“Flawed but Faithful”

“Finding meaning in our Faults”

By: Pastor Joey Bauer

This is a Comeback Kids Ministries Publication, Follow the aforementioned links to discover more about the cause.

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Find out more about Comeback Kids Ministries and what we do by visiting our webpages on the links below:

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First and foremost I’d like to thank God for the ability to write and create books that inspire others in their Faith, as I write these titles I see more and more people who deserve some recognition though Two of them are mine and my wife’s Pastors Lonnie and Kathy Gleason, at Lighthouse Community Church in Stockton, CA. They have been a God send to us. Every time I hear Lonnie speak about the Lord in our one on one talks or in his sermons it settles in the depths of my heart and stays there forever. His ability to inspire hope has guided me through the worst of times, and all the way back to the best of times. Thank you my friends.

I will also thank my wife Janielle for always believing in me. I am just a backwoods boy living a dream that my Fairy tale Princess created for me. Thank you my Beloved.

The Person I really want to dedicate this book to as well, is my late Grandfather “Pops” Norman Murray. Since the day I was born he was proud of me and knew I’d do great things in some way. Because of him I got through a lot of hard times, bad situations, and missed opportunities. I miss him dearly. I miss how he’d always call, show up at the house every day to bring my kids (His Great Grand Kids) chips. I wish he were hereto see the things I’ve done since we last spoke but I know he’s watching from the other side. I love you Pops.

“Introduction”

“Moses”

The Coward with a great call

“The Samaritan Woman:”

The Chick with too many husbands!

“Rahab:”

The Harlot with Faith!

“David”

The Cheater after Gods Own Heart

“Paul”

The Minister who hated Christians

“Noah”

The Drunk who saved Mankind!

“Gideon”

The weakling who was Mighty with Valor!

“Samson”

The Man with Women Problems!

“Thomas”

The Skeptical Disciple!

“Esther”

The Orphan with a Purpose!

“Closing Thoughts from the Author”

Introduction

Before I became a Christian I had an image in my head about what a Christian was, now my image was way off but it is an image a lot of people have still to this day. Ask yourself if you can relate with this… I thought that a Christian was perfect, lived above sin and had either outgrown all their mistakes, faults and failures or was in the process of fixing them so he/she could eventually be that perfect person. Have you ever had this image of a Believer? Many people see the Christian Church as a place of people who gather together to show off how superior they are to others because they are holier than thou and so Heavenly minded that they are no Earthly good. The truth of the matter is though, we are all Christians not because WE DONT sin or have faults, but we are Christians because WE DO have sins and faults! The facts are this, we are all only human, and we are all stuck in a world that is far from perfect, being held prisoner to bodies that age and get “Whacked out,” so it is only natural that we have our faults, failures, mishaps, sins, and crutches.

Now I know from experience, and reading my Bible that EVERYBODY who comes to Christ, has a work or a ministry they are meant to be doing. They are meant to be reaching maybe not EVERYBODY, but they can reach SOMEBODY, at some time, and in some place. So with that being said, we examine ourselves and see all these faults in our lives and wonder, “How can God use an unclean soul like me?” My answer is found over and over in the Bible, from the Beginning of Genesis to the Ned of Revelation. God can use ANYBODY!!! We all have faults, not one of use are perfect, and even I (Pastor Joey) have my crutches. I have found that God actually uses these weaknesses, sins, and crutches in our lives to further his mission to show to the World that God can turn what people deem TRASH, into TREASURE. This is why we started Comeback Kids Ministries, to help build people who have fallen, and help them turn their stumbling blocks into stepping stones, creating a great personal comeback story of their own. In Hebrews Chapter 11 we read the following:

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

See, we read Hebrews Chapter 11, the whole thing and it talks about the people of the Bible who had Faith in God and did great and mighty things. This chapter in the Bible has long been called the “Bibles Hall of Fame” because of its long list of great men and women who loved the Lord with all their hearts and did amazing things. What I like to bring out in this chapter though, is that I want people to recognize that EVERY person mentioned in this chapter had serious issues from being a murderer to adulterous women, but despite their faults and flaws God used them to show his majesty and glory in the world. God never uses perfect people who have no issues in their lives because it’s with the broken people that we can see a remarkable miracle happen. In the Gospels we are reminded of a man who was born with an illness and all the disciples asked Jesus, “Master who has sinned that this man should be born this way?” Jesus looked at them and responded by saying the following, “No man has sinned but he is this way so the glory of God may be manifested in him.” Jesus said that this person was sick so that one day God could show up on the scene and use this broken man to show how great of a God that we serve. A God who can heal the lame, make the dumb talk and the blind see. What a mighty God we serve! Remember today as you read this book, that God can use you. Even in a mess of a life, God still has a plan and a purpose for your life. God will use the small things of this world to show up the big things and he uses what men think is foolishness to confound the wise. God can sure use you and me.

“Moses”

The Coward with a great call

Exodus 3:1-22

1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.

22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

“To err is human”, the proverb axiomatically defines the human character in this world, where no soul can be as chastened as God’s own soul. This does not mean that a sinful soul gets isolated from the Almighty’s holiness like a day is distinguished from night with its brightness and colorfulness. Every good and bad creation in this world has its own petite role to drive the miraculous saga of God’s creation that defines his presence in every state or form of this world. A man, who is lost in darkness, can never think that God is only present in the brighter or divine side of this world. God is omnipresent, which means that we can find him in every good or evil part of this world. Imagine a day without a night, happiness without the existence of sorrow, good without the existence of evil, truth without a lie; in simple words they would never be so worthily divine without the existence of its other side that gives it the true and distinct revelation in this world.

This true realization and knowledge of God’s omnipresence is what that enlightens the Holy Spirit in souls because it is then, when in true sense there will no eye of differentiation between good and evil as the soul will be fully devoted to God. It is like a coin that has no two sides, but has only one side that is fully the God’s side because God can never be partial with the two sides of the coin.

The holy bible speaks about this God’s omnipresence and his impartiality to sinful and divine soul. No one can ever be isolated from God’s grace and love even if his or her soul is drowned in the lake of sins. The holy bible reveals the character of different people, who were chosen by the God to deliver his divine tasks in the world to enlighten the lost faith of God’s followers and to answer the calls of his beloved followers in the world.

Such chosen people, were never as chastened as people think to be to receive God’s blessings. Those were the people, who truly defined their characteristics to be human and firmly believed the God’s presence even in their contaminated souls. God was never partial with their incapability because in his world, every part is his beloved creation.

If those people had something mighty in their fully moronic souls then it was faith. It is like a tiny flame or spark of light that can kill the whole darkness of a room and make it brighter with a simple glow. If we consider darkness as our sins then faith can be that tiny spark of light, which can purify our souls to find the presence of God in it.

