Date: Saturday, January 17, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 49-50
Message Title: Peace For The Soul
Hello My Friend,
The soul, we cannot see it, but we can sure feel it, it's the inner most part of our being, and longs for the very things that our body and spirit search for, it literally feeds off of what we are eating physically, mentally, and spiritually. As Christian's, it's important to feed our soul with the fruits of the Spirit, meaning Spirit of God, as much as it loves the fruits of the flesh, they never bring peace to a soul like those of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:22-25.
Jacob was near death, he calls for all of his sons, then begins blessing them, but also gives themsome stern warnings, and amazing prophecies concerning as well. He calls each one according to their birthright. “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” - Genesis 49:1-7.
Interestingly, the tribe of Reuben did not go into the promised land, they stayed on the other side of the Jordan, in fact, his birthright was forfeited because he had an affair with his father's common wife. We do not learn much from Simeon's tribe, in fact, they would be separated from the Levities as God would choose the Levites to be His own servants in His temple. Much of our family legacy comes from our parents, but it is God who determines where we will be by the decisions we make. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:15,16.
Now, he comes to Judah, who would be the most blessed of all the tribes, as this would be the tribe in which Jesus would ascend, he gives the prophetic news of Him descending from them. “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” - Genesis 49:8-12.
From the second Eve bit into that piece of fruit that would cause a death curse upon all mankind, God had a plan to bring life to them. By faith, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob, knew that a Savior would come to break that curse. The word Shiloh means tranquil, at peace, it's also another name for the Messiah, Jesus is the Messiah, the Prince of peace, the only one who can break that curse, give life, and peace to a dead soul. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.
After Jacob gave his blessings, he was at peace and ready to be with the Lord, shortly after he spoke he died. Now that their father was gone, Simeon, and all his brothers were sure that Joseph was going to get revenge for what they did to him all those years ago. However, he didn't seek revenge, he forgave them, and took care of them. “And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.” - Genesis 50:15-22.
It is either the guilt of past sin or the bitterness of someone who wronged us that keeps us from being at peace, only when we learn to forgive can we find peace, and that includes forgiving ourselves. God does not hold grudges on the things that we have done, once we confess them, He forgives us, that's why He has peace with us, and why we need to be forgiving also. “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” - Mark 23:26.
Today's Prayer: God, the cares of this world often weigh our hearts down. It’s not Your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the barer of our burdens. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring the fruits of Your Spirit into ourlives, and feed our soul with all it's goodness. Our faith is strengthened and our understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into a glorious occasion for good. You are the same God who led us into battle who will also lead us to victory in Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
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Saturday, January 17, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
A Leap Of Faith
Date: Friday, January 16, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 46-48
Message Title: A Leap Of Faith
Hello My Friend,
While many things in this life are pretty straight forward, sometimes you cannot just go by what you see, you must take a leap of faith into the unknown. Faith is talking yourself into believing insomething, even when you cannot see it. Christians, by faith, trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ alone to save them from a burning hell. It is by faith that we believe in God, but faith is more than just believing in God, it's believing and trusting that He will make something good come out of the most difficult challenges we ever face. The truth is, we cannot do anything in life without having some kind of faith, but the most rewarding life comes when we put our entire faith in God, trusting that He will be there. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,3,6.
For seventeen years Jacob thought that his son was dead, you could imagine his surprise when his sons revealed to him what they actually did to their brother, and that he was not only alive and well, but the govenor of all of Egypt. By faith, Jacob who was now a a hundred and thirty years old, brought his entire family, sixty-six men, women, and children into Egypt. On his way there, God spoke to him, and comforted his spirit and mind. “And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:” - Genesis 46:1-6.
Although Canaan was the land that God promised the Israelites, the famine hit so hard that the only place to get food was Egypt, thanks to Joseph, who prepared for it. Even in a strange land God will provide His children with the best there is to offer. Sometimes, life takes us to the most unsual places, but if we have faith, and trust God, we will find that it was the best decision we ever made. One thing that must accompany faith is taking that first step to go into the unknown, without makng an effort, we might as well just have no faith at all. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” - James 2:17-20.
Now, the famine is hitting hard, both the Egyptians and Israelites, soon found out that money and possessions could not do anything for them during a famine. However, no one put their faith in God, instead they sold everything they had, even themselves, to Pharaoh just to get food. “And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.” - Genesis 47:14-18,20,21.
It was during this time that they lost their entire freedom, they sold themselves, and now they have become slaves, in a sense they sold their souls to the devil, because they were afraid they sold themselves out. People who live in the world have the mentality that money can save them from anything, but they fail to realize that it is worthless. Money cannot bring water when there is none to take from the lakes, it cannot bring food when there is no water to make things grow, it cannot keep us from dying, and it certainly cannot keep us from hell. There is only one person that can keep us from hell and that is Jesus Christ, we must believe in Him, by faith. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:4,9,10,13.
God did keep His promise to Jacob, in only seventeen years, the Israelites did multiply, in fact, there were so many that they outnumbered the Egyptians. “And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.” - Genesis 47:27-31.
Jacob lived seventeen years after he came into Egypt, far beyond his own expectation, forseventeen years he had nourished Joseph, and now for seventeen years Joseph nourished him.Amazingly, God will always take care of His children, even when it seems like He is not there. He is always with His children preparing the way for future generations, but sadly many will fall captive to the world because they did not put their faith in Him. Sometimes, famines do happen, we lose things that we were so sure of, but that is where faith comes. When we have done everything in our own ability, that is when God will show His ability. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:3-5,7,23,24.
Today's Prayer: God, You have placed us on a journey of faith where we learn to trust You for all that we have need of, for the present and the future, in our relationships, our health, our provisions and our spiritual needs. I'm so glad I learned to trust You with my life, now, help me learn to trust You in every area of my life, through all the circumstances I face, even when things look hopeless, I know You are there and will always take care of me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
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Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Today's Chapters: Genesis 46-48
Message Title: A Leap Of Faith
Hello My Friend,
While many things in this life are pretty straight forward, sometimes you cannot just go by what you see, you must take a leap of faith into the unknown. Faith is talking yourself into believing insomething, even when you cannot see it. Christians, by faith, trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ alone to save them from a burning hell. It is by faith that we believe in God, but faith is more than just believing in God, it's believing and trusting that He will make something good come out of the most difficult challenges we ever face. The truth is, we cannot do anything in life without having some kind of faith, but the most rewarding life comes when we put our entire faith in God, trusting that He will be there. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,3,6.
For seventeen years Jacob thought that his son was dead, you could imagine his surprise when his sons revealed to him what they actually did to their brother, and that he was not only alive and well, but the govenor of all of Egypt. By faith, Jacob who was now a a hundred and thirty years old, brought his entire family, sixty-six men, women, and children into Egypt. On his way there, God spoke to him, and comforted his spirit and mind. “And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:” - Genesis 46:1-6.
Although Canaan was the land that God promised the Israelites, the famine hit so hard that the only place to get food was Egypt, thanks to Joseph, who prepared for it. Even in a strange land God will provide His children with the best there is to offer. Sometimes, life takes us to the most unsual places, but if we have faith, and trust God, we will find that it was the best decision we ever made. One thing that must accompany faith is taking that first step to go into the unknown, without makng an effort, we might as well just have no faith at all. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” - James 2:17-20.
Now, the famine is hitting hard, both the Egyptians and Israelites, soon found out that money and possessions could not do anything for them during a famine. However, no one put their faith in God, instead they sold everything they had, even themselves, to Pharaoh just to get food. “And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.” - Genesis 47:14-18,20,21.
It was during this time that they lost their entire freedom, they sold themselves, and now they have become slaves, in a sense they sold their souls to the devil, because they were afraid they sold themselves out. People who live in the world have the mentality that money can save them from anything, but they fail to realize that it is worthless. Money cannot bring water when there is none to take from the lakes, it cannot bring food when there is no water to make things grow, it cannot keep us from dying, and it certainly cannot keep us from hell. There is only one person that can keep us from hell and that is Jesus Christ, we must believe in Him, by faith. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:4,9,10,13.
God did keep His promise to Jacob, in only seventeen years, the Israelites did multiply, in fact, there were so many that they outnumbered the Egyptians. “And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.” - Genesis 47:27-31.
