The Greatness of God

When you think of God, what comes to mind? Often, people view Him in the way that best fits their particular need or situation. For example, a person who struggles with guilt might focus on the Lord’s forgiveness or holiness. Isaiah 40:12-26

And someone with a thirst for justice might dwell on the Almighty’s righteousness.

The truth is, His character encompasses far more than we could ever comprehend or try to explain. I would never attempt to summarize such an awesome God in this devotion. At the same time, however, it is important to look at Scripture in order to gain an accurate a picture of the One we worship.

Today we will focus on one attribute: His greatness. Our passage tells us that God is greater than creation (v. 12), for it was by His hands that everything we see came into being. He is higher than the nations or any idol fashioned by the finest craftsman (vv. 18-20). In fact, He is above the world and all mankind (vv. 22-23), surpassing even the heavens and all galaxies.

Our Father’s thoughts and ways are far grander than our own (Is. 55:9)-and lofty compared with what we can understand. Psalm 93:1 states, “The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength.”

Consider the awesome God we serve. He truly is worthy of our praise. As we grasp even a fraction of His greatness, our response should be one of humble worship. After all, who are we that a God like this would desire our friendship-so much so that He sent His Son to die for our sins?

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/45653/#P9fzcBIyKCukFeRG.99

"DON'T BE A VICTIM"

In this End-Time, "nobody is having time to Judge or to Condemn any Questionable behaviors anymore inasmuch the world has clarified a Warning as a Condemnation & Judgment now... (Jesus Christ said, "He has given enough of warning through His Disciples to the world, all Prophecies has been fulfilled, yet, People are living, It doesn't matter, just like in the days of Noah). In this End-Time, everyone must carrying her own cross or his own cross & following Jesus to the End if truly, you don't want to END your race in Hell Fire.

Adultery is now Legalized in South Africa by the Constitutional Court.

Gay Marriage is Now Legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court. "Sadly... Just within a week of U.S. Gay Marriage declarations, One hundreds and forty four cults has came out Openly for Church marriage. (this shows that, many women/ladies will remain single forever or marry a woman/ladies like themselves)

As if that is not enough, "Germany's National Ethics Council has called for an End to the Criminalisation of Incest between siblings after examining the case of a man who had four children with his sister. (this shows that, you can now marry your sister or your nephew or niece now ummm mm)

Japanese court rules that Adultery is OK!!! If its for business purpose.

Lastly... The same churches in Island in 2003 that protested against divorce are now in full supports of Sex marriage.

The first Gay marriage in Island will take place in catholic on the 17th of Sep, 2015.

A sister had a vision of Rapture & asked me to interpret it. The confusion in the vision was that, in a whole church of over 80,000 members, only three people were Rapture. In a whole country of over 175,000,000Peoples, only 15Peoples were Rapture.

Immediately...... The Rapture took place, People everywhere scattered & were lamenting, shouting, screaming, asking Why? Why?? Why??? Why did Jesus did this to them? Its unfair ooh! Why did He so wicked to them? Why did He not informed them about His coming or give them signs or just helping them???

The sister said that, what surprised her & confused her in the vision was that, Jesus appeared & started asking people, Why are they lamenting, shouting, screaming assive His coming has not been announced to them because He has told them that He will come on the 25th of December, why are they still not Prepared??? And He disappeared.

The sister now asked, what has 25th of December has to do with Christ coming??? I was also confused but I asked her to give me some minutes to pray for the meaning.

Before I even made an attempt to pray about it, Christ interpreted the meaning of 25th of December to me.

Christ said, As popular as 25th is, to the people of the world. Infact, Christ asked, Do you know what is happening every 25th of December??? I said Christmas! Christ said, Good! The world are celebrating Christmas at 25th of December, so, as popular as 25th of December is, in people's mind, & in the world calendar, So also, the Gospel of His Coming has been so popular & established in people's mind just as 25th of December is so popular & important to them..

But instead for my people to prepared themselves for my coming, as a bride prepared herself for her groom, they are busy preparing themselves for things that are not profitable to their souls.

Christ said, all the prophecies in His book of life has been fulfilled but instead for my people to prepared for my coming, they are busy eating, drinking, marrying & giving in marriage, celebrating & jubilation & took no notice of all events taking place around them until when my coming shall be like a flashlights just like Noah's days.

90% of the Population in Jerusalem are now Muslims.

