Optional Command of Jesus?

Eunjin Chang • September 17, 2026

Commandments of Jesus -part 1

Optional Command?

 

Most Christians believe Jesus is God, and they ought to obey what Jesus has commanded. However, when Christians’ perspective is objectively analyzed along with their daily lives, it is easy to find that many, if not most, Christians’ beliefs about Jesus and what Jesus has said do not correlate with their daily lives.


An easy example of this point appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, where both authors record the same event from different viewpoints. In Matthew 6 and Luke 12, Jesus tells his disciples about life's priorities. 

 

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Matthew 6:25

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Luke 12:22

 

When Jesus told his disciples to take no thought for your life, what to eat, or to drink, or for clothes, he was talking about specific aspects of priorities in disciples’ lives. During Jesus' time, people worked daily to put food on the table for their families. If you did not work, then that day, the entire family went to sleep without eating. Also, people's outer clothes were their bedding, and when they spent nights outside their home, the outer clothing protected them from harsh weather. By today's standards, their clothes were like home.


What Jesus mentioned was every commoner’s concern, and their primary concern was praying to God about their concerns. However, Jesus tells his disciples not to even think about any of those things, which implies an emphasis on not praying to God about it.

 

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matt 6:30

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Luke 12:28

 

Jesus tells them not to worry about daily necessities because God clothes the grass of the field, and they should trust God for their daily needs. People sought God and prayed for their daily necessities, which seems innocent and necessary. However, Jesus was not addressing praying to God for daily necessities; he was addressing trusting God for them and not worrying about physical, earthly needs before the Lord. 


Jesus emphasizes the relationship with the Father as the main focus and issue for the disciples, rather than earthly things. Jesus assumes that if you are the Father’s child, you ought not to concern yourself with earthly things: what to eat, drink, or wear. This is because the Father already knows His children's daily needs, and He provides for them before they even ask.


Jesus redirects his disciples' perspective from a transactional God to a relational God. Most went to God to pray and get their prayers answered. However, Jesus reshapes their view from a transactional God to a relational God, and from an unreachable God to a Father who has been taking care of them even when they do not ask for their needs. 



If they do not pray to God about their daily needs, God must meet them. This is a trust and relational issue: the petitioner trusts and has a relationship with God, so they do not even need to ask God for specifics of their lives to be answered in a specific way. The petitioner trusts that whatever God provides is exactly what they need.


Matthew records it in detail and compares the audience with the Gentiles (Matt 6:32). At the same time, Luke expands the comparison group to the nations of the world (Luke 12:30). Jesus distinguishes his disciples from followers of worldly standards. He is explicitly saying that those who seek what to eat, to drink, or to be clothed are as if they doubt the Creator, who even clothes the grass in the field that is to be thrown into the fire the next day. This is what the world and those who do not believe in God seek after, and Jesus’ disciples ought not to do what the world and non-believers do.

 

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:31-32

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

Luke 12:29-30

 

Jesus is instructing his disciples that, instead of praying to God for daily necessities, they should seek the Kingdom of God. Kingdom of God is not of this world nor of the flesh. It is of the spirit, and to inherit the Kingdom of God, disciples must seek spiritual principles. 

 

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matt 6:33-34

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:31-32

 

Most Christians know Matt 6:33 and Luke 12:31: first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. But most Christians do not obey the commands of Jesus that preface it, which are not even to think about what to eat, to drink, or to wear. When Jesus said this, he did not say it so that the disciples would think of it as an option, where the disciple can choose which ones to follow and which ones not to follow. Jesus made it clear that these commands were based on a relationship with the Father, who cares for His children because they are His, and He wants the best for them. 


However, when you objectively reflect, most prayers- the majority of our prayers- focus on what to eat, drink, or wear. They focus on fleshly needs and ignore the relationship with God. Most Christians pray specifically to God to instruct God on what is needed, and the underlying presumption is that God does not know better than the person praying about the matter the petitioner is bringing to God. It assumes God does not know better than me about the topic I am praying about, and that it must be answered this specific way because it is best for me.


This underlying assumption is the opposite of what Jesus taught us. If we believe and trust in God as our Father and pray to Him, then the contents of our prayers should not be concerns of the flesh. What to eat, to drink, or to wear are all concerns of the flesh. These concerns became our concerns after the fall of Adam. Because of Adam’s sin, the land was cursed, and mankind was cursed to toil under sweat to eat of the labor of their hands. Before Adam’s fall, their sweat and labor were not for their fleshly consumption. Adam’s labor was for God's Kingdom and righteousness. Adam’s sweat was not for his own benefit, but for advancing God's Kingdom and extending His righteousness into the world.


After the fall, mankind’s labor became vain because it no longer advanced God’s Kingdom or His righteousness. Adam’s labor of sweat was to sustain Adam until Adam’s death. Jesus came to restore the fallen nature of Adam's descendants and to make labor no longer toil for the sake of the flesh, but for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.


Prayer and petition to God are not about asking God for what we want. They are for seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. God gave us the freedom to pray about what God wants His Kingdom to become through our labor. Jesus came to restore labor from fleshly labor that leads to death to spiritual labor that leads to abundant life. 


