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Job 40:1-24!

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  Introduction Job 40:1–24: The LORD continues to pose challenging questions to Job, and Job humbly responds. Today’s Key Verse: Job 40:1–2 GNT [The LORD said:] Job, you challenged Almighty God; will you give up now or will you answer? Read 40  1-2  Job, you challenged Almighty God; will you give up now, or will you answer? Job 3-4  I spoke foolishly, Lord. What can I answer? I will not try to say anything else. 5  I have already said more than I should. 6  Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job once again. The Lord 7  Now stand up straight and answer my questions. 8  Are you trying to prove that I am unjust— to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right? 9  Are you as strong as I am? Can your voice thunder as loud as mine? 10  If so, stand up in your honor and pride; clothe yourself with majesty and glory. 11  Look at those who are proud; pour out your anger and humble them. 12  Yes, look at them and bring them down; c...

How Wise!

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  How Wise! Scripture: Matthew 2:11, NIV “ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ” (Matthew 2:11, NIV) The wise men were students of their age. They followed the star, found Jesus, bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts. Perhaps these were the first strategic kingdom investors in the church age. What an example for us to follow! As students of our age, our purpose or mission is to be  heavenly minded , but also  earthly sensitive . We know there is a world to come, the real world. Preparation must be made to enter that world if our life is to echo into eternity. The wise men first gave their hearts to the Lord by bowing down and worshiping him. The “star” in our life is Jesus Christ.  Once the Lord has our heart, he has everything else related to us. We see...

The Fire Inside!

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  “…his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jeremiah 20:9, NIV The Fire Inside When God first called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he responded, “I’m too young. I can’t speak. I’m unqualified.” In today’s Scripture, even though he’s in the midst of heavy persecution and discouragement, Jeremiah is saying, “God put His word in me, and it’s like a fire shut up in me. I have this gift, this talent, this anointing, and a power that I never realized.” That makes me wonder what is shut up in you right now? What has God already programmed you with that He wants to make a fire? Perhaps a book, a talent, a business, resources, leadership, courage, or wealth is shut up in you. God has already ordained it to happen. You’ve been faithful and done the right thing when it was hard. God is about to release what’s been shut up. You’re going to step into resources you never dreamed you would handle, doors you never expected to ope...

You are God’s Instrument!

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  You are God’s Instrument Scripture:   Genesis 41:41 “ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’”  (NIV) What a life Joseph experienced! Favored by his earthly father; abandoned by his brothers, sold as a slave, falsely accused of assaulting the wife of his boss, thrown into prison, made second in command over Egypt, and finally, the savior of his family. All this happened by the time he was 30 years old! Through all of these experiences, Joseph maintained a proper attitude, trusting in the Lord. He never became bitter over the brutal treatment, abandonment, imprisonment, and false promises made to him. God worked and broke the “impossible” circumstances that literally imprisoned Joseph. God favored Joseph. As Christians who practice the principles of Kingdom of God we, like Joseph, have been redeemed from every lawless deed so we can proclaim the praises of him who saved us. We are a special people who are zealous to do the good...

Don’t Let It In!

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  Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:35, NLT Don’t Let It In After a season of difficulties, Isaac had signed a peace treaty with King Abimelech. He and his wife, Rebekah, had moved into land with beautiful pastures for their herds and dug a well that provided plenty of water. Life seemed good until their son Esau married two Hittite women who made them miserable. No details are given as to what these wives did, and it can seem odd that this verse is included in the Scripture. But God is showing us that even though we’re blessed and have favor, we can let people steal our joy if we don’t stay on guard. Isaac and Rebekah allowed whatever was happening to get inside them, and it made them upset and bitter. Don’t be surprised if Esau’s wives show up in your life, so to speak. A family member, a friend, or a coworker may do things that get on your nerves and aggravate you. You have the power to ignore it and refuse to let it get inside. Don’t put your ha...

God’s Ways are Higher than Ours!

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  God’s Ways are Higher than Ours Scripture: 2 Kings 5:11 “ As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ” (Isaiah 55:9, NIV) “ But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. ’” (2 Kings 5:11, NIV) Namaan, the Syrian general, was furious! When he came to see Elisha to heal his leprosy, he never imagined Elisha would send a messenger. He assumed Elisha himself would come out, call on the name of the Lord, wave his hand over his leprosy and cure him. How mistaken he was! God had a different plan. Perhaps he wanted to break Namaan’s pride. Namaan was told to go dunk himself in the Jordan River seven times. This made no sense to Naaman, and he almost missed the blessing of God’s healing by refusing at first to do as he was commanded. He mistakenly thought he could have dunked...

Chain Breaker!

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  “Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Luke 13:16, NIV Chain Breaker The woman in today’s Scripture had been bent over and unable to stand up straight for eighteen years. Jesus said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then He touched and healed her. Notice that the sickness came from the enemy. The good news is that Jesus came to free you from whatever has bound you. The Scripture says Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy—sickness, addiction, depression. God was showing us that no matter how long you’ve been dealing with an illness, your time is coming. The Lord your healer has not forgotten about you. He has seen the pain, the heartache, the lonely nights. The medical experts may run out of options, but God does not run out of options. It’s not going to be natural; it’s going to be supernatural. It’s going to defy the odds. Now stay in an att...