Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. - Joshua 14:8 REFERENCE Joshua 14:6-12 The things you say can either kill or make (faith) alive. Your mouth and the words you speak hold the keys to the door of your future, prosperity, experience, etc. the earlier you start speaking the right words i.e. God’s words even when nothing around you points to that, the faster the manifestation of those things you have been saying. As leaders in one capacity or the other (e.g. children’s...
Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. - Ezekiel 47:12 REFERENCE Ezekiel 47:7-12 Uniquely represented in this passage is a life that constantly receives it’s true life from Jesus the ‘River/Water of life.’ Here it describes some features that are commonplace for the tree (man), which grows “Along the bank of the...
Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. - Genesis 40:23 REFERENCE Genesis 40:5-15, 23 Isn’t it typical of us (humans) to easily forget the kindness and goodness others have shown to us? In this passage, we saw how Joseph helped to interpret the butler’s dream who was then restored back to his position from prison. Although the butler made a promise to repay Joseph’s kindness by mentioning him to Pharaoh (who has power to release him from prison), he still forgot about him once he was out of the prison and Joseph remained in his...
Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing,… For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman… ~ Isaiah 54:1 REFERENCE Isaiah 54:1-10 It takes real faith and sacrifice to sing when things are not adding up and you are not seeing fruits from your labor. It seems almost unfair to tell someone who is experiencing a drought to rejoice, because the person doesn’t have any reason to be joyful. However, God who knows the end from the beginning gave the directive for the barren to rejoice in this...
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! ~ 1 John 3:1 REFERENCE 1 John 3:1-12 The world celebrates today (February 14th) as Valentine’s Day – a day of love, set aside for people to both receive and show love to others. Love connotes different things to different people, but in its pure form, it is the nature of God. God showed us His nature by giving us His unconditional love although we were undeserving of it. Because of this love, we are now called ‘Children of God.’...
For the LORD will restore the excellence of Jacob like the excellence of Israel for the emptiers have emptied them out and ruined their vine branches. - Nahum 2:2 REFERENCE Nahum 2:1-6 Restoration means putting something back to its original state, i.e. repair or return to how it was previously. God promised to restore His children in our text to their former state of excellence after they had suffered in the hands of their emptiers. The devil is the one who empties people of their worth and value; he ruins people’s character and personalities. He destroys homes and takes away...
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. - Proverbs 22:29 (KJV). DILIGENCE is one of the strongest forces on earth; it can make someone who has been labeled a failure excel and prosper exceedingly. Diligence, simply means doing something consistently until the purpose is accomplished. God requires us to be diligent in all we do but especially in seeking an intimate relationship with Him, so no matter where we are in life (mountain top or valley), we will be consistent in pursuing Him. If you must walk...
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 1 Kings 17:8-16 Faith is taking a risk based on God’s word; it means belief in the word of God to the point of acting on it. The widow in our passage today took a risk based on the word of God Elijah gave her; it wasn’t a convenient thing for her to do but it was absolutely necessary for her sustenance. This shows us that faith is not always convenient, it...
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. – Matthew 14:24 REFERENCE Matthew 14:22-32 We notice in the passage we read today that Jesus made His disciples get into a boat to go to a particular area; so we can confidently say the disciples were on assignment for God – in the will of God. However their journey was interrupted by the waves and contrary wind that met them headlong. This clearly shows that the journey of life is not always smooth sail even though we are walking...
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from the slave, though he is the master of all. – Galatians 4:1 REFERENCE Galatians 4:1-9 An heir is someone who has the legal right to inherit the properties of another at their demise. On the other hand, a child is a minor who needs guardians and teachers for daily direction. This means a child is immature and is incapable of handling certain responsibilities. Therefore, an heir who is still a child cannot lay claim to his inheritance until he gets to...