A Message to My Millhouse Ministry Family

To my dear Millhouse Ministry family,

I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has faithfully followed along as we have studied the book of Malachi together. It has truly been a blessing and an honor to write these Bible studies and share God’s Word with you. My prayer has always been that each lesson would encourage you to grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthen your understanding of His Word.

Over the next several months, I will be taking a short break from writing as my family and I begin a new chapter in our lives. God has blessed me with a new job, and we will also be moving to a new area. During this season, my focus will be on caring for my family, settling into our new community, and seeking the Lord’s guidance as He leads us forward. While I will be stepping away for a little while, I plan to return to continue our verse-by-verse study through the book of Malachi.

Please know that this is not goodbye. You have become more than readers—you have become brothers and sisters in Christ whom I deeply appreciate. I will continue praying that the Lord strengthens your faith, gives you wisdom through His Word, and blesses your walk with Him each day. I would also humbly ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers as we begin this new journey. Pray that we remain faithful to God’s calling, that He opens doors for ministry, and that our lives continue to bring glory to His name.

Thank you for your encouragement, your support, and for taking the time to study God’s Word alongside me. It is a privilege that I never take for granted. I genuinely love writing these studies, and I look forward to returning so we can continue growing together in the Scriptures.

May the Lord bless you, keep you, and draw each of us closer to Him until we meet again in His Word.

Stay the course for the kingdom,

Austin

An Encouraging Visit

We have now reached chapter three in the book of 1 Thessalonians. As we have discussed before, Paul is writting this letter to help encourage believers to remain steadfast in the faith. This is the crux of chapter three.

“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

1 Thessalonians 3

The beginning of this chapter starts out connected to the ending of chapter two. In chapter two, Paul states that the church in Thessalonica is his glory and joy. Not for any specific thing that they are doing themselves, but in their faith in Jesus Christ. In chapter three, we see Paul continuing with this train of thought. Where chapter two was to encourage the believers to remember who they were serving, chapter three is to inform the believers that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are pleased to see how strong their faith. Verse six ends with Paul identifing that through Timothy’s account of the church’s actions, that they are remaining steadfast in the faith.

However, it is verses seven and eight that I would identify as the key verses in this chapter. “7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” Paul was worried that this church had been overrun by false teachings, he is recognizing that they are spiritually young believers and was concerned that without Paul there to guide them, they would fall away. Yet, thanks to Timothy’s report, we know that this is not the case. In fact, Paul and Silvanus find comfort and joy in their imprisonment knowing that the church was holding to the faith. This is why it is important to day for discipleship. Its one thing to lead a person to Jesus Christ, but without guidance that person can be swept away into false teachings. This is why we as believers need to be in a community with one another and why we need to be encouraging spiritually young believers to continue to grow in their faith. This is why in verse ten, Paul is saying that they are praying earnestly to be with the believers in Thessalonica.

Verses 11-13 I find very interesting. In verse eleven, we see that Paul is implorying that God Himself direct Paul and his compainions way to the church, but not only that, but Paul is imploring that God cause the believers to, “increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,”. This passage is a calling for the born again Christian. Paul is stating that we need to increase in our love to fellow Christians and to the nonbelievers, just as they did. But what exactly was it that Paul did? He preached the gospel. Our Christian calling is to increase in our love for fellow man by sharing the gospel to them, to encourage them to stand strong in the faith and to encourage others to follow after Jesus Christ.

Verse 13 has a two-fold explanation. The first is the Christian reward. Paul is encouraging the reader to increase in their love so that God will establish their hearts blameless before God. The second explanation is a continuation of 1 Thessalonians 1:10. If you remember, we identified that 1 Thessalonians 1:10 is speaking of the pre-trib rapture. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 is now speaking of the second coming of Jesus Christ with the saints. Our reward of sharing the Gospel and living to serve God, is that we will be found blameless before God. Not by our own actions, but by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Chapter three is a great opportunity for believers to reflect on what their attitude is. Are we living for Christ by only absorbing the knowledge? Are we seeking to lead others to Him? Are we living in such a way that those around us find joy in our faith? These are things that we as individuals need to reflect on and ask God to direct us to those that He would have us speak too.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

Warning to the reader! We are going deep today.

