“…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...
“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.’ And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city.” ~ Joshua 8:18 REFERENCE: Joshua 8:14-20 There are things God wants you to have in life that you may not have because you have not been able to reach out in faith to receive them. Faith demonstrates to God your absolute conviction that He will do what He says He will, your expectation to receive your desire, and your willingness...
“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...
“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...
“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” ~ Psalm 18:39 REFERENCE: Psalm 18:28-39 David recounts the unusual victories he secured in his battles, how he pursued his enemies and overtook and wounded them until they could rise no more. He recalls his ability to run against a troop of soldiers and leap over walls, climb jagged heights like a deer, bend bronze bows to shoot arrows, and how his feet never slipped. It takes unusual strength to do all this. How did David become...
“So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.” – 1 Kings 17:15 REFERENCE: I Kings 17:8-16 Faith is one concept in the bible that makes those who act in faith appear crazy or foolish. Faith believes in a God it does not see and acts in ways that do not make logical sense. Faith made childless Abram change his name to Abraham (father of nations), and Peter walk on water. It takes crazy faith to live a life that pleases God because He will...
…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...
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you..." ~ I Chronicles 28:9 REFERENCE: I Chronicles 28:4-10 As the sun began to set on David's time as king of Israel, he began to put 'his house' in order. He called the leaders of Israel, officers of the tribes, military captains, personal staff, and the members of his cabinet and gave...
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” – I Timothy 1:15 REFERENCE: I Timothy 1:12-17 It is the last day of the first half of the year. We have spent the week reflecting on the goodness and mercies of God in the previous six months. Possibly, you may look back and say, “Well, I don’t have much to thank God for.” Do you have salvation? Do you know that is the greatest thing God has done for you, and nothing else...
"Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death." – Psalm 68:20 If you cannot thank God for what you received, thank Him for what you escaped. If God opened our eyes to see the many unseen evils He protects us from or the many plans in the enemy's mind restrained from hatching, thanksgiving would not be difficult. David made this statement after escaping two assassination attempts and living as a fugitive for years. I often imagine that while some thieves plan a heist, God keeps the thoughts of my street or...