Worship, Pathway To Knowing God

“And it came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.” Genesis 15:17 In the book of Genesis, we find a moment when the Lord makes a most remarkable statement to Abraham. He says, “I am the Lord…

The Extent Of The Vision

“Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:8 Why does God command us to pray, and why does He command us to believe Him for which He alone is capable and willing to accomplish? The answer lies in…

The Centerpiece Of Worship

“But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our piece was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 In the book of Acts of the Apostles, we find a passage which tells the story of a Eunuch of Ethiopia, “…a man of great…

The Keys To Full Assurance

“Create in me a clean heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 It was Charles Wesley, in one of his great hymns, who wrote: “Let nothing now my heart divide, Since with Thee I am crucified, And live to God in Thee.  Dead to the world and all its toys,…

God’s Stirring Up Of The Heart

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.” 2 Chronicles 36:22 What does it mean when Scripture speaks of God stirring up someone, or some people?  Certainly,…

The Quiet Working Of God

“But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.” John 8:6 When David wrote in the Psalm 23 about “green pastures and still waters,” what was he referring to?  Or rather what was the Spirit of God seeking to reveal to those  who would believe?  The…

The Inextinguishable Light

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil; for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 In one of Paul Gerhardt’s hymns, he writes: “Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow, One bright gleam I see; Well I know the…

Working While It Is Day

“And unto the one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matthew 25:15 In the context of the Christ’s teaching of the last days, He addresses also the issue of the characteristics of the kingdom of God.  These…

Signs Of Readiness

“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him but he gave me no answer.” Song of Solomon 5:6 Sometimes in a believer’s life, it takes time to understand what the great…