Let’s look at Moses for instance. Moses and his ten commandments speak about the God’s holiness and his power that saved the people of Israel from the cruel clutches of slavery of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Moses was a weak soul, who always was afraid of facing the truth of God. His inferior feelings had shrunk and tied his soul, where he could never feel the presence of God in him. His faith was lost amidst the mist of his cowardly notions and was blind with darkness to see the light of divinity. Think about it this way, Moses saw an Israelite being beaten one day, so he killed the Egyptian taskmaster, and then the Jew in whom he saved called him out on it, so Moses ran. He ran far away, he tried to escape his role not only as the Son of Pharaoh’s daughter but also in a sense run from the call that was on his life to save the Children of Israel in their slavery. He ran for a couple dozen years until finally he was lead up a mount while watching his Father in laws flock, and he encountered God. When he encountered God, Elohim, the Great I AM, God told him that it was his destiny to go tell Pharaoh to let his people go. Moses was to stand up to the greatest nation in the world at that time and tell them to let their slaves go. Even as God told him while being manifest in a burning bush that burnt not away, he questioned God. First he tells god,

“Who me?”

Then he proceeds with the following excuses, I can’t God. I can’t see well, I can’t talk good, and I have no power with your people! Who am I supposed to say sent me…? Listen to what God tells him…

I SENT YOU!!! Tell them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has sent you, that the great I AM have sent you!!!

God never judged his weakness or inadequateness, and chose him to deliver his most important task giving him his blessings of righteousness and wisdom. Moses was not chosen by God on the chastity, divinity or wisdom of his soul. Instead God helped him to come out of the prolonged darkness that prevailed in his conscience and gave him the realization of his blessing and presence in him. This mere realization gave strength to his soul and the wisdom to accomplish the task of giving freedom to the people of Israel from the strong hands of the Pharaohs of Egypt. This description in Bible not only reveals God’s miracles to help his followers in the world but also, shows his equal love to everyone without judging any soul on its inferiority or superiority.

Everything in this world has it darker and brighter side, but few people are there who just see it below their divine perspective to measure things on how it appears in the world. These few people are the ones who do not surrender to the lord, or name it as their devotion to the almighty because they know that in this world they do not have anything to surrender or to devote to the lord except their souls that has no materialistic value in this world. They know that everything in this world, like their happiness and sorrows, sins and virtues, life and death belongs to God, so in reality they do not have anything to surrender before God or to devote him something that does not belong to him.

Moses’s refusal to claim his royal blood as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he reached the age of forty shows this that he had understood the true happiness in this world. He chose to serve the people and was ready to endure all the complications that he would face to on the way of accomplishing his task. Throughout his life, he talked to the invisible and only obeyed his divine instructions without a petite flow of fear in his mind. This also reveals that the greatest power in this world is invisible. This is because; we humans have six senses that are only used to measure whatever this world has in it. If god would be visible, we would certainly measure him and that can never be done as there is no other God to compare. Moses’s 40 years of childhood, youth and maturity was all spent on measuring not the worldly things but the truth concealed in God’s empire to reach and see him with the eyes of conscience. Even though Moses had his many faults (Later on we read that he hit a rock when God told him to speak to it, so he was disobedient too!) but even in Moses and all his faults God used him. There may be some that read this book right now who are afraid, you have been paralyzed by fear or tormented in your mind by the Devil! You may be on certain medicines to help you out and you may have to see a counselor or two or maybe even three but God can still use you! He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weak things to show his mighty power in peoples surroundings! Don’t give up and realize that God, just as he used Moses in his faults, can use you too!

“The Samaritan Woman:”

The Chick with too many husbands!

John 4:5-29

5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

The Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well is another explanatory part in the Bible that reveals the mercy and closeness of God even to those who doubt his empire. One may have committed several sins, yet God has given this intelligence to everyone to distinguish between their sins and virtues with the ability to realize that they need forgiveness which can only be found with our Savior, Jesus. It’s always the truth in the confession that ignites the light of eternity in everyone’s conscience. In this part of the Bible, the Samaritan woman depicts a character who knew her sins, but was helpless to clean her soul. Her dubious character had created a wall of hesitation in even reading the Holy instincts of her own conscience. She showed her hypocrisy pretending to be rude, and that was her worldly character after knowing her reality that she was an impure soul. Human beings have a character, where once they are stained; they never bother to jump in the bog. Then they deliberately continue to walk on the restricted path pretending to be rude and inhuman to themselves or in other words, to their brighter side. They even exhibit their sinful character to the world with an expectation to get back the same perception about them. The Samaritan lady’s rude and humiliating tone to Jesus depicted this prolonged character she had lived with just like a dead soul in a living body, waiting for the salvation. Then when God, unlike the world responded with his enchanting politeness, the lady became surprisingly cautious and interrogative. Now it was not God who had the intension to awaken her, but her conscience was curious to know more about Jesus. In the whole conversation described in the Bible, we can find that initially it was Christ who asked her for water, and then in the whole conversation we find the lady asking questions, who had in start revealed her hesitance for Christ as a Jew to talk with her as a stranger and Samaritan Lady. Her arrogance also showed her courage to stand against the inhuman customary walls because she was now challenging Christ’s divinity on being a Messiah, the prophet. In those days the Samaritan people where impure, and half bread mutts (For lack of a better term) but she still reached out to Jesus in order to find out more about this water that he could provide in which she would never thirst again. The women kept on, and on and when Jesus told her to bring her husband hither, she cautiously said, “I have no husband.” God can see past our fronts and look deep into our lives and help us understand where we have gone wrong. Jesus was smart and told her that she has “Well-Said” and then goes onto tell her about her whole history of having more than one husband. What I love about this whole story though is reading about Jesus and showing the point that he never condemned her. He was patient with her, loved her, talked to her even though she was an outcast and then do you know what else he does? He sends her out to tell the people that Christ had come into this world. She had literally become the very first evangelist for Jesus in the Bible. In life we may think of ourselves as outcast or nobodies but God has seen deep into your heart and knows you mean the world to him. Never think less of yourself because of how people treat you, or a spouse treats you, or because of how friends treat you because God created you to be special. He knows that there are people in this world that do desperately need you and your gifts. Be strong and stand tall. Be brave and remember that if Jesus can use the flawed, messed up, adulterous Samaritan woman than he can use you too!

“Rahab:”

The Harlot with Faith!

