New Years Resolutions Did you set any resolutions this year? Perhaps to exercise more, lose a few pounds, or have family devotions. There are many resolutions and this passage indicates some powerful resolutions for this year. Ephesians 5:8-21 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but [...]

A Radiant Testimony for Christ Romans 16:1-2 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Here is a powerful testimony of a servant of Christ. Paul was not a male chauvinist. He commends this lady Phebe. Her name means radiant and her testimony and service for Christ and His people shine brightly. In commending her Paul places his approval on her work for the Savior. It is a very small thing to be commended by fellow man and even smaller to be commended by one’s own self, nevertheless to be commended by the Apostle Paul surely lends some weight to this lady’s testimony. Ultimate commendation for the believer is from the Lord Jesus Christ at the bema [...]

The Danger of Self Deception Jeremiah 37:9 A reality that all of God’s people face. When we hear the Word of God, do we believe that it will actually come to pass? Do we somehow believe that we are above what God has said will happen? Obadiah 1:3 (pride) Self-deception is to think or believe thoughts that are contrary to the truth. It is to lie to myself. God’s Word is truth and is no lie. If I believe something contrary to His truth-I am deceived. (To err from the truth). We are in danger of deception when we err from the plainness of truth. Prov. 8:9 God’s Words are all plain How can a person be self-deceived? To believe that something will not happen that God says will—Jer. 37:9 To hear the Word of God and fail to let it change my life—James 1:22 To have religion without relationship, spirituality—James 1:26 To believe that I may live in disobedience and not realize the [...]

Tracing the Grace in the Lineage of Jesus Christ Matthew Chapter 1 records the earthly record of the birth of Jesus Christ from Abraham to Mary the wife of Joseph. We can tend to skip over or through genealogies and miss the lessons that are there for us. The Lord recorded each of these individuals intentionally. Just as people today study their family tree to learn about their past history, we can learn some lessons by looking at Jesus earthly father’s lineage. Matthew chapter 1 divides into three parts: The book of the generations of Jesus Christ The birth of Jesus Christ The blessing of the birth of Jesus Christ This book of generations reveals that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promises of the Gospel first preached to Abraham. Galatians 3:8; Genesis 12:17 This book of generations reveals that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise of David’s seed ruling upon David’s throne. II Samuel 7 This book of the generation [...]

An Effective Gospel Minister The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian believers, saints in Christ to share of their spiritual wealth and then their walk. Paul shares his calling to them in chapter three. Paul was an effective preacher of the Gospel. As we approach the end of the year and the Christmas season, we must ask the Lord to help us be effective preachers of the Gospel. What made Paul an effective Gospel preacher? Unwavering Commitment—vs. 1 He was in prison for the sake of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the most important thing for men to hear—He would go to prison for Christ. Unparalleled Stewardship—vs. 2-5 A dispensation or stewardship of God’s grace had been revealed to Paul in this New Testament dispensation. This revelation was made known by the Spirit of God to His men-written In the Scriptures. These truths were not made known in the Old Testament. God is a dispensationalist—He has stewardships with truth in [...]

I Took Thee; I was With Thee; I Have Made Thee: II Samuel 7:8-9 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth. Consider the blessings that are found wrapped in these three statements of the actions of our God. God in His grace and providence takes believers, is with them, and makes them who He wants them to be. He takes them from obscurity in the wilderness and places them in authority in Christ. He is with believers whithersoever they go for He has said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. His presence goes with them and [...]

OUR GREAT NEED FOR PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP IN PRAYER We were created to relate to God. Born again people have the opportunity to walk each day with the Lord and talk about everything that is happening to them. Our heavenly Father desires an intimate child/father relationship that is maintained by moment by moment fellowship. We can tell the Lord about our work, our families, our church, our fears, our trials and our world. Specific times set aside for prayer are helpful and important, but we should also keep in constant communion with the Father throughout the day. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he urged us to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17), and to be “praying always” (Eph. 6:18). Each of us as children of the Father should learn to recognize His presence in our everyday life. A child at play loves to point out things that interest him to his mom and dad and hold their hands as they walk. A [...]

Personal Check – Up for the New Year Thomas Guthrie said, “If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord’s Table, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven -- be alarmed!” We should ask ourselves those three probing questions which help evaluate where we are headed spiritually. Have you ever been happier in the Lord than you are now? Have you ever been closer to the Lord than you are now? Have you ever been more used of the Lord than you are now? God’s people must take nothing for granted but be sober, vigilant and careful to keep our heart true to the Lord and separated unto Him in devotion, dedication and holiness. Pray one for another that we not fail of the grace of God. Spurgeon described the seriousness of backsliding this [...]