He Called Me What I’m Not, Part 4of4, Evans Olang

Judges 6:11-40&7:1-25, “…The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor”

Judges 6:33, “Then all the Medianites and Amelikites, the people of the East, gathered together; they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreal” you read of these people camping somewhere in readiness to attack Gideon and his people,

Discernment Is Not Optional, Inspired by Pastor John MacArthur

1Thessalonians 5:21-22, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil”

A scripture often quoted in Matthew 7:1, says, “Judge not, that you be not judged” and this could be thought to mean being silent and receiving all things in the name of Christ asking no questions or else you may be labeled judgmental. The same chapter vs. 15, says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits”. How can you then know false prophets without judging first? The One who said do not judge at the beginning is giving indication that it’s ok to judge. I think the “judge not” is in reference to someone’s salvation. There could be 101 clear signs suggesting someone is not saved, the ultimate judge of their souls is God. We can share the gospel and let them examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. The judging I am still addressing today is discernment, what is going into my system must be evaluated. I hate to be deceived, deception is lethal the reason we have to judge everything preached and said by the word of God.

Is God Fair Or Is He Just? Lisette Rivera & Phil Sessa

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”, NJKV

Many times when “bad” things happen to “good” people, the first thing that is said about the situation is “That’s just not fair!” or “Such and Such was a good person.” But you know what? We won’t get it. It’s not our place to try and figure out God’s reasoning behind letting something “bad” happen to a “good” person. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways”, says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts”, Isaiah 55:8-9 NJKV I don’t know about you but the last time I checked the earth was pretty far from heaven. Since this is the case, we cannot possibly completely understand God’s thoughts. And you’ll just get a headache trying to force the issue.

We Are Becoming, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

Romans 8:29-30, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, … 30And those he predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified” (NIV).

Our journey in and with Christ is one day at a time, this ought to be our prayer every day. God does not get us to our destiny fast because He is in the business of forming and filling. We realize that forming takes time compared to filling. If we can withstand the forming, filling will be no problem. How can we expect to be filled without being formed? In our text, we can see a continuous forming as we become. Look at the potter with the clay in His hand, even though the clay does not look like what He has in mind, in the mind of the potter, it’s a done deal. He only needs to form it into what he wants to form into. Someone wrote a book entitled, “God is not in a hurry,” I agree.

We Are Becoming, Part 1of2, Evans Olang

Romans 8:29-30, “29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, … 30And those he predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified” (NIV)

Ever sat down to wonder why The Almighty God who has better things to do has something to do with your life? That He is concerned with your daily affairs. That He takes keen interest of your day-to-day walk, that He loves you in spite of your flaws. That He forgives you when you find it hard to forgive yourself. That He has a plan for your life when all you can see is a future clouded with failures. David says, “LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?,” Psalm 144:3. I wish you would grasp and embrace this thought that the Lord knows your beginning, your middle, and your end, and nothing that happens in your life and mine has any threat to what He wants to do. You can beat yourself up daily because of what you face and struggle with, or like Paul, you can encourage yourself with these words, 2Timothy 1:12, …, FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED and am PERSUADED that HE IS ABLE to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”.

I Am Not Dead Yet, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

2Kings 7:1-20, “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die?”

And the four leprous men reasoned and moved, vs. 5-6″And when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of Chariots, even the noise of horses, even the noise of great host: and they said one to another, Lo, King if Israel has hired against us the kings of Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us”. When these men moved, God took over.