Economic Obligations

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.  Deuteronomy 8:10 Land – The best way for the enemy to undermine the power of God’s redemptive people in an affluent society is to prevent something good from accomplishing God’s purpose by…

Execution Only

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.”   Genesis 24:50 Cannot speak – “Judgment is not a matter of human decision, only its execution.”  With this sentence, Hover-Johag sums up the entire judicial perspective of the Bible.  It is worth some serious consideration….

The Living Dirt

Because the ground is cracked, for there has been no rain in the land   Jeremiah 14:4 Cracked – We all know that the Bible establishes a strong connection between human beings and the earth.  According to Scripture, we come from the ground and we will return to the ground.  In fact, Adam is a variation…

Emotional Will

saying, “My purpose shall rise; and I will do all My desire.”  Isaiah 46:10 Desire – What happens when God reveals His own delight?  We know that our delight in Him is characterized by faithfulness to His commandments and longing to be in His presence.  But what can we say when this word (haphets) is…

The Sound of Adoption

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, by which we cry “Abba, Father.”   Romans 8:15 Cry – It’s no melodious tune.  It’s not Handel’s Messiah or the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir.  Do you want to hear the sound of adoption?  Then go with me…

The Answer

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, by which we cry “Abba, Father.”   Romans 8:15 Adoption –  Question:  “What must I do that I may be saved?”  Answer:  Be adopted by God.  That is the only answer to my plea for rescue.  It…

The Question

and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”  Acts 16:30   To Be Saved – How would you answer the jailer’s question?  Would you provide him with a typical, evangelistic sentence?  Would you hand him a copy of the Four Spiritual Laws or invite him to come to church?  Maybe…

The Politics of God

  “For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.”  1 Samuel 5:11 Deadly Confusion – If God abhors sin; do you think He sits idly by and watches evil have its way?  If God hates evil, do you think He takes no part in controlling its…

Is Jesus Your Friend?

but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything  that I have heard from my Father.   John 15:15 Friends – Jesus is my Savior.  I know what that means.  It means that He died in my place, accepting the verdict I deserved.  As a result, God views me through Jesus’…

Perfect Peace

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable  James 3:17 Pure – The world is obsessed with peace, but, in spite of all its negotiations, has no idea why it reaps only conflict.  If we only understood God’s design of the universe, we would see immediately why our solutions fail so…