I want to do a recap on the previous weeks blog. Recently, (and I will not give the church name) I had the opportunity to go to a Church that was rather large. At this church the gospel was preached and the focus was only on the gospel. From a quick glance you would see this as a positive and would believe the Church was spiritually mature. After four months of going, I noticed that the subject was only on the gospel. The mission field was the audience. The room was filled for every sermon, and yet it was the same message with different Bible verses. I want to connect this back to what we discussed last week. Pride is an issue that has no place in our hearts, actions, and lives. In the Church, we are starting to see this even more. Pastors are not humbling themselves to the Word of God. This might sound strange to you, but before I continue, I want to further emphasize the targeted pastor we are discussing. In no way am I talking about those who deny Jesus Christ as the Son of God, nor am I talking about those who claim there are alternative ways to Heaven, these are not pastors, but rather cult leaders. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing with nothing to offer a person but eternal damnation. Paul warns Timothy of this group in his second letter. There is an old saying that I heard many years ago.

A liar knows he is lying, a deceiver knows he is deceiving.

I would argue this saying backs up what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:1-9“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”

The focus group of pastors that I am attempting to identify is different. I am talking about the pastors who mean well, but are failing to humble themselves to God’s Word and recognize it is a Jewish book. Now immediately some will say, “my pastor goes back to the Greek and Hebrew” or others will say, “My pastor goes over the Hebrew culture with it” but I believe this is a mirage provided as a way of saying, “they are going deep with their church congregation.” This is not deep, but rather a bare minimum with new believers. If a pastor stays at this level only, they are denying the truth of what the scripture says. It is a tickling of the ears in a more dangerous way, for the pastor themselves do not know they are even doing it.

While the liars and deceiverare are prevalent, they are easily catchable, see 1 John for details. The targeted pastoral group I am discussing are propagating a lie or a deception and are unaware of it. For this pastor, they earnestly seek what is good, but unknowingly follow the liar and deceivers who help build their foundation of Biblical understanding. Paul warns Timothy of this group in his first letter. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” At first these pastors do not know they are departing from the faith. They seek to honor God, and base it on their teachings from Seminary or some fancy podcast. Jesus warned us of this exact scenario, Matthew 13:33 “Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Time is all the enemy needs for the entire Church and the leadership to have a trajectory outside of God’s Word.

When not corrected, it leads to what Paul described to Timothy. 1 Timothy 6:3-5“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a [means of] gain. From such withdraw yourself.”

Now that we have this wrapped up, let us dive into the pride issue. These pastors fail to recognize the true significance of God’s Word and the foundation that is there. At the latest sermon for the church I was at, the paster declared when God comes back for us, and then described in very good detail and enthusiasm the second coming of Christ as detailed in Revelation 19. The crowd erupted in applause. Meanwhile, I sat baffled at the thousand plus people in attendance, it appeared I might have been the only one who listened to Jesus’ promises of Christ snatching of the Church or His warnings of sin creeping into the Church. I witnessed pastors not humbling themselves, and pride creep in. The attendance was filled with those going out to battle the enemy and bring about the Christian kingdom for Christ. He later addressed the crowd and told them about the washing of the feet and how to have a servant’s heart. I saw tears and people holding hands in worship. As if they had failed to recognize the deeper meaning of why Christ did what He did with washing the feet. It was to show what they should be doing for one another AND the symbolism of the Bedhot Chamits Tradition. Pastors need to wake up and recognize the pride that has crept into the Church and come back to its roots. This does not mean Hebrew Roots movement, but rather the truth of God’s Word in its entirety. For when we fail to follow all of Jesus Words, we are allowing sin into our lives. 1 Timothy 6:3-4“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions.”

I believe pastors need to be given grace and recognized they are also human. Jesus gave corrections to several churches that needed it in Revelation 2-3. Let’s get next to our pastors and help them! Let’s show them what God is teaching us so as to walk along side them as fellow workers for Christ. You should not be getting your only source of God’s Word on Sunday. Be a mature believer and look for ways to get involved, for more on the actions of a mature believer see Philippians 3:12-17 and 4:4-9, and Galatians 1:10. We need to come next to our Church leadership and see what opportunity we have to serve and help them, but most importantly help them also in their walk with Christ. Simply put, we need to keep pride out and let a humble love in! Remember, if you don’t know what that means just examine last week’s post and see what Eliezer did to serve God and love his master Abraham.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Continuing our study into the Basics Series! Read it here!

Let’s Talk Prayer

The summer is coming closer to an end, and for many, they have children who are about to go back to school. We as believers need to be on guard with what our children will be taught, but we also need to be praying for the teachers who are with them. While this passage is primarily in regards to those in the government, I believe it can also apply to those in the school system. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Many complain about teachers and what they are teaching, but fail to realize that the teacher is a mission field all on its own. A child in the classroom is a perfect excuse to get to know the teacher and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to witness to them. Over the next couple of weeks, children will start to go to school. Take the time and start praying that God will give you the opportunity to pour into the teachers’ and other school staff’s lives. The world tends to focus on a teacher needing to be thanked, and they should be thanked for the jobs they are hired to do. However, we should be ready to share the Gospel message and tell them the good news of Jesus.

