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DON’T LOSE YOUR JOY

“The vine has dried up, and the fig tree has withered; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree—All the trees of the field are withered; surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.” ~ Joel 1:12   REFERENCE: Joel 1:11-12   We are spirit beings that live in human bodies. Most of what happens around us first occur in our spirit-man. Hence, the Bible says, “A broken spirit dries the bones.” The first part of this text says, “A merry heart does good like medicine.” Joy revives the spirit. Joy in the spirit (or heart) of a man...
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THREE-WAY LIVING

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ I Thessalonians 5:23   REFERENCE: I Thessalonians 5:23-24   Humans are three-part beings. We are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. For this reason, God wants us to live lives that cater to this triune reality – a three-way living. Paul said God wants our spirit, soul, and body to be wholly sanctified; He wants us to live balanced lives that make significant investments in each of...
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HAVE YOU HEARD?

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” ~ Matthew 2:1-2   REFERENCE: Matthew 2:1-5   “Have you heard?” You must have heard this phrase several times, often relating to a rumor in your community. You wonder, “Why am I always the last person to hear what is happening?” True, if it is about a rumor, you don’t need to bother yourself, but if it is information that could help your business, protect you, your family, and your investment, or give...
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CORNERED BUT COVERED

"Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels…thought he could kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him." ~ II Samuel 21:16-17   REFERENCE: II Samuel 21:15-22   Exhausted and alone, David's back was against the wall, cornered by a Philistine giant. He was too weak to lift his sword to fight because of age, and death was imminent. Ishbi-Benob must have relished the moment; he could avenge the death of Goliath, the former Philistine champ. Would...
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THE PRACTICAL VS THE SPECTACULAR

"And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" ~ II Kings 5:13   REFERENCE: II Kings 5:1-14   The spectacular and supernatural often impress people. We forget that we live in a world with tangible realities that God created and whose laws He rarely violates but works through to achieve His purposes. God does miracles, but not always. The tired person will need rest and not pray...
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BECOME A FRIENDLY LEADER 2

"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." ~ John 15:15   REFERENCE:  John 15:9-17   Jesus models friendly leadership to us in our text. We have seen how He, God in human flesh, chose to call His 'subjects' friends. The philosopher Cicero said, "Life is nothing without friendship." Understanding this as a leader should motivate you to build a culture of friendship amongst and with your team, remembering that they spend...
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BECOME A FRIENDLY LEADER

"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." ~ John 15:15   REFERENCE:  John 15:9-17   Jesus set a new standard for leadership by calling his team members friends. Little wonder they took His message to the ends of the world after his death. The impact of His decision to become a friendly leader is still felt today. Young king Rehoboam, in one of yesterday's texts, was advised to become a friendly...
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A FRIENDLY LEADER

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” ~ John 15:15   REFERENCE:  John 15:9-17   Friendship takes every relationship to the next level. We often downplay friendship, but it is a powerful force. A marriage stands a better chance if the spouses are friends; you would do better in math if your teacher were your friend and would relax to let a doctor who is also a friend perform...
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A NOBLEMAN’S FAITH: LESSONS

"And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"” ~ John 4:51   REFERENCE:  John 4:46-54   God is not a respecter of persons but a respecter of principles. What He does for one, He will do for another if they follow the same steps. Wherever God sees faith, He extends a blank cheque for men to fill. From a place of anxiety and desperation, the Nobleman received healing for his dying son. God can do the same for you, no matter how dire your situation is; but how did this miracle...
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A NOBLEMAN’S FAITH

"Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way." ~ John 4:50   REFERENCE: John 4:46-54   A most distressing situation for any parent is to have a sick child whose sickness has lingered and defied medicine. A sense of confusion and hopelessness must have overwhelmed this Nobleman's mind, wondering how he would help his son. He appealed to Jesus on a not-too-sure platform in his request. Still, we eventually see him rise to an admirable level of faith. We hear the irritation in...
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