If men are not called by God to preach, nor are to be ordained by men to preach after attending a seminary; then, how will there be more preachers? Can just anyone preach? What I propose is for more men to determine to be gospel preachers! Let’s list some things this requires...

We learned last week that a person cannot be saved without hearing and responding in obedience to the gospel. So why aren’t there more men desiring to be preachers? Surprisingly, certain religious teachings of men (Mark 7:13) tend to limit the number of those who preach. We will examine some of these ideas...

The importance of each lost soul obeying the gospel is seen in the following scripture. “… When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) Jesus will punish all those who do not obey the gospel! Have you obeyed it? How does one obey the gospel?. ...

In some areas of the country, like the far west and the northeast, there are many people who don’t have much respect for preachers and preaching. In the middle of this country, that is not the case, for many here appreciate and understand why it is necessary to have preachers. So, why is it necessary to have preachers? As long as there are people who are lost in sin, there will be a need for men to preach the gospel of Christ!...

Have you read the Bible for many years? Isn’t it amazing that each time you read the Bible, another passage will stand out that you hadn’t given much thought before? 1 Peter 2:3 recently stood out to me about God being gracious. Peter says a lot about God in his two epistles...

The soul which is purified by obeying the truth experiences a complete change of life, starting with the heart. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth though the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Peter 1:22) The heart can be “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” according to Jeremiah 17:9, and needs to be purified by the word of the gospel. (1 Peter 1:25)...

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) Paul refers to the saints, who made up the church at Corinth, as being God’s building. (1 Corinthians 1:2) From the Old Testament, we learn that Moses built the tabernacle and later Solomon built the temple. ...

As this year closes and the new one begins, we should give glory to the wonderful name of Jesus! Jesus’ name is above all names. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth … even by him doth this man stand here before you whole … Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) We want to examine some things from 1 Corinthians chapter one regarding the name of Jesus.. ...

As human beings, we are interested in who built things like the Pyramids, or the Empire State Building? Why are men not equally as interested in who built the universe? The universe was designed and built by someone. The one who built all things must be powerful! “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. ...

One of the greatest problems today with the majority of American people is that they do not wish to be reproved, rebuked, or corrected, by anyone for anything at any time. I don’t know when this attitude began, but it was probably about the same time that the Bible was banned from schools. Respect for religious things in this country has been declining ever since...

I am not aware of a passage of scripture which tells women to “shew thyself a woman” like men are told to shew themselves men in 1 Kings 2:2-3. But, there is a real need today for a woman to “shew thyself a woman.” A woman is no longer a child, but is an adult who acts with maturity. ...

David, before his death, spoke these words to his son, Solomon. “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments … as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest ….” (1 Kings 2:2-3)...

David is a well known Bible character. God said of David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart …” (Acts 13:22) David, even when a young man, acted wisely. While a soldier in Saul’s army, the Bible says, “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” (1 Samuel 18:5) The people accepted David favorably because he behaved himself wisely. ...

Can you remember your youth? For some of us, that was a long time ago. How many things did you learn while you were young that are still important parts of your life today? Consider some things that we should be doing today that we learned when young...

We are approaching the holidays and the time when we see more public promos encouraging people to be responsible and not drink alcohol and then drive. Various groups put out these warnings not to drink and drive. Groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and various police and highway patrol organizations sponsor these promos to keep families safe on the highways...

Liberals, whether in secular society or in religion, are people who do not respect the rule of law. Their continual wearing away of the rule of law will eventual erase and destroy the law itself. A liberal will use “emotional” arguments to try to justify his “lawlessness”. ...

The parable of the unforgiving servant states, “But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.” (Matthew 18:25) One servant of a certain king owed his lord ten thousand talents. In those times, a person could be sold in order to satisfy the debt he owed...

Continuing last week’s article, the other sense in which “The Truth Works” is that when the truth is followed, it will successfully accomplish what God designed it to do, and does so without failure. God’s word is truth. (Colossians 1:5) When God teaches us the way something is to be done, He means for us to do it His way, because His way is the right way. ...

I believe that “The Truth Works” and does so in two distinct ways. First, the truth, when planted in our hearts, will cause us to act. Second, when the truth is followed, it will successfully accomplish what God designed the word to do. Let’s look at the first now...

We need to be wise. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom …” (Proverbs 4:7) Wisdom would help us keep to a minimum the spiritual damage done to ourselves and others by our sins. If you came upon a wreck and a person was bleeding to death, your goal would be to try to minimize any further damage by applying pressure, using a tourniquet, etc… In the same way, we should minimize the harmful damage done to ourselves and others by seeking to eliminate as much sin from our lives as we possibly can!. ...

When you read the scriptures, various words, phrases or thoughts often stand out and call for deeper study. Let’s look at a couple from the book of Genesis. “And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.” (Genesis 42:36)...

A bit of wisdom that we should apply to our lives says, “If you want to get more out of something, you have to put more into it.” Every parent who has raised children has probably heard them say, “I don’t get anything out of going to school.” Then mom or dad would respond, “You will get out of school what you put into it.” This meant that if you pay attention, ask questions, do your homework, and study hard for tests, you will make good grades and end up with a quality education which will better insure a good paying job in the future. ...

“Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.” (Psalms 119:68) Throughout this Psalm, the writer addresses the LORD. (See vss. 52, 55, 57, 64, 65, 75) Therefore, the person he proclaims as good is the LORD. Let’s learn three lessons from this short verse...

“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” (John 7:12-13) Those who have believed in Jesus have examined the evidence about Him, and are assured that their trust in Him is well placed. ...