Even, the Temple that King Solomon built has been Converted to Mosque, yet, the same Christians that are taking the fulfillment of the bible prophecies lightly today, will still be the same People that would curse Christ for not taking them along with Him @ RAPTURE.

Mathew 5V48:- 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1V15-16:- 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Mathew 5V29-30:- 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

2 Timothy 2V19:- 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Christ has given you enough signs of END TIME... Don't Be A Victim of........ HAD I KNOW brethren.

By Shobayo Olumuyiwa

Is your name in that book?

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 21:12

 Friends, am not inspired to teach deeply on this topic but to remind you the important of having your name written down the book of life.

From the text, you will notice two things there;

1.   “The books were opened…”: Those that there name will be found in these books are the doomed ones. That book was made for the sinner.  The scripture have already told us that these books contain the name of the multitude of people which are trading on the ‘broad’ ways of sin. You will agree with the Bible that today many people are “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”. These are those that their names are in the book of death.

You cannot escape the damnation of hell if your name is still in those books.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leadeth to distruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and  few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13 -14.

2.   “…and another book was opened…”: This is a single book not books. This shows that those that will be found in the book are few. These are those which are washed with the blood of the lamb, those that their sins are forgiven and forgotten, those that walk in the newness of life, those that  daily overcome temptations and trials. These are the people that their name will be found in this book.

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and  few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14.

They are few not many. The question now is;

 Is your name written in those books are that book?

The earlier you discover the answer to these questions the better for you. 

God is not willing that any man should perish but that we should come to realization and repentance.

Friend today is that day that you MUST endeavor to put your record straight before God. He loves and cherishes you.

Source:http://www.believeall.com/2015/06/is-your-name-in-that-book.html?m=0

Our consolation

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

What a great hope for believers who solely depend on the mercies of God!
God has promised to be for those who trust in him at all times and assured them of divine peace no matter the situation they are into.
Apostle Paul, while admonishing the
Christian believers in Roman, to depend in God, though trial and temptation must come on their way but in all these things, when God is with us there is no man or woman or personality that will ever be against us in any way of our lives.

In as much as Paul said that if God be for us, no man can be against us, there are people who God cannot be for; these are those who are walking against the rule that Christ has set-up for us to follow.
These are the liars, the thieves, the murderers, adulterers, fornicators, the disobedience and whosoever that is not walking against the will of God.
God is always against those that are against Him. In fact, Christ clarified those who he will not be for in Luke 9:26 that “…whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed…”
Some people have made themselves enemies of God and He has turn against them.
We must retrace back to God and ask for mercy so that we can be beneficiaries of the blessings and the presence of His glory within and around us.

If you are with God and like Paul the Apostle that “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…” (Romans 1:16), then, you need not fear the threat of the devil and his demons because god’s presence is always with you at all time.

What is Jesus Christ Doing Now?

That’s a good question. What would your answer be? If you’re not sure, we hope this brief article helps you understand the moment-by-moment involvement of your living Lord Jesus in your life to the end that you grasp the reality of his presence and are energized by it.

Sad to say, too many Christians have never been taught what Jesus Christ is doing today, and every day since he became the “Lord” and the “Head” of the Church, which is made up of the members of his Body. We all know that he died for us, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven and is now “seated” at God’s right hand. But does that mean he is “just chillin’”? No way. He is even busier than he was when he lived on the earth, and Mark 5, for example, is a great chapter to illustrate what kind of days he had then. Whew!

Jesus studied the Hebrew Scriptures and understood all the prophecies about his life, death, resurrection, ascension, and future kingship of the world. He fulfilled all those prophecies relevant to his first coming on the earth by being obedient all the way to his torturous death on the cross. Because of his obedience to his God and Father, Jesus was highly exalted as Lord of Heaven and Earth, and seated at God’s right hand (Phil. 2:8-11).

In biblical times, the right hand was the hand of blessing, authority, and power, as opposed to the left, which was the hand of cursing. This is where we get our common phrase, “right hand man.” A right hand man does not sit around, but is very vigorous in carrying out the orders of the one he serves. This relationship is typified in the Old Testament account of Joseph and the Egyptian Pharaoh.

