“And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.” Gen_44:14

This short verse captures that defining moment when Joseph’s dreams came true. Some thirty years earlier when he was still a boy at home Joseph had said, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. (see Gen_37:6-8).

And now, after an epic journey filled with betrayal and a sequence of severe injustices, the very thing Joseph had seen in his dream actually happens before his very eyes.
surely do come true. Though a man may be immature and unseasoned in the things of God when a dream first comes, and speaks beyond the boundaries of prudence, thereby stirring the hearts of others with disdain or envy; and though much trouble may arise over the course of time and challenge not only the validity of the dream, but also the sanity and credibility of the dreamer — nevertheless, know that a dream from God will surely come true.

Therefore, wait for it; wait for the appointed time when the Lord brings to pass that which He promised in the tender days when you took your first fledgling steps of faith. Between the promise which God has made and the fulfillment of it in your life there may await a pit, a prosecutor, and a prison — yet always the palace is indeed towering in the distance. Stay the course, for you shall enter in and find full vindication from God, and satisfaction in the things He has ordained.

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Num_23:19)

Hold on tight to your dreams.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Joh_3:16

The Bible stands unequaled in all Literature. Yes, there are many volumes of sacred writings held in high esteem by many peoples; works of history, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, humanity, philanthropy and mystery.

They each have their place, and have undoubtedly contributed in some way or another to either the maintenance, or advancement of their respective cultures. But, still, none of them equal the Bible in its depth of inspiration, or its sweep of influence.

We readily recognize numerous references from Scripture that fill our daily lives with spiritual trivia. That lump in people’s throat is their Adam’s apple. A person enduring extreme adversity has the patience of Job. Someone who’s been around forever is as old as Methuselah.

The dove and the olive branch remain the global symbol of peace; the serpent, an image of evil. Jezebel is to this day the quintessential stereotype of a controlling woman, and Judas is the all-time bad guy.

We speak of walking on water to suggest the impossibility of some task, and soaring with wings as eagles to suggest attaining some great and noble goal. These are but a few of the many famous expressions that come from the Bible.

There is one text of Scripture, however, that towers above and beyond all others. It is without question the single, most known Bible verse in the entire world. And the expression it produces is always one of awe.

It is known by the youngest of children who are first learning to read, and it is pondered by the oldest of the aged who stand on the threshold of eternity.

Of course, I’m referring to Joh_3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is that singular sentence that stands uniquely alone – needing no commentary, and soliciting only reverence.

Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not.

Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them.–Lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto
the end of the world.–My presence shall go [with thee], and I
will give thee rest.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee
from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].–[Am] I a
God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any
hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith
the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee;
how much less this house that I have builded?–Thus saith the
high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is]
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that
is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.–Ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people.

Ge 28:16 Mt 18:20 28:20 Ex 33:14 Ps 139:7,8 Jer 23:23,24
1Ki 8:27 Isa 57:15 2Co 6:16

Evening:

Keep yourselves from idols.

My son, give me thine heart.–Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth.

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart,
and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face:
should I be enquired of at all by them?–Mortify . . . your
members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry.–They that will be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is
the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things.

If riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].–My fruit
[is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than
choice silver.

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.–The
LORD looketh on the heart.

1Jo 5:21 Pr 23:26 Col 3:2 Eze 14:3 Col 3:5 1Ti 6:9-11
Ps 62:10 Pr 8:19 Mt 6:21 1Sa 16:7

“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the City, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psa_127:1)

Man is a communal creature by design; we are not built to be alone. While some rare souls seek solace in the caverns of monastic retreat, the overwhelming majority of us are forever compelled toward community. It is how God has wired us.

The question, then, is what kind of community do we seek? Like Abraham of old, we “seek a city, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb_11:10). That is to say, we hunger for a godly community in every sense of the word. Law and order, peace and justice, truth and goodness, love and mercy, freedom and creativity. In one word — godly.

Jesus made it clear that He came to start just such a community on the earth. “I will build My Church,” He said, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word He used is ecclesia, meaning “the community of the called out.” This immediately makes us ask, “Called out of what?”

The old hymn gives the best answer –

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night;Thy freedom, gladness, and light.of my sickness into Thy health,of my want and into Thy wealth,of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss;the glorious gain of Thy cross.of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,of life’s storms and into Thy calm,of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride;Thy blessed will to abide.of myself to dwell in Thy love,of despair into raptures above,for aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb;the joy and light of Thy home.of the depths of ruin untold,the peace of Thy sheltering fold,Thy glorious face to behold, Jesus, I come to Thee.
(William T. Sleeper, 1896)
another question rises, “What, then is it that we have been called into?” To be sure, it is a community like nothing this world has to offer. The Bible refers to it in such comprehensive terms as The House of the Lord, the City of our God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. It is both local and global, as well as eternal. It is not institutional; but relational.

