“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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It’s Not About You
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:36 How much of this life that you are living is about you? Your purpose? What about our life’s expectations and how it should turn out or how people should behave reveal otherwise. Read Matthew 4:8-9. What did Satan show Jesus? What did Satan tell Jesus that he could do for him? What would Jesus have to do to receive it? Satan offered the world to Jesus if he would bow down and worship him. It is said that Satan’s temptation reveals to his heart that what really…
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Lay Down One’s Life
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13-15. What kind of friendships do you have? Or maybe I should ask, “What kind of relationships do you have?” Do you have friends from childhood? or high school, college? Or how about adult life? Ones that pray with you? Friends that would be willing to do anything for you? Do you have that one friend that you know would lay down their life for you? What do the following verses say about Christ’s death for us and what was the motivation behind His sacrificial death? John 10: 11-18 John 12:23-24,27…
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Mary and Martha: Part 3
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 After waiting for two days, Jesus went to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus was in oneness with God, the father. This is what he wanted for his disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and all followers. Let’s read John 11:9-10. Jesus began to speak to them about why He did what He did. Jesus knew that as long as they were doing the will of the Father, they were protected. Jesus knew that Lazarus had died. He also knew it was the will of the Father to awaken him in due time. Read John 11:11-16. “He said this, and…
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When God Speaks Life
I am the resurrection and the life. Luke 11:25 What do you think God is speaking to you about? Read John 11:4, When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.; 11:25-26- Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Let’s do a little review of this chapter. Lazarus became ill. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus. Jesus waited two extra days…
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I Am The Bread Of Life
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 Have you ever been desperate? Have you found yourself in this place doing desperate degrading things to ease your pain? Are you desperate for God? This is different than worldly desperation. True desperation for God God will lead to revelation. God allows us to go through hard, painful things in life. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t cause it. It is a way that He uses to teach us to fully trust Him and Him alone. IF we don’t fully trust Him, it will…
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The Secret Life
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Do you tend to look at others’ sins over your own? I do think we…
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Do Not Be Anxious: Part 3
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after theses things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good please to give you the kingdom. Luke 12: 29-32 What do you seek daily in your life? Do you worry about it? The bottom line of this is we are not to be focus on things of this earth but on the kingdom of God. We are not to doubt…
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Love Relationship With God
Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we drink? or ‘What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first HIs kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33 Are you satisfied with your relationship with our Triune God? Or is your heart desiring more? Let’s take a moment and search our hearts and motives. Would you rather have: Jesus or silver, gold, riches untold, houses, and land Would you rather have: Jesus or Men’s applause and worldwide fame Would you rather have: Jesus or be the king…
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Justified By His Grace
Titus 3:5-7 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to is own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. We are simply saved because of our Savior’s mercy. We don’t have to work for it. Our sins are washed away. We have a new spiritual birth when God forgiveness is taken place. We, then submit our lives to Christ and follow His ways. By attending church, reading/…