1 Peter 4.3 observes, there has already been enough time spent in doing what
the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
Oh how true these words, written nearly two thousand years ago, are today: enough time has been spent carrying on in unrestrained behavior. The ‘final’ fruit of the Spirit is self-control. (more…)
James 2.26 observes, just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith
without works is dead.
There is too much faith without works in our churches today. The people of God expect the hirelings to do the work when the Scripture commands the hirelings to equip the people for works of service to God. Why is this to be the case? (more…)
Proverbs 28.9 promises, anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law —
even his prayer is detestable.
Everyone prays but not everyone is heard. The Lord is holy, He is God. He is not Santa Claus. Those who pray to Him must be those who listen to Him.
Hebrews 2.3 asks, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This
salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
The wrath of God is coming against all those who deny Him and fail to live under subjection to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore, those who claim to be in Christ must not neglect their salvation, for it was purchased by the blood of God to appease the wrath of God, so that men can be forever reconciled with God. (more…)
Hosea 11.12 describes, Ephraim surrounds me with lies, the house of Israel, with
deceit. Judah still wanders with God and is faithful to the holy ones.
We hear often that we humans don’t like change. Our prayers reflect this disdain, often asking God for protection and safety instead of faith and courage. (more…)
2 Timothy 2.19 records, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this
inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
The word repent means to turn the other way, to turn around and go the other direction. It is the first word used in God’s opening message to humanity.
2 Timothy 1.7-8 records, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power,
love, and sound judgment. So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.
We often fear men more than God. We were created to please God but we often find ourselves more concerned with pleasing men. (more…)
1 Timothy 1.4 describes, God’s plan, which operates by faith.
God’s plan operates by faith. This means there will always be a tension in doing God’s will with the certainty that the exact thing we are doing, or the specific results we are achieving, are those we should be doing or receiving. (more…)
Matthew 16.19 and 23 promise, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. ..Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns. (more…)
Philippians 3.10-14 records, my goal is to know Him and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
In this passage, the Apostle who teaches us that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, reminds us of the effort we too must make in working out our salvation. (more…)
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