Jesus tells us that the heathens pray, too, and they use vain repetitions for their labor as the main source of their petition to be heard by a god. However, as a child of God, Jesus taught His disciples not to pray as the heathens do, but to pray the prayer that Jesus taught, which is spiritual. (Matt 6:9-15)

 

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye need of, before ye ask him.

Matt 6:7-8 

 

Many Christians’ prayers to God are what Jesus described as what the heathens prayed to their god. Many Christians fast and pray for their prayers to be answered. Unknowingly, Jesus prohibited this kind of fasting and prayer. Unbelievers believe that God hears their prayers because of their many words and self-sacrifice. Many Christians fast when they want something done on earth. Somehow, this tradition has crept into the church, and many who fast get their prayers answered. When their prayers are answered, they tell others that God answered their prayers after they fasted. 

 

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matt 6:16

 

However, we must examine prayers and fasting and discern whether they were done according to Scripture or like the heathens, which Jesus forbade. In the book of James, James tells the Church that they do not receive from God what they ask because they ask wrong and ask to consume it in lusts.

 

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:2-3

 

In 1 Kings 18, we find Elijah battling the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashtoreth. When Baal did not answer the 450 Baal prophets’ prayers, they began to cut themselves and inflict pain upon their bodies so that their gods would answer them. However, no one answered, and when Elijah prayed, God answered with fire from heaven, burning everything down.


Just like the Baal and Ashtoreth prophets, many Christians think their sacrifice and fasting twist God’s hand to answer their prayers. Some dedicate special prayer to a specific request; others fast to get God’s attention so their petition can be heard. However, what Jesus has taught is contrary to the popular belief that fasting quickens God’s answers. 


This kind of prayer and fasting is similar to what the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashtoreth did to get their gods' attention. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus tells his disciples they should not only avoid praying about these things, but also not even consider them in their minds. Jesus tells the disciples that the things of the flesh are not even worth considering; rather, they should seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. 


Then, the natural succession of question one can ask is, if Christians pray for food, water, and clothing, which are concerns of this world, that Jesus told them not even to consider, then who answers such prayers? Many Christians boast about their prayers being answered: their jobs, family issues, health issues, money issues, and other issues of daily living.


If Jesus said the heavenly Father knows all these things His children need and cares for them, then who answers the prayers Jesus told us not to pray about? Is it reasonable to assume that many Christians pray such prayers because they believe they know better than the Father about certain issues and want a certain outcome, whether the Father wills it or not? That we know better than the Father about an issue we are praying about, want a specific outcome, and pray and fast to convince the Father that our way is better than the Father's?


Then, who answers such prayers?


When Elijah confronted the Israelites to worship God, not idols, and to choose between the two, the Israelites stayed silent. Their silence was an admission that they thought God and idols were the same. They both have priests and prophets; they both have sacrifices; they both have an altar; the Israelites could not distinguish God from Baal, not because God and Baal are the same, but because the Israelites’ understanding and relationship with God were like their relationship with Baal: seeking fleshly needs through their prayers and sacrifices, instead of what God wants. 


Could it be possible that many Christians use the names of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit but pray and have a relationship with them as if they were idols of the world? Perhaps Jesus distinguished between the disciples and the Gentiles because their prayers and relationship with God the Father were like those of the Israelites in the time of Elijah.

We say we pray to God the Father, but the content or procedures we use to pray are ungodly and against Jesus’ commandments on how to pray. Jesus told us not even to consider what to eat, drink, or wear, meaning don’t even think about them, because the Father cares for us; based on this relationship, we ought not to even consider them. Yet, most of our prayers are based on fleshly needs and desires. James tells us we do not receive from the Father because we seek the lusts of the flesh.


Then we can assume that the one who answers our fleshly prayers is not God the Father but the world. When Jesus told his disciples to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, he showed us how to pray to the Father based on our relationship with Him. However, those who do not pray for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness seek fleshly desires, and God does not answer those prayers. But if those prayers come to pass in the world, then they are not from God, because God does not answer prayers based on lust; they come from the world.


Without discernment, many Christians fall into thinking that they have received an answer from God because they prayed and/or fasted. It is as if the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth wounded and bled themselves to get their gods' attention. Jesus is telling his disciples not to pray that way, because God the Father is not like an idol or the worldly gods. Jesus is telling his disciples to pray and fast with the understanding that it is based on a relationship with God the Father. The Father God knows and has prepared for every child of His, and His children do not need to seek worldly things but only the things of His Kingdom and His righteousness.


Because our prayer and fasting are based on our relationship with God the Father, we must strengthen and renew that relationship through Jesus Christ’s flesh and blood. As followers of Jesus, we must seek spiritual things rather than the fleshly things of the earth. We must stop praying and fasting for the manifestation of the flesh in our lives, as it is demonic and ungodly, and God does not answer such prayers or fasting.


Jesus’ disciples must seek the things above, which are spiritual, not the things of the earth, which are fleshly. Apostle Paul tells us that he has been crucified with Christ; therefore, he no longer lives. The one that no longer lives is our fleshly self, which seeks after the flesh. 


