The most powerful two-word combination ever is the phrase: In Christ. When the word Christ is mentioned, we should automatically think of Jesus. But when we hear or read the phrase In Christ, it’s always a reference to born-again believers– a reference to who we are as Christians. And interestingly, it is who we are whether we know it or ...
When I was in my early twenties, and recently saved, I was bombarded with negative thoughts and emotions. And being a new Christian, I didn’t realize for some time that God had actually equipped me to resist the onslaught of the enemy whose only goal was to keep me ignorant and weak. But over time, I gained knowledge of the ...
I think a lot about the tug-of-war between our spirit and our soul. The Bible helps us understand that humans are made up of 3 major parts: body, soul, and spirit. Much like an egg that has a shell, a yolk, and egg white, each part is individual yet together make a whole. Our spirit, soul, and body make up ...
I had to look up the definition for clarity. As I was praying for several people around me, I realized the common denominator was struggle– they were all struggling in some form or fashion. The dictionary defines struggle as “to contend with an adversary or an opposing force.” This is the first definition and was honestly what I expected. But ...
“But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27). The first time I studied this, I thought “What did Jesus mean? His disciples died a long time ago and we are still waiting to see the kingdom of God (right?)” Not quite. I lacked revelation. ...
The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). The word strategy describes a plan, method, or series of maneuvers for obtaining a specific goal or result. It’s also a military term defining the war techniques in planning and directing large operations. Now, understand this: God is NOT behind the ...
I have a sweet friend who used to teach kindergarten. She told me about a discussion some of her students once had about Easter. She said one particular little girl told the others, “It’s just so sad that Jesus has to die every year.” I laughed when I heard this story. The innocence of children always makes me smile. Obviously, ...
The last prayer of Jesus before His crucifixion tells us a lot. It’s recorded in John 17 and mentions our world nineteen times. It’s obvious Jesus knew the world we live in is the seat of Satan’s power and that every man, woman, and child rescued from the kingdom of darkness would have to remain here in this world controlled ...
Easter: a time when Christians everywhere remember, and celebrate, their Savior being raised from the dead. It is through His death, burial, and resurrection, that all our beliefs are based. So appropriately, I want to share with you from Matthew 27:15-26 about the events leading up to Easter and how they impact us. At that time, it was custom for ...
Ok, I’m going to push you a little today… But hear me out before you form an opinion. The devil has deceived some people into believing that “working” your faith is just that… work. And this kind of thinking opens the door to the enemy for condemnation and frustration when what they’re believing for isn’t coming to pass. So the ...
Have you ever been so thankful that you’ve asked yourself, “What can I give back to God for the blessings He’s poured out on me?” The writer of Psalms 116 asks this very question: “What shall I render [give] to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Like many of us at times, he recognized GOD IS GOOD and His benefits ...
Part 1 | Part 2 Satan has been defeated, but he doesn’t want Christians to know it. So our enemy, the devil, roams about looking for whom he may devour– and that “whom” is whoever doesn’t know his tricks and strategies. They are perfect prey for attack. In part one, we started looking at some of Satan’s devices because it’s ...
Have you ever been looking for something diligently, only to discover it was right before your eyes all the time? Maybe it was your car keys, your reading glasses, or your child at the mall. Well, I want you to know your right-standing with God is lot like that… The Bible says, “[God] has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the ...
I enjoy playing games, and I certainly prefer to win over losing, but it’s important in life for us to always see ourselves as winners. The Bible says we have been given every spiritual gift in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). But we didn’t receive this promise because of our good looks… no, we’ve been showered with gifts from heaven because we ...
Endurance. Just hearing the word makes you sweat. Endurance describes a person with the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or some other adverse condition. It is the picture of bearing pain and hardships. One image that comes to mind is from the reality TV show “Survivor” where all the contestants were required to hold ...
“They treat you like an animal so you’ll act like an animal, so they can kill you like an animal.” When I was a child, I remember hearing a lot of talk about a TV mini-series called Roots, but I was too young to watch it. I’m now a fan of historical events of any kind, so when I saw ...
Are you aware of where and how this whole thing started? I’m talking about Christianity. Here’s the story: And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was ...