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Claiming to Have Fellowship with Christ
by Terry Wane Benton If we say we have fellowship with HIM… Anyone can claim to have fellowship with God, but the proof is in the way they live. If you walk in darkness, doing the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), you are not in fellowship with God (I John 1:6). Walking in the…
Read MoreAbstain From Fleshly Lusts: The War Within
by Mark White War is terrible. Casualties take so many forms, with some being innocent people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The atrocities of war are nearly beyond belief. The old adage, “all is fair in war,” has been played out time and again through the ages…
Read MoreUndiscerning
by Terry Wane Benton Did you know that being undiscerning is sinful and deserving of death? Paul lists it among the unrighteous things that are “deserving of death” in Romans 1:28-32. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those…
Read MoreServing the Lord
by Steven Harper If we are genuinely interested in what pleases the Lord, we should consider everything we do and say, and whether it is, in fact, pleasing to Him, according to what He has revealed in the Scriptures. One of the most obvious aspects of our lives as disciples is our worship assembly and…
Read MoreDevoted to Destruction
by Chadwick Brewer “And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction” (Deuteronomy 7:26). In this passage, Moses is instructing Israel on the need to destroy all idols in the land of Canaan.…
Read MoreOur Inheritance in Heaven
by Ron Boatwright Today, many people fail to recognize that the inheritance in Heaven is far more valuable than all the riches in the world. They fail to realize its worth. Our Lord says in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own…
Read MoreDo You Confess Jesus?
by Terry Wane Benton To confess Jesus does not mean you are ashamed, but need to own up to this shameful belief you have been hiding. Confessing Jesus means that you know and approve the name that all men should know and approve. It is the name above all names. No one is higher in…
Read MoreNot Who But What
by Albert Gardner “It is not who is right—but what is right, that counts.” The crowd does not make a thing right or wrong. If something is wrong, it remains wrong even if everybody does it. If it is right, it is still right even if nobody does it. Moses said, “Thou shalt not follow…
Read MoreLines of Separation
by Doy Moyer (Note: for starting points about what to do when we differ, you can see “When We Differ.) Christians are taught to walk in love and unity. Paul wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,…
Read MoreSocial Drinking
by David McPherson Most folks are clear on the fact that drunkenness is condemned throughout the pages of the Bible. What some are not as clear on is that social drinking is also condemned. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth…
Read MoreThen What Shall I Do with Jesus?
by David Gibson The choice he made The governor was in a dilemma, and he was aware of it. As Caesar’s official, it was Pilate’s responsibility to deal with those brought to him for judgment. Never had Pilate dealt with anyone like Him. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges so vehemently made against…
Read MoreThere Was No Room
by Terry Wane Benton The couple was about to give birth to the Son of God. They could find no place to stay due to the influx of visitors coming to register for the census, which was imposed by the Roman government. This was the hometown of many people who had moved away but came back…
Read MoreDoing the Same
by Zeke Flores Paul had pointed out the wickedness of the Gentiles, and his Jewish readers must have loved it. “Yeah! Let ‘em have it, Paul!” they must have thought. Their glee will be short-lived because Paul will quickly lower the boom on them, too. But Paul wasn’t merely trying to point out each group’s…
Read MoreEmphasizing Basics
by Roger Hillis If the Lord’s church is to survive and prosper, it must never depart from the basics of the gospel. A wise and experienced elder once told me, “I’ve never known a church to grow that didn’t emphasize the basics. If a church is struggling, they just need to get back to first…
Read MoreMake It Your Ambition
by David Gibson Does the expression “the quiet life” strike you as appealing or dull? Paul urges Christians “to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands” (I Thessalonians 4:11 NASB). Addressing Christians who have too much time on their hands—lazy busybodies—Paul urged them…
Read MoreEternal Security
by Terry Wane Benton The writer of Hebrews talks about “full assurance of faith” and warns about developing “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Therefore, a Christian can be assured of their salvation and “make their calling and election sure” (II Peter 1:5-12), while acknowledging that they can still fall…
Read MoreLife’s Challenges
by Zeke Flores Paul’s honesty in his telling of the “thorn in the flesh” that caused him such distress is relatable (II Corinthians 12:7-10). Whatever it was that caused Paul such pain, we’ve all been there. After all, who hasn’t struggled with some circumstance, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, that hasn’t driven us to our…
Read MoreWhen We Differ
by Doy Moyer Working with people is challenging because we often have differences that extend beyond preferences in styles and tastes. We sometimes differ over what we deem significant matters, and we need to know how to approach not only the issues but also the fact of our differences and the attitudes we exhibit. If…
Read MoreI’ll Keep On Until They Quit
by Alan Smith There was once an older man who went out for a jog. He was running around a track that circled the high school football field while the team was conducting its practice. When the football players began running their sprints up and down the field, the man said to himself, “I’ll just…
Read MoreInseparables
by David Gibson Some things are meant to go together. Only one sock or one glove is next to useless. One cannot do the work of two. For good health, we need a balance of work and rest. Good communication involves both speaking and listening. Not either/or This is also true in the spiritual realm.…
Read MoreBulverism
by Brandon Edwards In an era of constant debate, arguments, and discussions, I have noticed a fascinating trend that has become embedded in these moments – namely, Bulverism. Now, you may have never heard of the term, and that is absolutely fine; however, I guarantee that you have likely experienced it firsthand. It’s a sneaky…