It is gathered in the name of the Lord, governed by the word of the Lord, guided by the Spirit of the Lord, guarded by the power of the Lord, and garnished with the glory of the Lord.

And there is only one way into this Community; it is through faith in the Lord Jesus, evidenced by love for His people, which springs out of obedience to His word.

Are you in?

“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” (Mat_12:28)

Jesus was a man, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil — because God was with Him. He made it clear that He only did what He saw His Father doing. On one particular occasion it was casting a demon out of a wretch of a man.

Jesus healed him, giving him back his sight and hearing. The people who saw it were duly impressed, to say the least. “This has to be the Son of David!” they proclaimed. But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. “It’s nothing more than black magic,” they said. “Some devil trick he’s pulled from his sleeve.”

Jesus confronted their slander with piercing wisdom — “A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out; a family that’s in a constant squabble disintegrates; so if Satan banishes Satan, is there any Satan left?” They couldn’t answer Him — but He wasn’t finished: “If you’re slinging mud at Me, calling Me a devil kicking out devils, doesn’t the same mud stick to your own exorcists? ” And then Jesus delivers the final blow against their ignorance — “But if it’s by God’s power that I am sending the evil spirits packing, then God’s kingdom is here for sure.” (from the Message).

Jesus came with a specific purpose to render the devil of no effect, and to undo the works which the devil had wrought. He succeeded with overwhelming effectiveness. The Bible tells us “He exposed principalities as shattered, empty and defeated” (Col_2:15, Phillips NT). And, having done all this for our sake, He now has brought us into the victory of His great accomplishment; delivering us from the power of darkness, and translating us into the Kingdom of God.

Though it is finished, the full evidence of it will not be seen until the Day of the Lord — when Christ returns. Until then, we are caught in the tension of two opposing kingdoms, experiencing the conflict of the ages.

Yet we are not victims, but victors. We are not helpless, but hopeful. We are not defenseless, but clothed in the armor of light. We are not powerless, but filled with the Holy Spirit. And we are not alone, but surrounded with a mighty host — a band of brothers and sisters on earth, and armies of flaming angels in heaven above.

The Kingdom of God has come, and the devil is on the run!

It begins with the most critical issue for living the Christian life, the ability of God: “Now toHim who is able.” Natural religious thinking would set forth the ability of man as the most vital matter in developing a godly life. Such an approach would leave us striving vainly under the law, attempting to live up to God’s perfect standards by our own inadequate resources. Praise be to God, there is a heavenly, effective option: relying upon God’s ability.

Think of the immeasurable ability of the Lord. “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made theheavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You“ (Jeremiah 32:17). He created the entire universe. Certainly, by His power He is able to strengthen us. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard forMe?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Our Lord rules over all of humanity. Surely, He is able to manage our lives. Actually, our God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask orthink.” Everything we could ask concerning His will, He is able to do far beyond that. Whatever we might contemplate but hesitate to ask, He is able to surpass that.

One amazing aspect of God exercising His ability on our behalf is the imparting of His powerwithin our lives: “according to the power that works in us.” This is how the Lord wants to develop godliness in our lives. He Himself desires to work by the power of His grace deep within our hearts. “For it is good that the heart be established by grace“ (Hebrews 13:9). Again, the Christian life is not affected from the outside in, hoping to modify our behavior by external religious pressures. Rather, it involves a true change of character within, affected by God Himself. This is how God is ultimately glorified in the lives of His people: “to Him be glory in thechurch.” He works a genuine transformation of life in and through us. Then, we give Him the glory for His exceedingly abundant ability.
“Lord God of exceeding abundance, I worship You as the one who is able to do all things well. Forgive me for repeatedly turning to my ability. Lord, as I seek You in Your word, build my faith. Unleash the powerful life of Your Son within my heart, making me what You want me to be, through Christ I pray, Amen.”

“And Jesus went about all Galilee — preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” (Mat_4:23)

At the very moment when wicked Herod imprisoned faithful John, Jesus stepped forward and raised the torch of truth even higher. Herod should have left well enough alone!

Once Jesus settled in at Capernaum, establishing a base of operations, He then launched a campaign of conquest that will never be rivaled. For He did not seek lands or titles; His was not an egotistical desire for fame or wealth, or for power and honor. No; rather He came to conquer the heart of mankind; conquer and convert it back to its original passion — a full, free, and fantastic friendship with God Almighty!

Centuries earlier the prophet Isaiah had looked forward by faith and spoke concerning the Lord Jesus, who was yet to come, saying, “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…from henceforth even forever.” (Isa_9:7).

