SET FREE

 

Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.  According to the Book of Genesis, Naphtali  means, “my struggle", he was the sixth son of Jacob and second son with Bilhah. He was the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali.  Naphtali was a swift runner, though this appears to have been inferred from the Blessing of Jacob, which equates Naphtali to a hind or deer.  We should always be swift in love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, honesty, integrity and transparency.  According to Genesis 46:24, Naphtali had four sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.  In the Testament of Naphtali or Testaments  of the Twelve Patriarchs.  In this apocryphal material, Naphtali gave his sons no commandment except regarding the fear of God, that they should serve Him and follow after Him, also admonished them not to join themselves unto the sons of Joseph but join the sons of Levi and Judah. He also had a vision about the division of tribes of Israel and told to them that Abraham was chosen by God for his faith.

 

In this portion of scripture two powerful truths come forth.  When you are set free you bear a beautiful life. 

 

We are free from Bondage or any form. 

 

Jesus came to set the captive free.  This is the promise of Isaiah 61, Jesus did this by his broken body and shed blood.   He set us free from disease, sickness, ill health. pain, and sorrow.  John said in John 8:32, that who the son sets free is free indeed.  Any bondage that entangles us whether satanic, worldly or human we can be set free from.  All we have t do is ask.  James says, “You have not because you ask not.”  Bondage comes in many forms, spiritual, physical, emotion, intellectual, financial and even family.  It is for freedom that we have been set free.  Paul reminds us in Gal 5:1 that we have been set free.  He then tells us that we need to stand firm.  That means do not go back into bondage once you have been set free.  Bondage can come from outside and inside but when we have been set free make a decision to not got entangled or be put into bondage again.

 

We are free from guilt. 

 

The guilt I am talking about is false guilt.  Guilt that comes from satan, the world or other people.  Guilt is a response from the conscience when we are wrong in our thinking, speaking or actions.  It has been placed by God as a moral compass for our lives.   It becomes negative when it moves us to fear or bondage.  Jesus dealt with guilt on the cross.  He released us from the guilt, shame and consequences of sin.  Satan manipulatives our guilt by using it in a negative manner against us.  He accuses us and this causes us to feel false guilt or makes us feel that we have not done enough to rectify the situation.  I have met people who even though they have done all they can to make things right still being guilty.  Here is a simple thing to remember.  In John 1:9, it states that if we confess our sins, make a decision to not knowingly repeat it that the Lord will be faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Now the secret of staying free is receiving God’s forgiveness.  That is why Paul said in Gal 5:1 to stand firm.  You have been set free from guilt so stand firm in that reality.  When the devil comes and tells you about your past, tell him it has been forgiven and remind him of his future.

 

Freedom from futility

 

The problem many face today is trying to figure out what to do after we have been set free.  There is a manual to help us and that is the Bible.  As you read meditate and apply God’s word you begin to have purpose, meaning and direction.  It is a process.  Any journey starts with the step.  The problem with many people is they fall back into the familiar.  If you were used to doing things for yourself were self reliant and self-assured then it is easy to fall into good works to look good in the sight of man and God.  If you suffered from self-esteem problems then it is easy to fall into a pattern of thinking you will never be good enough for God even though there are many assurance scriptures.  The writer of Hebrews calls this dead works.  Don’t fall into a pattern of dead works.  Here are two things that if you do these well you are fulfilling all the Lord requires today.  First, go into your world and tell others about Jesus.  We are all called to tell others.  Tell them about what you were like before Christ, how you came to Christ and then tell them what the Lord has done for your lately. Secondly, love.  Love people with an agape love.  Love with no strings attach and no expectation of anything in return.  You do these well and you will not live a life in futility.

 

You are set free to serve the living God.

 

When you are free you then have a new pattern of life.  You now have a purpose, a will and direction for your life.  I gave you that just a moment ago.  You are called to live an active life under the authority, direction and anointing of the Lord.  Each one of us have a different calling and God will reveal it too you in time.  He will use your interests, skills, natural abilities and inclinations.  The Bible lists in Romans 12, a list to start.  You could be a perceiver or common sense person. Someone who serves, a teacher loves learning and teaching, an encourager, an administrator, and lastly a giver.  Also in 1 Cor 12 &14 there are the nine gifts of the spirit, such as tongues, interpretation prophecy, faith, healing miracles, Word of wisdom, knowledge and discernment.  All  these gifts and ministries under the direction of the Holy spirit, either way open your heart and walk in the freedom that you have and serve the living God.  This is the Naphtali life.  Set free and living a beautiful life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SILVER CUP

 

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.  3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

 

Lesson One:  All the years, the tension, the emotion and the suspense are too much for Joseph.  It was the moment of truth.  He saw that his brothers had truly changed.  The test was over.  It was time for the truth.  He orders all the attendants out .  He cries out with every fiber of his being.  This is the moment for him and his brothers.  They scurry like rats.  Confusion and panic on the faces of his brothers.  What is going to happen now?

