Joshua Gbaryea Ministries

26/05/2026

06/03/2026

You will discover the faith journeys of figures such as Abraham, Moses, David, Ruth, Esther, and many others, examining how they navigated the complexities of their times, often in the face of immense adversity, to become instruments of God's grace and power. Their stories serve as compelling case studies in what it means to live a life not merely for oneself, but in conscious and active alignment with the overarching Kingdom of God. Get yourself a copy now!

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27/01/2026

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." — Isaiah 11:2

The "Seven Spirits of God." This doesn't mean there are seven different Holy Spirits; rather, it represents the perfection, completeness, and manifold nature of God’s power working in and through us. Read More..

Gospel-insight: Where timeless truth meets real life. This is a space dedicated to finding practical clarity and spiritual growth through the Gospel.

08/01/2026

What does it mean to Pray for your enemies?

Several places in the Bible command us to pray for our enemies (Luke 6:27, 35; Romans 12:20). Most familiar to us is the passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:43–45, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” It is clear that Jesus expects us to pray for our enemies, but how do we do that?

Our first response to that question is probably not the right one. When someone wrongs us, we’d like to pray that disaster falls on them! We may be tempted to pray the imprecatory psalms and hope to sit back and watch God exact vengeance on the evildoers, much like Jonah did outside of Nineveh. But that is not what Jesus meant by praying for our enemies. He had something better in mind that will benefit us as well as our enemies.

When someone sets out to cause us harm, our natural reaction is to protect ourselves and fight back. They gossiped about us; we’ll gossip about them. They lied about us; we’ll lie about them. They smeared our reputation; we’ll smear theirs, too. However, Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He demonstrated that standard by never retaliating when someone wronged Him. And they wronged Him a lot. His own people rejected His message (John 1:11). The religious leaders mocked and tried to trap Him (John 8:6). His own family was ashamed of Him and tried to make Him stop preaching (Mark 3:21). His friends deserted Him in His worst moment (Mark 14:50), and the city who had cried “Hosanna!” when He arrived in town shouted “Crucify Him!” a few days later (Mark 15:13). So, Jesus had enemies, and, when He said to pray for our enemies, He knew what He was talking about.

Jesus gave us a perfect example of praying for our enemies when He was being nailed to a cross. In the middle of His own agony, He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He talked to His Father about the people who were harming Him. He did not ask for their destruction; He did not pray for revenge. He prayed they would be forgiven. Jesus had compassion on the deceived people who believed they were doing the right thing by killing the Son of God. They had no idea what was actually taking place. They had no idea how wrong they were. When Jesus said, “They don’t know what they are doing,” He hinted at an important factor to keep in mind when we pray for our enemies.

The enemies we pray for hurt us from their own world of hurt. Their thinking may be influenced by the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). Their attitudes may have been shaped by past wounds (Judges 15:7). Their actions may have been manipulated by peer influences (2 Kings 12:13–14). None of this excuses their behavior or minimizes the damage they cause, but it helps to explain the why of the matter. People do what they do for their own reasons. They may not be valid reasons, but they seem so to the ones who hold them. So how do we pray for those who have hurt us and never tried to make it right?

1. We can pray that God will “open the eyes of their hearts that they will be enlightened” about truth (Ephesians 1:18). When enemies set themselves against us, they lack understanding. They are reacting from the flesh instead of responding from the Spirit. We can pray that God will open their hearts with understanding so that they will learn from their mistakes and grow wiser.

2. As we pray for our enemies, we can pray for their repentance. Second Timothy 2:25 says that “opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” It is God who softens hearts enough for repentance. When we pray for our enemies to repent, we know we are praying in accordance with God’s will because He also desires their repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

3. When we pray for our enemies, we can ask that our hearts will remain soft and useful if the Lord wants to use us to accomplish His plan in the lives of our enemies. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). When we return anger for anger, wrong for wrong, we put ourselves on the same level as our enemy. But when we respond with kindness, gentleness, and mercy, the situation is often diffused within moments. Nothing is more convicting than a gentle response to a hateful, rude action. It’s what turning the other cheek is all about (see Matthew 5:39). Satan desires discord, so he tries to stir up our fury and coaches us to respond in kind. We should pray that God keeps our hearts soft toward the offenders so that His goodness will be revealed to them through us.

4. As we pray for our enemies, we can pray that God will work in their lives because of this offense to bring about His purposes. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It is always right to ask that God’s will be done in any situation. We should pray until we want what He wants. If He wants to bless our enemy, we want that, too. If He wants us to serve our enemy in some way, then that’s what we want. Prayer is the aligning of our wills with God’s; when we pray for our enemies, we need to wrestle through our emotions until we truly want God’s best in their lives.

