Where Help Comes From

Where Help Comes From

Genesis 40: ⁵ Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

 

⁸ And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

 

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

 

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After days, weeks or even months, the butler and the baker had dreams on the same night. Joseph saw they were sad, so he asked both of them “Why?” The both said they had dreams but no one to interpret them. Joseph told them that interpretations of dreams come from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Both men had significant dreams versus something they could make sense of.
• GOD provided both men their dreams on the same night and HE disturbed them.
• Joseph saw something was wrong with both of them, which shows his character.

 

Seeing the sadness on their face and asking “What’s wrong?’ was probably rare in the Egyptian society. Joseph had walked with the LORD so long that he was concerned about people he barely knew. When they said they had disturbing dreams, Joseph knew that GOD could provide the interpretation.

 

Joseph showed he had a special relationship with GOD. He knew that he could ask GOD what the dreams mean and GOD would not hold back. That’s the kind of relationship I want with GOD, one that HE does not hold back anything I ask that is in alignment with HIS will. Joseph point the butcher and baker to the only solution, namely GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the sadness of the butcher and baker?
• Have you ever had significant dreams and needed GOD to tell you the meaning?
• Can you rest assured that GOD is the answer and has the answer to your problem?

Unaware of Help

Unaware of Help

Hebrews 1: ¹³ God never said to any of his angels:
“Sit here at my right side
    until I put your enemies
    as a footstool under your feet.”

¹⁴ What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

 

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Thinking of the mischief I could get into, my heart pounded with anticipation. I had not done this particular thing before, and I figured I was already a mess so I would try something new. Out of nowhere, a person was there, asking if I knew the LORD. “Why that question of all questions!”

 

• I stopped pursuing the thing that I shouldn’t have been pursuing in the first place.
• I have been blocked from doing things I should not be doing .
• I have also been protected from harm and survived brushes with death.

 

Paul is the assumed writer who received a revelation from GOD. He compared angels to JESUS, stating JESUS holds the highest honor, while angels are servants sent to help those who are saved.

 

My Observations

• GOD has some special purposes that can only be fulfilled through JESUS.
• GOD sends supernatural help to me when I am not aware that I even need help.
• GOD loves me so much that HE guides me, leads me and protects me even though I have free will to choose HIM.

 

Supernatural help is wonderful! I mean, it is provided to those who believe in JESUS as their Savior. Since GOD wants everyone to be saved, there is no exclusion to HIS love. It is up to me to choose HIM as my Savior. When I do, I receive special treatment from the one who has all the power.

 

HE sends angels to help me go through trouble, not around it. GOD is not worried about my situation because HE dispatches angels to help me when I can’t figure it out myself. HE does this at weird times too. HE sends the right help at the right time. I am glad GOD watches over my life.

 

Challenge

• What is the purpose of angels according to the writer?
• Have you ever received help and did not know where it came from?
• Will you give your life to GOD so HE can provide supernatural help for you that you need in life today?

 

When Life Gets Difficult

When Life Gets Difficult

1 Thessalonians 5: ⁷ It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. ⁸ But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 

 

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Life was particularly hard during a stretch of time. It seemed like trials were not ending before another would surface. “You have got to be kidding!” I exclaimed in frustration. To mask the pain, I went to places with loud music, dancing and drunkenness.

 

• I needed an escape.
• I wanted some temporary relief.
• I saw other people having ”fun” so I thought I would try what they were doing.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy spoke about “night” or dark times. During these times, it is easy to be persuaded into getting “drunk” or to rely on something to ease the pain that may not be good for the soul. Putting on specific protective clothes was the recommendation.

 

My Observations

• To ease the pain of life, GOD provides faith in HIM as a solution.
• To face hurt, rage and anger, GOD gives me love as a way out.
• To calm the negative thoughts that could run through my mind, GOD provides hope as a cure for despair or helplessness.

 

Faith, love and hope as clothing provide protection for my heart and mind. I mean, when I dwell on all the pain and hurt I or others are going through, I start sinking into an abyss of sorrow. I then desire to slip into dark places and get “drunk” to temporarily ease the pain. Unfortunately the pain gets worse and more frequent. Is there a cure? Yes.

 

GOD tells me to place my faith in HIM to use HIS love as the protector of my heart. HE then tells me to place my hope in HIM and not on temporary things in life. This hope will keep my mind focused on HIS love versus the trial. I am glad faith, love and hope come from GOD versus any human.

 

Challenge

• What is the origination of faith and love spoken by the writers?
• Do you think humans can show unflawed faith or unflawed love?
• Will you place your hope in JESUS for salvation so HE can clothe you with HIS faith and HIS love which is unflawed and pure for your protection today?

