Explore the Tower of Babel further. The Story of Job is taken from what is considered to be the oldest written book of the Bible. In the Book of Job we find the account of a faithful man who lost everything when Satan wanted to turn him away from God. However, Job is a shining example of a righteous man who never lost his faith in God, despite what he went through. Explore the Story of Job further. The infamous account of Sodom and Gomorrah is told in Genesis as the city is destroyed for its rampant sin.
As a kids Bible story, Sodom and Gomorrah shows us how God deals with sin on a personal, as well as corporate, level and cities and nations are all subject to judgment for their actions, but His mercy extends to those who call on His name. Explore the story of Sodom and Gomorrah further. This kids Bible story is perhaps the most beautiful allusion to Christ found in the Old Testament. It is important to show during this Sunday School lesson for kids how God spared Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and provided the sacrifice, Himself, just as He would provide Christ as a sacrifice for our sins, thousands of years later.
Explore Abraham and Isaac further. In Genesis 24 we read that Abraham, desiring to find a wife for his son Isaac, sends his servant Eliezer on a mission to a distant land. Led by the Lord, the servant meets the beautiful Rebekah. We can always put our trust in the faithful promises of God! Explore the story of Isaac and Rebekah further. This lesson shows kids the negative consequences of dishonesty, but also shows how God can turn bad situations into a necessary lesson and blessing.
Explore the story of Jacob and Esau further. Jacob Wrestles with God is powerful Sunday School lesson about struggle and blessing. In Genesis 32, Jacob is wrestling with himself about returning home, where he fears that his brother is waiting for revenge. He encounters God and fights for His blessing, before returning home to find his brother, anxiously awaiting his arrival and offering forgiveness for their past.
This Sunday School story for kids shows us the beauty of forgiveness and how God can overcome any situation that we feel worried about and is ready to bless us when we are ready to receive those blessings. Explore Jacob Wrestles with God further. The kids Bible story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis not only introduces us to the 12 patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel, but also shows the steadfast obedience of Joseph as he is enslaved and imprisoned, before eventually being elevated as a powerful ruler of Egypt.
Explore the Story of Joseph the Prince of Egypt further. The Story of Baby Moses shows the origins of one of the best know figures in the Bible. Moses was born during a dark time in the history of the Hebrews with Pharaoh having ordered the death of all baby boys throughout the land of Egypt. But God had a plan for this child that included the deliverance of his people from their Egyptian slavery. In this epic kids Bible story we witness the unseen hand of God orchestrate the timely events that would prepare the world for the greatest deliverance of all—deliverance from sin and eternal death.
Explore the Story of Baby Moses further. In Exodus 2 Moses witnesses an Egyptian mistreating a Hebrew slave and takes revenge by killing the Egyptian. Moses runs for his life to land of Midian and there discovers that God has a plan for him that is bigger than his past. Explore Moses Escapes from Egypt further. Moses and the Burning Bush is one of the most unique encounters with God that we have recorded for us in the Bible. In Exodus 3, while tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, Moses sees a bush on fire.
Miraculously, this bush is not consumed by the flames! From this bush God speaks to Moses and reveals his plan to save his people from their bondage in Egypt. God encourages Moses by telling him that no matter what happens next, he will always be with him. Explore Moses and the Burning Bush further. Explore Moses and the Ten Plagues of Egypt further. The Exodus Story is a powerful story of deliverance that pictures the powerful salvation available to us in Christ.
In the end, not even Pharaoh, who thought himself a god, could do anything to interfere with God keeping His promise to the Israelites. Explore the Exodus Story further. The Ten Commandments , as given in Exodus 20, were given by God as a foundation of the Law which requires obedience and respect to Him and our fellow men. The story of the Ten Commandments shows the sinfulness of Israel as they immediately break the first commandment before Moses even gets back.
Kids Sunday School lessons should take time to go over each of the Ten Commandments and how they not only tell us what not to do, but how each commandment also entitles us to certain God-given rights e. Explore the Ten Commandments further. Explore 40 Years in the Wilderness further. Use this lesson to teach your children about the sovereignty of God and the importance of personal obedience as he reveals his will to us.
