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Love Your Enemies Meditating recently on Romans 8:28, I was faced with a very real application of that verse: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. All things that happen in my life are allowed by my Heavenly Father - and everything that happens to me (whether good or bad) He is working out for my good. They may be bad in themselves, but He will turn it around and bring some good out of it for me. It is not a promise of a rosy future, but a plan He is working out. The very next verse teaches us exactly what the overall good is that the Lord is bringing about in every trial and triumph in my life: Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son , that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. All things that the Lord allows or personally brings into my life have been lovingly approved of for my spiritual good. This past week, I ...

David And Mephibosheth - 2 Samuel 9 A Picture Of The Kindness Of God Unto Fallen Man Many of us are familiar with the basics of the story of David and what transpired before he became king. I would like to quickly sum up his story as the background for the message that I preached today at the Gospel Mission. Saul was chosen as Israel's first king - but due to his rebellion against the Lord, he was told that the kingdom would be taken from him and given to a man after God's own heart. That man was David. Shortly after being anointed by the prophet Samuel, we find David fighting the giant Goliath and defeating him through faith in the Lord God. That victory earned him respect in the eyes of Jonathan, who possibly would have been the next in line to be king if Saul had not lost the kingdom. Instead of Jonathan being jealous of David, he stripped off his kingly robes and gave them to David. See 1 Samuel 18:1-4. A solid friendship started that would last years, even after Saul sough...

The Lord Uses Clean Vessels 2 Timothy 2:19-22 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Do you want to be a vessel that the Lord can use? He uses vessels of gold and silver - vessels of honour - for His glory, they are set apart (sanctified) for special use. If you want to be used by the Lord, you need to be a clean vessel. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. I used to deal with severe depression, and ...

Wow - September sure was one busy, hectic month for me! God was stirring up some things in my life and getting me to leave the nest I was in - so that I would be ready to move into the new sphere He wanted me to be a part of now. (See Deuteronomy 32:11-12) I am no longer working full-time at the hotel (though the door is still open for me to work shifts here and there), but am now working at the Gospel Mission where I have been preaching once (sometimes twice) a week for over 2 1/2 years, and have done several years of volunteer work on top of this. I have been praying for ways to get more involved in the lives of the people there - and all of a sudden this job opportunity came up (the senior evening position in the Mission), and the job was basically dropped in my lap. Because of the work the Lord was doing in my heart prior to this point in time, I knew this was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be. A lot of things fell into place - including His peace like a blanket covering my he...

If you have already read my study A Well Of Living Waters and appreciated it, I would encourage you to read the last half, starting from Jeremiah 31:12 on. I rewrote it and added much more to it. I wanted to further develop the contrast between the righteous drinking of the living waters and the wicked whose waters were drying up. When I was first working on the study, I noticed those passages (and listed the references), but was more focussed on the living waters flowing forth. However, now I have decided to dig a little deeper into this theme as well, and present these contrasts both together. I hope this study is a blessing to you. If you are willing, please pray for the Lord to give me wisdom as I study His Word and put studies and messages together. I sure could use it and would really appreciate it. It was pointed out to me that my message on John 3:16: The Gospel In A Nutshell did not mention the resurrection of Christ, therefore did not "present the complete Gospel....

Of How Much More Value Are We? 1) Sheep.   Matthew 12:11-12 And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Many times in Scripture believers are compared to sheep, and many wonderful applications are made. Then Jesus states that we are so much better than a sheep! If men care for sheep, even so, God's love for us is so much greater! He will rescue us, seek and save us (see Luke 15:4-7; Matthew 18:11-14), have compassion on us (Matthew 9:36), and bring us into His fold (through faith in Christ - John 10:16).  Luke 12:31-32 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom .   2) Sparrows.   Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, ...

How Much Do You Value God's Word? If we were honest, most of us would have to say that we don't value God's Word nearly as much as some of the believers living in Bible times, nor as much as those prophets (the holy men of God) whom He used to write His Word. Do we value God's Word more than gold, silver, or riches? Do we esteem God's Word more than our necessary food? Do we rejoice in hearing the Word of the Lord, rejoice in hearing His voice speak to us through the pages of the sacred Scriptures? Do we value God's Word as much as King David and the other Psalmists? Psalms 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, tha...

His Banner Over Me Was Love Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. If you ever went to Sunday School as a youngster, you have probably heard the little children's song based upon the above verse. Though I did not grow up in a Christian home, and I do not believe I went to any sound churches as a child (four years attending Sunday School in a Pentecostal church - I do not ever remember hearing the Gospel from them), I still had some exposure to songs such as this that were based on verses from the Bible or from Bible stories. I praise the Lord for this song and John 3:16 - because even as a lost youngster, I learned the truth that God was love, and that He loved me - and later as an adult, this fact was always in the back of my mind when I thought about God. I knew He cared about me in my darkest times. Though many of us may have sung that song or read that verse, did we really know what it meant? Yes, the Lord has covered His chi...

If you read only one article on this website, please let this be it: God's Simple Plan of Salvation It concerns the most important decision you will ever make in your life! Don't let this opportunity to be saved pass you by. Genesis Series Table Of Contents: (List of all studies in this blog based on passages in Genesis) References To Genesis In The Book Of Job Genesis 1:1 & The Trinity - Genesis Chapter 1 Three Avenues Of Temptation - Genesis Chapter 3 The Story Of Four Gardens:  The Garden Of Eden  - Genesis Chapter 3 A Picture In Genesis Five - Genesis Chapter 5 And I Will Give You Rest (The Rest Of Salvation)  - Genesis Chapters 5-8 Genesis: God's Sovereignty - Genesis 6:19 Genesis: God Remembered - various passages Genesis: Claiming The Promises - Genesis 13:14-17 Genesis 15 - Fear Not - Part One - Genesis 15:1 Genesis 15 - Fear Not - Part Two Genesis 15 - Fear Not - Part Three Genesis 15 - Fear Not - Part Four Genesis 15 - Thy Shield G...

If you read only one article on this website, please let this be it: God's Simple Plan of Salvation It concerns the most important decision you will ever make in your life! Don't let this opportunity to be saved pass you by. Song Of Solomon Table Of Contents: Draw Me And We Will Run After Thee - Song of Solomon 1:4 - The Lord must draw us to Himself first - both for salvation and for fellowship. Beside The Shepherds' Tents - Song of Solomon 1:7-8 - Do you fellowship where God's flock gathers, and is your shepherd one after God's own heart? Lessons In The Valleys: The Lily Of The Valleys - Song of Solomon 2:1-2 - Jesus is with us in all the valleys of life. Of How Much More Value Are We? - Song of Solomon 2:1-2, 16 - How much does God value His children? Shadows And Wings - Song of Solomon 2:3 - What does it mean to live under God's shadow, under the shelter of His wings? His Banner Over Me Was Love - Song of Solomon 2:4 - What banner are you rallying unde...

A Well Of Living Waters Song of Solomon 4:15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. In the verse just quoted, Solomon (picturing Jesus) stated that the believer is like a fountain ... like streams ... like a well of living waters . What exactly does this mean? If we go to the New Testament book of John, we will see two passages that reveal the meaning of this and other similar Old Testament references: John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Salvation through faith in Christ, everlasting life - a well of water springing up from the believer's soul. When we place our complete confidence in Christ, our faith in Him alone for salvation, He quenches that thirst deep inside us that only He could ever fill. This thi...