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DON’T ACT HASTILY

“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20   REFERENCE: Matthew 1:18-25   The rumor is going around town. Mary is pregnant and is hiding it from Joseph. After many side talks, Mary tells Joseph. He is flustered, angry, indignant, and feeling cheated. He wonders who can be responsible for this pregnancy as he scans through all the men in...
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THE GOOD WINE

"And he said to him, 'Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!'" ~ John 2:10   REFERENCE: John 2:1-10   As the year winds down, I prophesy that it will end better than it started for you, in Jesus' name. God's plan is that the latter's glory is greater than the former. It is what Jesus did at the wedding in Cana when He gave good wine, better than what they started the party with. It was so good that...
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SOCIAL INJUSTICE

“For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing.” ~ Job 22:6   REFERENCE: Job 22:5-11   Eliphaz wrongly scolded Job as a great sinner. He concluded that his suffering was because of his social injustice. He charged him with wickedness, extortion, oppression of the poor, denial of sustenance to the weary, and insensitivity to widows and the fatherless plight. He said that for these reasons, snares, darkness, and sudden troubles surrounded Job. Eliphaz was wrong because Job wasn’t all he said; Job’s situation was by divine permission.   Although Eliphaz was...
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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...
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A PROPHET’S WIDOW

"A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant, my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves." ~ II Kings 4:1   REFERENCE: II Kings 4:1-10   Widowhood is an experience you would not wish for anyone. I was talking to a widow in my family recently, and I was quietly repenting under my breath. Why? Because I realized that no one understands the depth of pain, fear, insecurity, helplessness, etc., they...
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FAVOR WITH EGYPTIANS

“And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians.” ~ Exodus 12:36   REFERENCE: Exodus 12:21-25 and 35-36   The odd and unlikely happened on the day enslaved Israelites found favor with the Egyptians, their slave masters. It was unheard of that a slave, leaving against the wish of his master, would go to him and ask for his precious possessions, and the master would give him. That is what to expect when the favor of God is upon a man; the unusual and astonishing...
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DIVORCED BUT DESIRED

“‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers, yet return to Me,” says the Lord.” ~ Jeremiah 3:1   REFERENCE: Jeremiah 3:1-5   Jeremiah uses striking imagery in our main text to describe backslidden Israel. Israel was not only backslidden; they shamelessly went after idols and polluted every mountain with shrines and groves to their gods. God likened Israel’s error to adultery – lying with strange men on strange beds. A man...
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TROUBLE

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." ~ Psalm 46:1   REFERENCE: Psalm 46:1-11   No matter who you are or how rich you are, we do not want trouble. Trouble can turn kings into beggars and make strong men cry. It has broken families, drained their resources, and left them impoverished. Trouble is whatever gets you worried or agitated; it brings distress, inconvenience, anxiety, fear, and discouragement. However, God is our present help in trouble. I have been in situations where I was confused and fearful, times when I thought I would not see the...
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THE BLESSING TRIGGER

“…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...
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RESIST THE SCATTERER

“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...
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