Help your children understand that the teacher might be a mission field for them. What a monumental moment for a child of God to stand up and be exactly what 1 Timothy 2:1-4 is describing in the classroom and respectfully witness to their teachers. As parents, let’s help encourage the younger generation of believers to take opportunities to share what Christ has done in their life and we as parents be ready to capture those moments for Jesus. Peter highlights this readiness by encouraging the believer to be ready, 1 Peter 3:15-16“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” Talk to your kids and see if they are ready to take this challenge, and ask the Lord to help highlight the best course for this coming school year. It might be the lunch lady or the Principle who might just need to hear the good news of Jesus.

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

True Apostasy

Paul has spent the first 13 verses encouraging the believer to stand in the faith, to remember who they serve, and to walk in a manner worthy of God. As Paul begins his conclusion of this second chapter, we see that his writing takes on more of a tone of warning.

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. 17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-20

In this passage of scripture, we see that Paul is recognizing that the members of the church of the Thessalonians are acting in the way that he called them to do in the previous section of scripture. They are walking in a way that reflects Jesus Christ, just as the churches in Judea reflected Jesus in their persecution. Verses 15 and 16, however, touch on a concept that is still prevalent today. In the NKJV, we see that verse 15 states that there are men who “do not please God and are contrary to all men”. Another word that should be used here is the Hebrew word “luz” (Strong’s H3868), which means “apostates”. This means to turn away or reject. So in these two verses, Paul is identifying that an “apostate” is anyone who is so anti-Gospel that they are willing to kill those who preach to convert others. Ken Johnson, in his book Paul’s Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles, describes it this way: “It starts with one denomination refusing to fellowship with another, then progresses into trying to hurt or even kill the other “in the name of God.”

This is something that was being seen when Paul wrote this letter, and it is something that is still going on today. There are countries that have made sharing the Gospel a crime worthy of jail. There are countries that have forced the church underground. There are countries that have made it where preaching the truth found in scripture goes against what the world wants, and anyone who teaches the truth is called “intolerable”. Satan doesn’t create; he only uses the same tricks that he always has, and by causing believers to worry about what will happen if they share the Gospel, Satan is trying to impede the spreading of God’s word.

This is why Paul ends this chapter with a reminder that the reader is their glory and joy. Not because of anything that the church has or is doing, but because they are holding themselves upright in the name of God. They are following God’s word despite the very real threats that they are facing. Paul and his companions are proud and rejoicing that the believers in Thessalonica are so strong in their faith that they are continuing to preach God’s word. This is how we, as believers today, should be. The threats are still there to share the Gospel, we may be mocked, imprisoned, threatened, cast aside by family and friends, but this does not mean that we give up. We need to continue to walk in such a manner that we are worthy of God.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

Telling people what God has done in our lives is harder than one might think!

Countless times, I have heard testimonies from individuals about how God has done something in their life, only to hear a story purely directed to bring attention to the person telling the story. This is sad because typically the audience is actively listening, and it provides a perfect opportunity for us to share what the Lord has done and give Him the honor that He deserves. We play only a small role in what God is doing; let’s not make us into something we are not.

In the section of scripture we are discussing today, we see Eliezer provide to Laban and Bethuel his testimony of what God had done. Read Genesis 24:29 through 49. I want to direct your attention to what Eliezer’s intentions are; it is not to cause the audience to focus on Eliezer but rather the mission of God. His testimony ends with a call to Laban, Bethuel, and Rebekah. Eliezer does not spare details and does not gloss over the interactions he has with the Lord in prayer, but focuses on providing the details that the audience needs. Eliezer is on a mission, and that mission is ultimately to reveal the plan of the Lord to these three. Ironically, Rebekah is the one who recognizes the call. When we give an account of what God has done in our own lives, we need to be on guard that it is not self-directed and a cause for us to have pride. We should be careful and recognize that pride can also disguise itself as a false sense of humility. I have seen many pastors cry at the pulpit and proclaim they themselves are sinners in need of a righteous God and that they are saved by God choosing them. And yet, when you carefully examine their words, you see it is full of pride and a general lack of knowledge of Christ. Be careful who you listen to and learn from, many “christians” tickle the ears and provide what the audience wants to hear rather than the truth of what God wants to do. Paul told us to be ready, 1 Peter 3:15“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

SUMMER PRAYER FEST

For our summer prayer fest, let’s ask the Lord to help us examine in our own lives times when He has worked with us. And how best we can present that to others to give God the glory! Focus on Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good [things,] Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Re-Post Friday

Are you in charge of your faith? Find out HERE!

Time Keeper

Today, I wanted to jump in and provide a quick reflection on something that I am continually reminded about in God’s Word.

