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The Shadow of the Almighty!

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  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty….He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. Psalm 91:1, 4, NKJV The Shadow of the Almighty Sometimes it feels like we’re surrounded by trouble, surrounded by evil, surrounded by sickness. A lot may be happening on the outside, things that could have you upset, worried, or afraid, but you can’t let that get inside. What you may not realize is there’s something else surrounding you, a secret place where you can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Your job is to stay in that secret place, to stay close to God, to keep Him first place in your life. The secret place is a place of peace, a place of trust. In that secret place, there’s a calmness, a rest. You know the Most High God is watching after you. You know you’re covered under His wings, that He has you hidden in a safe place. When you’re in that secret place, for calamity to get to you, it has to ...
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Do Paul’s Life and Writing Support a Prosperity Gospel?

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  Do Paul’s Life and Writings Support a Prosperity Gospel? Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:23–27, ESV “ Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27, ESV) Some teachers promote the “prosperity gospel,” the idea that you will prosper in this world if you believe the “right” way. But do the life and writings of the apostle Paul ...
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Haggai 2:1-23!

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  Introduction Haggai 2:1–23: The LORD instructs Haggai to encourage the people by telling them how splendid the new Temple will be and that nations will bring their treasures to the Temple. The LORD promises to bless the people; and Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, will rule as governor in God’s name and with God’s authority. Today’s Key Verse: Haggai 2:4 GNT [The LORD said]: “But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.” Read 2 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month of that same year, the Lord spoke again through the prophet Haggai.  2  He told Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, to Joshua, the High Priest, and to the people, and to say to them,  3  “Is there anyone among you who can still remember how splendid the Temple used to be? How does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all.  4  But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.  5  When ...
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Be a Vessel of Christ!

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  Be a Vessel of Christ Scripture: Psalm 71:16, NKJV “ I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. ” (Psalm 71: 16, NKJV) As we navigate through this world, we need to remember that we are mere vessels. We are carrying precious cargo: the message of Christ to declare to a lost and dying world. Our mission is to proclaim  his  story, not our own story. Only by the strength of Christ can we hope to live the Christian life in a credible way. The righteousness of God saves us and gives us right standing with God. This is why the Psalmist said he would go into his everyday life in the strength of the Lord and in God’s righteousness alone. We have no righteousness of our own. In fact, Scripture says our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. The apostle Paul said he did not want a righteousness that comes from self – one based on the law, works, and self-effort. Rather, Paul wanted the righteousness that com...
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Haggai 1:1-15!

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  Introduction Haggai 1:1–15: Haggai was one of the prophets who urged the people to rebuild the Temple. The people had returned from exile in Babylon (538 B.C.) and had lived in Jerusalem for nearly twenty years, but the Temple still lay in ruins. Haggai warns the people that their failure to rebuild the Temple has brought about their current hardship, which will end once construction begins. Today’s Key Verse: Haggai 1:13 GNT Then Haggai gave the LORD’s message to the people: “I will be with you—that is my promise.” Read 1 During the second year that Darius was emperor of Persia, on the first day of the sixth month, the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai. The message was for the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and for the High Priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. 2  The Lord Almighty said to Haggai, “These people say that this is not the right time to rebuild the Temple.”  3  The Lord then gave this message to the people through the prophet Hagg...
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Silence is Not an Option!

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  Silence is Not an Option Scripture: 2 Kings 7:9, NKJV “ Then they said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.’”  (2 Kings 7:9, NKJV) The siege was on by Aram, and people were starving in Samaria. Four lepers decided to surrender to the enemy, hoping they’d be allowed to live. When they went to the location of the enemy camp, the lepers discovered the soldiers had fled. The Lord had made the soldiers hear sounds that caused them believe allies were approaching to help. In their haste to flee, the army had abandoned all of their food and valuables. The lepers plundered what they could, storing as much as possible for themselves. Then they realized that what they were doing was not right. People were starving just over the hill! Remaining silent was not an option.  They felt compelled to sha...
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Cover or Expose?

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  Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8, NLT Cover or Expose? the Scripture says God will not promote gossips, faultfinders, or busybodies. It’s been said that every person carries a bucket of gasoline and a bucket of water. When you hear gossip, rumors, or juicy information about someone, you can either pour gasoline on it and cause the fire to spread or you can pour water on it and help put out the fire. Too many people use their gasoline. But even if it’s true and what they did was wrong, “love covers a person’s faults.” Love doesn’t expose them, doesn’t tell five friends and put it on social media. The mercy you show others is the mercy that’s going to be shown to you. If you’re harsh, judgmental, and expose people’s failures, magnify their mistakes, that same judgment is going to come back to you. You may know things that are true and could make someone look bad, but that’s a test. Can God trust you t...
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