Christian

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Mistakes – #2

The problem with mistakes is you do not know the entire consequence of what will happen.

You and I don’t have the Godly foresight to see what the future of a single action can do.

Gen 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.”

Though Sarai’s intention was to give herself a child, the result of her action gave her a wild man, who would be against every man and every man’s hand against him. (Gen 16:12)

You will often lose sight of the future in a moment of sin. Sin is able to camouflage the consequences. Sin will also torment future generations.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, when they had a child of their own (Isaac) the son of Hagar (Ishmael) made fun of him and harassed him.

I believe in generational curses.

The lifestyle you set up and live today will affect your children. From there it will affect your grandchildren; and on and on.

You can turn the tide by proclaiming Jesus as Lord of yourself and your entire household.

Don’t let a single mistake ruin your future. Look to God in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Mistakes – #1

Have you ever made a mistake?
Of course you have; many you couldn’t undo or change.

Don’t feel alone. The Bible is full of men and women that made mistakes – some minor and some really major.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, they had no children but a promise from God that their descendants would be like the stars of the heavens.

But maybe they figured their problem was bigger than their God. So she took matters into her own hands.

Gen 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

If God is restraining you it’s either because He doesn’t want you to have it or it isn’t the right timing for it.
In this case it is the latter, this wasn’t the right time for Abram and Sarai to have a child. That day is coming but it is not today.

God’s delay is not a weakness. Patience in waiting on God is a virtue that you can ill-afford to tamper with.

God’s promises don’t need your help. God has been running the universe just fine without you winding up the mechanism. Let Him do what He does best.

God’s plans will be fulfilled. Every promise made will come to pass. If the Bible says it, you can believe it will happen.

Never believe your problems are bigger than God can handle. If you think you can do a better job than God then your ego may be bigger than God can handle!

Abba Father, help e leave the ego behind, wait, and depend on You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Wait for the Best!

Gen 15:3-4 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

Abram was willing to settle for Eliezar of Damascus to be his heir; he was willing to forgo the stress of waiting and wondering for it just to be over and life move forward.

There are times you can be so desperate to move forward you will compromise for something less than God wants for you.

God has a plan. His plan is perfect. Your plan is flawed, unless that plan is to wait on God.

There are people right now settling for less than God wants for them. They are living in their sin when God wants them to live in Christ.

Some are praying to trees or dead religious leaders when God wants to answer their prayers.

You may be struggling to make ends meet or you may make lots of money but aren’t truly fulfilled or happy. God wants you to be dependent on Him for all you need, including happiness and joy.

Don’t settle for less. Wait on the Lord.

Ps 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Ps 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Abba, I want the most that You desire to give to me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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What will You give me?

Gen 15:2 Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me…

What did Abram already have?

The Bible reports he was rich in gold, silver, and cattle. He had a beautiful wife that was desired by other men even though she was in her 70’s.

He had trained servants that could take on the armies of four different kingdoms. He had the promise of possessing all the land.

And most importantly, he had God!

It’s not what you have from God that you are concerned about – it’s what you don’t have.

Though Abram was a rich man with a lot to be happy about, he had no children.

Gen 15:2
Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram had one other thing – God’s promise of an heir from his own body, but it was one promise he struggled to patiently wait on.

Look around your home at all the things you possess. It’s proof that people are never satisfied. Garage sales are further proof of too much around the house.

Can your possessions compare to the gift of eternal life from God?

Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

How much of your life can you give God credit for having?
Are you coming to Him and asking for more?
Can you wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled?

Abba, I am rich because of You! My greatest possession is my salvation. Every day I only ask that I can encourage someone else, in Jesus name, with the Good News.YES&AMEN

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Guard your heart and mind

I am the protector of my household. If a wild animal comes into our yard, I am the one that will protect my family, pets, and property.

The same goes for people. Given the nature of today’s society, I am suspicious of people I don’t know that drive up to my house.
Are they merely lost and want to know where someone lives?
Are they casing my home to see what cannot be seen from the road?

I believe in God. I believe in his protection over me.
But God has also given me some common sense and I cannot let my guard down!

God told Abram,

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Gen 15:1

That’s some great assurance from God in that one sentence and the events that follow.

But Abram let’s his guard down some time after this declaration and fathered a child by a handmaid.

The Bible encourages you not to let your guard down.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
1 Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
1 Thess 5:6 let us watch and be sober.

Abba, I trust Your promises to me. I believe You. Help me to always keep a guard on my heart and mind. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Already Victorious

With only 318 trained servants, Abram had a great victory over four kings. That victory may have been short-lived as the reality of revenge from those kingdoms set in.

