We must keep in mind that our enemies (the flesh and blood variety) are tools of the real enemy, Satan. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in...
The Lord has chosen to develop patience and character in our lives through trials. Endurance cannot be attained by reading a book (even this one), listening to a sermon, or even praying a prayer. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God, and obey Him. The result will...
In ministering to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul prayed for three specific requests that serve to show us how we ought to pray for others (1 Thessalonians 3:10-13). First, he prayed that their faith might mature (v.10). The faith of Christians never reaches perfection; there is always need for adjustment...
An old Indian saying goes something like this: “Don’t criticize me until you’ve walked a mile in my moccasins.” Because of sin, that’s sometimes a hard thing to do. Sin makes people selfish. Sin can blind us to the hurts of others. Sin can harden our hearts and make us...
In one of the churches I pastored, a teenager seemed to be the center of every problem in the youth group. He was a gifted musician and a member of the church, but nevertheless a problem. One summer when he went to our church youth camp, the youth leaders and...
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers have been “begotten again” to a living hope, and that hope includes the glory of God. But what do we mean by “the glory of God”? The glory of God means the sum of all that God is and does....
Christian love is not something that we work up; it is something that God does in us and through us. When we permit God to perform His “good work” in us, then we grow in our love for one another. How can we tell that we are truly bound in...
Christians are obligated to help each other grow in grace. When we do not judge ourselves, we not only hurt ourselves, but we also hurt those to whom we could minister. The Pharisees judged and criticized others to make themselves look good. But Christians should judge themselves so that they...
Trusting Christ is a matter not only of believing, but also of obeying. Part of obeying includes heeding Christ’s Great Commission. In addition, God “commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). We must never minimize the missionary outreach of the church. Lost souls around the world cannot be saved...
God has called us to Himself, and He is holy; therefore, we should be holy. God’s holiness is an essential part of His nature. “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Any holiness that we have in character and conduct must be derived...