If Joseph had remained in Potiphar's house, he would have never reached the palace.  Through it all, Joseph remained faithful, upright, and maintained a right heart despite being done wrong.  How you handle the prison experience determines when and how the promotions will come from God.

Jesus told US to work miracles

And as ye go, 

️PREACH, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

HEAL the sick, 

CLEANSE the lepers, 

RAISE the dead, 

CAST OUT devils: 

freely ye have received, freely give.”

  — Matthew 10:7-8 (KJV)

 

And they went out, 

and PREACHED that men should repent.

And they CAST OUT many devils, 

and ANOINTED with oil many that were sick, 

and HEALED them.

 -- Mark 6:12-13 (KJV)

Many plead with and beg God to heal this one or that one, sometimes with fasting.  We're too quick to look to the doctors for help and solutions. (I'm not anti-doctors or medicine but are we quicker to turn to them than we are to pray the prayer of FAITH and believe?) 

Casting out devils - how often do we see that happen? Rarely!  We're not discerning them so we're medicating and sending them to counseling or a psychiatrist with a "Bless their heart. They need their medicine adjusted." Or "They just need some medication." (This is not against Biblical counsel and admonition.  This is referring to going to the counsel of ungodly.)

Raise the dead - how many actually pray for the dead to be raised back to life? Or do we sadly say, "it must have been their time to go"? (I know God is not going to raise every single person back to life but our commandment is to pray in faith and believe. The outcome is up to God.)

Jesus told US to HEAL the sick! 

Jesus told US to RAISE the dead!

Jesus told US to CLEANSE the lepers! 

Jesus told US to CAST OUT devils!

We have that authority and power through the Holy Ghost! 

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you....”   — Acts 1:8 (KJV)

We're just not walking in it like we should. 

We should not be content just seeing a little healing here and a little victory report there. 

God wants to do so much more through His people.  

We need to be walking in the power of the Holy Ghost.  

Lessons from Job - chapter 6-7

Chapter 6-7 - Job responds to his "comforter" 

- "With friends like that, who needs enemies" - Job was possibly feeling like that old saying concerning his friend after hearing his words of judgment and rebuke concerning his calamities.  

- Job begins, "oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!" Sometimes responses are made from cliche' sayings and surface observations without fully weighing and observing what a person may truly be going through.  The Bible admonishes to be slow to speak and swift to hear. (James 1:19) Yet, too many too many times do the opposite.  

- Job again longs for death. (6:8-9) Those who are afflicted need pity, not words of reproof that cut an already wounded and bleeding heart like a knife.  (Vs 14) Pity means 'sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.' If he has sinned, his friends should help him understand where he had erred rather than cast stones with their words. (6:15-24)

- Job was desperate for comfort and relief,  yet their words were forceful words of reproof that were likened to a pit that was dug ready to swallow him up. (6:25-27)  He was their friend yet they were responding more like an enemy. 

- Job attempts to put into words what he is going through.  He's had many sleepless nights tossing back and forth. When he lays down at night, he longs for it to be morning.  He's worn out from the distress of it all. (7:3-4) 

- Can you imagine having open wounds with worms crawling all over you? You are being eaten alive. You're dirty and there is no reprieve to your anguish? It was loathsome to him. (7:5-6) 

- He sought comfort on his bed and on His couch yet all he found were nightmares and fearful thoughts. Oh, how he longed for death. If he was given the choice to live or die, his choice would be death.  He hated the thought of living like that the rest of his life. (7:13-16) 

- Job began to think perhaps he did sin, but he didn't know what his sin was.  He pleaded with God for forgiveness and wondered why he wasn't forgiven. (7:17-21)

- Be careful not to pour the acid of your words on an already gaping wound. Weigh your words and responses carefully.  Is there no balm in Gilead? (Jer 8:22) Our words can help wound or help heal. What are our words doing?

Lessons from Job - Chapter 3, 4-5

Chapter 3 - Job despaired of life.

- Grief from loss or change in physical health and abilities can cause a person to long for death. They are not suicidal, yet they may question why they were even born and why they're still alive.

