Audio study by Irene Taylor

1 John 5:4 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

God’s people had endured years of slavery and ten horrific plagues before packing their bags for the Promised Land. But as the Israelites stood on the banks of the roaring sea wedged between mountains and water, there appeared no signs for deliverance. All hope was lost. To make matters worse, an Egyptian army set on revenge quickly approached.  It didn’t feel like victory.

Years passed and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood erect while the nation around them bowed to honor King Nebuchadnezzar. The three young men were well aware their refusal to show reverence to the king would demand their life. So as these men of God stood shackled before a roaring fire, it didn’t feel like victory.

Many years later, Jesus was arrested, tortured, and hung on the cross. Despite His claims of deity, the self-proclaimed Son of God lay dead. All hope for a Savior had vanished. Followers made their way to His tomb seeking a dead body. The very burial spices they carried proved it didn’t feel like victory.

But our God is a God who never fails. It seems their impending victories were all momentarily disguised as defeat. In a twist of plot that only God can write, the mighty waters of the Red Sea miraculously parted for the Israelites to enter their promised land. The three young men of God emerged unharmed by the flames and ready to serve the Great I AM. And the tomb proved no match for the Son of God who rose to breathe life again.

Our lives right now may scream of hopelessness. Defeat may be anticipated as we contemplate the challenges of our family dynamics, our job, our marriage, our children, and our future. But, is it possible, as we remain faithful to God, our impending victory is momentarily being disguised as defeat?

Just perhaps, like the Israelites, victory awaits us as the Lord promises to fight on our behalf. And, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, remaining faithful to God regardless of the anticipated outcome, can bring us through all sorts of trials. And may we never forget, Jesus was indeed who He declared Himself to be: our Savior! His victory over death will allow us to be victorious with Him forever.

Sisters, stand firm today. The God who never fails will not fail us. That feeling of defeat is momentarily a disguise for our victory in Christ that lies ahead.

Father God, may we never take our eyes off the victory that you offer us through your Son.

Blessings of Victory,

Rita Cochrane

A little boy stood looking at a giant oak tree. In his hand, he held an acorn. As he looked at the acorn, he envisioned planting it and watching a tree grow. A lady standing nearby heard his plan and told him that if he planted the acorn, he would not live long enough to see a giant oak grow as tall as the one in front of him. The tree was 100 years old. He was sad, and ran to his mother in tears. When he told her what the lady had said, she gave him hope with the following words. “If you plant the acorn, a year from now the tree will be up to your knees. In two years, it will be taller than you are. As you get older and begin to court, you can bring your girlfriend for a picnic under its branches. Your children can play around it, and your grandchild will enjoy seeing the tree standing tall. No, you won’t  see it grow as tall as this one, but you can enjoy it as it is growing.” Her final comment to her son was, “You won’t live 100 years, but you hold 100 years in your hand. But first you must plant the seed.”

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “One generation plants the tree; the next generation gets the shade.” I think there is a lot of truth to that. Think about what the men and women of the Bible have “held in their hand.” When Jochebed put Moses in a basket and hid him in the bullrushes, she could not know that he would become the salvation of their nation. When David walked out to meet Goliath, I doubt he had in mind serving God as king of Israel. Yet when he took a sling and five stones and faced the enemy of Israel, he proved that God was with him and that he was destined for great things. When Esther walked into the throne room of the king, she had no idea if her presence would be acknowledged or if she would be killed. When Ruth made the decision to go home with Naomi, she couldn’t know that through her seed all the nations of the earth be blessed. When Isaiah said, “Lord send me,” how could he know that he would prophesy of the coming of the Savior and be quoted for years to come? When the disciples were chosen from their common walks of life, they could not know they would serve a risen Savior all of their lives and live in history as those who proclaimed the Gospel to the whole world.

There are so many more examples, but the point is that it’s the little things that can change the course of our lives and the lives of many for years to come.

I think about a little girl who invited her friend to Bible class. The little girl faithfully attended, and when she was older she obeyed the Gospel. She grew into a Christian woman, who married a Christian, and they had seven sons. The seven sons grew up and became Gospel preachers. All of this started with a little girl inviting her friend to Bible class. Look what she held in her hand—an invitation!

