I grin as I read this, because if anyone ought to had a miserable face, it should have been Joseph. They were there on an impulse of the Pharaoh and certainly wouldn’t be there forever. But Joseph had been charged by the chief executioner’s other half and did not know if he’d ever see the light of the day. But despite his very own circumstance, he spotted the predicament of these two men. When your heart is right, although the bottom could have dropped out of your life, it is extraordinary how delicate you may be to someone else in need.

Instead of asserting, “You think you have got a lot to gripe about, hear my story of woe. “Joseph expounded, “How come you are so sorrowful today, guys? What’s wrong?” I admit it could be saying the plain to ask this in a dungeon, but it shows Joseph’s capability to think beyond his very own immediate cares and wants to minister mercy to others.One of the beautiful things about the right perspective is that, with it, each day has sun. You do not have to have cloudless days for there to be sunlight days. Basically, it’s rather fantastic that Joseph would need to have anything to do with dreams.

The last time he did that, remember what happened? He told his siblings about his dreams and it was “Operation Pit City.” He wound up in an Egyptian slave market. It’ll show you an opportunity for ministry you never would have touched with a ten-foot pole.

When money is our objective for contentment, we must live in fear of losing it, which makes us paranoid and suspicious. When becoming a celebrity is our target, we become competitive lest others upstage us, which makes us envious. When power and influence drive us, we become self-serving and strong-willed, which makes us conceited. And when possessions become our god, we become materialistic, thinking enough is rarely enough, which makes us greedy.

All of these pursuits fly in the face of happiness and joy. Only Christ can satisfy, whether we have or don’t have, whether we are known or unknown, whether we live or die. And the excellent news is this : Death only sweetens the pie.

That alone will make you giggle again. The New Testament in Modem English, reads : “For living to me means simply ‘Christ,’ and if I die I should only gain more of him.”.

The fear of the Lord does not need to do with fear or trepidation, but rather refers to suitable amazement and reverence for who God is. It’s a quality that we as Christians should seek and nurture. Though we do not hear the expression frequently enough today, it may still be a great compliment to be known as a God-fearing woman or man. To fear God produces all demeanors of fruit in the Christian’s life. It leads to our hating evil as God does, and the Bible also tells us the fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge (Psalm 111:10 ).

The more we obtain divine understanding, the larger will be our love for the Bible and God’s commandments. As well as all these assets, we find that the person that learns to fear God will have a powerful family (v. 2), with children who grow to be bold for the truth. God-fearing folks also find that “light arises in the darkness for the upright” (v. 4).

This doesn’t suggest that we won’t ever have dark times or times of trouble in the valley – we’ll have trials, headaches, and tears like the remainder of humankind. But in our problems, we are guaranteed the light that comes from God’s angels of deliverance. These protecting messengers encamp around those who fear the Lord. They surround followers above and underneath so that nothing can get at you without divine authorization. Ask God to help have a correct, reverential fear of Him. It’s a request He’s going to be thrilled to receive.

Folk are often puzzled by talk which has to do with fearing God. On the one hand, Scripture scolds us to be afraid of the Lord, but at the same time, we are told that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. So how are we to appreciate this phrase? Fearing God does not mean always looking over your shoulder in stress to see what he’s going to do next. The fear of God is something positive and healthy and is obviously outlined in several different scriptures.

A particularly useful one is Proverbs 8:13, where we are told that “the fear of the Lord is to detest evil.” many folks are worried by the idea of hating anything. Yet God announces we are to hate evil as he Himself hates it in all of its forms.

He detests it as he obviously sees its corrupting and destructive influence. We frequently can’t see any corruption at all. In fact, we occasionally look at what is malicious and think that it is not actually too bad. The Devil’s job is to camouflage wickedness till it seems quite trusting or perhaps enticing. The enemy is such a success in his deception that we frequently fall into his snares with out any compunction.

That is why we must learn how to view things as God sees them. We want to develop such a holy loathing for iniquity that we shun and refuse it at each turn. When we get the Lord’s view of misdemeanor, the Devil will be stymied in his attempts to seduce us. Though it might not be a popular position, we will decide to love God and hate evil.

There are a great many times in life when we are overpowered by feelings of hopelessness and despair. We find ourselves beset by uncontrollable circumstances that are fully beyond our control. In our weakness and dismay, we become so fretful and fearful that we even lose sight of the guarantees of God.

We cry to Him for help and adhere to the hope that he’ll change our outward circumstances. Even in our moaning and supplications, we barely know what to ask because our vision is so limited. In times like these, it’s a great comfort to recollect that we’ve got a Guide, a Governor, a Caretaker who sees what we actually need. His timely interventions are typically inward rather than outward.

That is, while we would like to see things change, He wants us to modify. In our weakness, we cry out for relief while the sanctified Holy Spirit is sieving our moaning thru the will of God. As our advocate, He has a commitment to interceding with the Father on our behalf. And His petitions are always heard because they perfectly fit God’s great purposes for our lives.

