1 Thessalonians 2:2 – But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. In any battle, the ultimate goal is to eliminate the highest-ranking leader on the other side of the fight. In … Read more
Nehemiah 9:2 – And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. In religion, people judge one another. In revival, people judge themselves. True repentance in our life is different from four kinds of counterfeit repentance: Mere Confession – Had God’s people only confessed … Read more
Genesis 50:20 – “…As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today…” My hope and prayer as you see the testimony of Joseph is that God would use His Word and Spirit to also write … Read more
Genesis 50:19 – But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?…” There is a great book on forgiveness that focuses on the story of Joseph. I read Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall in one of the most difficult seasons of my life and it was a tremendous … Read more
Genesis 50:2 – And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Joseph is a good man, but he’s not Jesus. At times, Joseph suffered because of his own arrogance. Often, however, Joseph suffered because of evil and injustice committed against him. His own brothers sold him into … Read more
Genesis 33:4 – But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. As we’ve read through Genesis, we’ve seen a lot of fighting and strife, especially among family members, but here in Genesis 33 we finally see some hope in a beautiful picture of … Read more
Luke 23:34 – And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. The stories of forgiveness we see throughout the Bible, and in our own lives on this earth, are mere shadows of the forgiving act Jesus Christ did for us on the … Read more
Genesis 33:11 – “…Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. Around 20 years after Jacob had first left home after tricking his brother Esau out of both his birthright and blessing, Jacob returns … Read more
Genesis 33:4 – But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. Now empowered as a new man by God’s blessing and his faith, Jacob/Israel no longer lingered at the back of his caravan hiding timidly from his brother Esau. Instead, he literally stepped … Read more
Hebrews 11:4 – By faith Abel offered…a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts…through his faith. Has there ever been a time that you feel like you were doing all the right things but there was a person who just opposes, despises, and hates you? … Read more
Mark 2:5-7,8 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said…”Son, your sins are forgiven”…“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” … Read more
Mark 2:5-7,8 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said…”Son, your sins are forgiven”…“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” … Read more