The Story of Rahab follows two Hebrew spies who were received and protected by a prostitute woman named Rahab. Explore the Story of Rahab further. Crossing the Jordan River is perfect for teaching children about seeing things through eyes of faith. In Joshua we read that f orty years had passed since God miraculously brought Israel out from under the slavery of Egypt—years of unbelief, rebellion and wandering. But the moment of truth was finally at hand, and the people of God were about to realize the promise they had once refused to believe.
God called Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the land, but there were obstacles to overcome first. One was directly in front of them: the Jordan River. Explore Crossing the Jordan further.
The Walls of Jericho Sunday School lesson for kids records the first miraculous triumph of the Israelites in the promise land. God made the point that the city would not fall by the hands and weapons of the Israelites, but by His help, alone. Explore the Walls of Jericho further. Sun Stand Still brings to life an astounding event recorded in Joshua In the presence of all of Israel he called to the Lord, asking him to extend the day. The Lord heard his prayer, and the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down for the length of about a full day—just enough time for Israel to complete their victory.
Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! Explore Sun Stand Still further. Gideon and the Men illustrates how God can save by many or by few. Many years after the Exodus, the Book of Judges, chapters , tells the tale of Gideon, a reluctant judge of Israel, who God uses to stir the Israelites against their oppressors, the Midianites. God makes sure to lead Gideon and his small army to victory in such a way so that Israel would know that it was truly God and His strength that overcome the Midianites and not the might of the Israelites, themselves.
Explore Gideon and the Men further. Eventually, Samson learns his lesson just before his death and delivers the final blow to the Philistines, who were oppressing the Israelites. Explore Samson and Delilah further. The story of Ruth and Naomi features a beautiful allusion to Christ, filled with a charming love story that your students will enjoy.
Ruth and Naomi band together to care for each other when their husbands die, and then are ultimately blessed by Boaz as he and Ruth fall in love and he acts as kinsman redeemer and marries her. This picture points to Christ who redeems the church, His bride. Explore the story of Ruth and Naomi further. The Samuel Bible Story is a great Sunday School lesson that illustrates how powerfully God can work in the life of a child. As he grows, Samuel hears the voice of God and becomes a prophet to Israel.
Your Sunday School lessons for kids can focus on how God will use any of us who are willing and obedient, no matter what age we are or background we come from. Explore the Samuel Bible Story further. Explore the King Saul Sunday School lesson for kids further. Jonathan and his Armor Bearer is a fantastic Sunday School lesson t o help children understand what it means to place complete confidence in God.
In this story, King Saul did not listen to God for a solution in defeating the Philistines because he was confident enough in his own abilities, and he was more interested in his own glory. Sure, the Philistines had the advantage of being on higher ground, had thousands more fighting men, and had superior weaponry, but Jonathan refused to focus on these obvious factors. Instead, he placed his confidence in the promise and power of God, and the Lord delivered the Israelites.
Explore Jonathan and his Armor Bearer further. A popular lesson in any Sunday School curriculum, the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 teaches how God can use anyone for His will and that He will equip us in any battle we may face. Students can easily relate to the youth of David and his humble stature, which makes his courage and trust in the Lord such a powerful example for the coming generation. Explore the story of David and Goliath further. As recorded in 1 Samuel 20, David and Jonathan were best friends. Jonathan knew that God was with David and that God had chosen him to take the place of his father, Saul, as the future king of Israel.
But Saul could not so easily let go of what God had taken away. Explore the story of David and Jonathan further. The Wisdom of Solomon follows the triumphs and tragedies of this legendary king of Israel.https://retixabycube.ga/1192.php
Aliens, Strangers, and the Gospel | International Student Ministry
This Sunday School lesson focuses on the account of King Solomon, the son of David, his wisdom, many wives and ultimate failure in sin. Being rich and famous does not satisfy. Only God does! Explore the Wisdom of Solomon further. After meeting with King Ahab and announcing a curse of famine on the land, Elijah was forced to flee to a stream where he received complete provision from the Lord. When the stream dried up, Elijah was sent to stay with a poor widow and her son. God miraculously provided a continual supply of food for them throughout all the days of the famine.
God hears the persistent prayers of Elijah and raises the boy from the dead. Explore the story of Elijah and the Widow further. Elijah shamed their false gods by showing the power of the One True God. Use this lesson to teach your kids Sunday School that God has proven Himself time and time again to His people and that He is the only One worthy of worship. Explore Elijah the Prophet further. The story of Naaman the Leper shows how he was healed by God through the prophet Elisha as seen in the book of 2 Kings, despite the fact that he was a Gentile.
