions.
– We reject lies, fear, and worldly thinking.
– We cultivate a mind renewed by truth (Romans 12:2).
Breakthrough begins when desperation becomes revelation; when you finally see what you cannot fix, cannot move, cannot change without God.
– You’ve reached the limit of your own strength – Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart fail….
– Something is resisting you that you cannot move – Psalm 18:17 “…My strong enemy…To strong for me…”
– You need divine intervention – Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up mine eyes…”
– You’re ready for change, even if it costs you – I will not let thee go, expect thou bless me.”
– Waiting has turned into longing – Psalm 42:1-2 “…O God, My soul thirsteth for God…”
– You believe there is more than what you’re experiencing – Habakkuk 3:2 “…O Lord, revive thy work…”
– You expect God to do something sudden, decisive, undeniable – Isaiah 64:1 “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down…”
In this passage, God reveals Himself by a name He has never used before: BAAL‑PERAZIM — “THE LORD OF THE BREAKTHROUGH.” We serve a God who can and will break in upon the scene and drive back the enemy, He will breakthrough the walls that block us from proceeding forward in Him. He will cause the mountain not just to tremble but to fall. He is the God of the breakthrough!
• Breakthrough doesn’t come to the passive.
• Breakthrough comes to the engaged.
• God does not bless disengagement; He empowers those who step onto the field.
Breakthrough comes to the believer who says:
• “I’m tired, but I’m still standing.”
• “I’m wounded, but I’m still fighting.”
• “I’m surrounded, but I’m not backing down.”
Desperation is what drives you to prayer, and prayer is what drives breakthrough into your situation.
Breakthrough doesn’t begin with action; it begins with seeking.
Prayer is where:
– Strategy is revealed – This was not the first time, nor would it be the last time that David inquired of the Lord. Every time David sought God’s direction, direction was given.
– Strength is renewed – David at Ziklag inquired of the Lord, encouraging Himself in His God. Our Savior often went into an isolated place to pray, why? To regain strength! Are you weary from the battle? Get into a place of prayer and pray consistently till you hear from heaven.
– The battle shifts – Prayer is a vital, active weapon in spiritual warfare that shifts battles from human limitation to divine power. It turns the struggle from a defensive position to an offensive one.
– Heaven enters the equation – As God hears your cry, He responds. The other part of the verse says, “Neither is His arm shortened that He cannot reach to save.”
Breakthrough is born in prayer.
Cry unto the God of the Breakthrough and watch Him do miraculous things!
What causes a man or a woman to remain steadfast, faithful, and devoted?At its very core is a Person, not a principle. But that Person works in several deep, interlocking ways that explain why some men and women endure when others drift.
1. A continual return to the Cross
Steadfast believers don’t “move on” from the gospel. They revisit it. They rehearse it.
They remember.
– They remember what they were without Him; lost, dead, blind, enslaved. – They remember what they are with Him; redeemed, adopted, cleansed, empowered.
This rhythm of remembrance keeps the heart soft, grateful, and anchored. It’s why Paul repeatedly says, “I put you in remembrance…” and why Jesus gave the church communion: “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
The Cross is not just the starting line; it is the sustaining power.
2. A deep awareness of His faithfulness
People remain faithful because they are overwhelmed by His faithfulness.
– He keeps His promises.
– He finishes what He starts.
– He holds them when they cannot hold themselves.
– He proves Himself again and again in the quiet places of life.Faithfulness grows in the soil of being faithfully loved.
3. A calling that is not self‑Generated
A true call of God is not a hobby, a preference, or a phase. It is a divine assignment that grips the soul.
Those who endure do so because:
– They didn’t call themselves.
– They didn’t choose the mission; the mission chose them.
– They know they will answer to God for it.
When the call is from God, quitting feels impossible, not because of pride, but because of conviction.
4. A love for Christ that outweighs the cost
Every long‑term servant of God eventually discovers that ministry often gives little immediate return:
– Time poured out
– Energy drained
– Emotions stretched
– Finances sacrificed
– Recognition absent
And yet they stay. Why? Because love makes sacrifice feel like worship, not waste. Jesus becomes the treasure that makes every other cost feel small.
5. A vision of eternity that redefines “reward”
Steadfast believers are not living for applause here.
They are living for:
– “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
– Crowns that do not fade.
– Souls that will stand in glory because they were faithful.
– A kingdom that cannot be shaken.Eternal vision produces earthly endurance.
6. The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit
No one remains steadfast by grit alone. The Spirit strengthens what human resolve cannot sustain.
He:
– Renews the inner man
– Rekindles passion
– Convicts, comforts, and corrects
– Produces fruit that human effort cannot manufacture
Steadfastness is not a personality trait—it is a work of the Spirit.
7. A gratitude that never grows old
Gratitude is fuel. Gratitude is fire. Gratitude is glue.A grateful believer is a steadfast believer.
For many years I heard the statement, “Suicide will send someone to hell.” Yet every time I searched Scripture, I couldn’t find a verse that said this verbatim. What I did find—especially while studying the book of Job in 2024—was something far more revealing and spiritually sobering.
1. Scripture affirms the sacredness of lifeThe Bible grounds human value in the image of God. Passages like Genesis 2, Psalm 139:13–17, and Jeremiah 1:5 remind us that life is not random, accidental, or disposable. It is God‑breathed, God‑crafted, and God‑purposed.Because of this, taking life—whether another’s or one’s own—is an assault on God’s image and authority.
2. Scripture exposes Satan’s agendaJesus describes Satan’s mission clearly: Kill. Steal. Destroy. (John 10:10)Peter adds that he prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour—body, mind, and spirit.Satan cannot create life. He cannot redeem life. He cannot restore life. So he seeks to end life or convince people to end their own.Suicidal thoughts are never spiritually neutral. They are always a battlefield.