“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” (John 7:12-13) When Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people disputed about who Jesus was. Some thought He was a deceiver. Some still think this today...

One family in the Bible paid a high price for allowing jealousy, hatred and envy to enter their family. The family was that of the patriarch Jacob, but I could be speaking about many families in our country today. Jealousy and envy will destroy families, churches and souls...

“And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him… And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. ...

Before Jesus died on the cross He said, “… It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30) Jesus, the night before his crucifixion prayed, “… I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4) Redemption has been accomplished by Christ’s sacrifice. Redemption would now be available to mankind for as long as the world stands. He will never need to repeat this sacrifice again. (Hebrews 9:14-15, 26-28)...

Can you imagine the physical consequences of a body going in a different direction than its head? It would be tragic any way you think about it. The same is true spiritually. Christ is the head of His spiritual body, the church. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) If one claims to be a member of the body of Christ, he must follow in the same direction as the head of the body, Christ!. ...

Are you familiar with the Rechabites which are mentioned in the book of Jeremiah? God highly praised the house of the Rechabites and pointed them out to Judah, His own people, as an example worthy of following! God told Jeremiah to bring the whole house of the Rechabites into the house of the Lord and to encourage them to drink wine. ...

First, let me encourage you to read this entire column because the subject may be different than the title might suggest. As Paul finished his third missionary journey, he returned through Caesarea travelling to Jerusalem. Acts 21:16 states, “Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.” (NKJV) What is meant by “an early disciple”? The KJV states, “an old disciple”...

We need to trust God. In fact, we need to trust God every day for the rest of our lives. Some people start out in life trusting God, but by the end of their lives they have ceased trusting Him. Others have the “stop and start” method of trust. They get started trusting God and things go better in their life. ...

It seems our society is obsessed with displaying its bad behavior for all to see. Many times it is done in venues where everyone will see it, be entertained by it, and think it’s funny. Bad behavior isn’t anything to laugh about, but is sinful and shameful...

Fanny J. Crosby’s hymn “Near The Cross” is a beautiful song which encourages everyone to get near the cross and stay near. The song mentions the shadow cast by the cross and that one should not move so far away as to leave its shadow. The song’s chorus encourages one to glory in the cross of Christ. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ …” (Galatians 6:14)...

Sadly, many today in this country do not have a very high opinion of religion and would say it makes them feel bad. Past generations did not share this low evaluation of religion by today’s generation. Possibly, the title question above is not a good one. ...

“Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Romans 1:31) This scripture is taken from a long list of sins mentioned by Paul which occurs when men reject God. (Romans 1:24-25) Being “without natural affection” is a sin worthy of spiritual death. (Romans 1:32; 6:23)...

Do you have to be entertained every moment of the day? It seems that a majority of Americans today are out of control when it comes to their desire to be entertained. They have an insatiable desire for constant entertainment. Television, movies, sports and travel are “old-school” forms of entertainment still around. ...

Sometimes, people feel uncomfortable around preachers because they do not know by which title they prefer to be called. The solution is to wear no titles since Jesus condemned the wearing of titles. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. ...

“And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:3) The word “valiant” means, “performed with valor; bravely conducted; heroic.” Are you valiant? More importantly, are you valiant for that which is right versus that which is wrong?...

“Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge: But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.” (Deuteronomy 24:17-18)...

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:6-7)...

Throughout his life, the sweet psalmist David experienced several people who sought to do him harm without cause. David had not wronged these individuals. “For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.” (Psalms 35:7; See 35:19) David asked God to come to his defense. ...

Our text for study is Isaiah 44:25-26. “That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof.”...

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13) The second coming of Christ is a good motivation for pure Christian living! The 12th verse says, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Christians who live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world can look eagerly for the coming of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ...

Let’s consider together 1 Peter 1:2 which mentions the three persons of the Godhead. “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit , unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ …” Peter addresses this letter to the elect. A Christian’s hope is salvation in heaven. (1 Peter 1:3-5) The Christian’s salvation is the work of the Godhead. Each person in the Godhead performs a specific work in regard to our salvation...

“And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” (Luke 22:15-18)...

The above title sounds like a spinoff of the book “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”. However, the ruddy boy to whom I refer was a real person. It was David of the Bible who killed the giant, Goliath, and later became king of Israel. It was said of Jesse’s youngest son, “… Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. ...

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16) Paul had seen a vision of a man named Ananias coming to him and giving him back his sight. ...

With all the recent rainfall and flooding, a phrase came to my mind. It was, “the continuous rain continued”. Last Saturday, I conducted a funeral in Arkansas. When some stepped out of their cars, they had to walk through about four inches of water to enter the funeral home. Graveside services had to be cancelled...

“O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.” (Psalms 86:14) This verse says that violent men do not set God before themselves. Another way to say this is given in Psalms 36:1. “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (ESV) A person who fears God and seeks to please Him will not act with violence toward other people...

We want to analyze four things about faith from Hebrews 10:32-39 while considering a few men in chapter 11 who exemplify faith. 1. Faith Causes the Christian to Seek to Please God: Some Christians were drawing back from Christ and were returning to Judaism. ...

“O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.” (Psalms 115:9-11, ASV) From the above scripture, we see the following phrase repeated three times, “He is their help and their shield”. Israel, the Aaronic priesthood and those who fear God are commanded to trust in Jehovah...

Joshua encouraged Israel to, “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.” (Joshua 23:11) We should all do this. You cannot partially love God. God requires our whole-hearted love! “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Jesus quoted this from Deuteronomy 6:5. ...

Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and it was established the first Pentecost after His resurrection in Acts 2:47. The apostles were given authority by Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; 18:18) to reveal the pattern which each congregation of saints was to follow...