“Time is pointing to Jesus.”

This simple truth is remarkable and something that theologians, physicists and many others have examined over the years. Nevertheless, I want to take you into something that I learned a while ago, but has always struck me as something being missed by the Church in general. The feasts of the Lord are time stamps of the actions of Jesus Christ. When I was younger, I heard people claim that when Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished!” that the law was done away with. Even in my younger years of Christianity used this to argue against the Seventh Day Adventist and other heretical cults who believed we needed to follow the Levitical Law. Yet, in my studies, I found something rather remarkable: the feasts of the Lord are not done! Examine Colossians 2:16-17 “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” When you read Colossians, you will quickly come to realize that Paul is making perfectly clear that during the Church age, the Levitical laws discussed in Leviticus chapter 23 and other places are something pointing to Christ that the Jews were supposed to observe.

However, in the Church age, Paul clearly defines that the mystery of the Gentile is that they are adopted into the faith and yet are excluded from having to observe such requirements. Now, do Jewish believers in the Messiah today have to? No! See Colossians 3:10-11“and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all and in all.” The entire book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish believers in the Messiah who were tempted to go back to the traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus publicly warned the Jewish people that a coming judgment was to come upon the temple in chapter 21 of Luke.

Now, why am I bringing all this up? If the Church is defined by the love we have from the Lord and us being unified in Christ, see John 17:25-26, and John 13:33-35, we know that we are neither Jew nor Gentile. So what does this have to do with “Time is pointing to Jesus”? We are not to practice the law, but we are to study it! See what Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 5:45-47 “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is [one] who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust. 46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Jesus is pointing us to study the Old Testament and see what it said about Him. When you study the four Gospels, you will see that Jesus fulfills the first four spring feasts to the letter! Now there are three fall feasts that He must fulfill. We need to study these coming events so that we can better understand what Christ will do. Paul confirms this theory in Colossians 2:17 “which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Christ is the substance and the things to come. Don’t take my word for it, Hebrew language and Dead Sea Scroll Scholar Dr. Ken Johnson details the Hebrew word used to describe these events written in scripture, “The Hebrew word "‘Moedim’ (Strong’s H4150) refers to one of the festivals that God instituted for the nation of Israel: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, New Wine, New Oil, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tavernacles. The rituals performed on each of these festivals teach prophecy.” (1) Jesus is the time keeper; we should be good students and recognize the actions taken by Christ so as to properly learn more about Him. This is difficult for the Church, which has grown accustomed to almost 2,000 years of gentile thinking, but it is time we go back to the Word of God, recognize we are not Jews, but study the Word for what it is. The Bible is written by Jews, from a Jewish Messiah.

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

1) Paul’s Ancient Hebrew Thessalonians Epistles Proof of a Pre-Trib Rapture Interlinear Included by Ken Johnson, Th.D.

A Gentle Witness

We began our look into 1 Thessalonians 2 last week by looking at Paul’s encouraging introduction. He was reminding the readers that, despite much opposition, Paul and his companions had to preach God’s word. Paul continues his argument by showing that God’s word does not come from error or impurity or deceit, and they are speaking to please God, not men. Paul ends the beginning of this chapter by acknowledging that although he could have asserted authority over the believers in Thessalonica, he didn’t. Today, we are going to look more into why Paul behaved as he did and the result.

“7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

1 Thessalonians 2:7-13

In this second part of chapter 2, we see that Paul is seeking to remind the readers that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy came alongside them. What this means is that they allowed their actions to open the door to share the gospel. Paul begins by comparing them to children while he, Silvanus, and Timothy were their doting mother. As a mother myself, I see the attitude that I have towards my children. It is one that desires to raise them up in a way that they understand the word of God. While there are some instances of strangers walking up and leading individuals to God, this is not the typical experience. Instead, many will point out that there was one, two, or several people who came alongside them and affectionately taught them God’s word. This section of scripture reminds me of Matthew 23:37, “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” While this specific passage is Jesus talking about the unbelieving jews, it reveals a foundational practice initiated by the Lord and practiced by Christ followers. We should want to go to other believers who are less knowledgable than us and help them, and spiritually protect them. This is why Jesus said, John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy had come along side the new believers and loved them. They taught them and imparted the words of Truth to them.

Verses 9-11 teach the reader that it is not always as simple as walking up to someone and sharing the gospel. Sometimes, and I would say most of the time, you need to build a relationship that is built on trust and your own actions showcasing Jesus Christ. That is exactly what Paul is doing here. Look back at verse 6 that we discussed last week, “6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”. Paul is showing that as an apostle, he had every right to make demands of those around him, and yet, verse 9 shows exactly what he did. He did not lord it over the church; he worked alongside them and allowed his actions to be a testimony for God. Consider 1 Peter 3:15-16, “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” Paul’s actions are a direct representation of 1 Peter 3:15-16. Remember in Acts 17, they wished to imprison Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, and yet, the actions of these men allowed those around them to see that it was from God.

