" Abiding Guilt ! "

 

Genesis 50:13-21 "For his (Jacob's) sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the GOD of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of GOD ? But as for you, ye thought evil against me: but GOD meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

     Unresolved guilt can remain with a person for many years. The brothers of Joseph offer a key example of this. The reason for their guilt is obvious: The felt guilt  because they were guilty of a great crime. After being overwhelmed with envy and hatred toward Joseph, they decided to murder him (Genesis 37:20). Reuben's "Plan B" was to throw him into a pit so that he might rescue him later (Genesis 37:22). Judah's "Plan C" was to sell him as a slave to a band of Ishmaelites headed to Egypt (Genesis 37:25-27). This they did. To compound their sin, they deceived their father, Jacob, making him think Joseph had been killed by a wild animal (Genesis 37:31-33). Inwardly they were pricked, knowing that they were the cause of their father's unrestrained grief (Genesis 37:33-35). Many years passed. The brothers went to Egypt to obtain food, and the "governor of the land" treated them strangely (Genesis Chapt.42). Eventually Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, but rather than rejoicing that he was alive and well, they were terrified due to their unresolved guilt (Genesis 45:3). Joseph assured them of his love and that GOD had a plan for all that had happened (Genesis 45:4-8). Joseph treated his brothers very well. More time passed until finally their father Jacob died. The guilt of the brothers surfaced once again, believing Joseph would finally repay them for the evil they had done (v.15 pictured at top of post). Joseph reassured them again of his love and forgiveness and of the fact that GOD had used all of these events to save the nation (vv.19-21 pictured above). 

     Dear Child of GOD, it is easy to have our conscience plagued by thoughts of our past sins, for they are many and great. How we need to fully claim the gracious and complete forgiveness that we have through the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Ephesians 1:7 pictured above). GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.featoday.org

"Deborah, A Judge in Israel"

 

Read Judges 4:1 thru 5:31 "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time...."

"The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel."  Judges 5:7

Every once in a while, the LORD chooses a person to lead who surprises everyone. The nation of Israel, at this time, is in a sad condition. Freedom is being lost. The enemy, with their false gods, is taking over. GOD's people are afraid to do anything about it.

Israel has an army, but they do not know who or what to fight. The land is filled with pockets of people who do not have Israel's best interest at heart. It is a time in Israel's history when "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes"  Judges 17:6. In a quest for personal liberty, they have lost their freedom. No longer is there a clear sense of right and wrong.

GOD is looking for a leader to turn things around. There are some good men, but HE chooses a woman, "...a mother in Israel...," to deliver HIS people and to be a judge.

This is a first in Israel's history. The LORD has used many women in the past, the strongest of whom was Miriam, Moses' sister, but this is the first time a woman would be put in such a high position of leadership in their nation. Deborah was chosen to be one of Israel's judges. She made a real difference in people's lives. A song about her life is given to us in Judges 5.

Her life accomplished something. The world was not the same after she lived. A great statement about one life making a difference is in Judges 5:7: "...until that I Deborah arose..." She brought victory to a defeated, fearful people. What do we know about her life ?

I.   What was Her Background ?

Judges 4:4 (pictured above), "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." The questions people would have asked about her were, "Who is she ? Where did she come from ?"

She was a Prophetess v.4, "And Deborah, a prophetess..." The LORD raised her up.

She was a Wife v.4, "...the wife of Lapidoth..." We know nothing about her husband except his name.

She was a Mother Judges 5:7, "...a mother in Israel." There is no greater calling than that of a mother.

II.   The World She Faced

Judges 4:1 (pictured above) "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud died."

There was a widespread rejection of GOD. v.1, "...Israel again did evil..."

Before anyone does evil, they must reject what's right. When a nation rejects GOD and HIS WORD, they have accepted a different standard. We do not get what we expect; neither do we get what we inspect, but we get what we accept. Proverbs 18:5: "It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment."

GOD's People had Rebelled Against HIM v.1, "...the children of Israel..." The problem was not just with those who did not know GOD. The root of the problem was that GOD's people had rebelled.

Some Good People Refused to Get Involved  Judges 5:15-16, "...For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart." One speech Deborah could not make was, "If everyone will do their part..." Everyone was not going to do their part.

1. Reuben talked and did nothing (Judges 5:15-16) These people were not traitors; they did not join the enemy. They just did nothing to help. Some "...stand aloof..." Psalm 38:11

2. Meroz stood back to see what would happen and did not help. Judges 5:23, "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty."

III.  Her Life Made a Difference

Judges 5:7 (pictured above) "The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Debora arose, that I arose a mother in Israel."  How did this woman, with what appeared to be limited experience, make such a difference in a nation's future ?

She Took it to Heart v.7, "...until that I Deborah arose..." She did not hide behind her being a woman. She accepted responsibility to change things.