Jacob lived seventeen years after he came into Egypt, far beyond his own expectation, forseventeen years he had nourished Joseph, and now for seventeen years Joseph nourished him.Amazingly, God will always take care of His children, even when it seems like He is not there. He is always with His children preparing the way for future generations, but sadly many will fall captive to the world because they did not put their faith in Him. Sometimes, famines do happen, we lose things that we were so sure of, but that is where faith comes. When we have done everything in our own ability, that is when God will show His ability. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:3-5,7,23,24.
Today's Prayer: God, You have placed us on a journey of faith where we learn to trust You for all that we have need of, for the present and the future, in our relationships, our health, our provisions and our spiritual needs. I'm so glad I learned to trust You with my life, now, help me learn to trust You in every area of my life, through all the circumstances I face, even when things look hopeless, I know You are there and will always take care of me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
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Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
The Peace Of Repentance
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 43-45
Message Title: The Peace Of Repentance
Hello My Friend,
I read a quote the other day that said, “Karma says, you get what you deserve, Jesus says, He got what you deserve”. While Jesus certainly did pay the punishment we deserve for our sin, there does come a time when sin will come back to haunt us. There is always a price to pay for sin, we may be under the blood of Christ once we and accept Him as our Savior and will not get the punishment we truly deserve, but we will reap what we sow if we do not repent. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:7-9.
When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and deceived their father into believing that he was dead, they never thought they would see their brother again. Now, with one brother jailed and the command to only return if they bring their youngest brother, they could not help, but fear that it was all repercussions of what they did to him years ago. Running out of food, Judah convinces Jacob to let them return to Egypt with Benjamin. “And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” - Genesis 43:8-14.
One of the amazing things about God is that He always provides for His children, even if they have done wrong. He might wait until we come to the end of ourselves before He begins to reveal Himself, but He always provides us with the necessities we need, and if we trust Him, send us the things we desire as well. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” - 1 John 5:14-16.
Joseph invites his brothers to lunch, they get to his house and their fears overwhelm them so much that they begin confessing things they thought they did that were wrong, but Joseph said not a word, brought Simeon to join them, and let them enjoy their feast. After the feast he set them up by placing his silver drinking cup in Benjamin's sack, along with all their money. “And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.” - Genesis 44:4-6,10-12,15,18.
This is a reminder that no sin goes unnoticed, if you feel you are being chastised, don't be sad, first, think about what is going on. If you realize that you haven't repented of something from your past tell it to God, even if you have forgotten all you have done, just tell God you love Him. Always remember that chastening is used to bring us closer to God and prepare us for something He has waiting for us. We are to be a testimony of God's mercy, grace, and love. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13,16.
After Judah's desperate plea, Joseph finally reveals to them who he is. “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” - Genesis 45:1,3,5-8.
Can you imagine the look on their faces and what fear they had after realizing that he was telling the truth? Yet, Joseph was not angry, he did not rub it in their faces that they bowed down to him as in his dreams, he simply told them to forgive themselves, assuring them that it was God's plan all along. The biggest fear we will ever have is having our hidden sin found out, but sooner or later it will be exposed, the best thing we can ever do is not hide it, but confess it. Salvation does not keep us from living in sin or the guilt of any past sin, but it does get us to admit that we are sinners, and God is faithful to forgive all our sins, even the ones that haunt us. If we want peaceand reconciliation with ourselves, we must confess our sins to God. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, How thankful are we that You are not only merciful, but loving and forgiving too. No matter how many times we mess up we are forgiven, and the only thing we need to do to get right with You is confess our sins to You. Lord, Help us to come to You no matter what we have done, give us peace from our past and let us just find freedom from any guilt or shame by coming to You and acknowledging that we need and love You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Today's Chapters: Genesis 43-45
Message Title: The Peace Of Repentance
Hello My Friend,
I read a quote the other day that said, “Karma says, you get what you deserve, Jesus says, He got what you deserve”. While Jesus certainly did pay the punishment we deserve for our sin, there does come a time when sin will come back to haunt us. There is always a price to pay for sin, we may be under the blood of Christ once we and accept Him as our Savior and will not get the punishment we truly deserve, but we will reap what we sow if we do not repent. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:7-9.