- We, the Church, need to let them grieve, be a listening ear, a comforting shoulder to cry on, and most of all they need our prayers. 

- Our brothers and sisters need someone to pray for them, not talk about them when they're going through trials.  

Chapter 4 - 5 - Eliphaz, Job's friend, attempts to counsel and comfort

- Eliphaz reminded Job how he used to be the one to offer counsel and comfort but now the tide has turned. (Vs 3-6) Job had counseled and strengthened others in their time of tumult but when it hit his house, Job was finding it difficult to counsel and strengthen himself. A good reminder that we must live and stay strong in what we believe and teach.

- Then the finger pointing, accusations, and condemnation began. Eliphaz thought surely this must be punishment from God. Job must have sinned some way, somehow. After all, he reasoned, "whoever perished, being innocent?" (Job 4:7)

- Human tendency is to question and wander if Affliction is from God. Sometimes God allows it; sometimes it is the devil buffetting a person as we see in the story of Job; sometimes it comes as consequences to a person's own actions; and other times it's just life. 

- We find Jesus corrected false assumptions concerning this in the New Testament: 

* The tower of Siloam that fell killing 18 people (Lk 13:4)

* The man born blind - they questioned who sinned? The man? Or his parents? Jesus taught that it wasn't because anyone sinned but rather that a miracle could be manifest and God would be glorified. (John 9)

* Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  (Mt 5:45)

* The Disciples were obeying Jesus by getting in a boat and sailing to the other side of the lake. AND YET they encountered a storm mid-way across that was about to overtake them and take them under. Were they out of the will of God? Was it a punishment sent from God? No, this happened to show us that sometimes storms will come even when we are in the will of God. It may become so intense that you feel like you're about to drown, but keep your eyes on Jesus. Because He's walking on the water of your storm, and when He says it's enough He will step into your boat and speak "Peace, be still!"

- Be careful casting judgment on a situation lest you be found to be judging unrighteously.

Lessons from Job - Chapter 2

 Lessons from the book of Job...

Chapter 2 - Job's friends sat silently with him for 7 days and 7 nights (vs 13)

- Job had just lost his children and all that he owned and now his health was deteriorating.  He was in excruciating pain. His friends came when they heard the news and sat with him...silently.  

- Sometimes the grief, shock, and sorrow is so overwhelming that just your presence and silence is what helps most.

- After my first husband passed away,  I had one friend who was honest and said, " I don't know what to say, but I care." Words can fall short on the ears of those who are facing such intense grief. Knowing someone cares can bring more comfort than words. Being present.  Being with someone through whatever their facing.  Because sometimes,  there are no words that will comfort.  

Lessons from Job - chapter 1

There are many lessons that we can learn from reading the book of Job. 

Lessons from the book of Job...

Chapter 1 - Job offered sacrifice continually to atone for his children's sins. (Vs 5)

- While we must each give account for our own sins and we must each individually repent of them, Job stood as an intercessor between God and his children.

- Not all calamities, distresses, and tragedies are God punishing someone.  

- Despite all that happened and all that Job lost, he never charged God foolishly. Job did not blame or get angry with God. Nor did he quit serving Him.  Quite the opposite: he fell down and worshiped and blessed God. (Vs 20-22) it's easy to worship and bless God and the good times...when the Lord giveth. Can you do the same when the Lord taketh away?

Chapter 2 - Job's friends sat silently with him for 7 days and 7 nights (vs 13)

- Job had just lost his children and all that he owned and now his health was deteriorating.  He was in excruciating pain. His friends came when they heard the news and sat with him...silently.  

- Sometimes the grief, shock, and sorrow is so overwhelming that just your presence and silence is what helps most.

- After my first husband passed away,  I had one friend who was honest and said, " I don't know what to say, but I care." Words can fall short on the ears of those who are facing such intense grief. Knowing someone cares can bring more comfort than words. Being present.  Being with someone through whatever their facing.  Because sometimes,  there are no words that will comfort.  

Chapter 3 - Job despaired of life.

