Rhonda Ballance
When God Gets Lost – Part 2
SPEAKER: JACK HIBBS Isaiah’s calling as a prophet was primarily to the nation of Judah and to the city of Jerusalem, He urged the people to repent from their sins and to return to God. He also foretold the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord and the End of days events…
Transitions in the Book of Acts
By Dr. Thomas Ice Pre-Trib Research Center Virtually all students of the Bible would acknowledge that the Book of Acts is a transition from Israel to the Church, as God’s instrument through whom He uses to spread His message. There are three major passages that should be understood in order to properly grasp what this transition is about. Those three passages are Acts 1:3–10; 3:11–26; 15:6–21. Let me also state up front that the New Testament teaches that the church is a mystery (Rom. 16:25–27; Eph. 3:3–9; Col. 1:26–27), always part of God’s plan for history but …
The Seven Deadly Sins
by Jack Kinsella In the Book of Proverbs, God lays out a list before us of what are often called the “Seven Deadly Sins.” They earned that nickname, not because those sins will cause a believer to lose his salvation, but because they are the most destructive sins to a believer’s spiritual progress before the Lord. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false …
How the Characteristics of Grace Appear
And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) We have been considering some characteristics that God wants to develop in our lives by His grace: namely, triumphant living, a fragrance of Christ, godly sincerity, and becoming living letters of Christ. How do these appear in our lives in an ever-increasing manner? As Paul wrote on these wonderful descriptions of godly living, his heart was …
Plagues That Preach
Exodus 6:28–10:29 I’m convinced this dreadful display of judgment in Egypt, this battle between a righteous, holy God and the stubborn heart of Pharaoh, has at least two major truths to teach us. First, when God judges, He does a thorough job of it. Second, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Let’s make this painfully personal. You may be in the danger zone as you read these words. You have played fast and loose with your life, ignoring warning after warning. You have shoved aside essential truths for so long …
Will being a good person get me to heaven?
Salvation Cannot Be by Works and God’s Grace “NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). This Bible verse makes it plain and simple that good works will not save anyone. Listen to the message of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is not by merit. “Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED …
Is it too late for America?
There was a circus at the United Nations last week. There were no elephants or caged lions, no trapeze artists or sword swallowers. Not even any bearded ladies. But there were sights to see that we’ll not see outside the circus. Like U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry toting his 2-year-old granddaughter to the front of the General Assembly hall to sign an international agreement. Oh, and there were even brass bands playing inside the hall. Was this the annual visit of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus to New York City? Not quite. But for some …
God’s Grace Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness Part V & VI The Restoration of Judah
Restoration of The Harlot and Her Sisters This is the fifth section of the parable and is covered in verses 53-58. Ezekiel 16:53 53And I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them. (ASV, 1901) Now God begins to give Ezekiel the assurance that Judah would be restored. Judah and Jerusalem have been associated with their “sisters” of Sodom and Samaria, both of whom God said sinned less than Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:46-47). In the process of restoring …
Jesus said, "I am the Vine"
John 15:5 (KJV) 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Jesus said, “I am the Vine and you are the branches…..without Me you can do nothing.” If we abide in the Vine by faith, then His life becomes OUR life — and all the fruit that is produced is a manifestation of HIM; of HIS life in us. A branch cannot bear fruit of itself. It has no life in itself. Neither does the …
When God Doesn’t Provide
Reflections Deuteronomy 8:3 3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Despite all of His promises to provide for His sons and daughters, there are going to be seasons wherein God does not provide – where they may even be lack. But this is not because God is unfaithful or indifferent. Neither is it …
"Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." Psalm 119:49
Whatever your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise–“He giveth power to the faint.” When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask him to fulfil his own word. Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with him? This promise shines like a star upon you–“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Take that promise to …