We can never weigh the value of what we do on a daily basis. We can’t know how the Lord will use us for the present and for the future. We also do not know how the Lord will use the past, even our mistakes, to benefit someone, somewhere.

Just as good things can come from planting, so can evil things. It was a piece of fruit for Adam and Eve; it was a  deceitful plot by Rebekah and Jacob; it was an inappropriate glance at a woman bathing for David; it was thirty pieces of silver for Judas. Any of these could have been turned into righteous behavior, but the works of the flesh were stronger than the fruits of the Sprit.

So, what happens if the little boy does not plant the acorn? There will, of course, be no tree. God’s plan for man is about doing and using what is in front of us. It is about taking advantage of the moment, the small, insignificant things that can make a glorious path for Christ and the church.

There is a song we often sing in worship that reminds me of this little boy and why we need to do as he did with the acorn. The words are:

God Holds the Future in His Hands

Dread not the things that are ahead,
The burdens great, the sinking sands,
The thorns that o’er the path are spread,
God holds the future in His hands.

God holds the future in His hands
And every heart He understands.
On Him depend,
He is your Friend,
He holds the future in His hands.

We know not what tomorrow hides,
Of sun or storm or good or ill;
We only know His dear hand guides,
And He will be our Father still.

His hand created earth and sky,
The zephyrs and the storms that rage,
And years to come and years gone by
To Him are but an open page.

Live close to Him and trust His love,
Assured that while on earth we roam,
Whate’er may come, He bends above
To guide His children safely home.

Words by James Rowe, 1922.

Paul said in First Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” It was that way with the little boy in the story. He had to plant in order for anything to happen. Someone had to plant the Gospel before it could be cultivated and produce Christians. Our job is to plant and watch God’s hand in our lives and the lives of others.

Sandra Oliver

Matthew 28: 5 – 7A “The angel said to the women, ‘Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross.  But he is not here. He has risen from death, as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. And go quickly and tell his followers Jesus has risen from death.’”

There are universal phrases every parent dreads. “I need a frog costume for school tomorrow,” or “My stomach hurts,” can make even the strongest of parents shudder. My personal words of distress are, “It’s Empty.” Almost daily, something turns up empty:  the milk jug, the gas tank, or heaven forbid, the toilet paper roll! Those simple words, “It’s empty” require I stop what I am doing and take care of it.

In contrast, the words, “It’s Empty,” fills believers with joy, offering hope of a resurrection and an eternal life with our loving Father. Our glorious, “It’s Empty!” story is found in all four gospels.

Jesus was crucified and all hope for a Messiah died with Him. No one could have imagined this was the plan of God. Evidence now pointed to the fact that Jesus was not who He claimed to be.

Women, loyal to Jesus, arrived early at the tomb on the third day. They anticipated anointing their crucified Savior but were startled by an angel instead. The angel informed them Jesus no longer inhabited the tomb. Instead, He was risen, just as He said He would!

Sensing their confusion and desire for affirmation, the angel instructed them, “Come and see.” Their view yielded nothing but emptiness. The angel then commanded them, “Go and tell.” Immediately, the women ran to share the Good News:

JESUS HAD RISEN!

Not even a horrendous death on the cross could defeat Jesus! In my mind, I picture a loving, grieving Father, the Great I AM himself, in that tomb bending over the lifeless body of His son to breathe life back into His lifeless body. (Acts 2:24) Surely another act of great sacrifice from a father anxious to welcome His son back home.

For Christians, the gloriously empty tomb solidifies our eternal hope. It confirms Jesus was indeed who He said He was: The Son of God, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Christ, the Lord and King.

“Come and see. Go and tell.”

Today, we are instructed to do likewise. When we come and see the Good News of the resurrected Christ in God’s Word, we, like the women at the tomb long ago, must go and tell. Those simple words, “It’s Empty!” are just too exciting to keep to ourselves.

Father, thank you for breathing human life back into your son allowing him to conquer death.

