Repentance
Normal Reactions To Reproof
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (2 Timothy 2:24-25 NKJV). What is your reaction when a friend confides, “I’m going to be very frank with you.” Do you grasp his hand and pull him to a chair so he can sit down and tell you your shortcoming? Do you shout for joy that another glimpse of your true nature is … [Read more...]
Hindrances To Self-Discovery
The first step toward peace is to discover yourself. The second is to square up with the truth you find. You will get fleeting glimpses of your true self (and sometimes a very clear picture) as you interact with other people, as you read the Bible, and as others minister to you. Yet the average person usually resists facing up to his faults. Quite likely he will reject anyone who points out his error. Jesus Christ gave the precise explanation for this reaction when He said, “For everyone … [Read more...]
Victory!
Are you slow to anger? Are you quick to respond in defiance? Is there any Godly discretion in your life? Are you looking for recognition? Are you looking for approval or are you satisfied to walk in service to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be approved by Him? During this season, let the following be a challenge to personal renewal. The following was printed and handed out during Boston’s Awakening of 1909 under guidance of Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman: original–source unknown. Given to me … [Read more...]
What’s Down In The Well Comes Up In The Bucket!
There is much social pressure that requires you to look happy, to act as if you were happy, to be polite, to do the acceptable thing. The Christian is concerned, not only with his tone of voice, but with what is in the heart as well; not only with how he acts, but with how he feels. I remember my grandmother saying, “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket! If the well has muddy water, then that is what you get, if it is clean spring water, then that is what comes up in the … [Read more...]
Remember When…
Do you remember when... You were in the first grade? You had a first best friend? You were given your first tricycle, big wheel, or bike? Do you remember... Subjects you studied in 3rd grade? The color of your classroom? The name of your elementary school? Some of us remember more details than others about our childhood. My wife remembers many details about her childhood, while I struggle with the details. Though I have trouble with the small stuff, important events stick … [Read more...]
What?…Really?…Are You Sure?
Shortly after completing my university education, I began my first experience serving as a full-time associate pastor. Excitement permeated my life as God had allowed me to serve Him in such a role. While serving at the church, I was given the privilege of attending seminary. And if that was not enough to keep my schedule full, I was also married and had a young child. Christian education was my major assignment at the church. I had been trained for years to be a good minister of Christian … [Read more...]
Victory
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you smile inwardly, glorying in the insult or the oversight–That is Victory! (John 13:26-30; 2 Tim. 4:16-18) When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your taste offended, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you take it all in patient and loving silence–That is Victory! (John 8:48-50; 2 Tim. 4:16-18; 2 Peter 2:20-21) When you can bear with any discord, any irregularity and … [Read more...]
Spiritual Inventory #1—The Ups and Downs of Life
Taken from the book, Breaking Free from the Bondange of Sin—Henry Brandt and Kerry L. Skinner ©1994 Harvest House Publishers In 1973, Dr. Carl Meninger wrote a book entitled Whatever Became of Sin? In it he noted that in 1953 (20 years before he wrote the book) President Eisenhower quoted Lincoln as part of his declaration of a day of prayer: It is the duty of nations, as well as of men to own their independence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions … [Read more...]
Spiritual Inventory #2—Temptations Trials
Taken from the book, Breaking Free from the Bondange of Sin—Henry Brandt and Kerry L. Skinner ©1994 Harvest House Publishers Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:13-16 … [Read more...]
Spiritual Inventory #3—The Struggle with Self
Over the past years God has spoken strongly to me about a matter with which I believe everyone struggles. Some struggle more than others in this area of life. What is it? SELFISH AMBITION! While reading through the book of Genesis, God impacted me in the eleventh chapter. The Scripture states: Now the whole earth had one language and one speech...and they said, “Come let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be … [Read more...]
