Cultivating Faith (5): A Man of Patience

Jim Oesterwind Genesis 15.1-21 Have you ever struggled with what you know to be the promise of God, but it doesn’t seem to be a present reality? As Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “No doubt the trouble is with you!” God provided Abraham with a great promise in Genesis 12, but he was struggling with…

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Cultivating Faith (4): A Man of Courage (Genesis 14.1-16)

Jim Oesterwind The Courage of a Rescuer (Genesis 14.1-16) Every Adventure Story Has a Villain (14.1-11) Every good adventure story has a villain, a victim, and the courage of a victor. There is also a catalyst, circumstance and/or event that sets everything in motion. Look beyond the names that are difficult to pronounce in the…

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Cultivating Faith (2): A Man of Perspective

Jim Oesterwind Genesis 12.5-20 The most wonderful result of cultivating a life of faith is that people will glimpse the character of God in one who genuinely believes His Word. God blessed Abraham, but in him blessed all the families of the earth (Genesis 12.1-3). There are two perspectives which become very important in the…

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Cultivating Faith: A Man Set Apart

Jim Oesterwind Genesis 12.1-4 Abraham lived roughly 2000 years before the time of our Lord Jesus Christ. He lived in a world that spiraled down out of control plummeting into the depths of idolatry. Abraham’s father Terah dwelt on the eastern side of the Euphrates River. He raised his family in an atmosphere of idolatry.…

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Labor Day

Jim Oesterwind 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13 “…We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor…

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The Debt You Cannot Pay

Jim Oesterwind It’s hard to love people who feel entitled to your love. I guess you’re just supposed to be grateful to bask in the presence of one so loveable. When a person feels that he is God’s gift to the world, that person has very little to give the world. But when a person…

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Prayer God Answers

Jim Oesterwind We all have a desire to pray so that we see God working continuously in our lives and answering our prayers. Yet I venture a guess that most of us remain unsatisfied with our prayer lives. There is a plethora of books that teach us how to pray effectively. But a close look…

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Spiritual Leadership

Jim Oesterwind “One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren” (Matthew 23.9). It is interesting that the Pharisees seemed to be quite accurate in their teaching. Jesus told His disciples that they should observe and do what the Pharisees told them (23.3). It’s just that the works of the Pharisees did not…

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How Great is the LORD’s Goodness!

Jim Oesterwind “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep…

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