And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?…' - I Samuel 4:3 REFERENCE I Samuel 4:1-3 It is interesting to note the kind of understanding Israel had in this verse – that their military success or defeat was in the hands of the Lord and never in their enemy’s. It can be further postulated that they understood also that it didn’t depend on the size of their army or the enemy’s, their strategy or the enemy’s, their weapon of war or...
While He spoke these things to them, behold , a ruler came and worshiped Him saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come lay your hand on her and she will live.' - Matthew 9:18 REFERENCE Matthew 9:18-26 This man was asking for medicine after death. No right thinking physician wants to go administer treatment to a dead body, but Jesus is no ordinary Physician – He is Lord over both life and death – He is a Physician, even after death, for He is the resurrection and the life. The fact that this man came to...
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 REFERENCE John 16:33 As Christians, many of us don’t want to come to terms with the truth Jesus expressed in today’s text concerning tribulation (i.e. trouble) coming to us; because trouble gets us worried, it brings discomfort, anxiety and inconvenience. Although nobody prays to have trouble, yet we experience it one way or another in our lives. The times we find ourselves in trouble,...
And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, 'For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.' - Genesis 26:22 REFERENCE Genesis 26:12-22 One of the devil’s deceptions is to make people think they have lost time and opportunity, and that starting all over again may be too difficult, if not impossible. We see in our society today many people who have bought into this ‘lie’ and have given up on themselves....
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12 REFERENCE Proverbs 13:12 Expectation is envisioning, the ability to foresee or look for what you believe. It is full of enthusiasm and fervor. Expectation is the magnet that attracts what you believe God for to you. It places a demand on the power of God. Many Christians have stayed at the point of believing for years without seeing tangible results. Believing for something is the first point in our faith walk, but what takes you to the point...
For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. - Isaiah 54:10 REFERENCE Isaiah 54:7-10 We serve a God who though has a name that is higher than every other name, still honors His Word more than His name (Psalm 138:2). This tells us that, He is bound to His Word regardless of what happens. Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of our Covenant-keeping God prospers in the purpose for which...
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. - John 10:27 REFERENCE John 10:27-30 Our God is a speaking God! He is always willing to instruct and guide us. Like a good parent, He wants to speak to us about our lives, families, marriage choices, business, financial investments, service to Him, ministry, etc. However, we have to consciously tune our ears to His frequency in order to hear Him. In the midst of many voices speaking today – in our minds, music, the media and social media, political and economic analysts, medical reports...
Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so. - Genesis 1:11 REFERENCE Genesis 1:11-12 A seed is the propagative part of a plant. It contains the embryo that gives rise to a new entity and it is the vehicle of reproduction. An endless multiplication of life is contained in the seed; the seed has all the roots, stem, branches, bark, flowers, leaves and the fruits, which in turn contains...
I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. - Luke 11:8 REFERENCE Luke 11:5-13 This passage further reinforces the fact that “You will not necessarily get what you deserve in life (for it was recorded that the man did not answer the petitioner though he was his friend), you will only get what you demand.” (Yes it is recorded that the petitioner’s request was granted because of his persistence). Life on earth...
But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For where you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.' - Ruth 1:16 REFERENCE Ruth 1:8-18 To consecrate your life to something or someone means, you are devoting/yielding/dedicating your life totally to that thing or person. Being consecrated to God, simply means giving up your own claims on yourself and putting yourself completely in His hands, in absolute trust. In these days of motivational teachings, many are caught in-between...