TRUE BLESSING

 

Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.  3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’ 

 

Lesson One:  Joseph is told that his Father was ill so he takes his two sons with him and they visit their dad.  He travels from Avaris to Goshen.  When Jacob was told his son Joseph comes Jacob rallies his strength and sits up on his bed.  Jacob was strengthened with the news of his son.  This often happens because visits encourage, and help people.  Emails letters and telephone calls are good but nothing is better than a one to one visit.  So do that if you can.  People still love a face to face conversation. 

     Now Jacob had some very important and prophetic business this day.  He tells Joseph his history.  Let’s follow it for a moment.  He tells him that the Lord appeared to him in Luz in the land of Canaan.  Luz is also called Bethel.  It was here that Jacob came to know God for himself.  This is where he had his dream of the staircase to heaven and the angels ascending and descending. Here is the scripture.

 

12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it, stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring  15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

 

What a moment for Jacob.  He had a divine experience a face to face encounter.  This happened when he started out and now at the end of his life he is relating this experience to Joseph.  The principle is the same for us.  We have to know God for ourselves.  This is called being born again.  Just because your parents, or family members are saved does not mean you are.  You cannot inherit your faith.  You have to make that personal commitment.  This is one of the biggest myths promoted by people. 

 

     Now there are four promises God gives Jacob. First, I will am going to make you fruitful.  He also like Abraham and Isaac was given the promise of the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  Brothers and sisters in Christ we live in such exciting times because this promise is fulfilled and we are living witnesses to that.  Today the land of Canaan is Israel and Jerusalem is in the hands of the Jewish people. 

He had two wives, twelve sons and one daughter.   By the time he came to Egypt he had 70 people in his family.  Family dinners were quite the affair at Jacob’s place.

      Next, The Lord increased his numbers and in fact God promised his descendants would be like the dust of the earth.  This is why they had come to Egypt and Goshen.  They could increase in numbers. By the time Moses would lead the Exodus, 400 years later they would number in the millions.   The promise also given at Bethel was that they would spread across the four directions and all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Did you know that out of the 900 Nobel Prize winners 20% have been Jewish?  Ten of the 50 richest families are Jewish and in Russia 25% of the richest families are Jewish.  Entertainment, films, theatre, fashion, media and culture is influenced by Jewish people.  The world has been blessed because of the Jacob and his family.  Then of course the Bible was written by Jewish writers.  Our Savior of course was Jewish.  He is the ultimate blessing.  Salvation came though the Jews.  That is why we should be friends and pray for the Jewish people and nation. 

 

     Thirdly, I will make you a community of people or a nation.  It was here in Egypt and Goshen that Jacob, or Israel would become a nation with twelve tribes within the nation.  These four hundred years would be pivotal in the growth and development of this nation.  To grow as people we all need stability peace and protection.  God said at Bethel, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”   Did you know we have the same promise in Matt 28:20, where Jesus said he would be with us even to the end of the age?  God’s people are never alone.  You have divine protection.  God is going to create for you a divine environment where you can grow, develop and become what He designed you to be.  I love this.  This is so good.

     Lastly, He also like Abraham and Isaac were given the promise of the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  God promised that He would bring Jacob back to the land and give it to him as an inheritance.  Jacob may have been in Egypt but he would return.  This is one of the reasons why Jacob asked Joseph to bury him in Canaan.  It was his land of promise.  It was special to him because God had promised it to him.  What is God’s promise to you?  Whatever it is stand upon it and never forget it.  My occupational dream was to be a radio announcer and God has given it to me.  My dream was to have a godly wife, children and grandchildren and He has given it to me.  Ultimately He has given us salvation.  We have heaven as own home.  We are pilgrims passing through, our home is a city whose maker and builder is God.  We will dwell in a city foursquare.  We have divine protection, divine help and wisdom.  Jacob had this promise and here he was relating this promise to Joseph.   Brothers and sisters in Christ we live in such exciting times because this promise is fulfilled and we are living witnesses to that.  Today the land of Canaan is Israel and Jerusalem is in the hands of the Jewish people. 