The apostle Peter, in his first epistle, used the word “soul” at least once in 4 out of the 5 chapters of the book. Since a man’s soul survives after the body’s death (James 2:26), it is the soul which needs saving. The Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit work to make salvation possible. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit … and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ …” (1 Peter 1:2)...

I’m sure that you have seen public service ads before certain television programs which warn parents of some material that is not suitable for children. A parent’s job is to watch out for their children and be concerned about how what they view on television might affect them. Who is watching out for parents? Parents need to be advised to be discreet about what they watch...

Why is it that people today must reluctantly settle for poor and inferior service? Products, property, food, and service are far from superior and excellent as in the past but have deteriorated because of carelessness and apathy! Is there something missing inside people today that previous generations possessed?...

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:13-15)...

“… Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face…” (Ezekiel 14:4) Later, verse 7 says, “For everyone of the house of Israel … which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face…”...

The reason I believe in hell is simple. The Bible teaches it! “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. (Romans 10:17) Consider these passages about hell (Matthew 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43-47; Luke 12:5), and eternal punishment. (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Hebrews 10:29; 2 Peter 2:9)...

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:13) We need to be more like God who is great in mercy. (Numbers 14:18) The fact that God chooses to be merciful and offers forgiveness to all is just and fair. ...

My heart goes out to those young pre-teens and teens who are being bullied at school and on social media. It isn’t easy growing up and dealing with peer pressure and the desire to be accepted by friends. The problem of bullying has become so severe that some students have taken their own lives. This should not be happening! Let me suggest a few ideas to help those dealing with bullies...

Do you quickly tire of suffering some type of inconvenience? Maybe it is your employer’s poor management skills or your children’s constant demands upon your time. Possibly, people’s less than kind treatment of you quickly exasperates your ability to control your tongue and actions. If yes, then you are not alone. This is why we need the fruit of the Spirit called “longsuffering”...

Why aren’t people, including those who would claim to be religious, content to follow God’s will and way? All around us, many are discontent with God’s will and seem intent on progressing further away from what God desires. Why doesn’t everyone want to follow God’s will and way?...

We are encouraged in the scriptures to sing praises to God. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalms 95:1) “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” (Psalms 147:1) Charles Spurgeon said about this verse, “It is good because it is right; good because it is acceptable with God, beneficial to ourselves, and stimulating to our fellows.” The righteous “doth sing and rejoice.” (Proverbs 29:6). ...

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The devil is trying to destroy your soul! One way he seeks to prevent your salvation is by discouraging you from studying your Bible. ...

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) We learn first, that “whosoever” desires to be saved, can be! Second, we learn men cannot save themselves but must call on the Lord. Third, we learn salvation is conditional. ...

The scriptures teach us not to worry. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” “Take therefore no thought for the morrow …” (Matthew 6:31, 34) One reason the Christian does not worry is because he does not think as the world thinks. ...

“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” (2 Peter 3:4-6) Peter told about scoffers (3:3) who expressed their disbelief in Christ’s second coming and argued that cataclysmic judgments on earth have never occurred, but rather all things will continue the same forever. ...

L.E. Jones’ song, “We Shall See the King Some Day” is an uplifting song. We will examine its words together. The first stanza begins, “The way we journey may be often drear.” A Christian will have times in his life which may be dreary. He is not immune from the problems that earthly life brings. Everyone has to provide for their families even as taxes and the cost of living rises. All must face the sorrows of sickness, disease and deaths which no man has control over...

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)...

I was talking to a Christian and friend of mine on the phone recently about the laxity demonstrated by some who call themselves Christians. She correctly stated, “They just are not dedicated to going to heaven.” The importance of dedication regarding going to heaven is discussed by Peter. ...

In Psalm 149:1-5 God has just delivered Israel another victory. I bet God has given you a few victories in life, but the question is did you celebrate it? David’s thoughts here give us some party tips like this one They dressed appropriately. I used to be an administrator at a Christian College and it involved a lot of travel around the country all the time. ...

In so many worthy endeavors, why is it that so many people will not lift a finger to help? Many will succumb to evil and its ill effects rather than to help those who seek to stop wickedness. This oftentimes happens in a society because so many people lack courage. I want to study about Gideon, a man of courage, with the hope that it inspires you to be more courageous...

Every father, mother, grandparent, etc … was recently horrified to hear about the man in Colorado who murdered his pregnant wife and two beautiful little girls! Why did he do it? Before the real reason was known, I tried to think of all the possible reasons. ...

Do you start the week by asking yourself, “What will I put on YouTube or social media this week?” I don’t either. In fact, I’ve never personally put anything on YouTube. Others have posted some sermons that I’ve preached. Many people are addicted to posting something more sensational than the next person on a daily basis. ...

We continue to discuss ways that love is misunderstood today. In order to truly practice love, we must understand what it is. Real love is demonstrated by actions. Love is more than emotional feelings of affection for another. One may say he loves someone, but it means nothing without demonstration by actions as God demonstrates His love by actions. ...

We would all agree that love is an absolute necessity in life! Yet, love is a very misunderstood subject today. We will examine a few ways people misunderstand “love”. The love described in the Bible originated from God. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) The Greek word which the Bible uses to describe this unique love is the noun “agape” and the verb “agapao”. ...

Our society has many ills, but most of these ills could be cured if every person would repent and cease their misbehavior. This change can happen, and starts with YOU! John the Baptist, during his ministry, told people to “bring forth fruits worthy of repentance…” (Luke 3:8) He further told them, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:9) Your life is like a tree. ...

