A Psalm to the Nations

I have spoken to the kings and the nations, but they did not hear, and to the princes and the people, and yet they do not see. For My word rings forth and yet they do not praise Me.

But there is a people in the earth that will yet declare My glory among the nations and a people yet unborn that will praise Me.

For a time now comes and is upon the threshold when all things that I have spoken down through the centuries shall be realized; and not one thing that I have spoken will not come to pass.

Sing out in the streets My people, that the nations might serve Me. Sing out upon thy beds that the song might be established.

For the music of My heart will set the captives free, and the music of My call shall establish the thing like a light shining in a dark place until the glory grows.

Little children shall serve Me, young men shall know Me, and their fathers take root in My love.

There is none that can stand that will not fall, if they do not serve Me, and all the ends of the earth shall praise My name together.

Sing out, sing the song all kindred and tribes and people, confess to the Lord God Almighty. Declare His praises and the Psalmist of Israel shall be manifested in Israel that He might sing over His people.

For truly as the nations rage there is one that comes. There is one that shall set the record straight. There is one who shall sing the song, and all shall enter into the rising chorus of creation.

As the people gather, as the people praise Me, I shall vanquish all that stands and all that lifts its face against Me in the consummation of the ages!

The Triumphal Entry

John 12:12–19 (LSB)

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the crowd, who was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to bear witness about Him. 18 For this reason also the crowd went and met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing; look, the world has gone after Him.”

While this entrance into Jerusalem is known as the Triumphal Entry, it was the culmination of a series of events that began just days prior. To grasp the deep theological weight of this moment, we must look at what transpired “behind the scenes” in Bethany—starting with a miracle that forced a confrontation with eternity.

Setting the Scene: Revealing of Identity

Chapters 11 and 12 of John’s Gospel mark a critical pivot in the narrative of Christ. In chapters 1-12 was the public ministry of Jesus. He had revealed who He was through a progressive unfolding of His ministry and character through chapter 10. However, in Chapter 11, the raising of Lazarus acts as a final “seal” on His public claims.

Because Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem (15 stadia), a massive crowd had gathered to console Martha and Mary. When Jesus arrived, He offered a definitive claim to deity. He told a grieving Martha: “I AM the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25).

There are 7 “I AM” statements in John’s gospel (Jn 6:35; Jn 8:12; Jn 10:7; Jn 11:25; Jn 10:11; Jn 14:6; Jn 15:1) Yet, what is striking about this phrase is: In Greek, this is Ego Eimi—the absolute, non-predicate form of the verb “to be.” It is the identical phrase used in the Septuagint when God spoke to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM who I AM” (Ex 3:14). Jesus was not merely claiming to have the power to raise the dead; He was identifying Himself as the Self-existent – Self-contained – Self-complete – Tri-unity.

The Jews who had come to console Lazarus’ sisters witnessed their brother being raised from the dead, and the report of the miracle spread like wildfire. Therefore, many of the Jews who had come believed in the Lord (11.45)

Yet, some of the other Jews reported the event to the Pharisees, which convened a meeting concerned that it would draw the attention of their Roman oppressors (11:48).

This brought about a plot to kill Jesus (11:57)

John tells us that after the reaction of the Jewish leaders, “Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews” (11:54).

A turning point had come

A House Filled with Fragrance

Six days before the Passover, Jesus returned to the home of Lazarus. During a meal, Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed Jesus’ feet.

This was an act of staggering sacrifice. The nard was worth three hundred denarii—a full year’s wages. In that culture, such a treasure was often a family heirloom passed down through generations as a dowry or primary security. To break that jar was to pour out her entire future.

In an encounter of deep spiritual intimacy and humility, Mary wiped His feet with her hair.

In the first century, for a woman to unbind her hair in public was an act of total self-abandonment; she was laying her “glory” at His feet. Historically, while guests were offered water for their feet, anointing the feet with such costly oil was a rarity reserved for the highest royalty.

The Body as the Fragrant House

John records that “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (Jn 12:3). This is a profound spiritual type: the physical house was filled, just as ultimately, the Body of Christ becomes a house filled with fragrance through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The scent of the nard was inescapable in that home, and so, the indwelling Spirit is the unmistakable “atmosphere” of the believer. We do not just dwell in God’s presence in buildings that are sacred spaces; we carry it, because we have become the true sacred space.