Because of what Joseph did to save the people of Egypt, the Pharaoh gave him all authority in the land of Egypt. As Joseph said, “God has made me lord of all Egypt” (Gen. 45:9). Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring (which symbolized his all-encompassing power and authority in Egypt) and had him ride in a chariot as his Second-in-Command. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt” (Gen. 41:44). Pharaoh was still Pharaoh, but he had given all authority to Joseph and fully equipped him with the power to carry out his work, thus making Joseph functionally equal with him.

God has done the same thing with Jesus Christ. He gave Jesus “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18), and made him “Lord” (Acts 2:36). God is still God, but Jesus is now functionally equal with Him, and that was God’s idea. Jesus now has everything he needs in order to carry out his function as second-in-command, God’s “go-to-guy” and right hand man.

So what is the Lord Jesus Christ doing now? Let’s take a look. Where? Not in Peoplemagazine, or even Sports Illustrated. We want to know what the Word of God says.

Jesus Christ is now the Head of the Church.
(20) Which he [God] exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
(21) far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
(22) And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
(23) which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Jesus Christ is building his Church by pouring out the gift of holy spirit to all those who believe.
(46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
(47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(32) God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
(33) Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Jesus Christ is interceding for us as our mediator.
(24) but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
(25) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede [entugchano] for them.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died– more than that, who was raised to life— is at the right hand of God and is also interceding [entugchano] for us.
Jesus Christ hears our prayers and responds to us.
(23) So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
(24) Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
(25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
(26) Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
(59) While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
(60) Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
(8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [the “thorn in his flesh”—those who were persecuting him] away from me.
(9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Jesus Christ is giving grace to all believers.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Jesus Christ is strengthening and protecting his people.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Jesus Christ is giving revelation to the members of his Body.
(11) I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.
(12) I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is giving ministries to Christians.
(11) It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
(12) to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
(13) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
(4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
(5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
(6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
(7) If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
(8) if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Jesus Christ is the Commander of the angels.
(4) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
(5) For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?
(6) God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
(7) and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
Jesus Christ is eagerly anticipating raising all dead Christians and giving them and all living Christians new bodies when we meet him in the air.
(20) But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
(21) who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
(15) According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
(16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(18) Therefore encourage each other with these words.

http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/articles/faq/what-is-jesus-christ-doing-now-2

How can I become a Christian?

The first step to become a Christian is to understand what the term “Christian” means. The origin of the term “Christian” was in the city of Antioch in the first century A.D. (see Acts 11:26). It is possible that, at first, the term “Christian” was intended to be an insult. The word essentially means “little Christ.” However, over the centuries, believers in Christ have adopted the term “Christian” and use it to identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. A simple definition of a Christian is a person who follows Jesus Christ.

Why should I become a Christian?

Jesus Christ declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The question then arises – why did we need to be ransomed? The idea of a ransom is a payment that must be made in exchange for the release of a person. The idea of a ransom is most frequently used in instances of kidnapping, when someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until a ransom is paid for the person’s release.

Jesus paid our ransom to free us from bondage! Bondage from what? Bondage to sin and its consequences, physical death followed by eternal separation from God. Why did Jesus need to pay this ransom? Because we are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23), and are therefore worthy of judgment from God (Romans 6:23). How did Jesus pay our ransom? By dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could Jesus’ death sufficiently pay for all of our sins? Jesus was God in human form, God come to earth to become one of us so He could identify with us and die for our sins (John 1:1,14). As God, Jesus’ death was infinite in value, sufficient to pay for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). Jesus’ resurrection after His death demonstrated that His death was the sufficient sacrifice, that He had truly conquered sin and death.

How can I become a Christian?

This is the best part. Because of His love for us, God has made it exceedingly simple to become a Christian. All you have to do is receive Jesus as your Savior, fully accepting His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins (John 3:16), fully trusting Him alone as your Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Becoming a Christian is not all about rituals, going to church, or doing certain things while refraining from other things. Becoming a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith, is what makes a person a Christian.

Are you ready to become a Christian?

If you are ready to become a Christian by receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, all you have to do is believe. Do you understand and believe that you have sinned and are worthy of judgment from God? Do you understand and believe that Jesus took your punishment upon Himself, dying in your place? Do you understand and believe that His death was the sufficient sacrifice to pay for your sins? If your answers to these three questions are yes, then simply place your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Receive Him, by faith, fully trusting in Him alone. That is all it takes to become a Christian!

Have you made a decision to become a Christian because of what you have read here? If so, please click on the "I have accepted Christ today" button below.

