JUDE 8-11 ACTS OF THE APOSTATES – PART III

["In verses 5-7 we saw three cases of past apostates who were judged. In verses 4 and 8-10 we see three characteristics of the apostates' nature: immorality, insubordination, and irreverence. They are immoral, verse 8, they defile the flesh (sexual … Continue reading

PHILIPPIANS 3:10 I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST (INTIMATELY) SO I WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE HIM

  March 2011 Dear Friends,  I recently met with my Advisory Board and they encouraged me to pause from my monthly teaching series on Revelation and to share from my heart about the ministry. Each year I do a State … Continue reading

JUDE 4-8 ACTS OF THE APOSTATES – PART II

  V.4 – "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, (Gr. pareisduein, to enter secretly and to slip in stealthily) those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into … Continue reading

JUDE 1-4 ACTS OF THE APOSTATES – PART 1

  This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] … Continue reading

A SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS – TRIVIAL PURSUITS OR SEEKING HARD AFTER GOD

  ["To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart. Come near to the holy men … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:20-25 LET THE WORD OF GOD DEFINE YOU, DIRECT YOU AND DELIGHT YOU AND ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH TRUTH AND WITH PEOPLE

  "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:17-19 THE JOY AND PROFIT FROM FOLLOWING AND LEADING GOD’S WAY

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for … Continue reading

REVELATION 6:3-17 THE GREAT TRIBULATION BEGINS: THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

February 2011 Dear Friends, Our Lord tells us in Matthew 24:37-39 that in the days of Noah, when storm clouds of judgment were everywhere, people were oblivious to them and went about life as usual and did not repent and … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:9-16 STEADFASTNESS (IN DOCTRINE), SEPARATION (FROM JUDAISM AND THE WORLD SYSTEM) AND SACRIFICES (OF PRAISE, OUR GOODS, AND GOOD DEEDS) II

  Last week we looked at steadfastness in doctrine and focused on the futility of religious rituals (for the Jews of that day) and self-effort for spiritual growth for all believers then and now versus the need for God's grace … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:9-16 STEADFASTNESS (IN DOCTRINE), SEPARATION (FROM JUDAISM AND THE WORLD SYSTEM) AND SACRIFICES (OF PRAISE, OUR GOODS, AND GOOD DEEDS)

As we approach the end of this great epistle, the author is particularly speaking to the Jewish believers in Christ  in verses 9-16 but it has application for all believers as it applies to doctrines related to grace versus law, … Continue reading

BECOMING MEN OF THE WORD

I will never forget what Ken Boa said to me years ago about reading and studying the Bible. Immediately after he came to Christ and realized that the Bible was true – pure truth, ultimate truth, he changed his career … Continue reading

REVELATION 6:1-2 A SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR EVENTS WHICH TAKE PLACE DURING THE FIRST SEAL JUDGMENT OR THE FIRST 3 1/2 YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION

  January 2011 Dear Friends,  "I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was … Continue reading

ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS – A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Christmas is about hope. "Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." Jesus' first … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:7-8 REMEMBER YOUR LEADERS, WHO SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU. CONSIDER THE OUTCOME OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND IMITATE THEIR FAITH.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever Let's contextualize the messages of the past few weeks by emphasizing what the author of Hebrews is saying to us: He is telling us how to worship God (not in … Continue reading

HEBREWS 13:5-6 A QUESTION OF AFFECTION – DO YOU LOVE A PERSON (THE LORD) OR POSSESSIONS?

"Keep your lives (character, lifestyle) free from the love of money (from covetousness) and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never (never, certainly not, not at all, by no means) will I leave you (not to … Continue reading

THE BLESSED HOPE – THE BEATIFIC VISION – BEHOLDING GOD FACE TO FACE

Dear Friends,             "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  looking for the blessed hope … Continue reading

HEBREWS 12:28-13:4 HOW TO “OFFER TO GOD AN ACCEPTABLE SERVICE WITH REVERENCE AND AWE” – LET LOVE OF THE BRETHREN (BELIEVERS) CONTINUE

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.  Let love of the brethren … Continue reading

HEBREWS 12:18-29 “FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE, A JEALOUS GOD”

GREATER PRIVILEGE (THE GOSPEL VERSUS THE LAW) CALLs FOR GREATER RESPONSIBILITY The Lord warned His people to fear Him and keep His commandments with an awesome display of His power at Mt. Sinai when all the people of Israel heard … Continue reading

REVELATION 6:1-3, PERSONAL (TEMPORAL) PEACE – THE IDOL OF MAN AND THE BAIT OF SATAN – THE CALM (FALSE PEACE) BEFORE THE STORM

Dear Friends,                                                                         "As long as they [Americans] can have these things [personal peace and affluence], they will give up anything!" (Francis Schaeffer – 1912-1984) Before we begin our study of the tribulation (God's wrath and judgment) let's review what we have … Continue reading