Year: 2018

The Work of the Spirit of God

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Reflections The Work of the Spirit of God But when the Comforter is come, which I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, shall testify of Me. (John 15:26) What is the purpose and work of the Holy Spirit of God? It is to testify of Christ, glorify Christ, and edify in Christ. The purpose of the Spirit of God is to form Christ in us. That word, “form,” means, “to inwardly realize and express.” Thus, the Spirit of God is to reveal Jesus TO us, and IN us, and …

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“Who touched Me?”

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“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the hem of his cloak. She said to herself—If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:20-21   The ‘cloak of Christ’ still trails nearby us. It is by us, when we open the Bible and read His words. It is by us, when we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit with us. It is by our beds of pain, when we are sick. It is by us, when it grows dark around us with the gloom …

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The Weight of the World and Christ’s Coming 

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The Weight of the World and Christ’s Coming Alf Cengia A few years ago I worked in a corporate environment. I was surrounded by account managers, salespeople and technical engineers who were constantly in and out of the office. They could be anywhere at any time, so I hardly ever paid much attention to what they were doing. I didn’t report to them and we had our own tasks to worry about. It was different with my boss. He’s the sort of man who demands hard work and quality performance from his staff. Under his leadership our branch of the …

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The Purification of Our Faith 

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Adversity hurts, but in God’s hand, it purifies our faith and shapes us to look more like Jesus. The Purification of Our Faith Hebrews 11:32-40 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight …

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“Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” Genesis 8:9

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“Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” Genesis 8:9 Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at length to the ark as her only resting place. How heavily she flies–she will drop–she will never reach the ark! But she struggles on. Noah has been looking out for his dove all day long, and is ready to receive her. She has just strength to reach the edge of the ark, she can hardly alight upon it, and is ready to drop, when Noah puts forth his hand and pulls …

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Destruction of Israel’s Enemies

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This 37th message of the book of Zechariah shows that in concert with the vast topographical changes to the earth Zechariah now says that the land of Israel will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. The Arabah is the name of the geographical depression or rift that extends from the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley through the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. It is 103 miles long very hot and dry and consequently only lightly populated. The verse specifies the southern most section from Jerusalem to the Gulf of Aqaba. …

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What Happened to Ananias and Sapphira?

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What Happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Dr. Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church One of the most peculiar stories of the Bible involves the divine slaying of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. The events of Acts 5:1-11 must be understood in harmony with the communal living arrangement practiced by the early church. Jews, who had traveled to Jerusalem from all over the known world to celebrate the Day of Pentecost (Lev 23:15-22), heard Peter’s message concerning the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Christ (Acts 2:14-36). Three thousand of these Jews trusted in the message of the gospel (Acts 2:41). Because …

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The Amazing Truth of the Rapture… By Dr. Thomas Ice

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The Amazing Truth of the Rapture By Dr. Thomas Ice When one sits back and contemplates the great truths contained in God’s plan for history as revealed in the Bible, it is truly amazing to contemplate such reality. A partial list would include the following: God’s creation out of nothing; God’s creation of angels and their role in history; man’s fall into sin; Noah’s Ark and the Flood; the tower of Babel; the call of Abraham; the Exodus and foundation of the nation of Israel; the up-and-down history of Israel, Christ’s first coming; His death, resurrection, and ascension; the founding …

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“Thou shalt love thy neighbour.” Matthew 5:43

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“Thou shalt love thy neighbour.” Matthew 5:43 “Love thy neighbour.” Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art poor, and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly mansion; thou seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his sumptuous banquets; God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth, and think no hard thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own lot, if thou canst not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour, and wish that he were as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not envy him. Perhaps, on the other hand, …

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75 – Prophecy against Edom

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This prophecy is an expansion of that which the Lord gave Ezekiel which was recorded in Ezekiel 25:12-14. Edom is characterized here by the mountain range on the east border of the Wadi Arabah south of the Dead Sea. Edom is a prototype of all Gentile nations in general and more specifically the Arab States. Ezekiel is commanded to convey a prophecy of God to the nation of Edom emphasizing His desire to destroy Edom as a judgment for the way in which they have historically treated Israel. One question which always seems to arise is why the judgment on …

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Salvation Leads to Better Things

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The Bible describes the concept of salvation as one of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. It can mean saving in a bodily sense in some instances from some peril. More importantly though it refers to spiritual salvation from the judgment of God which is reserved for God’s enemies, including unbelievers. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel. It is a collective word embracing all the redemptive acts and processes associated with it. Included within it are: justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation associated with the Gospel is presented in three tenses; 1) The …

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Whose Battle?

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Whose Battle? “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47). Let this point be settled, that the battle is the LORD’s, and we may be quite sure of the victory, and of the victory in such a way as will best of all display the power of God. The LORD is too much forgotten by all men, yea, even by the assemblies of Israel; and when there is an opportunity to make men see that the …

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