How can I overcome an addiction to internet porn? Can addiction to pornography be defeated?

Studies show that terms relating to porn are by far the most commonly searched-for terms in the internet search engines. Every day, literally millions of people do searches related to the porn industry. The powerful imagery of internet pornography is highly addictive. Many men (and women) have been caught in the snare of internet porn and find themselves helplessly addicted to its visual stimulation. This results in uncontrollable lust, an inability to experience true sexual intimacy in marriage, and often intense feelings of guilt and despair. Pornography is the #1 cause of masturbation, sexual assault, and sexual deviancy. Most importantly, pornography is offensive to God, and is therefore a sin that must be confessed, repented of, and overcome.

There are two primary aspects in the battle to overcome an addiction to internet porn: spiritual and practical. Spiritually, addiction to pornography is a sin that God desires you to overcome and therefore will enable you to do so. The first step is to make sure you have genuinely placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you are unsure, please visit our page on salvation and forgiveness. Without salvation through Jesus Christ, there is no possibility of a true and lasting victory over pornography: “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

If you are a believer in Christ and are struggling with an addiction to internet porn, there is hope and help for you! The power of the Holy Spirit is available to you (Ephesians 3:16). The cleansing of God’s forgiveness is available to you (1 John 1:9). The renewing capacity of God’s Word is at your disposal (Romans 12:1-2). Commit your mind and eyes to the Lord (1 John 2:16). Ask God to strengthen you and help you to overcome pornography (Philippians 4:13). Ask God to protect you from further exposure to porn (1 Corinthians 10:13), and to fill your mind with things that are pleasing to Him (Philippians 4:8). These are all requests that God will honor and answer.

Practically speaking, there are numerous tools to combat an addiction to internet pornography. There are good programs available at www.X3pure.com and www.PornAddiction.com. There are several quality internet filtering programs that will completely block your computer from accessing pornography, such as Covenant Eyes. Another fantastic tool is available at www.X3Watch.com. X3watch is accountability software. It tracks your internet browsing and sends a report of any objectionable websites you have visited to an accountability partner of your choosing. Your temptation to view internet porn would be greatly reduced if you knew your youth pastor, parent, friend, pastor, or spouse would receive a detailed report about it. There are also quite a few good books on overcoming porn addiction: Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Purity One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography by Mike Cleveland, and The Game Plan by Joe Dallas.

Do not despair! An addiction to internet porn is not an “unforgivable sin.” God can and will forgive you. An addiction to internet porn is not an “unconquerable sin.” God can and will enable you to overcome it. Commit your mind and eyes to the Lord. Commit yourself to filling your mind with God’s Word (Psalm 119:11). Seek His help daily in prayer; ask Him to fill your mind with His truth and block unwanted thoughts and desires. Take the practical steps listed above to keep yourself accountable and block access to internet porn. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

http://www.gotquestions.org/overcome-internet-porn.html

CHRIST IS THE MODEL FOR PERFECT CHARACTER

The most important development in our Christian lives is being Christ like. We were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus (Roman 8). Since we make Jesus Christ as Lord, He can give us success to fulfill all that He wants us to do in this life. But the most important is the development of our spirit being. Remember that no matter how successful you are in this life, you can’t take your success to heaven. What you finally take to heaven is your developed Christian life and character. How your spirit man is and what your spirit man is like- that’s the part we take to heaven. You can’t take your house, car, money e.t.c. it is the development in our life that we can take to heaven with us. 1 SAMUEL 16:1-13.

CHRIST IS THE MODEL FOR PERFECT CHARACTER

How can we be perfect?

1. In character. In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.

2. In holiness. Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God’s desires, rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy into the world.

3. In maturity. We can’t achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity.

How can I turn all my worries and problems over to God?

It is sometimes a disconcerting truth for many Christians that even though we belong to God through faith in Christ, we still seem to experience the same problems that plagued us before we were saved. We often become discouraged and bogged down in life’s cares. The fact that both the Old and New Testaments address this problem the same way indicates that God knows problems and worries are inevitable in this life. Thankfully, He has given us the same solution He gave in both Psalms and Peter’s letter. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22), and “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

Contained within these two verses are several amazing truths: God will sustain us, He will never let us fall, and He cares for us. Taken one at a time, we see first that God declares both His ability and His willingness to be our strength and support—mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He is able (and best of all, willing!) to take everything that threatens to overwhelm us and use it for our benefit. He has promised to “work all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even at times when we doubt Him, He is still working for our good and His glory. And He has also promised that He will allow no trial to be so great we cannot bear it and that He will provide a means of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). By this, He means that He will not let us fall, as He promised in Psalm 55:22.

