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DIVORCED BUT DESIRED

“‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers, yet return to Me,” says the Lord.” ~ Jeremiah 3:1   REFERENCE: Jeremiah 3:1-5   Jeremiah uses striking imagery in our main text to describe backslidden Israel. Israel was not only backslidden; they shamelessly went after idols and polluted every mountain with shrines and groves to their gods. God likened Israel’s error to adultery – lying with strange men on strange beds. A man...
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STRENGTHEN THE BRETHREN

“…Indeed, satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you… when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” – Luke 22:31-32   REFERENCE: Luke 22:31-33   God has a plan for every season or experience you may find yourself in; to use it to strengthen the brethren. It may be bereavement, betrayal, or backsliding (as in our text), yet, God would use it as a tool of help and hope for many. This outlook is what God wants us to have towards our wilderness seasons. No matter how painful, God will...
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RESPONSE TO LIFE: IGNORANCE

“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him (Elijah), and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ” ~ II Kings 1:9   REFERENCE: II Kings 1:2-15   Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. We face the same challenges in life, have the same hours in a day, are tempted by satan and men, have bills to pay, deal with emotional challenges,...
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DEPENDABLE GOD

"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   In a world of variables, we unconsciously seek stability or assurances. We seek things or people we can lean on or trust to hold up or stay with us through tough times. However, experience has shown that men disappoint, money develops wings and flies away, friends leave, and positions or offices of influence do not endure forever. The only dependable One...
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BE STILL: STRENGTH IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

"Be still, and know that I am God…" ~ Psalm 46:10   REFERENCE: Psalm 46:1-11   Trusting in God's plan and provision can be tough in times of uncertainty. But trying times come to test and refine our faith. The secret to finding strength in uncertain times is relying on God's faithfulness and the assurance we have when we place our trust in Him. World events may scare us, but our anchor remains secure in His unchanging love and faithfulness.   God said, "Be still, and know that I am God." It is God's call to us in times of uncertainty....
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THE BLESSING TRIGGER

“…Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me… 14 For thus says the Lord… ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ”” ~ I Kings 17:13-14   REFERENCE: I Kings 17:8-16   What Elijah did would have made headlines in modern newspapers: “Itinerant Prophet defrauds poor widow of her meager resource” or “Fake pastor cons helpless widow.” How do you go to a poor widow...
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CHOOSE YOUR MASTER

“Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute money.” ~ II Kings 17:3   REFERENCE II Kings 17:1-6   Our text chronicles a brief account of the life of King Hoshea of Israel. He reigned for nine years, but the bible shows that he did evil in the sight of God. At some point, Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, used his military might to make Hoshea his vassal (an enslaved person with charge over a jurisdiction on behalf of a master/lord). Hoshea endured it for a while but later sought help.   Hoshea went behind...
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RESIST THE SCATTERER

“He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.” – Nahum 2:2   REFERENCE: Nahum 2:1-6   In our text, God warns Nineveh that ‘he who scatters’ had come and that they should man the fort, watch the road, strengthen their flanks, and fortify themselves. Today, it is a call to us to be alert and ready to fight back when life throws you into situations that steal from you and drain you. It is a call to vigilance because if you don’t, life can rob you of...
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GOOD FROM NAZARETH

  "And Nathaniel said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'" – John 1:46   REFERENCE: John 1:43-50 Nazareth was a small, obscure village that became famous because it was the hometown of Jesus. It had an estimated population of about 200 to 400 people. Everyone knew everyone by name (in such villages). Jesus grew up, and he went there first when He began his public ministry. No wonder Nathaniel did not expect any good from Nazareth when he heard about a Savior from Nazareth, so he doubted. However, he would yet...
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THE LOAF OF BREAD

…That man was telling his friend about a dream that he had. He was saying, ‘I dreamed that a round loaf of bread came rolling into the camp of the Midianites. That loaf of bread hit the tent so hard that the tent turned over and fell flat.’ – Judges 7:13 ERV   REFERENCE: Judges 7:1-22   At this point in Israel’s history, the oppression and plunder from the Midianites reduced them to poverty. Gideon, whom God called to lead an army against the Midianites, raised 32,000 men, but God told him to reduce the number to 300 men because He...
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