Paul ends this part of chapter 2 with an encouragement to the reader. Verses 12-13 are a call to remind the reader that they need to be walking in a way that is worthy of God. Not for their salvation, our own “good deed” cannot save us, but in order for those around them to see that they are following God. In doing so, Paul knows that the reader will then be able to follow in his footsteps and plant the seed, water the seed, or harvest the fruit of the gospel in another. For Paul then, and for us today, this is something that we must be thankful for! We are given the opportunity to allow God to work through us to bring more to Him!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

A Study In Genesis

Following the Lord’s directions is as simple and complicated as the person following makes it. We tend to mishandle the opportunities provided by God to act. Sometimes we wait too long, and other times we rush in before it is time. Nevertheless, no matter what the challenge provided to us is, we have the same first step. That step is to pray and ask the Lord for His assistance. The Psalmist reminds us that this first step needs to be a blatant recognition that God is in control, He understands, and we should be listening to Him. The Psalmist also makes it crystal clear that God does not cause us to sin; the human race does a great job of that on our own. However, we can ask for the temptation to be taken away. Psalm 119:133“Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Here we see the Psalmist immediately recognize that God is in control, and the Psalmist knows this because he is leaning on the studied word of God. The Psalmist also knows to ask for assistance from the Lord in resisting inequity and the power that sin has in this world.

What does this mean for you and I? It simply means that when God provides an opportunity to serve Him, we need to be ready to do so. This is first done by being in His word so we can draw upon the wisdom sent from above, but also so our steps can be properly directed. Let’s look at this in action. Genesis chapter 24, Abraham sends Eliezer to find Isaac a wife from Abraham’s homeland. While the text does not provide Eliezer’s name, we know from Genesis that Eliezer was the head servant, thus the most trusted servant to send on such an important mission. Genesis 15:2 “But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house [is] Eliezer of Damascus?” We also know from the historical book of Jasher, chapter 24, that Eliezer is actually named as the servant who goes.

Now Eliezer listens to Abraham and does as he is instructed. We can tell a little about Eliezer based on the events that unfold. He loves Abraham and Isaac. He is trying to find Isaac a good wife and obeying Abraham’s wishes. We can see that Eliezer has no problem recognizing the special relationship and blessings that Abraham has with the Lord and how that blessing will follow Isaac down the generations. Eliezer is a gentile who is blessing and helping the origins of the Jewish people. I find it ironic that Eliezer’s name actually means “God is my help.” As we read the events, we find that Eliezer does not give ultimatums to the Lord, but rather requests assistance to find the person that God wants for Isaac. Eliezer wants to find the right wife so as to bless the individuals promised by God to be blessed.

Eliezer is practicing the Psalm 119:133 approach right before our eyes. Read Genesis 24:1-28. God directs the steps, and in turn, Eliezer walks them. What an incredible opportunity for us to see God work. In our own lives, we need to be ready at a moment’s notice to act for the Lord. When in doubt, drive forward, blessing the Lord. If He wants you to slow down, He will let you know. It would be better for us to immediately be like Eliezer and ask God for guidance and push forward than to sit behind and lose an opportunity to glorify the Lord in the steps He has directed us.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

SUMMER PRAYER FEST

For our Summer prayer fest, let's work on exactly what we just read. We are going to pray that the Lord would direct our steps as we follow Him. Our verse for this is Psalm 17:4, “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.”

Re-Post Friday

What’s the job of a father? Find out HERE!

God’s Covenant with Levi

“4. And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty.

5.“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.

6. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

7. “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.

8. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty.

9. “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

Malachi 2:4-9 (NKJV)

In Malachi 2:4–9, God reminds the priests of the covenant He established with Levi and contrasts the faithfulness of that covenant with the corruption of the current priesthood. The Lord’s purpose in sending this rebuke was not merely to punish the priests, but to call them back to the covenant He had made with their forefathers. God desired that the priesthood once again reflect His holiness and faithfully lead His people. This passage reveals that God expects those who minister in His name to be examples of truth, righteousness, and reverence.