Joshua 2: 1-14

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

The Holy Bible impalpably reveals the concealed divine messages on every character that has been depicted in it. It speaks that Holiness should not be measured in terms of materialistic status or with deeds done by the mortal body that with time, grows old and dies. It speaks that Holiness should be in the soul and Spirit of a man and that Righteousness is a gift from God. We are brought back to life in Spirt when we give our lives to Christ, but we still have a flesh that belongs to this world. We make mistakes, we fail, and we fall. The whole Bible is about trying to tell all of you whom read it that God uses imperfect people to do his perfect plan. Rahab was another person who was awarded with the honor to serve as one of the almighty’s chosen disciples. It’s not just the Facts that always triumph, but the strong belief or faith on the truth that directs the soul and provides the ultimate salvation from all the sins that we commit in the form of this mortal body. Rahab believed the truth, not the facts. Rahab’s facts that she had to live with was that she was a prostitute, she was a women who even in those days was used and abused because of the lifestyle she chose to live, but it was the truth of God which was brought into her life in the form of the spies from the camp of Israel, and her faith in the truth (Not the facts) that not only saved her and her family’s life but she also got the honor to be mentioned in the Bible’s list of Hall of Famers in Hebrews Chapter 11. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the land of Jericho. Jericho laid in the midst of the land of Canaan which was the land that was promised to the Israelites to all the family of Abraham. The Promised Land that was prophesized divinely by the prophets. After Moses died wandering for 40 years in search of the Promised Land, Joshua shouldered the divine responsibility to lead the Jews to their promised land. Rahab’s strong faith inspired her to work for the Lords team. She helped the two spies of Jericho by providing the shelter to hide in her inn. She believed that it was the will of the almighty and thus she was awarded with the honor to be in what is now called the family of Jesus, which was told of Abraham that in due time he would have a lineage as many as the stars in the sky. Though Rahab was a prostitute, a women of the streets, a type of person that even in today’s society looks down upon, her flawed character was directed by her faith in the truth of God. Rahab’s character axiomatically speaks the impartiality of the almighty into all the worldly definitions of divinity or Holiness. It teaches all humanity a lesson that god never leaves anyone, even if the way is lost and we go astray towards the falsifying materialistic lust and happiness. Let’s just face it, many Christians today have found their way onto a path of self-righteousness in which they must find a way of “qualifying” themselves and others, by fleshly matters which God doesn’t deal in. When these type of Christians are able to keep one of the commandments like, “Thou Shall not Steal” they laud it over a person whom can’t quite seem to keep the laws and commandments like they do. They find self-effort and works as their means to salvation and only call on Jesus once in a great while. These same type of people are the ones who would like to forget that Rahab had a prominent role in the destiny of Gods Children. It doesn’t matter who you are, people are going to look at you like some looked at Rahab. Some people will try to “Qualify” you and your salvation based on your performance, and good deeds to this world and when they see the smallest flaw in you they will cast you out and call you names, but remember that Rahab went through the same. Rahab had a problem, a big one. She found herself stuck in a job in which there was probably a lot of value in (Money wise), stuck in this seeking a way out, she saw a couple of true believers who didn’t cast her away, but received aid from her, and because of this she may have been flawed, but in the end she was counted as faithful. Let’s just face it, none of us are ever going to be perfect. This should be why we become a Christian, because we realize that we cannot keep any of Gods laws in ourselves and that we need a savior to save us from the mess we are in. Rahab saw this, way back before the time of Jesus Christ, she saw a portrayal of a person who believed in Gods promises and she couldn’t help but believe for the promises in her own life as well. I guess you can say Rahab was a convert to the faith, but in the middle of a city who wanted nothing to do with the true and living God, she still did a mighty thing by hiding two of Gods people so they could deliver the report to Joshua in which would help the Children of Israel conquer the formidable city of Jericho. In these times that we live in today, we are much like Rahab, we have problems and we feel like we are in a city full of people who want to keep us down, but we have an awesome example from Rahab and that example being that she fled from what couldn’t benefit her soul, for something greater which would not only affect her soul, but her whole entire life. From that point on she would be included in the family of promise, Gods Children, his family.

Let’s look at a bunch of things here shall we? For 40 long, rigorous years, Moses— under God's direction— led the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness. God had delivered them from Egypt, helped them cross the Red Sea on dry ground and supernaturally defeated the enemies who tried to thwart their path to Canaan. Now (around 1400 B.C.) Israel was about to enter the land God promised to the nation. God had transferred the mantle of Israel's leadership to Joshua, an able, faithful and courageous leader. Before Israel entered Canaan, Joshua sent a reconnaissance party of two men to spy out the land just west of the Jordan River, paying special attention to the formidable city of Jericho. It didn't take the pair long to reach Jericho, a bustling, fortified city strategically situated in the fertile plains of the Jordan valley. To avoid being noticed, they blended with the busy pedestrians outside the great city walls. It was difficult not to be visibly impressed with Jericho's massive fortifications. Still, the spies' primary job was to take mental notes of the city's layout and fortifications. Instantly they realized that these impressive man-made barriers would never be breached or destroyed unless God miraculously intervened for the Israelites. The incredible events that followed include an encouraging lesson involving a woman who had lived an ungodly life. Without a doubt Rahab the harlot helped save the lives of the Israelite spies, which in turn set Israel on the path to conquering Jericho and moving into the Promised Land.

What do we know about Rahab, who played such a pivotal role in the fall of Jericho? Halley's Bible Handbook suggests she may have been a temple prostitute, which in Canaanite eyes was an acceptable line of work. Rahab and her family lived within the outer city wall. Her house was apparently part of the wall. It is possible that the house doubled as an inn since the spies were sought there. Besides her infamous profession, it appears that Rahab engaged in less-questionable labor as well. Either raising or buying flax, she dried it on her rooftop and made linen from it. The whole city had received news about the miraculous events and conquests of the wandering nation of Israel, yet Rahab was the only resident of Jericho who resolved to fear and obey Israel's God. This she did even before she had the opportunity to interact with the spies from Israel. Although the Canaanites had many gods, she had enough understanding to realize that the God of Israel was no ordinary Canaanite deity. Upon entering Jericho to determine its strength, the spies conferred immediately with Rahab. The ensuing conversation revealed her understanding of the true God and her determination to help His chosen people. When the king of Jericho heard that spies from Israel had entered his city, he immediately sent soldiers to Rahab's house. Word got to Rahab that the king's men were coming to investigate her and her two guests. Understanding the gravity of the situation and moving with haste, Rahab hid the spies under the drying flax on her rooftop. There she made a covenant with them: She would help them to safety; they, in turn, had to spare her and her family. The spies then negotiated their side of the agreement: She had to keep their location a secret along with helping them to safety. Moreover, she was required to gather all of her father's family under her roof and identify her house by hanging a scarlet cord from a window. The deal struck, God afterward gave Jericho into Israel's hands by flattening its walls. Yet, incredibly, Rahab's house was left standing. As had been agreed, Rahab and her family were delivered. They made their home with Israel from that day on. But the story doesn't end there, as we'll see. Surprisingly, Rahab is one of two women named in Hebrews 11 as examples of godly faith. The other is Abraham's wife, Sarah. Few would question Sarah's inclusion. She exemplified, in most respects, what are generally considered Christian values and qualities. But Rahab? Why would the holy, righteous God include the name of a harlot as one of His faithful saints? God, we must realize, shows His great mercy and power through human weaknesses. Out of Rahab's weakness she was made strong in faith—through the power of God. The record of her deeds provides sufficient scriptural evidence for why God included her in the faith chapter: "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace" Many people would not risk their lives for family and friends. Yet Rahab risked her life to protect "enemy" spies. Rahab focused on the godly mission of the spies and her realization that they represented the God of Israel. Rahab didn't believe just in the existence of God, she literally believed what He revealed. That is, she believed it was He who was bringing Israel into the Promised Land. Risking her very life, she had no more evidence to go on than the reports from others that somehow, in some way, the God of Israel had given His people great victories over more-powerful foes. Rahab stated confidently: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed." And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" Rahab was here living by faith and not by sight, for, though she saw none of these events actually happen, she had faith to believe that Israel's God was more powerful than all others and would take care of her and her family too. Rahab's faith and conviction gave her the courage to look death in the face—and live. As the book of Proverbs tells us, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Courage is born from unwavering faith, as Rahab demonstrated.

