Month: January 2018

By Grace Through Faith

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  For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:8-10) The relationship between grace, faith, and our works, is given in this passage. In short, we are saved BY grace, THROUGH faith, UNTO good works. If we alter this relationship we are in danger of creating a false gospel; a false Christianity. It is a fact that faith …

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The Strange Case of God’s Allocation of World Geography

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The Divine Allocation of World Geography   Near the end of Moses’ life he wrote a prophetic message to the people of Israel. We have come to call this the “Song of Moses” for it poetically expresses his thoughts regarding the past and future of the Nation of Israel. The “Song of Moses” is found in Chapter 32:1-43 in the book of Deuteronomy. However, in chapter 31 Moses gives specific directions, which he wrote just before he died on Mount Nebo (circa 1404 B.C.). In chapter 31, he gave two direct commandments. Deuteronomy 31:24-26 22 Moses therefore wrote this song …

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Jesus Wept

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Jesus Wept John 11:1-44 Lazarus was sick. And Mary and Martha sent for Jesus so that He could come and heal him. But when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He did not go to him. Instead, He stayed where He was another two days. He also said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (John 11:4) Clearly, Jesus wasn’t the least bit concerned about this situation. He fully intended to take His time getting to Lazarus. Have you ever felt as if God just HAD …

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Pitfalls in Seeking God’s Will

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If you ask with a believing heart and listen for God’s answer, He’ll teach you how to live a life pleasing to Him Pitfalls in Seeking God’s Will Psalm 25:4-5 4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. As a pastor, I am frequently asked how to make the right decision in challenging circumstances. Sadly, I see many people make mistakes in this area. For example, some people pray hastily for the …

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Faith Comes by Hearing

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Reflections From the Psalms Faith Comes by Hearing And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Ps. 9:10) Paul the apostle wrote, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) Note that faith must COME – faith must come to be IN ME. This means that faith is not in me as a dimension of my natural life. It must come to be in me. And the only way in which faith can come to be in me is by, “hearing,” …

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Just Imagine

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Ezekiel 1:28 “Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.”  _____________________________________________________________ Once while in Saint Petersburg, Russia, I had the blessing of seeing the most beautiful rainbow that I ever witnessed in my life. I can still see it now when I close my eyes. It appeared after a brief rain. From my right-hand side it looked as though it was rising up out of the city as it reached across the …

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Seeking God’s Will

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God will make His way known to us if we come to Him with a seeking, open heart. 1 John 5:14-15 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Parents train their children to do many tasks—from knowing which clothes match to handling money. As Christians, we are blessed to have an omniscient and mighty heavenly Father who is willing …

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TIMES OF TROUBLE

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Hard times are inevitable, but no matter what you’re going through, there’s only one place of true comfort. Psalm 46:2-11 (KJV) 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: …

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Wisdom Brings Joy

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Wisdom is available for the asking, but God will allow testing so we can discern our spiritual growth. James 1:5-8 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all …

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