We must discern and refocus our prayers to reflect upon the relationship that we have with the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has paid for our way to the Father through the breaking of his flesh and blood. We must trust God the Father to give us our daily needs as He sees fit and depend on Him for our daily sustenance. That is what Jesus was telling His disciples to pray and to fast about. 


As disciples of Jesus, we must honor Jesus’ teachings and not pick and choose which ones to follow and obey and which ones to ignore. We are not the decision-makers in our lives, because we do not decide which of Jesus' commands to follow and which to ignore. We must obey all that Jesus has taught us; otherwise, we become gods ourselves as we decide which ones we follow and obey and which ones we ignore. That was Adam’s fall: taking the Fruit of Knowledge, directly against God’s commandments.


Jesus has given us a second chance to do what Adam failed to do. Through Jesus, we know God's perfect will, and we can obey it all when we give our free will to Jesus’ desires. We do that by discerning God's will and submitting ourselves to it.


2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

 

 

 

 

Why was Jesus scourged twice?

By Eunjin Chang • September 11, 2026
Reflecting on the Gospels...

Resting in Jesus

By Eunjin Chang • August 3, 2025
For a Christian to be healthy, we must sleep or rest in Jesus. Just like sleep is essential to the health of our physical body, sleep or rest in Jesus is essential to our spiritual walk with Jesus. When Jesus came to the world, he came to do the works of the Father, and he completed them on the cross, when he said, It is finished. The very reliance of the blood of Jesus that he shed for us on the cross gives us the rest that our spirit needs. To sleep or rest in Jesus means to cease all our agendas. Many Christians fall into a trap that once you become a Christian, you must do so many things and not do so many things. Being a disciple becomes a matter of checking off a list of dos and don’ts. However, this is far from rest that Jesus gave us when he said, It is finished, on the cross. The rest comes to us when we die in Jesus. When we follow Jesus as a disciple, Jesus is inviting us to pick up our own cross, deny ourselves, and follow him. Where did Jesus end up? On the cross, and he died for the sins of the world. When apostle Paul stated that he had been crucified with Christ and he no longer lives, he was stating the mere nature of a disciple of Jesus. When Jesus invites us to die with him on the cross, it is not to destroy us or end us. Human nature is to struggle to survive and to have another breath. But to follow Jesus is to deny that very nature. How can it be done? It is impossible with human effort or will, as it is contrary to the very nature of humanity. When one becomes a disciple of Jesus, everyone has one or a few things that they cannot surrender to God. It may be finances, children, or even their own life. However, Jesus invites all of his disciples to give up that one thing that everyone has. Every Christian faces this question at some point in their walk with Jesus. They have eaten and drunk the flesh and blood of Jesus. They have tasted the goodness of the Lord and His mercies. They delight in worship and even give up many things for the Lord and His body. But that one thing, no matter how minor it seems, Jesus asks the question, “Can you give up that one thing for me?” Which is the question of death. The death of our old self. To Abraham, it was to offer Isaac on an altar. To Jacob, it was to deny his ability to cheat, steal, and lie. To the Apostles, it was to give up their life for the sake of the gospel. So many of our ancestors of faith have demonstrated giving up that one thing that matters the most to them for the sake of Jesus. Why would they do that? The most important question of all is, how were they able to do that for Jesus? The answer is simple: daily eat and drink Jesus’ body and blood; daily excrete out what the Holy Spirit is telling us; daily rest in Jesus. This daily trust and obedience provides us with a sense of security and guidance in our walk with Jesus. The death of oneself does not come from human effort nor willpower. It comes from trusting in Jesus even till death. It can only be done when one is deeply involved with Jesus and Jesus’ DNA becomes their DNA. Without questioning, they hear the voice of Jesus, respond, and lay down their lives and their most essential things for Jesus. It is a daily walk with Jesus and having a moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus. Jesus said My sheep hear my voice and follow me. It is interesting to note that when Jesus calls his sheep, it is among other sheep that are not of Jesus’. Jesus calls his sheep to take them through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus’ sheep hear his voice and follow initially. Then, when the sheep sees Jesus walking away from the green pasture and onto the valley of the shadow of death, the sheep begins to wonder if the voice it hears is Jesus’ or not. But as Jesus continues to call the sheep, the sheep respond by trusting in Jesus’ voice, recognizing it as their own. But as the sheep nears the valley of the shadow of death, the sheep gets close to Jesus, embracing his breath, scent, and sweat. Following him closely, as he fears he might be lost if he does not hear the voice of his true shepherd. Ultimately, the valley of the shadow of death separates the true sheep of Jesus from other sheep. Jesus calls all of his disciples to carry the cross, deny oneself, and follow Jesus daily. Which ultimately leads to death. Death is not to end our essence but to deliver us from ourselves, our old ways of living, and to redefine our DNA to become like Jesus; ultimately leading us to the resurrection of Jesus, as he has said, I am the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is not something that we find when the last day comes; the resurrection that Jesus gives us is the very nature of all of his disciples that must go through to become faithful followers of Jesus. Many modern Christians are what we might call 'zombie Christians'. This is not a metaphor, but a reality. When Jesus calls us to die with him, many reject this calling, believing it to be from Satan. They know deep down that it is the call of Jesus, but they prefer to be deceived in their hearts as it seems logical, reasonable, and satisfies their current values. However, when a Christian rejects the call of Jesus, the life of Jesus leaves that Christian, and that person becomes a 'zombie Christian'. A 'zombie Christian' is a person who knows about Jesus but does not follow Jesus because they have denied the call of Jesus to be his disciple. There are many 'zombie Christians'. Many become like Pharisees, and they are satisfied with knowing about the Scriptures, rather than obeying them. They begin to lose the joy, rest, and light of Jesus in their lives and begin to replace it with religious activities and the endless pursuit of knowledge about Christian life. When the Father speaks, He speaks once, and the Holy Spirit continuously reminds us to obey what the Father has said. However, once you become a zombie Christian, it is difficult to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, nor the voice of the Father. The Holy Spirit continuously prays to the Father with groaning that cannot be uttered because the Holy Spirit is in agony over the disobedient Christian. Just like the Prodigal Son, the Father waits for the son to return. An interesting observation can be made regarding the story of the Prodigal Son, that the father did not go after looking for the son, nor did the older brother. The reason the father did not go after the prodigal son was that the son made the choice, and the father respected the son's choice. But an interesting thing is that the older brother did not go after his brother, even though he could have. The older brother did not know the heart of the father, and when the prodigal son returned, the older son’s response reveals his true intentions. The Father waits for the zombie Christian to return. To return means to realize that their effort and ways of living caused much turmoil and must abide under the ruling of the Father. The Father gives another chance to zombie Christians. But when the second chance comes, the sacrifice that a zombie Christian makes seems greater than the first time. As that person has drifted away from the proper way of living and been replaced by religious activities that have no life. Every disciple of Jesus knows that one thing that Jesus asks us to give up. It is not to destroy us but to trust in the Lord. Just like when Peter asked Jesus to walk on water, Jesus is telling us to walk on water like Peter did. When we die in Jesus, it is the very spirit of Jesus that resurrects us. When we experience death and resurrection through Jesus, that is when we truly find the peace and rest that Jesus desires for us to have, not through religious activities, disciplines, and training. When we realize that our death does not lead to destruction, as the one inviting us to death is Jesus, who is life and resurrection, we trust in Jesus and follow through our death, and we wait on Jesus to resurrect us in his power and spirit. That is when we are truly free from the world and its bondages, and nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. We become one with Jesus as we suffer with him, and we glory with him. We can become truly victorious in all aspects of our lives, not with our power or abilities, but by what Jesus has done for us in himself. A true crown of glory awaits those who follow Jesus even to death.

