It is difficult to maintain the balance between being internally at peace and externally at war. The war against us does not stop, even if we surrender to enemy forces. Prisoners of war are in a state of war. The internal war can stop, though. Our surrender to Jesus empowers us to have peace internally, and gives us strength and […]
On October 18, 2020, I finished editing The Kingdom of Our God with updates that include better understanding of Gates of Hades and Ekklesia, and additional Appendices. It is now published on the Read or Download Documents page of my website, and the link above opens it from this email. Because it references so many Scriptures, it might make a […]
Jesus did not give instructions about church planting or evangelism or outreach ministries or fund raising techniques. He taught His disciples about His Kingdom. In Matthew’s record of Jesus giving what we usually call “the great commission,” Jesus predicated the commission on the fact that He had been given all authority in Heaven and on the earth, not that He […]
If we are only looking around for answers, we should be able to find someone who has one or more. If we are only looking around for someone to fix our problems, we should be able to find someone who can do that. Maybe for a fee, maybe free. If we are looking for wisdom, we find much more than […]
In Matthew 24, when Jesus was asked about the “end of the age,” He answered with descriptions of tribulation, and told them that the one who endured to the end would be saved. Then He said that the gospel of the Kingdom would be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end […]
Today you can disagree with Jesus all you like. One day, though, that will not be possible. Today you can sleep another 5 minutes or 15. One day, there will be no more night. Today, you can trust dollars, doctors, priests, and politicians. One day, they will be displaced by the dominion of the King of Glory. Today, you could […]
Jesus did not just become a man so that He could earn our salvation for us by becoming a righteous sacrifice. He lived a life that is an example to us of what is possible under the influence of and lifted by the power of the Holy Spirit. His life was an example of what our lives will look like […]
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may […]
God is faithful; by Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. For it has […]
When we get our strength right, it is because we are finding His strength in our weaknesses. The fruit of His Spirit is strength to us. As Nehemiah told his helpers, the joy of the Lord is your strength.