When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and deceived their father into believing that he was dead, they never thought they would see their brother again. Now, with one brother jailed and the command to only return if they bring their youngest brother, they could not help, but fear that it was all repercussions of what they did to him years ago. Running out of food, Judah convinces Jacob to let them return to Egypt with Benjamin. “And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” - Genesis 43:8-14.
One of the amazing things about God is that He always provides for His children, even if they have done wrong. He might wait until we come to the end of ourselves before He begins to reveal Himself, but He always provides us with the necessities we need, and if we trust Him, send us the things we desire as well. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” - 1 John 5:14-16.
Joseph invites his brothers to lunch, they get to his house and their fears overwhelm them so much that they begin confessing things they thought they did that were wrong, but Joseph said not a word, brought Simeon to join them, and let them enjoy their feast. After the feast he set them up by placing his silver drinking cup in Benjamin's sack, along with all their money. “And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.” - Genesis 44:4-6,10-12,15,18.
This is a reminder that no sin goes unnoticed, if you feel you are being chastised, don't be sad, first, think about what is going on. If you realize that you haven't repented of something from your past tell it to God, even if you have forgotten all you have done, just tell God you love Him. Always remember that chastening is used to bring us closer to God and prepare us for something He has waiting for us. We are to be a testimony of God's mercy, grace, and love. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13,16.
After Judah's desperate plea, Joseph finally reveals to them who he is. “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” - Genesis 45:1,3,5-8.
Can you imagine the look on their faces and what fear they had after realizing that he was telling the truth? Yet, Joseph was not angry, he did not rub it in their faces that they bowed down to him as in his dreams, he simply told them to forgive themselves, assuring them that it was God's plan all along. The biggest fear we will ever have is having our hidden sin found out, but sooner or later it will be exposed, the best thing we can ever do is not hide it, but confess it. Salvation does not keep us from living in sin or the guilt of any past sin, but it does get us to admit that we are sinners, and God is faithful to forgive all our sins, even the ones that haunt us. If we want peaceand reconciliation with ourselves, we must confess our sins to God. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, How thankful are we that You are not only merciful, but loving and forgiving too. No matter how many times we mess up we are forgiven, and the only thing we need to do to get right with You is confess our sins to You. Lord, Help us to come to You no matter what we have done, give us peace from our past and let us just find freedom from any guilt or shame by coming to You and acknowledging that we need and love You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Seeing God Through Storms
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 40-42
Message Title: Seeing God Through Storms
Hello My Friend,
At times it seems as though we face one trial after another and when that happens we can become discouraged, depressed, even wondering where God is and why He is not helping. One of my favorite poems is, Footprints in The Sand (1963), “LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me. The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” If you have accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as your Savior, He is always with you and will never leave you. We may face some trials, but He is always with us. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38,39.
While I am sure Joseph had some ups and down on his journey, he never let his spirit get down, he always saw God's hand in everything. Even in prison, he managed to make the best of things, and encouraged the other prisoners as well, including two men with a couple of disturbing dreams. “And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” - Genesis 40:6-8,20-23.
We may not always like the situations we are in, but we can keep our spirits up, and really the only one who can help us do that is Jesus He is our strength to weather every storm, and with Him, we will see that beautiful rainbow that appears after the storm. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - 1 Peter 1:7.
After two more years in prison, the butler finally remembered Joseph, after the Pharaoh had a disturbing dream. “And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.” - Genesis 41:8-12.
Now, here is Joseph standing before Pharaoh himself to tell him what his dreams meant, he was not ashamed to say that God was the one who will tell him what it meant. After he interprets the dream, Pharaoh is so impressed, that he not only released him from prison, but made himgovernor in the land, and put him in charge of making sure that there was enough food to withstand the famine. “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.” - Genesis 41:39-45.