We can learn a powerful lesson from Rahab. Her example demonstrates living faith in a forgiving and merciful God. We should note, however, that Rahab's response to God was not perfect. She lied to protect the spies' whereabouts. Sadly, some will use this to excuse lying when, in their determination, it's for a good cause. However, God's law makes it clear that lying is never acceptable. We should bear in mind that Rahab is commended for her faith, not her lying—and realize that her faith was not yet educated, so to speak. It may even be that Rahab did not yet fully understand the sinfulness of her past way of life. But she did know she had lived apart from the true God and now believed He would receive her if she would serve Him. No doubt this fact would later lead her to a committed life of obedience to God. No, God did not condemn her for not telling the truth about the spies' whereabouts; He commended her for hiding His courageous representatives. The apostle James later wrote: "Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?" her works being a natural response to her faith. Had she known the truth about lying, this verse would likely read differently. But she acted in the best way she knew—and a merciful and patient God proclaimed her a heroine of faith.

Rahab also showed a deep devotion to those close to her. Considering the terrible destruction about to befall the great city of Jericho, Rahab could easily have thought only of her own safety, ignoring the welfare of others. Yet her agreement with the spies was that they should guarantee not only her safety but that of her entire family. Rahab's faith, courage and concern for others saved her family and herself. "But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, ‘Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.' And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel . . . And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho" Yes, the Israelites received Rahab and her family into the nation of Israel. Over time, she would have learned the laws of God and come to serve Him more completely, repudiating the mistakes of her past. Indeed, being of Canaan and a former prostitute, she must have convincingly changed her life to have been able to marry a prominent Israelite.

Surprisingly, Rahab married Salmon, the son of Judah's tribal leader. From this marriage would come their son Boaz, a faithful man of God. Boaz would marry Ruth (of the book of Ruth), and their son Obed would be the father of Jesse, the father of King David. From David would descend the Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ. Amazingly, then, a former prostitute of Canaan would become what every Israelite woman hoped to be—a mother in the line of the Messiah. In fact, Rahab experienced the messianic hope in an especially personal way—finding deliverance, physical and spiritual, through the mercy of God. Rahab's story represents what God has in store for those in non-Israelite nations (the gentiles), who are also promised God's salvation. Her conversion reminds us that one day God will write His laws on the hearts and minds of all mankind, converting all peoples. A transformed life, like that experienced by Rahab, is there for you if you follow the apostle Peter's instruction: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" If a common harlot of Canaan could become an uncommon saint of faith and courage and receive the privilege of motherhood in the line of Jesus Christ, then surely nothing is impossible with God. Rahab's amazing story is a lesson for us all.

“David”

The Cheater after Gods Own Heart

Acts 13:22

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

At a time when kings went out to battle, during King David’s reign, he decided to stay back. Having had a successful reign and also having a very capable army led by Joab, he was comfortable staying back in the comfort of his palace and enjoying the pleasures it held for him. He stayed back in Jerusalem and it was at a time like this when he had not much to occupy his mind that he woke up from a nap one day and while he treaded the roof and looked on, saw a very beautiful woman having her bath. David desired her and found out from his servants who she was. He found from them that her name was Bathsheba and that she was the wife of a certain man named Uriah. Her husband Uriah was among the men of the king’s army and was at war then fighting for the honor of Israel and glory of the king. Uriah was one of David’s most loyal military men. He was bound by his word to fight for the Kings army. Uriah was a man of honor and virtue who trusted his King, David and took a vow to fight on his behalf for the Army of the Lord. David nonetheless, even when he knew that it was Uriah’s wife, ordered his messengers to go and bring her to him. David slept with Uriah’s wife despite the fact that she was already bound to a man in the covenant of marriage and that she was not his wedded wife. Bathsheba went back to her husband’s house after being with David, and as time went by, discovered that she was pregnant. She knew that the pregnancy was for David because since the war began, she had not known her husband. She therefore sent word to David and let him know that she was pregnant with his child. David realized what an awkward thing it would be for everyone to know of the evil he had done and he sought how to cover up what he had done. He immediately contacted Joab and asked him to send Uriah to him. Upon his arrival, David told him to go home hoping that he would go and be with his wife so that the responsibility of the pregnancy could be shifted to him, the husband. Uriah however did not go home but went and joined the king’s guards at the king’s gate. When David found out about this, he was deeply worried. He questioned Uriah about why he acted this way and Uriah replied that his heart would not permit him to go to his home to wine and dine and lay with his wife when the armies of Israel were at war. David saw that Uriah would not budge and allowed him to go back to battle. He however sent word to Joab who was leading the army and hatched a plan with him that would facilitate the death of Uriah. Just as he planned, Joab followed through and placed Uriah in the hottest zones of the battle and when Uriah and his men came under attack, Joab withdrew his men. In this way, Uriah died in battle. David was relieved thinking that he had covered his abominable act of adultery with yet a bigger sin, murder.

God was very displeased at David’s actions and sent Nathan the prophet to tell him his sin to his face, and the consequent punishment. Nathan went on to tell David a story of a man in Israel who had one lamb. The man loved this lamb. It was the only possession of the mans, and the man fed it, took care of it, had it sleeping in his home and even ate dinner with this little lamb of his. Nathan then told David that another man was having a feast and instead of slaying one of his many, many lambs, he instead took the poor man’s little lamb, slaughtered it and had a feast. David instantly shouted out, “Who has done this! Tell me and I will make him repay!” The prophet Nathan then told David, “This man was you.” The King of Israel had taken Uriah’s precious lamb for himself out of greed and selfishness. David was filled with remorse and was repentant of his sins. God forgave him but however told him through Nathan that as he had treated Uriah and taken his wife in secret, he would lose his son. Nathan also painted a picture of David’s future son Absalom to cause him problems publically.

While David did suffer the consequences of his actions, God still loved him (Because God’s Love has never been subject to our failures, mishaps or sins) and during his reign he fought many battles which he won and he served a very successful reign as king over Israel. During his reign, Israel prospered and increased her territory. He was exceptional in rendering praises to God. David wrote most of the book of Psalms of the bible. Whenever the Lord saved David, he sang a new song unto the Lord. God used him to defeat the Ammonites, Philistine’s giants and their descendants.

So many people wonder why David, in all his sins is still referred to in the Bible as a “Man after Gods own Heart.” My opinion is one from a perspective of Grace. David understood Gods eternal plan of Mercy. He always prayed for the Lords forgiveness when he fell short. He never missed a chance to praise the Lord, to sing to him on his harp and to beg for his Love and Mercy. David understood that he was human and that this human part of us could never be saved by anything we do, or do not do. He knew that he needed God to pull him through the hard times of life, and we can see from David’s life that God did in fact pull him through. Let’s look at a few things that God brought David through.

David as a young child fought and slew not only a Lion but also a Bear which tried to kill his sheep.

David was faced with the order of slaying a Giant that stood over 9 feet tall, whose name was Goliath. He defeated Goliath with a stone being flung from a sling shot.

David was anointed as King of Israel but was hunted down by the current King who did not want to relinquish the throne. He was chased all over Israel, Canaan, and other places. He had to hide in caves, tall grass and trees, but God had his back.

David had the whole nation of the Philistine people chasing after him to kill him and take his country.

David failed and took another man’s wife, murdered him, got the woman pregnant and after she had given birth to his child, the child died. God still forgave him and David rose from the hurt and continued to be king.