Naaman was told to bathe himself in the Jordan river, after which all his sores would be healed. This story is a powerful picture of our salvation from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. Explore Naaman the Leper further. Horses and Chariots of fire opens with the Kings of Syria seeking to overcome Elisha with chariots and armed men. But Elisha saw what others could not, that the heavenly army of horses and chariots of fire were surrounding the scene, so he was not afraid. Explore Horses and Chariots of Fire further. Give Thanks to the Lord explores 2 Chronicles 20 where t he righteous King Jehoshaphat was suddenly faced with the danger of war.
Although he was at first afraid, he took his fear and anxiety to the Lord by leading his people to fast and pray. He helped restore courage in the hearts of the people by reminding them of how powerful their God was, and how faithful He had always been to them. The king lead the people in thanksgiving to the Lord, and God responded to their faith with the promise of a swift victory.
The people praised and worshiped God all the way to the battle field, and the battle was won. No weapons, no struggle—just the power of God! Explore Give Thanks to the Lord further. Jonah and the Whale has long been a Sunday School favorite. God sent Jonah to tell Nineveh to repent of their sins. Instead of obeying God, Jonah chose to disobey and flee God.
Explore Jonah and the Whale further. The Prophet Isaiah is one of the major Old Testament prophets. This Sunday School Lesson focuses on the book of the prophet Isaiah who prophesied regarding Jesus, the coming Messiah. Isaiah told the people to repent of their sins and turn to God while painting a glorious portrait of the new heaven and earth. Explore the Prophet Isaiah further. Jeremiah loved and trusted God, and remained committed to his call as a prophet to the people of Israel and Judah and to the nations of the world.
Even though he was often rejected because of his message, he continued in courage to say what he was called to say, and do what he was called to do. Explore the story of the Prophet Jeremiah further. The Fiery Furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teaches how God will protect us from those who seek to do harm to us when we follow Him.
Taken captive to the land of Babylon three young Hebrews face death for refusing to worship anyone but the living God. All that is opposed to thee, Howsoever dear it be, From my heart the idol tear, Thou shalt have no rival there, Only thou shalt fill the throne: Saviour, let thy will be done. Wilt thou, Lord, in me fulfil All the pleasure of thy will; Thine in life, and thine in death, Thine in every fleeting breath, Thou my hope and joy alone: Saviour, let thy will be done.
How I Love Thee! Infinite, all-wise, compassionate God! How oft I have thought of the path Thou didst trod. Brief years on earth were a tale of deep woe, For suffering and sorrow was all Thou didst know. O Lord, all Thy beauty I hardly can trace; Mighty in power, You flung into space Planets in orbit, and stars made to shine; But wonders far greater were meant to be mine! Saviour and Sovereign! How gracious Thou art; Willing and able to dwell in my heart!
Bringing full pardon and cleansing for sin; Causing the joy bells to echo within. Thrice holy! Unblemished in all of Thy frame, I marvel to think I may call Thee by name! But grace so amazing, so deep, and so wide, Has drawn me, ever so near to Thy side. To Thee be all glory, now and for aye! Lord, how I love Thee with all of my heart. Still I must follow; ne'er to depart!
So faith bounds forward to its goal in God, And love can trust her Lord to lead her there; Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer. No matter if the way be sometimes dark, No matter though the cost be oft-times great, He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark; The way that leads to Him must needs be strait. I am rising and not setting; This is not night but day, Not in darkness, but in sunshine, Like a star, I fade away.
All is well with me for ever; I do not fear to go, My tide is but beginning Its bright eternal flow. I am leaving only shadows For the true and fair and good, I must not, cannot, linger; I would not, though I could. This is not death's dark portal, 'Tis life's golden gate to me, Link after link is broken, And I at last am free. I am going to the angels, I am going to my God; I know the hand that beckons, I see the holy road. Why grieve me with your weeping? Your tears are all in vain, An hour's farewell, beloved, And we shall meet again.
Jesus, Thou wilt receive me And welcome me above; This sunshine which now fills me Is Thine own smile of love. One day at a time to be patient and strong, To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong; Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease; It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace. One day at a time - but the day is so long, And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong, O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way; Give courage and patience and strength for the day.
Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet; "Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet; I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve; I will not forsake thee; I never will leave. Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day. One day at a time, and the day is His day; He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone; As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own. Dear Name! By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own'd a child. Because our hope is in the Lord And not what the world can afford, The joys of heaven we will share With the saints of all ages there.
We will walk upon streets of gold Where there is beauty that's untold And have a wondrous dwelling place With Him who saved us by His grace! Take up thy cross; let not its weight Fill thy weak soul with vain alarm; His strength shall bear thy spirit up, And brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm. Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame, Nor let thy foolish pride rebel; The Lord for thee the cross endured To save thy soul from death and hell. Take up thy cross, then, in His strength, And calmly every danger brave; 'Twill guide thee to a better home, And lead to victory o'er the grave.
Take up thy cross, and follow Christ, Nor think till death to lay it down; For only he who bears the cross May hope to wear the glorious crown. By faith I know the worlds were made By God's great word of might; How soon, Let there be light, he said, That moment there was light. By faith I soar and force my flight Through all the clouds of sense; I see the glories out of sight, With brightest evidence. By faith I mount the azure sky, And from the lofty sphere, The earth a little mote espy, Unworthy of my care.
By faith I see the unseen things Hid from all mortal eyes; Proud reason stretching all its wings, Beneath me flutt'ring lies. By faith I build my lasting hope On righteousness divine; Nor can I sink with such a prop, Whatever storms combine. By faith my works, my righteousness, And duties all I own But loss and dung; and lay my stress On what my Lord has done. By faith I overcome the world, And all its hurtful charms; I'm in the heav'nly chariot hurl'd Through all opposing harms.
By faith I have a conqu'ring pow'r To tread upon my foes, To triumph in a dying hour, And banish all my woes. By faith I trust a pardon free, Which puzzles flesh and blood; To think that God can justify, Where yet he sees no good. By faith I keep my Lord's commands, To verify my trust; I purify my heart and hands, And mortify my lust. By faith my melting soul repents, When pierced Christ appears; My heart in grateful praises vents, Mine eyes in joyful tears. By faith I can the mountains vast Of sin and guilt remove; And them into the ocean cast The sea of blood and love.
By faith I hope to see the Sun, The light of grace that lent: His everlasting circles run In glory's firmament. By faith I counterplot my foes, Nor need their ambush fear; Because my life-guard also goes Behind me in the rear. Lot represents, no doubt, those who believe and These, the worldly-minded, God has to continually push forward to keep them moving in the right direction, as the angel did with Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot chose for himself: God chose for Abraham. Which of the two received the most in the long run?
Abraham, by far. In this crisis-infested generation in which we live, it pays to let God do our choosing and provide our solutions. Are you one of them? The answer to God's divine choice and call is remarkably evident in Abraham's case: And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth Arise, walk through the land Now I pose the inevitable question: to whom do you turn whenever a problem arises in your life like a storm on a calm sea?
When the peace is broken, the The psalmist wrote of those among whom he dwelled: I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war Ps. The world has not changed, man has not changed, but those who change the world are the ones who hear from God. Abraham found his shelter in the Lord.
David had the same answer. After all the trials he had endured in life, the "sweet singer of Israel" wrote of the Lord: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust This psalm, notably verse 4, reminds me of a scene I once came upon during a rainstorm. The raindrops were hitting me with the force of arrows, and since home was far away, I decided to seek shelter behind an old school building. As I wiped off the drops of rain, I saw just a little distance away a hen perched over her chicks to protect them from the rain and cold.
By fluttering her wings, the hen warned me to keep away, which I did. During the long period I stood there, the hen preached a whole sermon to me. Even a hen takes needless trouble to protect her chicks and keep them safe. Yet we serve an Almighty God Who has the whole universe in His hands. Therefore, like the psalmist of old, we should say, "I shall not fear. 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 Someone has counted "fear nots" in the Bible. This good news is for all fear-filled days. There is a new message of hope for each day of our life. Abraham came face to face with his zero hour, a moment of decision with far-reaching consequences. God sanctioned Abraham's separation from Lot, and then came a miracle of blessing.
If we will only obey God and walk in His ways and precepts, no good thing will He withhold from us. Blessing Follows Obedience Abraham discovered that blessing follows faithful obedience to God, and so he departed and never looked back. As a result, God said to him, I will make We can now fully understand why the Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from God. James The Lord proved it in the life of Abraham. My friend, are you going to trust God in the crisis facing you? Or do you think you can cope alone? It does not work out that way.