This great prophecy emboldens our belief that good will most certainly triumph over evil, despite the many things which seem to suggest the exact opposite in these violent days. Tune into any news channel and see how inundated we are with unbridled passion, unimaginable decadence, and unbelievable cruelty. Nevertheless, when evil sits upon the throne and the streets of nations are filled with foolhardy acts of immorality and injustice — we take heart in knowing there is a Kingdom which is greater than these fleeting empires. It is the Kingdom of our God, and of His Christ.

And — for any heart that has received this King into its multiple compartments — a promise is made that of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end. Government is what Christ brings to our discarded souls, and Peace is what results when He reigns in our lives. Would you know this peace of which I speak? Then yield your heart to the government of Christ over your affections, appetites, ambitions, aspirations, and aggravations.

Yes, Old King Herod should have left John alone! For, as it stood, he was merely a voice in the desert preaching to those who came out to see him. But this Jesus fellow was now going all over the place — bringing the Gospel into the very heart of the Nation. Matthew tells us that Jesus “went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Kingdom of God, and healing all manner of diseases among the people” (Mat_4:23). And get this — what Christ did in those days, He is still doing in these days — in an ever increasing circle of conquest. Furthermore, He has never stopped, and He never will!

This, then, is our heritage, as well as our mission. We are not merely subjects in this Kingdom; we are royal ambassadors, empowered by our King with the credentials that give us the clout necessary to cast down devils and call out the redeemed of the Lord.

This King, to whom we have sworn allegiance, told us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mar_16:15). John was in the desert; Jesus went round about Galilee; and now we have been thrust forth into all the world — the unstoppable Life has now been unleashed, and the world will never be as it was before!

“Oh, look and see for yourself just how great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God!” (1Jn_3:1, Pastor’s Paraphrase)

Years ago one of my first overseas preaching trips took me to England, and then across the Channel into Denmark. Our team was staying at a retreat center near the city of Zwolle, along with a few hundred locals who were attending the conference.

We were there for a full week, but I wasn’t scheduled to speak until Friday evening, which would be our final session. When the time came, I shared my testimony of being in the prison my father built. Many were noticeably moved as the Lord ministered that night.

The next morning as our team gathered at the bus to head for the airport, several people came to send us on our way with warm appreciation for our having come. One man in particular walked over to me and firmly took hold of my hand, holding it with both of his. He was an aged man, wrinkled and weathered with the years, his skin looking like soft leather. His eyes were as blue as the Dutch sky, and tearful.

“I must ask your forgiveness,” he said, looking me square in the eyes.

“Why?” I asked, genuinely perplexed.

“All this week I’ve watched you walk about the grounds, smiling and laughing without a care in the world. And I judged you in my heart. Who is this boy, I thought to myself, that he should come here to tell us how to live. I was sure that you had never known a day of sorrow in your life; born to a good family and raised in a loving home. But then last night I heard your story, and then realized how very wrong I had been.”

At this point my eyes were filled with tears; I wanted to let him know that I held nothing against him — but he wasn’t finished.

“Then it struck me,” he said, “God has been your Father, and that explains why you are so happy. And now, I want Him to be my Father, too.” Wow.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mat_5:16). I saw it happen on that unforgettable day in Denmark; and a thousand more days since then.

Let your light shine — and you will see it, too!

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psa_23:1).

Jesus is Lord and King, Conqueror, Savior, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the Christ, Emmanuel, Teacher, Prophet and Master. Of the many titles given to the Lord, Shepherd must undoubtedly be one of His favorite. It links Him in the most personal way to those He loves.

Say it out loud and let the truth settle deep in your heart: “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

Isaiah prophesied, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isa_40:11). Peter preached, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1Pe_2:25).
, himself a shepherd, penned the Twenty-third Psalm as a comprehensive tribute to the Lord. He encompasses in this short poem at least fifteen provisions that are made for us when we follow the Lord as our Shepherd.

“The Lord is my Shepherd…
shall not want for Rest – for He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

I shall not want for Peace – for He leadeth me beside the still waters

I shall not want for Restoration – for He restoreth my soul

I shall not want for Guidance – for He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

I shall not want for Courage – for though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil

I shall not want for Companionship – for Thou art with me

I shall not want for Comfort – for Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me

I shall not want for Sustenance – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies

I shall not want for Blessing – Thou anointest my head with oil

I shall not want for Fulness – My cup runneth over

I shall not want for Abundant Life – goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

I shall not want for Eternal Security – I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
you can see, there is nothing left out. No wonder David said, “I shall not want!” The Lord gives us everything we need when we follow Him as our Shepherd.

“And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb_13:20-21).