In this article, we will examine three statements which will demonstrate the importance of doing whatsoever God tells us to do. The first statement occurs in Genesis 31:16. “For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.” In Genesis 31:3, God told Jacob to return to Canaan. ...

I wish to emphasize to everyone again the importance of a smile. Smiling, if genuine and not pretentious, says a lot about a person. A smile can indicate that a person is kind. I cannot picture a person helping the needy with a frown on their face. Kindness to others puts a smile on your own face as well as those whom you help. (Matthew 7:12)...

It is easy to complain and murmur. People complain about many things. However, God is not pleased by it. “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled …” (Numbers 11:1) Christians are instructed to, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God …” (Philippians 2:14-15)...

There is much wickedness in this world. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) Those who claim to be “of God” should not live like those who are “of the world”. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)...

I appreciate all those who read this column. Occasionally, a few have asked me where I get the ideas I write about each week. I get a lot of them while doing my daily Bible reading. Jokingly, I have thought to answer, “I am not Holy Spirit lead or helped to find something to write about.”...

Fathers are important and necessary to make a home. Yet, some society agents of change would make fathers unnecessary. Our government gave fathers a pass many years ago to begat children without any responsibility to care and provide for them. Evidently, Hollywood doesn’t think fathers are very important in the home since the few “fathers” they portray on television are stupid and laughable. ...

You may have thought to yourself or heard people ask, “What’s the world coming to?” We constantly hear of accidents, suicides, shootings, and man’s inhumanity toward one another. Once, after I made a disparaging comment about the world, a friend said, “It’s not the world that’s bad, but the people that are in it.” Yes, the world still has many good things in it like rainbows, sunrises, sunsets, flowers, animals and babies. ...

Let’s begin by looking at two scriptures which tell us to delight ourselves in the Lord. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalms 37:4) “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 58:14) These verses describe an individual who takes pleasure and delight in God. ...

“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” (Psalms 119:19) We can learn some lessons from this scripture. The Psalmist requested that God not hide his commandments from him. One thing is for certain, God will never hide His commandments from us. ...

Watching my two grandsons play gives me great delight. I know that all grandparents feel delight in their grandchildren. Have you ever thought about the God of heaven being delighted with you? In Numbers 14:8, Joshua speaks up and encourages Israel to begin the conquest of Canaan as God had commanded. Joshua said, “If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.”...

Earlier this year on Facebook, I wrote a short tribute to my Mom on her birthday. She passed away many years ago. Writing this tribute caused some old memories to resurface. One memory was of Mom starching shirts, sprinkling water on them, and then rolling them up in a towel to get the wrinkles out. ...

Our text for study is Daniel 6:14: “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” The king mentioned in this verse is Darius of the Persian Empire. ...

We want to study from the Old Testament about a great Bible character named Gideon. He was a great judge and deliverer from the tribe of Manasseh. (Judges 6:15) I have heard many lessons about Gideon, but I do not recall ever hearing that he had any brothers. ...

Do you like surprises? Some surprises are happy like a birthday celebration. Other surprises are unhappy as when your car breaks down while on a long trip. What surprises will there be on the day of judgment? Christ’s existence and resurrection from the dead is the guarantee to everyone that there will be a day of judgment! God raised His Son from the dead and He will be our judge on that day. ...

A casual reading of the book of Proverbs would reveal that it says a lot about money and riches. Consider with me, some lessons we need to learn about wealth. First, we should always humbly trust in God, and never put our trust in uncertain riches. “Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” (Psalms 52:7) “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17). ...

A man who is married should be faithful to his wife. A wife should be able to trust her husband to be faithful to her alone. Sadly today, many men do not subscribe to the belief that they must choose one woman, marry her and remain faithful to her until separated by death. They don’t believe in limiting themselves to one, when there are so many available women...

Those who choose to marry realize that marriage is something special. A man taking a woman to be his wife is as old as the world itself. A man’s need of a constant companion for life was recognized by God when He said, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18) God made for Adam a woman which was “meet” or a “suitable” help. ...

Troubles in life are just a part of life. Everyone has them. Some dramatize that they alone have troubles in life while thinking others do not. If we only knew everything that others go through on a daily basis, we would never think this. If you are human, you will have troubles in life...

An excellent passage of scripture which shows water baptism is necessary for a sinner to be saved is Romans 6:1-7, 17-18. Paul shows that a Christian is to be dead to sin. (Romans 6:1-2) One cannot become a Christian without dying to sin. This death to sin is synonymous with repentance. ...

Last week, we learned that the joyful person is the one who does three things. He puts his trust in God, loves His name and lives righteously. Now, we examine reasons for the Christian’s joy from the same text in Psalms 5:11-12. “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”...

For a number of years, I have had a growing realization that blessings from God can be lost if we do not make use of them. Our bodies are marvelous and perform many functions, but we must exercise in order for the body to maintain its strength and workability. The body becomes weaker through inactivity caused by sickness or accidents. Physical therapy can help strengthen parts of the body through exercise...

The Psalmist encourages God not to forget those who align themselves against Him. Be assured that God will remember the rebellious and lawless. (Jude 15, Matthew 7:22-23) God will punish evil doers! Many who lack respect for God’s true nature say God is too loving to punish anyone in hell. ...

I call your attention to a statement made by the prophet Jonah. “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” (Jonah 2:8) After Jonah tried to run away from his God (Jonah 1:1-4, 15), he found himself drowning in the sea. He quickly remembered how much he needed the LORD’s merciful help. ...

Studying and preaching the Bible may be one reason why I love history. When in high school, many of my fellow students in history class made it plain that they didn’t like history. But I have always enjoyed it, especially Bible history. We can learn many valuable lessons from Bible history...

