Matthew 24:29-31

I take communion daily in my little studio in the loft. It strengthens me and gives me peace to remember all that my Lord and God has done for me! Until we meet again Jesus, until we meet again.

Do this in remembrance of Me until I return! 

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again! 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

This verse moves chronologically to the close of the tribulation, a period that will be marked by monumental cosmic disturbances. The sign of the Son of Man probably refers to Christ Himself appearing in heaven. The tribes of the earth probably refers to Israel. The context here is the national repentance of Israel predicted in Zechariah. The Son of Man coming on the clouds will be a fulfillment of Daniel. Gather refers to the gathering of the elect (God’s people, both Jews and Gentiles) that will gloriously begin Christ’s reign. NKJ Bible.

Trumpets typically accompany religious or military events. The sound of the trumpet is also a motif signaling the day of God’s judgment. Faithlife Bible. 

Matthew 24:29-31

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Isaiah 13:10 | For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.

Isaiah 24:23 | Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.

Ezekiel 32:7 | When I put out your light, I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

Daniel 7:13 | “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.

The Ascension of Jesus

Because He lives so do we!!!! 

Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, suffered an excruciating death for our sins and Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead. He is the firstborn of all of us who choose to believe in him.

He will come again in glory…praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

The final sign that Jesus was the Son of God is that He was received up into heaven to be seated at the right hand (the position of authority and power) of God. The obedience of Christ’s disciples who went out and preached everywhere challenges us to engage in that same endeavor. We can be confident that as the Lord was working with them, He will also work with us. NKJ Bible.

Jesus’ ascension to heaven foreshadows His return. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus promised that He would not leave nor forsake us, but would be with us always, even to the end of the age. He fulfilled this promise in the form of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers. These statements portray the gradual, majestic departure of Jesus from the earth. The Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom will occur the same way Jesus ascended: physically, visibly, and in the clouds. NKJ Bible.

The angels attest to Jesus’ future bodily return. Since Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, the angels may be alluding to the prophet Zechariah’s vision of the day of Yahweh, when Yahweh will come to stand upon the Mount of Olives, defeat His people’s enemies, and establish His rule over the earth. Faithlife Bible.

The Ascension of Jesus into God’s Kingdom

Acts 1:9-11

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Psalm 68:18 | You have ascended on high,You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there.

Psalm 110:1 | The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Daniel 7:13 | “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man,Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

Matthew 28:3 | His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 

2 Thessalonians 1:10 | when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Mark 16:19-20

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Luke 24:51 | Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:2 | until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

Acts 1:3 | to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Acts 5:12 | And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

Hebrews 2:4 | God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Luke 24:50-53

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Matthew 28:9 | And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

John 16:12-15

That still, small voice inside of you will guide and protect you all the days of your life.

How utterly self destructive  the world is without the power and presence of Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit is the source of truth. He would not compel or carry the disciples into truth. He would lead; their job was to follow. All truth refers to the truth necessary to be mature saints and thoroughly equipped servants. This includes truths about the church, as well as future events. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ by declaring Him or making Him known. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to throw light on Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. Christ is to be on center stage; that is the desire of both the Father and the Spirit. The apostles received truth from the Holy Spirit, truth about things to come, and truth about Christ. Then under the guidance of the Holy Spirit they wrote those truths in documents known today as the New Testament. To say that the Holy Spirit will take what belongs to Christ does not mean He will concentrate on Christ to the exclusion of the Father. There is no division within the Godhead. What the Father has, the Son has. What the Son has, the Spirit will declare. However, the focus will be on Christ because He is the “image of the invisible God”. His steps are the only ones we can follow because He is the only one we have “seen.” NKJ Bible.

