“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38, NASB) Jesus’ ordeal on the cross was not only extremely painful, it was humiliating. It was not only … Continue reading Why Peter failed, and Jesus didn’t
During the holidays, we pray that you and all of yours may be deeply blessed by your time with family and with your friends and loved ones, and by the food and other things “that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” 1 Timothy 4.3.
Our greatest prayer for those who are not yet in Christ is that they may have faith that obeys the Lord, and not just any faith; that they may know the truth which saves; that they may enter into Christ through repentance and immersion in water.
All other blessings are far inferior to the greatness of knowing God and the call to follow Jesus. Continue reading “The greatest prayer we can pray”
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:8, ESV).
When waiting on an answer from God, it is easier to doubt than trust. Continue reading “God is not like your friends”
“…Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2, KJV)
Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Thy will be done.” In doing so, they would repeatedly impress their minds with the goodness of God (Romans 8:31). There are those who may not need this reminder, but many saints do. Continue reading “The shadows of political theater”
Perhaps one of the greatest disparities between Jesus’ lifestyle and that of his disciples today in developed countries, might be his willingness to withdraw from the hustle and bustle to rest and pray. Do we not recognize a certain badge of honor and pride in explaining to others how busy we are?
On the other hand, we’ve heard his stories. “Jesus often withdrew to deserted places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). Why did Jesus make the time while we can be tempted to believe we can not afford to take a break? What does this reveal about Christ and ourselves? Continue reading “Got Rest?”
As the Day of Pentecost ended, all was going very well for the group of new followers of Jesus. 3,000 had been immersed in water to have their sins forgiven (Acts 2:41). The new disciples spent time together and were taking care of each other. And those around them saw this. As a result they had the “favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47 ESV). Their number increased on a daily basis.
For a while this was the situation. It is difficult to get a sense of time in the first few chapters of Acts, as Luke recorded snapshots of what was happening. It would appear that at least four years are condensed into the first eight chapters of Acts (see Gareth Reese, New Testament History: Acts, 1976: i-xxii). What Luke does record is that the new community of Christ-followers began to be seen as a threat. Continue reading “Speaking boldly”
Between teacher Humberto’s comments in Bible class, as he covered Acts 4, and my notes, here are five points on what makes for a strong church.
No message can transform lives but Jesus. No message can save eternally but that of the Cross of Christ. The issue between the Sanhedrin and the apostles was speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. The Name made everything happen. The Name made men walk, united warring factions, caused new birth, gave hope to the hopeless. There was no talk of politics, of social change, of financial gain, of mission strategies or church resources. Jesus was the sum of their message. The strong church stays on message. Continue reading “What makes for a strong church”
Have you ever asked yourself – or even voiced the question out loud – “Why do we pray?” Does prayer really matter? Do we really believe that God can change things?
Or maybe the question should be, do we really believe that God does change things? When we pray for the sick, do we really believe that God will answer that prayer and heal the person who is suffering? Continue reading “The prayer of faith”
Some time ago I was speaking to a young Christian who admitted he was afraid to lead in worship. “Everybody is looking at me and I forget what I was going to say.”
“You can lead in prayer then,” I joked. “Everyone’s eyes will be closed.”
More seriously I added. “Why don’t you write your prayer out on Saturday night, and you can simply read it Sunday morning.”
He agreed to try that. Continue reading “Reading in prayer”
Luke introduced the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke chapter 18 by writing, “And he also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt” (Luke 18:9 NASB). Continue reading “Pharisee and tax collector”