Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2018

A Cleansing Word

1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”             In the church I attended growing up, we frequently sang a beautiful hymn entitled, Nothing but the blood.   It begins with a question, “What can wash away my sin?” and then answers, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”   People are asking the same question today, “What can wash away my sin. In Jeremiah 2:22 the Prophet writes, “’Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,’ declares the Sovereign Lord” (NIV).          Sin results in condemnation, guilt, and shame. When Adam sinned, he was ashamed. We learn in Genesis 3:10, he hid from the Lord because he was naked and afraid. Jesus came to liberate us from the yoke and bondage of sin. He gives an invitation in Matthew 11:29-30 for those who are weary, to “take My yoke upon you

True Salvation

I Peter 1:23 – “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” The world is filled with religion. Several different sources identify approximately 4,200 religions in the world. [i]   What makes Christianity different from other religions? With all the different teachings and philosophies, is it possible to know the truth?  The Word of God answers these questions.   Jesus instructs us in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”    True freedom comes when we gain a knowledge of the truth.    How do we come to know the truth?    John 16:13 gives us the answer, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own   authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” The Bible teaches true Christianity is more than just a formal set of rules and regulations.    We enter

Three Types of Givers

Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”      Selwyn Hughes is quoted as saying, “Remember this, you can’t serve God a and Money, but you can serve God with money.” In every church or ministry there are three different types of givers.     Who are these three types of givers? These three givers are boycotters, by-standers, and the believers.          The boycotters are those who withhold their tithe and offerings because they have a disagreement with the leadership or do not agree with the direction of the ministry.     These individuals or groups will withhold their finance to manipulate and to have their way.     The boycotter does not understand that the tithe belongs to the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord.     We must never use the Lord’s money for our own advantage or to manipulate others.    The by-

The Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” God is the great chronographer of the ages.    He identifies Himself as “the Alpha and Omega,   the  Beginning  and   the  End,” says the Lord, “who is  and  who was  and  who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).    He is not constrained by time.    He views the whole panorama of time.    He sees the beginning and the end. We are servants of time.    God orchestrates the ages.    He leaves nothing to chance or circumstances.    The Scripture teaches, “when the fullness of time had come,” Jesus came at the right time.    The rule of Rome was foretold by Daniel when he interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord was not surprised when Caesar Augustus instituted Pax Romana (The Peace of Rome).    God did not take advantage of circumstances. He did not cea