Thoughts at 2 AM - A Series of Teaching posts I am contemplating

Middle of the Night Musings: Building Blocks of Faith

I couldn’t sleep. I woke up with a stream of thoughts, things I've spoken about before, but now they feel like essays, building blocks stacking up in a new way. I'm unsure what I'm typing or fully comprehending all the strings and relationships, but I want to put it out here in the blogosphere instead of journaling (typing is faster, and I'm not ready to get up).

• Two Trees:  Our world's systems are rooted in two trees, reflecting the contrast between earthly and heavenly realms. This sermon unpacks the two pyramids, their layers, and how these realms interact. It highlights how accessing the heavenly realm releases blessings to all humanity (Genesis 41). The key practical tool - Fear of the Lord and seeking Wisdom. 
  
  
• Desire and the Tree of Life: God desires that we be deeply rooted in the Tree of Life (Psalm 27:4, Proverbs 13:12). This teaching explores the relationship between desires, hope, and faith and shows how they shape our spiritual lives. The key practical tool -  Thanksgiving
  
  
• Faith and Supernatural Courage: Faith sees the unseen. It fuels courage. Supernatural courage emerges when faith and praise collide, empowering us to take new ground, break strongholds, and reclaim territory from the enemy (1 Samuel 14). The key practical tool  - Promises & Praise 
  
  
• Bravery vs. Courage and the Power of Resilience: A deep dive into the distinction between bravery and courage, using the Peloponnesian War (431 -4 04 BCE) as a case study. Athens and Sparta fought for control, but in the end, Spartans eventuall outlasted and secured the victory. This speaks to the need for building resilience and the spiritual stamina for the long haul.
  
  
• Supernatural Favor: Supernatural courage attracts supernatural favor. Nehemiah, Harold Blatant, and Euler show that favor isn't just for personal gain but positions us as vessels of blessing for others. True favor is rooted in love, giving more than it takes.
  
  
• Love is The Greatest Power. God's supernatural love anchors us in a place of being, positioning us to love others and healing a broken world. Hope, faith, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13). Love overcomes evil, unites, covers sin, and ultimately points to the one sent by the Father because only love can rescue us.
  
  
• YESHUA and the Abundant Life: Jesus promises abundant life. This is an invitation to intimacy ”to know, feel, and pursue Him. Our senses were designed for this eternal chase of oneness. Through My One Thing story, we see how this pursuit connects back to our deepest desires.

Just putting this here before the night steals it away.

A Teachable heart

As I progress through my Bible reading plan this year, I've reached the book of Exodus, which I've always cherished for its powerful account of Yahweh's mighty deliverance of the Israelites after 430 years of slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh. Each plague demonstrates God's supreme power, revealing to both the Egyptians and the Israelites that the King of the universe reigns over all of creation, unlike the false gods of Egypt.

Each plague specifically confronted an Egyptian deity, showcasing God's dominion. Some examples that quickly come to mind: 

• When the Nile turned to blood, it directly challenged Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile.
• The plague of frogs confronted Heket, the fertility goddess, who was depicted as a frog.
• The plague of lice, which arose from the dust of the earth, defied Geb, the Egyptian god of the planet.
• The plague of flies opposed Khepri, the god of rebirth, often associated with swarms of insects.
• And one of the most well-known plagues—the plague of darkness—stood against Ra, the Egyptian sun god.

Through these plagues, the Lord demonstrated His sovereignty over all created things. But more than that, He extended His mercy to His people, freeing them physically and spiritually and working to remove Egypt's culture from their hearts so they would know and worship Him alone. He understood that after centuries of slavery, the Israelites' hearts were weak and prone to returning to what was familiar rather than trusting Him despite these mighty signs. 

At its core, worship is a heart issue. Throughout Exodus, we read how God hardened Pharaoh's heart after each plague—a phrase that can sometimes be misunderstood. It's not that God manipulated Pharaoh in a devious display of power, for God is good, He is light, and He grants His creation the ability to choose. A helpful way to understand this is through the analogy of the sun's rays: the same heat that melts ice also hardens clay.

When confronted with undeniable demonstrations of God's power, Pharaoh would momentarily relent, asking for the plagues to be lifted—yet his heart remained unchanged. He refused to acknowledge God's authority, choosing instead to act in defiance of God's command. This is a powerful reminder that a hardened heart is not simply an accident but the result of persistent resistance to God's truth.

May we examine our hearts, remaining teachable, tender, and open to God's voice rather than hardened by deception, offense, or unforgiveness.

Shalom & Blessings, 

Dr. Sam Kurien