Joseph is fruitful and remains steady because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you….The Israelites groaned in their slavery and their cry for help went up to God. The Lord heard their groaning and He …
Help Me, Lord! (Part 2)
Sovereign Lord, help me for Your name’s sake. Out of the goodness of Your love, deliver me….Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth….Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 109:21, 124:8, 146:5) Newton’s Poem John Newton (1725-1807) was a captain …
Help Me, Lord! (Part 1)
Because Jesus Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted….Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need….We say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals …
Saved in the Furnace
I know whom I have chosen….Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (John 13:18; Isaiah 48:10) Note: This is adapted and expanded from C.H. Surgeon’s Morning and Evening for March 3. Chosen and Tested Comfort yourself, troubled believer, with this thought: God says, “I have tested (chosen, refined) you …
We Can’t Expect it to Last
Hear my prayer, Lord. Let my cry for help come to You. Do not hide Your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me. When I call, answer me quickly….My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. (Psalm 102:1-2,11) Success is Only Temporary Kevin “KD” Durant is a pro basketball player …
My Jesus (Part 2)
As Jesus was praying, God the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And God the Father’s voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to full and …
My Jesus (Part 1)
God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Here are some expanded notes from a chapel message that I delivered at Karios Prison Ministry at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond, TX. I continue to use this message in evangelism, …
Encouragement in Christ’s Ascension
God the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Eph 1:20-21) We Need Help from God As of 2015, there were roughly …
Christ the Joyful Healer
As soon as Jesus and His disciples left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So He went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on …
Not Good Enough
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. …