Genesis 39:3 (KJV) Joseph’s Faith

Genesis 39:3 (KJV)

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

See how carelessly religious people view the living and true God. 

The Egyptians were a religious people, having multiple gods. But having many, none of them meant much to them. Potiphar and presumably his wife, recognized the favor of the Lord upon Joseph. They were each inclined toward Joseph on that account. But neither of them had any respect for Joseph’s God. That eventually translated into having no respect for Joseph. 

This world today is filled with just this sort of person. They do not necessarily deny the existence of God. They may even attribute certain blessings as being from God. They could be attracted to people of faith in God. But they have little to no respect for God or His people and will abuse them when it suits them. 

I notice none of this affects Joseph’s faith. 

May the same be true of believers today. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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Genesis 39:3 (KJV) Joseph’s Faith

Philippians 1:17 (KJV) “Ready, Set – Hike”

Philippians 1:17 (KJV)

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

When I first think of the word set, I think, “ready, set – hike.” I think: positioned, prepared, determined. Actually, this word has to do with “being appointed” by God. It was God’s plan, God’s will, God’s determination, and not Paul’s that had set him for the defense of the Gospel. 

Here is a great key to the strengthening of the Christian faith. We have to come to the place, have to disciple others to the place, that we are sure that our faith in the gospel and our defense of it is the will of God and not their own. 

• The Christian is saved by the will of God and not their own
• The doctrines we hold are the will of God and not own own 
• The preacher is called by the will of God and not his own
• The ministry we have is in the will of God and not our own 

We are set where we are, wherever we are, according to the will of God and not our own. Let us, therefore, hold fast.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
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Philippians 1:17 (KJV) “Ready, Set – Hike”

Genesis 35:3 (KJV) The Progress of Faith

Genesis 35:3 (KJV)

And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

Jacob had made a pretty mess of things up to this point. He’s not finished reaping the crop of his wild seed. But he has returned, and GOD has once again spoken. Jacob would now lead his family away from idolatry and toward the Lord. 

I see the progression of his faith as something like this:

• He was aware of and interested in the Lord before deceiving his father and brother 
• He was anxious for God’s s help while in a journey of his own making
• He longs to offer true worship to the Lord and sees separating from sin as an essential step toward that

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
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Genesis 35:3 (KJV) The Progress of Faith

Genesis 33:10 (KJV) So Both Are Blessed

Genesis 33:10 (KJV)

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

Jacob says of Esau that, in this case, he had seen his face as though it were the face of God. Esau was not God but, perhaps, can represent Him for this lesson. 

He had enough. He didn’t need or desire Jacob’s gifts. 
This, of course, is true of God. His love and His favor cannot be purchased.

He had already found pleasure with Jacob
Though he was, at one time, at enmity, that enmity was settled when Jacob came home.

Though Esau did not require a gift, Jacob insisted on giving it
God does not need our offerings. This is no reason to withhold them from God. 

It would be healthy if churches behaved as Esau did here, and if church members behaved like Jacob. Churches should avoid the spirit of need. We should steward God’s blessings in such a way that we are not in need, or at least don’t put on the air of need. On the other hand, the people of God ought to give generously and bountifully. In this way, the church’s storehouse is full, the need of the church is supplied, and both receiver and giver are blessed. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Genesis 33:10 (KJV) So Both Are Blessed

Genesis 32:7 (KJV) You’ll Be Glad You Did

Genesis 32:7 (KJV)

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

When Jacob left the Promised Land to go to Haran and to serve Laban, he left a mess:

• His father had been deceived
• His mother would never see him again
• His brother hated him

When he arrived in Haran:

• Laban deceived him about Leah and Rachel
• The wives competed among themselves making home life unpleasant
• Laban continued to cheat him, changing his wages ten times
• Laban’s sons grew jealous of him believing that he was taking wealth away from their father and them

By the time Jacob returned to the Promised Land, he left Laban upset and faced Esau when he got home. The whole matter turned into a wrestling match with God. 

So it will be with anyone who chooses their own path over the Lord’s. It may be that God will turn things around for good but that doesn’t mean it is good to do it. 

• You’ll leave people hurting and broken behind you.
• You’ll face fears and anxiety before you
• You’ll find friends and family can’t trust you and
• You’ll live the rest of your life in regret

Trust God’s plan as early in life as it is possible for you to do. 

You will be eternally glad that you did. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Genesis 32:7 (KJV) You’ll Be Glad You Did

Genesis 30:20 (KJV) It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

Genesis 30:20 (KJV)

And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

There are so many heart-wrenching elements to the story of Jacob and his wives that one hardly knows where to begin. Oh, what trouble we create for ourselves and our loved ones when we choose to depart from the place God has us. 