Jesus has told them information that would be difficult to accept—such as His coming suffering and death and the fact that He won’t be physically present with them after His ascension. He also likely means that they are not yet ready to accept how difficult following Him will be. He has spoken about these challenges in general, but the specifics may be too difficult to hear. He had shared everything regarding salvation—not everything He knew about God the Father, His plans, and the future. All of creation came to be through God’s Son, so everything in it belongs to Him. Jesus is also likely suggesting that God’s heavenly abode belongs to Him since He and the Father are one. God’s work in the world will become the work of believers. They will be empowered to show people why they should believe. Faithlife Bible.

John 16:12-15

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Matthew 11:27 | All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Mark 4:33 | And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

John 3:35 | The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

John 14:17 | the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Nahum 3:1-4

Can we, as a nation, stand before a holy God? We allowed a man to be a god. We allowed money and power to become our idols. Our laws allow us to kill people, in the womb, and in poverty. We are in deep spiritual trouble!

Only by the grace given in Christ Jesus do we stand a chance. He will separate the goats from the sheep!

The prophet uses this term as a divine threat. He is introducing a woe pronouncement. The Assyrians were known for their numerous atrocities. They took pride in their cruelty and shamelessly boasted of it. The Assyrian Annals contain records of their brutality. The Assyrians were notorious for their use of treachery and deceit. They would customarily lie and make false promises to cities under siege in an attempt to get them to surrender. Old Testament writers often use harlotry to figuratively refer to idolatry. God viewed idolatrous forms of divination as detestable. Faithlife Bible.

Nineveh was known throughout the Middle East as a city that excelled in violence and bloodshed. Horses and chariots were instruments of war. Verse 3 describes the horrors of the nation’s war machine, which resulted in countless corpses. Harlotries refers to paganism. Any worship of gods other than the God of Scripture is an act of spiritual prostitution. Nineveh was so adept at pagan practices that the city earned the descriptive title, the mistress of sorceries. Who could survive the Lord’s opposition? The Lord would publicly humiliate Nineveh. NKJ Bible.

Nahum 3:1-4

3 Woe to the bloody city!

It is all full of lies and robbery.

Its victim never departs.

2 The noise of a whip

And the noise of rattling wheels,

Of galloping horses,

Of clattering chariots!

3 Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear.

There is a multitude of slain,

A great number of bodies,

Countless corpses—

They stumble over the corpses—

4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot,

The mistress of sorceries,

Who sells nations through her harlotries,

And families through her sorceries.

5 “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts;

“I will lift your skirts over your face,

I will show the nations your nakedness,

And the kingdoms your shame.

Isaiah 47:9 | But these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood.They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments.

Isaiah 47:10 | “For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart,‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’

Isaiah 47:11 | Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.

Isaiah 47:12 | “Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth—Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. 

Ezekiel 22:2 | “Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations!

Luke 16:18

Society has indoctrinated us to believe that divorce is our right. The Bible teaches differently. There are exceptions. A marriage where sexual immorality  or abuse exist is not a marriage ordained by God. And Paul tells us that if an unbelieving spouse ask for a divorce we are not under obligation to stay in the marriage. It also says that no sin, other than blasphemy, is greater than another. For we all fall short. But the truth, no matter the circumstance, is that it brings violence into the family, both our personal family and the Body of Christ.

Scriptures says that all sins can be forgiven except for calling Christ within us evil. But the hard truth is that it will forever change us and not for our good. I am thankful for the overwhelming love of God that can transcend the sin in our life and remake us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I am, and will always be, humbled beyond measure that Jesus came to save a sinner like me!

Jesus’ teaching here seems to go beyond the instructions about divorce given by Moses. The differences are more apparent in Matthew’s Gospel, which records Jesus’ teaching on divorce in greater detail. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus illustrated the moral demands of God’s law by referring to the inviolability of marriage. NKJ Bible.

Luke 16:18

18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Matthew 5:32 | But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Matthew 19:9 | And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

Mark 10:11 | So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

1 Corinthians 7:10 | Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:11 | But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Matthew 2:19-23

We need to finely tune that small still voice that Jesus gives to us in Holy Spirit. 

