Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, 'It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.' ~ II Samuel 21:1 REFERENCE II Samuel 21:1-14 The background to this passage is found in Joshua 9, when the Gibeonites entered into a peace treaty with the Israelites by deception. Although the treaty was made by falsehood, God still honored it because the Israelites swore by Him. When king Saul went against the treaty by killing...
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. - II Samuel 22:3 REFERENCE II Samuel 22:1-4 As a Christian, it is necessary for you to know God and His attributes because your concept of God is a function of your knowledge of Him. Also, your affection and service for God cannot be greater than how much you know of Him. Many have backslidden because of a faulty, inadequate or twisted opinion of God. The attribute of...
…But the just shall live by his faith. - Habakkuk 2:4 REFERENCE Habakkuk 2:1-4 These are times when the journey of life seems uncertain and finishing seems unachievable. Your mind may be dominated by questions and you are wondering why things are the way they are and you may be tempted to give up hope and throw in the towel, but today’s text admonishes you to live by your faith. In other words, by faith you shall possess, handle the affairs and determine the outcome of your life. So, be ready to respond by your faith to those...
For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.- Jeremiah 29:10 REFERENCE Jeremiah 29:10-14 One of the greatest gift God has given to man is ‘TIME,’ it has helped man to plan his life, set goals, make appointments, and has been exchanged for money severally. But, time has been one of man’s greatest source of frustration because he cannot hasten it, delay it or control it. The only person that can control time is God, and...
…One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. - Mark 10:21-22 REFERENCE Mark 10:17-30 From the account of today’s passage, we see that, it is very possible for a man to be very religious and not be generous. However, any religion that has not affected the pocket is no religion at all. Religion becomes empty lip-service, when it does not affect your pocket or place demands...
But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die…' - Ruth 1:16-17 REFERENCE Ruth: 1:6-18 What prompted Ruth to follow her mother in-law, despite the lack of prospects, to an unknown land, to strangers and to a foreign God, when she could easily have gone back to her family – the familiar, and a support system after the death...
Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. - Matthew 13:58 REFERENCE Matthew 13:53-58 Today’s passage reveals what happens when we put a limit on God through unbelief: “It leads to ‘no mighty works.'” So, although God is all powerful and there is nothing impossible for Him to do, unbelief in His ability puts a limit on how much He can achieve in your life. God does not like to be doubted or limited, He is not a man. He does not have just one strategy or style to bring you out of...
The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it. - Psalms 68:11 REFERENCE Psalm 68:11 Today we conclude on our theme of the week, Evangelism. In a world of social connections and in addition to all the other ways we can evangelize, social media is one strong and powerful tool at our disposal. Social media is not inherently moral or immoral, it is amoral. It’s usage determines whether it is good or bad. And there is no better way to use it than in spreading the gospel. God is calling you to be...
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. - II Corinthians 5:20 REFERENCE II Corinthians 5:17-21 Today’s text reveals that God has conferred an honorable status on you…that you should be an ambassador of Christ. An ambassador is on a diplomatic mission to represent the interest of his/her country in another country. As it relates to you the believer, you are on a mission on earth representing the demands of heaven. Ambassadors function in several capacities, amongst which is to foster...
Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.' So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' - Acts 8:29-31 REFERENCE Acts 8:26-40 The Spirit of God supernaturally directed Philip to go to the eunuch in this text, who was obviously in a dilemma – confused about what he was reading in the scriptures, and needed clarity to encourage his faith. What Philip did, was to begin from where the eunuch was,...