- Grief from loss or change in physical health and abilities can cause a person to long for death. They are not suicidal, yet they may question why they were even born and why they're still alive.

- We, the Church, need to let them grieve, be a listening ear, a comforting shoulder to cry on, and most of all they need our prayers. 

- Our brothers and sisters need someone to pray for them, not talk about them when they're going through trials.  

Chapter 4 - 5 - Eliphaz, Job's friend, attempts to counsel and comfort

- Eliphaz reminded Job how he used to be the one to offer counsel and comfort but now the tide has turned. (Vs 3-6) Job had counseled and strengthened others in their time of tumult but when it hit his house, Job was finding it difficult to counsel and strengthen himself. A good reminder that we must live and stay strong in what we believe and teach.

- Then the finger pointing, accusations, and condemnation began. Eliphaz thought surely this must be punishment from God. Job must have sinned some way, somehow. After all, he reasoned, "whoever perished, being innocent?" (Job 4:7)

- Human tendency is to question and wander if Affliction is from God. Sometimes God allows it; sometimes it is the devil buffetting a person as we see in the story of Job; sometimes it comes as consequences to a person's own actions; and other times it's just life. 

- We find Jesus corrected false assumptions concerning this in the New Testament: 

* The tower of Siloam that fell killing 18 people (Lk 13:4)

* The man born blind - they questioned who sinned? The man? Or his parents? Jesus taught that it wasn't because anyone sinned but rather that a miracle could be manifest and God would be glorified. (John 9)

* Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  (Mt 5:45)

* The Disciples were obeying Jesus by getting in a boat and sailing to the other side of the lake. AND YET they encountered a storm mid-way across that was about to overtake them and take them under. Were they out of the will of God? Was it a punishment sent from God? No, this happened to show us that sometimes storms will come even when we are in the will of God. It may become so intense that you feel like you're about to drown, but keep your eyes on Jesus. Because He's walking on the water of your storm, and when He says it's enough He will step into your boat and speak "Peace, be still!"

- Be careful casting judgment on a situation lest you be found to be judging unrighteously.

Chapter 6-7 - Job responds to his "comforter" 

- "With friends like that, who needs enemies" - Job was possibly feeling like that old saying concerning his friend after hearing his words of judgment and rebuke concerning his calamities.  

- Job begins, "oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!" Sometimes responses are made from cliche' sayings and surface observations without fully weighing and observing what a person may truly be going through.  The Bible admonishes to be slow to speak and swift to hear. (James 1:19) Yet, too many too many times do the opposite.  

- Job again longs for death. (6:8-9) Those who are afflicted need pity, not words of reproof that cut an already wounded and bleeding heart like a knife.  (Vs 14) Pity means 'sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.' If he has sinned, his friends should help him understand where he had erred rather than cast stones with their words. (6:15-24)

- Job was desperate for comfort and relief,  yet their words were forceful words of reproof that were likened to a pit that was dug ready to swallow him up. (6:25-27)  He was their friend yet they were responding more like an enemy. 

- Job attempts to put into words what he is going through.  He's had many sleepless nights tossing back and forth. When he lays down at night, he longs for it to be morning.  He's worn out from the distress of it all. (7:3-4) 

- Can you imagine having open wounds with worms crawling all over you? You are being eaten alive. You're dirty and there is no reprieve to your anguish? It was loathsome to him. (7:5-6) 

- He sought comfort on his bed and on His couch yet all he found were nightmares and fearful thoughts. Oh, how he longed for death. If he was given the choice to live or die, his choice would be death.  He hated the thought of living like that the rest of his life. (7:13-16) 

- Job began to think perhaps he did sin, but he didn't know what his sin was.  He pleaded with God for forgiveness and wondered why he wasn't forgiven. (7:17-21)

- Be careful not to pour the acid of your words on an already gaping wound. Weigh your words and responses carefully.  Is there no balm in Gilead? (Jer 8:22) Our words can help wound or help heal. What are our words doing?

Don't Charge God Foolishly

 Today's Bible Reading was Job 1-5 (following the Chronological Bible plan - KJV). 