He is your lifeline. 

When Herod died, his kingdom was parceled out to his three sons: Archelaus, who ruled over Judea where Bethlehem was; Antipas, who became tetrarch of Galilee, Perea, Samaria, and Idumea; and Philip, who was tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis. Like his father, Archelaus was violent and cruel. The Romans tolerated his savagery for ten years and finally deposed him in a.d. 6. after a Jewish delegation took their protest to Rome. Joseph, aware of Herod Archelaus’s reputation and guided by God in a dream, turned north to Galilee. Nazareth was the  location of the Roman garrison in northern Galilee. Those who lived there were suspected of compromise with the enemy. NKJ Bible.

There is no warning given against Antipas, Herod the Great’s son, who ruled in Galilee;  this region is portrayed as a safe place for Jesus throughout Matthew’s Gospel. Jewish people at the time did not expect the Messiah to come from Nazareth. Faithlife Bible.

Matthew 2:19-23

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Judges 13:5 | For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Matthew 2:12 | Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Matthew 2:13 | Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

Matthew 2:16 | Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Prayers for guidance

We can seek the guidance of Holy Spirit. 

It is up to us to listen and follow it!

Both David and Samuel had many successes and failures in their faith walk. Both are noted in Scripture for their great faith. 

Faith alone pleases God.

Matthew 7:7–11 ⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Prayers of the Bible for Guidance:

2 Samuel 2:1

2 It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the Lord said to him, “Go up.”

David said, “Where shall I go up?”

And He said, “To Hebron.”

David asks Yahweh whether he should begin his tenure as king. Faithlife Bible.

Before taking an important step, it was David’s custom to seek the will of the Lord. The Lord directed David to Hebron. Its central location—about 20 miles south of Jerusalem—and defensible position made it a suitable capital for David. NKJ Bible.

Judges 13:8-15

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!”

11 So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?”

And He said, “I am.”

12 Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?”

13 So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.

Manoah, believing his wife, seeks more direction from God. Faithlife Bible.

Samson, the last of the judges, lived at the beginning of the eleventh century b.c. He was unusual among the judges in many ways. He did not lead an army, but carried on his campaign against the Philistines single-handed. He is mentioned in Hebrews. 11:32 in the list of judges who accomplished great things through faith. The Book of Judges, in contrast, paints a darker picture of a man who violates a number of the Ten Commandments as well as his Nazirite vow. Samson’s story brings the accounts of the judges to an end. His checkered history of heroism and moral failure resembles Israel’s troubles during the time of the judges. Although we can find instances of obedience and humility in his life, for the most part his life was a string of careless adventures, with no true concern for following the Lord. NKJ Bible.

Mark 3L22-16

United in the protection, power and guidance of Holy Spirit we thrive. There is no forgiveness for those who call Holy Spirit evil and break the heart of the Father. Holy Spirit is the wick that allows the love of God  to light up the world in Jesus.

We cannot, must not, put God in a box. The trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the strong man. Everything is possible with God. God’s covering over us is love.

The scribes, or teachers of the Jewish law, were more harsh and direct in their assessment of Jesus. They accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebub (literally) “Lord of the Flies,”, another name for Satan. This false charge demonstrates a hardness of heart and is akin to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ reply in parables was actually a threefold message that contrasted unity and disunity. Nothing—including Satan’s kingdom—can stand if it is divided. NKJ Bible.

Jesus confronts the religious leaders with the possibility that, by opposing Him, they might be aligning themselves with evil powers. The defining mark of a disciple of God’s kingdom is allegiance to Jesus and His teaching. Likewise, Jesus cannot be possessed by Beelzebul, as that would mean that the ruler of demons has risen up against himself by vanquishing demons. Faithlife Bible.