Blessings of Eternal Life,

Rita Cochrane

Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”

A difficult day ahead filled me with a sense of anxiety and alone-ness. Would God show up for me? As paralyzing doubt crept in, I turned to Joshua 3-4 in search of hope.

Here was a brand-new chapter for Israel. Following four hundred years of Egyptian captivity and forty years of wilderness-circles, they were within sight of their inheritance. I can imagine laughter, singing, and dancing defined their final steps. Those sitting around the campfires surely recounted stories of The Great I Am parting the Red Sea; Joshua and Caleb being the only surviving witnesses. This new path had never before been traveled. And now, the River Jordan remained the final obstacle hindering them from stepping into the Promised Land.

I wonder if any Israelite questioned whether God would show up for them as He did for their ancestors?  Did any have a sense of anxiety and alone-ness? Did any consider the danger of the day ahead if by chance their Jordan-crossing failed to mimic the Red Sea parting?

Honesty, I might have doubted. Have you, like me, ever questioned if God will show up in your story? Have you been called to travel a road unfamiliar to you and pondered if God will walk it with you? Have you halted everything because what lay ahead seemed impossible? If you have never experienced such doubts, please summon up a bit of compassion for those of us who have.

When fear keeps us from feeling God’s presence or believing He can rescue us from our troubles, we must remember whom we serve: the same powerful God of the Israelites. The God who created the stars and calls them each by name. The God who parted the seas. The God who raised the dead.

So, just what happened that day as Israel stood on the banks of the Jordan? God showed up! As Israel stepped into the river, the Ark of the Covenant, the very dwelling place of God, went BEFORE the people to lead them. Then, the ark remained in the MIDST of the river where the danger was most prevalent to provide hope and strength and comfort to a frightened people. Finally, the ark fell in BEHIND so that a mighty God could protect His people. Yes, God showed up with a surrounding presence.

What a loving picture God painted for Israel that day, and what a loving picture He paints for us today. He still goes BEFORE us, leading us on His path. God remains in the MIDST of our most difficult and dangerous days, providing us hope, strength, and comfort. And God follows BEHIND to protect us from enemies sneaking up without warning. That is the God we serve! Sisters, bravely press on!

Father God, help us feel your surrounding presence in every step of our lives.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

When I was a little girl, I loved going to Bible class. I loved hearing the stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Ruth, Esther, Joseph and Mary, Elizabeth, Mary and Martha, and stories about Jesus. I enjoyed hearing them over and over again.

When I went off to college, I went with, what I thought was a wealth of knowledge about the Bible. I soon learned that I had a lot to learn. That has not changed for me. Every time I read a story, prepare to teach a class, or hear a sermon, I learn something new. Sometimes I discover that there are things I want to know that are just not contained in the pages of Scripture.

Such is the case with Simon of Cyrene. We find him placed almost incidentally in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21; and Luke 23:26. He is just mentioned and without much detail.

These things we do know. We can learn from history that Cyrene was a coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea, West of Egypt. Because of its location, some have speculated that he was dark skinned. That could be true. There was a population of Jews that lived in this region, and he may have simply been a Jew living in this area.

Making the trip to Jerusalem would not have been unusual for the people of Cyrene. We know from Acts 2:10 that there were people from Cyrene present on Pentecost. They would have seen the miracle of the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles, and they would have heard Peter’s sermon—in their own language. Could he have been one of the 3,000 baptized?

Another thing we know about Simon is that he had two sons, Alexander and Rufus. Both names are mentioned in other places, but there is no specific indication that either was the sons mentioned here.

We also know that, according to Matthew and Mark, Simon was compelled into service. Luke says he was seized. It is obvious that Simon didn’t jump out in front of the soldiers and volunteer. He would have probably been overwhelmed by the events taking place. Mark says he was “coming in from the country.” Imagine just arriving in a city and being forced by soldiers to carry a cross for a man sentenced to death.

That is about all we know about Simon. So, why is he mentioned? He may have been mentioned and named because the apostles, at some point, may have met him. They may have wanted to show him as an example to future generations, Maybe he was mentioned to substantiate the account. Whatever the reason, we know his name.