What did Abraham have which we so badly need today? He had a teachable mind, a surrendered will, and a committed life: all these are basic conditions for a fruitful walk with God at all times. Today we may surrender ourselves to a task, but tomorrow, when something goes wrong, either we blame God or we give up.
Time and time again, I have met individuals who surrendered to the task of preaching the Gospel, carrying out a ministerial responsibility, undertaking a Christian duty. Later, when difficulties arose or the inevitable zero hour came, they gave up and "went back to Egypt. What they should do in the first place is to surrender to God, rather than to the task. Failure to see this truth leads to discouragement. Difficulties will come regardless of what type of work we are in, but if our surrender is to the Lord instead of to the task, we will look at obstacles from quite a different perspective.
You may be laboring, groaning, and crying out to the Lord, "My business losses, my marriage troubles, my family woes, my financial crises, my health problems! Turning to God When trouble came, Abraham did the right thing; he quickly turned to God Who picked up the broken pieces of his life. God assured Abraham, "Friend, let us start all over again. All over the world, in every culture and society and among every class of people, the experience of being born again creates a wall of demarcation, even a wall of separation, between the believer and the world.
And this division underscores the Bible commandment, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord If you know anything about the Corinthian church, you will understand why God gave the order through Paul to come out and be separate. This is not separation as many unregenerate minds consider it; we are not all commanded to become monks or hermits, to exclude ourselves from society in a This is not what the Bible means by separation.
What the Scriptures mean when they speak of separation from the world is the fact that our renewed and regenerated mind does not conform any more to this world's standards. We don't think as the world thinks, neither do we behave as it behaves. Our aspirations are geared to fulfilling God's purposes, not our own selfish ambitions.
This change comes from walking every day in fresh realization of God's will and plans for our life. We have all heard of believers who have been rejected by their families. Sometimes your relatives will no longer speak to you when you choose to follow the path of righteousness and the way of the Lord. But have no regret, for if you stand steadfast, and prove faithful to the calling of God, your brethren will come knocking at your door seeking counsel. It happened to Joseph, and it can happen to you. David Livingstone, the great missionary, had a moving story to tell and a living testimony relevant to every believer.
After graduating from the university, he felt the call of God to Africa. With that call came an earnest, burning desire to serve the Lord and bring the light of Jesus Christ to the Dark Continent. Suddenly, as if bitten by a rattlesnake, and with the finesse of an Olympic gold medalist, his friend sprang away and landed on the other side of the sidewalk. He stood staring at Livingstone with a reddened face and a shocked expression. A special ship brought home his remains.
He was honored posthumously and millions filed past his coffin to pay homage to a man who stood for God. His body was ceremoniously carried to Westminster Abbey, the last resting place of many great men of renown. Today, David Livingstone has a place in history; he has left an indelible mark. His boastful and conceited friend died forgotten and unsung. If you will only stand for God when the moment of decision comes, the great "I AM" will not forsake you. Your Moment of Decision There may be times when your colleagues will desert you, and your family and loved ones no longer trust you, because the cross is an offense to them.
Even your oldest and dearest friends may no longer confide in you. Suddenly, you become a scarecrow, an object of ridicule and scorn. They may even feel that you have a few screws loose in your head. But listen, my friend! If your conversion is real and thorough, your family and friends will eventually resolve to find out more about it. They will keep searching day after day to discover what you have that they don't. Be faithful and obedient, steadfast in all things. Yours is a God Who can be depended upon.
Lean totally upon Him. Trust and hold to Him in every situation and circumstance of life and you will emerge victorious. As a faithful Christian, you are discovering God's power for every need. This truth is testified to by His Word: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Ps. Beloved, you will not fall as your enemies expect, because the eye of the Lord is upon you. People may spend eternity searching for your secret, and yet, if you are solidly anchored in God, they will never find it. Because you have no special secret of your own, simply the principle The just shall live by faith Rom.
But this fact is not easy for the unsaved to understand, let alone believe, because the carnal mind cannot fathom spiritual things. Let not your heart be troubled as the world mocks, jeers, and spites you. Jesus Christ set the standard, and as His follower you cannot be excluded from suffering. Why do you allow the sneers to bother you? But let your faith stand on God alone. He knows your situation and your labor. He sees, He cares, and He will reward you in the end. The zero hour sometimes arrives unexpectedly and throws many Christians off balance.