Heartfelt Love Help

 

Heartfelt Love Help

1 Corinthians 14: It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message. ² Those who speak in strange tongues do not speak to others but to God, because no one understands them. They are speaking secret truths by the power of the Spirit. ³ But those who proclaim God's message speak to people and give them help, encouragement, and comfort. ⁴ Those who speak in strange tongues help only themselves, but those who proclaim God's message help the whole church.

 

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Feeling rotten, I must have had a disgusted look on my face because people kept asking me “Is everything alright?” Usually I was the one asking that question but this particular day was the exception. Finally, someone approached me and said “It will be alright. GOD is with you.” I guess I just needed to hear that at the time.

 

• Many people have given me encouragement when I was down.
• Many people have provided comfort for me when I was feeling low.
• Many people have used their gifts to help me in time of need.

 

Paul mentions a special act of love we are all supposed to share in. He attempts to convince everyone to use their GOD given spiritual gifts as often as possible. One gift to acquire is proclaiming GOD’s message.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to recognize that my gifts and talents come from HIM.
• GOD wants me to set my heart on helping others.
• GOD wants me to encourage, comfort and help others in their time of need.

 

We all need help, comfort and encouragement at some point. No one is above pain. BUT GOD put people around me to ease the pain and encourage me to keep going. HE knows life would be a challenge so HE not only provided the HOLY SPIRIT to me for comfort, HE provided HIM to those who believe in JESUS.

 

HE has given many people comfort and they in turn provide that comfort to others. I am grateful people have used their gifts to share GOD’s encouragement and comfort to me and others.

 

Challenge

• Have you looked at your gifts and talents lately?
• What do you feel when you hear the words “help” and “encouragement” and “comfort?”
• Will you use your GOD given gifts to provide help, encouragement and comfort to someone today?

To Build Them Up

 

To Build Them Up

Romans 15: We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. ² Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. ³ For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.”

 

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Hurling insults at the other team seemed like the right thing to do. I joined in on the “fun” and called the other team names through clever cheers and chants. Our team won! But when it was time to go home, the other school did not appreciate the previous insults. Fights broke out and escape was my only thought.

 

There have been many times when I used insults to feel better about myself.

There have been many times when I used insults to feel part of the “winning” crowd.

There have been many times when I used insults to feel superior to “those” people.

 

Paul tries to shift everyone’s thinking to follow the example of CHRIST. JESUS took the insults that were meant for other people and died in our place when HE committed no wrong. Paul gives some great advice. “Build them up.”

 

GOD wants me to build people up so they will continue in the faith.

GOD wants me to speak encouraging words to everyone so their faith will increase.

GOD wants me to carry the burdens of others so they can get up and help someone else.

 

Being caught up in my own situation usually leaves no room to help others. BUT GOD helps me up from the ground to see there is more to life than “that” circumstance. HE dusts me off and fills my heart with encouragement for others in the middle of the battle. GOD also desires that I remember HIS deliverance so I can carry it forward daily.

 

Instead of using the sneaky, tear down slanderous manipulation tactics, GOD wants me to replace insulting words with gratitude. If I cannot appreciate “that” person, then maybe I should not be in the conversation. I am grateful GOD helps me carry the burdens of others to “build them up” for HIM.

 

Are your words full of insults and slander?

Do your jokes speak life or death?

Will you reduce your insults and increase your encouragement so those who believe may have their burdens lifted and their faith increased for JESUS today?

Taught, Peace, Rejoice

Taught, Peace, Rejoice

John 14: ²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸ You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

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When a thug punched my frail stature, I nearly passed out. “What did I do to deserve that?” I thought to myself. When someone broke out my window and stole all of my music, I wondered, “Why did this happen to me?” When I was told “You no longer work here” after years of dedication, I felt lost and said “Why me?”

• What am I supposed to do when things seem to go wrong?
• What am I supposed to do when the situation seems bad?
• What am I supposed to do when I am in pain or I am suffering or I do not have direction?

JESUS knew HIS followers would face difficulty. HE also knew that leaving would make HIS followers feel abandoned. HE gives words of comfort that can only be heard by those who love HIM.

• JESUS says to me “I gave you the HOLY SPIRIT who will bring MY words to memory when you are in trouble.”
• JESUS says to me “Peace will be your weapon against the things that will try to distract you from the purpose I gave you.”
• JESUS says to me “Rejoice that I go to the FATHER because I AM alive and HE is greater than ME.”

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” are not easy words to hear when my heart is troubled and I am afraid. BUT GOD took care of that. HE sent someone to be with me, namely the HOLY SPIRIT.

HE teaches me and makes me remember all the things I have been brought through. HE gives me a strange “peace” when I should be troubled because I dare to trust that HE will work everything out. As for JESUS, the HOLY SPIRIT, teaches me the HE went to prepare a place just for me and HE will return, soon. I rejoice over what I am taught so I have peace.

• Do you have peace?
• Do you feel lost or abandoned?
• Will you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you to a place of peace today?