Another school shooting occurred this week. Why are these occurring with more frequency? There may not be any one thing to blame, but we will contemplate on a few reasons. The main problem is a spiritual and moral one. I discussed this with five preachers this week, and one without hesitation said the problem is that for the last 40-50 years people have been taught there are no absolutes. ...

The Bible tells us that we are baptized into Christ. Galatians 3:27 reads, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism should concern us. How concerned are you about being baptized according to the Bible’s truth? We see the importance of baptism from this passage. ...

Let’s consider a man named Enoch who “pleased God”. He lived not long after the creation of the world. “… And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methusalah three hundred years … And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:21-24) God took Enoch directly to heaven because He pleased God! “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ...

The word “immediately” stands out to the reader of the gospel of Mark. Mark used the word “immediately” 17 times, whereas Matthew used it 6 times, Luke 3 times and John 5 times. We will examine a few of the passages where this word appears. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed of a fever by Jesus. ...

When you read this paper, it will almost be 2018! Are you prepared for the New Year? By this question, I don’t mean to inquire if you have already plotted out the New Year’s parties you will be attending. Rather, in a more serious vein, do you have a checklist of things that need to be done in 2017 to be fully prepared for the start of the New Year?...

A life spent living for someone else is better than one lived only for self. A self-absorbed and self-centered life will not bring us the happiness or joy we seek. One should follow the example of Jesus Christ who lived for others. Foremost, Christ lived His life for God. ...

Lately, in the news, we have been hearing of some men whose names and reputations are being questioned with accusations against them. A man’s name stands for all he is whether a righteous or evil person. Even though 48 years have passed since Charles Manson’s crimes, his name was still being associated with evil when he recently died. ...

“O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalms 136:3-4) All the physical things God has created cause us to wonder or be amazed! We wonder at the moon, stars, animals and plant life. ...

The voice of the devil has been heard three different times in the Bible. The word “devil” means accuser or slanderer. One should never believe anything the devil says or tempts us to do! The first time we hear the devil speak was to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. ...

A person should choose the important things in life. A Christian will organize these things in the order of their importance. God should be first in one’s life. God will not take second place. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ...

Are you a person who can calmly listen to a concerned friend as they try to correct something in your life? Or, do you get angry and refuse to listen to their good advice? Some people seem intent on making all the mistakes in their life they possibly can. ...

As this year draws nearer to its conclusion, it is fitting that we are in the season of “Fall” when the many hours of labor for some will come to completion. There must be a feeling of satisfaction to the many farmers who are completing the harvest and who will soon be done. ...

Jedidiah is a very well-known Bible character. He was one of the early kings during the United Kingdom period, and was very wealthy. He also had many wives. People came from long distances to hear his great wisdom. Jedidiah wrote 3000 proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes. ...

Are you a person of integrity? People of integrity are rare these days! Integrity is defined as “uprightness of character; honesty.” Many people’s lack of integrity is exhibited daily. They don’t keep their word and their promises mean nothing. Some will swear they are not lying while lying to your face. They don’t show up for work when they agreed to. They don’t pay their bills on time but are months behind...

Recently, while singing the familiar song, “Higher Ground”, written in 1898, one phrase stuck in my mind which was, “Still praying as I onward bound, ‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’” Then the beginning of the chorus goes, “Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s tableland…”...

Many today put their trust in the wrong things. They need to trust God. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7) To Christians, the name of God is their first thought, for they know they can rely on His help. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Psalm 9:10)...

“And they have not cried unto me with their hearts, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.” (Hosea 7:14) It is reassuring to me to know that if I need God’s help, I can cry out to him in prayer. To possess this assurance one must be willing to cry unto the Lord “with their heart”...

More and more people are becoming acclimated to being called “sinners”, since they say “we are all sinners.” Consider another word used often in the Old Testament scriptures, the word “wicked”. This word is a little more reprehensible, and many wouldn’t appreciate being referred to by this term. ...

Paul, an inspired apostle of Christ, had brought the gospel to the city of Corinth (Acts 18:1-11) which resulted in the church being established. However, after a few years, false brethren arrived and sought to undermine his credibility. They tried to turn the brethren against Paul by accusing him of being weak. ...

In the last column, we looked at four errors taught regarding salvation. Now let’s look at the truth on how to be saved. Without Christ’s sacrifice and blood there could be no remission of sins. (1 Peter 1:18-19) Man’s obedient response is required. (1 Peter 1:22-23)...

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) The truth about how to be saved follows. A person must hear and understand the truth (Mark 4:12), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of his sins (Luke 13:3), confess his faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33), and be baptized for the remission of his sins. (Acts 2:38)...

Some people are so pleasure crazy or naïve they think they can be anywhere at any time of the day or night and there will be no ill consequences. A wise person would seek to avoid situations which might be dangerous, and where they are also tempted to sin and will later have to suffer the consequences of their actions. ...

Did Christ rise from the dead? If so, it proves Him to be the Son of God and we should accept all He teaches and do all He requires. If Christ was not raised, then He was a liar since He predicted His own resurrection. (John 2:19-22) God proved Jesus was no imposter by raising Jesus from the dead. ...

Freedom is a beautiful thing, but we must always remember that there is a cost to being free which also includes responsibilities. Freedom is not free! The cost of freedom is the blood of its many soldiers and patriots. We won our freedom from England and a system of tyrannical reign. America has a representative government where we are free to choose those who govern us...

At Christ’s return and judgment of the world, He will separate everyone into two groups with two separate destinations. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33) God has prepared two “places” for mankind’s eternal dwelling destination.. ...

One of the great things about being a Christian is that one lives with hope. At times situations look hopeless, but they never really are. Don’t ever give up or “throw in the towel”. “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalms 71:5)...

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified” (Psalms 70:4). Let those who have accepted the salvation offered by God magnify Him! The Christian belongs to Go since Christ’s blood bought him. ...

Many people in this nation, the young particularly, no longer see divorce as a serious problem. They have grown up in times where divorce is a common occurrence and has become acceptable since most families have been affected by it in some way. Television, movies and sitcoms glorify divorce as inevitable and totally permissible as an option you can choose...

Nathan the prophet confronted King David with his sins of adultery and murder by saying, “Thou art the man.” David said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:7, 13). Each of us much confess that we are guilty of sin. “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before provided both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). ...

Ephesians 4:3 says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” The greatest barrier to saving lost men is religious division. Before His death, Jesus prayed for unity among His followers “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)...

I am concerned whether the youth in our country will be able to distinguish truth from fiction. Young people are spending so much time watching fictional movies and playing video games that I’m afraid they are not connected to the real world. Although I watched fictional movies about super heroes and vampires when growing up, I always knew that these were not real. Will our children continue to know truth from fiction?...

God speaks to us through His Word. When you respect what God’s Word says, then you respect God. Let’s consider some lessons about God’s Word and authority. Three passages of Scripture stationed near the beginning, middle and end of the Bible warn us to not add or take away from God’s Word (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:5-6; Rev 22:18-19). ...

Authority is a very important subject and cannot be emphasized too much today. Authority is a broad subject about which much could be said. Authority is a neglected subject especially in religion today and needs to be explored. Why do people not respect what God says? One reason may be because many do not realize that God speaks to us today through His word and only through His word. ...

We will each give account to God for ourselves in the judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) As human beings created in God’s image, each of us is responsible for our deeds and words. (Matthew 12:36-37)...

Each of us, at some point in our lives, will need to ask others for advice. Young and old are faced with difficult decisions for which they will need good counsel. One should be careful to seek advice from those who are wise and moral. We will look at a couple of examples in the Bible of some people who acted on bad advice, with the hope that we will learn to spot bad advice and avoid listening to it...

We must all admit the FACT of sin. Sin exists and all accountable persons are guilty of it. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Sin is a transgression of God’s Law. (1 John 3:4) It is a sin to omit doing the things God requires of us. (James 4:17) All unrighteousness is sin. (1 John 5:17)...

Does it seem your world is falling apart? Are you satisfied with your life or is it unbearable? Unto whom should you turn? Why not turn to Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6) When your car falls apart, you take it to a mechanic. When you are sick or hurt, you see a doctor. ...

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalms 145:3) With so many ways in scripture to show God’s greatness, let’s choose the simple subject of “bones.” What can God do with a few bones? Adam’s body was made from the dust of the ground. ...

God has given each of us life. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:28) There is no one greater than Jehovah and He has given you a gift, your life. Therefore, your life is a great gift given by a great God. You should cherish and protect it. I wish to discuss three things which jeopardize the lives of the young and the old...

“Just Do It” is a “Nike” slogan that has been popular for many years. It suggests the idea that by using their products that it is possible for a person to accomplish great things. I have concerns, that to some people, it may foster an attitude of “do your own thing.” Remember, that before you “do it”, you need to make sure that the “It” which you seek to do is the correct, right and pure thing that God wants you to do. ...

“Depression will overtake me, if I put God on the back burner”.” This insightful quote is from Helen Jefferson-Howard’s book entitled, “Caged But Free.” Are you putting God on the back burner in your life? What does it mean to put God on the “back burner”? Years ago, when people cooked with wood and gas stoves, oftentimes a pot would be put on the back burner either to cool or simmer while the front burners were used to cook the immediate dishes that needed preparation. ...

I am concerned about what I call “drama” that is spreading discontent and discord in people’s lives. Some television shows like “Jerry Springer” and “The Real Housewives” series encourage the drama they portray. I know there are people who truly need the concern, help and prayers of their fellowman. ...

We can learn an abundance of lessons from Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. The first lesson we can learn is that the father of the prodigal was not responsible for his son leaving home. That was the son’s decision to leave. “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” (15:12) This parable illustrates that men choose to leave the heavenly Father and to separate themselves spiritually from God. ...

In John 16:13-15, we find that the Holy Spirit was given the word by Christ, who then gave it to the apostles. Christ said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ...

A Christian should give God the glory He deserves! Do you glorify God? The word “glorified” (Gk. “doxaztai”) derived from “doxazo” means, “to make renowned, render illustrious, i.e. to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.” (Thayer Greek Lexicon p. 157) We will explore several ways that men fail to glorify God as they should.

We continue looking at examples of those who accepted Jesus’ invitation to come to Him. “Come to me, all of you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)...

Jesus offered this invitation, “Come to me, all of you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Let’s look at some people in the Bible who accepted Christ’s invitation...

What is Heaven’s remedy for sin? Sin is a problem that every accountable person has. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Some will try to hide their sin, but the Bible says sin will find us out. (Numbers 32:23) Sin’s destructive nature is seen when you study what the Bible says it’s consequences are. ...

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments, he found the Israelites worshipping a golden calf which his own brother, Aaron, had helped to make. Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?” (Exodus 32:21) I believe Aaron’s response displays an attitude possessed by far too many today about sinful worldly things. ...

After reading Acts 9, I realized a lot is said in the New Testament about the apostle Peter and his ability to enable people to stand on their own two feet. "Standing on your own two feet" is a way of saying a person can take care of themselves and is not dependent on others for help. Many in our society need to learn again that the reason God has blessed everyone with two feet is in order for each person to stand upon them...

