MY HOLY BIBLE EXTRACTS OF 1,401 POWERFUL VERSES: Second Edition

The Old Testament

Second Edition

Genesis

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (1:26). Oh, man, you were the last of all of God’s creations. Created on the sixth day but given dominion over all his creations and granted favor above everything else, you were the only creature that was made in the image of God, after his likeness, and given His Spirit in you. Do you now give up all these privileges and settle to worship the sea, the sun, the moon, the stars, stones, trees, fishes, animals, and all the likes? Where then is that image of God in you? Where is that his likeness in you? And where is that Spirit of God in you? But remember that it is only you among all his creatures that he repented of having created. Oh, you, man, is it not time yet for you to retrieve your lost place in life? Is it not yet time for you to reassert yourself and reclaim that pride of place God gave to you since creation? Which any of God’s creations did he give the power of creation but man? Which of them did he tell to procreate and fill the earth, but man? Is it not high time that you reexamined, revalued, and regained your first estate in life? Which of God’s creations did he love so much that he sent his only begotten Son to die for, but man (John 3:16)?

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (1:27). Have you retained the original image of God in which you were made? In whose image are you living now? The image of God or that of Satan? If it is still the image of God, why is there so much evil in the world nowadays?

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (1:28). Man, you are the blessed of God. But are you fruitful? How fruitful are you? Have you multiplied and replenished the earth for good? What have you replenished the earth with? What positive value have you added to the earth? Have you not rather diminished the earth? Have you subdued the earth with good or with evil? Or have you been subdued in the earth? Do you have dominion over every living thing in the earth as commanded by God? Have you not conceded dominion and now turned to worship these things instead of worshipping the Lord God? Please think about this thoroughly and turn around.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (1:29). How much did you pay for this?

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so (1:30). Do you not enjoy these free gifts of God? How much would you pay for the air that you breathe?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (2:7). Oh, man, it is very important not to lose consciousness of your origin. Remember always the history of your origin and the source of your being. Are you still retaining that breath of life that was breathed into you by God? Are you still a living soul or a corrupted soul? Do you know that every corrupted soul is dead while yet living? And is headed to judgment and hell?

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (2:18). God knew all our needs from creation and provides them even without our asking. Did Adam request for a companion when he was alone and lonely? But God knew his need and gave him Eve. And you, woman, are you the helpmate that God made you to be?

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (2:21–22). This was the first ever surgery performed by the chief surgeon—God himself. The woman was created through this master surgery performed by God himself on the man. We may have heard this before and probably have known this. But do we really understand its implication and importance? It means that man was a wholesome being, and the woman is the part. But once the part was removed, both the man and the woman became both parts and, until each is reunited in marriage, would not be whole again. But to become full in marriage, both the man and the woman that were parted must seek first the matching correct piece from God in order to consummate a blissful marriage in life.

So every man must seek the correct and right piece of his rib that was taken to provide the right complement. And who is better suited to identify and give you the missing part of you but God? Most importantly, it must be understood that only a woman is the best piece of a man, and no woman would be wholesome without her missing part, the man. Therefore, all the women seeking to be independent must realize that they do so in violation of the order of God. For those women who seek to bear rule over men, no matter how weak they may seem to be, are in defiance of God. It cannot be otherwise. The position of the man in the life of the woman is not negotiable and ranks only second to God. So, wives and mothers, be mindful of the authority and power which God had vested on the man over you in life. Man did not invest on himself this authority and power, but God Almighty did. If you have the fear of God, you must submit yourself to your husband in everything irrespective of your height in education and social status. You remain the piece of him that was removed and now reunited with him in marriage. You cannot therefore exceed him without him.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (2:24). Please reflect on the opening statement: Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife to become one flesh. This is a law given by God to man. Are you a man and have cleft unto a fellow man as husband and wife? Or you are a woman and have cleft unto a fellow woman as a husband or as a wife? Know that you are in serious and condemnable violation of the law of God and of creation. Know you not that this despicable act is a corruption of the soul and the commandment of God?

Do you know whether this might just be the reason why the whole world is now plagued by the coronavirus (COVID-19), for which everybody is running helter-skelter in search of solution? Is this what our high learning and education could avail us? That a man will marry a fellow man when there are so many women out there desiring to be married but are not? Or that a woman should be married to her fellow woman when there are many men out there desiring to marry good wives? Oh gosh! What a world and age we now live in.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (3:6). Are you in control of your eyes, and do you direct your sight? Do your eyes enjoy the unlimited freedom of seeing whatever that presents itself to them? Are you a man, and are you in control of your wife? Eve failed to control her eyes. She disobeyed God. Adam failed to control his wife. He disobeyed God. We all know the consequences of their actions. Choose what you want to see and block what you need not see. It is not everything that you must see.