     There was no one from Egypt.  They were all alone, just the brothers and Joseph.  He begins to weep, all the years, the sorrow, the pain, the hiding.  Joseph weeps so loud, that even though no one was in the room he could be heard by people throughout the complex.  His tears flowing his heart is releasing, he cannot do this any longer.  Here are seven reasons why we should cry.  Tears help us see. Starting with the most basic function of tears, they enable us to see.  Tears kill bacteria. No need for Clorox wipes.   Tears remove toxins.  Crying can elevate mood.   Crying lowers stress.  Tears heal.  Tears release feelings.  Egyptians heard, Pharaoh’s household heard.  They probably thought he lost his mind.  I can see messengers running to Pharaoh with the news.  Something is happening at the house of the Prime Minister.  Something that was about to shake two worlds,Egypt and Canaan.

     Then Joseph says to his brothers.  I am Joseph, is my father living?  His brothers were not able to answer him because they were terrified.  Was he going to kill them?  He had the power of life and death.  Can you see the shock, mouths open.  Questions running through their minds.  Does he wasn’t revenge?  Look what he had done already?  What was going to happen now?  Joseph did not look like them, act like them, talk like them.  He was so different from them.  When redemption and forgiveness does it work we are never like people around us.  Salvation is the greatest work of all.  It changes us to righteous holy, loving, forgiving, graceful and merciful.

 

  4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

 

Lesson two:  Joseph had been so changed by his experience to the good.  In that moment they saw a loving and gracious man.  He calls them to him and when they have overcome their fear, their shock and guilt.  Oh the guilt, the shame, the remorse, the pain they have caused. 

     Then Joseph reassures them.  He releases them.  He has forgiven them.  We saw this as Joseph has already wept twice before.  He is Joseph they sold into slavery.  He tells them not to be distressed or angry for selling Him there.  God sent him there.  Joseph knew why.  God had done all this.  Can you imagine.  All his will now revealed.  God has eternal purposes.  Joseph had figured it out.  All the years of slavery, prison, dreams, waiting, elevation and preparation.  God had sent Him ahead.  He was to save lives.  That is why we must do all we can in our world.  The message of salvation saves lives.  There is no greater message.  No more important task, more noble calling than the eternal calling.  We are the Joseph’s in our world.  Your life has significance purpose.  You have a high and holy calling.  You are ambassador of an eternal kingdom.  You bring life and death.  Heaven and hell are in your hands.  God has sent you into your world ahead to save others.  It is always about others. 

     Now we get the time period.  It has been twenty two years since they had seen Joseph.  They are heading into the third year of the famine.  They will be no plowing or reaping for the next five years.  Joseph knew the times he lived in.  Do you?  Do you know what is going around you and what is happening in your world?  We must be like the men of Isaachar, we must discern the times we live in.

     Joseph then reveals two more things to the brothers.  God sent him ahead to preserve them as a remnant.  A remnant is a called out people, different than others, not the same as everyone else.  They are people with an eternal purpose.    They are people who survive a major disaster. A remnant of people is what is left  following a catastrophe.  Terms for remnant in the Old Testament derive from six roots and occur some 540 times.  Theological hues when it becomes the object of God's address and/or action.  God has called Joseph to save and preserve them by a great deliverance.  Joseph now understood all this.  Now he was revealing it to them.  This was God and God alone.  Can you see the relief.  God was working even in a place like this.  God can work anywhere.  Remember that.  In your family, vocation, community, province and country.  God is working never forget that.  When you feel like giving up, frustrated, annoyed and distressed.  God is working.

