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What God Cannot Do It is true that "There is nothing too great for God's power"; and it is just as true that "There is nothing too small for His love!" I love the statement quoted above - it is truly fitting in light of what I believe the Lord wants me to preach on this Friday: What God Cannot Do When I think of this theme I am reminded of a question posed to me as a young believer. Often when witnessing to unbelievers, the atheists and the scoffers will try to come up with questions to try to stump the Christian - thinking in some sense that if the young believer cannot answer the foolish question then they are somehow justified in their rebellious course. I was asked if there was anything that God cannot do? Of course, I protested that there wasn't. Then the mocker asked me, "Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot move it?" Not sure how to answer that - as it seemed a catch-22 question. Either way I answered seemed to prove God was limited...

My Comments On The Brazen Laver: Exodus 38:8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. I find it interesting to note that the looking glasses of the women were made of of brass. It was this material that was made into the brass lavers, that the priests were to wash in daily. Brass is always symbolic of judgement in the Word of God, especially in relation to the tabernacle furniture and furnishings. I believe this signifies that as we look into the Word of God - as James teaches - and see ourself revealed or reflected therein, we are to then judge the sin in our lives and allow the water of the Word to clean us up. James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and ...

Eight Reasons Why Jesus' Resurrection Is Important "But now is Christ risen from the dead." --1 Corinthians 15:20 The whole system of Christianity rests upon the fact that "Christ is risen from the dead;" for, "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain: ye are yet in your sins." The divinity of Christ finds its surest proof in His resurrection, since He was "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." It would not be unreasonable to doubt His Deity if He had not risen. Moreover, Christ's sovereignty  depends upon His resurrection, "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." Again, our justification , that choice blessing of the covenant, is linked with Christ's triumphant victory over death and the grave; for "He was delivered for our offences, an...

This is the message I will be preaching today (Friday, December 14, 2005), Lord willing. Wanted to remind everyone about the meaning behind the holiday we profess to be celebrating: The Meaning of Christmas 1) The Person (ie. the names used): Who was the person born in that manger 2000 years ago? It was God manifest in the flesh (see 1 Timothy 3:16 and John 1:1, 14), the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,  The mighty God, The everlasting Father , The Prince of Peace. Luke 2:11 For unto you is born t...

It Is Well With My Soul This is the theme and passage that I preached on this evening (December 9th, 2005). Read 2 Kings 4:8-37 - especially noting verses 23 and 26. 2 Kings 4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 2 Kings 4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. This woman was distraught, but chose to trust the Lord and His promises rather than focus on her situation. She kept her eyes on the Lord and sought Him (through seeking the man of God). She didn't understand why the Lord took the life of the child He had given her by promise, but she knew He was in control, and knew it would be well with her. For all true believers in Jesus Christ, the Lord is working out all things for our good - and even in the midst of tragedies and trials, it can be well with our souls. Circumsta...

Lord willing, this subject is what I will preach on Friday. I really love these verses that show What Jesus Takes Great Joy In Christ (represented by Wisdom) rejoices in the creation of mankind, and before the Father: Proverbs 8:30-31 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Rejoices in Jerusalem: Jeremiah 49:25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Rejoices in His people: Isaiah 65:17-19 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Rejoices in the good that He is doing for His people (Israe...

Will We Know Our Loved Ones In Heaven? Yes, I do believe we will recognize our loved ones for the following Biblical reasons: 1.  The Bible says that those we win to the Lord will be our crowns of rejoicing in Heaven – in other words we will be rejoicing in eternity spent together. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy. 2 Corinthians 1:14  As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 2.  King David said one day he would go to Heaven see his son that had died – that certainly indicates he would know him. This thought of being reunited is what removed David’s grief. 2 Samuel 12:22-23  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dea...

What Is Your Response To The Word Of God? Was reflecting on a certain passage of Scripture, and thought how much I strived to be like the Bereans of old. I hope that is your desire also. Consider how believers during Bible times regarded the Word of God: 1) Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Received the Word with all readiness of mind. This implies a willingness to hear, a willingness to listen attentively when the Word of God is being preached or taught. Searched the Scriptures daily. Searched is Strong's #350, and means "properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine:--ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search." In other words, these Bereans took all that was presented to them and put it under the searchlight of the Scriptures. They were discerning of all that was taught; accepte...

What Is Written On Your Record? The Record Of The Sinner Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: Isaiah 30:9-13 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. The record of Judah's failures, their sin and rebellion, and their coming judgment - written forever in God's sight, and in His Word. Jeremiah 17:1  The sin of Judah is wr...

Render Unto God Matthew 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. The word image is Strong's #1504 and has this definition: from 1503; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile,...

What Is Man? This is one of the oldest questions that mankind has asked. If you were to ask the average non-Christian this question today, they would probably give you an answer based on the philosophy of evolution: Man is just another animal - but we are getting better, progressing, rising upwards, evolving. Another closely related philosophy is humanism: Man doesn't need God. Given enough time and resources man can do anything, meet any crisis, solve any problem - all without God. Unfortunately, man cannot solve the most important dilemmas he faces: death, disease, and destruction (wars, murders, and so on) - nor the sin problem ( only God can! ). The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart! Looking at the world around us, we can easily see the effects of man's rebellion against God. Instead of God leaving man to his own destruction, He stepped into our universe as one of us and died for our sins; therefore providing redemption for all who will repent of their sins ...

Heart Disease This past week I ran into an old coworker of mine. She was in town getting some tests at the hospital. She was having heart problems, and it was believed that she might have some type of heart disease. The problem she had physically is one that we all have spiritually! The Beatitudes are a portion of Scripture many are familiar with and love to quote: Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. But then a few verses later, we come to this Beatitude - one of my personal favourites: Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. According to God, we need to have a pure heart to see Him, to spend eternity in His presence. That would be a blessing indeed! The problem is: noone who has ever lived or will live in the future (except Jesus Christ) has had a pure heart! The heart of the pr...

Not Ashamed The Apostle Paul was not ashamed - despite all the trials and persecutions he faced for being a Christian. Though his message was rejected by many, he was not ashamed to keep preaching the truth - even if it meant imprisonment or martyrdom. 1) Not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ - he knew what he believed. God used the Apostle Paul to write half the books of the New Testament. One of the earliest that he had written was the book of Romans, which was written during his missionary journeys. As an Apostle and missionary, he was not ashamed. Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By w...

God's Grace In Our Trials (Facing The Death Of Saved Loved Ones) Praying that this page would be a source of strength, comfort, and hope to other believers dealing with the loss of saved loved ones, or going through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with them at this present time. The following studies, links, poems, etc. were taken from the various things that provided comfort to my sister (Lori) and I during the months leading up to and following the loss of our Mom - or should I say, leading up to her Homegoing to Heaven! Some of the links no longer work or the websites are no longer online, and therefore those specific links have been removed. Any links to pages on Earnestlycontending.com have been changed to where they are now located on our new server (as of 2021). Daily Devotional for Saturday January 22nd/05 Since Yesterday Since yesterday, I have been thinking of someone's unplanned influence in my life. Since yesterday, I have been praying for the family of this man ...