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him (4:7). Will you do well? Or be ruled by sin?

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? (4:9). Are you not your brother’s keeper? Oh yes. You are your brother’s keeper. We are our brothers’ keeper.

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him (5:24). Here it is recorded that Enoch did not taste death because he walked with God. And God took him into heaven. Enoch was a man like you and I. Would you walk with God?

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he (6:22). Are you doing all that God commanded you to do?

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth (11:4). As the saying goes, everything that ever happened starts with a thought, just a thought. The children of Noah, who just survived the flood, conceived the thought, the purpose, and the intentions that might be good but had sinister motive which was not to the glory of God. There is nothing wrong with the thought of building a city. But what with the top of the tower reaching unto heaven? Added to this was the intention of making a name for themselves and not to make a name for God that preserved their lives. Where is God in their plans? Reflect on this. These were people who just survived the flood that consumed the whole world, of which they did nothing special to have survived. And so soon, they conceived the thought (idea), with the intention to immortalize their names. Now again, take note of their fears and apprehensions, lest they be scattered abroad. Firstly, they conceived the thought and started to build the city. Therefore, note that every achievement or failure in life begins with a thought.

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded (11:5). The Lord certified their thought and approved their purpose but condemned their ulterior motive. God is always with us in thought (spirit). He does not stop us in our thoughts (imaginations). He allows us to give vent (force) to our thought before acting to seal or unseal our efforts. This is why our good thoughts receive his blessings and will usually benefit us while our evil thoughts will always fail and boomerang on us.

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do (11:6). I am certain that the importance of this passage may be lost on many Christians. Take heed and beware of the thought of your heart because you have the Spirit of God as well as his power to conceive and execute a plan. This is the Word of the Lord God to the effect that man can accomplish anything he is able to imagine (think) about. Their desire to build a city and immortalize their names began with a thought and so was their fear of being dispersed. The lesson here is that any thought or imagination that you can conceive, you can achieve, and also, any fear or thought you can harbor or anticipate will also come upon you. So be careful what you imagine. Let not your imagination run wild, except only on positive activities and outcomes. Restrain yourself from evil thought and evil deeds.

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (12:2). Would you reckon that the Lord promised to bless Abraham when his name was still Abram? How many greats did God promise to make him? Two greats—first, to make of him a great nation and, second, to make his name great. Which of these did God not fulfill to Abram? Not only that he will bless him, but Abram shall also be a blessing to others. Now the question is this, did God’s blessings die with Abraham? Are you and I not descendants of Abraham who was not only blessed but was also a blessing to others? It is certain and settled that many Christians only compose songs to the effect that Abraham’s blessings are mine—I mean, theirs—without really believing in that song and what they sing. Being Abraham’s children, it is your right and not a privilege to ask for and be blessed. So ask God to bless you as Abraham’s child but do so with a pure heart and in sincerity, not for greed.

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (12:3). Do you know that God’s blessings upon you is even extended to those who bless you? And so is his curse unto those that curse you. And in you also shall all families of the earth be blessed. Are you not a member of the families of the earth that received this blessings from God through Abraham?

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord (13:4). Where are you calling on the name of the Lord? Have you built any altar for him?

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar (13:10). Does material consideration condition your opinion and decision-making in life? This was the lot of Lot. Material things do not last, but immaterial things last much longer than material things. Lot used his physical eyes to choose the plain of Jordan.

It was a wrong choice. Abraham depended on God, and he was given the choicest land. Many people today are making the wrong choice like Lot because they do not involve God in their decision-making. Involve the Lord God Almighty in all your decision-making, and you will never be wrong.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered (13:16). This God’s promise is also for you. Are you exempted from this promise of God? Would you not claim it?

Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee (13:17). God has spoken to you here. Take possession of your possession which he has given to you. Will you?

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth (14:18–19). Do you know that in Abram, you are blessed of the most high God?

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward (15:1). Are you a born-again Christian? If you are, know that through the Lord Jesus Christ, you are also Abraham’s descendant, and thus, this promise to him is equally applicable to you. You should not be afraid because God promised to be your shield of protection as well as your exceeding great reward.

And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus (15:2). If God appears to you in a dream as he did to Abram, what would you tell him? Would you present your greatest heart desire to him? Or would you give him a long list of needs, including the list of your enemies he must kill for you? Abram did not waste his opportunity with God. His greatest heart desire was to have a child, and that was his only request to God. As a Christian, know your greatest heart desire, and when you go on your knees in prayer before the Lord God, put it forward without much ado or without rantings and rambling as many Christians do.

And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir (15:4). This is God’s promise also to you. Your heir shall not be an adopted child but a child from your bowels.

