God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. Genesis 8:1 God remembers! He knows all. How do you feel about these comments? Read Genesis 8:1. Whom did God remember? What did he remember? Do you find this verse a little unsettling? I mean, God told Noah to build an ark, commanded all the animals to go on the ark, and then shut Noah, his family, and the animals all up on the ark and then proceeded to flood the world. Wouldn’t you hope he would…
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Forsaking Words
“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. The name Jabez means sorrow. Sorrow means pain, sorrow, or idol. Compare the meanings of sorrow and grieve. Which definitions are similar? This mother named her child Pain or idol. Now let’s learn two things: 1) idols in our lives cause pain, 2) our pain can become our idol. Did this mother make the childbirth of her son an idol? How many of us make past pain our idols? …
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The Practice Of Blessing
On him, we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 Prayer! It is so important. There are many different ways prayer can look like for a person. One thing for sure is though, is that prayer is a primary discipline of our faith. This is what God wants to infuse with supernatural power. We don’t want to become legalistic about our prayer life. Prayer is communication to God. There are many ways to do pray. Jesus gave us a model of prayer called the Lord’s Prayer. Take time to look that…
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The Power Of The Tongue
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:10 Can you control your tongue? Does it give life or death? The tongue is a powerful tool. Here are some vital concepts: God’s words are omnipotent; our words are potent because we were created in God’s image. Our words are potent whether we used them positively or negatively. God desires not only that HIs children believe the truth, but we speak it. God ordains that words of faith have more power than thoughts of faith alone. Our faith can become our voice, and our voice becomes power…
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Rahab’s Faith
By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11:31 Rahab, a prostitute that had faith in God. God used her for his plan and purpose. What do you think about God using a prostitute? Do you think God is capable of using a prostitute today? Read Hebrews 11:31. Now read the rest of the chapter. Rahab, the prostitute, made it into the Hall of Faith!! Does she fit in, or is she a misfit? Of course, she does. So why do we try to paint her as something else than what she really was?…
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The Walls of Jericho
By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days. Hebrews 11:30 Do you know this story about the walls of Jericho falling? It is a wonderful story about how God does the impossible. Let’s start reading Exodus 17: 8-16 and find out a little bit about Joshua. Who was Joshua? What weapon was his specialty? During this time, Joshua did not know what was going on up on the mountain. He didn’t know that Moses was having arm problems. Joshua leads the children of Israel in the battle. Sometimes he knew that they were winning, and other…
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Moses’s Faith
By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. Hebrews 11:28 What can we learn from Moses and his faith? Read Hebrews 11: 23-29. What is so significant about this passage and the verse in Hebrews 11:28? Read Exodus 12:1-36. How did God schedule the Passover according to verse 2? What were the Israelites to mark on their homes so that death would pass over them? Now let’s go back to Moses. What terrible thing did Moses do in his past? He murdered an Egyptian, yet he…
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Isaac’s Faith
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding their future. Hebrews 11:20 Have you found a healthy and non-dysfunctional family in the bible? Please let me know if you have and where it is in the Bible. Read Genesis 27 and Hebrews 11:20. How is Paul gives a testimony of the faith of Isaac? What is it? How can this situation result in a commendation for Isaac’s faith? Isaac gave his sons a blessing. Jacob tricked his father into granting him the blessing to be given to Esau, the firstborn. Have you ever wondered why Isaac didn’t take it back since he was tricked?…
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Noah’s Faith
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. Hebrews 11:7 Could you be as bold and obedient to God as Noah? Read Hebrews 11:7 and Genesis 6:5 – 22. In this passage, this is the very first mention of the word covenant. Where is it, and how did God say He would provide evidence of it? Now let’s read Genesis chapter 7. What does verse 23 have to say? What was destroyed? Now move on to Chapter 8. Where did the ark rest? How did Noah know that the waters had receded?…
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Better Sacrifice
By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. Hebrews 11:4 Do you doubt yourself being able to be used by God? Do you ask God why He is using someone like yourself and not someone else? I think we have all done that! I don’t have a redeeming story like so and so. My story is not as amazing as that person’s. God really changed that person. Do you understand my point there? WE forget that God knows who we are and where we have been. Yet, He has forgiven us when we choose to follow Him. We forget that He has…