This fragrance produced two opposite reactions: to Mary, it was worship; to Judas, it was “waste.”

Listen to what the Apostle Paul proclaimed to the believers in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (ESV)

15 For we are the aroma (the fragrance) of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Here again, we see two different reactions to one fragrance. The determining factor is the spiritual condition of those here the message. This is an either/or situation. There is no neutral position. Either someone receives the message and therefore receives life, or another rejects the message and receives the result of sin and therefore receives death. Here again, Jesus is the hinge pin.

The Triple Triumph: Hebrew, Greek, and Roman

When Jesus finally approached the gates of Jerusalem, the air was thick with the expectations of three different worlds.

1. The Hebrew Celebration (The Feast of Booths)

The crowd’s use of palm branches and the cry of “Hosanna” (Save us, we pray!) was a direct callback to the Feast of Tabernacles and Psalm 118, verse 26. To the Hebrew mind, this was the “Lulav” celebration, which is Sukkot, the Feast of Booths—a recognition that the Messiah had come to dwell among them and deliver them from national bondage.

2. The Greek Expectation (The Epiphany)

The Greeks in the crowd would have recognized this as a Parousia or an “Epiphany”—the arrival of a god-king to a city. In Greek tradition, when a ruler visited, the city beautified itself and met him outside the gates. This explains why the “whole world” (the Gentiles) was drawn to this specific moment.

3. The Roman Triumphus

As we have noted, the Apostle Paul later used this visible key to explain the cross (triumphed over them in it; Col. 2:15). In a Roman Triumphus, citizens poured outside the gates to welcome a conquering general. The general rode in a chariot of honor, while the leaders of the conquered nations were marched in front of him in chains and open shame.

The Prophetic Enactment: Divesting the Enemy

This Roman imagery was the fulfillment of a deep prophetic promise. Paul links this victory to Psalm 68:18, which describes God as a conquering King: “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train.” Paul then applies this specifically to Christ in Ephesians 4:8.

8Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, And HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

In Colossians 2:15, we see the mechanism of this victory. In the ESV, a marginal note suggests that Jesus “divested (rid)” Himself of the minions of the enemy. It is a cinematic image: as He hung on the Cross, the powers of darkness clung to Him like a heavy, suffocating coat, believing they had finally snared the King of Glory. However, by accomplishing exactly what He had been sent to do and satisfying the justice of God, the Cross broke their legal power. Jesus threw His arms open and cast the enemy off with ease, stripping them of their authority.

The Resurrection then served as the public proof of this “Prophetic Enactment.” As Paul claimed, He was raised because of our justification (Rom 4:25). The Resurrection was not merely a miracle; it was the King’s declaration that the enemies of God had been destroyed and His people were now legally free.

The Final Welcome: A Correction of Vision

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul took this “triumphal” imagery and applied it to the ultimate hope of the church.

To understand this passage, we must see the historical context of the church in Thessalonica. Paul was writing to a community in the grip of deep grief. Several members of the body had recently died, and the survivors were mourning because they feared their loved ones had “missed” the great return of Christ. They believed that because these believers had died before the King’s arrival, they would be excluded from the glory of the Resurrection.

Paul’s aim in writing was to bring comfort to these grieving hearts. He begins in verse 13 by addressing their misunderstanding of the state of the dead, and assures them that those who have “fallen asleep” will certainly be included. He then uses the specific word Apantēsis for “meet” (v. 17).

In the ancient world, apantēsis was the technical term for a formal delegation leaving their city to meet a visiting king and immediately escorting him back in honor. Paul’s message stated clearly: your loved ones are not lost! They will rise first, and together we will go out as one royal delegation to meet the King in the air—not to flee into the clouds, but to join His triumphal procession as He returns to claim and rule the Earth.

Conclusion: The Glorious Kingdom

The story began with a humble entry on a donkey, which was a prophetic enactment (Zech. 9:9), but the raising of a dead man and an anointing that cost a family their fortune preceded it. The cross, which was actually a coronation and a triumph, led to the enemy’s open shame.