Expelling Spiritual Waste

By Eunjin Chang • August 3, 2025
After eating the spiritual food and drink, which are the flesh and blood of Jesus, we must expel waste from our spiritual body. It may seem odd or even strange to talk about expelling after consuming Jesus’ flesh and blood, but just like our physical body, our spiritual bodies need expelling. When a Christian eats and drinks of the flesh and the blood of Jesus daily, they begin to grow deeper in a relationship with Jesus. Without even knowing, their dependence on Jesus grows tremendously, and it brings them many of the authorities that Jesus has. Their lives begin to change in ways that they have never imagined, and they begin to hear the voice of Jesus. Jesus said, My sheep know my voice and follow me. This becomes reality to those who consume Jesus’ flesh and blood daily. When you eat Jesus’ flesh and blood, the very nature of Jesus becomes ours. Just like when you eat a meal, you do not know where it gets placed in your body, but it goes through your digestive system, and it brings you energy where it is needed, and it is used to heal areas that need healing. The consumption of Jesus’ flesh and blood is essential to the growth and becoming like Jesus for his followers. Then, after consuming the flesh and blood of Jesus regularly, how does one go about expelling from the spiritual self the excrements that are created in our spiritual self? Also, what are the excrements that get created in our spiritual self? These are excellent questions, and they require some self-diagnosis. When we become a Christian, we begin to hunger for the word of God and desire to commune with other followers of Jesus. After consuming the flesh and the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to work within us to remove old values and ways of living. The Holy Spirit essentially changes our very nature, as if the DNA of Satan’s child is being replaced with the DNA of Jesus. As we begin to crave Jesus’ flesh and blood, the Holy Spirit begins to remove our old habits and ways of living. Many begin to discover that after becoming a Christian, their old friends, habits, and joys have changed, and they can no longer enjoy the things they once enjoyed. These are things that the Holy Spirit is doing. In the first few months of becoming a Christian, many testify that their views and desires began to change. However, after a while, they begin to face their fleshly desires and carnality, and they must make a choice. To compromise and live according to their fleshly desires and carnality or to deny themselves and follow Jesus. It earmarks the beginning phase of Christian discipleship, and sometimes, due to misguided motivations, they make the right choices. Because they want to be seen as good Christians to their Christian peers, they make choices that seem right. However, this does not deal with the essential issues, but instead covers them up. Excretion is a daily task, which is to deny oneself daily and pick up the cross. The power to deny and pick up the cross and follow Jesus is not done with our willpower or discipline. Instead, it comes from relying on Jesus’ blood shed for us as he denied himself and carried the cross up to Calvary. Daily, we deny ourselves, our flesh, and our desires before Jesus by believing in the blood of Jesus that he shed for us while carrying the cross. Jesus shed much blood, tears, and sweat while carrying the heavy wooden cross up to Calvary after being beaten and whipped mercilessly. He has carried the cross from the Jerusalem courtyard to Golgotha while bleeding from his broken body. In relying on Jesus’ blood shed for us on the road to Golgotha, we discover the true meaning of denying oneself, picking up the cross, and following the blood-stained footsteps of Jesus. As Jesus was carrying the heavy wooden cross, stained with his blood, tears, and sweat, his legs gave way, and he could not carry on. The Roman soldier began to whip him mercilessly and wanted Jesus to pick up the cross so that the soldier could get the execution over with. However, Jesus did not flinch or move an inch. He was waiting for one person, a new disciple of Jesus, to come and take upon the cross with him. That person was Simon from Libya. Simon was not related to Jesus at all; he was just a spectator waiting for the main event, the Passover meal in the evening. But when he was dragged into carrying the cross of Jesus by force by the Roman soldier, the things that were going through his mind were the very excrement that needed to be excreted out of Simon to be a follower of Jesus. As Simon came in contact with Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears, he lost his right to participate in the Passover meal as he became unclean. He must have spent a fortune and used up his life savings to come to Jerusalem to eat the Passover meal, but by the force of the Roman soldiers, he lost his right to eat the Passover meal. He must have been furious and angry at the brute gentile Roman soldier for being so ignorant and forcing him to carry what seemed like a death sentence to Simon’s dreams and the climax of his journey to Jerusalem. Jesus wanted Simon not to eat the Passover meal that man prepares for religious activities, but to be part of the real Passover meal and to become a follower of Jesus, when Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears were imprinted onto Simon as he carried the cross of Jesus, Simon, without knowing participated in the greatest act of servitude and discipleship towards Jesus. Many years later, we discover that Simon’s family assisted Apostle Paul in preaching the gospel during his journey. We do not know what happened to Simon after he threw down the cross upon Golgotha. Still, we can guess that by carrying the cross of Jesus by force, he missed the Passover meal prepared by religious people. Still, Simon truly participated in the authentic Passover meal prepared by the Lamb of God, Jesus himself. Oh, what a glorious moment for him when he learned that the very cross that he carried was the cross of our Lord Jesus! Modern Christians must deny themselves, carry the cross, and follow Jesus. But the very act is not done or possible with our own volition or will. We must rely on the blood of Jesus that he shed for us while carrying the cross up to Golgotha. Just like Simon, we must have the blood, sweat, and tears of Jesus imprinted onto our spirit, and by the imprint of Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears, we carry the cross that is handed to us. This is how we excrete out the waste that our spiritual person makes after consuming Jesus’ flesh and blood. Many times throughout the day, we go to Jesus to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. After consuming Jesus, the Holy Spirit stirs in our spirit and tells us what hinders our relationship with Jesus. It is natural for a Christian to know what hinders our relationship with Jesus, as our very spiritual DNA begins to change into Jesus’ DNA. It is imprinted in us. As Jesus always pleased the Father and obeyed His will perfectly, Jesus’ DNA that is imprinted in us begins to stir our hearts to know what is pleasing and what is not to the Father. By relying on the blood of Jesus that he shed for us while carrying the cross on the way to Golgotha, our spirit begins to shed our old values, desires, and other things that do not please the Father. When the Holy Spirit brings our attention to a matter, we must stop, listen, and follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf to the Father with groaning that cannot be uttered.

Spiritual Food and Drink

By Eunjin Chang • August 3, 2025
Our spiritual body eats the real food: the flesh of Jesus. Our food table is prepared by Jesus himself, with his broken flesh. When Jesus said, My body is true meat indeed, he literally meant it. We must eat of his flesh many times a day, just like how we eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks in between. Jesus’ flesh and blood cannot be replaced by sermons and teachings. Sermons and teachings are beneficial at times, but the true food and drink of our spirit, which are the flesh and blood of Jesus, cannot be replaced by it. Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1). John tells the reader that Jesus is the very Word of God, and that by becoming flesh, he came into this world to dwell among us. But not only dwell among us, but he became the very meat itself that every disciple of Jesus must consume. Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts, asking us to open it. When we open our hearts, he comes in and dines with us. What is the meat that he is dining on with us? It is his very flesh that he broke for us on the day that he carried the cross of Calvary. Then, how do we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink his blood? Catholics believe that when the priest prepares the Lord’s Supper, the bread becomes the real flesh of Jesus and the wine becomes the real blood of Jesus. Protestants believe that the bread and wine (or grape juice) do not become the real flesh and blood of Jesus, but represent the flesh and blood of Jesus. It seems both sides are missing the real point of the Lord’s Supper: to eat and drink of Jesus’ blood and flesh, which Jesus himself prepares. Whenever the early Christians gathered, they communed the Lord’s supper together. It was their way of life. The Lord’s supper was not only sacred, but it was where they got their daily meat and drink. They had not yet learned; they knew that no matter how poor or frail their meals were, when they presented them before the Lord in faith, the Lord prepared for them his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. When the Christians incorporated the Lord’s supper into their every meal and every gathering, they became powerful Christians. Although they did not have as much knowledge of Scripture as modern-day Christians, they practiced Jesus’ way of life because Jesus himself empowered them. Although some died because they abused the Lord’s supper, the power of Christianity came from the very essence of corporate gathering to share the bread and the wine incorporated into every worship and fellowship. Protestants revere the Lord’s supper, but they do not do it regularly, and this has weakened the authority given by the Lord Jesus. As our physical body needs to eat regularly, sometimes 3 times a day, we need to consume the flesh and blood of Jesus regularly. These days, it may be difficult to gather together to do the Lord’s supper every time. However, when a Christian in faith believes that the flesh and blood of Jesus are present in their daily meals and snacks, it powers their spiritual being.