      

 

5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.

 

Lesson Two:  This is a divine moment and a moment in history.  Joseph’s two boys are about to become greater than they ever thought they were going to be.  Jacob is claiming Ephraim and Manasseh as his own.  They will be included in his immediate family.  So this is why when the people came out of Egypt 430 years later.  The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were included.  These tribes would be given territory and have a promise given to them.  So this is a moment of destiny, of divine promise and inheritance.  These boys were elevated.  Basically, Jacob adopts the boys and gives them equal status with his other children.  They are like Reuben and Simeon.  They have all the rights and status of sons.  This would be significant to their future and the future of their descendants.  Joshua was Ephraim and the conqueror of Canaan. 

     This next statement is so powerful.  Now I have been reading the bible for 45 years, read it a hundred times, preached on the life of Joseph many times but I got the full revelation yesterday.  Jacob states any children born to you will be yours.  The territory they inherit will be reckoned under their brothers.  It is obvious that Joseph had other sons because the tribe of Joseph is mentioned in the book of Revelation.  It replaces Ephraim because it was eliminated along with Dan because of the calf worship instituted by Jeroboam.  It is just like satan to desecrate later the very spot was Jacob has his encounter with God with idol worship.  Bethel was where the calf worship was started.  Joseph other family would prophetically become a tribe in the future.  Joseph and Levi would replace Ephraim and Dan.

 

7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

 

Lesson Three:  Now this statement is a moment of sentimentality for Joseph and Jacob but also to tell Ephraim and Manasseh what happened to their grandmother.  Your grandmother whose name was Rachel died while in the land of Canaan.  Jacob relates to his great sorrow buried her by the road at Ephrath or Bethlehem.  In fact the tomb is still there and visited by thousands each year.   I can see the tears welling up in the eyes of Jacob and Joseph as they relate what happened to this wife, mother and grandmother. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin.  She named him Benoni, which means the son of my sorrow.  Jacob changed his name to Benjamin which means my right hand.   She never got to see these two boys standing beside Jacob’s bed.  I can see the pain, hurt, sorrow and love in their eyes as they relate this.  Joseph grew up without a mother after this.  There are a lot of tragedies in life.  Regrets and moments of missed opportunities.  Jacob wanted these boys to know what they were being elevated into.  He wanted them to know their family history.  Many people want to know their family history.  We have websites, TV programs and businesses that cater to this.  Where we come from and who we are, is important.  This was a moment of family history for the boys.  He was also saying, “If you boys get back to Canaan visit grandma’s grave and here is where it is.”  Now just a quick note.  The boys are in their mid-twenties when this happened.  Jacob is looking at two adult children not little boys as some people imagine.  They need this moment because they grew up in Egypt.  They were sons of a Hebrew dad and an Egyptian mother.  They had grown up in the lap of luxury and they were Identified as Egyptian.  All they knew what Egypt.  They also needed to know that where they lived, how they dressed, the friends they had were not the whole story.  They needed to know their Hebrew Heritage.  This was important to Joseph and Jacob.  They needed to know they were not just Egyptian but Hebrew as well.  They would also get all the blessings and inheritance of being Hebrew.  It is the same with us where we lived, how we dress, the vocation we have and the family we have is not the entire story.  As a Christian, child of God you are entirely defined by your nationality, language and skin color.  Listen to what the Bible says you are/  You are a victor, conqueror, overcomer, royal priesthood, holy nation, unique individual.  You are the church, body of Christ, child of the light, beloved, family of God.  You have all the promises, in heritage and privileges of heaven.  Now as I close today I want to remind you that you must take every moment that you have with family and friends as special.  Rachel never got to see her children grow up, she never saw this moment.  Tragedy happens and life is so uncertain.  You could be here this Sunday and gone the next.   Make the most of every meeting, encounter and time you have with others.  Make every word and gesture count for good.  Leave no hurt, bitterness, pain or sorrow not dealt with.  Walk in love, acceptance and forgiveness.  This is one reason for forgiveness.  Once someone is gone you will never be able to right the wrong and say what you wanted to say.  Tell people how much you love them and how much they mean to you while their eyes can see and ears can hear it.  I have heard so many times at so many funerals.  I wish I would have to them what they really meant to me.  Do it today. 