That is why the apostle Paul was so certain about all things collaborating for good to people who love God. He revealed, “we know,” not “we hope.” He talked with guarantee, not in terms like “maybe,” “if,” or “but.” Likewise, this certainty takes in “all things,” not just some things. What confidence we should all have! Our heavenly Father, the sovereign God of this universe, is exercising supervisory control of each single affair in our life.

Across the Bible, we see God reaching out to His creation to attempt to save and revive. Naturally, nowhere is this more obvious than in the New Testament and particularly in the Gospels thru the life of His Son. Jesus came to earth to find and save those that were spiritually lost and bound by sin.

By His very own profession, He makes this clear when He tells His followers that He didn’t come to judge humankind, but to save the lost from an eternal death (John 3:17). Frequently we are almost convinced to think that God is too wrapped up in the small print of the universe to be worried about our issues. But this isn’t true. Jesus was and still is completely curious about the lives of every one of us. Even after His crucifixion, His intimate concern was for those He loved.

One example of this is the compassion He had for Mary as she searched for Him at the empty crypt. Jesus hadn’t yet ascended to the Father.

He witnessed Mary’s deep sorrow and was moved with compassion. “Mary!” Jesus called out to her. “Rabboni!” that means “Teacher!” was her answer. When she saw the Lord she knew her requests had been answered. Jesus was alive! This was her best need – to understand that what He had guaranteed was true. What’s your best need? Call out to the Savior, and he’ll meet that need.

Some of our doubts appear too tiny to deserve our attention. Other doubts have been with us so long that we barely notice them any more. Just because they are little or unnoticed does not mean they don’t impact us.

Crises have a way of showing our doubts and adding to our emotional trouble. Scripture tells us that our heavenly Dad takes pleasure in us only if we trust Him : “And without religion it’s not possible to please God ( Hebrews 11:1 NIV ) .” guarantee and certainty are going to be the features of our religion – not doubt. A 2nd effect of doubt surfaces in our prayer life.

It is doubt that short-circuits religion and causes our requests to become cancelled. If we believe God and don’t doubt Him, we’re going to have the right of experiencing His power to do stuff that, humanly talking, are unattainable. Lives will be modified as we believed God and failed to waver.

What percentage of us have failed to answer God’s call as we queried our ability? How frequently have we hesitated to share the Gospel as we were uncertain of having the right words? Spend some time now in the Scriptures, and permit the Spirit to bare the certainty of God’s truth. Some of our doubts appear not enough to warrant our attention. Other doubts have been with us so long that we barely notice them any more. Because they are small or unobserved does not mean they do not impact us.

We won’t have intimacy with God or please Him when we doubt what he is saying. Scripture tells us that our heavenly Pa takes pleasure in us only if we trust Him : “And without faith it isn’t feasible to please God ( Hebrews 11:1 NIV ) .” Guarantee and certainty are going to be the features of our faith – not doubt. A 2nd effect of doubt surfaces in our prayer life.

If we believe God and don’t doubt Him, we’ll have the concession of experiencing His power to do stuff that, humanly talking, are unattainable. Lives will be changed as we believed God and did not waver. What pc.s of us have failed to answer God’s call as we questioned our ability? How often have we hesitated to share the Gospel as we were doubtful of having the right words? Spend some time now in the Scriptures, and allow the Spirit to reveal the certainty of God’s truth.

In these 2 chapters of one Kings, we see the results of slovenly parenting most of the boys emulated the malignant deeds of their fathers. As followers, we certainly try and guarantee our children don’t inherit sinful tactics from us, but we’ve got to be similarly committed to modeling right behavior. The following are 5 questions for oldsters and grandparents to ask themselves about their influence on family : If our children walk in our techniques : What place will Jesus, the Bible, the church, and prayer have in their life? Is God’s will going to be the determining factor in their call making? Will they develop powerful godly relationships? Will they put the best effort into their vocation and handle their cash wisely? Will they spend perpetuity in heaven or separated from God?

When children are growing up, the environment folks create has the capability to impact them adversely or definitely. Everything girls and boys see, hear, and experience will make an amazing impression on their lives. In their adult years, how our children think about themselves, God, and other folks will be linked to their childhood and family influence.

Whether we are folks, parents-to-be, or grandparents, we are in charge of the life practices our boys and children learn from us. I challenge you to hope over these questions and make the obligatory changes the Lord discovers. If you do, I guarantee your children will thank God for you.