The third statement—“he cares for you”—gives us the motivation behind His other promises. Our God is not cold, unfeeling or capricious. Rather, He is our loving heavenly Father whose heart is tender toward His children. Jesus reminds us that just as an earthly father would not deny his children bread, so God has promised to give us “good gifts” when we ask Him (Matthew 7:11). 

In the spirit of asking for good gifts, first we must pray and tell the Lord that we hear what He's saying in John 16:33, where Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Then we should ask the Lord to show us how He has "overcome" our problems, our worries, our anger, our fears and our guilt.

The Lord reveals to us through His Word, the Bible, that we can be of good "cheer," that we can

1) rejoice in our problems because God will use them to our benefit. "Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4);

2) see our "worries" as an opportunity to practice Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths";

3) counteract our anger by obeying Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you"; and

4) deal with any sinful feelings by believing and acting upon the truth of 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." All of our problems can be dealt with through simple faith in God's Word.

God is bigger than all our worries and problems put together, and we must realize that if we are to have any victory in our lives. Everyone suffers with these difficulties, because the Bible teaches that temptation is "common" to mankind (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must not let Satan deceive us into thinking that all our problems are our fault, all our worries will come true, all our anger condemns us, or that all our guilt is from God. If we do sin and confess, God forgives and cleanses. We need not feel ashamed, but rather take God at His Word that He does forgive and cleanse. None of our sins are so heavy that God cannot lift them from us and throw them into the deepest sea (see Psalm 103:11-12).

In reality, feelings come from thoughts, so, even though we can't change how we feel, we can change how we think. And this is what God wants us to do. For example, in Philippians 2:5, Christians are told, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." In Philippians 4:8, Christians are told to think on things that are "true," "noble," "just," "pure," "lovely," "of good report," and "praiseworthy." In Colossians 3:2, we are told to "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Therefore, as we do this, our feelings of guilt diminish.

So, each day, taking one step at a time, we should pray for God's Word to guide us, read or listen to God's Word, and meditate on God's Word when the problems, worries, and anxieties of life come along. The secret to giving things over to Christ is really no secret at all—it's simply asking Jesus to take our burden of "original sin" and be our Savior (John 3:16), as well as submitting to Jesus as our Lord in day-to-day living.

Why should I want to serve God?

The fact that we should serve God is obvious in Scripture (see Luke 4:8). Why we should want to serve God is a more difficult question. Every Christian asked might have a different reason for serving God; different people are motivated by different things. However, the Bible does make clear that, when a person is in a real relationship with God, he will serve God. We should want to serve God because we know Him; an inherent part of knowing Him is a desire to serve Him.

It’s always been God’s intention to make us like His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29). When we look at Jesus’ life, there’s no denying that He was a servant. Jesus’ entire life was centered on serving God—by teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23). He came not “to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Then, on the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, leaving them with a final teaching to serve one another: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (see John 13:12–17). So, if Jesus is all about serving, and God wants to make us like Him, then it’s pretty obvious that we should be all about serving as well.

Genuine service cannot be separated from love. We can go through the motions of serving God, but if our hearts are not in it we’re missing the point. First Corinthians 13 makes it clear that, unless our service is rooted in love, it’s meaningless. Serving God out of a sense of obligation or duty, apart from love for God, is not what He desires. Rather, serving God should be our natural, love-filled response to Him who loved us first (see 1 John 4:9–11).

The apostle Paul is a great example of how having a relationship with God through Christ results in a life of service. Prior to his conversion, Paul persecuted and killed believers, thinking he was serving God. But after he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he immediately devoted the rest of his life to truly serving God by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Acts 9:20). Paul describes this transformation in 1 Timothy 1:12–14: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Once Paul became aware of the love and grace that God had given him, his response was to serve God.

The Bible offers several motivations for our service. We want to serve God because “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28), because our service supplies “the needs of the Lord’s people” (2 Corinthians 9:12), because our service proves our faith and causes others to praise God (2 Corinthians 9:13), and because God sees and rewards our labor of love (Hebrews 6:10). Each of these is a good reason to serve God.

