International Christ's Fellowship

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

September 11, 2026 "They Did Not Understand What This Meant"

Luke 9:44-45
44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Meditation:
When Jesus talked about the Son of Man being delivered into the hands of men, in other words, being arrested, questioned, sentenced, tortured, condemned and sent to the cross, the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. They did not understand because they were blinded by their own expectations of who the Messiah was and how he would be, a political and military leader who would grant them political freedom from Rome. It also says that the meaning was hidden from them by God because the time had not come for the full revelation of what was about to happen. If the disciples really understood what Jesus was saying they might have done things that could jeopardize God's plan. The full revelation and understanding of God's plan would come after Jesus' death and resurrection when the disciples were ready to receive it and grasp the meaning of Jesus' death. God's timing is always perfect in revelation, knowledge and understanding. God might veil his truth and understanding for the perfect time and also when we are ready to receive the truth. This also means we don't need to force the truth down people's throats. The Good News has its timing for revelation and acceptance. We should be sensitive to ask what God's timing and plan is because he will teach us when the timing is right and when people might be ready to hear and accept the truth. Are you and I in tune with God's timing, or are we doing things at our own pace and will?

"Lord Jesus, grant me the wisdom to know your perfect timing."

Blessings for Today:
Let us be reminded today that God loves you and me unconditionally; no matter what you have done, wherever you are, God will always love you. (Number 6:24-26) 24. The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you 26. The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

09/10/2026

September 10, 2026 "You Unbelieving and Perverse Generation"

Luke 9:37-43
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Meditation:
A father comes to Jesus and asks for him to heal his son. His son was possessed by an impure spirit which led to him screaming, having convulsions and foaming at the mouth. The father had asked the disciples to drive it out but they could not. Jesus rebukes the disciples and the impure spirit in this story. Jesus rebuked the disciples 41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Why did Jesus have such a sharp rebuke for the disciples? Because they did not exercise the faith they had been given. Earlier they were sent out to do the work of the kingdom, empowered by the Holy Spirit and they healed, taught, and preached the kingdom of God with signs and wonders bringing glory to God. Faith is a gift. (Ephesians 2:8) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. As believers, once we have received the gift of faith we are called to use it, exercise it. When God asks us to serve him, in faith we put our trust in him and the power of God and we do what is asked, trusting in God and the power of God that the will of God will be done according to his desire. If we do not act on our faith, faith without works is dead and we do not please God with our fear, timidity and inaction. Is there something that God has been asking you to do for the sake of the kingdom, you have not followed through on?

"Lord Jesus may I exercise my faith trusting and obeying you."

Blessings for Today:
Let us be reminded today that God loves you and me unconditionally; no matter what you have done, wherever you are, God will always love you. (Number 6:24-26) 24. The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you 26. The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

09/09/2026

September 9, 2026 "Appearance Of His Face Changed"

Luke 9:28-35
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Meditation:
This is the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus was transfigured where the appearance of his face changed, his clothes became bright like lightning and Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor and spoke to Jesus. God the Father spoke through the cloud regarding Jesus: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Why were the 3 disciples, Peter, James and John allowed to witness the transfiguration? Did it help them grow in faith? Peter was still thinking in worldly terms, wanting to pitch a tent for the three; Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Seeing the glory of heaven; the Father, Son, prophets in a glorious light in the clouds would have been truly astounding. This glimpse of heaven probably stayed with the three disciples long after Jesus ascended to heaven. Perhaps it encouraged them in their difficult ministries for the sake of the kingdom as the Gospel was spread to the world. God will grant us moments of the glimpses of his glory; supernatural events, sightings, miraculous rescue, etc. etc. These events should help build up our faith but charismatic experiences should also not be the basis of our faith. Peter later says (2 Peter 1:16-21) 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Peter's's point is that as great as the experience of the transfiguration was for him, Scripture originated through the work of the Holy Spirit should be relied on as the most reliable source of truth for the believer. How seriously do we take God's prophetic word written in the Bible, instead of only our spiritual experiences, in faith?

"Lord Jesus, let Scripture be the foundation for my faith."

Blessings for Today:
Let us be reminded today that God loves you and me unconditionally; no matter what you have done, wherever you are, God will always love you. (Number 6:24-26) 24. The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you 26. The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

09/08/2026

September 8, 2026 "Before They See the Kingdom of God"

Luke 9:27
27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Meditation:
This somewhat enigmatic comment from Jesus is interpreted in a number of ways. It could be a reference to Jesus' death and resurrection and the onset of the kingdom of God reign. It could also be reference to the growth of the early church and the kingdom of God growth that the apostles started after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The most likely and common view is that of the Transfiguration in the subsequent verses in Luke 9:28-36 where Peter, James and John witness Jesus' transfiguration. It points to the sign, wonders and miracles that those that participate in the kingdom of God work witness. Empowered by the Spirit of God the work of the kingdom of God includes amazing works of God that the believer becomes a part of. Are you and I actively participating in the kingdom of God work?

"Lord Jesus, thank you for granting me a role in your kingdom of God work."

Blessings for Today:
Let us be reminded today that God loves you and me unconditionally; no matter what you have done, wherever you are, God will always love you. (Number 6:24-26) 24. The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you 26. The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

09/07/2026

September 7, 2026 "Whoever Wants To Be My Disciple"

Luke 9:23-26
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Meditation:
This section of Scripture is often called the 'cost of discipleship'. Jesus tells his disciples (followers) that they need to be ready to deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. That means disciples are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the advancement of the kingdom and follow Jesus even if it comes at a heavy cost. If a person is only interested in an earthly life and earthly pursuits and passions and only invests in things temporal, they will have gained the world but have lost heaven. But if a person is willing to 'lose' their life on earth and forgo and sacrifice things on earth and invest in the eternal kingdom then they will 'save' their life for something that lasts forever. Whoever does not accept Jesus and his words and is ashamed to follow Jesus, the Son of Man (Jesus) will be ashamed of them and deny them when he comes in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels, in the second coming. What are your priorities? What are you investing in? Are we committed to follow Jesus even if it means we have to make earthly sacrifices? Is the kingdom of God a present reality and priority in our lives?

"Lord Jesus, may I have my priorities straight regarding the kingdom fo God."

Blessings for Today:
Let us be reminded today that God loves you and me unconditionally; no matter what you have done, wherever you are, God will always love you. (Number 6:24-26) 24. The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you 26. The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.