David had one of his beloved sons (Absalom) seeking to kill him and take the Throne of Israel. His son soon died and David had experienced losing yet another child.

We see some of these things and we wonder how David was able to get through them. He was able to get through them because he knew that his strength wasn’t enough and he needed God to carry him through. In every hard time, trial, mistake, and temptation that David was faced with, God never forsook him based off of him being a man who committed horrible crimes. Nope! God forgave him and continued to use him for mighty things. David was the only king in the history of the Nation of Israel who prospered it, expanded it, and kept it the biggest power in the world.

I am going to be honest. I used to look at people in prison who did horrible things. People would be in jail or prison for murder, rape, molestation, Violence, Drugs and even more, and I would judge them, and think to myself “There is no way I could ever forgive these people.” I actually said once about certain people, “I don’t want to share my Heaven with them!” How hypocritical right? I was one of them before! I used to think like this though. The fact of the matter is this though, if these people accept Jesus as their personal Savior and they have been made a new creature. I have no right to bring up their transgressions because even God himself has washed them under the blood and forgotten about them completely. I admire people who have had somebody kill their family members, or have been on the bad end of a crime, but these people still have the ability to stand up during the trail and say, “I forgive you.” This is amazing. It can only come from a man or woman after God’s own heart. So where am I going with this? This is where I am going… It doesn’t matter if you are a criminal, a victim, a drug addict, Homeless, or even an Alcoholic, God can still forgive you and use you to do a mighty work. Just as God forgave David and made him prosperous, God can forgive you and make you prosperous as well. God Specializes in using the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God makes a habit out of taking what people call “Trash” and turning it into “Treasure.” Never discredit yourself because you make mistakes. We all make mistakes and we will never grow out of making mistakes until we cross over to Heaven. God will never bless or curse your life according to your mistakes. He doesn’t work that way. Instead God takes us as we are and shows the world that he can take messed up people with horrible problems and make them destined for greatness. Remember that faults and all, God will bless you, forgive you, love you, and use you. Your dreams are just a change of thinking away from becoming real. Right believing (Thinking) will always produce right living. If you remember that God uses imperfect people because he has paid the price for us on the cross, then you will begin to see God do miracles in your life. Your dreams can come true, even if you mess up from time to time.

“Paul”

The Minister who hated Christians!

Acts 9: 1-15

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

The apostle Paul is a man formerly called Saul. He was a very learned man having been taught by his great teacher Gamaliel. He was very knowledgeable in the law. In his days as Saul, right from the martyr of Stephen, was always at the forefront of the persecution of the gospel of Christ, and the apostles and the church. He approved of the murder of Stephen who was stoned to death for preaching the gospel of Christ and declaring that Jesus whom they crucified was the savior of the world and the Son of God. The very day that Stephen was martyred, Saul went into the homes of the believers who had just buried Stephen and dragged them out. Home after home, he went and took them, both men and women and put them in jail. He made threats of murder against the church and because he had a good rapport with the law, high priests and the authorities that were in power, he got constitutional backing for his missions against believers.

So he planned and made arrangements for one of such persecutions. He went to the high priest and obtained a letter of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus which would authorize him to arrest followers of Christ there, men and women alike should he find any there, and bring them to Jerusalem. He obtained this permit and was on his way to Damascus, but as he was approaching the city, a blinding light flashed from the sky round him and he fell to the ground off of his horse. He heard a voice which called him by name twice and asked why he was persecuting Him. “Who are you, lord?” he had asked. There he encountered Jesus. He lost his sight and was healed by God through Ananaias. He was also baptized by him. In spite of his persecution of Christ work, he was picked for a divine purpose and in a few days, he was in the synagogues in Damascus preaching that Jesus was the son of God. He returned to Jerusalem to join the disciples there. In the church at Antioch where Saul was now one of the prophets, the Holy Spirit spoke unto them as they prayed and set Saul and Barnabas apart for a purpose he had pre-purposed them for. Saul (Who now went by Paul) travelled with Barnabas to Seleucia and from there to Cyprus. He preached the gospel in Salamis and went on to the island of Pathos where he encountered a false prophet called Bar-Jesus who he under the influence of the Holy Spirit exposed and was thus able to convert the Governor of the place and many others to Christ. Saul who was now renamed Paul did a lot in the work of spreading the word of salvation to the ends of the earth. He travelled far; as far as places like Perga, Iconuim, Lystra, Derbe, Troas, Samothrace, Neapolis and Philippi. Everywhere they went, they preached the gospel of Jesus and brought people to salvation. In Philippi, Paul and his company was arrested and thrown into jail for preaching and casting out the spirit of divinity from a young woman. There in prison, while they praised and worshipped, an earthquake ensued which broke the prison gates and the shackles that held them. They were released the next morning by the authorities. Given the signs and wonders that followed then, many were made to believe. Paul took the gospel as far as Thessalonica and Athens, to Ephesus and Corinth and wherever he went, people, Jews and Gentiles alike were drawn to Christ.

He was filled with the Holy Spirit and God performed unusual miracles through him. Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick and tormented, and their diseases were driven away and evil spirits expelled. Paul was imprisoned many times, faced judgment in the hands of many different kings in different territories and suffered ship-wreck on some of his journeys but none of these deterred him from doing God’s work. The cause of the gospel took Paul as far as Rome. Paul wrote three-quarters of the New Testament which comprises the parts of the New Testament now classified as Pauline letters. His books include epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews is believed to be written by him and Thessalonians; books of Timothy, Titus and Philemon were also written by Paul.

What we can learn from Paul in the regards of this book though is that Paul was very, very human. He struggled with sin, sickness and persecution. He had qualities in him which made him think he wasn’t even qualified for the work of the Gospel. We can even see in Romans Chapter 7 we see Paul being very open an honest about his struggle with sin. Read the following in Romans Chapter 7:14-25:

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Paul is straight up telling us that the things he knows are wrong he finds himself doing all the time. He also states that the things he knows which are good, he finds himself not able to perform. Paul was going through the struggle that all of us Christians go through, the war between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul stated towards the end that he counted himself a “wretched” man but than do you know what he did? He said THANK THE LORD FOR JESUS CHRIST! Jesus saves us from our sin. He doesn’t take us out of it, he just saves us from it. We cannot escape this flesh until the day we cross over into glory and the struggle between good and evil in us will always be there but what Paul knew was amazing. Paul knew that God saw the difference between his flesh and his Spirit. Basically he knew God would tell him, “Yah you messed up but that was your flesh my son, rely on my Spirit that is in you. That’s what I see.”

God is so amazing to be able to use imperfect people to do his perfect will. We see this the best in the Apostle Paul. Though Paul was carnal, sinful, and in his flesh, God used him to literally preach the Gospel to the world. Then, he used Paul to create even more powerful minsters.

God doesn’t qualify us for our call, blessings, promise and riches based on how we act, feel, or live. God loves beyond lifestyle, he loves beyond action, and he loves beyond our emotions. God is so great that he has mercy on us. He doesn’t give us what we deserve, because all of us deserve to die and go to straight to the pits of Hell, but God actually gives us what we don’t deserve, promise, blessing, favor, and an abundant life. So, remember when you fail or don’t think you add up, Paul didn’t think he added up but God saw that he was a perfect candidate to do great things.