Read MoreEmotional Needs
by Zeke Flores Too often, we can let our emotionally perceived needs dictate what we do rather than what we should do. In a local church, a member may feel his needs are not being met, and so he moves on to another congregation or falls away altogether. In this way, “what I want for…
Read MoreJohn’s Proposition and Proof
by Terry Wane Benton The gospel of John is very unique in that it sets forth a proposition as in a debate, and then seeks to present evidence to prove the proposition is true. The proposition is stated in the first 18 verses that Jesus was actually God with God from the beginning of creation,…
Read MoreAdventure
by Zeke Flores Perhaps the most effective employment ad was also one of the most bizarre and unlikely. It reportedly read, “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful.” You wouldn’t think there would be men lining up for that job, but the employer…
Read MoreCommunication
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A profound shift has occurred in the way we communicate. At one time, a speaker had something to say and would relay it to a listener. Basic communication, I know. “Teaching, in its simplest sense, is the communication of knowledge.”(1) There has to be a source (the speaker), a target (the…
Read MoreA Voice in the Wilderness
by Terry Wane Benton The Pharisees and Sadducees had the larger, more luxurious places to indoctrinate people with their corrupt doctrine. John the Baptist had to find secluded areas in the countryside where he could preach and baptize people. His was a voice in the wilderness, but word spread that he was even calling the…
Read MoreGod Is Good All the Time
by Zeke Flores The things I see people complain about remind me that we live very pampered lives. A rude cashier, a wrong food order, no WiFi, etc., are all mere inconveniences and reminders of how good life usually is. And -shame on me- I’ve been guilty of it too. Then some find themselves in…
Read MoreBlessed Risk-Takers
by David Gibson High Praise! The leaders of the Jerusalem church referred to Barnabas and Paul as “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26; see II Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul appreciated risk-takers like himself, such as Priscilla and Aquila, “who risked their necks for my life” (Romans…
Read MoreLike Father
by David Gibson My finite mind soon reaches the end of its tether when I try to comprehend God, the eternal, invisible, all-powerful, all-knowing Maker of all things. By observing the wonders of His handiwork in nature, we get glimpses into His wisdom and power (Romans 1:18-20), To learn more, we turn to the Old…
Read MoreWhen Money Means Everything
by Zeke Flores I know a guy to whom money means everything. He’s not rich, but he is very well off and has everything he wants – a nice house, new cars, a beautiful family, and lots of toys – but he doesn’t have Christ. His reasoning is, “I have everything I want; what can…
Read MoreBraided Hair
Author Unknown I still remember someone telling a teenage girl that her braided hair was wrong. He cited the scripture in I Timothy 2:9. I remember going home to look at that passage to see if that is what it really says. Sure enough, here is what it says. “Likewise, I want women to adorn…
Read MoreModernizing the Bible
by Michael Ray Baggett When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard the writings of Jeremiah read to him, he destroyed the scroll. The King did not simply disagree with what he heard but took his penknife and cut off three or four pages and threw them in the fire until the entire scroll was destroyed (Jeremiah…
Read MoreThe Legacy of Dorcas
by David Gibson We don’t know much about her—she is mentioned in only one brief passage in the New Testament (Acts 9:36-42). But everything we know about Dorcas is good. She was a disciple. The word disciple means learner. She had learned to live the life of a Christian. She was not simply someone who…
Read MoreThe Second Coming of Christ
by Terry Wane Benton The first time He came was personal. He came to offer Himself “to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28). To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time for salvation. The first time was to save us from sin and condemnation. So, what does it mean that He…
Read MoreThey Helped
Author Unknown The prophet Isaiah, declared by the inspiration of God, “They helped everyone his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage” (Isaiah 41:6). In times of crisis, especially, cries for help are frequently heard from every corner of the earth. Victims of floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters reach…
Read MoreLooking to His Holy Temple
by Seth Mauldin via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 For me, the book of Jonah has always been something of a depressing book. Of course, there are positives to be found; we’ll always have the good example of the Ninevites who threw themselves into the task of repentance. But when I look to…
Read MorePrevailing Winds
by Edward Smith via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 It is amazing how “leading economic indicators” can point in so many directions: ask ten economists which way the wind is blowing, and you’ll get twelve answers. It’s no wonder that so many people show little confidence in the economy. Unfortunately, Christians often…
Read MoreTemptation of Jesus
by R.L. Whiteside Annual Lesson Commentary, 1939, Gospel Advocate Co., page 246. Temptation is the act of tempting or of being tempted. In studying this lesson, it is well, therefore, to consider some of the meanings and uses of the word tempt. To tempt a person does not always mean to stir up in him…
Read MoreThe Price of an Affair
by Philip Martin Proverbs 6:32 says whoever commits adultery “destroys his own soul.” The Hebrew word here is striking. Mashchît means to bring ruin upon yourself, to act as your own destroyer. This is not about making a mistake. This is about choosing devastation. Lucas Cranach the Elder, David and Bathsheba (1526), Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen…
Read MoreThe First Beatitude in Psalms
by Warren E. Berkley The book of Psalms opens with a beatitude. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful,” (Psalms 1:1). This is a description of a life centered on God. Those who live…
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