“Therefore, say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: ‘None of My words will be postponed any more, but the words which I speak will be done,” says the LORD God.” – Ezekiel 12:28 REFERENCE: Ezekiel 12:26-28 In Old Testament times, God spoke through His prophets; they were His mouthpieces, and when they spoke, it was as though God Himself had spoken. No wonder the Bible says, “Believe in the Lord your God, you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will prosper” (II Chronicles 20:20). In this verse, God and the prophets seem to be on the same...
“And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” ~ Acts 27:22 REFERENCE: Acts 27:18-26 It is said, “As long as there is life, there is hope.” Life is the most precious of the gifts God gave to man because you cannot benefit from other gifts without it. The worst the devil can do to a man on a mission is to cut his life short so that he will not reach his destination; for as long as he has life, he will arrive, although he...
“For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again…” – Job 14:7a REFERENCE: JOB 14:7-9 No matter what a tree has suffered – chopped and cut down by the axe of circumstances, there is still hope for it. Its roots are buried deep in the soil; therefore, it will sprout again when droplets of water touch it. Trees in the northern hemisphere often drop all their leaves in autumn to help them weather the winter. They look naked, bare, and exposed, but when spring comes, they blossom again. You can...
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” ~ Genesis 41:15 REFERENCE: Genesis 41:9-15 What would abruptly end the jail term of a common prisoner and bring him before the leader of a great nation so that he could engage him in a conversation? Recommendation. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have heard it said of you;” this turned his life around. The butler benefitted from Joseph and his gifts while in the same prison and...
“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 Have you ever been in a place where you think you need all the help you can get, but you sense God is asking you to help someone in need or for His kingdom work? You wonder why God would ask you when He knows your current challenges and desires. You fail to see that God never does anything to shortchange you; never! IT IS A SETUP. It...
“Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.” – II Samuel 2:21 REFERENCE: II SAMUEL 2:13-23 Many of us are hustlers on the fast lane, like Asahel, always pursuing something. Asahel was a chaser and a hustler; he had the speed of a deer and thought he could catch whatever he chased. You may be divinely gifted with speed, quickness of mind, and the ability to pursue and catch things; that does not mean...
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 REFERENCE: HEBREWS 10:22-25 God does nothing without first sending His word as a forerunner, the herald that announces what He is about to do. God says what He will do, and He does what He says. When you have God’s word of promise on a matter, be assured that He will perform it. That is why the inspired author counsels, “Hold fast to the hope you have found in God’s promise; wrap your heart tightly around it, knowing that...
“You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” ~ Psalm 118:13 REFERENCE: Psalm 118:13-17 In the verses preceding the main text, David refers to his distress, the potential fear of man’s wickedness, his haters, and how nations of enemies surround him like bees. He equally mentions how he will vanquish them all in the name of the Lord. In his agony, he says, “You pushed me violently that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” David found hope in God’s help. Can you identify with David? Are you surrounded by opposing forces,...
“So, the LORD relented concerning this. “It shall not be, said the LORD.” ~ Amos 7:1 REFERENCE: Amos 7:1-3 Our fallen nature makes us quick to read negative meanings to things that don’t instantly signify good. It is the same approach many have to their dreams, especially bad ones; they conclude that they are doomed, evil will befall them, and satan (or God) is out to kill them. ‘Ministries’ are built on these fears, which make people run to and fro, seeking interpreters of dreams. God intended to punish Israel; He showed Amos a vision of locusts He formed as...
“…your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them anymore in the wicked things they do, and they will laugh at you in contempt and scorn.” ~ I Peter 4:4 (TLB) REFERENCE: I Peter 4:1-5 (TLB) A gospel singer once sang, “Living in a modern world is not an easy thing to do; imagination rules the heart.” The world exerts much pressure to compromise on today’s Christian. The change in the world’s social make-up is happening at the speed of light; things that were once taboos are now widely accepted, and trying to oppose them will earn you the...