There are many who believe that they have experienced Holy Spirit baptism and have spoken in tongues. They also believe that miraculous gifts are still happening today. Let's examine the Bible's teaching. First, Paul said in Ephesians 4:5 there was only one baptism and identified it as water baptism in 5:26. Water baptism was to be administered by men. (Matthew 28:19-20)...

All organizations are interested in growing and having more members. Churches are no exception. However, most churches are doing something that in the long run will lead to smaller memberships in the future. What are they doing? They are catering to the "un-churched" by offering them whatever they desire in order to get them through the church doors. ...

Ears Try Words Have you ever been in a store where they sold fudge and would allow you to sample different kinds? Wasn't that terrific! Everyone has been to an ice cream shop with a plethora of flavors. You keep going back and trying different ones in order to find out which ones you like best. Maybe you have been to a BBQ "cook-off" and tasted meats from the various competing teams. We use our tongues and mouths to taste different foods to see which we wish to eat...

Obadiah was the governor over the house of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, two of the most wicked people mentioned in the Bible. (Revelation 2:20) You might think that Obadiah would have been a wicked person also, but he was not. In fact, Obadiah feared the Lord greatly...

Our culture has lost something very needful for living life successfully. God has blessed each of us with people in our lives who deeply care about us. There are parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, school teachers and fellow-saints who are concerned about our success in life. But what good are these individuals if they refuse to give any guidance to us?...

I recently heard with my own ears a preacher say that Jesus went to hell and that Acts 2:27 taught it. It does not! The English word "hell" in the KJV should have been translated "hades" which is the place of departed spirits. A different Greek word "gehenna" is used for the place of hell. Jesus went to the spirit world at His death and not to hell...

Philip went to the city of Samaria to preach the gospel to the Samaritans. Read Acts 8:5-25 before looking at three points of truth. First, we learn what a hearer of the gospel is to do to be saved. Philip preached Christ to them. (Acts 8:5) "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (8:12) The Samaritans believed what Philip said about the kingdom or church of God. ...

Parents need to tell their children some things while they are still young and willing to listen. Parents should tell their children that they have to grow up! Children must be trained to stand on their own two feet. (Proverbs 22:6) The scripture says, "When I became a man I put away childish things." (1 Cor. 13:11) Your children have to learn to take care of themselves for they must leave father and mother to begin their own families one day. (Genesis 2:24)...

Does a Christian have more time than those who are not Christians? What if I said "yes"? This may seem contradictory at first thought, since everyone has the same amount of time in a day. But a Christian is taught to number his days. (Psalms 90:12) A Christian knows that God wants him to redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:16) Because time is limited in this life, a Christian will first make time for the most important things in life...

Let's examine John 5:24 more closely from last week. It reads, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."...

I occasionally talk to some who attend services where the "once saved, always saved" doctrine is taught who tell me that they do not believe this, but believe that a Christian can fall from grace. If they reject the "once saved, always saved" doctrine, I would ask them to go a step further and question the correctness of the doctrine of "salvation at the point of faith."...

Mommy Did It Recently, in the checkout aisle of the grocery store, I heard a crash as a spaghetti sauce jar hit the floor. Then, I heard a small voice say, "Mommy did it!" To that Mother's credit she never said a word. Some would have yelled, blamed their child and made a larger commotion than was necessary. Since Mother's Day is coming up, let's review in our minds exactly what Mommy did for us...

All need to trust in the "arm of the Lord". "My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust." (Isaiah 51:5) The expression "arm of the Lord" refers to "the power of God". Physically speaking, a short, puny arm may not be able to do what a long, strong arm can do. Men need to put their trust in God's arm, since He is strong and powerful and capable of keeping His promises...

Good Leaders Every citizen of God's kingdom, the church (Matthew 16:18-19), is encouraged to be godly in all life's endeavors including the area of government if they choose to become public servants and hold public office. We need more good leaders in this country who are godly. ...

Living For Jesus "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) I want to focus on the phrase "to live is Christ". The purpose for Paul's life was Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ is to be the purpose of every Christian's life. I want to live for Christ since without Him I would not be alive spiritually, but would still remain "dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1)...

Hardened Necks, Faces and Hearts Job, while praising God for His wisdom and strength, asked a question which is worthy of our consideration. "He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?" (Job 9:4) Can a person prosper in life who hardens his heart against God? Absolutely not! You cannot prosper in life if you choose a path that opposes God! I do not mean by the word "prosper" to speak of only money. ...

Complete Obedience Last week, from the example of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, we learned the serious consequences of a person not fully obeying God. Many today are like King Saul. If you were to ask them, "Have you obeyed God?" They would reply "yes". But the real truth is many who think they have obeyed God, have not truly done so because they have only partially obeyed God's instructions. Partial obedience is considered by God to be disobedience. (1 Samuel 15:19)...

Partial Obedience God instructed King Saul to utterly destroy the people of Amalek including infants and livestock. (1 Samuel 15:1-3) This was God's just punishment for what the Amalekites did to Israel when they came out of Egypt. They attacked the Israelites from behind and killed the feeble. (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) Instead of obeying God, Saul spared Agag, the king of Amalek, and the best of their livestock. (1 Samuel 15:8-9)...

Preying On Women Some people in our society will criminally take advantage of women financially. Such predators have taken money from elderly women in order to make needed home repairs. Then, they not only do not do the promised work, but leave town with the money paid them. These are disgusting individuals who take advantage of innocent victims...

"Party Animals" We have all heard the term "party animal". The "party animal" spirit is rampant in America today. This kind of person wants to have a good time which can include such things as drinking parties, dancing, drunkenness, drugs and sexual exploration. ...

