In his days, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho… – 1 Kings 16:34, Amplified Bible Merriam-Webster.com defines the word “stronghold” as a “a fortified place” or “a place of security or survival.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold) The word “fortification” is derived from the Latin words fortis, or “strong,” and facere, or “to make.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stronghold) So, the intent of a… Continue reading God would rather you not rebuild Jericho.
Category: Obedience
Watch those itching ears. They’ll get you into trouble.
…I hate him, for he never prophesies good for me, but evil. – 1 Kings 22:8, Amplified Bible Years ago we had a missionary visit our church who told us about one of the many interesting plane rides he had experienced in his career. During the flight he was seated next to a man from… Continue reading Watch those itching ears. They’ll get you into trouble.
Be sure to listen to God, not another Christian.
And the man of God said to the king…For I was commanded by the word of the Lord… – 1 Kings 13:8-9, Amplified Bible In 1 Kings 13 an unnamed prophet of God met Jeroboam, King of Israel, at Bethel to chastise him for turning his back on The Lord. As part of the chastisement,… Continue reading Be sure to listen to God, not another Christian.
Let God be your light at the end of the tunnel.
For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness. – 2 Samuel 22:29 Not long ago I, my wife, and my children visited a mountain cavern tourist attraction in Western, NC. During a tour of the cavern, our guide turned out all of the lights illuminating the path we were on. She… Continue reading Let God be your light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks for the offer to serve God over there, but He’d rather you help Him over here.
Go and tell My servant David, Thus says the Lord: Shall you build Me a house in which to dwell? – 2 Samuel 7:5, Amplified Bible Every now and then, you’ll have a strong desire to do something for The Lord, but He just won’t let you do it. Your motives are pure, and you… Continue reading Thanks for the offer to serve God over there, but He’d rather you help Him over here.
Keep an eye on God; your happiness depends on it.
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. – Proverbs 29:18, Amplified Bible There may be no better example of the truths expressed in Proverbs 29:18 than the life of King… Continue reading Keep an eye on God; your happiness depends on it.
It’s time for you to pursue God’s kingdom, not yours.
Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. – Luke 12:31, Amplified Bible So few Christians lead what is commonly called the “victorious Christian life.” Though the complete definition of this term may vary from person to person, in sum the victorious Christian… Continue reading It’s time for you to pursue God’s kingdom, not yours.
Don’t do what is right in your eyes. Do what’s right in God’s.
And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. – Judges 17:1, KJV The book of Judges is replete with the phrase “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The man Micah of Judges 17 is a prime example. Micah had some pretty strange ideas about worshipping God.… Continue reading Don’t do what is right in your eyes. Do what’s right in God’s.
Don’t doubt God’s faithfulness to you.
…wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar… – Jeremiah 15:18, KJV Have you ever wondered why God has allowed a crisis in your life? Most have, and it is not hard to imagine circumstances that would drive people to such questioning. Many Christians who are suffering loss, ill health, financial struggle, or constant… Continue reading Don’t doubt God’s faithfulness to you.
You’d better count the cost before you do that.
But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. – Luke 7:50, Amplified Bible I remember learning on the first day of Economics 101 class in college the following truth of life: there’s no such… Continue reading You’d better count the cost before you do that.