 

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

 

Lesson Three:  Joseph then reveals four things.  It was God who sent Him there not them.  God used them but God did this.  God and God alone.  You need to see the hand of God in everything.  You have to have eternal eyes and view or you will miss do much.  He made Joseph father to Pharaoh.  Lord of his entire household.  Joseph was his friend and trusted advisor.  Pharaoh loved and trusted Joseph like no man.  They were friends, brothers and family.  He is ruler of all Egypt.  A Hebrew prince, slave and prisoner had become ruler of all Egypt.  Quite a rags to riches story.  A true fairytale.  Hollywood could never have come with this script or screen play.  God writes the best stories and right now he is writing yours.  That is why you need to seek him and follow Him.  Yours is being written moment by moment.

     Joseph was sending them back.  Hurry, tell him Joseph is alive. God has made him lord over Egypt.  Come and see me, do not delay.   Bring all you have.  You will live in Goshen and be near Him.  Goshen was chosen because it was near.  They were shepherds so the land was best suited for their lifestyle.  They could live godly lives in that land but not have to be part of the land.  Like Jacob we in are in the world but not of the world.  Remember you are a pilgrim passing through.  This is not the best.  We like Abraham are looking for a city whose maker and builder is God.  Bring the whole family.  Everyone is to come and all they have.  Joseph knew they could not stay where they were.  Sometimes God moves us to preserve us.  Never stay in a place where you could die.  Move to where God wants you to be. 

     Joseph wanted them close so he could provide for them.  There was still five years left and they would become destitute.  God wants to provide for us.  He is Jehovah Jireh.  He will supply all your needs.  He has eternal and abundant life for you.  You will see his hand of provision for you. 

 

12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”  14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

 

Lesson Four:  He tells them as they can see for themselves what God has done.  Proof is in the pudding.  When we prosper God gets the glory.  Do not take the credit for God has done.  The in this moment he turns to Benjamin.  It is me your brother Joseph.  Can you see the love in his eyes, the compassion and the absolute friendship.  They were the sons of Rachel.  Their mother had died giving birth to Benjamin.  They were blood.  They shared the same DNA.  Benjamin tells dad three things.  First, all the honor that has been given to me in Egypt.  The boy you thought was dead did good.  Dads always want their boys to succeed.  It reflects on them.  Next, tell him everything you have seen.  You are my witness of all that you have seen.  Did you know we are witnesses for God in our world?  Tell those around you what you know, seen and experience.  That is why our purpose is on this planet.  It is not about family, friend, vocation, wealth, fame, fortune and status.  Your life is so much more than this.  You have an eternal purpose.  Please do not forget that today.  Thirdly, tell dad to come down here. 

     He throws his arms around Benjamin and they weep together.  The years are gone in that moment.  They are reunited and it feels so good.  It is divine and holy moment.  They embraced as brothers.  Everything is right in their world in this moment.  It will be a moment they will never forget.  He did the same for his brothers.  In that moment they experience true divine purpose.  They were forgiven, restored, heal and truly love.  This is true moment of grace.  They is like the moment the prodigal felt.  This is like the moment Paul felt went Ananias laid hands on him.  The chiefest of sinners had come home.  They weep and all is forgiven and forgotten well at least as Joseph is concerned.  Afterward they talk and enjoy each other. 

GODLY DAD

 

Six things a Godly Dad Does

Open with Video – What is a dad

The words of Paul in Ephesians 6 remind Christian fathers that our parenting has a great end towards which we must aim. God gave us the task of teaching, correcting, disciplining, loving, and training our children so that they come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and walk in a way which pleases him.

 

A Godly Dad Keeps Growing

 

A man can only be an effective father as he continues to grow spiritually.  This means that fathers must spend time in our Bibles, in prayer, and actively seeking to walk in obedience by the power of God’s Spirit.  We must grow in knowledge and wisdom.  The work we have been called to as fathers and husbands is too important for us to take a lackadaisical approach to our walk with Jesus.

 

A Godly Dad Loves His Wife

 

Men, before the call to parent our children is the call to love our wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.  We need time together with our wives without our children around. Date nights will prove to be important, especially when our children are young.  Get your kids in bed or in their rooms at a decent hour so you can talk, read together, watch a movie together, or simply hang out in the same room. This will give you the time together you so desperately need for your marriage to grow and give you joy.  Tyson has often said, “Men do yourself a favor and love your wife.”

