Joseph went through some very trying times and situations, but The Lord kept his troubles and in the end he was blessed and was a blessing to others.
His jealous brothers cast him into a pit, Genesis 37:24, then instead of killing him, they sold him to the Midianites, 37:28, who took him to Egypt sold him to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard, 39:1. He was jailed after his master's wife lied on him, 39:12-20.
While in prison he met Pharaoh's baker and butler and interpreted their dreams. This was remembered by the butler when Pharaoh had a dream that he did not understand, Genesis 40 & 41. After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream, he was placed in charge of Pharaoh's house and all the land, 41:39-41.
After storing up food during the seven years of plenty, 41:47-48, Joseph was able to be a blessing to Egypt and his family during the seven years of famine that followed, 41:54 & 42:6-8.
God and use the bad situations that we go through to prepare us and to put us in position to be blessed in the future and to be a blessing to others.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Say Not To Tattoos
There are those who believe that the Old Testament is not relevant to today and that certain books of the Bible apply only to priests & preachers. Jesus quoted the Old Testament at times when He taught making it relevant to today. There are lessons for all of us within Paul's letters to the young pastors Timothy and Titus. The same applies to the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus contains some very specific 'dos and don'ts' which should apply to more than just the priesthood. "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you..." Leviticus 19:27-28
This states that we should not "shape" or "edge" our hairline or beard, and we should not put any "tattoos" on our skin. Both of these are now very common practices, but that does not make them the Christian thing to do. Just because the world says that it is okay does not mean that we should do it.
And for those that say Jesus has or will have a tattoo on His thigh which reads "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS", Revelation 19:16, most of the Bible scholars believe that those words will be on His robe or on a sash or banner that will go over His robe from one shoulder down to the opposite thigh. It is now quite common to see words printed on clothing, even on pant legs.
We have all sinned, so judge not. But most of the things that we do to be considered 'cool', 'likable', or 'popular' are not acceptable Christian behavior. It would be better for us to please God than to try to please man.
Leviticus contains some very specific 'dos and don'ts' which should apply to more than just the priesthood. "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you..." Leviticus 19:27-28
This states that we should not "shape" or "edge" our hairline or beard, and we should not put any "tattoos" on our skin. Both of these are now very common practices, but that does not make them the Christian thing to do. Just because the world says that it is okay does not mean that we should do it.
And for those that say Jesus has or will have a tattoo on His thigh which reads "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS", Revelation 19:16, most of the Bible scholars believe that those words will be on His robe or on a sash or banner that will go over His robe from one shoulder down to the opposite thigh. It is now quite common to see words printed on clothing, even on pant legs.
We have all sinned, so judge not. But most of the things that we do to be considered 'cool', 'likable', or 'popular' are not acceptable Christian behavior. It would be better for us to please God than to try to please man.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Productive and Prosperous
"And he shall ... bringeth forth his fruit in his season ... and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalms 1:3
Prosperity is a good thing, but it does not come to those who sit around and wish, and wait for it.
To be fruitful one must do something, produce something. There is no fruit without work. To be prosperous one must also "... doeth ..." something.
To be productive and prosperous, we must do God's will. We will be blessed with a productive, fruitful and prosperous life by reading, studying, living, and sharing the word of God.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God, James 1:17, and it is He that causes us to prosper. Our success and material prosperity is for the benefit of others, as is the fruit that we produce.
Prosperity is a good thing, but it does not come to those who sit around and wish, and wait for it.
To be fruitful one must do something, produce something. There is no fruit without work. To be prosperous one must also "... doeth ..." something.
To be productive and prosperous, we must do God's will. We will be blessed with a productive, fruitful and prosperous life by reading, studying, living, and sharing the word of God.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God, James 1:17, and it is He that causes us to prosper. Our success and material prosperity is for the benefit of others, as is the fruit that we produce.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Obedience, Sacrifice, And Blessings
Abraham passed his test of faith in God and obedience to God, Genesis 22:1-14 The question is will we pass our test?
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did temp Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Behold here I am. And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a brunt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Genesis 22:1-2
Abraham was obedient and took his son to the mountains to offer him as a brunt offering unto The Lord. Before he actually slayed his son, The Angel of The Lord stopped him and showed him a ram that was caught in the bush.
He was will to give up the son that he loved in order to obey God. What sacrifices are we willing to make to obey the word of God? All too often we choose to please ourselves and our lustful sin nature instead of sacrificing our personal wants, wishes, and desires in order to please God.