What lessons can we learn from this man? I believe the most valuable lesson we learn is humility. Though he was probably terrified, he carried Jesus’ cross. He would have been taunted just like Jesus was. With crowds all around them, taunting, spitting, throwing things, Simon would have received some of that treatment as well.

What we learn from his humility is that it is not always easy to follow Jesus. With all of the distractions and temptations thrown at us daily, doing what is right is not always easy. We have to remain humble servants to endure what is placed in our path.

Simon eased Jesus’ burden. Jesus had been scourged, and His physical body was weighted down with a heavy cross. When Simon bore the cross for him, he gave some comfort to Jesus. Hebrews 6:6 says that when Christians fall away, they are crucifying again the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. When we resist temptation and follow Christ, we comfort the Savior. We are not crucifying Him all over again.

There is no mention of Simon after this passage, but we know he existed. We know the story is true. We know Matthew, Mark, and Luke placed him here for a purpose. We can only speculate why, but we can allow him to serve as an example for us. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (Second Timothy 3:16-17).

Sandra Oliver

Random House Webster’s College Dictionary defines “mine” as “a form of the possessive case of I as a predicate adjective; that or those belonging to me.” We have no problem understanding the meaning of “mine” when something or someone belongs to us. Somehow, that is totally lost in our understanding when God Almighty declares to all of us what is His possession.

Jehovah God began declaring early in His interaction with His people that they – everybody and everything – belong to Him. That is still an irrevocable divine truth. However, humanity with breakneck speed and determination is doing everything in its power to live and to act as though all belongs to it. How tragic! This mindset is totally unsustainable and doomed to failure.

The passages used for the purpose of this article do not begin to touch the hem of the garment in terms of the number there are in which God essentially says, “It is Mine.” The ones cited are but a few in which God has spoken directly or through one of His prophets. Note the following.

Exodus 9:29 – “So Moses said to him, ‘As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.’” Moses spoke to Pharaoh in further answering his question about the identity of God.

Exodus 13:1-2 – “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying ‘Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.’” God consecrated the firstborn to Himself.

Exodus 19:5 – “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people, for all the earth is Mine.” God was speaking to the children of Israel after He freed them from Egyptian bondage.

Leviticus 25:23 – “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.” God was speaking to the children of Israel about property rights.

Numbers 3:11-13 – “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD.’” God was speaking to Moses regarding the Levites serving in the tabernacle.

Deuteronomy 10:14 – “Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” Moses declared God’s sovereignty over heaven and earth.

Job 41:9-11 – “Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay Him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” God spoke to Job about His creation of leviathan, a large sea creature, the exact identity of which is unknown.

Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the LORD’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” David, the sweet psalmist of Israel forthrightly gave exalted honor, distinction and recognition to God as the Creator and Sustainer of all.

Psalm 50:10-12 – “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.” God declared His rightful ownership.

Isaiah 43:1 – “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” God proclaimed Himself to be the Redeemer of Israel.

Isaiah 45:12 – “I have made the earth, and created man on it. I – My hands – stretched out the heavens, and all their hosts I have commanded.” God stated His sovereignty over all creation.

God made His most concise and boldest declarations of Who He is and what He possesses in Job 38-41. God peppered Job with some 60+ questions according to some writers, and Job could not answer even one question! It would serve every living being well to read those four chapters to get an external understanding of Who God is and how He deals with us!

Job 42:1-2 reads, “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.’” Job repented in dust and ashes. God told Job’s three friends exactly where they stood in His sight – in need of forgiveness. Job 42:7 reads, “And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” God continued by telling Eliphaz exactly what they had to do to appease His wrath, which was to offer up a burnt offering and Job would pray for them. In Job 42:8b God bluntly said, “For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Verse 9 reads, “[They] went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.” Oh, if all of humanity had the humility exhibited by these three men to accept that all of this and that all of us belong to Jehovah God! Our part in all of this is to trust and obey. God reigns!

Marilyn LaStrape