Shining God's light in the world's darkness
As believers in Christ, one of many things it pays to be mindful of is making sure we are careful about being impulsive with our impulses. There are times when acting impulsively can get us into major trouble. In some cases, an impulse may be a good thing. Discerning between the two requires us to… Continue reading Being conscious of the times
Toward the end of 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul unleashes what seems to be a string of last minute random statements. Although his statements can be quoted (and often are) as stand-alone phrases, they are all linked together. I'm speaking especially of verses 16-23, which read as follows: 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing… Continue reading Holy Spirit-centered
In the minutest details of the tabernacle of the Old Testament, Jehovah gave spiritual revelations about himself and about his church that foretold of the nature of the New Testament. The opening verses of Leviticus 24 present God's intended nature of the church symbolized in the physical lamps and the golden candlestick with seven branches… Continue reading A pure and holy fire burning continually
Defaming the true saints of God has always been en vogue by the world. Whether that defamation comes in the form of bearing false witness against us, slander, or libel, wherever we turn these days, it is becoming more common and acceptable to knowingly lie and spread lies about God, the Bible, and his people.… Continue reading Defamation from our enemies will bring them shame
John the Baptist was a great man of God who knew he had a great calling and anointing on his life from the Lord. He was also very confident in his ministry and was rather blunt when he preached in the wilderness. When he was asked about whether or not he was Christ and who… Continue reading It’s okay to have doubts as long as we look to God for validation
We may be living in a period where many are forsaking the Lord because they are deceived by the seemingly attractive things of the world, but I thank God that his Holy Spirit in me continues to encourage me to draw near to my Heavenly Father with my whole heart. With his loving persistence, the… Continue reading It’s good for me to draw near to God
In Mark 4, after Jesus shared the parable of the sower and the seed, his disciples asked him what the parable meant. Jesus explained to them in Mark 4:11, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in… Continue reading How then will ye know all parables?
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Paul shares a prayer of his for the saints in few words that give a glimpse of the responsibilities and ramifications in the Christian lifestyle. Like Paul, our prayer and hope should be that all who claim Christ will be counted worthy of "this calling." Our worthiness in this calling can… Continue reading Fulfilling the work of faith with power
I'm thankful to the Lord every day for his word and for the saints whose actions are recorded in it, setting the example for me in how I should conduct myself. Although I'm not even close to being in the same class as the apostle Paul, it's something I strive toward. I admire how he… Continue reading Approaching ministry full blast with confidence
As someone who loves olives and loves cooking food in olive oil because of the good flavor and health benefits, I'm biased in my view that the olive tree is one of God's great creations in the plant world. The olive tree also symbolically plays a significant role in the kingdom of God and it… Continue reading Sanctified to be like olive trees in the house of God
