ST. JOHN 3:16 "A SEASON OF GIVING"

• In a season of receiving gifts this is a time of the year that people feel the most alone and left out.  Around this holiday season people who feel left alone are more likely to commit suicide. Our society has forgotten the meaning of what this season is all about, not receiving but giving. St.John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that he gave" not received but gave, and thats what this season is all about" giving". Make sure to give of yourself this season.

2 TIMOTHY 1:16 "HELP- BRINGER"

The apostle Paul sits in his cell in prison in the twilight of his life alone and by himself. This awesome man of God who went around the known world 3 times preaching and starting churches, the bible says " so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus , both Jews and Greeks" ACTS 19:10.) In 2 Timothy chapters 1 & 4 the apostle Paul writes to Timothy a list of men who forsook him . In verse 10 Paul mentions a man named Demas and how he  had forsaken him for he loved the world. Demas is mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24 as one of Paul's fellowlaborers, but forsook him to go back into the world " it literally means the now age". Doesn't that sound like the church of today? Then in chapter 1 verse 15 the apostle gives 2 more names of men who turned their back on him , PHYGELLUS and HERMOGENES are in the bible for being unfaithful what an indictment. Even though these men deserted Paul he had one who was faithful ONESIPHORUS stood by Paul and wasn't ashamed that he was in prison. ONESIPHORUS=HELP-BRINGER and when he showed up he refreshed the apostle, he was like a breathe of fresh air, relief,reviving and refreshing. Instead of bringing trouble pain and confusion he brought HELP in a time it was needed. For Paul was facing execution and needed the gift of helps= aid, an attendant, some one to carry the load, this man ONESIPHORUS was a help-bringer that refreshed Paul in a very trying time. Who have you refreshed in a time they really needed it? Or brought help to someone's in their hour of desperation!! Do something nice in this season and REFRESH SOMEONE!!!

JOSHUA 14:8 "FOLLOWING THE LORD"

Caleb stands before Joshua and revisits the past forty years how God spoke to them in Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land. The next phrase in verse 7 that Caleb uses is what took him through forty years of the wilderness,"and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart". This is one of the reasons Caleb made it through the wilderness the other was "he wholly followed the Lord". Following the Lord can be very difficult just ask Caleb, who wandered in the wilderness for forty years following a word from the Lord that was in his heart. It was that same word that enabled Caleb and Joshua to stand up against ten evil reports and say we can possess the land Num.13:30). The bible mentions five times Num. 32:12, Deut. 1:36, Josh. 14:8-9 and 14:14 that Caleb followed the Lord. In Numbers 14:24 it says about Caleb "But my servant Caleb, because he had "ANOTHER SPIRIT" with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it". This is the word that was in his heart, that took him through forty years in the wilderness. When family and friends died off even leaders MOSES, MIRIAM AND AARON Caleb continued to follow the Lord. There is one interesting point about Caleb his name means"DOG", have you ever had a dog follow you? Are they not relentless, incessant and resolute, they won't give up!! And this is the spirit Caleb had "ANOTHER SPIRIT "  that gave him the ability to follow the Lord. If you don't give up on following the Lord, he will take you through your wilderness and other people's faith will die off but you will remain , because you decided to "FOLLOW THE LORD". 

JOB 34:32 "TEACH ME LORD"

That which I see not teach thou me: JOB 34:32) In a world that is basically understood by what we see, touch and hear, Job in his state of suffering anguish and pain enquires of the Lord " That which I see not teach thou me". The lesson your trying to convey to me that's beyond my comprehension Lord that's what I need to know. The message that's beyond my grasp teach me that Lord, what I cannot see naturally and need spiritual ensight, teach me Lord. Elevate my faith to the point to believe even though I don't see no evidence of what I believe, that's where I need you Lord to teach me. I don't need to understood just believe, just take God at his word. My part is to believe, if I do my part God will do the rest. Jesus said "IF THOU WOULDEST BELIEVE, THOU SHOULDEST SEE THE GLORY OF GOD" ST. JOHN 11:40). Job didn't understand or even know why he was being tested. He didn't have a bible or books on faith, he just had his relationship with the Lord, and that's enough. So let me be taught by the invisible power of faith. "FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT" 2 COR.5:7).

GENESIS 26:12 "THE METHOD OF FAITH"

Hebrews 11:1" Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". The apostle Paul teaches us that if you have faith the evidence of it, your faith will bring things to you. James teaches that if you have faith you will have the work of your faith or the result of your faith demonstrated by the works of faith. Because James says " so faith without works is dead also"2:26.) These to views are both evident in the life of Isaac because God had to establish faith in Isaac after the death of his father Abraham.                                                                                                                                                                  So God's command to Isaac was not to leave Gerar in the time of famine, in this place of lack I will establish your faith. The word FAITH=pistis=conviction of the truth of anything, belief, fidelity, assurance, belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same: The word Gerar=lodging place) in the midst of a famine I will find you a place to relax. God renewed his promise to Isaac because of his obedience in not leaving and going down to Egypt. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. GENESIS 26:12) God will bless you in a dry and empty place if you trust him and believe him, it's the method of faith that will keep you grounded through the tough times. In times of seemingly spiritual famine or dry places , God is still there, just allow the method , conviction, belief and assurance to be your guide. And you will see a reason to sow in a place where it seems there will be no return and receive an hundredfold blessing!!

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 " CONFIDENCE"

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you wiil perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil 1:6) What does it mean to be confident=peitho=persuade, to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe, to tranquillise.The definition I thought was unique was to tranquillise! God is saying  being "confident" in me will be like taking a tranquilliser, it will settle you down and cool you out when you're confident in him. So this could read " Being tranquillise of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good word in you will perforn it until the day of Jesus Christ. So let his word will settle you down and chill you out as you depend on him.