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Showing posts from June, 2011

Escaping the Plague of Sin

The Matthew Henry commentary published in 1706, of which the great evangelist George Whitfield read completely, four times, the last time on his knees, penned the following concerning sin that plagues the life of the lost:  Also the terrors of conscience disturbed their enjoyments. God hath said it, and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace to those who allow themselves in any sin. Henry was referencing the following passage from Isaiah the prophet: 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 "There is no peace," Says my God, "for the wicked." Isaiah 57:20-21 (NKJV) It is a true saying that in heart of the life separated from God, sin cannot be eradicated no matter how hard one tries. The terrors of conscience that Henry speaks of are ever present like a clinging virus, so much so, that the semblance of peace they offer is really no more that a mirage. In Proverbs 14:13, we read, “Ev

Why Must Christians be Different ...or Should They?

The answer to this should be a given …of course they should? Is a football player known for throwing a basketball down field? Is a golfer known for putting a baseball? When you order a pizza do you expect the plumber to show up? As absurd as those examples may be, they illustrate that people are different. Why shouldn’t Christians be different as well? In 1 Corinthians Paul wrote the following: 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that

The Sacrifice of Remembrance

The following excerpt is taken from my recent book “Those Who Are Wise Will Shine! Understanding the Work of God in Your Redemption. *************** By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain , through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Hebrews 11:4 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24 Certainly, and from the beginning, it was in God’s plan for humanity to remember His unfathomable love, His protection from evil, and His never failing mercy. God’s work in Redemption existed in Eden a

The Conundrum of Obedience

One of the most often used excuses by an unbeliever concerning following the Lord is, “I am just not ready.” If pressed, they usually respond with “I am just not ready for that type of wholesale change.” That response could be elicited because of the way the gospel was presented, for example, they may have taken your invitation to mean they have to completely change their act and then once cleaned up, pray to accept the Lord’s offer of eternal salvation. Another reason may simply be their Biblical worldview has led them to believe that being a Christian means having to give up all the fun things they do in their lives and of course, peer pressure. No more partying, late night bar scenes, habits, etc… After all, what would their friends think? In the first case we can possibly take some of the responsibility. We must be careful to present Christ as the Author of our salvation and the power behind our new life. He must be exalted as the power (dunamis) that is at work in the life of t

Sanctus Real Concert

Saturday night my family and I attended a Sanctus Real concert in Decatur, IL sponsored by Antioch Christian Church. It was well attended and the concert was awesome. I am so glad to be able to see a Christian Band that actually paused a few times to allow lead singer, Matt Hammitt, to share a moving testimony concerning the life of his son, and the struggles that he and his wife Sarah experienced in this past year, as they saw the Lord move in a mighty way to bring health and healing to their son. Praise God!! Matt also brought a stirring sermonette inspiring the crowds to trust in God alone, for their is no other way. As long as bands like Sanctus Real continue to uplift and uphold the Lord in their ministry and daily lives only blessing can be the out come. Thanks Sanctus Real for a moving concert! One other plus was the fact that so many families were in attendance with their small children. May the Lord bless all of the parents who thought it was a good thing for their child

Guest Post: Two Distinct Events by Ron Graham

I wanted to bless you with some interesting commentary on Matthew 24 that is sure to get you asking some questions. But I must advise that you seek the Lord for His truth and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. In this commentary Bro. Ron Graham discusses some distinctions between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. I often refer to these events as the two phases of the Second Advent. Just as in the First Advent there were at least thirty three years of Christ's earthly existence, so the Second Advent lasts for a period of at least one thousand and seven years, if you include the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth with the saints. It begins with the Rapture and also includes the seventieth week of Daniel found in Daniel. 9-24-27, specifically vs. 27. That period also referred to as "Jacob's (Israel) time of trouble," Jeremiah. 30:7. So here is Brother Ron's article. I hope you enjoy and are blessed in what he has written. May

Death, Taxes, and Tornadoes

“When trouble hits home things are a different story,” she told her friend as they stood staring at the aftermath of the mind-wrenching and gut-aching tornado that had just flattened their neighborhood. That same sentiment is expressed a thousand times a day in disaster-stricken and war-torn areas of the globe. It is easy for us to discuss our faith in God and His willingness to bring help and hope into our lives and to other people in times of peace. Why? Because the message is simple and it is attractive. But to the person or family who, in a moment, has lost all they ever worked for and in many cases, the life of a loved one, it is a different story. It’s an age old question that has bobbed up and down for millenniums, like a goose peering precipitously, cautiously over a fence row always appearing in times of distress and quietly vanishing in times of ease. Somehow, we cannot get a firm grasp on why he appears when disaster or loss strikes. The truth is he has never vanished. Lik