In Malachi 2:5, God describes His covenant with Levi as one of “life and peace.” These blessings were given so that the priests would fear the Lord and honor His name. Levi responded with reverence, recognizing God’s holiness and authority. This covenant was never intended to be merely a position of privilege, but a sacred responsibility. The Lord promised blessing because of faithful service, much like He did with Phinehas in Numbers 25:12–13 (NKJV), where God established “My covenant of peace” because of Phinehas’ zeal for His holiness. True ministry begins with a genuine fear of the Lord, for Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

In Malachi 2:6, God describes the character of a faithful priest. “The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity.” A faithful servant of God teaches His Word accurately, lives with integrity, and leads others away from sin rather than toward it. This points forward to the ministry of Christ, who perfectly revealed the truth of God. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, NKJV). Likewise, pastors and teachers today are commanded to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) so that God’s people are built up in sound doctrine.

In Malachi 2:7, God explains the responsibility of every priest: “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” The priests were entrusted with teaching God’s Word, answering questions about His Law, and guiding the nation in righteousness. They were God’s representatives to the people. Today, spiritual leaders carry a similar responsibility to faithfully preach and teach the Scriptures. Titus 2:1 (NKJV) instructs, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine,” while Acts 20:28 (NKJV) reminds shepherds to care faithfully for the flock God has entrusted to them.

In Malachi 2:8–9, God exposes the failure of the priests. They had departed from His ways, caused many to stumble through false teaching and poor example, and corrupted the covenant of Levi. Instead of leading people toward holiness, they became a stumbling block to those they were called to serve. Because they showed partiality and failed to uphold God’s truth, the Lord made them “contemptible and base before all the people.” God does not overlook spiritual compromise, especially among those who lead others. James 3:1 (NKJV) warns that teachers “shall receive a stricter judgment,” and Romans 2:21 (NKJV) asks, “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?” Those who proclaim God’s truth must also live by it.

Malachi 2:4–9 reminds believers that God values faithful leadership more than religious position. Spiritual leaders are called to fear the Lord, teach His Word accurately, walk in personal holiness, and guide others toward righteousness. While this passage was spoken directly to Israel’s priests, its principles remain relevant for pastors, teachers, parents, and every believer who influences others. God still desires His people to be faithful messengers who reflect His truth and bring glory to His name through both their words and their lives.

Stay the course for the Kingdom,

Austin

Approved by God

Today, we are continuing in our study of 1 Thessalonians by looking at the first few verses of chapter 2. Last week, we examined Paul’s greeting to the church. Paul begins his letter with the goal to encourage the readers to stay strong in the faith, which is a main point found throughout this book, as many of the Jews turned followers of Christ were facing serious persecution. Paul then ends the first chapter with a reminder to the reader that there is hope. Paul is writing to encourage the believers and remind them that the Rapture is what makes the world ready for the wrath to come, the Tribulation period. Today, we will now look at Paul’s next exhortation to the church.

“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

Paul begins this section by reminding the readers that his time with them did not go without results. While we do not know how many people came to place their faith in Jesus Christ due to Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, we do see a result of Isaiah 55:11, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” These men preached the word of God, and it brought many to Him. I believe that Paul was seeking to remind the readers of the moment they placed their faith in Jesus in order to see that whatever they were going though, it would bring God glory, just as Paul’s own imprisonment would do. In verse 2, Paul seeks to remind the reader that he faced many troubles and yet he still sought to preach the word of God. This is how we need to be as believers today: we need to not fear any worldly repercussions for speaking the truth, but have the boldness of God to share His word.

Verses 3-4, I would say, are the key verses in chapter 2. The word “exhortation” comes from a couple of different Greek words, but it essentially means a beseeching call to give comfort, to offer consolation. Which is exactly what Paul is doing here. He is imploring that the reader remember that what Paul said did not come from error, was unclean, or deceitful. This was one of the biggest arguments that the Jewish believers and the Jewish nonbelievers would face. Paul is beseeching them to remember that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were approved by God to share the gospel; and they did it gladly, not to please men but to please God. This is reflected directly in Galatians 1:10, “10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.“ Paul is asking the reader, both then and now, if their actions are meant to please God or other men. In his argument in Galatians, we see that if we seek the approval of mankind, then we are not following after God.

Finally, Paul ends these 6 verses with a reminder that although he could have made demands as apostles of Christ, he did not. He and his companions behaved in such a way as to bring glory to God and do the work that He sent them for. Paul is ending these verses with a reminder to the reader that although he would “rank” higher in the world’s eyes, Paul came to serve them just as Jesus came to serve. Paul is calling the reader to follow in his footsteps, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians still holds true today. We need to not worry about any worldly punishment for sharing God’s word; we need to be focused on pleasing God, and by doing so, we need to be imitating Him. Next week, we will look more into chapter 2 and see more of Paul’s relationship with these believers.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

God provided the land of Israel for the Jewish people, and yet some today still say it is not their land. Did you know that in Abraham’s day, even though the land was given to him and his descendants by Isaac and Jacob, Abraham still purchased parts of the land? Genesis 23 records an event that the Jewish people still do occasionally. It is their land promised by God, and yet they have to purchase it.