We can give away only what we’ve first received. The reason we can love and serve God is that He first loved and served us through Jesus Christ. The more we are aware of and experience God’s love in our own lives, the more prone we are to respond in love by serving Him. If you want to want to serve God, the key is to get to know Him! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of God to you (John 16:13). When we truly know God, who is love (1 John 4:8), our natural response is a desire to love and serve Him in return.

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Can You Trust God With the Details of Your Life?

Do all things really work together for good? Genesis 50:20  Consider the following:

*A baby is born with serious birth defects. The doctors tell the distraught parents she won’t live more than a few hours. When the parents take the baby home, the doctors tell them not to bring her back because there is nothing they can do. A few months later she dies.

*In the Central African Republic, roving gangs of Muslims with machetes and guns have killed hundreds of fleeing Christians. “They are slaughtering us like chickens,” one man said.

*Feeling the call of God, a man and his wife and their young son move to Benghazi, Libya so he can teach in the International School where he is greatly beloved by his students. He sends his wife and young son home to the US while he stays behind to be with the students through their midterm exams. One day while he is out jogging near his home, some men in a black vehicle pull up and start shooting. They drive away, leaving his dead body on the street. He was only 33 years old.

*A young man with a heart for God starts seminary, dreaming of the day when he can serve the Lord. Three months before graduation, his wife announces she is leaving him. “I don’t want to be a pastor’s wife.” She divorces him and walks out of his life.

*A police officer stops a man known to be a drug dealer. It happens on a busy downtown street and a crowd gathers to watch the unfolding drama. There is a struggle and somehow the drug dealer grabs the officer’s gun. Someone in the crowd yells, "Shoot him, man.” He does, at point-blank range, in the face.  The officer was in his early twenties.

*A youth group returns from a week of summer camp. When they are only one mile from home, the bus crashes as it exits the freeway, hitting a concrete abutment and rolling over. Dozens are injured. The youth pastor, his wife, and their unborn baby are killed in the crash along with one of the adult counselors, a mother of five children.

These stories are all true. I am sure you could add many others to the list.

Of all the questions that trouble the hearts of God’s people, none is the greater than the question Why? No matter how many sermons we hear or how many Bible verses we memorize, the question returns again and again.

Why did this happen?

Why did this happen?

Lord, why didn’t you answer our prayers?

When we see the pain of a fallen world, we wonder, “Where is God?” Over the centuries the greatest minds have wrestled with the problem of pain and suffering and still the questions come:

Why me?

Why now?

Why this?

A few months ago when we started our series on Joseph, I said that we were going to ask and answer nine crucial questions. These are fundamental questions that we all have to answer sooner or later. Some of them we will face many times. Here are the first eight questions:

Do you know why you were born?

Do you know who you are?

Are you willing to wait for God?

How big is your God?

Are you ready to face your past?

Do you want to be set free?

Are you satisfied with God?

How will you be remembered?

Here is the ninth and final question:

Can you trust God with the details of your life?

We all have to answer these nine questions

As we have journeyed through Joseph’s story, I have been impressed over and over again that the real hero of Joseph’s story is not Joseph. It’s God. Joseph’s life illustrates perhaps better than any other story in the Bible a profound truth:

“For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

In many ways Joseph’s whole life is the Old Testament illustration of this profound New Testament truth. Deep in our hearts we know that Romans 8:28 must be true.

Still the questions hang in the air. We wonder why things happen the way they do, why a teacher in Libya is shot and killed, why the bus didn’t make it to the church, why the baby was born with such disabilities.

The real hero is God!

Why do these things happen? Why do they happen to good, decent people? Why do they happen to people who love the Lord?

Providence Defined

There is a doctrine that helps us understand. If it does not answer every question, at least it provides the only possible basis for understanding. It is the doctrine of the providence of God. In English the word “providence” has two parts. It’s pro and video put together, literally meaning “to see before.” Though the word itself is not found in most modern translations of the Bible, the concept is certainly biblical. It refers to “God’s gracious oversight of the universe.” Every one of those words is important. God’s providence is one aspect of his grace. Oversight means that he directs the course of affairs. The word universe tells us that God not only knows the big picture, he also concerns himself with the tiniest details.

Here are five statements that unfold the meaning of God’s providence in more detail:

He upholds all things.

He governs all events.

He directs everything to its appointed end.

He does this all the time and in every circumstance.

He does it always for His own glory.