“Noah”

The Drunk who saved Mankind!

Genesis 6: 1-9

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Noah is described in the Bible as a man who had no faults and as the only good man in his time. At a time when everyone else was sinful and going against God’s commandments, Noah was living in fellowship with God. God therefore decided to destroy the world with water but to spare Noah and his family for his righteousness. He therefore gave him the task of building a huge boat which would house him and his family, all animals of the field and birds of the sky, each male and female during the downpour that would destroy the world for posterity and continuance of existence when the destruction was over. Noah carried out God’s instruction and constructed the ark according to God’s specification. He gathered up the animals, every kind of both sexes and boarded them and his family onto the boat as God instructed. Through him, God sustained life and the existence of his creation after the destruction of the world. After the water dried and dry land appeared, Noah and all that was in the ark disembarked and Noah offered a sacrifice of burnt offering unto God which made God repent that he destroyed the world and God declared that he would not again destroy the world and that as long as the world exists there will be time for planting and harvest.

Noah settled again with his three sons and being a farmer, he planted a vineyard and the bible states that he is the first man to own a vineyard. After he drank some of the wine, Noah became drunk. Under the influence of alcohol, he took off his clothes and lay naked in his tent that his son Ham saw him naked. In spite of this shameful act God kept His promise to Noah to increase his children and descendants so that they will fill the earth. He blessed Noah and his descendants and from his lineage came Terah, the father of Abram.

Now I don’t think Noah was a perfect man, but the Bible does say he was a perfect man and that he walked with God. The reason I believe the Bible says Noah was perfect is because in Verse 8 in the scripture we read above it states that “Noah Found Grace.”

Grace is a beautiful thing, and it is what we as Christians live by today in the Church age. Grace is simply the “Unmerited (Or Undeserved) Favor of God.” Another awesome point to bring out is that according to the Bible the time we are living in right now is called the “Dispensation of Grace” meaning “The time of undeserved favor.” Grace is what makes us righteous when we know we are wicked. God saw that Noah had faults, he was a drunk. The Bible states he got drunk right after God delivered him from the great flood, but God looked past his drunken state and saw a man who found Gods undeserved favor, God’s Grace. God, because of the work of Jesus Christ now looks at us and sees a person who has found grace. He doesn’t see our addictions, our jealousy, our anger, bitterness, he doesn’t see our struggles or unbelief, and he simply sees us through the eyes of grace. He forgives us, looks past our “Drunk” moments much like Noah’s, and he still sees a man or woman in us that can save a world!

“Gideon”

The weakling who was Mighty with Valor!

Judges 6:11-16

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Gideon was of the clan of Abiezer and the son of Joash. During his time, the Israelites were under the rule of the Midianites. Everything they farmed, the Midianites harvested for their use; their arable lands the Midianites grazed their cattle on, and they imposed heavy taxes on them, so much that nothing they produced was for their own use. They suffered and labored only to have everything confiscated from them. God allowed this rule over Israel because of their sin and after seven years of oppression, God chose to use Gideon to deliver them. An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon at a winepress where he threshed wheat secretly so that the Midianites would not know. The angel told him that the Lord is with him. He doubted the angel being oblivious of the fact that it was the Angel of the Lord that he spoke with. His doubt reasonable nonetheless because he questioned why it was that they suffered and labored in vain if indeed the Lord was with them. “You are to rescue Israel”, the Angel said to him. Again, Gideon did not believe this as he did not see how that was possible. “How can I rescue Israel,” he retorted. Coming from the weakest clan in the tribe of Manasseh and being the least important member of the family, he didn’t see how it could be that he was the one to rescue Israel. But the Lord assured him that he could do it because HE was with him. Gideon offered to bring the angel an offering of food, insisting that by this he would know if he was really the Lord. When he brought forth the food, he was directed to set forth the food on the rock there and then the Angel stretched forth his hand and touched it with a stick. Fire came out of the rock and burnt up the meat and bread and then the angel disappeared. Gideon now finding out that he had seen an angel face to face, built an alter there and called it “The Lord is Peace”. Though he was considerably the most irrelevant in his tribe; his faith in God’s purpose waxed stronger seeing how God had picked him. You can even read in the Bible that when the Angel of the Lord greeted Gideon, he addressed him by calling him a “Mighty man of valor!.” That night God instructed him to tear down his father’s alter of Baal and also cut down the symbol of the god Asherah. He was also to take his father’s bull and another seven year old bull and offer a burnt sacrifice unto God, using for firewood the symbol of Asherah which he had cut down. In the morning, the people protested about the act and found out that Gideon had done it. They sought to kill Gideon but Joash his father asked if it was Baal that they fought for? “If Baal is a god, let him defend himself” he said to them. Though Gideon doubted that God would deliver the Midianites into the hands of the Israelites and asked for different signs from God to assure him of this which God did, God did not give up on him for his doubt.

Gideon and his men set out in readiness for battle, but while they were beside the hill of Moreh, the Lord told him that the men he had were too many that they would think their victory a direct consequence of their numbers or strength. After a couple of tests proffered by God, He picked only three hundred men to go with him across to the Midianite’s camp. And that night, when the Lord commanded Gideon to get up and attack the camp, he did. Dividing his men into three in groups of hundred each (Being only 300 men to take on thousands). They blew their trumpets and broke their jars and as they did so, God created confusion among the enemy forces and made them attack themselves. As the Midianites ran, the Israelites followed in pursuit and captured the two Midianite chiefs. Gideon went on to carry out the final defeat of the Midianites. Gideon though a man of doubts and from the smallest clan of Manasseh was used by God to do exploits. His family was blessed. He had seventy sons and many wives and prospered in his time.

What I love about Gideon is if you read Judges 6 you will see that he thought of himself as nothing. He didn’t think he mattered much. Gideon thought he was weak and frail, but when the time came God used his weaknesses to confound the mighty Armies of the Midianites. How many of us today have a complex with ourselves? I know I do at times. Some think to themselves that they aren’t smart enough to go to college. They aren’t good enough to go to Church. They aren’t strong enough to stand and fight for what’s right. They feel as if they aren’t educated enough to get that great job or that next promotion. Some may even feel as if they aren’t talented enough to sing, act, play a sport, or perform, but God is looking past your insecurities. God is looking way past your shallow outward appearance and he is speaking to the greatness within you. See, God spoke to the greatness in Gideon and now he is speaking to the greatness in you.

“Samson”

The Man with Women Problems!

