About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:25 ESV Many believers have wrong assumptions of what it means to praise and worship God. They assume: Praise and worship is something you do only at church. Praise and worship is something you do only when things are going well in life. Praise and worship is something for people who are musically inclined. Paul and Silas understood that worship and praise, combined with prayer, are powerful forces that pierce spiritual darkness,… Read More
I’m not sure if we admit it as much as we used to, but we all sin pretty regularly. For those who recognize the authority of Scripture, sin is defined by two words: transgression & iniquity. Transgression is the crossing of a line, the outward act of sin. Iniquity is the inner motivation, our fleshly bent toward sin. (The good news is that Jesus was both wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity!) Even if a person refuses to accept God’s word as the standard of right and wrong, there… Read More
Money does not determine your character, it reveals it. Both generosity and greed are found among the rich and poor alike. This week the Powerball lottery jackpot is at an all-time high- over one billion dollars! People are literally lining up to purchase lottery tickets in hopes of overnight riches! Jesus spoke often of money, and explained why – because “where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Jesus warned that we not fall into the endless trap of accumulating possessions. He wasn’t speaking against saving money, but against the… Read More
Jesus was known for healing people. In fact, Jesus was healing people even before “He was wounded for our transgressions.” Healing is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God and is available to us today! For those who have suffered from sickness or disease, particularly those who have experienced the ravages of a long-term illness or the deep loss that accompanies the death of a loved one, the topic of healing is not merely philosophical or even theological, it is emotional. With sensitivity to those personally affected by the pain of sickness… Read More
To appreciate the true value of the book of Revelation, here are some keys: As with any portion of Scripture, seek to understand the context of Scripture before making conclusions and applications of its meaning. The book of Revelation is exactly what it’s first words declare: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” In other words, more than attempting to solve every detail of prophecy, look for how Jesus is revealed. The book of Revelation is a letter. It is personal as well as prophetic as the Apostle John writes words of encouragement to believers… Read More