Skip to main content

SPIRITUAL LEGACY

"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." ~ Acts 20:29   REFERENCE: Acts 20:26-36   Paul significantly invested in leaving a spiritual legacy. He gathered this group on the eve of his travel and told them what to expect from the enemy after his departure. Yet, he reminded them that he had prepared them by his teachings and lifestyle and commended them to the word of God. He warned them that the enemy is diverse in his antics of attacks (savage wolves and perverse men); hence, they must also...
Read More

BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS

“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” ~ Luke 12:15   REFERENCE: Luke 12:15-21   The inordinate quest for riches today is quite alarming. Don’t get me wrong, God wants you to have riches, but He does not want riches to have you. He does not want you to lose your soul or faith in pursuing riches. There is a spirit behind money; if you do not learn to second money to your love for God, it can corrupt you. That is why...
Read More

GOOD WINS EVIL

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ~ Romans 12:21   REFERENCE: Romans 12:17-21   We live in a world where evil and wickedness prevail. We all confront evil at some point and seek to overcome it. The problem, however, is that evil has unknowingly sipped into us because we live in this world; hence, our tactic for fighting evil is often with evil (i.e., revenge). Yet, the only scripturally guaranteed way to defeat evil is with good. Yes, it takes light to win darkness.   Good wins over evil. I will illustrate with a story in...
Read More

RUINED BY RICHES

“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” ~ Proverbs 1:32 (KJV)   REFERENCE: Proverbs 1:29-32 (KJV)   Follow me into one of the stories in my collection: I was walking through an orchard, looking around, when I saw a low tree laden more heavily with fruit than the rest. On a closer look, it appeared that someone had dragged the tree close to the ground, and the weight of its treasures broke it. “Oh!” said I, gazing at the tree, “here lies one ruined by his riches.”   Soon, I...
Read More

GOD GETS THE BEST

“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?” ~ Malachi 1:6-10   REFERENCE: Malachi 1:8   When someone gives me a gift that I know they could have done better, it irks me and says they are either stingy or do not value me that much. I’m sure you feel the same way. The quality of our generosity is often the test of our capacity for kindness, goodness, or spirituality. When God...
Read More

TRY PRAISE

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." – Psalms 33:1    REFERENCE: Psalm 33:1-9   Global trends are constantly changing: fashion changes with the seasons, people's tastes in movies, arts, and music change, and new slang forms before you try to learn them. One thing that will never become outdated is praise in the mouth of God's saints; praise will always be necessary, relevant, and ever-pleasing to God. No matter what happens, hold on to praise as a master key.   Sometimes, the enemy comes at you with all he's got and 'knocks the...
Read More

GOD LISTENED

“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.” ~ Genesis 30:22   REFERENCE: Genesis 30:14-24   Although Rachael was a loved wife, she remained barren for many years while her rival sister, Lear, bore children like it was going out of fashion. I can imagine the shame, taunting, suspicion, misunderstanding, etc., that Rachael endured from Leah and her neighbors. We serve a God who sees, hears, and cares. As our text reveals, God listened to Rachael’s prayers.   Rachel tried everything possible to have a child, to the extent of giving her maid to Jacob. Yet,...
Read More

BLESSING IN THE BROKEN PIECES

“…And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.” ~ Matthew 14:19   REFERENCE: Matthew 14:13-21   On the day Jesus had a multitude to feed, the miracle was not in the five loaves of bread but in the broken pieces. Jesus, upon receiving the bread, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to the disciples to give to the multitude. It was the broken pieces that God multiplied and...
Read More

PURIFYING FIRE

"And the Chaldeans who fight against this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger." ~ Jeremiah 32:29   REFERENCE: Jeremiah 32:26-42   Fire purifies and refines. In scripture, it speaks of the refining judgment of God. Israel provoked God to anger by their many idolatries, and He decided to judge them by sending the Chaldeans to ravage the land and take them into captivity. In addition to their imprisonment, Jerusalem would...
Read More

THE KING’S SLEEPLESS NIGHT

“That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” ~ Esther 6:1   REFERENCE: Esther 6:1-10   Imagine if everyone you ever showed kindness to remembered you and paid you back. Well, it doesn’t always work like that. Men forget, but only God remembers. The reward of kindness often comes from unexpected sources and, sometimes, from the same person to whom kindness was done. When God is set to remember and reward you, He will give kings sleepless nights.   Mordecai gave...
Read More
1 … 15 16 17 … 136