Genesis 23:1-9 “Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; [these were] the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I [am] a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord: You [are] a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” 7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 “that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which [is] at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

Israel has more of a connection to the land than any other ethnic group in all of the human race! Abraham, in his grief, wanted to bury her; it was not through conquest, nor through trickery, but rather through honest commerce and the integrity of both parties, resulting in a fair purchase. Genesis 23:19-20 “And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that [is] in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.” Israel purchased their own land back numerous times in history.

What does this mean for you and me? Two monumental truths! First that the events of the Bible are true and accurate, second that the land does belong to Israel and we should proclaim, as ambassadors of Christ, His promises and His word! So when people say otherwise, let us be quick students of the Word of God to know the spiritual significance of why Israel needs the land and the arguments for the land being rightfully theirs through their own actions dating all the way back to Abraham.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

SUMMER PRAYER FEST

Today’s Summer Prayer Fest comes from Psalm 119:18, “8 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.“This prayer is for us to ask the Lord to open our eyes as we study His Word and learn how to meditate on it with application.

Re-Post Friday

Understanding this important role. Read it HERE!

God Rebukes the Priests

“1. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.’ 2. If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the Lord of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. 3. “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it.”

Malachi 2:1–3 (NKJV)

In Malachi 2:1–3, God turns His attention directly to the priests, the spiritual leaders of Israel. These men were responsible for teaching God’s Word, offering sacrifices, and leading the people in worship. Instead of honoring the Lord, many had become careless and dishonored His name by accepting polluted sacrifices and failing to obey His commands. Because of their unfaithfulness, God warned that judgment would come upon them unless they repented. This passage serves as a reminder that those entrusted with spiritual leadership are held to a higher standard because they represent God before His people.

In Malachi 2:2, the Lord commands the priests to “hear” and “take it to heart” to give glory to His name. This was not simply a call to listen with their ears but to respond with obedient hearts. God warned that if they refused, He would send a curse upon them and curse their blessings. Even the blessings they already enjoyed would become curses because they had failed to honor Him. This principle is seen throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NKJV) teaches that blessings come through obedience to God’s commands, while Deuteronomy 28:15 (NKJV) warns that disobedience brings curses. Likewise, 1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV) declares, “For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” God desires worship and service that come from a heart that truly reveres Him.

In Malachi 2:3, God announces the seriousness of His coming judgment. He warns that He will rebuke their descendants and spread the refuse from their festival sacrifices upon their faces, symbolizing their uncleanness and rejection. The priests who should have been removing impurity from God’s house would instead bear the shame of their own corruption. Under the Law, the waste from sacrificial animals was to be taken outside the camp because it was considered unclean (Exodus 29:14, NKJV; Leviticus 4:11-12, NKJV). By comparing the priests to this refuse, God demonstrated how far they had fallen from the holy calling He had given them.

This passage reminds believers that God is not impressed by outward religious activity when the heart is far from Him. He desires faithful obedience, sincere worship, and leaders who teach His truth without compromise. James 3:1 (NKJV) warns that teachers “shall receive a stricter judgment,” showing that the principle found in Malachi still applies today. Whether serving in ministry or simply living as followers of Christ, believers are called to honor God with reverence, integrity, and wholehearted obedience. When God’s people glorify His name with both their lives and their worship, they reflect His holiness to the world.

Stay the Course for the Kingdom,

Austin

A Warm Greeting

Last week we began our study into the book of 1 Thessalonians. Before we could dive into this book, we needed to take a look at what was occurring during the time this book was written. Acts 17 was our section of scripture that we looked at for this. In this passage, we learned that the individuals who were housing Paul and Silas were dragged out of their home by angry Jews who did not like Paul preaching. Jason and those who also assisted Paul had to pay essentially a fee to ensure that Paul and Silas would not cause any further issues in Thessalonica. Which is why Paul wrote this letter, to encourage the believers that he had left behind who now saw the realities of standing up for Christ.

 “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

1 Thessalonians 1

Paul begins this letter much like he does with his other letters to various churches, giving thanks to God. Next, Paul moves into the specifics of the church Thessalonica, which is to remember their works of faith, labor of love, and patience of the hope in Jesus Christ. This is highlighting their actions towards Paul and Silas while they were there. Paul is spending the first five verses to encourage the readers and to acknowledge that by the actions of Paul and Silas, those in Thessalonica knew that they were sent by God.

