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Conviction
When Joseph refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife he said, “how can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Not only did Joseph believe that adultery was sinful, “great wickedness”, he also believed that God was watching him even if Potiphar was not, but it was more than just being caught that held Joseph in check. It was his conviction that kept him from committing this horrible sin and ruining his life. Joseph’s conviction was greater than any momentary pleasure that might have occurred and it protected him from falling victim to his own flesh. No one was…
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words of my mouth …
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Upon review, it is clear that David prayed about what he would say when he concluded praying. He wanted his words to be acceptable in the sight of the Lord and for good reason. David knew that God was listening to his spoken words. Jesus said: Mathew 12:36-37 “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and…
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“everything mom”
Moses was born in a very chaotic time. Pharaoh was on a war path, killing every young male child he could find. In a bold move, Moses’ mother, Jochebed, hid him from the Egyptian’s wrath. But after three months there was no safe place left to hide. It was then that she weaved a basket; placed the young Moses inside, and pushed him into the slow, winding waters of the Nile River. Some distance away, Pharaoh’s daughter found him and drew him out, thus his name became Moses “for he was drawn out.” Incredibly, pharaoh’s daughter called for a helper…
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Leaven
It was a simple error when the disciples forgot to bring bread for their journey across the sea. They had other food supplies, but someone left the bread. Jesus took the opportunity to launch a life-lesson that resonates yet today. He said, Mark 8:15 “…beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.” It was a double-edged warning. First, He warned of the religious who guide without humility or servant-hood. They talk about their spiritual insights, but are not submissive to authority or to the Holy Spirit. They do not pray or fast, but always have…
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Except a man be born again …
In the 40 days after the resurrection, as Jesus tarried with His disciples, He foretold of the Holy Ghost giving them power to be witnesses (Act 1:8). Those were among the last few words that the Lord spoke before He ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives. Those words echoed in their minds as they made their way to Jerusalem to“wait for the promise of the Father.” They were going to receive power to be witnesses. And when the Holy Ghost fell and they were filled with the Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues (Acts2:1-4), they became witnesses…
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BE the sacrifice
Recent discovery depicts a long list of challenges facing the 21st century church. It’s not uncommon to find opposition from governments or laws at the forefront. Maintaining doctrines, complex family issues, and the moral morass, which has become our lot, also climbs into those top spots. Yet I see something greater afflicting our times. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, Complacent Christianity leaps to the front of the pew (or to the back). Being a Christian has never been easier. We have become very adaptive to our sinful world. We can relate to our society much better than our apostolic fore-fathers could relate to theirs.…
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See the Lord for Who He is
Much to the consternation of Jesus, the disciples abruptly dismissed the approaching children and their parents. They thought it inappropriate for the children to take up the Master’s time. Little did they know that the opposite was true: He wanted to touch them. The Kingdom demands for us all to become as children. In that moment it was about their age, but it was also about their disposition and the conditions of the Kingdom. Children exhibit untarnished faith and trust. They come in the most innocent way, without skepticism or suspicion. They see the Lord for Who He is: Loving and…
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Order precedes the Miracle
In the same passage that describes Jesus cleansing the Temple, it also depicts Him performing notable miracles. Jesus begins by casting out merchants that bought and sold in the Temple. He overthrows tables of money, spilling their wears on the floor. The scene is chaotic as men scramble to salvage their enterprise. Their manipulation of people combined with the absence of prayer provokes the Lord to wrath. The Bible says that “he drove them out.” He called them thieves and made an open display of their sinful activity. He was putting the House in order. He was restoring the intent and…
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“What do you do with a buried god?”
Genesis 35 finds Jacob on his way to Bethel. He’s leaving Laban and the current conflict behind, but on the way Jacob discovers Rachel’s hidden gods. They were household figures made of soft stone and wood. They were family idols common among Laban’s faithless crew. Genesis 35:4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. The question quickly came, “What do you do with a buried god?” In the realm of all things human, what is buried is concluded. What is buried is…
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Rejoice greatly
A messenger was sent to declare a new king in Israel. The Bible describes him as a madman in attire and in conduct. It sounds like John the Baptist, but this happened in that older testament. The Word of God was in his mouth; the prophecy and appointment of this new king was sure and sound. When the message was given, the men around him, “…took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted….” (2 Kings 9) The new king was Jehu and he was sent to destroy the sinful…