How embarrassing to be sent home running by a seemingly inferior force. There was a good chance that the kings or their families would look to return and teach Abram a lesson.

But Abram is a man of faith and God came and reassured him in a great way.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

You, also, have an enemy and your relationship with Jesus has put him on the run. He would like nothing more than to seek revenge on you – to destroy your testimony or worse, make your turn your back on God.

What God said to Abram is the same words He would say to you – do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward!

Have faith in His assurance that He is already victorious over the adversary. Satan is absolutely powerless against the blood of Jesus.

Abba Father, I do have times I feel victorious. And then the enemy tries to knock my feet out from under me. My deepest desire is to keep my eyes on You and not worry about the enemy. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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Unlimited Giving

Heb 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,

I admit that tithing was required under the Law of Moses but Abram and Jacob practiced it before the Law demanded it.

Giving to support the work of God is supported by God and by His people.

God doesn’t move backwards but forward; He doesn’t lower the standard but raises it. He didn’t move from the blood of bulls and goats down to the blood of chickens or squeezing blood from a turnip – He moved the standard up and gave the blood of HIS OWN SON!

So if God once demanded 10% from His people, do you think He would now be happy with 5% or 1%?

But you do how you feel led to do! The early church did and they did not limit themselves.
Acts 4:34-for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

But you do how you feel led to do!
2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Abba, I don’t want to give just 10%. In Jesus’ name, I want to give all I have for Your service. I want to do it cheerfully. I know Your blessings for me will far out-weigh any anything I can give back. YES&AMEN

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Give Honor

Gen 14:20 And [Abram] gave [Melchizedek] a tithe of all.

Who is this man that Abram would give him a tenth of all?

He was a king of a city and a priest of the Most High God, but is that enough to warrant such giving?

Perhaps in such a godless land, Abram was glad to enjoy fellowship with someone that believed and followed God as he did. And this wasn’t just some ordinary person. The fact that he was a king and priest made him much more unique, especially when you compare him to the king of Sodom, an exceedingly wicked man.

Today we honor special people.

I once was received an email from a man I did not know. He wanted to know if I was the Tim Swanson that served with him in Vietnam.
I told him I was in high school when the war ended.
But then I thanked him for his service in Vietnam to help keep freedom for a kid like me so I could stay in high school.

He wrote back and said he’d never been thanked for his service in Vietnam.

As Abram gave a portion of his goods to honor Melchizedek – surely you can give a portion of your time and effort to honor someone that has made a difference in your life – no matter how small.

And how much more should you honor the Lord and Savior for what He has done for you, which is so much!

Abba Father, my praise is insufficient to honor You. My tithe is insufficient. The truth is I can never do enough for what You have done for me. I can offer nothing to You but my life. Take me – I am Yours. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN.

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Hindsight and Foresight

Gen 14:12 – They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Hindsight is 20/20!
It’s easy to say Lot would not be in this predicament if he would have made amends and stayed with Abram.

But that’s not what happened and Lot lives in a city with exceedingly wicked men.
He is taken prisoner with the other inhabitants.

What gets me is how after Abram rescues him, Lot returns back to Sodom.

Them again there are some I know that claim to know Jesus as Savior and still wallow with the exceedingly wicked.

I saw someone on Facebook claim saved by grace and also claim to be a hell raiser. The photos gave more evidence of the latter than the former.

I know God still cared for Lot and eventually rescued him from the judgment on that city.

I’m sure you’ve recognized your own hindsight before because you cannot see the future.

God can!!! Trust Him!

Abba Father, I look to the past and see my mistakes. I also look in the past and see Your care over me. In Jesus name, I look to putting more of my trust in You for my future. YES&AMEN

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Pride in Sin

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’ (Genesis 14:22, 23)

While there is no debate that the King of Sodom was an exceedingly wicked man (Gen 13:13) and that there was an element of homosexuality in the city (Gen 19:4-5), the great sin of Sodom was pride. (Ezekiel 16:49) – they were proud about their sin.

Many people today brag about the sin they’ve done – about how drunk they were over the weekend or how many they have fornicated with.

Even the term “gay pride” gives honor to that which God calls an abomination.

Abram refused to be honored by such an abominably prideful person.

It is written, better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)
This is what Abram did!

It is wise to do the same!

Abba Father, I am ashamed of all my sin. It’s memory still haunts me. Yet I know the blood of Jesus has cleansed me from it all. I rejoice in this. YES&AMEN