“For you have need of patience (endurance), that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36 Dear Ones: After the Lord had called Gideon to deliver Israel, there came a significant battle where the enemy was routed. Gideon and his three hundred men were in necessary pursuit, but…
“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:25 Dear Ones: In our present time, there are many, very many, waves and winds of culture and circumstances that could, and would, toss us about,…
“…And the publican, standing afar off, …smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ ‘…this man went down to his house justified.’” Luke 18:13,14 Dear Ones: Jeremiah writes very descriptively concerning the true condition of the human heart without God: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who…
“…And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times…” Judges 13:25 Dear Ones: When the Spirit of the Lord moved upon the “face of the waters” in Genesis 1:2, there was not only that action of the Spirit, but the resulting reaction of creation. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon…
“Is not My word like a burning fire?” Jeremiah 23:29 Dear Ones: There are those who have put God in a box, and limit Him in the manner and extent of His working in the heart. Listen to Charles Wesley’s hymn: “Come, Jesus Lord, with holy fire; Come, and my quickened heart inspire cleansed in…
“…Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 Dear Ones: Who can forgive sins but God? And who can cleanse the heart and mind of man but God, by the Spirit, applying the purifying properties and power of the…
“…And He touched his ear, and healed him.” Luke 22:51 Dear Ones: The setting was the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. The soldiers had come to take Him to be tried, and eventually crucified. In a natural response to the antagonistic “crowd,” which was pressing upon Jesus, Peter takes a sword and cuts off the…
“…And he (the serpent) said unto the woman, ‘Yes, hath God said…?'” Genesis 3:1 Dear Ones: When the Apostle Paul wrote the epistle to the Philippians from prison, he made a remarkable statement concerning the mind. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever…
“For My thoughts are NOT your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” Isaiah 55:8 Dear Ones: Faith always begins with a knowledge of the truth, specifically that of God. Practically speaking this means that in every consideration of the meaning and means of living, we begin with what He declares as opposed to that…
“…For truly I say unto you, ‘That WHOSOEVER shall say unto this mountain, “Be removed and cast into the sea;” and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.'” Mark 11:23 Dear Ones: Perhaps the most neglected aspect…