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Seek God in Trials for a Prosperous Future (Insights in Psalms)

10/4/2012

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People experience misery and hopelessness in their short lives that lead to meaninglessness.  God's ways are a mystery because He is infinite. None of us know what He is doing.  One thing we do know. Those who forget God wither away without hope. Those who seek God from a pure heart have a prosperous future with joy and protection from enemies.

Man has hard service on earth with months of futility and nights of misery.  His body was clothed with worms and scabs. His days were swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to an end without hope (Job 7:1-6). People experience misery, futility and hopelessness in their short lives.


His life was but a breath that would never see happiness again. He complained bitterly and preferred death rather than this body. He despised his life because his days had no meaning. God examined and tested him every moment so he became a burden to himself. Why did God not pardon and forgive his sins since he would die soon? (Job 7:7-21). People despise a life without meaning and wish God would forgive their sin since death comes quickly. 

God gave children over to the penalty of their sin. He would rouse Himself and restore you to your rightful place if you plead to Him with a pure heart. Beginnings seemed humble but the future would be prosperous (Job 8:1-7). People who seek God from a pure heart have a prosperous future. 

Fathers would teach and provide understanding if younger people asked them.  Those who forget God lose hope. What the godless trust in would not stand or endure. Their lives withered away like a plant torn away from rocks. God did not reject a blameless man but filled his mouth with joy and clothed his enemies in shame (Job 8:8-22). People who forget God lose hope and wither away but the blameless have joy and protection from enemies. 

How can man be righteous before a wise God who moves mountains, shakes the earth, made stars and performs countless miracles. Because no one knew what God was doing, a person could not argue with Him. One could plead with his Judge for mercy but his wounds would be multiplied without reason and be pronounced guilty. Job said God destroyed both the blameless and the wicked. Days flew by without joy. One cannot have an independent umpire between himself and God. Job asked someone to remove His rod so He could speak without terror and fear (Job 9:1-24). No one knows what God is doing because it appears He destroys both the blameless and the wicked. 

Job spoke out about his bitterness along with the condemnation and oppression he felt from God. Would God destroy Job by turning him into dust? He knew that God would not allow his sin to be unpunished. Job wished he never had been born because of the deep shame and lack of joy (Job 10:1-22). People experience bitterness, condemnation and shame in deep trials.  

In your trials, are you forgetting God or seeking Him? By seeking Him, you will have a prosperous future, joy and protection from enemies. 







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Allow God to Fight for You (Insights in Prophets)

5/10/2012

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We often let the world, flesh and devil to defeat us spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially and in family relationships. God has a better way. Inquire of God and don't cling to the sins of your father. Allow God to fight for you and provide strategy in overcoming evil forces seeking to defeat you spiritually, financially and emotionally and to meet your need in family relationships, hopeless situations and famine.     

Inquire of God

Johoram, son of Ahab, became the king of Israel. He did evil but put away the pillar of Baal his father made. He clung to the sins of Jeroboam that made Israel sin. Mesha king of Moab used to pay the king of Israel wool of 100,000 rams. After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined in battle with Israel against Moab and there was no water for the army or cattle. When Jephoshaphat asked that Israel, Judah and Edom inquire of the Lord, they went to Elisha (2 Kings 3:1-12). Inquire of God and do not cling to the sins of your father.

Spiritual Victory
Because of Jehoshaphat, Elisha brought a minstrel to play so that God's hand came upon him. The Lord said to make the valley full of trenches so it could be filled with drinking water for themselves and their cattle. Being a slight thing for God, they would defeat the Moabites and strike every fortified and choice city with specific instructions from God. When the sun shone on the water early in the morning, the Moabites saw the water as blood and thought the kings had killed one another. The Israelites killed the Moabites, destroyed the cities, stopped the springs of water, felled all the good trees and filled every good piece of land with stones (2 Kings 3:13-27). Allow God to fight and provide strategy in  overcoming evil spiritual forces. 

Financial Provision
A widow of the sons of prophets said to Elisha that she had nothing except a jar of oil. He instructed her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors and pour oil into them. After all the vessels were full, the oil stopped. He said to sell the oil, pay their debt and live on the rest (2 Kings 4:1-7). God multiplies money and can miraculously meet every financial need. 

Family Relationships
A Shunammite woman fed Elisha as he passed by and then made a walled upper chamber for him. Gehazi his servant asked what they could do for her. Because she had no son and her husband was old, Elisha said she would embrace a son at the same time next year. She conceived and bore a son (2 Kings 4:8-17). God miraculously meets deeply-seated family needs. 