QUOTES FOR AUG 20, 2026

 

TRUE GENEROSITY

 

3 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.”

 

Lesson One:  So there was no food in Egypt and Canaan because of the famine.  This was a severe time for that region.  The wonderful thing is God will take care of us in the times of famine and hardship.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  He will supply all or needs according to his riches in glory.  When you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness everything will be added to you.  God will supply either supernaturally or a Joseph personality for you.  When you feel like you are wasting away God will fill you.  They that hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

     Joseph collected all the money that was to found in Egypt and Canaan and brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.  Now in times of hardship the wise actually prosper.  Did you know that Isaac prospered 100 fold in a time of famine because he trusted God.  Gen 26:12  The Bible has five ways to prosper in famine conditions.  First be wise. Solomon asked for wisdom in 1 King 4:5-15 It was the wisdom of God that brought him such tremendous prosperity. It helped him in all the affairs of life. Next, in Proverbs 22:4. It says, “By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life”.  Be humble. Thirdly,  Be generous to others.  Proverbs 22:9 says, “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” When you give it is given to you.  Fourthly, Labor to give to those in need.  Ephesians 4;28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let  labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”  What we have should be available for others if they have need.  True generosity is releasing your resources for others.  Lastly.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.  Remember you are not of this world.  You are passing through.  You cannot take anything with you.

     The people of Egypt learned that when you are hungry and your money is gone you need someone to be generous.  Talk about the guy who was a welder out of work for nine months standing on the street with a sign looking for work and people offered him a job.  People can and will be generous if they know the need.  Whenever we do a radiothon I am always amazed at the generosity of God’s people.  You have to choose to be generous. 

 

16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.

 

Lesson Two:  Now remember this famine was going to be for seven years.  So the people brought all their livestock and Joseph bought it all in exchange for food.  A lesson we learn is that sometimes hard times can be for a long time.  When you are in hard times for a long period you learn four things.  First, you learn who your real friends are.  You learn who really matters, you will be grateful for them.  I am grateful for Lois she has been with me through the good and bad times.  Next, it builds the strength of your character.  It builds character,” was my mom’s favorite response to any complaint I had growing up. As annoying as that line was, it is true. Nothing builds our strength like surviving difficulty. Nothing forces us to leverage what we have, dig deep and come up with every ounce of integrity, patience and strength like a hard time.  Thirdly, we see what matters most, we’ll be able to look a little more closely at those things, take a bit better care of them and love them even more for being unmovable.  God’s love, grace, mercy, favor, anointing and promises are what matters.  Lastly, Difficult times leave us with a lasting impression. They alter us and change the way we view our lives. We have learned who and what matters in our life and undoubtedly we have a greater appreciation for them. Surviving hardship gives us a broader perspective on what hardship really is. You will look back on the things you use to complain about and be thankful they are your only worries. After we have survived a difficult time, we are given a deep gratitude for our life. Difficult times will happen. To find the light, we have to go through the darkness.  God uses hard times to change us.  The people learned this.

 

When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”

 

20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.

 

