“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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Live Coals To Our Lips
With it, he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:7 Read Isaiah 6:1-8. Read carefully. Picture and hear every little detail of this passage. Then look at the following keywords and their meanings. In verse 1, look at the word high. It means to rise, rise up, be lofty, be exalted. In verse 3, look at the word – cried. It means to call, call out, recite, read, proclaim. Also, in verse three, look at holy, hosts, full, and glory. Holy means sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart. …
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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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Joseph’s Faith
By faith, when his end was near, Joseph spoke about the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. Hebrews 11:22. I love the story of Joseph. So many things to learn from him. What have you learned from Joseph? First, read Hebrews 11:21-22. Then read Genesis 50: 22-26. Which part of this story is highlighted in Hebrews as an act of faith? Read Exodus 1:1-13. What would make us question whether Joseph was mistaken? Now read 3:1-10. What was God preparing to do? Next, look at Genesis 15: 12-18. What prophecies did God speak over Abram when He cut the covenant…
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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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Jacob’s Faith
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped them as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21 Do you believe that we can do all things through Christ? Last we looked at five other people in the Hall of Faith. Jacob is another man in the Hall of Faith. These are people who are just like you and me. They are flesh and blood mortals who believed God over what they saw and felt. Let’s continue! Read Hebrews 11:21 and Genesis 48. Jacob also has another name that God gave him – Israel. Do you see…
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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?…