Emotional Satisfaction
When the son was grown, he died. His mother came to Elisha and said it was well after being asked questions. When she caught hold of his feet, Gehazi tried to push her away. Elisha said her soul was troubled within her, but the Lord hid it from him. She said, "Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?" (2 Kings 4:18-28). God meets bitter emotional needs.  

Change Hopelessness
Elisha told Gehazi to lay his staff on the lad's face but he did not awaken. Finally Elisha came to the boy, prayed to the Lord and stretched himself on the child. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes (2 Kings 4:29-37). God transforms hopeless situations through prayer.

Survive Deathly Culture
There was famine in the land with the sons of the prophets sitting before Elisha. He told his servant to boil stew in a large pot for them. They gathered herbs, wild vine and wild gourds but did not know what they were. They cried out that death was in the pot and could not eat it. Elisha threw meal into the pot and were able to eat without harm. A man brought bread of the first fruits, 20 loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. The Lord said to him that they would eat and have some left over (2 Kings 4:38-44). God provides healthy food in surplus during famine. 

Do you have a need spiritually, financially or emotionally?
Do you want God to meet a need in family relationships, hopeless situation survive deathly culture? 
If so, inquire of God and allow God to fight and provide strategy in overcoming evil spiritual forces.

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From Intellectual to Living Faith (Insights in NT)

12/10/2011

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Moving truth 18 inches from the head to the heart is challenging. If someone's faith is only intellectual, he or she will be blinded to His work.  Mary and Martha had a similar difficulty believing Jesus would raise their brother, Lazarus, from the dead. When something seems hopeless, is your faith active and living so you believe that God will supernaturally transform you, another person or situation?   

Mary and Martha told Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was sick. Jesus said his sickness would not result in death, but glorify the Son of God. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He stayed two days longer. When the disciples tried to discourage Jesus from going to Judea fearing He would be stoned, He said that if anyone saw the light of the world, they would not stumble. He told His disciples that Lazarus died but would go where he was so they could believe (John 11:1-16). 
Knowing Jesus as the light of the word moves faith from the head to the heart and from the natural to the supernatural.

When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Martha said to Jesus that if "You had been there, my brother would not have died." Jesus said Lazarus would rise again since He is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Him will live even if he dies. When Jesus asked Martha if she believed this, she said He is the Christ, the Son of God. She called Mary and said secretly that the Teacher was asking for her (John 11:17-29). Jesus brings life to hopeless situations. 

Mary fell at Jesus' feet and said if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died. Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and troubled when He saw Mary and the Jews wailing. Jesus wept when He saw where Lazarus was laid. The Jews noticed how He loved Lazarus. Others wondered why Jesus hadn't prevented Lazarus death since He opened the eyes of the blind (John 11:30-37). Jesus' love moves Him emotionally to act on your behalf.

 Jesus, deeply moved within, said, "Remove the stone." Martha said there would be a stench since Lazarus was dead four days. Jesus said, "Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Jesus thanked the Father for hearing Him always and requested that everyone standing would believe that God sent Him. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." He arose and told them to unbind Lazarus and let him go (John 11:38-44). Jesus transforms and removes obstacles from hopeless situations.

Many Jews believed in Jesus, but some went to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did (John 11:45-46). People either believe or reject God's power to transform  hopeless situations. 

The religious leaders convened a council asking what they should they do since Jesus was performing many signs. They were concerned that if all men believed in Him, the Romans would take away their place and nation. Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation to gather the children of God scattered abroad. They planned from that day to kill Jesus (John 11:47-53). People reject Jesus when they feel threatened about losing power, control and position in the world. 

Jesus no longer walked publicly among the Jews, but traveled to Ephraim near the wilderness where He stayed with the disciples. The chief priests and Pharisees gave orders for anyone to report whether they saw Jesus at the Passover so they could seize Him (John 11:54-57). Jesus abides with those who transfer power, control and position from themselves to Him. 

This passage provides clues on how to have living faith:
1. Believe that God works supernaturally (John 11:1-16)
2. Believe that God bring life to hopeless situations (John 11:17-29)
3. Believe that Jesus' love moves Him emotionally to act on your behalf (John 11:30-37)
4. Believe that Jesus transforms and removes obstacles from hopeless situations (John 11:38-44)
5. Believe that Jesus abides when you transfer power, control and position from yourself to Christ (John 11:54-57)

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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     

    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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