Lesson Three:  So the people then the next year came and sold their land and themselves.  Joseph bought everything.  Now there were people who tried to hold out but eventually reality kicked in and they sold.  Now this is interesting.  They then asked Joseph for seed that they may live and not die and the land would not be desolate.  They had hope in the midst of famine.  Now hope can be built is built through good leadership.  The people saw Joseph as a good leader.  They knew he would be fair, just, good and generous.  Godly leadership does five things.  First, hope works with faith and love.  1 Cor 13:13, we must work with God or hope.  Our faith and hope in God inspires others to believe as well.  Next, hope build confidence in God, us and others.  The people saw that the one stable thing in Egypt and that was Joseph.  Joseph became a symbol of hope in a dark and famine time.  Hope brings clarity into life.  The people saw what really matter and they knew that they needed seed for the next year or the land would be desolate.  This is amazing they saw a future because of Joseph and the king.  Fourthly, hope inspired productivity and hard work ethic.  The people learned that only through hard work, productivity and clarity they would survive.  Lastly, Hope is a powerful force that brings people together.   It instills a sense of unity, collective pride and strengthens optimism when people work together as one.   This is why teambuilding is so powerful.  The people became workers together with Joseph.  I believe that Joseph said, “We are in this together and we will get through it together. ”  He knew that the famine would end and told them.  Hard times need good leadership.  This is not just for countries, province and municipalities but families.  Mon dad, your faith in God, each other will get you through the hardest times.  Remember we all have hard times but they do not last forever.  The only people who did not sell their lands were the priests of the land.  They got a regular allotment from the crown.  This gives a picture of the religious life of Egypt.  Here is a truth; a godly leader can influence a land of polytheistic belief.  Shine even in a dark place.  Joseph did.

 

23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.  25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”  26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

 

This last lesson is so important.  Joseph did not take advantage of his position or circumstance.  He could have put the people into slavery he did not.  Never take advantage of someone when they are down and out.  Evil, selfishness, prejudice proud do that.  It happens all the time.  God hates it when people exploit others.  Employers, bosses, workers and families do it as well.  Joseph did not.  He made a law that only 20% of the harvest would go to pharaoh.  The rest was for them.  Now get this.  Joseph imposed a flat tax.  The people were to pay only 20% of what they earned to the government.  Now listen to this in the following countries income to government at all levels tax levels are.  In Austria and Denmark the tax rate for a family is 55%, Belgium is 50% and Germany is 45%, Canada is 48% and US is 26.5%.  Joseph imposed 20%, no wondered they said, “you have saved us.”  Egypt had the lowest form of taxation in the known world.  The answer to your question is does the government exploit us, yes.  Do we get value for government services, no?  Two things are for certain death and taxes.  True godly leadership looks for ways to lesson a burden not impose one.  The answer to your question does Canada have godly leadership No?  That is why we need to pray for those in authority so we can live quiet and peaceful lives.  Remember righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to a people.  So never, never, never exploit a situation, you are being selfish, vain, prejudice and evil.  True love, compassion, faith and generosity won’t.  Close with doctor helping others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUE HONOR

 

     This is our last message in the summer of the Psalms which is fitting knowing that Tuesday is fall.  I hope you have enjoyed these messages as much as I have enjoyed giving them to you.  In summary, Psalm 111 and 112 are written by Ezra.  They are acrostic psalms which means, they are the Hebrew Alphabet with a truth about God.  Psalm 111, is about who God is, and 112 is our response to God in lifestyle.  Remember true religion is action based.  You show your faith by what you do or it is vain.  There are four things we are going to learn today from these last two verses of Psalm 112.

 

1.      They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.  Jesus said in Matt 10:8, as you have been given freely give.  Paul said, “That I receive I give unto you.”  Generosity is a mark of the follower of God.  God loves a generous and cheerful giver.  In Jesus’ society there were three cardinal rules of faith.  Prayer, fasting and alms.  Alms were the practical outgrowth of prayer and fasting.  God told the Jewish nation that once they were established in Canaan they were to give generously because they have been slaves and poor one time. 

 

a.      Jesus says in Matt 25, that when we do it to the least of these we are doing it unto Him.  Ezra has you are sowing seeds.  It is the law of the harvest when you sow or give you will receive 30, 60, 100 fold in return.  Ezra was also reminding them they had been in captivity for 70 years.  Now was their chance to redeem and touch others.  It was the lesson of giving back, being grateful or paying forward.

b.      Ezra also didn’t want them to miss the blessing of giving to those who cannot give back to you.  It is also being the voice of those who cannot fight for themselves.  Writers in the New Testament remind us that it is the responsibility and duty of the Christian to give especially when it is in our power to do so.  Remember everything you have belongs to God and must be available for His use. 

