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THRIVE: THE HABAKKUK METHOD

"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith." ~ Habakkuk 2:4  REFERENCE: Habakkuk 2:1-4  A lot is happening in every part of the world. It is almost customary to hear some bad news or the other on the TV, and you wonder if any good thing is happening anywhere. Jobs are scarce, mortgages are rising, fuel prices are rising, countries are fighting external and internal wars, and most world currencies are losing value. Thinking about survival in these chaotic times can be extremely troubling. Habakkuk also had questions about his...
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FAITH IN DIFFICULT TIMES

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" ~ Matthew 6:26 REFERENCE: Matthew 6:25-34   To pretend that all is well in the times we live is to behave like an ostrich that buries its head in the ground, believing that what it does not see or affect it. The economy is tough, and money is losing its spending power; it is easy to be agitated by fear and anxiety about our financial well-being. However, we must live...
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AS HE THINKS

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” ~ Proverbs 23:7   REFERENCE: Proverbs 23:7   The mind of a man wields great power. God gave us all a creative mind – a powerful force that can condition or determine our outcomes in life. It is said that a man’s life will go in the direction of the thoughts that dominate his mind; his thoughts will act upon his life as a gust of wind acts on fallen dry leaves. King Solomon said in our text, “As he thinks, so is he.”   Most believers quickly forget that...
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EMPTY BOASTING

"So the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.'" ~ I Kings 20:11   REFERENCE: I Kings 20:1-13   Men often fall into the trap of measuring themselves by wealth, success, intelligence, possessions, might, or physical and mental prowess. It makes them compare themselves to other men, believing they are much better and fare better than them. If caution is not applied, the spirit of pride seeps into their heads, leading to empty boasting. King Ben Hadad had many military victories under his...
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MY WORDS WILL NOT FAIL

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” ~ Luke 21:33   REFERENCE: Luke 21:31-33   We live in changing times and are confronted daily by several uncertainties. Technology is changing at the speed of light; there is climate change, economic flip-flops, and governments and their policies are constantly changing. Sometimes, it is people that we once trusted and believed in that change; they make promises they never intend to keep, and it becomes difficult to handle. Companies hire people on particular terms, but they do not honor the words; some have been told, “I...
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NO LAW AGAINST

“…Against such there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:23b   REFERENCE: Galatians 5:22-25   We have spent the last nine episodes studying the beautiful virtues produced by the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers who are filled with, and allow Him to guide and influence them. If you have the Holy Spirit, then you have these virtues as a seed buried in the soil of your heart; your duty is to cultivate them until they manifest as fruits that will bless all you relate with.   These nine virtues (fruit of the Spirit) are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,...
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THE SPIRIT ON A ROD

"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding…" ~ Isaiah 11:1-2   REFERENCE: Isaiah 11:1-5   Prophet Isaiah earlier prophesied about a Son that would 'be given,' upon whose shoulders the government shall rest and whose name shall be Wonderful, Counselor... He was referring to the offspring of Jesse, Jesus Christ. This prophecy hinted at a dark period in Israel's future when the tree of David's royal line would be cut down. Jesus would...
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PARAKLETOS

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” ~ John 14:16   REFERENCE:  John 14:15-26   Jesus gives His valedictory speech to His disciples; the thought of Him dying left them morose, like a child who had just got separated from his parents. That prompted Jesus to tell them He would not leave them as orphans; although He would not be present, He would send them a Helper just like Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Greek for ‘Helper’ is Parakletos.  Parakletos describes the ministry of...
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THE SIGNAL IS FOR CHANGE

“When birth pangs signaled it was time to be born, Ephraim was too stupid to come out of the womb. When the passage into life opened up, he didn’t show.” ~ Hosea 13:13 (MSG)   REFERENCE: Hosea 13:12-13 (AMPC)   This imagery is quite disheartening; Ephraim sinned against God, and He brought the tribe into distress and trouble – intense sorrows like the pangs of a woman about to give birth. The plan was that the distress would signal the need for repentance to Ephraim and that a new nation would be born. However, Ephraim did not see that but remained...
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REPENTANCE: TRUE TRANSFORMATION

"Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance..." ~ Matthew 3:8   REFERENCE: Matthew 3:1-8   It is a season of transformation (moving from one form to another). A transformed person is a changed person, and true change begins from the mind; hence, repentance. The Greek word 'metanoia' means a change of mind or mode of thought. Biblical repentance is a genuine turning away from sin and a sincere desire to return to God. It is not just admitting you are wrong; it is a spiritual awakening that leads to restoration and a renewed relationship with God.   Let us consider the characteristics of...
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