 

A Godly Dad Teaches Consistently

 

Moses tells fathers to talk with their children about the commands and statutes of the Lord as they sit in their houses and walk by the way.  Family devotions are not the only way for a father to teach his children, but they certainly can play a key role in the formation of our children.  If you can set aside the time to have family devotions four nights a week, you will read, pray, and sing with your children over thirty-five hundred times before they leave for college. There won’t be a major breakthrough or “aha” moment every night, but the consistency over the course of years will make a major impact.  I have prayed for my children and grandchildren everyday of their lives from when they knew we were having kids to this day.  I claim the promise of Acts 16:31,  Voddie Bachman audio

 

A Godly Dad Disciplines Patiently

 

In Proverbs 29:17, it states “Discipline your son and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” Consistently teaching, correcting, and disciplining our children can be exhausting work. We must patiently and consistency discipline our children. When our children are wrong and need to be disciplined, it is imperative that we take the time to calmly and patiently talk with them about what happened  We should talk with them about the foolishness or sinfulness of what they did, what the Scriptures say about what they have done, and remind them that we discipline them because we love them. This takes time and is definitely not the easy way out, but it will train the hearts of our children and be better for them in the long run.

 

A Godly Dad Repents When He is Wrong

 

“What I said to you and the way I said it was wrong. Will you forgive me?” I don’t know that there is a more difficult thing for a father to say to his children. We will sin against our children at some point in our parenting, either through losing our temper, accusing falsely, speaking harshly, or in a thousand other ways. When we sin against our children, we must repent to the Lord and repent to our children.

 

The greatest temptation you will face when apologizing to your kids is seeking to justify your sinful behavior based on their sinful behavior. Resist this urge with everything you have because you sinned and that is all that matters. Repenting and asking for forgiveness will model repentance, humility, and the Gospel to your children. It will also teach them that they will be hurt throughout their lives and must learn how to forgive. Also, this process of repentance and forgiveness builds trust with your children. They know that what you say about repentance is real, and they also know that you value your relationship with them enough to humble yourself and admit you are wrong.

 

A Godly Dad Knows He Needs the Power of the Holy Spirit

 

Because we must work hard and give ourselves in a way that is not natural to us, we need the power of God’s Spirit. We need his help to stay encouraged, to love, to exercise self-control, and to make our labors effective because we cannot change the hearts of our children. As Paul said, we labor in the strength that God provides, and pray that he would use our labors in our homes to change our children’s lives and bring glory to Himself. 

STAND BY ME

 

Today I want to share with you how the Lord will stand by you and be faithful.

1.       GOD IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE SINS WHEN THEY ARE CONFESSED.  He was faithful to humble himself, become a man, live a sin free life, go to cross, shed his blood, and pay the penalty for sin.  Without His faithfulness, we would not have the wonderful benefit of being forgiven. 

 

a.      We can be assured that when we confess our sins, pardon will be granted, and forgiveness given.  John writes in 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.”

 

b.       The good news is when we come and confess our sins, He forgives. He pardons. He accepts us and we can become His disciples,  be assured that God is faithful and will forgive.

 

2.      GOD IS FAITH TO NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE.  1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

 

a.       God is right there with you.  He won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. The faithful God will always provide to you a way of escape.  God is in the battle with you.

b.      You will never be overcome, conquered or be a victim.

 

3.      GOD IS FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE THE WORK HE STARTED IN YOU.  You may not realize this, but the moment you sincerely gave your life to Jesus Christ. God enrolled you in his plan. His plan for you is your ultimate transformation. He desires for you to become like Jesus Christ.  God’s goal is that you would become mature and complete. His plan for you is that you would walk in victory.

 

a.      Here are some things to consider.  God finishes what He starts.  God didn’t get halfway through creation and then give up. Rather, in six days he created the earth and the heavens and on the seventh day he rested. He looked at what he did and he said it was good.

 

b.      Jesus didn’t go halfway to Calvary and then cast the cross aside and say I won’t complete my mission.  He went all the way until he was able to utter those beautiful words on the cross, “It is finished!”

 

c.      When he saved you. He said I am going to complete the work I began.  Philippians 1:6 NLT  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

 

d.      There are many believers that are in a position to say the following:  I may not be all that I should be. I am not what I used to be. I am still under construction. God is not done with me.

              God is faithful. If he saved you. He can sanctify you. In other words, He can set you apart for his 

              purposes.

