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Showing posts from November, 2012

Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

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  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is interesting. Th
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Zechariah - A Prophet of Encouragement

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How many of us need encouragement today? As we go through the challenges and trials of life we need every ounce of encouragement. If we see the need of encouragement in our lives, are we encouraging others? “ One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement… It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word .” (William Barclay, Letter to the Hebrews ) . The remnant Jews who came home from exile faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple. God knew how to encourage His people. He sent His prophet Zechariah to deliver one of the most encouraging messages they have received as a nation—a message of future hope and glory. Zechariah, whose name means “the LORD remembers,” was a contemp
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Haggai - "Finish What You Started"

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Have you ever started a project you have not finished? I myself remember a time when it took me over a year to finish a project that should only have taken a month. As people, we tend to rationalize and the people of Judah were no different. Returning home from exile, the remnant of Judah led by Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest, began the construction of the Temple—the most important structure in Israel’s religious life. However, because of opposition, the construction stopped. The people gave up and went on with their lives. A few years later, the LORD sent Haggai to rebuke Judah. Haggai challenged Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest to finish what they started. The people however, responded with the excuse that “it was not time” (Haggai 1:2). They obeyed twenty days later (Haggai 1:15). The LORD was faithful in encouraging His people to finish the work they were called to do. Though there was an instance when the people of Judah became discouraged (Haggai 2:1-9), the people were able to
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