How will you react in the time of crisis? With the hasty insistence of Lot's decision to break away from Will you feel shock and dread as did Hezekiah? Your zero hour could be far more lethal and exacting, as the abruptness of Saul's deadly javelin launched at innocent David. Think of repentant Rahab, who had hidden the spies of Israel, as she waited for the invasion of the Israelites in that little house by the Jericho wall.
But she came through it unscathed because she had been honest and faithful to the Lord and His servants. The breakthrough in all these seemingly hopeless and separate moments is brought about by a reaction which might be called the "faith move. These men and women knew how to trust God Whose power was enough for any upheaval. Fear and anxiety may force you to make a false move, but remember, "Where there is faith, there is no fear. God called Abraham and said, Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it into thee Gen.
Immediately after the incident between Abraham and Lot, God told Abraham to arise. He obeyed. Instead, Abraham might have sat down wondering, "Oh, what's the use after this misfortune that has befallen me? Have you ever noticed that God did not give the expanse of land to Abraham until after he had braved his zero hour? It will be the same for you. Right now, before your very eyes, the crisisthat storm thundering around youwill become a door to God's fruitful abundance and a new pathway to untold blessings.
In Deuteronomy ,5, all of Israel was called to attention. Today the same passage speaks to all believers in Christ: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. This is the greatest commandment of all. Abraham was obedient to it all his life, and God honored him. We should follow Abraham's example: God should be first in our thinking, first in As King David wrote in Psalm ,8: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. There are thousands who have graduated from a zero hour to prosperous times. Abraham is one of them. He received power from God because the Lord had made a covenant with him. The Bible says that, from a point of distress and near deprivation, Abraham rose to a position of prominence and plenty. What was his secret?
He turned from the world to the Almighty God Who can do all things by His might and power. This thought gives us a clue to Abraham's success. The Bible says, Go, and do thou likewise Luke A study of the life of Abraham will impress upon you the basic lessons you need to know in order to come through your zero hour into the life of joy and abundance God desires and plans for you. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm NIV. Moses was another great man of God. His life was full of trials and temptations, but in every situation God proved Himself faithful.
The Lord raised up Moses in a most unusual manner, far beyond human comprehension. His mother was pregnant with him when a decree was issued to the effect that all male Hebrew children born in Egypt must be But the Bible says that Moses' mother saw him as a "fine child" Exod. I believe with all my heart that as you read this account, God will open your eyes and make you to see yourself as a "fine child," a "special child," a child of God carefully chosen in Jesus' name.
In my formative and adolescent years, I went through a period of deprivation and rejection. On one occasion I was thrown out and left to die. But, praise God, He preserved my life. God will do the same for Moses was also born into a harrowing situation, under conditions of slavery and the threat of imminent death. His parents hid him for three months, and then came the hour of decision. According to the book of Acts, he too was "cast forth" Acts But God was aware of what was going on. He was right there with Moses and his family during every tense moment. We thank God for faithful women like Moses' mother who listen to the Lord and act in faith.
She, according to the Bible Exod. She had to act quickly because there were sentries all over the city. Then she placed her precious baby in the basket and hid it among the bulrushes at the edge of the river. I believe that Moses' mother knew that a greater power would preserve him.
It was by faith that she commended him to the care of the Almighty by "casting" him into the river in that floating basket. Listen, beloved friend, in your down-and-out moment, even your zero hour, God does not leave you alone. He doesn't desert you. God had an agent prepared to intervene in Moses' situation. This agent of God, the daughter of Pharaoh, picked up the Hebrew baby and took him with her to the palace of the king to raise him as her very own child.
Everything was working out beautifully. One fact I discovered early in my ministry is that when we become involved in a crisis, God moves every hand and agent in our direction to save us. He intervenes in our zero hour. When the Thieves Come, God Is There Let me digress and share with you an amazing incident which occurred some years ago. It had been a day full of enjoyable activities and good times. My family and I had gone to bed late after entertaining a group of Christian friends.
As I lay in bed, all was silent: you could have heard a pin drop. The minutes passed by and I dozed off for a few hours. Then, in what I imagined to be a dream, I heard the faint sound of hushed voices followed by the distinct noise of keys fumbling in a lock. Sitting up on the edge of my bed, calm and collected in the darkness, I was able to confirm my suspicions: our house was being burglarized by armed robbers.
