Reading the Book of Proverbs Proverbs, with 31 chapters, is a book that fits well into a monthly reading program. You can read one chapter each day of the month, with minor adjustment and at the end of the year you will have read it twelve times! Some sections are made up of paragraphs … Read more
Why is Satan so Effective? Satan is effective in pulling people into sin and rebellion because he ignores all the rules. Most significantly – he is a liar. Read the Bible account of the first sin (Genesis 3:1-6). Satan will tell you whatever you want to hear. He will contradict God, truth and reality without … Read more
Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness. Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Hunger and thirst are blessings because they push one to get what is desperately needed for survival. If you hunger and thirst for righteousness Jesus promises that you will be filled. You will get what you … Read more
How Do I Get the Fruit of the Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is not something you receive. It is something He produces in you! Fruit is the produce of plants. The word is often used metaphorically for all kinds of things produced. In Galatians 5:22-23 “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, … Read more
Are You A Peacemaker? Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). I picture myself mediating between two parties at odds with each other, telling them to calm down and forgive. What a noble idea. However, that is not what Jesus means. Peacemakers are called sons of God … Read more
Can I Learn to Interpret Scripture? People beginning to read and study the Bible are often afraid that they will not be able to understand it. How can I make sure I am reading it right. What is the key to proper interpretation? We need to start with the confidence that God as our … Read more
The Testing of Your Faith Produces Patience — James 1:2-4 Read the text carefully. Joy is not in suffering trials. Joy is in knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Patience is a steadfast spirit that enables one to keep going and going, even when it is difficult: strong persistence. To acquire such character would be … Read more
Confession part 2 — What’s it mean to confess Christ? Remember that the word confess means to openly admit, declare or assert one’s own conviction. What does it mean to confess Christ? Quite literally it means that you declare what you believe about Him, openly. Of course to properly and accurately confess Christ one … Read more
Confession — its Part in the Gospel The word confess means to admit, declare or assert one’s own conviction, openly. Note first that confession is personal. If it is true confession it is the declaring of things personally known or believed, one’s own conviction. Secondly, notice that confession is an open declaration. How open, … Read more
How Do YOU Read the Bible? There is a difference in reading the Bible to stimulate one’s own thinking and reading the Bible learn God’s will. The first one makes us feel better. The second makes us better. Our world is teaching us that the path to truth is inward — discover your self! That is … Read more