The Flesh and Blood of Jesus

By Eunjin Chang • August 3, 2025
The Israelites ate manna and drank the water from the rock, but they still died in the wilderness. Jesus states that the manna did not come from Moses, but Jesus’ Father gave the manna to the Israelites to eat. The Jews missed the point of what the manna represented. It was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ flesh being torn apart for the transgressions. The water from the rock represented the blood of Jesus that flowed out of Jesus’ body. When a child is born, no one needs to teach the child to eat, expel waste, or sleep. These three things are natural for any human, young and old. Diseases and frailties in human beings occur when these three things that seem so normal are not done correctly. Even though we know that eating, expelling, and sleeping are the most fundamental physical needs of our body, many Christians forget that the same principle applies to the spiritual being as well. It's a matter of spiritual discipline and commitment. Our spiritual walk is the same. When we become believers in Jesus, we naturally begin to eat of the Word of God and delight in it. We learned what is Christian-like and what is not, and became accustomed to the church lifestyle. Just like when we mistreat our bodies by not eating properly in the correct quantity, not expelling waste regularly, and not sleeping enough, our physical health begins to deteriorate, and it may eventually lead to death. Similarly, neglecting our spiritual nourishment can lead to spiritual starvation and its consequences. Instead of eating spiritual food that is provided by Jesus, many Christians eat non-edible spiritual food, such as false teachings, worldly desires, and self-righteousness, and think that they are being well-fed. In John 6, Jesus repeatedly states that his flesh is the meat and his blood is the drink that every follower of Jesus must consume. However, many Christians fail to believe in Jesus’ words and even neglect, as you find out that near the end of John 6, everyone who followed Jesus because Jesus fed them bread and fish, left as they could not comprehend or obey Jesus’ teachings about eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood. This metaphorical 'eating' and 'drinking' refers to internalizing and living by Jesus' teachings, not a literal consumption of his physical body and blood. The thought of eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking the blood of Jesus offended the crowds and even those who called themselves disciples. It was hard to say, as they left Jesus. But Jesus emphasizes that those who eat of Jesus’ flesh and drink Jesus’ blood, Jesus shall raise that person on the last day: the day of the Lord. Jesus explicitly states here that to eat and drink of Jesus’ flesh is the actual meat and Jesus’ blood is the true drink that everyone who wants to be raised on the last day. As our physical body needs food and drink many times a day, our spiritual self needs nourishment just as frequently. The food that we must eat frequently throughout the day is the flesh of Jesus, and the drink that we must drink frequently throughout the day is the blood of Jesus. However, most Christians failed to understand this simple concept and starved themselves, looking for food and drink in other places, other than Jesus. It is crucial to remember that our spiritual nourishment comes from Jesus' teachings, and we should not starve ourselves by seeking fulfillment in other places. Just like our physical body, our spiritual body needs to eat, expel, and sleep. Then, how does our spiritual body eat, expel, and sleep?