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hand (16:9). Did you hear that? Are you a servant today? Serve your master or mistress well, for God sees your agony and distress and, in due course, will establish you.

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude (16:10). Do you remember the descendants of Ishmael? Do you remember the twelve dukes?

And she called on the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? (16:13). Do you think that the Lord God does not see you? He sees everybody, and that includes you.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect (17:1). Would you walk before the Almighty God perfectly?

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee (17:6). Do you want the Lord God Almighty to make you exceedingly fruitful and great?

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed (17:12). Is the law fulfilled by you and all male members of your household?

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant (17:13). This covenant is an everlasting covenant. Please take note of God’s word so that you will be properly guided. Was our Lord Jesus Christ not circumcised on the eight day in keeping with this everlasting covenant? See the book of Luke 2:21. Was this not observed in the era of the New Testament? Yes, it was done in the era of the New Testament. Was the Lord Jesus Christ not circumcised in keeping with this everlasting covenant? Yes, he was. So let there be no further confusion arising from men of confused minds over this matter.

And I will bless her and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her (17:16). Was Sarah not blessed with a son, Isaac, in fulfilment of God’s promise?

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah that is ninety years old, bear? (17:17). Did God fail Abraham?

And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him (17:23). Abraham obeyed the Word of God in full compliance and not in partial observance. Recall that he was ninety-nine years when he was circumcised with every member of his household that were males.

And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him (18:10). Did Sarah not bear Abraham a son?

And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (18:17–18). God does not hide things from his friends and from those he chose to honor. Become God’s friend like Abraham and you would savor his confidence.

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (18:19). Can God say this about you? Would God be so confident about you? Are you commanding your children and household well? After God’s ways?

And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know (18:20–21). Is your sin not very grievous before God? Would your sin not warrant a visitation of the Lord God Almighty? Man, rescue yourself from sin and from the great anger of God.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake (18:32). Did you notice how persistent Abraham was in his intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah? From fifty righteous men, he brought it down to ten, and yet ten righteous men could not be found in the city. Have you ever interceded for somebody in your life? Are you living in a sinful city such as Sodom and Gomorrah? Learn now to do a prayer of intercession on behalf of others.

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them (19:5). Here, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah who stank in their degenerate sins demanded to have carnal knowledge of Lot’s male guests. So the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were homosexuals as far back as then. Are you a homosexual? Or a lesbian? Or a gay? Remember that if God could destroy them then, he will also destroy all those homosexuals, gay, lesbians, and their likes of today. So if you are in this category of people, save yourself from the wrath to come.

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof (19:8). The men of Sodom and Gomorrah rejected Lot’s offer of his two virgin daughters in preference to homosexual relationship with Lot’s male guests. Do not negotiate with the devil because the devil would not bargain for good but for evil.

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door (19:9–11). Did you notice how determined the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were to do evil? Lot’s entreaties fell on deaf ears. Not only that the men were evil, even in their blindness, they were also determined and were groping for the door to execute their evil mission. This is usually how it is this day with people of wicked design. They will rather perish in their evil mission than give it up and repent. I hope you who is reading this piece is not in the group of persons such as the men of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city (19:16). While Lot lingered, the Lord provided him and his household safe conduct to safety. This is the situation with so many people in today’s world. While God, in his infinite mercy, is willing to provide safe conduct for people to escape from sin, they are lingering behind like Lot. Remember that even after being escorted out of the sinful city and having been warned not to look back, Lot’s wife still looked back and turned into a pillar of salt as recorded in the book of Genesis 19:26. So many people relish in evil dealings to the extent that it becomes quite normal, attractive, and permissive to them. Are you lingering and looking back to remain encased in sin and in sinful environment? Is sin holding you spellbound like Lot’s wife that, despite God’s escape route for her, remained indifferent and was consumed?

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine (20:7). This was a summary account of what happened between Abraham and King Abimelech of Gerar where Abraham sojourned. Do you have anything that you ought to restore to someone? Do so now without further hesitation, and save yourself unpleasant consequences which may occasion death for you and your household. Many people are suffering for being in possession of what belongs to others.

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake (20:11). Do you have the fear of God? Is there the fear of God in you?

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him (21:1–2). God’s promise never fails. His promise to Abraham was fulfilled at the time appointed. His promises to you as you read through this passage shall come to fulfillment.

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called (21:12). Are you a husband? Do you listen to your wife? Would you not have raised hell on earth against your wife if you were in Abraham’s shoes?

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink (21:19). In your time of distress, if you cry to the Lord God, he will have compassion on you. Do not lose hope because, with God, nothing is impossible. See Luke 1:37.

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and