Jesus will return in triumph, and ultimately, He will eradicate all that offends. The King Himself described the finality of this victory:

Matthew 13:41–43 (ESV)

“41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

The righteous will no longer be hidden, but will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Drilling for Depth: Study Questions

1. Identity: How does the absolute use of Ego Eimi (I AM) in John 11:25 change how you view Jesus’ authority?

2. Sacrifice: Mary gave her “future security” to anoint Jesus’ feet. What is the “family heirloom” you are being asked to lay at His feet?

3. The Triple Crown: How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of Hebrew, Greek, and Roman expectations change your view of His global Lordship?

4. The Chariot: If Jesus “divested” Himself of the enemy on the Cross, why do we often live as if those powers are still clinging to us?

5. The Welcome: How does the historical grief of the Thessalonians and the concept of Apantēsis (escorting the King) change your hope for those who have died in Christ?

A Thud Against the Garage Door

I’ve been relatively healthy all my life, but a while ago, I had a little scare.

It started while I was walking—nothing strenuous, just short distances—when my heart began to pound. It didn’t just beat; it rang in my ears. The rhythm was strikingly similar to the sound of one of my kids bouncing a basketball off the garage door. At that moment, my “dad reflex” kicked in, and I almost yelled, “Stop it right now!” (Not that any of you have ever said something like that, of course).

But I couldn’t tell my own heart to stop.

This sudden demand for my heart to function, which in the past would have been such a small request, was disconcerting. A few times, a rush surged to my head, and I became dizzy. In those quiet, frightening moments, the thoughts we all dread surfaced: Is this a heart attack? Lord, please don’t take me before I’ve finished my calling. Man, I’ve got to get my life straight.

Moments like these strike us with a glaring sense of our own fragility. Life is fleeting. Knowing Christ gives us a profound sense of purpose. That we might not complete our work before our time is up can be troubling. We are always in a state of transition—some subtle, some not. But that final transition is something one might dread or long for with anticipation, depending on where one stands.

It begs the question we must all eventually ask ourselves: “Which one am I?”

What is the “Heart,” Really?

I have a tendency to over-analyze, especially when it comes to the “self.” As I sat with the reality of my physical heart, I started thinking about the heart in general. In our culture, we use phrases like “a heart of the matter” to describe the central point of a thing. Obviously, if our physical heart quits, we do too. It is the foundation of life.

When the Spirit of God inspired human agents to take pen in hand and write the word “heart” hundreds of times in Scripture, was He thinking of the four-chambered muscle pumping blood through our veins? Or did He have something else in mind?

To the ancient Hebrew people, the heart (Lev) was portrayed metaphorically. It wasn’t just a seat of emotion; it represented the intellect, the desire, the will, and even courage. It was the “total of a person”—who they were in their very essence. Hebrew possessed a word for “brain,” yet the Bible’s text seldom employed it. Rather, in the Ancient Near-East, it was more common to use the word heart to encompass the whole of human life (also kidneys, but who can wrap their mind around that one?).

Just as the physical heart is the foundation of biological life, the spiritual heart is the essence of our existence before God. The condition of our heart is the condition of our life.

The Deception and the Promise

Jesus spoke directly to this when the religious leaders were fussing over ceremonial hand-washing. He told them plainly in Matthew 15:8:

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.”

He wasn’t worried about what went into their mouths; He was worried about what was coming out of their hearts. Why? Because the heart is the source. Our words are simply the overflow of what is sitting at the center of our being.

The prophet Jeremiah gave us a sobering diagnosis: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). If we are honest, we’ve all felt that “sickness”—the tendency to drift, to worry, or to put our own will above God’s.

But here is the beauty of the Lord we serve. God didn’t leave us with a sick heart. He made a covenant promise through Ezekiel:

“I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh...” (Ezekiel 11:19)

The Heart of the Gospel

So, what is the “heart” of the Gospel? It’s simple: Jesus is the heart. It is His blood that pumps through the spiritual arteries of the Body of Christ, bringing life-giving oxygen and washing away every impurity. My natural heart might fail me tomorrow. It might thud like a basketball against a door one last time and then go silent.

