“Jesus Christ never went to His disciples and said, ‘Now look, I died for you. Won’t you remember My sufferings and My tears, and My groans and My blood?’...
In Genesis 46:34, Joseph informs his brothers that "every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." While taking nothing from the literal meaning of the passage, this passage has a wonderful application...
While doing a study on the life of the apostle Paul, I began to wonder if he was actually named Saul after the 1st king of Israel. I began to make comparisons between the two and found several things that they had in common. The name Saul means "desired" while the name Paul means "little". It's interesting to think that Paul started off as Saul, or the one to be desired, but when God got a hold of him, he became Paul the little one. Sounds like the words of John the Baptist when he said of Christ, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
Upon returning from my trip last week, I found myself to be unusually tired. I had lost enough sleep and stayed on the go so much that I felt worn out. Biblically speaking, I was weary. Even the young men will become weary at times (Isaiah 40:30). I find it comforting to know that even Jesus was "wearied with his journey" (John 4:6). To be weary means to need rest and refreshment (Isaiah 28:12). Weariness is often connected to fainting; that is, to falling out of the race. There is where the real danger comes. I thank the Lord that He gave me a good night's rest last night and I am beginning to feel refreshed again. Isaiah 40:31 truly says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
More and more, preachers are departing from doctrinal preaching. A church sign recently read, "Doctrine divides but Christ unites." We think that we are doing people a favor by skipping the doctrine and preaching the sermons on finances, health, friendships and family. The fact is that sound doctrine is the foundation for sound practical living. If you have false doctrine it will lead to false practice. A perfect example of this is found in Simon Peter. We read in John 18 about Judas and his men coming to get our Lord, but before they could take Him, Simon Peter takes out a sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus. Jesus rebuked Peter and healed Malchus. Later in the same chapter Jesus makes a statement that gives us some insight as to what Peter's problem was. In verse number 36 Jesus says "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight". Obviously, Simon Peter believed that this was the timing for the kingdom. His faulty interpretation of doctrine led him into faulty practice. Obviously good doctrine leads to good practice. So what kind of practical living does your doctrine produce?
One of the most common "proofs" of the Calvinists for irresistible grace and the need for regeneration before faith is the analogy which compares the lost person to a dead person. The argument goes like this:
