It’s Your Time

It’s Your Time

Genesis 41: ¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. ¹⁵ 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.”

 

¹⁶ So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

 

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Pharoah heard about Joseph from the butler who was imprisoned with Joseph two years prior. Pharoah was eager to hear the interpretation of his dream so they rushed Joseph out of the dungeon. He shaved for the first time in years and put on a new set of clothes. Joseph told Pharoah that GOD would give an answer of peace.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph probably had given up on the thought that he would be free.
• Joseph struggled with being in prison due to his innocence.
• GOD had a timing for Joseph to be freed and HE used an unconventional person who did not worship HIM to free Joseph.

 

Egyptian Pharaohs were so powerful that they were worshipped as gods. They bowed to no one, rather all were to bow to them. GOD used this arrogance for HIS purpose. HE used Pharaoh’s abuse of power to work through the butler to bring Joseph to Pharaoh.

 

I believe the butler supernaturally forgot Joseph and was reminded on Pharaoh’s birthday that Joseph could interpret dreams. This was the beginning of the rise of Joseph part two. Joseph gave credit to GOD regarding interpretations of dreams. Little did Joseph know that GOD was about to put him in charge to make a way for HIS covenant to be fulfilled.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the actions of Pharaoh and Joseph?
• Can your time look different than you expect?
• Is GOD preparing you to act as HIS ambassador and are you crediting HIM for where you are and what you are doing?

Saved by Presence

Saved by Presence

Genesis 19: ¹⁸ Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! ¹⁹ Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. ²⁰ See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

 

²¹ And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. ²² Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”

 

Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

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After being told to “Escape to the mountains”, realized what the angels were saying. He understood that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding suburbs would be destroyed. He thought quickly and asked to go to a nearby little city. The angel granted his passage to this city and would not destroy it.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s presence in the little city saved everyone there from destruction.
• Lot knew the area well, possibly because of skills he learned from the Chaldeans, or Abraham or Terah.
• Lot was afraid of the people who captured him years prior and did not want to take a chance of running into them again.

 

Lot and his family were allowed to go to the small city that did not have a name. Lot named it Zoar, meaning small or insignificant. GOD would protect this small group of people because of Lot. GOD still does this. By this example, HE does not destroy places where HE has a believer, unless HE urges them out.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about this conversation between Lot and the angel?
• Have you ever wondered why you are in a certain place?
• Can you realize that your presence in a place blesses it because of GOD’s favor on you?

Different Than a Tantrum

 

Different Than a Tantrum

Hebrews 6: ⁴ For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit; ⁵ they knew from experience that God's word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age. ⁶ And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.

 

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“I’m not going to serve YOU anymore” was my threat to GOD. I was tired of the hypocrites and saw no difference from those who were supposed to be “good” and those who were supposed to be “sinners.” And it didn’t seem like I was any better off trying this “GOD” stuff. I was still broke, alone and failing.

 

• I threw a tantrum and left GOD.
• I wanted to try “pleasure” as a way to cope with the burdens of life.
• I gave up following GOD to try something different and ended up worse off.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, asks a very deep rhetorical question. “For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again?” He was not speaking about falling into temptation, rather walking away from believing in JESUS as the Savior for some other belief. It means there was a clear understanding of the faith in JESUS and a choice to not believe.

 

My Observations

• My salvation began before the beginning of the world.
• Once I accept CHRIST as my Savior, I am eternally saved.
• Even when I throw a tantrum and try to stop serving GOD, HE is still with me.

 

Abandoning the faith is different than throwing a tantrum. I mean, when I am not getting “my” way, I may try to force GOD’s hand to make thing happen the way I think they should. This is not a good practice, but HE gently guides me back to HIM. But what about those who pretend to be saved?

 

Whether it is for fitting in or it felt like the right thing to do at the time, but now this other thing feels like the right thing to do, these people publicly abandoned faith in JESUS. In pondering this, it could mean that the initial “belief” was not belief, rather a possible deception. GOD knows who is HIS and HE will never leave those who believe in HIM. I am glad GOD forgives my tantrums and brings me back to the faith.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mean by “Abandon the faith?”
• Have you ever wanted to stop following GOD because you were not getting your way?
• Will you check your relationship with GOD by understanding the foundation of JESUS as your Savior, so you can focus on HIS growth HE has for you today?

Faith Stands Firm

Faith Stands Firm

1 Corinthians 15: And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm. ² That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it—unless it was for nothing that you believed.

 

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Does GOD love me when I don’t get my way? This is the question I pondered many times. When I didn’t get healed a certain way at a certain time, I wondered if HE could hear me, then I wondered if what I believed was even true or not.

 

• I questioned GOD many times when I got scared during certain situations.
• I tried to fix people, situations and relationships using “my” own thinking.
• I wondered if the part of me that did not believe would some day overtake the part of me that does.

 

Paul switched over from addressing issues written to him to speaking of the main reason we all exist, namely the Good News about CHRIST. Paul makes this statement personal to everyone who reads the letter. He states “You are saved by the gospel” but he qualifies his statement with “if you hold firmly to it”. Wait. Can I lose something precious because of my fickle faith? No!

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to know that HIS salvation of me is permanent.
• GOD wants me to understand that when HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT in me, it sealed my salvation with HIM eternally.
• GOD wants me to trust that no one can pluck me out of HIS hand once HE wrote my name in it.

 

Believing in JESUS’ death burial and resurrection is the foundation of faith. I mean, when I believe that all humans fell when Adam sinned it is the start of a good foundation. I can then understand it took a sinless human to save humanity. That human was JESUS who was / is also GOD.

 

HE was murdered by HIS creation and was raised from the dead. Anyone who believe in this will have everlasting life. But what about this life? HE sent the COMFORTER to live inside me to keep me from straying away from this belief. The HOLY SPIRIT makes my faith stand firm, not me. I am glad GOD gave me salvation that is permanent and to those who also believe it is permanent for them.

 

Challenge

• What do you really believe about salvation?
• Do you think salvation has nothing to do with your finances, relationships, health or happiness?
• Wil you relax and know it is alright to question GOD and your relationship with HIM?
• Will you also know the Good News can only be “Good News” if you can depend on the promises JESUS made?

Rescued

Luke 17: ³⁰ ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. ³² Remember Lot’s wife! ³³ Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. ³⁴ I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.³⁵ Two women will be grinding corn together; one will be taken and the other left.’

³⁷ ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked.

He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’

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After the football game I dreaded the thought of navigating my way back home. I had to take extra buses and I just knew they would be crowed and hot. I noticed a few familiar people going towards a car.  “Can I get in?” I asked. “Nah… There’s not enough room” they replied disappointingly. I could clearly see room for me in their car.

• There have been times when I have been left out.
• There have been times when I was not part of the special group.
• There have been times when I wished I could be part of the “in” crowd.

JESUS tells HIS disciples about the harsh reality of what will take place when HE returns to gather HIS people. HE explains that one day, after HIS ascension to heaven, HE will return to collect only those who believe in HIM. Some people in the same household will be gathered with HIM and others will not.

• GOD says to me “Believe that MY SON has provided the only way back to ME.”
• GOD says to me “Focus on MY SON and you will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “JESUS is the only way, the only truth and the only life.”

JESUS’ bold message may turn people off and HE, unfortunately, knew it. HE knows some people will harden their hearts and call HIM a fairytale. Many will choose to go in their own direction, BUT GOD wants me to be part of HIS “in crowd.” HE wants me to open up my heart and believe that JESUS died specifically for me. I am welcomed into HIS family.

• Are you doubting GOD’s love for you?
• Do you feel left out?
• Can you believe GOD will welcome you into HIS family with open arms, no matter what sin you have committed?

“No” Practice

Luke 9: ²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

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“Do you want some weed?” was the strange question of a person offering the drug to me. “No” I said in an “Are you kidding?” way. “Can you be my lookout as I pick up something” one thug said to me as he was shoplifting. “No” I said as I eased away from the beating. “You want to go out, get drunk and hang with a bunch of loose women?” a buddy asked me. “What time?” I answered.

• There were many times when I said “yes” when I should have said no.
• There were many times when the day was filled with “my” desires.
• There were many times when I had no time for anything else but “me.”

JESUS gives a harder lesson to the crowd. “Deny yourself and follow ME.” This message truly conflicts with the “way of life.” JESUS wanted the crowd to not pay attention to their desires as much and pay attention to HIS desires.

• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.
• GOD wants me to pray to HIM daily.
• GOD wants me to make my decisions based on serving HIM daily.

When I want to sin, GOD wants me to practice saying “No.” As with any practice, I will fail and fall into the sin I was trying to avoid. GOD says to me “It’s okay. I forgive you. Try again tomorrow and the next day and the next.” HE knows my short comings and still watches over me, giving me practice to strengthen my faith.

Practice also includes not being ashamed of JESUS. Bold speech about HIM is one thing but HE also wants me to boldly admit my sins and speak on the more shameful sides of me and to do it in HIS name. It takes practice to deny the pride of looking perfect. Only GOD is perfect.