But I have a confidence that isn’t based on my strength or my own “clean hands.” I have confidence because the New Covenant life beating within me is eternal. Because He lives, I live. The “Risen” Christ extended His “Scepter” of grace over my life, and that foundation is unshakable.

Do you have that same confidence today?

If your heart feels heavy, or if you’ve realized your “heart is far from Him,” remember that He is in the business of transplants. He takes the stone and gives us life.

Grace and Peace,

Bishop G

Join the Mission

If your heart is stirring to move from isolation into a community of unified purpose, please share this post with someone who feels forgotten or subscribe to join our mission of equipping every member of the Body for the harvest.

About Risen Scepter Ministries International Risen Scepter Ministries International fulfills the Great Commission by equipping native pastors in developing nations. These pastors then equip and release God’s people to transform their own communities. Our mission is to provide these spiritual leaders with the biblical depth, resources, and training necessary to establish self-sustaining churches and training centers. We envision a global network of empowered “equippers” who stand firmly on eternal biblical truth while effectively reaching their unique cultures for the glory of God.

RisenScepter.org

The Safety of Isolation

“I am a rock, I am an island... and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.”1

There is a haunting safety in those words, isn’t there? We have all been there—standing in a crowded room or even a church foyer, feeling entirely, achingly alone. Perhaps you’ve built your own walls because the world outside became too hostile to navigate. Or perhaps, more painfully, the walls were built around you by the actions of others—rejection, coldness, or being overlooked until you felt invisible.

Whether you have retreated to your island for survival or were cast there by a storm you didn’t ask for, I want to reach across the water today. I want to speak to the center of that struggle: the deep, human need to be included, to be known, and to be told—with absolute certainty—that you are important.

The Silent Ache of ‘Siloing’

We often use the term “Siloing” to describe organizational isolation, but in the life of a believer, it is a spiritual condition. It is the moment we stop touching others and stop letting others touch us. We tell ourselves it’s “just me and Jesus,” but even as we say it, the air inside our silo gets thin.

A silo is designed to protect the harvest, but it cannot grow anything.

It is a structure of containment, not of connection. While it might keep the pain out, it also keeps out the very nourishment of the Body of Christ. The Creator did not design you to be a “rock” that feels no pain; you were created to be a “living stone (1 Pt. 2:5)” built into a spiritual house where your presence is not just welcomed—it is required.

Shalom: The Promised Wholeness

The world offers us “peace” as a temporary truce or the absence of chaos, yet, truly, the world system is chaotic in its fundamental nature. However, in the Father you find shalom; you find who you were created to be.

Shalom is a fully orbed sense of well-being. It isn’t just a quiet afternoon; it is a total soundness of life and wholeness as God intended. When someone speaks “Shalom” over you, they are wishing for every broken piece of your story to be gathered up and made whole.

This shalom isn’t a self-help technique or a man-centered pseudo-biblical teaching. It is a divine restoration that only flows from a vital, surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the deep-tissue healing that happens when we stop trying to manufacture our own safety and start resting in His.

The Coat of Many Colors: You Have a Place

I want you to hear this clearly: You are not an orphan. God “sets the solitary in families (Psm. 68:6),” and that family—the Body of Christ—is like Joseph’s coat of many colors. It is vibrant, diverse, and woven together by the hand of a Father who loves every single thread. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 3:28 that in Christ, every barrier that once cut us off is demolished. There is no reason for you to remain in a silo when the family of God is functioning as the Scripture outlines.

You are not an extra in God’s story; you have an important part to play. From the beginning of time, God has called each individual—including you—to be part of His intended purpose. We are moving toward the “consummation of all things,” that glorious moment when Heaven and Earth will become one.

Isaiah spoke of the new heavens and the new earth (Is. 65:17-25; 66:22). Revelation promises a day with no more tears, death, mourning, crying or pain (Rev. 21:4). That is our destination: a state of complete unity, shared purpose, and absolute Shalom. But that journey doesn’t start then; it starts now, the moment you step off your island and back into the family.

