Archive for April 2021

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GODReading the book of Revelation should convince anyone of the sovereignty of God without needing to believe that He predestines some to heaven and others to eternal damnation with no choice of their own. His sovereignty is also proven in that He has pre-determined the present and eternal results of man’s moral…

THE CENTRAL ISSUEThe central issue in God’s design of man is that He gave us a will. The ability to choose is what sets us above all else in creation. However, as we said last time, we have no choice about being a slave to a god, we only get to decide which god we…

In addition to violating human dignity, the word “slave” is negatively charged by the history of slavery plus the horrors of today’s sex-slave industry. That, plus our pride, makes it hard for us to embrace the wonder of surrendering fully to the rule of Christ, but believing that we can have Abundant Life when we…

STRONG MEATThe writer of Hebrews said: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”? * Would he say that to us today? Granted, I drew “strong meat” from the KJV because…

This is a hard but essential concept for those who are serious about being a disciple of Jesus. A FALSE NOTIONWe humans have an exalted sense of where we fit into the big picture of things. Honestly, don’t we think that the universe centers around us? Sorry, but it doesn’t. The world, and all that…

WE ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUSWe Christians like to think of ourselves as disciples of Jesus. However, while we might go to church, and we try to fulfill their expectations, don’t we often shift into world-mode on Monday? Aren’t our affections – – that is, whatever we set our hearts on that we imagine will satisfy…

WE ARE THE BELOVEDWhen Jesus went to the cross to win our salvation, He knew that He would get the likes of you and me. Church, this is a reality as sure as the sun is, even when hidden behind clouds. Yes, He knew that He was winning for Himself the sometimes physically, emotionally, and…

So, who are we? Well, like Israel among the heathen nations under the Old Covenant,* we are a set-apart, holy nation. That defines us individually and collectively and some aspects are more appealing than others. OWNED BY ANOTHERTo start with, do you remember “God’s special possession” in yesterday’s text? What does it mean to possess…

If this feels heavy to you, don’t let it condemn or even frustrate you because of where you’re at. Simply invite Jesus to use it to draw you closer to Himself. Few in the pulpit are teaching of the small gate and the narrow way that are essential to authentic faith, but many in the…

A PEOPLE FOR GODGod has always wanted a people of His own among all the peoples of the earth. They would be separate from the others, marked by His Presence and given to His purposes. He wants mankind to know that despite all the havoc brought on the earth by Satan, He is God and…