Mark 3:22-16

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Matthew 9:34 | But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Matthew 12:29 | Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

John 7:20 | The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

John 8:48 | Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

John 8:52 | Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’

Ezekiel 16:60-63

I always remember the mercy and grace that You extended to me. I know that same mercy, that same grace, is Your gift in Jesus to ALL who come to You in Him. I am humbled by Your love. Strengthen me through the joy I have in Your salvation.

Help me Father to remember that You have shown me that silence can be the tool of the wise in these troubling times.

This future hope is an important part of prophetic oracles of salvation. Faithlife Bible.

Despite Jerusalem’s disobedience to the Mosaic covenant and the resulting punishment, the covenant with Abraham—God’s covenant—would still be honored. Fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham did not depend on the people’s faithfulness; God had made the promise and He would keep it. The everlasting covenant had been made with Abraham before the Hebrew nation even existed. This covenant would be remembered and reestablished with the exiled Judeans. At that time, God’s people would be ashamed by the contrast between their faithlessness and God’s faithfulness and the fact that they were being exalted over those who were less sinful—Sodom and Samaria. The people of these other sinful nations would also inherit land, but only by God’s grace, because no such covenant was made with them. Further, God would provide atonement through the New Covenant, which pointed ultimately to the Cross of Christ. NKJ Bible.

Ezekiel 16:60-63

60 “Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. 62 And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

Leviticus 26:42 | then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.

Leviticus 26:43 | The land also shall be left empty by them, and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; they will accept their guilt, because they despised My judgments and because their soul abhorred My statutes.

Jeremiah 32:40 | And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

Jeremiah 50:5 | They shall ask the way to Zion, With their faces toward it, saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD In a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.’

Ezekiel 36:31 | Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

In Christ all things are made new to the praise and glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Despite his hardships and opposition, Paul remains encouraged in his proclamation of the message of reconciliation. He did not lose heart because God had already won victory through the resurrection of Jesus. Paul continues to contrast himself with itinerant teachers who preached the Word only for financial gain. Paul acknowledges that some did not accept the gospel message—not because he obscured or hid anything from them, but because they were blinded by the work of evil forces and false teachers. Satan further blinds those who refuse to obey the gospel. Jesus is described as the image of God here. Elsewhere, Paul teaches that believers are to conform to the image of Christ just as Christ bears the image of God. Paul and his companions focused their message on Christ’s divine nature as Lord. Paul’s remark suggests that some “false apostles” were presenting themselves as important rather than as servants. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers a new creation. Faithlife Bible.

Paul now draws a conclusion from what he said about his ministry. This ministry is the New Testament ministry, a ministry of the Spirit, of life, and of righteousness. It is a glorious ministry of liberty. Paul did not achieve this ministry by his own human ability but by God’s mercy. Lose heart means “to become weary,” “to become tired,” or “to despair.” No matter how difficult the task or how great the opposition, Paul did not retreat in silence but spoke boldly because he was motivated by the grace of God. Paul rejected craftiness—that is, being unscrupulous or handling the word of God deceitfully. Apparently, Paul had been accused of being crafty and of being deceitful in the way he preached. Paul defended his ministry because it was based on the truthfulness of the Word of God.

Unbelievers have a barrier to overcome: the god of this age has blinded their minds. Because of Satan’s deception, sometimes what the world thinks is obviously true is painfully wrong. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and He perfectly reveals God the Father to us. Although human beings have been created in the image of God, through sin they have fallen from a perfect relationship with God. Jesus Christ is restoring believers to what they were originally created to be. Paul’s message is that Jesus is divine. Paul describes himself and those who minister with him as slaves to people. They served the Corinthians for Jesus’ sake. As God commanded the light to shine in the darkness at creation, so he “turns on” the light in peoples’ hearts so they can see who Jesus Christ is. People who do not believe are blinded by Satan. But believers see the light. NKJ Bible.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:3 | Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Isaiah 9:2 | The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,Upon them a light has shined.

Malachi 4:2 | But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Luke 1:78 | Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

2 Peter 1:19 | And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;