While the book of Revelation may at times prove challenging for the best of Bible students, it is especially a fertile field for bizarre teaching and false doctrine when its initial readers are overlooked and its rich symbolism is misunderstood. Appreciating the book’s historical context, along with Revelation’s uniqueness from a literary perspective (e.g. apocalypse,…
When most people think of Philippians 2, they quite understandably think of the great section regarding Jesus in verses 5-11. The emphasis in Philippians 2:5-11 on both the humanity and deity of Jesus provides powerful biblical proof affirming each truth. But this incredible Christological passage actually serves as an illustration in its original context. Philippians…
It has been well said that “Too many people worship their work, work at their play and play at their worship!” It not only is essential to restore the acts or elements of New Testament worship; it is crucial to restore the appropriate spirit and attitude (cf. Psa. 29:2; John 4:24; Matt. 15:6-9). Worship ought…
Everyone has priorities, values, and ambition. The real question is, “In what and in whom have we placed them?” The answer really is not all that difficult. Self is either sovereign or the Savior is. When God and His will are NOT our greatest desire and pursuit, the Lord gets crowded out. It is so…
Two statements of Jesus stand out like tremendous mountain peaks, and we are blessed to live in the valley between them. One of the statements was from the Cross and concerns salvation; the other is from the throne and concerns culmination – the end of this age and beginning of eternity. Jesus says in John…
The devil will use temptations and troubles to worry and weaken us, but God can use them to strengthen us (see 1 Peter 5:10-12). When problems cause us to worry, the prescription is prayer. 1 Peter chapter 5 speaks of God as the Mighty Warrior-King and as Merciful Lord and Shepherd. As Warrior-King, we are…
The world is terribly confused about divorce because the world is even more confused about the nature of marriage! In Christ’s day, divorce was a matter of considerable controversy. Today divorce is quite common, but the pain, scars and confusion it leaves behind can impact individuals and families for a lifetime. How we respond to such subjects can say a great deal about us as Christians!
We must ever strive to be God-centered in our teaching and preaching. People everywhere need to know there IS a God in Heaven and that He wants to have a deep and rich relationship with us! We must not get the proverbial “cart before the horse” of telling people what they need to do before…
Have you ever wondered what men of God like Peter, Paul and John might say to churches today? No better answer could really be given than what they’ve already said to us through the Holy Spirit and revealed in the New Testament! While we can and must appreciate the occasion(s) that initially prompted the writing…
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12). When people lose hope, they lose heart too! It was Thomas Brooks who said, “A Christian will part with anything rather than his hope; he knows that hope will keep the heart both from aching and breaking, from fainting and sinking; he knows that hope is a…