John 1:15-51; Matthew 4; Luke 4-5 John provided the way, and the crowds flocked because their hearts were hungry to learn and to be forgiven. The religious leaders sent a delegation to ask who he was. He responded: “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ […]
Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52 Sometimes God speaks to us in a dream as he did with Joseph of Genesis and Joseph, the husband of Mary here in Matthew. First, when Joseph hears of Mary’s pregnancy, the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream to not fear but “arise” and take Mary to be his […]
Matt 1 and Luke 2:1-38 The 400 yrs. of silence have ended, and God’s plan is revealed through the gospel writers of Matthew, the Jewish publican, and Luke, the Gentile physician. Also, that we might know and believe, Paul the Pharisee turned Believer, wrote: Gal 4:4 “But when the appropriate time/the appointed time had come, […]
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3:16, 17] Luke 1 and John 1:1-14 It has been 400 yrs. of silence since heaven spoke, yet in His […]
Malachi 1 to 4 When you begin to write a letter to someone precious, how do you start? God starts by saying: “I have loved you,” [Mal 1:2] Instead of thanking God for His love, they ask Him: “How have You loved us?” Why is it we ask that question when the very evidence of […]
Nehemiah 11 to 13, Ps 126 Nehemiah reminds God! Do we? Over and over, one refrain is used by Nehemiah “remember me, O God” for what I have done. Does God forget? No, He does not. In Exodus and throughout, God remembers His covenant. Why then does Nehemiah tell God to remember? Could it be […]
Nehemiah 6-7 Principle #1 When you are in leadership, there will be opposition. Principle #2 Fear is our biggest enemy. Principle #3 Believers need discernment. Nehemiah had learned all three as he served the pagan king. and therefore was successful in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. God uses any time we serve to learn the […]
Nehemiah 1 to 5 Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah all lived in or around the palace in Susa, yet as Moses taught, they were separated religiously from the pagan idolatry of the land. They were examples of fasting and prayer before executing their duties, and God blessed them to serve. We live in a land that idolizes […]
Ezra 7 -10 – 2 Tim 2:15 Ezra 7 to 10 takes place after the drama of Esther in the palace. King Xerxes has passed on, and King Artaxerxes is in power. What took place in the book of Esther prepares us for the drama in Ezra, a man dedicated to God. “Now Ezra had […]
Esther 6 to 10 As Peter reminded us, our arch-villain seeks to destroy [1Pet 5:8], but God in His providence will always overrule his plans because long before this story, God told Abraham in Genesis 12: 3 “I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse.” We left […]
