2023 August
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Judah’s Integrity Test
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” (Job 31:1). In Genesis 38, we read how Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, allowed his purity – and the staff that represented his stature and position in the community – to be taken from him. Tamar was deprived by Judah of
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Faith Proved Genuine
“Even one of their own prophets has said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth” (Titus 1:12-15). In December
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
My sons of old walked with me in such ways that they could declare a thing and it was done. “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my
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The Art of Waiting
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them….” Exodus 13:21 How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward? Many workplace believers make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, how long will you choose to live under this cloud of oppression? You have been waiting for your joy to return. It will never come because joy comes from my presence alone. Any substitute you devise will be temporary and unsatisfying. You must break through the dark clouds that have hovered over your life.
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Drawing Near to Darkness
“The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” Exodus 20:21 Like the nation of Israel, we are each called to the mountain of God, but few are willing to pass through the darkness to get there. God wanted to reveal His glory to the children of Israel, but
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Gideon’s Success Test
“All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping [the idol] there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family” (Judg. 8:27). Israel was at war with the Midianites and the Amalekites. So God chose a humble young man, Gideon, to deliver Israel by cleansing the land of idols. After submitting a fleece to determine it
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Being called to leadershipson, requires you to carry the burden of others through intercession. It means you will feel what others feel. You will literally know their anguish. It means total identification with the sins and struggles of others. That is the type of intercession I have called my Son to do. “For we do
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Free to Stand
“That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies…” Joshua 7:12 It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor. This is
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The Handkerchief
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor. 1:25). Frank is a businessman who was flying overseas a few years ago. He had just completed a long trip and settled into his seat for a quiet return trip when the man
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From Pain to Destiny
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-5). God often allows pain to ignite destiny in our lives. Without motivation, many
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, I want to let you in on an age old strategy of our enemy. He has no new methods because these three strategies have worked well for him for literally thousands of years since he fell from heaven. He seeks to defeat and control my sons and daughters through: 1) the lust of the
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New Things
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14 Our past can be a hindrance or a help in moving toward God’s purposes for each of us. For some, the past has
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, whatever I set you free from I automatically give you an anointing to set other people free from the very same thing you were a victim to. I not only deliver you from what the enemy has done in your life, but I actually give you an anointing in the area you used to
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Pride that Leads to Arguments
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10-11). Have you ever had to deal with a person that just wanted to argue with you, no matter
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Overcoming All Odds
…”Because you have prayed to Me….” Isaiah 37:21 Have you ever had your back against the wall so badly that if something didn’t happen to change your situation, you were sunk? King Hezekiah was one of Israel’s greatest godly kings. One of the greatest challenges to his reign came when the king of Assyria threatened
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Stoplight Faith
“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Matt 13:58). You can learn a lot about people in traffic. For instance, I observe a lot when I see 20 cars in one line and only 3 cars in another. The reason for the longer line is these people want
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The Response of Faith
…”Everything is all right”…. 2 Kings 4:26 The prophet Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study,
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Son, there are times I instruct my sons and daughters to do things that confront the natural laws they have come to live by. These are times to move to another dimension in your relationship with me. I told Moses to speak to the rock to get water; I told Elijah to call down fire
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Vested Interests
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed” (Neh 4:1). Leaders who attempt something greater than themselves will always get attacked and it often comes from those who have a vested interest in what you are changing. Nehemiah was rebuilding the ancient wall of Jerusalem. It was
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Listening To The Father’s Heart
Many of life’s situations can cause you to despair, my son. However, you can have peace even in the most difficult crisis, because with each challenging situation, I extend a measure of grace which allows you to navigate those deep waters. Look at these words from Psalm 107:28-30: “Then they cry out to the Lord
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Mixing Faith With Commerce
“‘Your servant has nothing there at all,’ she said, ‘except a little oil.’” 2 Kings 4:2b Her husband had died. There was no way to fulfill her debts. Her creditors decided to take her two sons as slaves for payment of the obligations that still remained. She pleaded for assistance with the only man of
