The Word became fleshand took up residence among us.We observed His glory,the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,full of grace and truth.(John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,“This was the One of whom I said,‘The One coming after me has surpassed me,because He existed before me.’”)Indeed, we have all received grace after gracefrom His fullness,for although the law was given through Moses,grace and truth came through Jesus […]
Author Archive: Douglas Thomas
Instructions From a Messenger
An angel from the Lord released apostles who had been arrested by jealous government officials. He instructed them to go to the temple and instruct the people about the words of this life. Those words include the truth that Jesus is a Ruler and a Savior. Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in […]
Clergy and Laity
“Brother Yun,” called by many the “Heavenly Man” because of Chinese Communist Party’s inability to silence or kill him, was imprisoned and tortured for his faith and his leadership of believers in China. Three quotes from him: “One of the most poisonous influences on many of God’s people today is that they are not allowed to actively participate in the body of Christ. Millions of sheep are told to sit […]
Overcoming. Or Not.
We do something stupid. The Holy Spirit points it out to us. We thank Him for showing it to us and thank Jesus for forgiving us and for paying for the sin Himself. We do the same thing again. What’s worse than stupid? Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy […]
Surrender to Jesus
Repentance is having a changed mind. Repentance should, therefore, change behavior and attitude and values. If your changed mind does not persevere through the difficulties in life by faith, and becomes changed back to unbelief, it is possible to be stuck there. So – apply faith and patience to every aspect of your life. They are fruit of who Jesus is in you by His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Faith and […]
Get Courage
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 HCSB ©®)
Slaves – Children – Servants – Friends – Family
Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.(Galatians 4:1 HCSB ©®) No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know […]
Stop Lights
If you have to race to get through a green light, you feel like you got by with something. If you have to sit at a red light for a long time before a green light could be available, you feel like you lost something. If you are praying that the Holy Spirit would lead all your steps each day and expecting it to happen, every event has the potential […]
No Place for Jealousy
Paul listed jealousy as one of the flesh’s works against us in Galatians 5:19-21. He pointed out that practicing the actions he listed there would prevent us inheriting the Kingdom of God. Keeping our eyes on Jesus with a growing desire to be like Him and to please Him will turn our hearts away from jealousy and fear and pride and more. The fruit of the Spirit of Jesus (Galatians […]
Jesus – Yeshua – Salvation-of-Yah
Jesus is the perfect Priest for us. If, then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not to be described as being in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the […]