 

2.      Their righteousness endures forever.  The quality of being morally right or justifiable.  Choosing to be good, virtuousness, upright, decent and walking in integrity.  This is a sign of being connected with God.  This is who God is and who we should be.  It is being like Daniel and Joseph walking with godliness in a godless society.  It is being like Moses and refusing the glory, riches and power of Egypt to identify with the Jews.  It is being a person who is looking for a city whose maker and build is God.

 

a.      This is a wonderful promise and again a reminder that we are building legacy.  Jesus said I go to prepare a place for us.  Where He is so we shall be.  Remember the world is not worthy of us.  We are pilgrims passing through.  We have but one life than judgment.  What we do counts for eternity.  It also affects those after us. 

b.      Noah saved the human race, Abraham was the Father of many nations, Joseph saved his world, Moses delivered Israel from Egypt, Joshua conquered Canaan, David gave us Jesus, Solomon built a temple, Daniel gave us a glimpse in the future, Isaiah showed us Jesus, John the Baptist was a forerunner, Jesus the Messiah and Savior and Paul gave us the New Testament.  What is your contribution only you can craft your legacy.  In the Lord all things are possible.  Remember He can do more than you can ask or imagine.  Talk about Daniel Nash

 

3.      Their horn will be lifted high in honor.  Ezra uses the imagery familiar to his audience.  In the bible horn means power, glory, strength, royal authority, enabling power, honor, dignity, and dominion.  This means that those who follow the Lord will have true honor.  It means you are respected and honor by the highest authority of course this is God.  It means you will distinct, one of a kind. You will be given privileges by God.  You will have the characteristic and nature of God.

a.      You will have the congratulations and kudos from God.  You get to reign and ruler with Him and the prestige that comes from that.  It also means in your personal life and dealing with others you will a person of integrity and you will be same person in public as you are in private.  You will be honest, truthful, ethical, and moral.

b.      Last message we talk about the crowns of rejoicing.  The rewards of the overcomers in Rev 2-3 are amazing.

 

1.      To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

2.      The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

3.      To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

4.      To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—  that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery, just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.

5.      The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

6.      The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

7.      To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.  Now that is honor.

 

4.      The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away and the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.  Ezra closes with what happens to those who chose wickedness.  We have ample proof of this every day.  Celebrities, politicians, family, friends and even preachers. 

 

a.      The greatest tragedy is they miss the amazing of heaven and choose hell.  They miss eternal and abundant life and get a life full of ashes and broken dreams.  Don’t be like Sinatra and do it your way.  Ezra hits on a theme of Solomon when he says the fool chooses the world, the flesh and the devil.

b.      Pride, pleasure and possessions will always leave you hollow.  The book of Ecclesiastes is a testimony to this.  Vanity all is vanity. As we close what a contrast.  Talk about the Matrix.  People prefer the illusion to the real.  They choose momentary pleasure instead of the eternal.  Let this not be you and let us pray that it is not what happens to those we love.

 

 

TRUE JUSTICE

 

Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.  The name Dan actually means judge.  So here is Jacob telling Dan that he would have a descendant who would judge the people with justice.  Here we have Jacob looking into the future and seeing Dan’s most celebrated judge, Samson.  Who, we will talk in a moment.  Dan was the second largest of the tribes next to Judah.  It has two enclaves one that was situated in the north by modern day Haifa and Joppa right by Mount Carmel and another right next to Philistia.  They came with 26,500 men to make David king and they were experts in war.  Simon the Sorcerer of Acts fame claimed to be a Danite and Simon the Magician as well.  This is significant because Dan is left out of the list of tribes of Israel in Revelation because of it was one of the two locations for the golden calves the Jeroboam set up.  Dan was also known as an enclave later for occult practices.  Little lesson here, we need to pray for our children and their descendants because even the most godly families can start out good and end up shipwreck.  In fact the devil loves to destroy godly families.  The Ethiopian Jews claim to be from the tribe of San when they were dispersed during the time of the Assyrian captivity. 

 

Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heel, so that its rider tumbles backward. 