 

e.      1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

 

f.       God will finish the work that he started in you.  He will do that as you are exposed to the Word, as you receive the promptings of the Spirit, He will continue working in your life.  God has His ways to move us toward becoming like Him. God will complete the work.  1 Corinthians 1:8-9  “who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

4.      GOD IS FAITHFUL TO PROVIDE YOUR NEEDS  Philippians 4:19  “My God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.”  He is your provider. Just think of his faithfulness. He feeds the birds. He provides food for the oxen. The flowers of the field are more beautiful than Solomon in all his splendor.  He is the faithful God.

 

 

5.      GOD IS FAITHFUL TO GO WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.  In our relationship to a faithful God He promises to guide us.  As we connect with Him on a daily basis, his hand guides our life. We sense God cheering us on.  He becomes our biggest fan. He is telling us by His Spirit, I am with you! You will make it to the end.  If we need guidance, God can lead us.  God knows how to give us strength no matter what the circumstances.  God will be faithful to walk with  you every step of the way!

 

a.      Paul tell us in Romans 12:1-2, that as we submit to God, We can know the perfect and acceptable will of God..  You do not have to be in the dark about the will of God.

b.      As we go out from this place.  You now know that God will stand by you throughout this week.

 

Show God’s faithfulness.

 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR AUG 26, 2026

 

A NEW SEASON

 

open to more experiences and opportunities.  You are willing to risk and be more daring.  You have the opportunity to meet more people too.  God will bring people into your life to help you grow and expand.  When you add all of these things together, you are going to have a more robust life and you’ll have a ton of fun figuring it all out along the way   Remember trust the Lord with all your heart do not lean to your own understanding but in all ways He will direct you path. — there’s no doubt about it.  You are an overcomer, victor and more than a conqueror when you trust God and are willing to embrace change.

SUMMER OF LOVE

 

God’s heart is that we know and experience the vastness of His love, both in its magnitude and in its complexity.   One tradition refers to them as the benevolent, beneficent, and complacent love of God.As disciples and in our disciplemaking ministries, it’s important for us to ever seek to fathom the depths of God’s love and live in light of what we discover, and then to help others do the same

1.       God’s Creative Sustaining Love is evidenced in all that He has created, but especially in His provision for mankind even when people reject God. The model is found in nature and illustrated when Jesus said that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. The proper response to His creative sustaining love is reverence and gratitude

 

2.      God’s Individual Redemptive Love is expressed in His eternal plan to call out people to be His own. It is this love that is expressed in the familiar first part of John 3:16. The biblical model of this love is seen in the events of the initial Passover. God redeemed people for Himself as they responded by believing and applying the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their homes allowing the death angel to pass over them.  The appropriate response to God’s redemptive love is repentance and belief in the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ (John 3:16), which opens the door to the next expression of God’s love.

 

3.      God’s Covenant Family Love is accompanied by a new identity and position in Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This expression of God’s love is seen in such passages as John 1:12 and 1 John 3:1-3. Family love includes (among others) justification, adoption, citizenship, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The expected response to this expression of God’s love is faith-filled obedience. The apostle John states in his first letter that obedience is a clear indicator of being a child of God and is how we are to demonstrate our love

 

4.      Lastly, we bring God’s love into all relationship.  Whether in Friendships, family, romantic or our love towards God.  It marks who were are and what we do.   God’s Personal Intimate Love exposes us to the heart of God and is a result not only of maturity but continued alignment to God’s will.   Jesus said they will know His Disciples by the way we love one another.  I close with 1 Cor 13:4-8.  4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  1 Cor 13:13 states that these three remain.  Faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love.  SO let us love through this week.

 

5.      Pythias was accused of plotting against the tyrant and sentenced to death.  Accepting his sentence, Pythias asked to be allowed to return home one last time to settle his affairs and bid his family farewell. Not wanting to be taken for a fool, the king refused, believing that, once released, Pythias would flee and never return. Damon offered himself as a hostage in Pythias' absence, and when the king insisted that, should Pythias not return by an appointed time, Damon would be executed in his stead, Damon agreed and Pythias was released.

Dionysius was convinced that Pythias would never return, and as the day Pythias promised to return came and went, he called for Damon's execution—but just as the executioner was about to kill Damon, Pythias returned.  Apologizing to his friend for the delay, Pythias explained that on the passage back to Syracuse pirates had captured his ship and thrown him overboard, but that he swam to shore and made his way back to Syracuse as quickly as possible, arriving just in time to save his friend.So astonished by and pleased with their friendship, Dionysius pardoned both men.