Posts

EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 4: THE HIDDEN WEAPON

Image
EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 4: THE HIDDEN WEAPON Judges 3:16 (NLT) "So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing." In Part 3, we discovered that God intentionally chose Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver Israel from the oppression of Moab. What people may have considered unusual, God considered useful. Ehud's left hand was not a disadvantage; it was part of God's strategy. But before Ehud ever stood before King Eglon, before he entered the palace, and before he became known as a deliverer, there was something that had to happen first. A weapon had to be prepared. The victory Israel would experience publicly began with preparation that happened privately. The Weapon That Was Made Before The Battle The Bible says: " So Ehud made a double-edged dagger..." Notice something important. The Scripture does not say Ehud found a w...
Post a Comment
Read more

EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 3: THE HAND GOD CHOSE

Image
EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 3: THE HAND GOD CHOSE Judges 3:15 (NLT) "...His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin..." In Part 2, we saw that after eighteen years of oppression, Israel finally cried out to the Lord. Their cry reached heaven, and God responded—not because they deserved deliverance, but because of His unfailing mercy. God raised an unexpected deliverer named Ehud . Before he became Israel's rescuer, he was simply entrusted with the ordinary task of delivering tribute to King Eglon . What appeared to be an ordinary assignment was actually God's divine positioning for an extraordinary purpose. Now, we turn our attention to a detail that many people overlook but God intentionally included in Scripture. A Detail That Was Never Meant To Be Ignored The Bible could have introduced Ehud simply by giving us his name. Instead, Scripture deliberately tells us that he was left-handed . God wastes no words. Whenever th...
Post a Comment
Read more

EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 2: THE CRY THAT REACHED HEAVEN

Image
EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 2: THE CRY THAT REACHED HEAVEN Judges 3:15 (NLT) "But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab." In Part 1, we discovered how Israel slowly drifted away from God. Though they had experienced His miracles, provision, and faithfulness, they allowed familiarity with God's blessings to replace intimacy with God Himself. As a result of their disobedience, God allowed King Eglon of Moab to oppress Israel for eighteen years. They found themselves serving a ruler who had no rightful place over them—a picture of how sin and misplaced devotion can bring spiritual bondage. Yet even in the midst of Israel's failure, God had not abandoned His people. While they were living under oppression, heaven was already preparing a ...
Post a Comment
Read more

EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 1: WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE LOSE THEIR WAY

Image
EHUD: THE LEFT-HANDED WARRIOR AND JUDGE PART 1: WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE LOSE THEIR WAY Judges 3:12–14 (NLT) "Once again the Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. Eglon enlisted the armies of the Ammonites and Amalekites, then defeated Israel and took possession of Jericho, the city of palms. And the Israelites served Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years." The story of Ehud begins with a painful picture of a nation that had lost its way. Israel was a people who had experienced the mighty hand of God. They had witnessed the miracles of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, received provision in the wilderness, and entered into a land God had promised to give them. They were not a people who did not know God. They were a people who had forgotten the God they knew. Over time, their hearts slowly drifted away from the One who had delivered them. They began to embrace the ways of the nations aro...
2 comments
Read more

THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 12: THE SON WHO GIVES LIFE

Image
THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 12: THE SON WHO GIVES LIFE John 5:19–47— (KJV) "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will."  In Part 11, " When Mercy Offends Religion ," we discovered that the miracle at Bethesda produced two different responses. While the healed man experienced mercy and restoration, the religious leaders responded with criticism and opposition. We learned that it is possible to know God's rules and still miss God's heart. The leaders focused on the bed being carried but failed to celebrate the life that had been restored. Jesus revealed that true faith is not only about religious knowledge but about reflecting the mercy, compassion, and character of God. Today, we arrive at the final message of this series. Jesus moves beyond the physical healing at Bethesda and reveals the greatest truth of all: He is the Son of God, the One who gives life. The miracle ...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 11: WHEN MERCY OFFENDS RELIGION

Image
THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 11: WHEN MERCY OFFENDS RELIGION John 5:10–18 (KJV) "The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed."   In Part 10, "Rise, Take Up Your Bed, and Walk," we witnessed the power of Jesus' command. After thirty-eight years of suffering, one word from Christ transformed a hopeless situation. We learned that Jesus did not only heal the man's body; He restored his dignity, changed his identity, and turned the evidence of his pain into a testimony of His power. The man entered Bethesda carrying his condition, but he left carrying the proof of his restoration. Today, we examine what happened after the miracle. Surprisingly, not everyone celebrated. While heaven rejoiced over restoration, some religious leaders became angry because the miracle did not fit their understanding of the law. A man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight year...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 10: RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED, AND WALK

Image
THE POOL OF MERCY: WHEN JESUS STEPS INTO BROKEN SYSTEMS PART 10: RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED, AND WALK John 5:8–9— (KJV) "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked..."  In Part 9, we discovered that Jesus is not intimidated by the length of our struggles. The man at Bethesda carried thirty-eight years of pain, disappointment, and delay, but his long season did not cancel God's purpose for his life. We learned that what seems wasted in human eyes can be redeemed by God's restoring power. Today, we arrive at the moment that changed everything. After thirty-eight years of waiting, one encounter with Jesus brought a command that transformed a lifetime of suffering. For thirty-eight years, this man had been defined by what he could not do. He could not walk. He could not reach the water. He could not change his condition . But when Jesus arrived, He did not begin with an explanation. He began w...
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