Praying for our enemies is not a natural response to their mistreatment. But we remember that we were once enemies of God ourselves, and we are now His children. We can now intercede for others who are still far off (Colossians 1:21). In doing so, we keep our own hearts free from bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). In praying for our enemies, we become more like Christ, and we keep ourselves in harmony with God’s will, which is how every human being was designed to live.

07/01/2026

*Why hasn't Jesus returned yet* ?

Before Jesus left this earth, He said He would return. During His Olivet Discourse, the Lord told His disciples that everyone one day would “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). The night of His arrest, Jesus promised, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). And as He stood trial before the high priest, Jesus said, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). We have the promises, but we are still waiting. Jesus has not returned yet.

There is also an assurance from the angels that Jesus would return some day. After Jesus ascended into heaven, as His disciples were still gazing up into the sky, two angels comforted the disciples with these words: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Later, John sees a vision of Jesus Christ telling him, “Look, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:7). Still, Jesus has not returned. Where is He, and what’s taking Him so long?

As groundwork for the answer, we should remember that God has not revealed the timing of His Son’s return to any man, or to any angel for that matter (Matthew 24:36). Jesus is coming, and we need to be ready (Matthew 24:42, 44), but we leave the timing of His return up to God.

Then, we should keep in mind the following:

God is patient with sinners. Peter exhorts those who were doubting the Lord’s return with these words: “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8–9).

The next event in God’s prophetic plan is the rapture of the church. We see the rapture as an event distinct from the second coming of Christ. Paul reveals a few details about the rapture: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The rapture is imminent—no prophesied event stands between now and the rapture (see 1 Peter 1:20; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 1:2). In contrast, the second coming will happen only after “all” the events of Matthew 24 have occurred (Matthew 24:33).

Jesus’ statements that He was coming “soon” should be properly understood. The Greek word tachu, which is translated “soon” or “quickly” in Revelation 22:20, can also mean “without unnecessary delay” or “suddenly.” It does not have to mean “immediately.” Jesus’ meaning seems to be that, once end-times events have been set in motion, things will move quickly, without any unnecessary delay. The plagues of Revelation will follow one right after another, and at the end Jesus will come “suddenly.”

We should live in the expectancy that the rapture could occur at any moment. The Lord wants every generation to have the conscious awareness that He may suddenly appear.

For the believer, the return of the Lord is the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Jesus has promised that He will come back for us, and that promise is enough. We trust in Him and rest in God’s perfect timing.

07/01/2026

*What does it mean that "Money is the answer for everything" in Ecclesiastes 10:19?*

The statement “Money is the answer for everything” comes in the middle of a section of Ecclesiastes that relates a list of seemingly unrelated proverbs. Here is the whole proverb: “ *A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything* ” (Ecclesiastes 10:19). The Bible is not teaching here that we should focus on partying and making money; rather, it is making a broader point about wisdom vs. foolishness.

Before we tackle the intent of that specific proverb, let’s look at the theme of the book of Ecclesiastes as a whole. In this book, the human author is answering the question “How does one live his or her life apart from God?” The book is full of worldly wisdom, some of which is good common sense, and some of which is not good or godly at all. One might label the book “How the World Thinks.”

A key phrase in Ecclesiastes is under the sun, which is repeated throughout. It indicates that the author is sharing an earth-bound perspective. He is only considering life “under the sun”; that is, a human life lived to the exclusion of any consideration of God or eternity. From that godless perspective, everything is “meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14).

Ecclesiastes 10:19 and the statement that “money is the answer for everything” is part of a group of observations about wisdom and folly. The behaviors and outcomes of the wise and foolish are being contrasted. For example, Ecclesiastes 10:5–7 presents the error of elevating the foolish to positions of leadership. Verse 10 relates the wisdom of preparation and training.

In regard to interpreting Ecclesiastes 10:19, different commentators take different views:

Some see 10:16–20 as the application of the “wisdom-folly” contrast to a nation’s leaders. Thus verse 19 says that, even for foolish kings and princes (verse 16), and even for the lazy (verse 18), money makes everyone hear and respond. If you have money, you have influence and resources: “Money answers to every demand, hears every wish, grants whatever one longs for, helps to all” (Keil and Delitzsch, Old Testament Commentary, 6:779). In this view, the statement that “money is the answer for everything” is an ancient version of our modern saying “Money talks.”

Others see Ecclesiastes 10:18–20 as a separate section and view verse 19 as taking a practical view of money: “At least some money is essential for enjoying life, and steps must therefore be taken to insure that the economy is sound” (Garrett, The New American Commentary, 14:337).