God doessn’t roll dice

The doctrine of God’s Providence teaches us several important truths: First, God cares about the tiniest details of life. Nothing escapes his notice for he is concerned about the small as well as the big. In fact, with God there is no big or small. He knows when a sparrow falls and he numbers the hairs on your head. He keeps track of the stars in the skies and the rivers that flow to the oceans. He sets the day of your birth, the day of your death, and he ordains everything that comes to pass in between. Second, he uses everything and wastes nothing. There are no accidents with God, only incidents. This includes events that seem to us to be senseless tragedies. Third, God’s ultimate purpose is to shape His children into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). He often uses difficult moments and human tragedies to accomplish that purpose.

Many verses in the Bible teach these truths, including Acts 17:28 (“in him we live and move and have our being”), Colossians 1:17 (“in him all things hold together”), Hebrews 1:3 (“He upholds the universe by the word of his power”), Proverbs 16:9 (“The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps”), and especially Psalm 115:3, (“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases”).

Providence is the "invisible hand” of God

The doctrine of God’s providence is really a combination of four other attributes:

Sovereignty—He is in control

Predestination—He is in charge of how everything turns out

Wisdom—He makes no mistakes

Goodness—He has our best interests at heart

In the words of R.C. Sproul, “God doesn’t roll dice.” Nothing happens by chance. Ever.

Think of providence as “the invisible hand” of God moving through the circumstances of life.

Providence Illustrated

With that as background, we turn to consider the story of Joseph one final time. It goes something like this. Because Joseph was the favored son of his father Jacob, he was the object of envy by his many brothers. The day came when his brothers conspired to sell him to the Midianites who happened to be passing by. They splashed his “coat of many colors” with the blood of a goat in order to make it appear that he had been killed by a wild animal. They showed the coat to Jacob, who believed their lie and sorrowfully concluded that Joseph was dead.

Meanwhile Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Midianites. There he was sold again, this time to Potiphar, who was head of Pharaoh’s security force. Genesis 39 tells us that Joseph gained favor with Potiphar because the Lord was with him to bless him. Eventually Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire household. This was a high honor for a Hebrew slave. Because he was competent, confident, and good-looking, Potiphar’s wife approached him about having a sexual affair. Joseph refused, pointing out that he could not betray Potiphar and he would not sin against God. The woman persisted, to the point that one day when everyone else was gone, she attempted to pull him down on her bed. Joseph fled from the scene, leaving his cloak behind. Humiliated by his refusal, she accused him of rape. It was a false charge, of course, but Potiphar believed his wife and had Joseph thrown in prison.

In prison Joseph prospered once again and gained the respect of his fellow prisoners and of the guards. This happened because the Lord was with him to bless him. Eventually the cupbearer and the baker were thrown in the same prison and Joseph befriended them. One night they both had dreams they could not interpret. But Joseph was able to interpret them with the Lord’s help. The dreams came true exactly as Joseph had predicted—the baker was hung but the cupbearer was released. Joseph asked him to remember him after he was out, but he didn’t.

A Hebrew slave became Egypt’s Prime Minister!

Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream that he could not interpret. That’s when the cupbearer remembered Joseph’s amazing ability and mentioned it to Pharaoh who ordered Joseph brought before him. Joseph correctly interpreted his dream and was rewarded by Pharaoh, who made him the Prime Minister of Egypt. Not bad for a Hebrew slave who had been sold into slavery by his brothers!

Eventually a famine settled on the Near East. Jacob told his sons to go to Egypt and buy some grain. They go and in the process meet Joseph—only they don’t know it’s Joseph. This happens twice. Then Joseph reveals his true identity. They are shocked and then scared because they betrayed him and now he is in a position to get even. But Joseph doesn’t do that. In fact, he stuns them with these words:

And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 45:5-8).

But that’s not the end of the story. The brothers go back to Canaan and tell their aged father that Joseph is still alive. He can’t believe it, but eventually they convince him to come to Egypt with them. He makes the trip and is reunited with the son he had given up for dead many years ago. Then he meets the Pharaoh who offers to let Joseph’s family settle in Egypt for as long as they like. The family settles in Egypt and lives in peace there for many years. Finally Jacob dies at the age of 147. Now it’s just Joseph and his brothers. They fear that with Jacob’s death Joseph will be free to take revenge on them. So they tell Joseph, “Oh, by the way, before Dad died he told us to tell you to treat us kindly.” It sounds like just one more deception to cover their guilt.

