When Jesus confronted the devil during the Temptation, one of the challenges that Satan put before the Lord was an offer of all the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. (Matthew 4:8) Jesus, of course, refused to take what was rightfully His as an offer from the...
Of all the pieces of literature ever written, certainly the book of Revelation – the Apocalypse – is the richest source for clues and hints as to the end times, but it is interesting that the book opens with a very poignant section that addresses life leading up to...
Where Can We Look in Times Like These?In what seems almost symbolic, one of my study Bibles is coming apart at the seams with a total break at II Peter chapter three. The result is that the book naturally flops open at this particular passage as if to purposely...
Discerning the Signs Once we begin to get our focus on the things that really matter about the end times, we will begin to think a lot more soberly about the times in which we live and will have less and less focus on the sensationalistic approach that many...
The End Is Near! Or Is It? As my wife and I were busying ourselves about the kitchen one day, she asked me to check the time. Looking up at the read-out display on our microwave that serves as our kitchen clock when it is not in use, I responded, “It’s the end...
We need to hear what God is saying in every circumstance. There have been tragic times in history when God didn't speak. After King Saul sinned and lost the anointing, the scripture says that Saul could not hear from God either by prophet or by a dream from the...
Mark Twain once said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad.” Although it is often the case, this statement is a far cry from what Jesus said about knowing the truth. He said that it would set us free! Paul struggled in Romans chapter seven...
Let’s revisit the analogy of the furnace again – this time with a more focused interest on what actually happens inside the furnace itself. After moving from the sunny Carolinas to the cold, northern regions of Indiana, my wife and I decided that we wanted a...
In Galatians 5:25, the Apostle Paul admonished us, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. There is a tremendous difference between living and walking. Our being alive is dependent on others, but walking is self-dependent. It is our mother and...
Most Christians never figure out the difference between the soul and the spirit – two vital parts of their make-up; therefore, they live in a very soulical realm and think that they are making spiritual decisions. The Word of God is the only thing sharp enough to...
Have you ever noticed that when you apply for a job, you are asked to give the names of those who are your character references? The personnel managers do not ask for “personality” references. There is a major difference between character and personality. In our...
In Genesis 1:26, we are told that God’s purpose in creating the human race was so that we could be in His likeness and His image. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of...
I will begin this chapter by begging your indulgence because I want to speculate on some concepts that are not specifically spelled out in the scriptures, but I believe that we can connect the dots without any real violation to reason or the sanctity of the text. My...
The theme of the Holy Spirit keeps coming up time and again as we look at the history of the mission that Jesus left us of taking His gospel to the whole world. In the book of Acts, each expansion of the church was accompanied with a fresh move of the Holy Spirit. As...
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and...
The Apostle Paul introduces chapter twelve of I Corinthians with the admonition that we should not be ignorant of spiritual things. Although most translations use the word "gifts" in this sentence, that term is in italics indicating that it is not part of the original...
In John 16:7, Jesus said that it was expedient for us that He should go away because, unless He left, the Holy Spirit could not come. What is this advantage that Jesus spoke of concerning having the Holy Spirit in our lives? The book of Romans is actually the closest...
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,...
A friend of mine had become very interested in the baptism in the Holy Spirit. During the weeks following, we had Bible study sessions together, and I tried to help her understand what the Holy Spirit baptism is and how to receive it. I was shocked – to say the least...
Second Corinthians 9:10 says that God supplies on two different levels – seed for sowing and bread for eating. We have already considered the fact that He gives us the Holy Spirit at salvation like a seed and multiplies His work in our lives through the baptism in the...