Most likely, “money is the answer for everything” is simply an expression of folly. The proverb mentions feasting, wine, and merry-making as well as money. To the foolish, “it is money that is the answer to everything” some will say I don't need God, since I have money (Eaton, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 16:138). In modern terms, the life of the foolish is circumscribed by partying, alcohol, and money. We see this foolishness play itself out in the world daily. There’s nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

It is unfortunately true that “money talks” and seems to be the answer to everything in our world. But wisdom decrees, to the king on down, that the pursuit of riches leads to trouble (see 1 Timothy 6:9–10). Not all problems can be fixed with money. In the end, Mammon is a hard taskmaster, and only a fool would say, “Money is the answer for everything.”

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06/01/2026

*Can You Lose The Holy Spirit* ?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the triune Godhead. The Holy Spirit indwells believers at the moment of salvation. We know from 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19–20 that the bodies of Christians are the Spirit’s temple. The teaching of the New Testament is that the Holy Spirit’s indwelling is permanent. We cannot lose the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament relates occasions in which the Spirit left someone, such as King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) or Samson (Judges 16:20). However, in those days the Holy Spirit worked differently than He does since the time Jesus rose from the dead. In the Old Testament, the Spirit is never said to “indwell” anyone; rather, He “came upon” people for a time to accomplish specific purposes (Judges 3:10; 1 Chronicles 12:18). The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to proclaim truth to the people (Ezekiel 11:1–2). He instructed the leaders of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13). He inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21). But He did not indwell those people as He now does with believers in Christ.

Before Christ’s finished work and ascension, the Holy Spirit came and went, but He no longer works that way. He does not come and go in the lives of believers today. Just before His arrest, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit, who “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). The Amplified Bible emphasizes the permanency of the Spirit’s presence: “He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.”

Acts 2 describes the transition from the Old Testament economy to the New as it pertains to the Holy Spirit. The disciples were gathered for prayer, waiting for the promise of the Father, in obedience to Jesus (John 14:26; Acts 1:4, 8). As they prayed, the Holy Spirit fell upon them all and filled them (verse 3–4). Jesus’ promise was fulfilled, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came upon all who had trusted in Christ. That outpouring resulted in courage in the face of opposition, love for all humanity, and supernatural gifts and abilities to further the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:4; Hebrews 2:4).

Salvation is impossible without the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Jesus explained this to Nicodemus in John 3:1–21. Nicodemus, a leader of the Jewish religion, wanted to know what laws he could keep or additional actions he could perform that would guarantee eternal life. Jesus responded that there was nothing Nicodemus could do and that salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit’s work in a repentant heart, no one can be born again, regardless of how many “sinner’s prayers” he prays or Christian actions he performs. It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates and renews a heart (Titus 3:5).

An issue related to losing the Holy Spirit is eternal security. There is debate among Christians about whether or not someone can lose his or her salvation. To lose salvation would be to lose the Holy Spirit who provides it. In fact, Scripture says that the Holy Spirit “seals” our salvation until we experience its completion in the presence of God (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). For the Holy Spirit to vacate a heart that He had promised to seal would make Him unfaithful. One of the Holy Spirit’s tasks, after moving into a believing heart, is transforming that person into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:29), and we have the promise that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). We do not believe the Spirit will undo His work of regeneration, give up on His transformative work, or redefine eternal life to mean “temporary life.”

Since we did not “find” the Holy Spirit, it is doubtful that we can “lose” Him. Some take issue with the word lose and say that, while a Christian cannot lose the Holy Spirit, he or she can forfeit the gifts and salvation He brings by a willful renouncement of Him. However, Ephesians 1:13 says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” Can a believer truly break the seal placed on him by God? The Holy Spirit is the mark of a true believer; therefore, to lose Him would be to lose any hope of salvation in the future.

Ephesians 4:30 warns us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says that we can “quench the Spirit.” These passages do not imply that the Holy Spirit has left us, only that He is sorrowful because of our sinful actions. The grieving and quenching of the Spirit hinders our fellowship with Him but does not nullify our salvation, in much the same way that a rebellious child may lose the fellowship of a parent but is not kicked out of the family.

What causes confusion on this issue is that we cannot know whether someone else has truly been born of the Spirit or whether he is the “shallow soil” as Jesus described in Luke 8:1–15. Some people seem excited to follow Jesus and may exhibit what appear to be supernatural gifts, but they were never truly born again. Jesus addresses those people with a stern warning in Matthew 7:21–23. Many people profess to have the Holy Spirit but eventually prove that they were imposters when their lives turn away from following Him (see Romans 8:14). Such people did not lose the Holy Spirit; He was never theirs at all (1 John 2:19).

*Ps Joshua Gbaryea*
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16/12/2025

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08/12/2025

08/12/2025

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