A Shalom Reflection

As you sit with these words, ask yourself: Am I holding onto my isolation because it’s safe, or am I ready to be part of something greater than myself?

• To the broken

• To the cut off

• To the disenfranchised

• To the ones struggling with loneliness

• To the rejected

• To the ashamed

• To my unchurched Brothers and Sisters who have been fragmented through abuse of power or bad doctrine

My Blessing to You:

May you feel the warmth of the Father’s inclusion today. May He whisper to your heart that you are necessary, that He has given you your gifts for the benefit of the body (cf. Rom. 12 and 1 Cor. 12). He has reserved your seat at the table, and it is only for you. I speak Shalom over your mind, your body, and your spirit. No more silos. No more islands. Just the peace of being home.

Shalom to you, my dear friend.

Welcome Home! Your seat at the table is waiting, come commune with us!

Join the Mission

If your heart is stirring to move from isolation into a community of unified purpose, please share this post with someone who feels forgotten or subscribe to join our mission of equipping every member of the Body for the harvest.

About Risen Scepter Ministries International Risen Scepter Ministries International fulfills the Great Commission by equipping native pastors in developing nations. These pastors then equip and release God’s people to transform their own communities. Our mission is to provide these spiritual leaders with the biblical depth, resources, and training necessary to establish self-sustaining churches and training centers. We envision a global network of empowered “equippers” who stand firmly on eternal biblical truth while effectively reaching their unique cultures for the glory of God.

RisenScepter.org

Have you ever been placed in the position of having to choose between your faith and the current culture? By what parameters are we to make that choice?

By Bishop G Risen Scepter Ministries International

The Either/Or Dilemma

I am not suggesting that it is always an “either/or” situation. Cultural relevancy and eternal truth are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Yet, there will come times when we, as members of the Body of Christ, are placed in a position where we must choose one or the other.

It is one of the sad realities of Western society that those who do not make themselves “culturally relevant” are often looked down upon or disdained. They are relegated to a class of people that are to be discounted, disenfranchised, and ignored, simply because they don’t keep up with the time. People say things like, “How are you going to reach the next generation if they can’t relate to you?”

The Illusion of Progress

I remember when I was in my late teens and early twenties; this is how I looked at anyone over thirty. These people had no significance to me. Not that I was callous, but I felt they had had their opportunity and failed. They had failed to bring peace; they had failed to bring justice. I was of the new generation—the one that would solve all the world’s problems. It has been that way for generations.

It was the same with the organized church. To me, that was just “religion” and a bastion of hypocrites. The church of my American fathers seemed to have no answers; therefore, it too had failed. It was no longer “cool” to be Christian. What was cool was Transcendental Meditation, Eastern religions, Scientology, or anything seemingly deep and mystical.

The Paradox of Relativism

Ironically, we live in a society where the very freedoms we enjoy—fostered by biblical principles—are used to devalue Christian beliefs and Christians themselves. The modern “Paradox of Relativism” deems any other belief valuable, yet it degrades the Christian faith because people no longer consider it “culturally relevant.”

How Has the Church Responded?

The Church has approached this problem in several ways, often falling into extremes:

1. The Ascetic Path: Some view Christianity as a purely ascetic faith, shunning anything in modern society as if it is inherently evil. They attempt to show this by intentionally avoiding anything culturally pertinent.

2. The Relational Path: Others take the position that they will do anything to relate to their generation, citing the “Great Commission.

   Yet most of us know that if the Church is too much like the world, it becomes impotent in its sharing of the Gospel.

3. The Watered-Down Path: Others do all they can to take the “offense” out of the faith. However, the Apostles Paul and Peter spoke of the Lord Himself as being an offense—a stumbling stone (Rom 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8). Simply put, a watered-down gospel is no gospel at all.

The Answer: Eternal Truth

The answer lies in our understanding of the Christian faith’s core biblical principles: sanctification, holiness, love, compassion, justice, mercy, and, above all, eternal truth.

These ethics do not stand alone; they are part of the very nature of God Himself and are therefore eternal.

If our adherence to what is “culturally relevant” causes us to violate an eternal truth for the sake of relational relevancy, we are no longer being faithful to what we profess.

