Tag: Bible

Who Will You Choose?

IN THIS CHAPTER, BEFORE JOSHUA’S PASSING, HE CALLS FOR ALL THE ELDERS, JUDGES, & LEADERS. HE BEGINS TO REMIND THEM OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. HE REMINDS THEM OF EGYPT,  PAST BATTLES THAT GOD GAVE THEM VICTORY OVER. THE MANNA THAT WAS GIVEN EVERYDAY IN THE WILDERNESS. 

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:14-15

We have choices everyday. What to wear, what to eat that day. But everyday we make a conscience decision to choose Him in everything.

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

ii. Joshua could make this statement because he had lived a life that continuously chose to serve the LORD.

· Joshua chose to fight against the Amalekites – choosing when it might cost everything.

· Joshua chose to reject the golden calf – choosing when the flesh might be satisfied.

· Joshua chose to serve the Lord by serving Moses – choosing a humble place.

· Joshua chose to believe God’s promise about the Promised Land – choosing against the majority.

· Joshua chose to recognize the leadership of the Captain of the LORD’s army – choosing surrender to God.

· Joshua chose to take leadership of Israel and lead them into the land – choosing faith instead of unbelief.

iii. God gives us choice. God is a choosing God; we are made in His image. He wants us to also choose.

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So who will you choose?

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. — Matthew 6:24

Promise of His Presence

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The promise of His presence is one of many promises of God, but why is it so important?
In the beginning God walked with man, communicated with His first creation who was Adam and Eve. But the moment they bought into the lie, and sinned,it changed. There was a wall now between God and man that separated them from having that one on one communion with our creator.

2000 years ago, Jesus was born on this Earth, sent from God for Him to restore that relationship that Adam and Eve lost in the Garden. Is God among us? Yes He is, but not in form only through the Holy Spirit that is with every Believer who is born again.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

Just like with someone that we love here on Earth, we can text, call but there is nothing that can compare to that person being in your presence. With God, He longed for that and now through Jesus we are heirs with Christ, but why is His presence so important? There is joy, peace, strength and so much more that God can bestow in us from His presence.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A “FEELING”

There is none quite like the presence of God, it’s indescribable. It fulfills His promise of Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

His presence is a reminder that He is Emmanuel, “God with us” 

 

 

 

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STANDING ON THE PROMISE

STAN DING ON THE PROMISE

 

Is there a promise that God has for you but yet you haven’t seen it come to pass?

Though at times it may seem that God is silent to our prayers but I can assure you that He hears it. It may be a lost loved one that you are earnestly seeking the Lord for their salvation. It may be a healing that you are waiting to receive. Whatever it may be the Bible tells us that the “fervent prayer of a righteous man availateh much. ” – James 5:16

 

Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.”

 

In Acts chapter 12 we read that Peter is thrown into prison and later that night he was planned to be executed by King Herod. As soon as the church heard that he was in prison they started praying. Then an angel of the Lord appeared standing beside Peter who is chained up, the angel said “Arise, quickly” and Peter was freed. He didn’t know if he was dreaming or seeing a vision but he walked to the house where Mary lived and inside that house was where the church was praying for Peter. Peter knocked on the door and a woman from inside the house asked who it was, “It’s me, Peter” not believing of what she is hearing she turns around and tells the people inside that it is Peter.

 

The very thing that you are praying for is going to knock on your door, whatever the prayer, don’t give up. It’s going to be knocking very soon.

 

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Your Ways – His Ways

I’m 29; hard-headed and very impatient. I like doing things my way and expect it to happen when I want it to happen. This Isn’t how God works and how He does things. While being a Christian for 15 years I still struggle with that thought. He says in His word ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

In everything we do, we have to believe by faith. Faith is what activates the impossible, it is the delivery system of God. And without it, no man can please God.

Where are you at with your walk with Christ? Are you like me who is impatient and wants things done instantly? Your not alone. We must do 1 thing and it’s this. Put Him first in all things and trust Him with your life. Don’t waver according to popular opinion or what your eyes see, look into the realm of His spirit. How? By faith.

He is the way, trust in Him and He will show you the way!

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Moses: The Burning Bush

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THE SET UP

MOSES: THE BURNING BUSH

Exodus 3

 

A man who was raised by the royal family, living in Egypt with the most academic and scientific society among ancient societies at that time. He rode in a princely chariot, if he floated the Nile, it was a magnificent ship with musical accompaniment; he lived the royal life. He lived a comfortable life and had almost everything he wanted. He would be the  next man to become Pharaoh of Egypt.