As I tiptoed to the window overlooking the garden, my heart raced and sweat gathered in my palms. I had already prayed and was confident of God's protection and security. I remembered the words of the prophet, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper I also recollected Psalm about trusting in the Lord, and Revelation Then I recited to myself the words of Deuteronomy The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face I looked around to see my wife sleeping soundly, oblivious to all the drama unfurling around her.
I decided to make a check of our main hall. Gathering all my courage, I crept into the dark hallway and switched on the light. There I stood, face to face, with four trigger-happy armed robbers. I greeted them; there was no reply, instead they pointed their guns at me.
The leader of the gang barked out threateningly, "Bring all your money or we'll kill you now! Their unblinking eyes were fixed on me. Their fingers were ready on their triggers. Tension filled the air. But I knew that God was in control because my life is in His hands. I moved a few uneven strides forward and they moved a step or two backwards towards the wall. They were on the defensive, but God was winningI knew it! Suddenly I shouted, "You want to rob Archbishop Idahosawait for me to get my weapon! I laid hold of my big Bible and ran back to face the four men. I lifted up the Bible in the direction of the leader, and without further ceremony or word they fled from the house, bumping into each other as they went.
Soon afterwards, the sound of a car engine broke the nighttime silence. They had gone. This dramatic midnight incident may raise a laugh today, but it put me in a very tight spot at the time; indeed it was a zero hour. To my great joy, God stood by me in that dark hour. And He will do the same for you in your "dark hours. His mother, by faith, took a firm hold on God's sovereignty. Moses was not old enough to have said, "God help me in this hour. His parents did what God wanted them to do, and He honored their faith. If you walk in the center of God's will, He will keep you going, regardless of the storms that may assail you.
The very hour that Moses was placed in the water, God's mighty machinery of protection was set in motion. A great drama was unfolding. We learn in the second chapter of Exodus that Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe in the river, caught sight of the basket, and commanded her servants to bring it to her.
Immediately her heart was touched, and she was overcome with compassion. With loving, tender hands the princess picked up the little boy. She no doubt recognized the infant as a Hebrew child, but had no hesitation in taking him in, even at the risk of her own position. God was moving systematically, as He always does, to protect His children who trust Him in time of danger, persecution, and affliction. Pharaoh's daughter gladly accepted the suggestion of Miriam, Moses' older sister who was watching over him, that she go and find a Hebrew woman to look after the child.
Can you imagine that? This story fills my heart with awe, bringing to my mind the words of the old hymn, "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto. Moses: Delivered by Faith Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Exodus , And so, Moses moved from slavery to royalty. I believe that God cast a veil over the eyes of Pharaoh's daughter so she did not recognize that the child belonged to his mother. Instead, she took him into the palace and agreed to foot every bill for his education and training.
This is what God can do for you in your life, in the bleak and shadowy moments when all else fails. God is alive and well and on your side. Beloved friend, every word in the Bible is true! It was written If you will only believe, and act upon it by faith, I can assure you in the name of the Lord that this decision will mark the turning point in your life.
Forward march to victory, triumphing over every hurdle and obstacle! Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy When you don't know what to do or where to turn, be confident of this one truth, and don't sell it at any price: there is a God Who cares and Whose eyes search around the eartheast, west, north, and south seeking whom He can bless. Remember this also: even when no brother or sister is there with you in your situation, God is always there and cares more than you can ever imagine. God's Divine Presence The power of God is effective beyond measure when we choose to use it by faith.
This is precisely what Moses' mother did, and God stood by her. The Lord covered the eyes of the palace officials for forty years! Moses and his parents lived right under the nose of Pharaoh. And yet they were the very people the king wanted to kill. Pharaoh took Moses as his own firstborn son and made him leader of Egypt. Moses commanded the army of Pharaoh. In the midst of enemy territory, God gave Moses victorywhen he should have been beaten down and forgotten. Moses received a personal assignment from the Lord; he was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
He was called to a frighteningly difficult but exceedingly glorious task. No wonder he felt inadequate. His lame excuses displeased the Lord, but Moses was willing to learn, whatever the cost. God promised Moses His unfailing presence Certainly I will be with thee That's what we want to hear today. But many are crying and complaining so much that they don't hear God's promise of His divine presence, which is a sure When we accept a divine call, we must also claim divine help.