She Made it a Matter of Prayer v.7 "...until..." The job was too big, and the need was too great. Nothing could be done "until"  GOD helped them. The LORD JESUS said, "...without ME ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

She Enlisted the Help of Others  Judges 5:15-18, v.18, "Zebulan and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field."

Not all joined, but those who did join were the ones who would risk their all for victory.

IV. The LORD was in the Battle

Judges 5:20 (pictured above), "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." The LORD GOD of Israel was in the battle, and HE gave the victory. 

Deborah understood the hour she faced. She knew that much was at stake, but she also knew what the LORD wanted her to do. She believed that the LORD was able to do all that HE said HE would do. One person stepped up and made a difference. That person was a woman. The LORD will always find one of HIS children with a heart for HIM; and sometimes that person is a woman.

Lessons We Learn:

1. Nothing will change until someone decides to make a change. 

2. There will always be those who stand back and watch, waiting to see how things turn out.

3. It is hard to get people, who have gotten used to doing their own thing, to change.

4. The LORD will help those who are willing to put their all on the altar.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

WordToTheWorld@aol.com

www.FiveStarChristianMinistries.com

"Foundational Truths from Genesis"

Matthew 7:24-29 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a ROCK: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a ROCK. And every one that heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when JESUS had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at HIS doctrine: for HE taught them as ONE having authority, and not as the scribes."

     The wise man built his house upon the ROCK ! A house must be built on a ROCK-solid foundation, or else it will fail to withstand the storms of life and will be destroyed (v.27). The Bible provides foundational truths on which an individual, a family, and a nation must stand. If such supports are destroyed, it will have devastating effects on society, which tragically we are witnessing, in our nation and around the world, today. Here are three key foundational truths:

1.) Man was created by GOD. "So GOD created man in HIS OWN image, in the image of GOD created HE him" (Genesis 1:27 pictured above). Man did not evolve by blind chance from primitive organisms to ape-like ancestors over the course of millions of years. Instead, man was created for a purpose by an all-powerful, all-wise CREATOR (Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11). We are accountable and answerable to the ONE WHO made us. Man's eternal destiny depends on his reception or rejection of the CREATOR (Romans 1:21-32).

2.) Every person has been assigned a gender by GOD. "Male and female created HE them" (Genesis 1:27 pictured at top of post). For a person to assign himself or herself a different gender is no less absurd than to have a short, white, elderly man identify as a 6'8" young Chinese woman. When GOD made us the way we are, HE did not make a mistake !

3.) The marriage union has been defined by GOD. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). What GOD hath defined, let no man or so-called church redefine ! GOD has even engraved HIS definition of marriage and the family right into the heart of the Ten Commandments: "Honor thy father and they mother" (Exodus 20:12). We neglect these foundational truths at our own, and future generations, peril ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation

 

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made !"

 

Psalm 139:1-16 "O LORD, THOU hast searched me, and known me. THOU knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, THOU understandest my thought afar off. THOU compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, THOU knowest it altogether.

THOU hast beset me behind and before, and laid THINE hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from THY SPIRIT ? or whither shall I flee from THY presence ? If I ascend up into Heaven, THOU art there: if I make my bed in Hell, behold, THOU art there.

 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall THY hand lead me, and THY right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from THEE; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to THEE.

For THOU hast possessed my reins: THOU hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise THEE; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are THY works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from THEE, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth. THINE eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in THY book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

     Psalm 139 is a wonderful expression of GOD's omniscience (vv.1-6) and omnipresence (vv.7-12) and of HIS power and providence (vv.13-16). David acknowledged that it was GOD WHO laid the foundation of his being, articulating that truth in these words, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (v.14 pictured at top of post) and proclaiming, "Marvelous are THY works !" Although what was taking place within the womb of David's mother could not be seen by others, his "substance" (body) was not hidden from GOD's eyes, for HE saw the secret knitting together of David inside his mother's body (vv.15-16 pictured above). It is no wonder that he burst forth in exclamation of awe and praise ! 

     On a personal level, my wife and I were reminded of the manifestation of GOD's wonderful work with the recent birth of our first great-grandchild. Through the marvel of ultrasound, we had actually seen her and heard her heartbeat at several different stages of her development within the womb, but oh, what joy filled our hearts to see pictures of a perfectly formed and healthy baby girl in the arms of her mother and father ! Commentator Adam Clarke said, "The texture of the human body is the most complicated and curious that can be conceived. It is, indeed, wonderfully made; and it is withal so exquisitely nice and delicate, that the slightest accident may impair or destroy in a moment some of the parts essentially necessary to the continuance of life; therefore we are fearfully made. And GOD has done so to show us our frailty, that we should walk with death, keeping life in view; and feel the necessity of depending on the all-wise . . . superintending care and providence of GOD."  Great is our CREATOR ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

"Getting Ready to Go !"

