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 [...]

Gossip Town Alfred Smith Have you ever heard of Gossip Town, On the Shores of Falsehood Bay, Wher old Rumor with rustling gown, Is going the live long day?   It isn’t far to Gossip Town, For people who want to go… The Idleness Trail will take you down, In just an hour or so.   The Thoughtless Road is a popular route, And most folks start that way, But its steep downgrade; if you don’t watch out, You’ll land in Falsehood Bay!   You’ll glide through the Alley of Vicious Town, And into the Tunnel of Hate, Then crossing the Add-to Bridge, you walk Right into the city gate.   The Principal Street is called “They Say,” And “I’ve Heard” is the Public Well; And Breezes that blow from Falsehood Bay Are laden with “Don’t you Tell!”     In the midst of the town is the Tell Tale Park, You’re never quite safe while you’re there, For its owner is Madam Suspicious [...]

The Scriptures speak much about the relationship that exists between a father and his children. This is a heart relationship. Children’s hearts are such a tender thing. As a general rule fathers have their children’s heart when they are little. Gradually over time this relationship of trust can be lost through the actions or inactions of the father. Satan, the world, the flesh are in competition for the heart of every child. How sad it is that subtly over time a heart can be stolen or lost without even a father realizing. Fathers ought to have a goal of keeping their child’s heart. They ought to help the child protect his heart with all diligence as out of it are the issues of life. The tender, innocent heart must be guarded. Father’s must help their child in this pursuit. Woe be to the father who does not set boundaries to help his child guard his heart. An unguarded heart is one that is soon [...]

II Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Consider some truths about spiritual strength for the Christian life. 1. Commanded. There is no place for weakness in the ranks of Jesus Christ. This command is not optional. It is a command. 2. Context. The strength is needed because of the sufferings that will come to those who will not be ashamed of the gospel and be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel. 3. Christ. The Grace for the Christian is not found in himself. This is not a “Army Strong” type of strength. Grace is sufficient for any battle and is found in Christ Jesus who filleth all in all. 4. Conflict. The world would have us believe that grace is only for the weak. Strong men in the world have no need of grace. The Believer knows that he is weak and in need of grace. Thus a strong man is [...]

The Anatomy of an Divine Appointment Acts 8 Philip the Evangelist was being used by the Lord to see souls converted to the Saviour in the town of Samaria. There were souls believing and great joy among the people. God asks Philip to leave this area of ministry and go toward the south. Philip is about to be used by God for a Divine Appointment to witness. Somewhere down south God has been working on the heart of a man who is ready to receive Christ. What are some of the components of a Divine Appointment? God’s Providence: God’s Divine plan for souls to be saved God had been meeting with Philip in Samaria and there is Spiritual Fruit. God asks Philip to Get up and Go! God’s Preacher: A Man with an intimate relationship with the Lord A Faithful Man: The Lord is able to entrust to Philip this task because he is already working for the Lord. A Surrendered Man: [...]

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: The pleasure and purpose of God for the life of the Apostle Paul is evident. God had separated this man from his mother’s womb for His special purpose. This purpose involved Apostleship, Sanctification, and Preaching of Christ to the heathen. This special calling is not on the basis of merit, but strictly upon the Grace of God. While the Lord does not call men and women to be Apostles today, He certainly does call believers out of this world and to be identified with His dear Son. He as well calls all believers to be a preacher of the Gospel of His Son. God desires that His Son Jesus would be revealed in each believer. Christ indwells the heart of the believer [...]

FORGIVENess-What God’s Word says God’s Word is just that, the Words of God. What does God teach about my forgiving another who has wronged me or another? Many times we have heard the words, “I can’t forgive.” We can properly translate this statement as, “I won’t forgive.” Forgiveness is really a choice of the will, whether we feel like forgiving or not. God has commanded us to forgive. Really forgiveness is one of man’s most basic needs, because he is born a sinner-breaking the laws of God. The ground is very level when it comes to the need of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God have not only the divine mandate to forgive, but the divine motivation stemming from their own forgiveness. Forgiveness is not forgetting but rather choosing to releases one from the guilt who has wronged me! Forgiveness not only releases the offender but also the offended. 1. Jesus teaches us that we are to forgive: Matthew 5:23-24: If I [...]

The prophet Samuel records the capture of the Ark of the Covenant from God’s people and the placement of this spoil of war in the temple of the Philistine god Dagon. Dagon is said to be a god of fertility; part fish and part man. This was the god in whom they gloated in the defeat of Samson. The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence, power, and provision of God. It was completed by the mercy seat, the place of atonement. It contained the Aaron’s rod which budded, the golden pot of manna, and stones with God’s commandments upon them. Truly when the Ark of God was taken, the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. The Philistines thought that their god had given them this great victory over the God of the Israelites. In just the chapter before the Philistines found themselves in fear as the Ark of God entered the camp of Israel and they shouted so that the earth [...]