The name Pharaoh gave him has two meanings, in Hebrew it means, revealer of a secret, in Coptic it means, preserver of the age. God used Joseph to preserve life not only throughout Egypt, but even nations surrounding them, including Canaan. While we are in the storms of life, it can be hard to see it coming to an end, but there is always and pretty wonderful end when we trust God. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Now, time had passed, and the famine was great, people from all over were coming to buy food, Jacob sent all of his sons, except for Benjamin, to Egypt to buy food. “And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Josephwas the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” - Genesis 42:5-9,19-21.
Joseph's brothers never got over the fact of what they did to their brother as well as their father, but now realize that the trouble they were facing for no reason at all was the result of what they had done thirteen years ago. This is a reminder that everything we do comes back to us whether it be for good or bad, no matter how long it takes. If you are facing trials don't be sad, first, think about what is going on. Is Christ your Savior? Have you gotten away from God? Have you been faithful to God? If the answer is no, it's time to seek Christ, and get right with God, if the answer is yes, keep you head up, trust in God, know that He is with you, and there is an expected end. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13.
Today's Prayer: God, We may not always see You working in our lives or that Your presence is even with us, but that is when You are preparing us for Your most glorious appearing yet. Lord, be with me, when I am discouraged, and have no clue what's going on, lift up my spirit, and give me that hope of an expected end. You are my strength and guide, without You, I wither and feel dead inside, give me vision to see what is ahead, and let me never lose sight of what You have waiting for me at the end of the storm. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Today's Chapters: Genesis 40-42
Message Title: Seeing God Through Storms
Hello My Friend,
At times it seems as though we face one trial after another and when that happens we can become discouraged, depressed, even wondering where God is and why He is not helping. One of my favorite poems is, Footprints in The Sand (1963), “LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me. The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” If you have accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as your Savior, He is always with you and will never leave you. We may face some trials, but He is always with us. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38,39.
While I am sure Joseph had some ups and down on his journey, he never let his spirit get down, he always saw God's hand in everything. Even in prison, he managed to make the best of things, and encouraged the other prisoners as well, including two men with a couple of disturbing dreams. “And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” - Genesis 40:6-8,20-23.
We may not always like the situations we are in, but we can keep our spirits up, and really the only one who can help us do that is Jesus He is our strength to weather every storm, and with Him, we will see that beautiful rainbow that appears after the storm. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - 1 Peter 1:7.
After two more years in prison, the butler finally remembered Joseph, after the Pharaoh had a disturbing dream. “And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.” - Genesis 41:8-12.
Now, here is Joseph standing before Pharaoh himself to tell him what his dreams meant, he was not ashamed to say that God was the one who will tell him what it meant. After he interprets the dream, Pharaoh is so impressed, that he not only released him from prison, but made himgovernor in the land, and put him in charge of making sure that there was enough food to withstand the famine. “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.” - Genesis 41:39-45.
The name Pharaoh gave him has two meanings, in Hebrew it means, revealer of a secret, in Coptic it means, preserver of the age. God used Joseph to preserve life not only throughout Egypt, but even nations surrounding them, including Canaan. While we are in the storms of life, it can be hard to see it coming to an end, but there is always and pretty wonderful end when we trust God. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Now, time had passed, and the famine was great, people from all over were coming to buy food, Jacob sent all of his sons, except for Benjamin, to Egypt to buy food. “And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Josephwas the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” - Genesis 42:5-9,19-21.
Joseph's brothers never got over the fact of what they did to their brother as well as their father, but now realize that the trouble they were facing for no reason at all was the result of what they had done thirteen years ago. This is a reminder that everything we do comes back to us whether it be for good or bad, no matter how long it takes. If you are facing trials don't be sad, first, think about what is going on. Is Christ your Savior? Have you gotten away from God? Have you been faithful to God? If the answer is no, it's time to seek Christ, and get right with God, if the answer is yes, keep you head up, trust in God, know that He is with you, and there is an expected end. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13.
Today's Prayer: God, We may not always see You working in our lives or that Your presence is even with us, but that is when You are preparing us for Your most glorious appearing yet. Lord, be with me, when I am discouraged, and have no clue what's going on, lift up my spirit, and give me that hope of an expected end. You are my strength and guide, without You, I wither and feel dead inside, give me vision to see what is ahead, and let me never lose sight of what You have waiting for me at the end of the storm. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How To Get Saved: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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