Calamity and distress came upon Job suddenly.   It's one thing to lose most of what he possessed, but to lose all of his children in one day was grief beyond what most can bear. 

Yet, despite all of the loss, heartache, and grief, Job chose to worship. 

Job fell in the ground and worshipped after hearing of all his loss. (1:20)

"The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." (1:21)

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

Job did not blame God!

I've seen some who get angry with God and blame Him when tragedy strikes their home. They forsake God and quit going to Church.  Yet, God is the One we need most during those difficult times. 

While Job acknowledged that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, he did not get angry nor speak anything against God.

After my first husband passed away, I went through intense grief along with my children. There are steps of grief that they say each person goes through. Anger is one of them yet I did not feel any anger... toward God or anyone else. I had a Christian counselor tell me I needed to go through the anger process so I could heal. They wanted me to go home and get angry with God.  I just couldn't do it. (This is not condemning anyone who has.) 

I grieved. I questioned, not understanding why. But I could not and will not charge God foolishly. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are beyond our thinking or comprehension. 

Whatever you're going through, when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan, when you can't trace His hand, trust His heart (as that beautiful old song admonishes).

Alcohol - the downward spiral

 Having dealt with family members who are alcoholics and others who have died from alcoholism......

It's not fun or funny. I know where it leads. 💔

Death

Divorce

Abuse

Cirrhosis of the liver

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Birth defects

Rotting of the teeth

No care for hygiene 

Belligerent, angry and hostile

Fits of rage

Depression - it does NOT drown depression,  it adds to it!

Just to name a few. I could mention so much more but i won't on a social place 

💔😔

Alcohol is a deceiver and destroyer!

Jesus has a better way - a much better way. Come and follow Him.

Why Baptism is Important and Necessary

 Romans 6

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as 

were BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST 

were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we are 

BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM into death: 

that like as Christ was raised up from the dead 

by the glory of the Father, 

even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been PLANTED TOGETHER 

in the LIKENESS of His DEATH, 

we shall be also in the likeness of 

His RESURRECTION:

6 Knowing this, that 

OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED with Him, 

that the body of sin might be destroyed, 

that henceforth we should not serve sin.

* This is why baptism is important and necessary.  

It represents being buried with Jesus Christ by baptism.  

1 Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even 

BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US

(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, 

but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Jesus instructed in John 3: 

5 ....Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water 

and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye MUST be BORN AGAIN.

Peter, taught by Jesus and supported by the Apostles, instructed in Acts 2:

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, 

lifted up his voice, and said unto them....

38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, 

and BE BAPTIZED every one of you 

IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ 

for the remission of sins, 

and ye shall RECEIVE the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 

39 For the promise is unto you, 

and to your children, 

and to all that are afar off, 

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify 

and exhort, saying, 

Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED THE WORD WERE BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Have you repented and turned from your sins?

Have you obeyed Christ's and Peter's commands to be Born Again of water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit (being filled with the Holy Ghost)?

Have you received and obeyed the Scriptures with gladness?

Don't marvel that Jesus said we MUST be Born again.

Whose Child Are You? Love others

 Whose child are you?

1 John 3:10

In this the CHILDREN OF GOD are manifest, 

and the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: 

* whosoever doeth not righteousness 

is not of God,

* neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 2:9-11

He that saith he is in the light, 

and hateth his brother, 

is in darkness even until now.

He that loveth his brother 

abideth in the light, 

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

But he that hateth his brother 

is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, 

and knoweth not whither he goeth, 

because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:14-15

We know that we have passed from death 

unto life, because we love the brethren. 

He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 

and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life

abiding in him.

* hate is likened to murder and no murderer hath eternal life. 

1 John 4:20-21

If a man say, I love God, 

and hateth his brother, 

he is a liar....

And this commandment have we from Him, 

That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 3:23 

....LOVE ONE ANOTHER 

AS HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

 Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

You Shouldn’t Argue About Religion?

Many adhere tightly to the thought you shouldn't argue about religious beliefs. "You believe your way and I'll believe mine" is the motto many hold tightly to saying "I don't want to offend anyone." 