 

We also know that Moses’ Hebrew mother had an influence on his life, teaching him about what’s right from wrong. The simple things of life. The same woman that trusted God with her son is about to see one of the most amazing miracles that God would perform on Earth. For Moses, it would be an awakening, a life change. It would become his destiny. Moses is about to be set up.

 

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At times I find myself beginning to take the easy road. The mindset that God’s got this. He has it all under control. As this statement is true. We also must do our part. Trust! We can’t have the mindset that whatever happens, happens. The more passive mindset we have leaves bigger “loop-holes” for the enemy to barge in on. We must stand and lean on the Word. We must have a lifestyle of prayer that shakes the gates of Hell. The complacency that we have is the room for the enemy to walk in. Guard your mind by taking every thought that raises up against the knowledge of God by the obedience of Christ.

 

Like Moses, we get all caught up in the comfort. There’s no more discernment, no more fear of the Lord. You are numb to your surroundings. All you want is things to satisfy the crave for more things. When will it stop? You might be setting yourself up for a set up.

 

 

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Hiding Place

COME OUT FROM WHERE YOU ARE HIDING

If i were to ask you where your hiding place would be, what would you say? When I was a child, my secret hiding place when I was hiding from my mom, or my sister would be behind the couch, I was so skinny I just slid right behind it, I would probably still fit if i tried that today! Hide and go seek was a favorite game of mine, it was easy, you just hid and hope that they would not find you. For me i would always win, being smashed up against the wall, besides my heavy breathing of near suffocation, I would come out a winner! With getting older and having the wisdom of God in my life, I’ve out grown that phase of my life, but at times I find my self, spiritually speaking, hiding from Him. Without noticing it my fleshly man gets in the way and starts to head behind the couch. Admitting your faults is the first step at an AA clinic will teach you, with a year and a half ministering to the clients of Aquanis, I have come to the reality that the 12 steps are man-made. We get the idea of “I got this” ” I can do this”, when really we should have the mentality of “I can’t do this” “I need help”. We carry a burden most times that don’t need to be carried, the whole time He is speaking to us, lay it down, but we get overwhelmed of how BIG it is. Your outlook will be outcome, we can’t hide from it, give it to Jesus. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

YOU CAN’T BE A WINNER FROM HIDING

Certainty of Israel’s desolation

Amos 9:1-10

 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said:
“Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake,
and shatter them on the heads of all the people;
and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword;
not one of them shall flee away;
not one of them shall escape.
“If they dig into Sheol,
from there shall my hand take them;
if they climb up to heaven,
from there I will bring them down.
If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
from there I will search them out and take them;
and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
And if they go into captivity before their enemies,
there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them;
and I will fix my eyes upon them
for evil and not for good.”
The Lord GOD of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the LORD is his name.
“Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the LORD.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?
Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the LORD.
“For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

COME OUT

– It is impossible to hide from God, the flood that had drowned the Earth, people were climbing to the highest peak on mountains, but still were not high enough to escape the judgment of God. Noah, who preached everyday to the surrounding people telling of the coming judgment, turned an ear and kept on with their content life of pride and selfishness that said there will never be judgment, for i am good. Those who run from God, a fugitive in His eyes of the grace in which Christ offers; will not give in for the cost of their life being served to the King and for the Kingdom. Would rather wait to chance their life with momentary pleasures on the World. When we have spent our life fulfilling the temptations of the flesh, where does that take us? No where, a lost and dying soul that needs to be re-kindled by the purifying fire of God’s spirit. Have we lost sight of the prize? Of what Truth is? We put Him in a box while we search for momentary pleasures only to find nothing. Instead of breaking our alabaster box, we pour ourselves into worthless activities, and complacency which fades out the heart beat of God. Restless, that is what we become when we choose to not wait upon the Lord, for His strength to carry you away into the place where He wants you. In His time He will appoint you to where you need to be in Him. Your spread out, ready to fly, but you choose to go ahead and make the move, your spent from all the energy that it took for you to do it on your own. Wait for His gust, He will come.

– Wherever sinners flee from God’s justice, it will overtake them. Those whom God brings to Heaven by His grace, shall never be cast down; but those who seek to climb thither by vain confidence in themselves, will be cast down and filled with shame. That which makes escape impossible and ruin sure, is that God will set His eyes upon them for evil, not for good. Wretched must those be on whom the Lord looks for evil, and not for good. – Matthew Henry’s commentary