"Why Bad Times Sometimes Get Worse"

Gen. 40:4)"…and they continued a season in ward." God allows trials in our life to continue for seasons of time. In the story of (Gen. 40), Joseph was allowed to suffer "inwardly" for a season even though he was an innocent man. We are not sure just how long Joseph was in prison, but it could have been for as long as 11years. Like Joseph, the preparation of a godly man always takes time, so God uses seasons to test us. Why? 1) To Strengthen Our Abilities. Spiritual abilities are acquired only through time and trial. Like exercise, if we endure the pain of it, we will find that in time we will become stronger and capable of more. Like a hardened steel tool, hard steel only gets harder by the application of much heat and pressure. Softer tools are made with less, and God like a master craftsman has need for both in His tool box. 2) To Build Trust. Trust can only be matured through experience, and experience proves God. Joseph learned trust as he saw God bless him even though things got worse. God does not work on our schedule, but He does work in seasons of time. When you can't see God, trust in His Word, He will keep it!

Joseph, The Soveriegn Choice Of God

(Gen. 37:3) "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. In the sovereignty of God, God chose Joseph over his brothers for the special purpose of one day saving them from a future famine. Joseph never asked or had any say in the favoritism that God or Jacob gave to Him. In the same way, the Bible tells us that God chose us for His purpose even before we were saved, for his glory and our benefit. None of us should ever think that our lives are not important to God, for if we are saved, know this, that Like Joseph God has a special purpose for your life also. According to the Bible, there are two common purposes for each of us being saved; First, that we be conformed into the image of his Son (Ro. 8:29), Second, that we be use to carry out God's perfect will and purpose in this life (Ro. 8:28). Joseph had no Idea what God was doing when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, but he remained faithful to the leading of God until the purpose of God was revealed to him, 13 yrs. later.

"Joseph, And The Sovereign Will Of God"

(Gen. 37:3) "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. In the sovereignty of God, God chose Joseph over his brothers for the special purpose of one day saving them from a future famine in Egypt. Joseph never asked or had any say in the favoritism that God or Jacob gave to Him. In the same way, the Bible tells us that God chose us for His purpose even before we were saved for his glory and our benefit. None of us should ever think that our lives are not important to God, for if we are saved, know this, that God has a special purpose for your life also. According to the Bible, there are two common purposes for each of our lives; First, that we be conformed into the image of his Son (Ro. 8:29), Second, that we be use to carry out His perfect will and purpose in this life (Ro. 8:28). Joseph had no Idea what God was doing when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, but he remained faithful to the will of God until the purpose of God was revealed, some 13 yrs. later. All that God reveals to us is the present, but it's in the present that will learn obedience. God has a plan, so be faithful now and you will see His purpose later.

"Learning To Let Go But Hold On "

(Gen. 32:24) "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." In every Christian's life there comes a time when we need to let go of fear and just hold on to God. Jacob came to that place one night as he waited for his brother Esau to come and meet him. Twenty years earlier he tricked Esau out of his birthright and the blessing of God, and Esau vowed to kill him. That night while Jacob was alone and fearful in his tent, a man appeared in the dark and began to fight with him. Later Jacob would say, "for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." That man in the tent was none other than the Lord Jesus. The wrestling was over the power of God and the fear of Esau. Jacob would not quit wrestling until God gave him His power and His blessing. Just like Jacob, there needs to be a time in our life where we stop wrestling with God over our fears, and just let God have our problems. When Esau arrived God had already changed his heart and fixed the problem. That night God changed a conniving Jacob into a Prince called Israel, for God said, "for thou has power with God and with men." Jacob was never the same, and neither will we be once we realize that God's power and blesings are not gained by the works of our flesh but rather by our faith in a powerful God.

"False Religion, From Babel To Babylon"

(Gen. 11:4) "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Little is mentioned in this passage concerning the great sin of the men of Babel, but there is much here that angered God. 1) "And they said, Go let us build" The purpose of the tower in Babel was to make an alternate way to reach heaven apart from God. They labored together, (while under the leadership of Nimrod) to construct a man-made system of salvation and worship. 2)"And let us make a name." Satan's plan since the beginning of time has been to usurp the glory of God and elevate his system of religion above Jesus Christ and His Word. Since Babel, Satan's method of doing so includes deception, compromise, and ecumenicalism. That's why in (Rev.17:5) God named the final state of Satan's apostate religion as, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Since Babel, Satan's religion of astrology, sorcery, witchcraft, and compromise, has infiltrated every society and religion including Christianity. May God help us in the day in which we live to know the difference between the religions of man, and the truth of God which is outlined specifically in His Word!

"Homosexuality, Right or Wrong"

Is God still against homosexuality or has he changed His mind in recent years. It's hard to believe, but we now live in a country that accepts homosexuality, fornication, and the trans-gender lifestyles as normal and acceptable. One of the latest statistics shows that 9 states now have legalized same sex marriage, while 9 others including Wisconsin offer the same benefits to what is called "civil unions." Some states have held the line, and praise the Lord for them, but as we speak legislation is being presented to the Supreme Court to change the definition of marriage and give equal rights to a lifestyle that God calls "an abomination." 3500 yrs. ago, God specifically said to Israel (Lev. 18:22) "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (18:26-28) "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled; That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you." Has God's thoughts and perfect will changed toward homosexuality since He spoke these words to Moses, or have we chosen not to listen anymore? Be careful, homosexuality it is still wrong today!

"Perfecting Holiness In The Fear Of God"

(2Cor. 7:1) "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." What does the word “holiness” mean to you as a Christian? I have personally been challenged by this verse as well as (James 5:6), which says; “… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” “Holiness,” is the result of a drawing closer to the will and ways of God, while pulling away from the sinfulness of this world. It’s not only a result of re-evaluating our righteousness, but it’s also a result of seeking God intimately. (2 Cor. 7:1) is a continuous perfecting and cleansing of both our body and spirit. People are multidimensional. We have an outward relationship with others as well as an inward spiritual relationship with God. People see only the outward but God sees both. A good question to ask in 2013 is, are we the same inside as we are on the out, or are we hiding within something that keeps us from having a better intimacy with God? Recently, I have challenged myself with the question, what I can do in 2013 to find a closer relationship and walk with God? Will you join me in 2013 and do the same?