Joseph saw God everywhere!

Listen to Joseph’s response. These are the words of a man who believes in the providence of God.

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20).

How could Joseph talk like that after all that happened to him? The answer is simple:

He saw God everywhere!

Look how Joseph says it: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”  Both sides of that statement are true. “You meant evil against me”—what the bothers had done was indeed evil and Joseph doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. They are 100% responsible for their sin. “God meant it for good”—this doesn’t mean that evil isn’t evil. It just means that God is able to take the evil actions of sinful men and use them to accomplish his plans. Joseph saw the “invisible hand” of God at work in his life. He understood that behind his conniving brothers stood the Lord God who had orchestrated the entire affair in order to get him to just the right place at just the right moment in order to save his whole family.

Providence Applied

Joseph is saying, “Though your motives were bad, God’s motives were good.” Though it took years and years for God’s purposes to be clear, in the end Joseph saw the hand of God behind everything that had happened to him.

Think about the implications of that statement:

At just the right moment his brothers threw him into the cistern.

At just the right moment the Midianites came along.

At just the right moment he was sold to Potiphar.

At just the right moment Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him.

At just the right moment he met the baker and the cup bearer.

At just the right moment the cup-bearer remembered Joseph.

At just the right moment Pharaoh called for him.

At just the right moment he was promoted to Prime Minister.

At just the right moment Jacob sent his sons to Egypt.

At just the right moment the brothers met Joseph.

At just the right moment Jacob’s family moved to Egypt.

At just the right moment Pharaoh offered them the land of Goshen.

At just the right moment they settled there and prospered.

All of this happened at “just the right moment” and in “just the right way” so that the right people would be in the right place so that in the end everything would come out the way God had ordained in the beginning. God never violated anyone’s free will, yet everything happened as he had planned. That’s the providence of God in action.

At just the right moment Joseph was thrown into prison

When Charles Spurgeon preached about Joseph’s life, he repeated the details at great length. Then he pointed out that everything in Joseph’s life had to happen in a particular way. He spoke of the chain of circumstances that led Joseph from the pit to the palace at just the right time. Then he concluded that “God is to be seen in small things.” He also used a wonderful expression that I find personally encouraging. He spoke of the “minutiae of providence.” If we look with the eyes of faith, we can see God’s fingerprints everywhere.

I began this sermon by saying that the final question from Joseph’s life is,

“Can you trust God with the details of your life?”

But that’s not quite the right question. We need to change one word.

God is to be seen in small things

Not “Can you?” but “Will you?”

“Will you trust God with the details of your life?”

There’s another way to say this. Either you run the universe or he does. A lot of people try to run the universe, but it never works out very well. Or you can bow before the Lord and say, “You are in charge. I am not. I will trust you with every detail of my life.”

He Maketh No Mistake

In the 1920s a young man named A. M. Overton became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Baldwyn, Mississippi. I happen to know a little about Baldwyn because we lived for seven years in nearby Tupelo. Baldwyn is a small community in north Mississippi on the road between Tupelo and Corinth. Back in the 1920s Baldwyn was just a tiny place. In 1932 Mrs. Overton was pregnant with their fourth child, but when it came time for delivery there were complications and both she and the baby died. During the funeral, the preacher officiating the service noticed Pastor Overton writing something on a piece of paper. After the service the minister asked him about it, and he handed him the paper with a poem he had just written. The poem was unknown for many years until someone set it to music. It eventually went around the world. The poem is called “He Maketh No Mistake.”

My Father’s way may twist and turn

My heart may throb and ache,

But in my soul I’m glad to know,

He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away,

But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,

For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break,

I’ll pin my faith, my all, in Him,

He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight’s far too dim,

But come what may,

I’ll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,

And plain it all He’ll make,

Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

That will be the testimony of every child of God. When we finally get to heaven, we’ll look back over the pathway of life and see that through all the twists and turns and seeming detours that he was with us all the way.

Until that morning comes and the sunlight of God’s presence fills our faces, we move on through the twilight still believing that though life is hard, God is good. In the end we will say with all the children of God as we look back on our earthly pilgrimage, “He made not one mistake.”

Fear not!

We have a great God!

Stay tuned. There is more to come, but we will have to wait until we get to heaven. Joseph will tell us the rest of the story in his own words.