Providence Community Church

The testimony of Jacob recorded in our text today prompts the question: Is a life threatening hardship any less of a tool in the hands of the Lord than glorious angelic visitation via dream? While we would surely prefer the 2nd means, it is undoubtedly the case that God has worked just as sovereignly through trial in the life of Jacob as He has through triumph. The seven year famine has struck the...

In stanza 19 of literature's greatest acrostic song, our author continues crying out to God for salvation in spite of his enemies. He implores the Lord to rescue him from his oppressors. Each verse of his cry begins with the letter: 'Ayin' in the original Hebrew. As the Psalmist's journey continues to encounter trials and difficulties, we find that his spirit refuses to succumb to weariness or des...

Jude, in admonishing the church of all ages, writes to equip his sincere readers to contend for the once for all, immutable faith delivered to the saints of all ages. His brief letter nevertheless contains thorough training for the believer to discern and oppose enemies of the gospel. The scope of what we are to stand against as the Christian church includes anything and anyone that would deny or...

Joseph's brothers confess: “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother...”. How is the divinely decreed path of life's circumstances leading Joseph and his brothers at this time? This text illustrates how the grace of guilt is moving the brothers to a confession of sin, while the grace of covenant promises is leading Joseph to compassionate forgiveness. A theme surfacing in this passage that mi...

At least 20 years have passed since Joseph and his family parted ways under horrific circumstances involving human trafficking, slave1y, deception, and jealousy. During this time, Joseph, having thrived in spite of all this, has risen to rule as 2nd in command of Egypt. He has learned a new language, he has married an Egyptian, he has served in Pharaoh's court for more than 7 years, and he is resp...

Each verse of stanza 15 in the great acrostic psalm begins with the Hebrew letter 'samekh' in the original language emphasizing the sufficiency of the Word of God even through trials involving the double minded, the wicked, and evil doers. The psalmist multiplies references to the Word of God again in this section having written his 121st synonym for the ultimate source of reassurance regardless o...

For today's message, we review a summary theme of Jude's letter taking his final verse in conjunction with his reason for writing: Christians are called to contend for the faith by discerning and opposing anything that denies the glory, majesty, dominion, and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, to appreciate the full impact of Jude's letter, it should be our goal to have his reference...

Tying in messages from last year and in keeping with our advent theme: “the significance of incarnation events magnified from scriptural cross references”, today's message picks up where we left off at Christmas last year exploring the fulfillment of Jacob's profound dream in Genesis 28. Here the patriarch beholds heaven's staircase touching ground as angels ascend and descend upon it. Jesus Himse...

Today we continue with our advent theme: “the significance of incarnation events magnified from scriptural cross references.” To illustrate the prophetic weight of Old Testament texts anticipating the unique nature of the Messiah to come – today's message borrows an outline from fragments of inter-testamental commentary found with the other :Dead Sea Scrolls” in the Quamran excavations of the last...

The poetic movement of Ps 148 is a descending invocation issued from the throne room of glory. As the decree travels through the realms of creation, the call to worship is echoed and heeded in each domain as the message condescends to earth. The call 1st reverberates through the upper registers of creation and then plummets to plumb the depths of the seas as it reaches earth. Then it arises again...

First century Jewish historian 'Philo' documents smoke still rising from the site of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction in his day. For centuries in its geographic situation and for all time in the Word of God, Sodom and Gomorrah smolder as a type and foreshadow of judgement by eternal fire prescribed for unrepentant sin. Jude cites the event oracle of Sodom in his warnings against and condemnation...

Not since the 1st pages of Genesis have we heard reference to the 'Ruach of Elohim' (The Spirit of God), until now as the Pharaoh of Egypt testifies of the character of Joseph recognizing the Spirit of God abiding in this Hebrew slave. Significant moments in scripture record awakened understanding of unlikely converts from time to time. Millennia later, a Roman centurion would exclaim of Jesus: “T...

The great theme of Joseph's life and calling is signaled by the turning point in his fortunes recorded in chapter 41 of Genesis. Here his 'messianic ascension' from the place of humiliation comes to pass suddenly & dramatically. Joseph's testimony sets the tone for more unfolding revelation to come with the appointment of Moses and ultimately, the incarnation of Jesus. In our text, Joseph rece...

John 11:25 reads: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Verse 26 continues recording Jesus' words to Martha concerning her beloved brother Lazarus who has died: “& everyone who lives & believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” The occasion of Jesus question presented a profound test for Martha. Her br...

The epistle of Jude contains striking parallels to the 2nd letter of Peter. So much so that most scholars assume these two books shared source material. II Peter chapter two conveys the same concerns as Jude's letter and cites identical references to emphasize the weighty situation facing the early church. The enemies of Christ were active in the 1st century and many yet remain today. The weapons...

We estimate Joseph is now around 30 years of age. He has been in Egypt for some 12 years and 2 years have passed in the pit of Poitiphar's prison since he interpreted the cupbearer and baker's dreams with a plea that they remember him. In the perfect timing of God's purposes, Pharaoh’s dreams jog the memory of the cupbearer and he remembers the man that God has never forgotten. There has been a wa...

One might wonder what sheaves, heavenly bodies, grapes, cake baskets, cattle, and grain have in common in the life of Joseph. The answer is that all of these were the subject of dreams he encountered either by revelation or interpretation. We learn in Genesis chapter 41:1 that Joseph’s troubles would continue for another 2 years, however, the events of chapter 40 would prove to be a turning point,...

In John 16:33 Jesus is encouraging His disciples: “I have said these things to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world.” Ps 105:16-23 summarizes the anointing of Joseph and the purposes of God in his trials and affliction. God had prescribed a testing period for His servant before His words of prophecy were fulfilled. Whi...

The 13th stanza in the great acrostic Psalm introduces the theme of the sufficiency of God's word for the trial of deception with the Hebrew letter 'mem'. This passage also introduces a rare word translated 'meditation' used only 3 times in the Bible, once in Job (15:4), & twice here (verses 97 & 99). The notion of meditation is promoted these days by false religions and therefore it may b...

Jacob's household continues to be marked by covenant dysfunction and infidelity. Now in the second generation, his 4th son – Judah - through whom the genealogy of hope would continue, is caught up in a whirlwind of rebellion, debauchery, deception, trauma, sudden death, prostitution, and incest. Here again, Moses interrupts the narrative with a “parentheses” account that reminds us of the effects...

Each verse of the 12th stanza of Psalm 119 begins with the 12th letter in the Hebrew alphabet in the original text. In this collection of 8 verses the psalmist reassures his soul and thereby proclaims to his readers the sufficiency of the Word of God for the trial of conspiring forces motivated by wicked desires to destroy him. Verse 95 describes this threat in terms of a premeditated ambush. Exam...