• Are you trying to pretend everything is well with you when you meet with church goers?
• Is your life a mess for real but you are wearing a mask?
• Can you deny your pride and admit the more ugly side of you and tell people you are saved through CHRIST in spite of your actions?

Made Whole

Luke 8: ⁴³ Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴ came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” ⁴⁷ Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

⁴⁸ And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

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Not liking who I was, I walked around complaining constantly. I mean I felt I was broken. I did not like my body size, hair, clothes, skin color, social status and financial capability. Everything was wrong and I wanted people to know this.

• There were times when I felt everything was broken.
• There were times when even my physical body was broken.
• There were times when I thought nothing was right in my life.

For over 4,300 days, day after day a woman was reminded that something was wrong. Her constant bleeding probably left her anemic with no solution in sight. She saw her opportunity to be healed and simply touched the hem of JESUS’s garment and was immediately made whole.

• When I accepted JESUS as my Savior I was made whole.
• When I believed that JESUS, who is GOD, became a human to die for me, I was made whole.
• When I confessed my sins to JESUS, HE cleansed me of all unrighteousness and made me whole.

Sometimes I want more than I have. I mean I an sometimes not satisfied with my current situation. BUT GOD has made me whole. HE has healed me from the wounds of eternal death and cares for me daily. No matter what the situation is, HE loves me without a doubt.

• Are you facing a prolonged issue?
• Are you reminded about your problems day after day?
• Will you reach out to JESUS’ power and allow HIM to make you whole?
• Will you accept where HE has you and praise HIM today?

I Can and I Will

Matthew 16: ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to go to church. I was the life of the party for a change. I had been “Goody-goody” for a long time. It seemed like I should be able to do some sinning for a while.

“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to send a simple faith filled voicemail throughout the company. I mean I was the leader of a very large and influential portion of the company. I had to protect my perception right? Wrong!

• I have been embarrassed to speak about JESUS.
• I have been too filled with sin to speak about JESUS.
• I have been so proud of my accomplishments that I did not want to risk losing “my” position to speak about JESUS.

GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you” and I was truly ashamed of HIM. Human standards got in the way of my living for CHRIST. I bowed to the thought of “You can’t pray here” or “We don’t want you to even speak about JESUS here” even though no one said those words to me.

• JESUS wants me to shine my light before men on a daily basis.
• JESUS wants me to be salt in a world where salt is rejected.
• JESUS wants me to take up my cross by denying myself.

Losing my life means a lot. It means I can pray for all who pass me in the hallways. It means I do not have to be angry at “those” people, instead I can ask GOD for “our” forgiveness. It means I can open my home to my neighbors for JESUS’ purpose instead of hiding my affiliation with HIM.

GOD wants my family, my business, my job, my school, my house, my car, my clothes, my wealth, my desires and lastly my health. HE can do with them as HE pleases and I should learn to praise HIM when I try to hold onto any of them. HE can pry them from my hands in a hurtful way or I can freely give them to HIM, praising HIM along the way.

• What are you holding onto?
• Can you give GOD your home or your office or your school by inviting others into it to learn from HIM?
• Will you take GOD to work with you today and pray for all who pass you?

Saved from the Slide

Ezekiel 37: ²³ They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

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Going down the slide wasn’t enough for our playground; you had to be brave enough to run up its steep incline. As I tried over and over I found myself on my back as I tumbled down the slippery slope. The same goes for life. Many times I have told GOD, “I will NEVER do or say that again” and moments later I am doing or saying what I just said I wouldn’t.

• There have been times when I have slid back into the same old sins.
• There have been times when I left my promises to reach for my own protection.
• There have been times when I was on the wrong trail because I got off the correct one.

It seems like I go through periods when I am walking very close to GOD and other times it feels like I have slid so far away from HIM that even HE can’t find me. How can I be sure that HE will even look for me?

• GOD said to me “I WILL save you from your backsliding.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL cleanse you.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL be your GOD and you will be MY people.”

GOD does not need me to clean myself up or be perfect. In fact HE knows the more I try to be perfect the more highly I think of myself. HE simply wants me to “be” and let HIM do the rest. Yes, sin is awful, but that should not be my focus. GOD wants me to focus on what HE is doing daily.

HE is delivering me on a daily basis. Protection flows from HIS sinews as I crouch behind HIS strength. HE saves me in the middle of my sin and does not wait. HE picks me up and teaches me how not to slide back. HE and HE alone placed me in HIS family, never to leave me again!

• Are you sliding backwards to your old ways?
• Do you think you are far away from GOD?
• Can you understand that HE is right there with you?
• Will you allow HIM to rescue you from your idols and vile images and other offenses?
• Will you allow GOD to be your GOD and you HIS people?