Abraham was truly blessed, even his enemies were a blessing to him. If we want to be blessed more than we already are, then maybe we should be more obedient to God's word and His will.
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did temp Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Behold here I am. And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a brunt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Genesis 22:1-2
Abraham was obedient and took his son to the mountains to offer him as a brunt offering unto The Lord. Before he actually slayed his son, The Angel of The Lord stopped him and showed him a ram that was caught in the bush.
He was will to give up the son that he loved in order to obey God. What sacrifices are we willing to make to obey the word of God? All too often we choose to please ourselves and our lustful sin nature instead of sacrificing our personal wants, wishes, and desires in order to please God.
Abraham was truly blessed, even his enemies were a blessing to him. If we want to be blessed more than we already are, then maybe we should be more obedient to God's word and His will.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
God's Wrath
"And The Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous ... we will destroy this place ... Then The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from The Lord out of heaven ..." Genesis 18:20 & 19:13 & 19:24
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sins were very grievous, the prevalence of homosexuality throughout the land.
Given the recent propositions and laws related to this issue, where are we as a country and culture headed? Are we witnessing the beginnings of our destruction because of our lustful and perverse nature?
We need to pray that there are at least ten righteous among us so that we might be speared. Genesis 18:24-32
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sins were very grievous, the prevalence of homosexuality throughout the land.
Given the recent propositions and laws related to this issue, where are we as a country and culture headed? Are we witnessing the beginnings of our destruction because of our lustful and perverse nature?
We need to pray that there are at least ten righteous among us so that we might be speared. Genesis 18:24-32
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Blessings Of God
The Lord can change your name, your direction, and your life. He can bless you in more ways than you can imagine.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, The Lord appeared to Abram ... Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but the name shall be Abraham ... And I will make thee exceeding fruitful ... I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee ... As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be ... And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her ... Abraham ... that is an hundred years old ... and ... Sarah, that is ninety years old ... shall bear thee a son ... and thou shalt call his name Isaac ..." Genesis 17:1-19
Abram was faithful and obedient, and God blessed him and his family. He was blessed with a long life and he was fruitful even in his old age.
No matter what situation we find ourselves in, if we are faithful and obedient to God's word, He can bless us and use us in ways that are beyond our wildest dreams, beyond that which we thought was not humanly possible. God is in control of everything.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, The Lord appeared to Abram ... Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but the name shall be Abraham ... And I will make thee exceeding fruitful ... I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee ... As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be ... And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her ... Abraham ... that is an hundred years old ... and ... Sarah, that is ninety years old ... shall bear thee a son ... and thou shalt call his name Isaac ..." Genesis 17:1-19
Abram was faithful and obedient, and God blessed him and his family. He was blessed with a long life and he was fruitful even in his old age.
No matter what situation we find ourselves in, if we are faithful and obedient to God's word, He can bless us and use us in ways that are beyond our wildest dreams, beyond that which we thought was not humanly possible. God is in control of everything.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Are You Where God Wants You To Be?
Are you where God wants you to be? Are you doing what God wants you to do? Often we get lazy and stay in a comfortable rut even though we know that it is messy.
"Now The Lord has said unto Abram, Get the out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee..." "So Abram departed, as The Lord had spoken unto him..." Genesis 12:1 & 4
When God tells us that it is time for us to go, we need to get up and go. Staying in a place, or a situation, or a relationship for that matter, after God has told us to leave it will cause us to miss out on some blessings. We need to do what God wants us to do. To do that, we need to be where God wants us to be and with the people that He wants us to be with.
Some times we have to get away from some of our family members in order to do what The Lord has for us to do. We may have to leave mama's and daddy's house in order to get to a place where God can use us to do His will.
Abram obeyed God, left his home, went to an unknown place, and was blessed. Are you where God wants you to be? Are you doing what God wants you to do? If you are not sure, then you should ask Him.
"Now The Lord has said unto Abram, Get the out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee..." "So Abram departed, as The Lord had spoken unto him..." Genesis 12:1 & 4
When God tells us that it is time for us to go, we need to get up and go. Staying in a place, or a situation, or a relationship for that matter, after God has told us to leave it will cause us to miss out on some blessings. We need to do what God wants us to do. To do that, we need to be where God wants us to be and with the people that He wants us to be with.
Some times we have to get away from some of our family members in order to do what The Lord has for us to do. We may have to leave mama's and daddy's house in order to get to a place where God can use us to do His will.
Abram obeyed God, left his home, went to an unknown place, and was blessed. Are you where God wants you to be? Are you doing what God wants you to do? If you are not sure, then you should ask Him.
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