Our faith itself will seem shallow and weak to those we are attempting to reach. This is self-defeating.

Drawing the Line

It is not wrong on its face to be culturally relevant. The Apostle Paul said he became “all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

For centuries, missionaries like Hudson Taylor became part of the culture to which God sent them. Taylor dressed as the Chinese of his time and even grew a queue (the braided ponytail) so that he might be seen as one of them.

But there is a line. As with our culture today, there are actions that are neutral—actions that do not violate biblical principles. We are free to do those things if they enhance our ability to relate. If what we do to relate either violates a principle established by God or diminishes our usefulness for the Gospel, we must avoid those actions at all costs.

Our prime aim must always be to honor and glorify God, before Him and among His creation.

Soli Deo Gloria

About Risen Scepter Ministries International Risen Scepter Ministries International fulfills the Great Commission by equipping native pastors in developing nations. These pastors then equip and release God’s people to transform their own communities. Our mission is to provide these spiritual leaders with the biblical depth, resources, and training necessary to establish self-sustaining churches and training centers. We envision a global network of empowered "equippers" who stand firmly on eternal biblical truth while effectively reaching their unique cultures for the glory of God.

RisenScepter.org

The Question

There was a moment in my life when the Lord confronted me with a question that cut me deeper than the faithful wounds of my closest friend. The question would lay bare the true nature of my heart.

What He asked was straightforward: “If I never did another thing for you, would you still serve me?” It’s like He was asking, “Who are you in this for, yourself or for Me?”

Pastors ask questions too.

Sometimes, when pastors get together, there are some standard questions that surface. Questions like, “Where are you located?”, “How long have you been pastoring?” And then the inevitable, “How many people do you have?” As if the size of your church were equivalent to the genuineness of your ministry. Is your church small? Then you must not have the Lord’s favor in your life. In reality, sometimes it is quite the opposite, and besides, they are not our people; they are His. What truly matters is, are we doing what we have been called to do?

I can’t help but think of the Apostle Paul’s words in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 12b.

“…but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

What is Our Measure?

We all have markers and systems by which we measure success. Whether it’s our success or others’. Sometimes it’s no different in ministry than it is in the corporate world, and I have experienced both. However, the Lord does not measure as man measures.

If I answered the Lord’s question from a purely human perspective, the answer might have been an emphatic no! At least that is, if I weren’t in it for the right reason. Perhaps I would have asked, Lord, what do I gain from this? I’ve tried to be faithful to you; I’ve turned down opportunities for professional careers where I could have earned high salaries. I’ve laid down my life for you, God, when is it my turn? It seems like everyone else’s ministry is prospering but mine. It seems like nobody cares, or carries the vision I carry. Let’s face it, ministry jealousy is a real thing. Yet the deeper truth of the Christian life is something far greater.

Is Our Worship Man-Centered or God-Centered?

As I already mentioned, we humans like to put things into categories; here are a couple for you. Man-centered worship and teaching, or God-centered worship and teaching. Man-centered worship concentrates on what we receive from God, while God-centered worship is based upon our yielding our lives to Him—because He is worthy.

We are to serve God not because of what He does for us, but because of who He is.

Now we’re going to turn the tip of the plow down and dig a little deeper.

Scripture reveals God is the only true source of life. He is not a created being, nor is He dependent on anything outside Himself. God simply is. He exists. There was never a time when He came to be.

If that were true, if at one time God “came to be”, whatever brought Him forth would be greater than He is. When He revealed Himself to Moses, He described Himself with the words, “I AM (Ex. 3:14).” In theological language, this is often called the aseity of God—God’s existence is self-contained.

Everything else in existence is contingent. That’s just a fancy way of saying dependent on something else. God, existing in three persons, is the only one that is not dependent on anyone or anything outside of Himself. This is because God is self-existent. To be clear, what I am not saying is that God is self-created.

So what’s the difference?

Follow me on this one now. If God were self-created, that would mean He would have to have existed before Himself to create Himself. See what I mean? It makes little sense.

We say that God is self-existing, meaning He contains within Himself a quality that we call life. He is the very source of life, and therefore all life comes from Him. So it follows that creation (all things that are, that are not God) exists because God willed it into being and continues to sustain it.