Envy Do you know how Daniel ended up in the lions' den? It was due to the envy of others. Daniel who had served in his youth in the court of Babylonian kings, now in his older age served the Persians. Darius set three presidents over 120 princes of whom Daniel was the first president. ...

Set the LORD Always Before You David wrote, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psalms 16:8) David in his lifetime had many troubles. By living a life of trust in God, David was victorious over all of them. Living the life of a Christian does not mean you will be spared from troubles, but through trust in God, one can be victorious as well...

Great Inconsistencies We have previously shown that many religious people who say they aren't Calvinists really are three-fifth's Calvinists since they do believe in total hereditary depravity and election by God of those whom He chooses to save by sending the Holy Spirit...

We have previously considered that the idea we are saved by grace without any action or works on man's part is connected to the false Calvinistic doctrine of total hereditary depravity. In this article, we will show the connection between total hereditary depravity and two other tenets of Calvinism: "unconditional election" and "irresistible grace"...

Does Man Inherit A Corrupt Nature? My answer to the above question is "NO". Let me explain why. Even though all adults have sinned against God (Romans 3:23), no one has inherited sin from any of their forefathers. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. ...

Total Hereditary Depravity? Do you as a religious person believe in total hereditary depravity? Maybe you have heard of the doctrine of "original sin". This teaching says that when Adam sinned in the garden, the guilt of his sin was passed to all mankind through heredity. Do you believe the Bible teaches this?...

Wickedness Proceeds From the Wicked "As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee." (1 Samuel 24:13) Even in David's time this statement about wickedness was considered ancient. How is it that today's generation has forgotten this bit of wisdom? Many today refuse to acknowledge that real wickedness exists and comes from people who are wicked...

Three Resolutions For 2016 Here are three resolutions that everyone should make for 2016. Some people tell me they never make New Year's resolutions since they are seldom kept. There may be many resolutions that if not kept really wouldn't make much difference anyway. But here are three resolutions that if kept would make a major difference in your life...

Amusements Don't Amuse God Many churches use amusements, entertainment, dinners, and recreational activities to build larger memberships. What is wrong with this? For one thing, all such are unscriptural. The scriptures do not authorize such things, therefore, God does not desire them nor is He amused by them. ...

ARE YOU CONVERTED? # 2 Last week, we considered how the sinner's heart is turned to God (1 Thessalonians 1:9) by faith (Acts 15:9) which is produced by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) Consider two other necessary changes in conversion. A sinner is alienated from God by his wicked works. ...

Are You Converted? The word "conversion" is used one time in the Bible. (Acts 15:3) The word "convert" means to "turn, turn again, or return." It should be obvious that "conversion" involves something a sinner must do. He must turn to God from the wickedness of sin. "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:9)...

God's Son "Who do you say that I am?" was a question Jesus asked His disciples. (Matthew 16:13, 15) Peter confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) It is extremely important that each one of us answer Jesus' question. Who do you believe Jesus is? Either He is the Son of God as He claimed, or He was a lying imposter and not even a good man. Which?...

There are 27 books in the New Testament which can be divided into 5 categories: gospels, history, Paul's epistles, general epistles and prophecy. Four gospel accounts of the life of Christ were written by four men named Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. ...

God gave Adam and Eve a beautiful paradise garden in which to live that was without sin. (Genesis 2:8-15) But their choice to commit sin ruined everything for them. (Genesis 3:6) Since Eden, man has often ruined God's blessings. We recall the Israelites, recently delivered from Egypt's bondage with the hope of Canaan's rest before them, but within two years the older generation had squandered its hope of life in Canaan due to sin. ...

"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?" (Ecclesiastes 7:13) Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 says, "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered." After spending time living on this earth, we discover some things about life that we might think are crooked and not the way they ought to be in our way of thinking. ...

The history of America reveals it to be a great nation! This greatness is due in much part to Christianity as revealed in the Bible. We are all aware of the fact that the first settlers of this country were people who came here to flee religious persecution in Europe...

"Now the Lord had prepared" The phrase "the Lord had prepared" occurs several times in the book of Jonah. The first time is in chapter one verse 17. "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."...

Respecting Officers of the Law We have sunk to a new low in this country when our police officers can be attacked from behind and assassinated in a cowardly act. In the Old West days you didn't shoot a person in the back. But criminals are cowardly individuals who also prey on innocent women, children and the elderly. I am thankful for our police officers who protect us from the criminal elements in our society...

What Is The Truth About "Judging?" "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:1-2) No scripture in all of the Bible is perverted more than this one. ...

Are You in a Saved Condition? A person who is in a lost condition should be concerned about his soul. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)...

Are You In A Lost Condition? One is lost who is without God. A person who is old enough to be accountable for what they do becomes separated from God when they commit their first sin. Sin is the transgression of God's law. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)...

Life Is Not Fair That "life is not fair" is a lesson everyone should have learned when young. You may recall your parents telling you this truth just as my parents told me. Remarkably, many young people and even many older adults seem to think that everything should be fair in this life. But life is not fair and never will be!...

The Erring Christian James tells us that the Christian can err from the truth and need saving from spiritual death. (James 5:19-20) I would ask the erring Christian the same question that I ask the non-Christian which is, "What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?" (Mt. ...

The Pure Water of Life Jesus said He could give men the living water of life. (John 4:10-14) Other spiritual lessons are taught from springs and rivers. In Revelation 22: 1-2, we see a picture of the pure river of water of life flowing from the throne of God. In Ezekiel 47:1-12, the river begins at the temple and precedes forth growing deeper and wider...