Posts

ARISE, KILL AND EAT PART 1: THE MAN GOD WAS ALREADY PREPARING

Image
ARISE, KILL AND EAT PART 1: THE MAN GOD WAS ALREADY PREPARING Acts 10:1–2 (NLT) “In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.” Before Peter ever heard the name Cornelius, God already knew him. Before Peter was sent to his house, God was already working in his heart. Before the Gospel reached his ears, Cornelius was already seeking God. And this is where our journey through Acts 10 begins. Not with Peter. Not with the sheet. Not even with the famous command, “ Arise, kill and eat.” It begins with a man who was already being prepared for an encounter with God. THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME Cornelius was a Roman centurion. He was a military officer, a man accustomed to authority, discipline, responsibility, and command. But Acts 10 introduces us to another side of this soldier. He was devout. He feared God. Hi...
Post a Comment
Read more

BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 15: THE LEGACY BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD

Image
BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 15: FINAL LAP - THE LEGACY BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD Judges 20:16 (NLT) "Among Benjamin's elite troops were 700 select left-handed warriors, each of whom could sling a stone and hit a target within a hair's breadth, without missing." Every journey eventually reaches its final chapter. For fifteen parts, we have travelled beyond Ehud. We began with a left-handed man whom God raised as a deliverer. We discovered his hidden weapon. We watched him enter Eglon's private room. We saw wisdom in knowing when to stand alone. We witnessed the fall of a powerful king. We followed Ehud to Seirah and heard the trumpet of victory. Then we moved beyond Ehud—to another generation of left-handed warriors from Benjamin. Seven hundred men. Highly trained. Exceptionally precise. Able to sling a stone and hit their target without missing. But their story became much bigger than their ability. It became a lesson about difference, skil...
Post a Comment
Read more

BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 14: WHEN THE WARRIORS BECAME A REMINDER

Image
BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 14: WHEN THE WARRIORS BECAME A REMINDER Judges 20:16 (NLT) "Among Benjamin's elite troops were 700 select left-handed warriors, each of whom could sling a stone and hit a target within a hair's breadth, without missing." In Part 13, we confronted one of the darkest lessons in the story of Benjamin. A battle can be won while something precious is lost. Benjamin was nearly destroyed. The conflict had produced enormous suffering, and Israel was eventually forced to confront the consequences of fighting against their own brother. Now, as we approach the final stages of this journey, we need to step back and ask: Why did Scripture preserve the story of these 700 left-handed warriors? Why tell us about their unusual ability? Why record their precision? Why mention their left-handedness? Perhaps because their story was never merely about warriors. It was about what God wants us to learn from them. They Were More Than Ski...
Post a Comment
Read more

BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 13: THE COST OF WINNING THE WRONG WAR

Image
BEYOND EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIORS OF BENJAMIN PART 13: THE COST OF WINNING THE WRONG WAR Judges 20:48 (NLT) "The Israelites turned back and killed everyone they could find in the towns of Benjamin, including the people and the animals. They also burned down all the towns they found." In Part 12, we learned about endurance. Israel returned to battle again and again. They learned that faith is not merely about starting well—it is also about remaining faithful when the journey becomes difficult. But now we arrive at one of the darkest moments in the story of Benjamin. The battle was over. Benjamin had been defeated. The Israelites had won. But as we look at the aftermath, we are confronted with a painful question: What happens when victory comes at a devastating cost? A Victory That Left Wounds Judges 20 records a terrible civil war. Israel fought against Benjamin—one of its own tribes. And by the end of the conflict, Benjamin had been devastated. The Israelites had succeede...
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular posts from this blog

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”?

Image
WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS EVERYTHING PART 7: WHAT IS YOUR “ONE THING”? Luke 18:22 (NIV) When Jesus Christ heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing…” In Part 6, we encountered the rich young ruler—a man who was disciplined, moral, and sincere, yet walked away from Jesus Christ because of one thing he could not surrender. He was close to Jesus—but not surrendered to Him. Opening Thought 🌅 Sometimes, the greatest barrier between you and your next level in God is not many things—it is just one thing. Not obvious. Not loud. But deeply rooted. Key Phrase “ You still lack one thing …” Insight 🔍 This statement is both simple and profound. It means: You can be doing many things right… and still miss one thing. You can be progressing… and still be held back. You can be committed… and still be divided. The rich young ruler didn’t lack discipline. He lacked surrender in one area. And that one thing became everything. Deeper Application 🔥 Your “ one thing ” may not be money—but ...
Read more

WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION

Image
WHEN THE ROBE COMES OFF: HONORING THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS PART 7: FINAL LAP: STANDING IN THE GAP — THE URGENCY OF INTERCESSION  1 Kings 19:4 Ezekiel 22:30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the sake of the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].” (AMP) Becoming Watchmen Over God’s Servants Recap of Part 6: Yesterday, we exposed the reality that some ministers are hiding secret sins—not because they don’t love God, but because they don’t feel safe to confess. We were reminded to pray, not punish, and to cover, not cancel. Heaven is still searching. God is still looking. Not for another preacher. Not for another platform. But for a gap stander. An intercessor. A spiritual defender of those who are too exhausted to pray for themselves. Throughout this devotional, we've uncovered the hidden battles of pastors and ministers—the emotional lows, the secret temptations, the heavy loneliness, t...
Read more

THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN

Image
THE GREAT WALL: WHEN WALLS FAIL PART 2 — THE ENEMY AT THE GATE: STRONG WALLS, WEAK WATCHMEN In Part 1, we saw that walls do not fail because they are weak; they fail when the gates are compromised. Even the mighty Great Wall of China, built with stones, sweat, and sacrifice, could not stop an enemy when its gatekeepers failed. True strength lies not in the wall itself, but in the vigilance and integrity of those who guard it. Now in Part 2, we explore how weak watchmen at the gate can undo even the strongest defenses. Every wall has two sides: the builders who raise it and the watchmen who guard it. A wall can be tall, thick, ancient, and mighty…but if the hearts of its watchmen grow tired, distracted, or compromised, the enemy does not need strength — just an opportunity. The Great Wall teaches us this: Strength is useless without vigilance. Protection is fragile without attention. A boundary is only as safe as the person standing at the gate. Let’s journey deeper. THE STORY — Part 2 ...
Read more