In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Do you hear that phrase? We have “our being”, our existence, solely because of God’s creative endeavor. Therefore, the closer we are to Him, the closer we are to life itself. Of course, then, the opposite would be true as well. The further we are from God, the further we are from the source of life.

I love what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 1:16-17.

“For in Him (in the Lord – the second person of the Trinity) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17 And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together (LSB)”.

What a powerful statement of the Lordship of Christ. All things existing have been created through and for the Lord. He is (present tense) before all things, and in Him “all things hold together”. There is so much in this passage—but it is beyond the scope of this present article (We’ll unpack that one another time). Suffice it to say, all things were created for and through the Lord, and it is in Him that all things hold together.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the One through whom all things exist, but also the sustainer of everything as well. He keeps a rock, a rock, and a tree, a tree, and so on. You get what I mean. The Lord sustains the physical properties of everything created, including us!

This truth also explains something profound about humanity.

The opening chapter of the Bible states that God created human beings in His image (Gen. 1:26). We, as humans, have distinct characteristics that set us apart from the rest of creation. This comes with a responsibility that is greater than that of the remainder of animate life. This “image” gives us the ability to be analogous to our Creator. That just means that we are similar to Him in a limited way. This analogy between us and Him gives us the capacity to enter into God’s relational presence in an increasingly rich and fulfilling way through Jesus Christ!

Additionally, I believe that there is a second aspect to the image of God in our lives. God intended humanity to represent Him within creation from the beginning so that He might be glorified and His family extended.

Yet, the world shows that something has gone terribly wrong. Damage and distortion have affected the image of God in His human creatures. Man’s rebellion has brought that forth. People still bear His image—every person carries immeasurable dignity and value—but our brokenness has diminished the clarity with which we reflect our Creator.

Temples in the Ancient Near-East typically contained an image of the deity being worshipped. We all know that God disdains them. He is the incomparable God, unique in every aspect concerning His nature and actions. There is no divine being that can make any claim to be greater than Him (cf. Ex.15:11; PS. 86:6-10; IS. 40:18, 25; 46:9).

Nonetheless, there are in God’s temple representative imagers. Guess who they are? Us! Not only are we the images in God’s temple, we are the temple! With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have become the sacred space where heaven and earth meet.

This is why the faithful teaching of the Word of God matters so deeply.

If God is the source of truth and life, then the closer we come to understanding Him in the right way, the closer we come to the life we were created to experience. This means, ultimately, that we become truly human.

However, a false picture of God can develop when people misunderstand or twist Scripture. Teaching a false picture of God is teaching a false god. This causes people to live with false expectations of Him and what He does. It can also lead to anger or a feeling of rejection toward the one that loves us so perfectly. It can result in our worshipping an idol rather than the God of the Bible as He has revealed Himself to be.

For this reason, the careful study and teaching of Scripture is not merely an academic exercise. It is part of God’s work of restoring His people.

I want you to hear this. We have been given the privilege of participating in the restoration of the earth and the renewal of creation. What an honor!

This is the very heart of the ministry in which the Lord has graciously allowed me to serve.

The biblical pattern for Kingdom growth which leads to the fulfillment of God’s purpose is rooted in the words of Ephesians 4:11–13. It is there that the apostle tells us that pastors and teachers are given to equip the people of God for the work of ministry.

Often, when I speak, I ask this question. “Who is to do ministry?” According to Paul, the answer is the people of God. The governmental ministries train and equip the people. The people then do the work of the ministry.

In Ephesians 4, Paul continues this line of reasoning. The apostle tells us that this building up that results, is to continue “until” we come to a place of unity in our understanding of the faith we hold in common, and a full knowledge of the Son of God. Why? That we might grow up individually and corporately—until we accurately represent the One who gave His life for ours. This is the ongoing restoration of the image of God in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.

When the Word of God is taught faithfully and lived out fruitfully in daily life, individuals are changed, families are strengthened, communities are transformed, and the Kingdom of God is expressed in the earth.