Judges 13: 1-5

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

At a time when the Israelites were living in captivity under the philistines due to their sin, God had mercy on them and rose to save them from their captivity after they had been ruled by the Philistines for forty years. God set out to do this through the house of a man named Manoah whose wife had not had a child since their marriage. The lord’s angel appeared to his wife and told of the coming birth of a son who would be a Nazirite unto God and that will begin the work of rescuing Israel from the Philistines. The angel urged Manoah’s wife not to take any alcoholic drink or unclean thing during her pregnancy and told her that the child must never cut his hair because from the day he is born, he would be dedicated unto God as a Nazirite. It was thus that the young man came into the land of the Philistines. He grew every day in strength and knowledge. He was so strong, being empowered by God that he tore up a lion that attacked him with his bare hands. He also performed a fearful feat of killing a thousand men with just the jawbone of a donkey. Whenever the Philistines came upon him, God empowered him and he broke loose each time, fought them and defeated them. Samson had one weakness though which threatened to destroy him. He had a great lust for beautiful women. This made him lust after Philistine women and even though the women were planted by the philistine army to bring him in and bind him so that they could kill him, he followed them. He first wanted to marry a certain woman from Timnah, but after he lost her to a bet with the Philistines which they won with her help, he went about and continued in his ways with women. At a time, Samson went to Gaza, a Philistine city and there he met a prostitute who he went to bed with. The Philistines found out about his presence in their city and surrounded the place and waited through the night hoping to kill him in the place at daybreak. Samson however stayed only until midnight and breaking the city gate loose from its door posts and hinges, carried it on his shoulders all the way to the top of the hill overlooking Hebron, evidence of his immense strength.

After this, Samson fell in love with yet another woman named Delilah. This was to be his greatest undoing as the five Kings of the Philistine Kingdom went up to her and demanded that she find out the source of Samson’s power from him. “Ask him the secret of his strength and what it is that if done would have him overpowered” they said to her. Delilah asked this of Samson but he did not divulge the real source of his strength to her. Over and over again, he misled her and found that she tried out every information he gave her, but every time she called on him that the Philistines were upon him, he shook himself loose and finished off his attackers with no difficulty. But the day came when Samson could not take her pestering anymore and he told her the secret of his great strength. “Since I was born, a razor has not touched my head. If I wear to cut my hair, I will loose my strength and be normal like other men” he revealed.

Delilah therefore called on the Philistine warriors to come up one more time and with a barber too. She made Samson sleep on her laps and while he slept, they cut off his hair. She called out to him once again, telling him that he was under attack by the Philistines and he arose and fought not knowing that his strength had left him. They overpowered him and bound him. They took out his eyes and put him in prison. In this way Samson sinned against God and broke his covenant with God as a Nazirite. As a result he lost his strength and became an object of mockery for the Philistines. The Philistines gouged out his eyes and then they put him to hard labor, setting him to turn their grinding mill. In prison, Samson repented of his sin and wished he could get one more chance to avenge himself on the Philistines; to make them pay for taking out his eyes and also, the humiliation which they had subjected him to. While in prison, he prayed to God to empower him just one more time, that he may punish the Philistines. God forgave him and gave him another chance and it did happen that as he spent his days in the prison and worked at the mill, his hair gradually began to grow again but the Philistines did not notice because he always covered his hair.

Then came the time when the Philistines celebrated and offered a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. All five Philistine Kings were there, their lawmakers, Judges and everyone that mattered in the Philistine Kingdom. There was a great multitude of people. And while they made merry and praised Dagon for giving Samson into their hands, they requested that Samson be brought out for their entertainment. He was led out by a young lad amidst cheers of mockery from the huge audience. Samson asked the boy to make him feel the pillars that held the house stating that he would like to lean on them. His arms balanced on both pillars, he asked God for strength and pushed against the pillars. The Lord again strengthened him and the huge pillars on which the building rested gave way. The building collapsed completely to the ground killing all the kings and so large a number of people that the number of people that died that day at Samson’s hands was more than he had killed altogether in his lifetime. Samson died alongside everyone else in the building. He had been Israel leader for twenty years in spite of his shortcomings.

The amazing thing about Samson is we can see Gods propensity to give people second, third, and forth chances. As long as one is left breathing, then they have an extended opportunity of forgiveness with God. Sampson messed up a lot, he had a huge problem with women, many different times and we can see he liked to play games with the Philistine people. He always walked with one foot in the enemy’s camp and the other foot in Gods corner and so many of us do this today. We straddle the fence when it comes to God, and dabble a little with the world, only to feel its cold sting and come running back to God for help. IT’S OK THOUGH!!! God knows we have a very fleshly, human side and as long as we run back to him in our times of need, he forgives us and makes us new. He doesn’t only forgive us but we get to pick up right where we left off and even become greater. Some Christians have the belief that when we mess up, we have to start all over again with God, back from step one and grow up all again, this isn’t true. When we are forgiven, God picks us up and tells us to pick up where we left off, and then do you know what he does? He gives us an even bigger anointing. We can see this from Samson as he asked forgiveness and after he did God gave him back his strength to do a feat that was bigger than any victory he had attained before. God is good and he is always looking to bless you, because he sees the good in you. You might not feel very good after making mistakes and asking God to forgive you but rest assured that all your sins and mistakes have been washed away. They can’t be seen anymore. Glory to God!

“Thomas”

The Skeptical Disciple!

John 20:24-28

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Thomas was one of the disciples of Jesus. He followed Jesus and loved Him just as much as the rest of the disciples. While Jesus was with them before his crucifixion, he told them of his coming persecution and death. He died after his crucifixion and was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead just as he had told them and appeared to his apostles but Thomas was not with the rest of the apostles when Jesus came to them. When the disciples therefore later met with Thomas, they told him excitedly of the resurrection of Jesus. “We have seen him”, they said. He appeared to us while we were together; but Thomas did not believe that this was true. Thomas doubted that it was possible that the same Jesus who was nailed to the cross and whose side was pierced with a spear could come back to life after having been in the tomb for three days. “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands, put my finger in those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe” he answered them.

He did not change his mind about this until the next week. The disciples were in a room and the apostle Thomas was with them. They were indoors with the doors locked but Jesus appeared there and was in their midst. Peace be unto you, he said to them and then He urged Thomas to put his hand to his wounds and see that he was indeed the same Jesus whom he saw die that was now resurrected. Jesus admonished Thomas to believe and stop doubting, for it is better for those who believe without seeing Him. Thomas believed now having seen Christ.

After the resurrection of Jesus, the twelve disciples went out and made disciples of all nations, Thomas as well. He was steadfast in the faith. He was arrested just as the other disciples and whipped and was told never to talk about or preach in the name of Jesus. They were forbidden from healing in the name of Jesus and were told that if they did so, they would be killed. They however kept on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and even though Thomas had doubted before, he did not relent or fall out of faith. He was strong in the faith and was a great instrument in the hand of God towards spreading the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

The amazing thing about Thomas is he was relentless in preaching the Gospel and telling people about the saving power of Jesus. Thomas traveled as far as India to proclaim the message of Christ. Even though he was a doubter at one time, he was now on fire. I am almost positive that he continued to deal with doubt, because Christians today still doubt, worry and stress even though we have seen God pull through for us time after time. We all struggle with doubt, but God still uses us in our doubt. Get this… When the Portuguese people sailed and discovered the lands of India in the 1600’s, they found a Christian community named “Mar Thoma Church” which was actually established by Thomas more than a millennium beforehand. Amazing right? Despite the doubt, Thomas made an impact on this world for millenniums to come. We are still touched by Thomas when we read of his story in the Bible. We are taught a great lesson by Thomas, the lesson that you cannot rely on your feelings or emotions to show you the truth and give you direction in your life. If we see with Thomas, his feelings were telling him Jesus was dead, but the truth was that Jesus is alive. Many times we feel like we can’t accomplish something, but Jesus can make you stand tall, triumphant over the obstacles. At times we feel as if we can’t touch a life, but the reality is that Jesus is using us every day to touch a person’s heart. Many times we don’t think we can make it another day but the truth is that if God brought you to it, he can bring you through it. Thomas didn’t rely on how he felt, instead he pushed past his doubt and touched nations for the Gospels sake. You can do this too. Don’t let yourself, the enemy, or another person try to make you a slave to your emotions. God has given you power over fear, so chose to have faith and watch as God uses you in a mighty way.

If you remember, there is a story in the Bible of a man who came to Jesus. This man had a son who was possessed. The boy would throw himself in fires and act like a lunatic. The man cried out to Jesus, “Lord have mercy on my son!” The man begged Jesus to heal his child. Jesus than told him if he believes than anything would be possible. What the father says to Jesus always amazes me. He is honesty, and in a humble cry he tells Jesus the truth. He says, “Lord I believe, but help my unbelief.” Jesus honored this and healed his son. I bring this up to point out the fact that the father had doubts, but his doubts didn’t stop him from experiencing his miracles. I want everybody reading this right now to realize that just because you doubt, you get angry, you get depressed or worried, and none of these feelings will stop God from blessing you as well as using your life to help others.

“Esther”

The Orphan with a Purpose!

Esther 2: 1-17

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Esther was a beautiful young Hebrew woman who had a good shape, was super pretty, but she was an orphan. After she lost her parents, her uncle Mordecai adopted her and took care of her. She didn’t have things easy as an orphan even though her uncle Mordecai took care of her as if she were his own daughter. This was because; she and Mordecai were not living in the land of their birth. They were captives of war and were but captives in the land that they lived. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along a group of captives, Mordecai was among them and thus they came to live in Persia. As such Mordecai did not have all he wanted neither did Esther. Given her life’s circumstances, most would expect nothing much from her. She however kept growing in the ways of the Lord. Now a time came when Vashti the Queen defied Xerxes King of Persia which greatly displeased the king and made him call for all young virgins in the land from whom he intended to pick a bride. Mordecai prepared his cousin and she went into the palace as did many virgins to be prepared to appear before the king. She performed excellently before their trainers and was loved by them. Despite her disadvantage as regards growing up without the privileges of affluence and parental care, she found favour in the eyes of the King. She was chosen to be Queen as God found her worthy of his purpose.

After a while, there arose an evil man named Haman who desired to be worshipped by his fellow men. He decided to kill God’s people, the Jews in an effort to kill Mordecai who he knew was a Jew and who didn’t pay obeisance to him. He made a stake on which he planned to hang Mordecai and through devious means obtained the approval of the king and had him append his seal, authorizing the elimination of a race of people who he described to the King as unruly and non-compliant. Esther found out about this after the law was already passed. The law which was passed according to the law of the Medians and Persians which could not be changed was a great cause of worry for all Jews as the law had authorized a date on which, they would be attacked and wiped out. Queen Esther declared a fast for all Jews after which she went into the presence of the King even though it was against the laws of the land for anyone to come into the presence of the King uninvited, even for a Queen. The penalty for breaching this law was death except the king stretches forth his scepter towards such a subject. She however did not hold back for her own safety but put her life on the line to save her people. God answered the prayer of the Jews and the king stretched his scepter to her and asked her wish. She took her time to invite the King and his cabinet to banquets which he prepared for them, another after the first, before she made the request known. The King was greatly annoyed as he found out that Haman had hatched such a plan to kill his Queen and also Mordecai, a man who had saved the King’s life once by exposing a plot that attempted to take the King’s life. The King had stormed out of the room to clear his head so as not to take a rash decision but when he returned, he found Haman holding his wife, the Queen by her robes. This incurred his wrath and when he learnt of the stake that Haman had raised in the gallows for Mordecai, the King ordered that he be hung on it himself. He also made an additional law to the one which Haman had him sign into law empowering all Jews to fight and defend themselves on that day when they would be attacked since their laws cannot be changed. On the appointed day, all Jews stayed together and defended themselves and did live.

In this way, God used Esther to fight for His people even in their land of captivity despite her being raised under disadvantaged circumstances.

With this being said, I know from working with people as a counselor, minister, and a teacher that some people feel like they were born with a raw deal. They don’t understand why they were born with an incurable illness. They don’t know why God would send them to parents who are drug addicts or alcoholics, or why they might have been born with parents who never showed up to raise them. I know its easy for us to get depressed and limit our lives because we were born with a “Bad Hand.” But my brother, my sister, Esther was born with nothing except her uncle and she still became the wife of a King, and eventually saved an entire nation from Genocide. I (Pastor Joey) was born with a bad hand. I was bron with genetic disorders that impact my life a great deal, but God has taken my bad hand and used it to rule the poker table my friends. God can take a “Nobody” and turn them into a “Somebody.” Comeback Kids Ministries is all about turning what people deem “Trash” into “Treasure.” Let’s examine an iconic political figure in American History, his name was Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was a Christian, and he knew that God would be in his corner no matter what, so in turn he never gave up. He knew someday that he was bound to do something great with his life, but let’s look at a brief summary of his life and failures:

1816: His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.

1818: His mother died.

1831: Failed in business.

1832: Ran for state legislature - lost.

1832: Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.

1833: Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.

1834: Ran for state legislature again - won.

1835: Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.

1836: Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.

1838: Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.

1840: Sought to become elector - defeated.

1843: Ran for Congress - lost.

1846: Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job.

1848: Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.

1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected.

1854: Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.

1856: Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - got less than 100 votes.

1858: Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.

1860: Elected president of the United States.

When you think about good ole Honest Abe, do you associate him with Failure or do you associate him with Success? I associate him as a true, definable success. The same will go for us if we realize that God doesn’t look at our mess ups, mistakes, failures, and defeats, he instead loves us through our sins and failures. He gives us hope for a brighter future, and he blesses us despite our mistakes. We are only asked on thing as Christians, and that is to NEVER GIVE UP and if we fall, we GET BACK UP AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN! God is faithful even in our weaknesses. Give Jesus the Glory today because you will see your dreams come true. Just as Esther got ushered into the throne room, and Abraham Lincoln was ushered into the White House, you will soon be ushered into your season of riches. Believe that!

“Closing thoughts from Pastor Joey”

I hope this book showed you all that no matter how messed up you think you are, God can still use you to do mighty things. It doesn’t matter if your from a dysfunctional family, an orphan, a drunk, a liar, a cheater, or even a murderer, God will still use your life in a mighty way if you just give your life to him. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and you want to know him just say the following with your heart:

“Jesus I come to you right now, as a sinner. I believe you lived a perfect life because you knew I couldn’t. I believe you died a cruel death so I wouldn’t have to, and I believe you rose from the dead to give me power over sin. I accept you in my heart. Forgive me Lord. Amen.”

It’s that simple! If you said that prayer you are now a Christian! I encourage you to get a Bible to read and find a good local Church to help encourage you on your way. If you are more interested in Comeback Kids Ministries or want to see more books available from Pastor Joey Bauer then please following this thought. Remember, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK! It helps to get your input and all the proceeds go straight back into the Ministry. Thanks to everybody who read this book.

Sincerely, Pastor Joey Bauer!!!

Pastor Joey Bauer!!!

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