PROPER FOCUS

 

     Today we are focusing on the second part of Psalm 111.  Ezra is using this acrostic psalm to make 22 statements about God.  It is also a psalm to help the people of his day learn the Hebrew language that had been lost because they had been in captivity in Babylon and then Persia for 70 years.  His task was to reintroduce the Hebrew language, lifestyle and religious life.  We are in the same critical time.  The church is losing our young people at an alarming rate.  Like Ezra we are in a time where our children could lose their identity.  That is why we must pray for revival and work hard.  Paul says that in the last day there will be a great falling away in 2 Thess 2:3.  We are in that time.  We must recapture this moment or we could lose our children, society and nation.  Remember righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.   Ezra gives us seven things to remember about the Lord.

 

 

1.      He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord does this in several ways.  He uses His people and the pages of the Bible to do this.  The Bible is a love letter, a written account of God dealing with mankind throughout history.  The Bible is a written account of redemption.  It is a record of the character, nature and essence of God.  We get a glimpse of God because of the Bible. 

a.      Next, He uses science.  Science is practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.  As mankind studies creation it points more and more to a master designer.  One policeman told me when he is in doubt all he has to do is look around.  Creation is God silent witness.

b.      He uses us to proclaim Him as creator, redeemer and love agent in our world.  We are His love letters.  We are His bibles.  Our words and deeds present Him.  Our job is to go into our world and love others.  I love this quote, “People may not always remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel.” 

2.      The Lord is gracious, we have been saved by the gracious intervention of the Lord.  The Lord is merciful, forgiving, kind and lenient.  By grace He does not give us what we deserve.  All of that came because of the broken body, shed blood, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His grace gave us undeserved mercy and will lead, keep and help us no matter when and where we find ourselves.  Paul says as we have received we are to give to others.  That means as Christians we are to express, kindness, graciousness, being courteous, encouraging and inspirational.  It also means having an elegance, good taste and being a lady or gentleman.  Being a gentleman or lady means to make those around you feel as comfortable as possible. 

3.      And compassionate.   This means to show sympathy and concern for others.  Pitying, empathetic, understanding, caring and concern.  This of course is an outgrowth of our life in the Lord.  When we love God and are healed we will in turn show true genuine love for others.  It is what flows out of our innermost being.  Jesus calls these rivers of living water.  Jesus showed compassion numerous times.  He often looked at people as sheep without a shepherd.  I often feel great pain for those who do not have the Lord.  They have no foundation, help, support, direction and destination.  We have that and so much more.  It was God’s compassion that brought about salvation and divine intervention.  Well we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  We did not go looking for Him He came looking for us.  Talk about my conversion.

4.       He provides food for those who fear him;  Ezra, points out that God is Jehovah Jireh.  Phil 4:19, says our God will supply every need according to His riches in glory.  Jesus reminded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we do not have to worry if God can clothe the flowers of the field and feed the birds of the air He will take care of us.  Worry means you do not trust God, yourself and others.  I like this quote.  “If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”

 

a.      Don’t waste your time in anger, regrets, worries, and grudges. Life is too short to be unhappy.”

               ― Roy T. Bennett

b.      God will take care of your needs, food, clothing, housing and transportation.  Remember the mercies of God are new every morning.  This is the day which the Lord has made so let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Live this day for the fullest it is the only one you have.  Look at the present as a gift given by God to be lived fully and abundantly

 

5.      He remembers his covenant forever.  That means when God makes an agreement or promise He will keep it forever.  That why Paul could say in 2 Cor 1:20, the promises of God are yes and amen.  We may not keep our side but God will keep His.  That is why God is still dealing with Israel and will in the future.  That is why the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  He uses us in spite of us.  Ezra pointed this out because the people had just returned to Judah.  They had been in captivity because of their sin but God was restoring them because of a covenant He had made with Abraham.  When you gave your life to Jesus Christ God made a covenant with you.  You are His we may walk away but God will not.  This promise is the foundation for 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us.  Remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.  God will be with you as He was with those in the past. 

6.      He has shown his people the power of his works, Ezra was telling the people to remember the power of His works.  The exodus, parting of the Red Sea, manna, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  How God enabled them to take the land.  The prophets like Elijah, Elisha and Isaiah.  The judges like Gideon and Samson.  The Kings like David, Solomon and Hezekiah.  Today we have the record of the Bible with its miracles, healings, resurrections and prophecies.  In my own life I have seen signs, wonders, healings, miracles, gifts of the Spirit, supernatural provision, visions and dreams.  I contend that God can do the same for you.  He is no respecter of persons.  As His people He will do the same for all of us the secret to look and expect.

