After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, […]
Author Archive: Douglas Thomas
Hidden and Real
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) When a puppet appears in a puppet theater, it is usually either a marionette style, which is supported by strings and manipulated from above, or a Muppet style, which is manipulated from within. Contrary to the […]
Got Power?
For many centuries, the mis-influences of kings and popes have created terrible abuses of humanity, including torture and murder, against anyone who questioned the validity of their authority or the accuracy of their theology. Included in the twists of the theology of such ungodly leadership are the extra-Biblical teachings that the supernatural giftings mentioned in the Bible are no longer experienced because they are no longer needed by believers, that […]
Putting on Christ
How can we intentionally and successfully shift from the condition of believing in Jesus to believing Jesus? How about from believing Him to being influenced by Him – influenced by His Spirit? “Putting on the armor of God” has become a day-starter for many believers who want to do a better job of fighting evil away from their lives and families and work. I suggest that immediately upon waking, and […]
Hardness and Sadness
Now He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed hand. In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath. He told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand before us.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to […]
The Power of The Unknown
One of the tests by which the US Navy determines who will be accepted as a SEAL is to create stress on the subjects by causing them to function with unknown variables, such as time, distance, and other forms in which endurance is required. For each of us, whether we are holding a rope, holding our breath, hoping for help, waiting for health, or other situations in which we are […]
Father Yahweh
Muslims mock us for presuming to call the Most High God our Father. Allah is too perfect and great to have any offspring. Yet, that is exactly the way Jesus taught us to address His Father. Paul even added that we have received by the Spirit of God the liberty to call Him “Abba,” which might be well translated into English as “Daddy.” Our Father is always good. He is […]
Seeking His Kingdom 2
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. (Matthew 6:33 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) Yesterday my hope was to charge you with considering what the ideas “seeking His Kingdom,” and “seeking His Righteousness,” mean. Definitions for Kingdom and righteousness vary widely. I suggest that His Kingdom exists in the places where He is obeyed. I suggest that righteousness […]
Seeking His Kingdom 1
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. (Matthew 6:33 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) That sentence contains 5 ideas: seeking His Kingdom; seeking His Righteousness; doing those things before doing other things; you need things; they will be provided. It is in the context of instruction regarding things that are needed, so it is easy to get focused […]
Apostles Today & Tomorrow
The ideas that apostles stopped being needed after the first century, and that there were only 13 of them, and that the ministry frequently called “missionary” is the current ministry of apostles are mistakes that have caused much of the lack of influence the people of God have in the earth. Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus that people would be exercising the works that come through the gift […]