Don’t love your life more than you love Jesus

And Jesus answered them, The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted. 24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest. 25 Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.] 26 If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 27 Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it]. 28[Rather, I will say,] Father, glorify (honor and extol) Your [own] name! Then there came a voice out of heaven saying, I have already glorified it, and I will glorify it again. 29 The crowd of bystanders heard the sound and said that it had thundered; others said, An angel has spoken to Him! 30 Jesus answered, This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sake. 31 Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled). 32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself. 33 He said this to signify in what manner He would die. John 12:23-33 AMP

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just one grain – it never becomes more – but if it dies, it produces many more and yields a rich harvest. There is always a price to pay to see a harvest. Jesus had to die – sown as a seed – to reap the harvest of millions and millions of people. Hebrews 12:2 AMP says that Jesus, “for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

There is a price that we have to pay – there is a seed that must be sown – to see the harvest of souls come to the Lord in this generation. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that we must follow Jesus and conform to His example in all things. No, it is not possible, neither is it necessary, for us to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus. He had a specific purpose in dying and was the only one who could die to save us from sin, but if we want to be used by God it is important that we do take the steps necessary to crucify our own flesh. We must lay down our own life and allow our flesh, plans, desires, will, opinions, and selfishness to die. As we give up our life into God’s hands, only then can He anoint us and use us to further His kingdom on this earth.

And the word of the Lord came to me: 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and put the stumbling block of their iniquity and guilt before their faces; should I permit Myself to be inquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols [of self-will and unsubmissiveness] into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity [idols of silver and gold] before his face, and yet comes to the prophet [to inquire of him], I the Lord will answer him, answer him according to the multitude of his idols, 5 That I may lay hold of the house of Israel in the thoughts of their own mind and heart, because they are all estranged from Me through their idols. 6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. Ezekiel 14:2-6 AMP

Self-will and unsubmissiveness are idols and are as unacceptable to God as much as idols of silver and gold. Anyone who loves their life too much to lay it down and to give it into God’s hands will lose it. If you have no respect for your eternity and are too focused on the world and your life in the world, you will lose your life and see hell. Jesus was completely unselfish and utterly yielded and obedient to the Father. Jesus did not love His life more than He loves His Father or more than He loves us. He was willing to obey God and lose – give up – His life for our sakes. If you will lay your life down, if you will have no love or concern for it, you will find it. If nothing on this earth, in this world, is more important than Jesus, than God’s will for you, you will find your life and see heaven.

You must be prepared to make the sacrifices that are required in order for you to be like Jesus, follow after Him, and continue to do His work on the earth as you represent Him to the world. The Father honored Jesus for his obedience and sacrifice. If you will make the sacrifices, He will do the same for you!

In Genesis, God created man – Adam and Eve – and gave them authority and responsibility over the earth. Because they were tempted by the devil to relinquish their authority to him, Jesus had to come to buy it back by shedding His blood and by His death and resurrection. He conquered and defeated the devil, took all earthly authority away from him and took back the keys of death and hell. Jesus, before He ascended back into heaven, restored this authority to every believer.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have the right to use the Name of Jesus to walk in divine authority over devils and circumstances! With this authority comes a responsibility to do not our own will, but God’s will. God uses people to carry out his will on the earth. If you are a Christian, you are God’s representative on the earth. You are His instrument – His mouth, His hands, and His feet – if you don’t do His will on the earth it won’t be done. If you don’t say it, pray it, and do it, it won’t be done! How important is it to obey God promptly and exactly? Saul learned this lesson, too late.

Then came Amalek [descendants of Esau] and fought with Israel at Rephidim. (Exodus 17:8 AMP) And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord is my Banner; And he said, Because [theirs] is a hand against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (Exodus 17:14-16 AMP)

In Moses’ day, God spoke to Esau’s rebellious descendants, the Amalekites, and promised that every remembrance of them would be blotted out from under the heavens.

Samuel told Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now listen and heed the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, I have considered and will punish what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way when [Israel] came out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. (1 Samuel 15:1-3 AMP) And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, Blessed are you of the Lord. I have performed what the Lord ordered. 14 And Samuel said, What then means this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me tonight. Saul said to him, Say on. 17 Samuel said, When you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they are consumed. 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but swooped down upon the plunder and did evil in the Lord’s sight? 20 Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things to be utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal. 22 Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. (1 Samuel 15:13-23 AMP)

Saul was God’s chosen vessel to carry out His judgment on Amalek. However, Saul did not obey God – he did not kill every living thing as God had ordered – he left the king and the healthy animals alive. God was furious. He had made a declaration to Amalek and He always keeps His word. In Saul’s disobedience, he made God out to be a liar – which He is definitely not! Because of the seriousness of this offence, Saul lost both his anointing and his throne. How many times have you asked God to come through for you with something specific in a specified time frame? Who did God use to answer your prayer on time? Aren’t you glad that they obeyed God? What would have happened if they had not? We waited six months for a new van in 1988, because five people were disobedient to the Lord. Finally the sixth person obeyed God and helped us get a brand-new van! We sure were happy about it!

What has God asked you to do that may have been the answer to another person’s prayer? You most likely had no idea what they asked for, just that God told you to do something for them or say something to them. As you obey God immediately and specifically, you carry out His will and His plan in the earth. If you don’t, you make God go out and find someone else. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that if you continue to disobey God, He will cease to call on you and you will lose your rewards. Don’t be the one God has to bypass – be the one that God can depend on to carry out His will and purpose in the earth.