7.      Giving them the lands of other nations.  Ezra was reminding them that the reason they were back in Jerusalem and Judah was because God gave them back their nation.  Other people had been living there but God gave them back their promised land.  The grace of God was again extended to His covenant people.  In 1948, that happened again.  This of course has not been without opposition.  For Ezra, Zerubbabel, Joshua and Nehemiah their resettling of the land was filled with opposition.  Israel has fought five wars, numerous attacks including one this year.  God did this because of His covenant with Abraham.  Jesus told us to go into our world.  We have a mandate to take our world.  We have the power, enablement, authority, right and boldness to do it of course there will be opposition but we can and will win if we rely on the Lord.  I love the testimony of Paul in Thessalonica.  The people there said the men who have turned the world upside down have come to our city.  The world should be more fearful of us than we should be of the world.    Let us turn our world upside right today. 

QUOTES FOR AUG 21, 2026

 

TRANSFIGURATION

 

Mark 9:2-9

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

 

1.      So Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  Most believe this mountain was Mount Tabor about 18 miles southwest of Sea of Galilee.  Mount Tabor is one of the three mountains that form the valley of Megiddo.  The other two are Mt Gilboa and Mount Carmel.  Peter, James and John were what scholars call Jesus inner circle.  He had his 12 disciples then he had his inner circle. 

2.      Jesus leads up the mountain and they became witness to a glorious moment.  Jesus was transfigured before them.  In that moment His clothes became dazzling white.  Jesus appeared in His pre-incarnate form.  For this moment he threw off the veil of the flesh and became so much more.  It was dazzling white and as Mark stated no one on earth could bleach them that white.  This is a supernatural moment.  This showed that Jesus was who He said He was.  Jesus was no longer terrestrial but celestial.  The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on the mountain is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.

3.      The Transfiguration provides further evidence that Jesus was the divine Son of God. It is not coincidental that this happened soon after Jesus had acknowledged Himself to be the Christ, the one who left heaven's glory to come to earth. Now three of His disciples were to get a glimpse of that glory. The Transfiguration scene of Jesus is a representation of His coming kingdom in its fullness.  This is also shows Jesus in His glorified body.  The purpose of the transfiguration of Christ into at least a part of His heavenly glory was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was.  This showed all His claims He made were true.

4.      Now Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.  Elijah representing the prophets and Moses the law.  Remember Jesus said He came to fulfill the law and Jesus is the greatest prophet who ever lived.  Jesus is the balance between the two.  Jesus is the living and revealed Word of God.  The presence of Moses and Elijah in the Transfiguration has been read as summarizing “the Law and the Prophets” now being fulfilled in and by Jesus’ life, the Messiah.  They were talking with Jesus.  I would have loved to be privy to that conversation. 

5.      The Transfiguration is considered one of the five milestones of Jesus’ life according to the Gospels, alongside his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.  Moses was the law and Elijah was a representative of all the prophets who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. 

 

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

 

1.       So we have a Peter moment.  He seems to say what the others were thinking.  Now the reason he said it was because they were frighten.  They had just witness a great event.  This was a divine moment.  Peter says, “Jesus it is good that we are here.”  It was because they will talk about it later.  Peter and John will mention this in their writings.  It would have had a lifetime effect on them.  They would never be the same and never look at Jesus the same after this.  You cannot be the same when you have had a divine encounter.  This changed them. 

2.      Peter recognized Moses and Elijah.  This speaks of divine recognition.  Even though he had never met them he knew who they were.  We will know those who have gone before.  Each one of us will have a divine signature.  When we put on incorruption and immortality we will still be recognized.  Our identity will be our own.  Our bodies will never know pain sickness or death.  In this moment Peter had a spirit to spirit recognition. 

3.      Peter suggests to Jesus that they make three dwelling places for each of them.  There are several reasons.  First, it was the habit of Jewish people to build a temporary shelter called a sukkot to celebrate and meet with God.  Secondly, he wanted to commemorate the experience.  This was a mountaintop experience.  Thirdly, he wanted to keep the divine on the earth.  Whenever we have an experience like this the natural response to try and make it last or make  a memorial.  Jacob did at Bethel, Abraham at Hebron and Solomon at Gibeah.  Sadly, the place can become more important than the experience.  Fourthly, Peter wanted to honor these men.  Lastly, because he spoke out of fear and did not know what to say.  The gospel writer often said, Peter not knowing what to say then said.  Which Mark stated.