Hebrews 13:8-15 "JESUS CHRIST the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Wherefore JESUS also, that HE might sanctify the people with HIS OWN blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto HIM without the camp, bearing HIS reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By HIM therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to GOD continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to HIS name."

     Our world is on the move. More people than ever before are moving from one place to another. Some transfers prove to be beneficial; others are disappointments. However, all of these moves, whether good or bad, are only temporary. One day, everyone will have to make the ultimate move either to Heaven or to a Devil's Hell. (Hebrews 9:27 pictured above; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:27). Our text contains a vital truth we need to understand and translate into action -- "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (v.14 pictured at top of post). Those who can say with the psalmist, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Psalm 16:6) should not become so comfortable in their earthly setting that they are unwilling to move at GOD's command. On the other hand, those who occupy difficult places should be able to say with Paul, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11), and this contentment is realized when they are "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" (Romans 12:12).

     When GOD blesses the believer with prosperity, HE gives the accompanying responsibility for the good stewardship of those temporal blessings (1st.Corinthians 4:1-2; 2nd.Corinthians 9:6-8). The LORD does not intend for wealth to be an end in itself; rather, HE desires it to be used wisely, with eternity's values in view (Matthew 25:14-30). The hard-pressed saint is often all too ready to move on to that heavenly city (John 14:1-3 pictured above), but the prosperous believer should be ready to go as well, not having his stakes driven too deeply into this earth that is rushing toward GOD's judgment (2nd.Peter 3:10-13). Indeed, this sin-cursed world is not our home, so may the way we live our life reflect this glorious fact. MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation

 

" Does Creation Speak ? "

 

This beautiful world speaks to us of a loving GOD WHO cares for HIS creation.

"For by HIM were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth. . .and by HIM all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17).

What is clearly seen in creation are ". . .HIS eternal power and GODhead. . ." (Romans 1:20).  "The heavens declare. . .HIS handywork"(Psalm 19:1).

Yes, creation does speak. GOD holds the world together, and HIS creation trusts and depends upon HIM.

GOD's greatest creation is man because ". . .GOD created man in HIS OWN image. . ." (Genesis 1:27). And GOD gave man a free will to choose if he will trust his CREATOR.

Dear Friend, have you put your trust in GOD ?

You ask, "What does it mean to trust GOD ?"

FIRST, trust GOD when HE says that every person is a sinner.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10, ". . .There is none righteous, no, not one."  And again, in Romans 3:23 it says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD."

Our sins have separated us from GOD. Before you can know that you have eternal life, and that you will go to Heaven, you must first know and believe that you are a sinner.

SECOND, trust GOD when HE says that our sin debt must be paid.

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death. . ."

According to GOD's WORD, we are all sinners, and our sin must be paid for. If we fail to trust GOD in this life, we will die without CHRIST and spend eternity separated from GOD. 

THIRD, trust GOD when HE says that CHRIST died for our sins and rose from the dead.

The Bible tells us in Romans 5:8, "But GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." The best news that anyone could ever tell you is that JESUS CHRIST died for your sins. All our sins were laid on HIM. HE paid our sin debt in full.

CHRIST shed HIS blood on Calvary for you, because ". . .without shedding of blood is no remission [of sin]" (Hebrews 9:22). Then HE rose from the dead, and HE said to those who trust HIM, ". . .Because I live ye shall live also" (John 14:19).

FOURTH, trust GOD when HE says we must personally receive CHRIST as our SAVIOR.

Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." That "whosoever" means you. GOD allows you to choose whether or not you will trust HIM.

A person can believe that GOD loves him. He can believe that he is a sinner, and that sin must be paid for. But if he is not willing to put his faith and trust in CHRIST alone, he will die lost and be separated from GOD forever.

Let us review for a moment.

* Do you realize that GOD loves you ? (John 3:16)

* Do you believe that you are a sinner ? (Romans 3:23)

* Do you agree with the Bible that your sin debt must be paid ? (Romans 6:23)

* Do you believe that CHRIST died for you ? (Romans 5:8)

* Do you see that you must call upon the LORD to save you ? (Romans 10:13)

The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4). If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for you always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

GOD's promise for you is everlasting life:

"For GOD so loved the world, 

that HE gave HIS only begotten SON,

that whosoever believeth in HIM

should not perish, but 

have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Now that you're a Christian:

*  Share your new-found faith with your family and friends (Acts 16:31-33).

*  Identify with CHRIST through believer's baptism and become part of a local Bible-believing church (Acts 2:41,47)

JESUS said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth MY WORD, and believeth on HIM that sent ME, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

GULF COAST BAPTIST CHURCH

312 SE 24th. Avenue

Cape Coral, FL  33990

(239) 574-1000

www.GulfCoastBaptistChurch.com

https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation