“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 REFERENCE: Isaiah 60:1-5 This famous Bible verse forms the lyrics of gospel songs we may have sung at different times without paying attention to what we are saying. Today, we are going to pay attention to the verse and receive the instructions in it. Yes, it is a command! ‘ARISE’ denotes an action. It is a verb. These three dictionary definitions reflect this: 1. To come up from a lower to a higher position 2. To come up or get up...
"So, David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?". ~ II Samuel 11:3 REFERENCE: II Samuel 11:1-5 God has given us freedom in Christ. He made us free-moral agents to choose and do what we consider to serve our purpose. We have the freedom of expression, acquisition, and association. However, your freedom stops wherever it infringes on another person's rights or stops them from enjoying their freedom. Although we are free, we must respect boundaries. Freedom without boundaries is hazardous. Suppose you can...
"It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel... But David remained at Jerusalem." ~ II Samuel 11:1 REFERENCE: II Samuel 11:1-15 It is usually said, "Don't send a boy to do a man's job." The saying described David's mistake when he sent Joab to fight the battle he should have led as a king. Most of Israel's decisive victories came when David led his men's charge (see II Samuel 10). God had trained his hands for war and his fingers...
"It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem." ~ II Samuel 11:1 REFERENCE: II Samuel 11:1-15 Recently, we looked at King David as a man of a noble spirit. Still, some dirty deeds stained his illustrious personage. Although the sweet psalmist of Israel and a man after God's heart, David was human. A look at David's dirty deed reveals the progression of sin...
“Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.” ~ II Samuel 3:1 REFERENCE: II Samuel 3:1-10 God promised David the kingship of Israel. Although he ascended the throne of Judah, he had no rest nor enjoyed peace, for the house of Saul was bitter towards him, resisted his kingship, and opposed his authority. Although Saul was dead, his household still troubled David. Can you identify what is supposed to have died in your life, yet you...
"But He turned and rebuked them and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of." ~ Luke 9:55 REFERENCE: Luke 9:51-56 The walk of love is not for the faint-hearted. Love goes against everything our flesh (selfishness) wants; it restrains us from holding on to bitterness, revenging, gossiping, getting even, etc. It is easy to profess love, but walking the love talk is a different ballgame. As believers born of God, let us strive to be ruled by love in all our dealings and relationships. It is tough, but it is God. What does...
"Therefore, David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel..." ~ II Samuel 1:11-12 REFERENCE: II Samuel 1:1-12 Out of pure jealousy, hatred, spite, and wickedness, Saul deprived David of his family, home, security, and the best of his years. He chased David to kill him and was unrepentant to the end. Upon hearing about Saul's death, one would have...
“He is not here but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying… And they remembered His words…” – Luke 24:6-8 REFERENCE: Luke 24:1-12 Happy Easter Monday! Jesus is risen and sits on the right hand of God the Father in heaven. Journey back to the tomb after He arose from the grave. The women had spices to embalm Jesus’ body, but they met an empty tomb on getting there. They were devastated, perplexed, and shocked. Confused about what it all meant, two angels lifted their spirits by telling them, “Remember how...
"But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here…” – Mark 16:6 REFERENCE: Mark 16:1-8 The Jewish leaders requested that Pilate would tightly secure the tomb of Jesus. A large stone was rolled over the entrance to the grave, sealed with an official seal, and soldiers stationed there to ensure that the fate of Jesus remained sealed. Satan did his worst and recruited the Roman government to execute his hate against Jesus. However, there would be a shocker. If those who rolled the stone...
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” ~ Romans 5:6 REFERENCE: Romans 5:6-11 Happy Good Friday! That is what we say today, but it was not ‘happy’ over two thousand years ago when Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a rugged wooden cross. It was a painful sight as the Son of God was hanging on the cross, almost naked, bloodied, and insulted by passersby. Was he hanged like a criminal for an offense He committed? NO! It was for an offense He did not commit. You and I committed the offense, but...