 

This describes Samson to a tee.  So let’s look at a moment for a moment. 

 

Samson – Little Sun - Judges 13-16

 

-  Has a life of contrasts.  His birth was announced by The Angel of the Lord...  One of the rare     

    Supernatural encounters in judges.    The angel announces his birth, lifestyle, mission and

    Calling.  He interacts with Samson’s parents and touches their lives.  Jud 13:1-23

-  Samson is a Nazarite.  Not allowed to drink win or cut his hair.  Totally given to God. 

    His mission was to save Israel from Philistia. Jud 14:5

-  Samson loved Philistine women.  This would be the means to attack Philistia and his downfall.

    Jud 14:14-16

-  Killed a lion, told a riddle, and killed 30 Philistines to keep his promise.  Jud 14

-  Could not put up with women whining.  His wife, a prostitute and Delilah would destroy him. 

    Jud 14&16

-  Could not control his carnal appetites.  Jud 14 & 16

-  Was a man of vengeance and anger.  Killed 30 Philistines over a riddle, burned Philistines fields,

    Killed 1000 men with a jawbone of donkey,   Jud 14:20-15:17

-   Had great strength when the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.  Jud 14-16

-  Was a judged for 20 years.

-  A deceitful Philistine woman named Delilah would trick him into revealing his strength.  She

    Cut his hair, he lost his eyes and strength.  Jud 16:4-21

-  Learned painful lesson, allowed to end his life by destroying Philistine temple, himself and

    3000 Philistines.  Jud 16:23-31

-  As a life of contrasts, he was separated as a Nazarite.  Jud 13:5, 16:17

   Yet associated with evil people.  Jud 14:1-3      

-  Spiritual at times, Jud 13:35, 15:14

   Yet gave into his carnal lusts.  Jud 16:1-4

-  Childish in his plan.  Jud 15:4

    Yet courageous in battle.  Jud 15:11-14

-  Mighty in physical strength.  Jug 16:3, 9, 12, & 14

    Weak in resisting temptation.  Jud 16:15-17

-  His end was sad because of these contrasts.  Jud 16:30

 

Samson life reflects what happened to Dan.  His people were noble, godly, experts in warfare but then fell into idol worship, sorcery and eventually into oblivion.  Great many lessons to learn here for there is no guarantee.  That is why we must stay close to the Lord, read our bibles, pray, go to the house of the Lord, stay, accountable and transparent.  You make choices to be godly.  Make those choices every moment.

 

I look for your deliverance, Lord.

 

     Jacob then closes his prophecy or address to Dan by saying, Lord I look to you for deliverance.  He is praying for Dan.  Dan you will need deliverance.  God protect Dan, keep him, don’t let him fall.  So as I close I want to give you some things you can pray over your children. 

 

Pray for faith that they would serve the Lord.

Pray for health and healing in every area of life and

Pray for friendships who would be godly and a positive influence

Pray for a future they would live in the plan of God and find if God’s will a godly spouse.

Pray for character that they would be righteous, godly, honest, truthful, faithful, obedient to God, transparent, accountable and honorable.

Pray for safety.  We all know how children and adults love to talk chances.

Pray for joy and peace in their lives and how they would be peacemakers in the lives of others.

Pray for their desire for the things that matter.  They would make right choices and be people of integrity.

QUOTES FOR AUG 18, 2026

 

TRUE REDEMPTION

 

We only have two messages left in Psalm 111.  Today we are looking at the three truths as presented inverse nine.  To once again summarize, this is a psalm written by Ezra to reintroduce the returnees from Persia Empire to Judah after 70 years of captivity.  They had been allowed to go back by Cyrus in fulfillment of Isaiah 45.  Cyrus is called the Shepherd of his people.  Ezra was mandated with the responsibility to teach the people the customs, language and religion of the people.  He chose to use poetry or an acrostic psalm to do this.  Psalm 111-112 and 119 are these works. 

