Jesus enacted a cleansing of the temple at Jerusalem at the start of His earthly ministry. It must have taken them by surprise as they scrambled about! Business as usual had definitely been upended. His manner of authority had them scattered and running…
Read MoreWe are taught that each of us is to become a sanctuary for the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. The apostolic church learned that a Spirit-led life of “breaking bread” (the study of Scripture), daily prayer, and witnessing were essential for the health and growth of the church.
Read MoreThese last days are marked very distinctly with Satan’s intensifying attack against the precepts of God. God is allowing it, even as He is telling us about it in His word. Being confronted with specific tests has a way of bringing our decision-making into sharp focus.
Read MoreSatan accuses us before God, just as he accused Jacob; he intended to claim his right to Jacob because of his sin. As Jacob wrestled all night with God, the accuser forced upon him a sense of guilt that might cause him to give up and lose his hold on God. God also reminded him of his guilt for the purpose of testing his faith.
Read MoreThe knowledge of God is most clearly revealed to fallen humanity in the Bible. Only he who is meek and humble can accept the basic instructions, warnings, corrections, and rebukes contained in the love letter. This is because the meek and humble one recognizes the mercy that is being extended to him.
Read MoreIt is true that He provides counsel for every area of life. There is no part of my life that He does not care about. His word, if heeded, has a powerful way of protecting from all sorts of harm—physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual—with the ultimate goal of character-building that will last for eternity.
Read MoreJesus is ever at work to preserve life. Every person is a unique creation loved by God with an enormous love that is beyond our comprehension.
Read MoreDuring the Dark Ages, the notion of inherent immortality made its way into the Roman church. Acceptance of this idea ushers in a veritable host of other erroneous doctrines. Today we shall briefly examine one of them: infant baptism.
Read MoreThere are so many who bristle at the word “command.” This is because Satan has succeeded in interfering with the correct perception of God’s character. Instead of the loving Redeemer that He is, whose will it is to lead us out of our lost condition, the adversary paints Him as a cruel taskmaster.
Read MoreIn the pagan nations surrounding the land of promise, there was a broadly practiced custom of private vengeance whereby a close relative of anyone who had died at the hand of another was obliged to find the killer and kill him. This designated person was referred to as the avenger of blood.
Read MoreThere is a subtle brand of liberality which regards correct understanding of God’s word as non-essential. But, by God’s grace, history is dotted with His true servants who, for the love of truth, powerfully contended against false teachers.
Read MoreLooking to the Savior has a distinctly uplifting effect. This new paradigm brings with it a compassionate perception of the needs of others. God’s purpose in saving us is to give us a role in His plan of redemption. This is the highest honor and privilege given to man.
Read MoreIt is not likely that any of us fully comprehends the wickedness of our own heart. But if God’s Son has been truly believed upon, He takes that faith as an invitation to come into our hearts and begin the process of His cleansing work. It is essential to acknowledge our part in allowing Him to enter.
Read MoreIt is not a coincidence that Jesus was trained as a carpenter by His earthly father. The skillful input of shaping, fitting, sanding and refining is an apt metaphor for the work of the Creator as He molds our character.
Read MoreIt is obvious that God is a lover of beauty. But above all that is visibly beautiful, His greatest delight is in beauty of character, yet this is the one thing over which He has given us total control.
Read MoreNowhere in all of the Bible is there any change of the Sabbath day. But God, who sees the future, knew that it would be attempted (Daniel 7:25). Sunday-keeping is a tradition of uninspired men and it breaks God’s fourth commandment. God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. Only He can do that. When God blesses, no man can “reverse” it (see Numbers 23:20).
Read MoreSatan intensified his efforts to undermine God’s identity as Creator when the theory of evolution burst upon the scene in 1844. But long before that, he began working to undermine His identity as our Redeemer. There is an orderly way that both creation and redemption are presented in the Word. Both are processes. They are also intertwined . . .
Read MoreThere are prevalent pagan practices which are presented under a manmade premise of honoring God. While there may seem to be an immediate reward that follows a human work, it is a fact that human work outside the will of God ushers in future troubles. On the other hand, present obedience brings future blessings!
Read MoreBeloved, do you value the Lord’s counsel above all human wisdom? It is a fact that His counsel is on a superior plain than that of human wisdom, insight or knowledge.
Read MoreThe covenant relationship that God designed for a man and his wife—the marriage commitment—is frequently compared to the covenant relationship that He designed and desires between Himself and His people. Such a relationship is characterized by love, loyalty, and faithfulness.
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