Which leads Paul into his next point, that those in Thessalonica became followers of God and of Paul and Silas. I would actually consider verse 5-6 to be one of the key verses in this passage. In verse 5, we see that the gospel does not come empty handed, it is not something that is merely spoken of. The gospel is power, it is action and through the Holy Spirit it brings others to Christ. Verse 6 points out that when you become a follower of Christ, your actions will point to Him and even in affliction you will have joy in the Holy Spirit.

Verses 7 and 8 show the result of their faith. Through the actions of the believers in Thessalonica, the gospel spread to Macedonia and Achaia. In fact, the believers in Thessalonica had such a strong faith in the Lord that Paul, Silas, and Timothy needn’t say anything more about them. Their reputation of turning from idols and receiving God, as well as their actions towards Paul and Silas, had spread so far that all Paul had to say was that they had spent time in Thessalonica and those around him know of their great faith.

Finally, verse 10 ends with an interesting note and it also serves to further provide evidence as to why we should be studying the Hebrew language. First Thessalonians was written originally in Greek, nevertheless, archaeological evidence has shown that at an early stage. The letter was translated into Hebrew. Now, what does this mean? It means that we have the capability to see a greater intent of the words used, and a deeper understanding of the context. For more information on this check out Biblefacts.org. In most text, verse 10 reads as “whom He raised from the dead”. However, the verbs in Hebrew are the hiphil imperative verb form, which is for future causative actions. Verse 10 should actually read as “who will cause the dead to rise”. Additionally, “who delivers us” should be translated as “and who will cause us to be caught up. Verse 10 is a very powerful verse for the pre-trib Rapture!

Ken Johnson explains it this way, “ The Hebrew word for “caught up” is “Matseel,” which is the hiphil active participle form of “natzal.” “Natzal” means to “snatch away,” so “Matseel” means “to cause us to be caught up.” The Hebrew word “Nathalie” (Strong’s H5337) has exactly the same meaning as the Greek word “harpazo” (Strong’s G726) which is used in the Greek form of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 for the phrase “caught up.” They both mean to be caught away by force.” (Paul’s Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles Proof of a Pre-Trib Rapture, by Ken Johnson). Based on the ending of verse 10, we can see that for the believers in Thessalonica and us today, Paul is writing to encourage the believers and remind them that the Rapture is what makes the world ready for the wrath to come, the Tribulation period.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

Genesis chapter 22 is probably one of the most well-known passages in Genesis, and arguably one of the most well-known passages found in all of the Bible. Scholars, theologians and acute Bible students alike have all sought to understand the details of this passage. Personally, I have studied this countless times over the past 30 years. However, it was not until recently that I came to grips with something rather remarkable. Genesis provides the inspired word of God. The book of Jasher which is referenced in Joshua 10:13 “So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. [Is] this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go [down] for about a whole day.” and 2 Samuel 1:18“and he told [them] to teach the children of Judah [the Song of] the Bow; indeed [it is] written in the Book of Jasher.” the book of Jasher was common reading in the time of Christ with Paul reminding and referencing information from the book of Jasher in his letter to Timothy, 2 Timothy 3:8 “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.” Why do I bring all this up? I bring it up because the Book of Jasher details the historical aspects of the events in Genesis 22, whereas Genesis skips some of these historical details to amplify the foundational truth that a person needs to know.

When you compare the two, you see how God’s Word (Genesis) wants the author to know the facts but highlights them in a manner that will bring about an eternal truth! That truth is a willing father to lay down his son’s life, and a willing son to lay down his own life. This is the theme of John 3:16“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We read Genesis 22 and can see that God would not require man to do anything to save ourselves, but He Himself would provide. This fits in line with John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Genesis 22 further provides us the cosmic rescue of what Jesus would do one day. Isaac was not a young boy, but rather a fully grown man when he willingly offered his life to Abraham’s blade. Jesus was fully grown when He offered His life for the sins of mankind. No one forced these decisions; and yet, only Jesus could fulfill the decision and our payment of sin. John 10:13-18“The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My [sheep,] and am known by My own. 15 “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock [and] one shepherd. 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

I would encourage you to study Genesis 22 thoroughly and compare it with the historical non-canonical account in the Book of Jasher. By doing this, you will see what Moses, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, thought was the eternal truth that needed to be extracted from the events. Ultimately, Genesis 22 reveals great faith from Abraham and Isaac. Both are willing to follow the guidance provided by God, and be a mere foreshadow of the true testament of God the Father and God the Son willingly providing payment for our sins.

What an amazing God we have.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

SUMMER PRAYER FEST

This week, let’s focus on praying for the knowledge that we can bring our deepest needs to God. Pray also for the knowledge that when we seek His will, His plan for us will be made clear. This week’s Bible verse and focus is Jeremiah 33:3, ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Re-Post Friday

A lesson to encourage our readers. Read it HERE!