1.      Ezra begins by stating here that, He provided redemption for His people; Ezra was a Levite and understood the concept of substitution.  In his days that was done through the death and blood of an animal sacrifice.  It was our sin that caused that animal to die and it was their death and blood that provided the means and ways back to God.  The person who sinned would put their hand on the animal before it was slain and confess what they did.  This practice was always one for God’s people.  It started with Adam and Eve when God slew animals and covered them.  Cain, Noah, Abraham, the patriarch’s and it became a practice from Moses to Ezra.  It was also a fulfillment of Gen 3:15 where the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.

a.      Redemption means, “The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. Vindication.  God's plans for the redemption of his world, absolution.  Also it is the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.”  This is what happened in Ezra’s day. 

b.      A beautiful story of redemption is found in the book of Ruth where Boaz redeemed or bought a field and Ruth was part of the deal.  In ancient Israel if a piece of property went vacate a near relative could redeem or buy back the property for the family.  We also see a custom in ancient Israel where you would exchange a sandal to seal the deal.  This was based on Joshua 1:3. 

c.      This verse is also a prophetic verse talking about future redemption.  Jesus would become the redeemer of mankind by allowing His body to be broken and His blood to be shed.  His death, burial and resurrection bought us salvation and in a few minutes we will be celebrating this fact for the first time in a year and a half.  There is a chorus, that explains this so beautifully.  “He paid a debt, He did not owe, I owe a debt I could pay, I needed someone to wash my sin away.” 

d.      Jesus gave us eternal and abundant life by His sacrifice.  He was the bridge for our reconnection with God.  He made us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a one of a kind new person in Christ.  While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  I love the fact that in one moment a sinner becomes a saint and our eternity is changed from hell to heaven.  It is Amazing Grace.  Talk about judge who paid his son’s fine.

2.      He ordained his covenant forever.  I almost feel that Ezra is harping this thought but He wanted his readers and audience to realize that they were back in Judah because God ordained this covenant forever.  The word ordained has two meanings.  Make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on and to anoint, install and invest in.  God had set Israel has His representatives, ambassadors and examples for their world.  They were His showcase nation.  They still are. 

a.      The second mean is, To make a decree, rule, command, order or decree officially.  God has made it official that His covenant with Israel and Judah is forever.  There were many questions about why God let this happen.  They had returned and Ezra was there to help re-establish the people according to God’s covenant and agreement.  This was important because the people were starting fresh and this time they needed to do it right.  Ezra was also setting the stage for Jesus to come.  The Jews would be in Judah for another 500 years until Jesus came and they were deported under the Romans.  What is so wonderful is we live in a time when Israel is again a nation and the final days are upon us.   

b.      You and I are part of a new covenant through Jesus Christ.  God has made this with all people it is universal.  Jesus is the means through all may be saved.  The old has passed away the new has come and each day we are becoming new.  Each day is an opportunity to become more like Christ, to do the Father’s will and touch our world in a new way.  Forgetting the past and focusing on the future.  Enjoying the present day which is God’s gift to us.  Live each day for the Lord because this is the only day you have. 

3.      Ezra closes off this verse saying, “Holy and awesome is His name.”  Ezra is again reminding that God is holy.  He is one of a kind, unique.  He is the creator of all.  He is YHWH.  He is above all the false deities set up by demons and man.  They may have been bombarded in their previous world but now they are back in Judah.  They can again be a holy people, separate, be in this world but not of it and pilgrims passing through. 

a.      God is not only holy which is character, nature and essence but awesome.  No words can described God in fact, no language, thought or explanation can adequate described who God is.  He is beyond description to marvelous for words.  His name is above all.  Today we are been added to this wonderful agreement.  Paul says at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  There is no other name by which people can be saved.  Jesus is the name above all names.  Yes, there is something about that name.  He is the master, Savior and Lord. 

b.      Let me summarize.  The Lord has provided redemption for His people, He ordained His covenant with forever and He is holy and awesome in His name.  As we conclude I want to remind you that as we prepare for communion that God gave us redemption and salvation through the broken body represented by the bread and the shed blood represented by the juice.  Let us fully enjoy and partake of this wonderful ordinance today.