I wish to point out but one of the tragedies of the passage. When Zebulun was born Leah, who had been in a constant contest with her sister Rachel over their husband Jacob’s affection sighs, “Now will my husband dwell with me.” This is in contrast to, Genesis 29:32 (KJV)
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 

Leah was never the favorite, never the wife of Jacob’s dreams. She was given to him by her own father’s deception. The Bible says that God opened Leah’s womb first because he saw that she was hated by Jacob. Leah hoped that having the firstborn child, her husband would grow to love her. But as the years passed and the competition between the sisters grew, Leah came to accept she would never win his love. She only hoped he would dwell with her. 

How sad when a marriage turns from love to merely dwelling together. It doesn’t have to be this way. God has a better plan if we will but follow Him. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Genesis 30:20 (KJV) It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

Ephesians 3:10 (KJV) God’s Intention

Ephesians 3:10 (KJV)

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The local church is the subject of the book of Ephesians. 

• 
  
  It is the mystery about which Paul said he had already written. 
• It is the reason he found himself in prison, 
• It is the bride Christ loved and gave Himself for, 
• It is composed of both Jews and Gentiles (the thing which was so offensive to the Jews) and 
• It is God’s intention to use this local church plan to manifest to heaven and earth “the manifold wisdom of God.”
• 
  
• No wonder it is under such attack.
• No wonder the Bible urges us to work at unity within it.
• No wonder that even some professing Christians do so much damage to it.

No wonder the earnest believer will pour so much of himself into it. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Ephesians 3:10 (KJV) God’s Intention

Genesis 29:1 (KJV) His Journey, Not God’s

Genesis 29:1 (KJV)
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

It is a subtle statement, to say the least, but I think it an important one. Jacob went on his journey. His own journey, not the Lord’s.

He was a believer 
Past transgressions and this departure did not change that. But this was his journey, not the Lord’s. 
Consequent events reflect that this was his journey. 
Though there were ample opportunities for it, God is not mentioned in the events until very late in the chapter and until at least seven years had expired. 

God used his journey 
I will not deny that. It does not mean this was the way God had to work. It does not mean it was the best way. Jacob would spend the rest of his days regretting what happened on this journey. 

We don’t have to let God use us in spite of us. We can access the helps God has given us and, through them, see God work blessing without sorrow.[1]

---

[1] Proverbs 10:22 (KJV)
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Genesis 29:1 (KJV) His Journey, Not God’s

Ephesians 2:12 (KJV) But By Grace

Ephesians 2:12 (KJV)
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

This chapter ends on an incredibly high note, but it begins with desperation. Before a person can ever appreciate where he is, he must appreciate from where he has come. 

This verse bluntly says:

• You were without Christ
• You were without promise
• You were without hope
• You were without God

But by grace and through faith they had been saved. Because of that, they had been made part of the new man in Christ and had been included in the household of GOD and had been made to fit and to grow there. 

The same is true of all who know Christ as Saviour.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Ephesians 2:12 (KJV) But By Grace

Genesis 27:12 (KJV) Let God Work Out The Problems

Genesis 27:12 (KJV)
My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

Clearly, like so many these days, Jacob’s concern was misdirected. He was worried that his father would discover the lie and curse him. He forgot that his Heavenly Father already knew his heart. The curse he should have been concerned with was the one that would come from heaven. 

Isaac did discover the deception. It was too late to reverse what he had done. It was not too late for what God would do. 

Jacob was concerned he would seem like a deceiver. 
He should have been concerned that he was a deceiver. 

Jacob’s brother began to hate him

This would have consequences lasting nearly his whole life. A desire for the godly blessing caused another to hate him. How often does the Christian’s desire to be blessed by God result in someone else being hurt? This should not be.

Jacob was forced from the Promised Land
We know this would not have been God’s first choice. Ungodly actions should never but often do result in Christians leaving the church God Himself put them in. 

Jacob would endure years of trials
I submit these trials would never have happened if he had stayed where GOD originally put him. God did use it. That does not mean Jacob should have done it. 

Jacob never saw his mother again
As the two of them had agreed to the deception, it was the two of them that ultimately paid the price. Jacob would see his father and his brother again. 

God turned the curse into a blessing 
I praise the Lord He does that. But at what cost?

So much better to trust the Lord to keep His promises and let Him work out the problems with them. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and more than 5100 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Genesis 27:12 (KJV) Let God Work Out The Problems