Much modern Christian teaching from certain camps of the church, emphasizes what we receive from God, such as His blessings, help, and provision. But I ask you, is that teaching God-centered or man-centered?

Someone asked me one time if I would teach a seminar on the Prosperity Gospel. This message has spread like wildfire throughout non-industrialized nations. Why would it not be attractive to those struggling under the grip of systemic poverty?

When preparing the notes for the seminar, I came to a point where I was stuck. Then, strikingly, I heard the voice of the Lord, “Ask them if the gospel they believe is worth dying for?” Think of it. Would you stand in faith, or be willing to be martyred over material possessions? What irony! Giving your life for something you can’t take with you.

Rather, those who have, or will give their lives for their faith, give them for a truth that is much higher than anything that can be made by man on earth. They laid down their lives willingly because He is worthy.

Why did Christians under the rule of Emperor Nero not recant Christ rather than submit to tortures such as being covered in animal skins and torn by dogs? Why did Perpetua and Felicity not recant rather than be killed in the arena in Carthage for their faith? Why did the 21 Coptic Christians in 2015 choose to let ISIS cowards behead them with swords rather than deny Christ? Certainly not for a TV and a nice car. They did it because He is worthy!

• He is worthy to be worshipped

• He is worthy to be served

• He is worthy to be followed

No matter where He leads. Even if it’s to the cross!

We do not follow Him because of what He gives us. We follow Him because of who He is.

“Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh, and You exalt Yourself as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11, LSB).

Welcome, and thank you for being here.

This space has been created with a clear and deliberate purpose: to teach the Word of God faithfully, and to help people come to a right understanding of who He is.

Why a Scepter?

The Promised One

Jacob prophesies over his son Judah that the scepter—the symbol of royal authority—would not depart from his lineage until the One comes to whom it rightfully belongs—a promised King whose authority would be everlasting. That fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

From Judgment to Mercy

This imagery is further illustrated in the ancient Near East, where the scepter also represented access to the king. As seen in the book of Esther, no one could enter the presence of the king uninvited—doing so could cost them their life—unless the king extended his scepter as a sign of acceptance (Esther 4:11; 5:2).

Apart from divine mercy, we have no right to stand before a holy God, yet through Christ, the way has been opened. The King has extended the scepter. In Him, we are invited to draw near—not in fear, but by grace—to the One who rules over all.

From Mocking to Reigning

Before the cross, Jesus stood in profound humiliation before both Jewish and Roman authorities. He was rejected by the Sanhedrin, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, beaten, and crowned with thorns. In cruel irony, a reed was placed in His hand as a mock scepter, and He was dressed as a false king while soldiers knelt in ridicule (Matt. 27:27–31). Yet what they intended as mockery pointed to a deeper truth. The One they scorned was, in fact, the rightful King. Scripture reveals that this same Jesus now reigns in exaltation, bearing not a fragile reed, but the scepter of iron—the unbreakable symbol of His sovereign authority (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15). The mocked King is the reigning King, and His dominion will never end.

The foundation is God Himself

At the heart of Risen Scepter Ministries International is a conviction that shapes everything we teach and write:

We do not follow God merely because of what He does for us, but because of who He is.

This publication is devoted to biblical teaching that emphasizes:

• The majesty of God

• The authority and reliability of Scripture

• The true nature of humanity as created in His image

• The distortion of that image through rebellion

• The new humanity — A restored creation — The consummation and the new earth — Brought about through Jesus Christ and the Word of God

This work is pastoral in nature and global in vision.

The mission of Risen Scepter Ministries is drawn from Ephesians 4:11–13: to equip pastors so that they, in turn, may equip the people of God for the work of the ministry. A particular focus is placed on strengthening pastors in developing nations, helping to establish churches on a firm biblical foundation.

When the Word of God is taught clearly and lived out faithfully, lives are changed, families are strengthened, and communities are transformed.

If you are new here, I encourage you to begin with the first article:

“Because of Who He Is”

It lays the foundation for everything that will follow.

My prayer is that as you read, you would grow in the knowledge of God, be strengthened in your faith, and come to reflect more clearly the One who created and redeemed you.

Grace and peace to you in Christ,

Bishop G
Risen Scepter Ministries Int.

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