Sample Blood of Jesus Prayer

By Eunjin Chang • April 2, 2025
Jesus, I desire to seek the throne of God at this moment. I know I am not worthy, and none of my work or accomplishments have any bearing on my ability to access God the Father. At this time, I pray and plead that you would cover my heart, thoughts, body, soul, spirit, environment, surroundings, and circumstances with the blood that you shed for me on the cross. Holy Spirit, I desire to seek the throne of God at this moment. I am accessing God the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ, as he has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Holy Spirit, who knows the deepest things of God and searches my heart. I plead you to grant me the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation so that when I pray to the Father, the meditations of my heart and the prayers will please God the Father. Father God, I come to You, not by my righteousness or merit. I come to You humbly on one hand with the blood and the torn flesh of Jesus and on the other, the Holy Spirit. I plead You to look at the blood and the torn flesh of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is the reason in my life and the only way I come to You. Please accept my petitions and prayers as the Holy Spirit leads it. Father God, I remember and believe in Jesus' prayer at the Mount Gethsemane. He pleaded to Father God; I remember and believe in Jesus's prayer at Mount Gethsemane. He pleaded to You, "Not my will, but Your will be done," three times. I want to pray like Jesus and my sincere heart to be like Jesus. However, You know my heart. The shortcomings and all thereof. Therefore, I plead and ask, the blood of Jesus, which was shed for me at Mount Getsemene, that I, too, will pray the things of God, like Jesus. Father God, I remember and believe in the blood that Jesus has shed for me as he wore the crown of thorns. If I am under any curse, by my sin or other means, I plead and pray the blood of Jesus that he shed for me when he wore the crown of thorns on all curses and their effects. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all curses placed upon me be broken at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember and believe in the blood that Jesus shed for me when he was whipped forty times by the Roman soldiers. Isaiah 53 states that Jesus became blue and bled internally and bled externally in extreme pain due to my inequities and transgression. The scripture states that I have been healed by the stripes that Jesus has received on my behalf. I pray and plead the blood of Jesus that he had shed for me when he was whipped upon my life’s iniquities, lacking, diseases, emotional and physical diseases, relational issues, and other issues due to my iniquities. I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus that he shed for me as he was whipped be upon all these things I prayed. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all iniquities, diseases, and unwholesome things in my life to be restored whole at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember Jesus carrying the cross up to the place where he was hung. He bled while carrying the cross. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow me, deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me.” I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, not by my might but by the blood he has shed for me while carrying the cross. I remember the places where he fell and picked up the cross as the Roman soldiers were whipping him, and people were shaming and physically harming him. The blood Jesus has shed for me while carrying the cross was for me so that I can become a disciple of Jesus. I remember when Simon carried the cross to the hill, you showed me that I, too, can carry my cross and follow you. Therefore, I plead and pray that the blood you have shed for me while carrying the cross is upon me, and by the power of the blood, I may be thoroughly equipped and encouraged to carry my cross and follow Jesus. I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus he shed for me as he carried the cross be upon my walk as a disciple of Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all things hindering me from being a good and faithful disciple of Jesus be destroyed at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember when he was nailed hand and feet upon the cross and suffered for six hours; he has shed his precious blood so that he can save me from sin and death. So that sin and death have no dominion over me. Father God, I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus Christ that he has shed for me on the cross be upon the past, present, and future of my life and completely submerged in it so that I, too, can live a life as "I've been crucified with Christ. Therefore, I no longer live, but Jesus Christ lives in me." I pray and plead the blood of Jesus and declare that my life is no longer but only in Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command my soul and body to submit to Jesus Christ's wishes and desires at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember when Jesus gave up the ghost, the Roman soldier pierced his side, and his heart burst, and blood and water came out. Jesus did not reserve anything but gave all for me. I pray and plead that the blood and water that came out when the Roman soldier speared Jesus' side be upon me. I access Your throne in boldness and confidence by the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed from the piercing of the heart. I pray and plead that You look at the pierced heart and the blood and water that came out on behalf of me. Although unworthy, I come to Your throne boldly because of what Jesus has done for me, the blood he shed. Father God, teach me the most profound things that only the Son knew. Lead me to live in the most secret parts of God and let me live the way that makes my Lord Jesus joyful. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits, dominion, and powers that hindered me from accessing the deepest desires of God by degrading me and accusing me of being destroyed by the name of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ be upon all the areas and influences that these wicked forces have occupied and be wholly transformed into Jesus' likeness. Holy Spirit, as You have granted me the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, I ask You to reveal what I should pray and how I should engage in spiritual warfare. I humbly ask You to take me and reveal the things of God that have been hidden for eternity. I humbly ask You that I will be a suitable vessel to You and Your ministry. Holy Spirit, take over my heart, thoughts, body, soul, spirit, environment, surroundings, and circumstances as Jesus' blood has done. After these prayers, do not hurry, but wait for God and His instructions to come into your heart. It may take a long time, but stay patient and keep meditating on the six bloods of Jesus Christ. God will reveal Himself to You because of the promise that is in the blood of Jesus.

Active Application of the Blood of Jesus in the Spiritual Warfare

By Eunjin Chang • March 17, 2025
Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." This verse explicitly mentions knowledge rather than wisdom, which is an interesting observation. It emphasizes the specific knowledge God has given to His people, which meant not only for survival but for thriving. This living knowledge comes from Jesus's works on earth and is applied to us through faith, specifically through His blood. In any spiritual warfare, our weaponry consists of the name of Jesus and the works He has accomplished for us. Our only connection to God is through Jesus, as He stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." God desires us to invoke Jesus in the spiritual battlegrounds. Instead of merely asking God to fight for us, He wants us to exercise the power and authority that has been bestowed upon the saints through Jesus. Many saints are unaware of the power and authority that God has granted them. Each saint represents God on earth, like an ambassador. God has called us to be priestly kings. Saints who do not exercise the power and authority God grants are like police officers who do not exercise their authority to maintain order and law. A truck may be physically more powerful than a policeman; however, when a police officer tells the truck to stop, it complies. The truck stops not because the officer is physically more powerful but because the state has given the officer the authority to command it. Similarly, God has given us authority as saints under Jesus' leadership. Jesus is the head of the church, and all saints make up His body. He paid the price for saints to exercise their authority on earth. However, if a saint is ignorant of their authority, the enemy can take advantage of that ignorance.

Hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Jesus, Gal 2:2-3

By Eunjin Chang • March 17, 2025
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the Book of Colossians, we come across a verse resembling a treasure map leading to precious resources. The scripture reveals that unique treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus. These treasures are not typical; God actively conceals them, and only those who earnestly seek Jesus will discover them. Jeremiah 33:3 states, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." The treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in Jesus are incredibly powerful in spiritual warfare. Since God actively hides them, they are not easily discovered by anyone. Access to these treasures is granted only to those who continuously seek Jesus and whom He allows to find them. It resembles a treasure hunt or a game of hide-and-seek, where the pursuit leads to a significant and mysterious reward. When we dedicate our daily lives to walking with Jesus, our relationship with Him becomes the key to uncovering these hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus provides a white stone inscribed with a name that no one knows except the person who receives it. This stone symbolizes the hidden treasure in Jesus and is personal to the recipient; no one else can understand its significance. This unique gift can significantly benefit the individual, especially during spiritual warfare. The hidden treasures discovered in Jesus will activate and create turmoil in the spiritual realm. These treasures embody the hidden knowledge of God, who brought the universe into existence from nothing. They represent the essence of creation itself. Those who reflect God's personality, character, and way of living will have access to these invaluable treasures regarding the creation account.

Ephesians 1:17

By Eunjin Chang • March 17, 2025
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life when he wrote the epistle to the city of Ephesus. He had gone through numerous mission trips, faced life-and-death situations, and endured many near-death experiences in his efforts to spread the gospel. Whenever he thinks about the church in Ephesus, he gives thanks to God for their growth in Jesus. Paul felt a sense of pride in the church of Ephesus and encouraged them to continue fighting the good fight. Before discussing spiritual warfare, he expresses his personal greetings and mentions that he prays for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to be upon the church. The Spirit of Wisdom enables the saints to view their current situations and circumstances from God's perspective and values. The church of Ephesus struggled to understand many things. Paul desired for them to receive the Spirit of Wisdom to help them interpret their experiences and be patient as they endured difficult circumstances. When the saints see their situations through God's perspective, they can step back from actively engaging in the struggles and find comfort in God's sovereign reign, though they may not understand from their perspective. The Spirit of Revelation is God's insight into future events, presented with a current understanding of His values. God knows everything, including the future, and the Spirit of Revelation functions like a Spirit of Prophecy, revealing things that will happen in the future but are understood in the present. When the Spirit of Wisdom works in harmony with the Spirit of Revelation, both present and future events can be interpreted from God's perspective, allowing the saints to find comfort in His omnipresence and sovereignty. In other words, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation is granted to the saints for the purpose of discernment. There are numerous approaches to solving issues and problems when engaging in various spiritual battles. Some solutions may achieve quick resolutions, while others may require more time and effort. With the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation manifesting in a saint involved in spiritual warfare, the Spirit of Wisdom can provide specific guidance on how to engage, including which spiritual weaponry to apply to each target. The Spirit of Revelation can reveal the most effective means to combine these strategies for defeating the enemy. A saint filled with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation operates like a super radar, functioning at the highest frequency to cover nearly everything happening in the spiritual realm. Instead of solely focusing on the physical realm and its effects, the saint can discover the source of issues and can directly address those sources for quick relief. When encountering demons and evil spirits, each has specific characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The Spirit of Wisdom can identify these traits in real-time and guide the saint in engaging in spiritual attacks using the power of Jesus' blood. Similarly, the Spirit of Revelation can assess the situation from a future perspective, enabling the necessary discernment to execute effective spiritual warfare. The enemy may employ different attack vectors and types when engaging in spiritual battles. These various spirits may sometimes be intertwined, and the Spirit of Wisdom will help identify each individual spirit by its unique characteristics. However, when the Spirit of Revelation shines light on the same situation, it can reveal that some spirits may not be the main controlling spirits, although present. If only these surface spirits are addressed, the immediate issues may seem resolved, but the deeper, underlying problems remain unaddressed. Therefore, the collaboration of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation leads to coherent and comprehensive solutions for the spiritual warfare at hand.

The Joshua’s Mistake

By Eunjin Chang • March 17, 2025
After a great victory at the city of Jericho, Joshua began a siege against the town of Ai. Confident in his tactics and disregarding the need for divine consultation, he assumed that, since Ai was a small town, victory would be easily achieved. Unfortunately, he viewed this battle purely through human reasoning, failing to recognize that our own power or might does not win true victories. Every battle Joshua faced in the land of Canaan was a form of spiritual warfare that required direction from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit understands God's deepest truths and is the spiritual realm's creator. Later, Joshua faced a significant defeat, which led him to repent and seek guidance from God. His experience in the battle of Ai illustrates the nature of spiritual warfare. After experiencing great victories, we can become overly confident, which may lead to pride—similar to the "Pride of Life." This pride can take root in our souls, even if we acknowledge that we are crucified with Jesus and carry the spirit of martyrdom. Ultimately, victories are not achieved through our own efforts but through the power of God. As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places." The tactics of spiritual warfare do not adhere to the rules and laws of the physical world. We cannot afford to make the same mistake Joshua made in his spiritual battles. The consequences of ignoring God's guidance can be severe and costly. Like Joshua, we must earnestly seek the counsel of the Lord and wait humbly for clear directions before proceeding.