3. God alone determines the boundaries of lifeIn Job, Satan is explicitly forbidden to take Job’s life. God alone holds the keys of life and death. He determines beginnings and endings, purposes and seasons.Suicide is an attempt to seize a divine prerogative.
4. Job’s wife: the closest biblical picture of suicide encouragementThis moment is often overlooked.Job’s wife says: “Curse God and die.”This is not merely despair—it is a theological act:- Reject God – Abandon faith – End your life Satan cannot kill Job, but he can pressure Job to kill himself. Job’s wife becomes the mouthpiece for that temptation.This is the spiritual anatomy of suicide: Despair + accusation + hopelessness + self‑destruction.
5. Suicide in Scripture is consistently tied to rebellion or despairEvery suicide in the Bible is connected to spiritual darkness:- Saul – Ahithophel – Zimri – Judas Not one example is of a faithful believer acting in trust or hope.
6. So does suicide automatically send someone to hell?Here is the careful, biblical answer:Scripture does NOT say:“Suicide = automatic damnation.”Scripture DOES show:- Suicide flows from spiritual darkness, deception, or rebellion. – Suicide aligns with Satan’s agenda, not God’s. – Suicide is never portrayed as an act of faith. – Suicide is spiritually dangerous because it is the final act of hopelessness—unless God intervenes.We cannot declare the eternal fate of any individual. But we can declare the eternal danger of the act.
7. The pastoral truthGod’s mercy is greater than our darkest moment. But suicide is never the act of a heart resting in God.So we preach:- Hope – Courage – Repentance – Faith – God’s timing, not our own
8. A final wordSuicide is not just a mental battle. It is a spiritual one. And Scripture calls us to choose life, choose hope, and cling to the God who restores and redeems.
Individual unity with God creates unity in the church body. When we praise the God in unity, it creates an atmosphere that He inhabits. The result is radical manifestations of His power in and through His people.
Hebrews 2:4 KJV — God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Mark 16:20 KJV — And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
There are weeks in life when joy and sorrow sit side by side—when sweet memories mingle with tears, and the reality of death presses close. In moments like these, we need more than sentiment. We need truth. We need the steady voice of Scripture reminding us that what we see is not all there is.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” In other words, if our hope ends at the grave, then it isn’t hope at all.
The world has long struggled to see beyond death. Ancient philosophers often spoke of death as an eternal sleep, a final extinguishing of the light.
Aeschylus wrote, “Of a man once dead there is no resurrection.” Theocritus declared, “Hopes are among the living; the dead are without hope.” Catullus lamented, “When once our brief light goes down, we must sleep an endless night.”
This was the best the world could offer—poetic despair.
But Christians have always spoken differently. We call death “sleep,” not because we deny its pain, but because we know it is temporary. Early believers even named their burial places koimeteria—cemeteries—meaning “sleeping places.” They understood that those who die in Christ are not gone; they are resting.
Scripture never uses the word “sleep” for the unbeliever, because there is no rest apart from Christ. But for the believer, death is not a wall—it is a doorway. Paul tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. When a believer’s eyes close in this world, they open to behold the glory of God. The nail‑scarred hand of the Savior wipes away the final tear, replacing it with joy beyond measure.
Charles Spurgeon captured this beautifully: “Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace… Death to the saint is the end of terrors, the commencement of glory.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul gives us three great anchors of hope.
We Are Not Ignorant About Death
Paul begins by saying, “I would not have you to be ignorant… concerning them which are asleep.” Believers “sleep”—not in annihilation, but in rest and anticipation. Adam Clarke noted that Paul uses this word “to intimate the certainty of their resurrection, as he who sleeps will surely awake.”
We grieve, but not as those who have no hope. A.W. Tozer said, “The Christian is a man of hope, not because he looks at life, but because he looks at Christ.”
Tears are not a sign of weak faith; they are a sign of deep love. Grief is the price of love. But Christian grief is temporary, because Christian separation is temporary.
Our Confidence Is in the Savior
Paul roots our hope in the historical resurrection of Jesus: “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again…”
This is not wishful thinking. This is the cornerstone of our faith.
Spurgeon wrote, “If Jesus rose, then this gospel is what it professes to be; if He rose not, then it is all deceit and delusion.”
Because Christ rose, those who belong to Him will rise. Because He lives, death no longer has the last word.
Paul expands this in 1 Corinthians 15:
Christ is the firstfruits of resurrection.
In Adam all die, but in Christ all shall be made alive.
Death will be swallowed up in victory.
The grave will lose its sting.
This is not poetry—it is promise.
We Are Comforted by the Second Coming
Paul then gives a Spirit‑revealed sequence designed to comfort the church:
The Lord Himself will descend.
The dead in Christ will rise first.
Those who are alive will be caught up together with them.
And we will forever be with the Lord.
David Guzik notes that this truth carries profound implications:
It implies continuation—we are already with the Lord.
It implies hope—in death, we remain with the Lord.
It implies confidence—after death, we are still with the Lord.
It implies advancement—one day we will always be with the Lord.
Spurgeon added, “We shall be so with Him as to have no sin to becloud our view of Him.”
And Tozer wrote, “The true Christian longs for the presence of Christ more than for heaven itself.”
This is our future. This is our hope. This is why the cemetery is temporary.
Comfort One Another
Paul ends with a command: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Not with clichés. Not with empty sentiment. With Scripture. With resurrection hope. With the promise that Christ is coming again.
We walk through the valley together. And the God of all comfort walks with us.
THE LAMPLIGHTERS PROJECT 