 

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

 

1.       What an amazing moment.  Moses, Elijah and then a cloud comes and over shadows the whole place.  The divine glory, presence, splendor and essence of God shows up.  Then a voice speaks out of the cloud.  This is the second of three divine proclamations.  The others were the Jesus baptism, and the temple.   

2.      The voice identifies Jesus as the Son of God.  The second person of the God head.  The Messiah and King.  He is Savior, healer, baptizer in the Holy Spirit and the Soon Coming King.  Jesus is the beloved.  Jesus is the beauty, unity and endearment love.  He is love with a face.  The New Testament word here is means to breathe.  Jesus is the breath of love.  In this case Jesus is the object and giver of love.  As He is beloved so through Him we become the beloved. 

3.      The voice tells them to listen to Him.  He has a message.  He is the way truth and life.  Jesus has come for a reason.  Jesus told his disciples to learn of Him.  Have eyes to see and ears to hear.  Let Jesus be your example, role model and mentor.  Learn everything you can from Him.  He is the master teacher.  Don’t let go of one thing you hear and see. 

4.      Suddenly they look around and they saw no one by Jesus.  It was only a moment of time.  Only long enough for Peter to say one thing and the Father to respond.  Often divine moments are just that but they can last a lifetime.  Divine moments change you.  They make you more focused.  They give you a purpose. They show you there is more than just this world.  They prepare you for eternity.    They remind us that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.  You know there is more and greater things on the other side of eternity. 

 

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

 

1.      There are four reasons why Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone.  The first because Jesus told them not to say anything till after he had reason from the dead.

2.      Secondly, waiting for the Right Understanding.  They would not fully understand this experience till after Jesus had been raised from the dead.  God doesn’t show all things until we are mature, wise and understanding enough to grasp what is being revealed.  That is also why we need to ask for wisdom.  For example you do not give a 3 year a manual for building a house.  There is a time, maturity, education, knowledge and understanding that is needed.

3.      Lastly timing.  Jesus continually said my time is not right.  Timing is everything in the things of God.  God is never early, late but always on time.

4.      Lastly, it was a matter of obedience, trust and faith.   Jesus entrusted these men with this experience and He was entrusting them to reveal it at the right time.  Jesus was telling them keep a great secret.  It was a matter of honor, trust, truth and integrity.  They had seen something no other human beings had seen or would ever see again.  I have a question for you can God trust you.  It is easy for us to trust God but can He trust you?  Close with how Paul waited 14 years before his first missionary journey.  Timing is everything and trust is paramount.  Cam Floria said this, “Waiting is often providential disciple for those who are being entrusted to a great task.” 

TRIBUTES TO MOMS

 

Tributes to Moms

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     Good day.  I know that this article is a little late for Mothers  Day but actually we should be thanking our Mothers and spouses  every day of the year.  Abraham Lincoln said, "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life"  Mothers are the hidden workers .  They do all the things that would not get done.  Today being a wife, mother and balancing a career is a fine line.  My hat goes off to women who choose a career and still raise a family.  My daughter is such a woman.  She is a nurse and raises four children the years.   She is absolutely amazing.  My wife help raise four children and she has been my helpmate for decades.  She is an example of a godly woman

     One man wrote, “A mother's role is to love her children with all her heart. It is also the role of every mom to understand her children. When a child feels this, he or she learns to trust the parent(s) better. Listening is crucial to understanding.”  Here are six qualities of a good mom.  Be a good role model.  Set boundaries and Rules.   Be respectful.  Respect is two sided.   Be supportive and loving. Be Patient.  Walk in forgiveness.  Children need to see what true motherhood especially in a world of changing values.  Consistency is the key.

     One mom wrote, there are several things mom do on a weekly basis.  You are housekeeper, resolve conflicts, event planner, teacher, driver, laundry, counselor, health care provider, finance manager, activity coordinator and world changer.  That is an amazing list.  I just want to say on behalf of all of us a great big thank you.  You are an example for all of us.  I also want to especially thank all the single mother households.  You are everything in your family unit.  Many professional athletes were raised by single mothers and so many attribute their success to the tenacious determinations of their mothers.  Thank you.  As I close this article I am going to leave you with Solomon’s view of a godly woman from Proverbs 31.    A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.   She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.  She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up while it is still night;

she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.  When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.  Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. she watches over the affairs of her household  and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.  Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Thank you from all of us. 

:

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.