Raising reliable leaders in the church that Paul and Barnabas planted was strategically and structurally important for their sustainability. Acts 4:23Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. [1] After a fruitful …
Obeying God can stretch us because it often requires leaving our comfort zones. This fosters spiritual growth by deepening our faith and by trusting His wisdom more than our own. Although challenging, this “holy stretch” encourages us to go beyond self-reliance. It can foster a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit and lead to increased …
Misunderstanding the moves of God on Pentecost came from viewing them through the lens of sin. Sin always clouds God’s works. Devout Jews from many nations were in Jerusalem when a loud noise drew a crowd together. They were amazed and bewildered to hear the believers from Galilee speaking in their own native languages. People …
Decisions made without God’s guidance often rely on limited human understanding, leading to avoidable challenges and missed blessings. We can easily fall into this trap, as we see in the story of Elimelech and his family leaving Israel for Moab during a drought. Rutha 1:1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe …
Putting faith into action is a significant step for believers because it demonstrates our faith is genuine. After Moses’ death, the Lord told Joshua, Moses’ assistant, that Moses was dead and it was time for him to lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the land He would give them. During this crucial moment, Joshua …
When a chapter closes, it can be both exciting and stressful. God called Joshua to transition into leadership, and God calls us to tasks. Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moses, the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has …
Don’t be surprised when old fears resurface during transition; it is not unusual. Israel had left Egypt, but Egypt had not yet left them. Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why …
Deliverance does not cancel the battle, as seen when the Egyptians pursue the Israelites after their escape. This is true for us today. When Pharaoh learned the Israelites had fled, he and his officials regretted it. They questioned, “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” Pharaoh then prepared his chariot, summoned …
We see Abram worshipping God in transition. God had called him, by grace, out of Ur and idolatry. God had promised to make him a great nation even though he and Sarai were childless. Moreover, God promised to make him a blessing to all families on earth. After Abram entered Canaan, God made another promise. …
Transitions require trusting God’s promises and looking to Him instead of relying on our own strength or understanding as we move through life’s journey. The life of Abram, whom the Lord renamed Abraham, is an ongoing journey of learning to trust in God’s promises. As the Lord told Abram to go to a new land, …