We see Moses struggling to evade the Master's call. He wanted to know God's name because he was sure that the children of Israel were bound to ask who had sent him. The paganism, idolatry, and heathenism of Egypt had corrupted the religion of the Hebrews. God gave His name as "I AM. He is a fact, a reality. He is a personeternal, unchangeable, self-contained, and self-sufficient. He cannot be explained or defined by anything outside Himself. Quite obviously, the name "I AM" was meant to convey a new and precious revelation. It is as full of meaning for you and me as it was for Moses. It has no object.
One Christian writer has stated that without human need this great name of God goes around and around in a closed circle.
But, he points out, as soon as At that point the sentence has an object, the thought is completed, and the true nature of God is revealed. Do you lack peace? Judges Do you lack strength? Do you lack spiritual life? Do you lack wisdom. Do you lack righteousness? The name "I AM" is like a blank check. Our faith can fill in whatever the Lord is to us personally.
Whatever we lack, He is. Just as water always seeks the lowest level, so the great "I AM" always seeks to fill our greatest need. He is forever "I AM Although trials, temptations, and problems are the lot of man, some are clearly avoidable. Many of them block mankind's forward march to success and But this ought not to be so. It is not God's plan and will for us as human beings. In the great "I AM" there is ample provision for every need of life.
God's Love Never Fails God loves us, and cares about us, regardless of the crisis in which we may find ourselves. This is the believer's hopefaith in God. Beloved, if you trust in God as your loving heavenly Father, you can have positive faith that He will not allow your problems to crush you. God has a great investment in you.
He has a definite plan for you, and learning through your problems is part of that plan. The Bible calls believers joint-heirs with Christ, and promises that if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him. Think of your zero hours as the pages of a new textbook. They may not be fun to leaf through, but they are full of valuable information. Have confidence that by the time you have reached the last page, it will be time for you to graduate! The Apostle Paul kept his mind on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
Even his days in prison were transformed into a time of Self-pity will do you no good. Bear in mind the testimony of Paul Philippians , Throughout my ministry, I too have been rocked, time and time again, by crisessome of them inevitable. But now I know that when trials come, double victory follows. Faith in the Hour of Crisis Some years ago, the eight churches of Benin City which we had founded went through a time of great tribulation.
God woke me one night and said, "Now that you are receiving national publicity, now that you are known in the nineteen states of Nigeria, take advantage of this publicity and hold more crusades and open more churches. You don't preach yourself, you preach Me. And if you preach Me, people will come to find out whether you are still standing or not. They will come to see whether the tribulations and the trials Oh, God, how am I going to face it?
Can I ever stand again and preach? At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So we opened another branch, which was church number nine. Then came the tenth. In we opened the eleventh church in Benin City. By we had fifty-one branches of the Church of God Mission in that city. And the work is still growing and progressing. Because God has continued to open new doors for us. I see God planning victory for you today.
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He wants to do something good in your life, too. God wants to put a smile on your face so that you can testify with the Apostle Paul: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place 2 Cor. The zero hours are bound to come your way, no matter how spiritual you are, no matter how faithfully you practice the principles of Scripture in your life.
But lift your eyes and stand up; you are not alone. If God be with you, who can be against you? The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment in faith was made whole. Mark ; Luke This Bible story will show you how to release your faith even in the most difficult conditions. Once you have done so, your faith will in turn release healing power, causing it to flow into your being to destroy disease and affliction. The Bible does not record the name of the woman.
I think the reason is because God would have us draw courage and inspiration from her story by putting our name where hers could have been. Then we too will release our faith, not by touching the clothes of Jesus, as she did, but by using some other point of contact that will enable us to believe Christ for our deliverance and receive from Him a miracle as glorious as hers.
Seven things happened in this woman's life that She came to the end of her own resources. The Bible says that this woman had suffered from an issue of blood for twelve years. She had an incurable disease. Perhaps it was cancer, we don't know. The Gospel of Mark tells us that she One day this poor, sick woman faced up to her problem and realized that she had exhausted medical science, as well as her monetary resources.
She made a remarkable decisionto stop before she went to pieces. She knew where she stood; she was beyond human help. She came to the end of her own way and halted. Fear sets in when we know there is no cure for our ailment, yet we frantically keep seeking human aid. This woman wisely stopped before her fear tore her to pieces. She heard the story of faithand believed it.
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