The masses were taught that they must not read the written Word, but that the priests will interpret it for them. God’s Word was kept away from the spiritually starving people. Instead, they were taught that church tradition has authority over the Word of God.
Read MoreThe heroes in the scriptures became examples for us to follow precisely because of their willingness to leave behind erroneous ways and cooperate with the LORD in honoring His Word by proclaiming it boldly. Of course, this was not popular. And neither will it be today. Nothing has changed in that respect.
Read MoreThe devil, the instigator of all sin, wants to remind us of our sins in order to discourage us from speaking boldly of the LORD to others. In his craftiness, he is working his evil on multiple levels. He will lead you into sin, then accuse you before God for sinning. Then he will discourage and belittle you by replaying your sins while saying, “You’re just a loser. Who are you to speak of the goodness of God?”
Read MoreSin, our greatest burden, has been lifted. Salvation, our greatest need, has been provided. The only proper response for a true believer is to live for Him.
Read MoreWe are created with a spiritual sense that each of us are responsible for using wisely—for His glory. Just as our physical eyes receive light, our spiritual eyes have been provided that we might “see” the One who made everything.
Read MoreThe time we live in now shows us more intense divisions and confederacies as we near the return of Jesus. Our enemy is hard at work to divide God’s true followers and also to unite, by deception, all of the unprepared.
Read MoreEven without making distinctions between human trickery and demonic manifestations, the one who trusts wholeheartedly in the Lord and lives in obedience to His word will know if a message is not from God.
Read MoreThat old serpent’s lie, You shall not surely die, has mushroomed like an atomic bomb into a host of false doctrines in the world; he has people in every religion, including Christianity, believing that dead people are alive.
Read MoreA seal is a mark or a sign of protection. In the case of a letter, the seal—readily recognizable—is pressed into hot wax to show the recipient that the letter has not been tampered with. Although a seal is easily broken, a good letter-carrier protects the seal that it may be intact upon delivery to the intended recipient.
Read MoreAthaliah tore her clothes. This gesture by religious people was exercised when something truly tragic had occurred. This is a clue that Satan’s work in the world is garbed with religiosity and piety; a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Read MoreWith the idea of death out of the way, it seemed harmless to disobey God. In the moment, Eve did not perceive that she was switching loyalties from God to Satan. The largest volume of myths and erroneous doctrines perpetrated upon mankind go back to Satan’s lie about death.
Read MoreSatan doesn’t mind if messages in the name of Jesus go out to the world, as long as they are mixed with error. In fact, he is the power behind this phenomenon. It’s his most effective way to ensure that people are being murdered.
Read MoreDuring these six years, only a very few trusted people knew that the royal child was alive and hidden in the temple of God. The high priest, Jehoiada, loved Joash and trained him as his own child, while praying for the ideal time to present this rightful heir to the people.
Read MoreCreated in God’s image, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. It is fascinating to compare features of our bodies with aspects and functions of the temple building.
Read MoreSince we are taught that our bodies are also meant to be a dwelling place of the Lord’s Spirit, we are to actively cultivate daily communication with God—our prayers correspond to breathing and time in His word is eating—fortified and aided by the indescribable benefit of the intercession of Jesus, our High Priest, in the heavenly sanctuary.
Read MoreThe tiny, portable tabernacle constructed under Moses was exquisitely beautiful in every detail—and the presence of the LORD manifested in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was undoubtedly a stunning sight in the midst of the wilderness as a witness to the surrounding pagan nations.
Read MoreVery often, it is in the details that must occur before we reach a goal that we become overwhelmed.
Read MoreThe purpose of the temple had been hijacked and perverted by the very ones in possession of the divine instructions for leading sinners to the forgiveness and cleansing that God offers.
Read MoreOur participation in acknowledging our own sin is vital in bringing a balm to His pain. To be in agreement with Him over my sin immediately moves me to the next point of decision: will I allow Him to cleanse me of erroneous thinking that would otherwise lead to future sins?
Read MoreThe sooner we come to Jesus with confession of sin and the desire to turn away from it—the better! He loves us so much that He is anxious to forgive: to relieve us from the weight of guilt. The thankful heart cleansed from its guilt is on the springboard of a wholesome new way of living, under the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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