Paul didn't believe that. 

He went into the synagogue (the place of worship)  and spake  BOLDLY for 3 months DISPUTING and PERSUADING the things concerning the Kingdom of God.  (Acts 19:8)

Paul disputed and spoke boldly trying to correct false doctrine. 

Acts 19:9-10 says he DISPUTED DAILY for TWO YEARS. 

Sound Biblical Doctrine is important. 

Paul's actions proved that. 

What a person believes and follows determines where they will spend eternity.  

Jesus said we MUST be Born Again of Water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit  (receiving the Holy Ghost).

Paul came to understand Jesus' instructions after his Damascus Road experience.  Paul had fought this Way yet now he is found disputing and teaching it daily because he knew each of us MUST be Born Again or we cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  

That's why he asked these Disciples in Acts 19:1-6 if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed. 

That's why he RE-BAPTIZED them when he found out they had not been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus  (vs 5).

That's why he laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost which they did evidenced as they spoke in tongues (vs 6).

Teach the Word.

Teach the Truth.

Teach it boldly.

Speak the Truth in love but speak - the - Truth without fear or favor of man.

Eternity is coming fast.

Souls are depending on you to show them the way.

Jesus instructed us to teach and make Disciples.

Pray for boldness and wisdom then Go make Disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever things Jesus commanded.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith 

Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

The Longsuffering of God

 ...the longsuffering of God

WAITED in the days of Noe

While the Ark was preparing 

Wherein FEW (only 8 souls) were saved.

1 Peter 3:20

The longsuffering of God is still waiting 

While the warning signs are escalating everywhere 

Waiting for you to heed His Word 

And respond before it's too late. 

There were only 8 saved that day.

No one else believed or sought to respond 

Until it was too late.

Don't wait until it's too late.

God is not willing that any should perish 

But the choice is yours just as it was theirs. 

SEEK THE LORD TODAY 

WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.

Jesus Taught Baptism

 Did you know? 

Jesus taught Peter and the Disciples how to baptize (John 4:1-2)

Peter remembered what Jesus said later on as recorded in Matthew 28:19 and yet he still commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of JESUS.

And yet....None of the other Apostles argued with Peter that it was not how Jesus said to baptize. 

Why? Because Jesus had already taught them HOW to baptize and WHO He was. 

They understood what Jesus was instructing in Mt 28:19 and knew that Peter instructed correctly. 

We do not find record anywhere that they baptized any other way than in the Name of Jesus.

Have you been baptized in the Name of Jesus?

Act 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME of the Lord.

John 3:16

John 3:16

Everyone knows it. Most can quote it.

They hold tightly to it for it's the Words of Jesus. 

Yet so many overlook the Words that Jesus spoke in the preceeding verses. 

Jesus told Nicodemus and all the Disciples who were with Him that night:

Vs 3 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE the Kingdom of God. 

He went on to explain in verse 5 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be born of water (Baptism) and of the Spirit (infilling of the Holy Ghost), he CANNOT ENTER into the Kingdom of God. 

Vs 7 - Marvel not (don't be in wonder or amazement) that I said unto thee, you MUST BE BORN AGAIN. 

You MUST be BORN AGAIN of water (Baptism) AND of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) or you cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God.

Those words are just as important as John 3:16. 

John 3:16 is a summary of all that Jesus said in the verses prior - not to nullify them or for them to be ignored.

Whosoever believes in Jesus should not perish - because if you believe in Jesus you will read His Words, you will hear His Words, you will obey His Words. 

Jesus also said in John 7:38-39....

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water. But this spake He of the spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus taught in Mark 16:16...

He that believeth AND IS BAPTIZED shall be saved; 

He continued in verse 17....

And THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW them that believe.... they SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;

Have you been baptized since you believed? Have you spoke with new tongues since you believed?

That Promise is for you and your children and as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (Acts 2:38-39)

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Luke 6:46 

Are you doing the things which Jesus said?

Marvel not that Jesus said you MUST be BORN AGAIN as He instructed in John 3:1-7.