Category Archives: missions

Joseph: sent on a mission

Genesis 45.  Joseph’s revelation of himself before his brothers could definitely have gone another way.  He could have used the opportunity to inflict terror and vengeance upon them.  Instead, he shows godly consideration.  He removes all the bystanders so that … Continue reading

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Abraham: seeing smoke

Genesis 19.  Early in the morning, Abraham went to the place where he had pleaded with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, and he got his answer.  Smoke from where Sodom and Gomorrah had been  went up like … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham, deliverance, dependence upon God, destruction in hell, evangelism, gospel, missions, witness | Tagged | 1 Comment

first look at the nations God loves

Genesis 9:20-10:32.   This section highlights the event leading to Noah’s curse upon his grandson, Canaan, in retaliation for his son Ham’s humiliation of him.  Moses probably wanted to recount this story because it gave justification for the Israelites moving to … Continue reading

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the Holy Spirit: power to proclaim the gospel

Luke 24.  Luke tells three final stories before briefly mentioning the ascension (which he describes in more detail in Acts).  These stories emphasize that Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures by his death and resurrection (46), and that believers will fulfill the … Continue reading

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the Holy Spirit is there

Luke 23:26-56.   This passage records the worst human tragedy ever: the Son of God mocked, tortured and killed as a criminal.  The Holy Spirit was there.  Even in such a horrible place and the very worst of times, God’s Holy … Continue reading

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the Holy Spirit and real disciples

Luke 9:51-10:24.  In this series of stories, Jesus and his disciples begin their journey toward Jerusalem.  Along the way, readers learn how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of real disciples. Real disciples are not surprised when their master … Continue reading

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words from the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:57-80.  The message of a prophet burns in his spirit.  He cannot wait to say what God has revealed to him.  Zechariah had been made deaf and mute because he would not believe Gabriel’s message.  He was not free … Continue reading

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disciples: appointment with Jesus

Mark 16.  One must be cautious of commenting on the content of verses 9-20, since it is unclear whether these verses were part of what Mark originally wrote.  If we regard verse 8 as the true ending of the Gospel, … Continue reading

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disciples: questions about the future

Mark 13.  Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple area – so vast that it covered 1/6th of the entire area of Jerusalem.  Jesus had just “dropped the bomb,” indicating that it would be … Continue reading

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disciples: preaching and hardened hearts

Mark 6.  One of the facts of discipleship that we must be aware of is that our ministry will not always be accepted and appreciated.  Many hearts are hardened to God’s truth.        Even Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth … Continue reading

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