Blog Articles
Unashamed Gratitude
In Luke 17, ten lepers cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13). This cry revealed faith in Jesus. In response, Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. In obedient faith they went and as they went they were cleansed of their leprosy....
It Is Time
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” - Hosea 10:12 The world shifts and turns almost by the day. The only sure foundation is the Lord Himself....
The Gift of Christmas is Jesus
Order Now! It is amazing that we are getting close to the Christmas season already. While we are looking forward to praising God during Thanksgiving, we know that many of you are already planning ahead for your outreach during the Christmas season. As we prepare, we...
Christian Liberty: True and False
Christian liberty can spark controversy. To legalistic thinking in the name of righteousness, any other way but its way is viewed as license (to sin). To relativistic thinking in the name of liberty, any other way but its way is viewed as legalism. But in between...
Witness with Tracts
Have you or someone you know been reached with a Gospel tract? Tracts have been used to reach more people with the gospel than we often realize. Did you know that it is reported that the famous revival preacher George Whitefield was reached by gospel literature? Or...
How to Biblically Guard Against Sin
Jesus said that we are in the world, but not of it (John 17:11-17). Therefore, proper guarding against the world is not isolation (1 Cor. 5:10), but transcendence. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As we access the overcoming life...
White to Harvest
After Jesus led the women at the well to faith in Him, and she went into the city and then returned with a group of curious seekers, Jesus said to His disciples, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your...
The Fallacy of the Slippery Slope
In disagreements over that which is not black and white in Scripture, some opt for the slippery slope argument to make their conclusion regarding a given application or standard universal for all. The argument says essentially to not do this, because this could lead...
Idol-makers
Acts 19:24 tells us of “a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana.” This man recognized the threat to his livelihood posed by the advance of the gospel, and it was his address to fellow craftsmen that stirred a strong response...
Faith before Regeneration or Regeneration before Faith?
Years ago, I participated in an ordination council that happened to be combined with a pastors’ fellowship. Because I was an evangelist, the moderator suggested that I ask the candidate something centered on salvation. I agreed and asked what I thought was an...
Fundamentalism: Original and Reshaped
Will the real Fundamentalist please rise? Quite frankly, many Fundamentalists no longer embrace this descriptive term because of two decades of media reports associating “fundamentalism” with religious terrorism. However, within the context of Christianity, the term...
Discipleship Training
Jesus commissioned His disciples to make disciples, baptize them, and then teach them to follow all that He taught (Matt.28:18-20). The latter part of this commission is often described as discipleship, and is an ongoing process. Obviously, assembling with the church...
From the Inside Out
After Paul, under inspiration, confronts the outward show of mere externalism in Colossians 2, which has no power to overcome real fleshly issues, he explains how to live the overcoming life in Colossians 3. The focus must be on Jesus (not manmade externals) so that...
Outward Show
Outward Show “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of...
Ways the Holy Spirit Leads
Ways the Holy Spirit Leads How does the Spirit lead? God speaks in multiple ways. I will mention some basic examples. Through the Word Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the specific word of God (Rom. 10:17). Not just reading, but hearing. This implies when the...
The Liberating Life of Jesus
Have you ever felt trapped in a box of someone else’s making, perhaps a modern fundamentalist-style box, and yet, down deep, you know the Christian life is neither that nor an up-for-grabs version of your own making? In my early years of ministry, I was sincerely...
Why the Agony in the Garden?
Matthew’s account records, “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith...
Hearing the Word
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Often, when this verse is cited, we think of it as faith comes by reading and reading by the word of God. But it does not say reading, it says hearing. What is the significance? True,...
Upstream Christians
Upstream Christians And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12) But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32) My father often said that as the culture becomes more corrupt, there is...
Remembering Asbury
Just one year ago a movement took place at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. A chapel service continued for two weeks and thousands came from all over the world to see for themselves and be blessed. This worldwide response reveals hunger in hearts for revival....
New Genetics, New Union
As we enter a new year, it’s a great opportunity to remember what we possess that is new in Christ. When you believed in Jesus as Savior, you received new genetics and a new union. This is the resource vitally needed for new living as a citizen of heaven who still...
What Do You Want for Christmas?
Undoubtedly, this question has been asked by many this Christmas season. It certainly has been in my household. But what do you really want? As we celebrate Jesus this year, my heart yearns to love Jesus more and know Him more deeply. Maybe yours does too. If ever we...
In The Last Days
The phrase “in the last days” occurs several times in the New Testament. The word last translates from the Greek word eschatos from which we get the word eschatology. Two of the usages indicate parallel tracks. 2 Timothy 3:1 — “This know also, that in the last days...
The Faith Journey
In God's economy of grace and faith, God stirs, faith responds, and God works. God responds to those who respond to God. Romans 5:1-5 lays out a progression in the life of faith or, we might say, in the faith journey. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace...
The Dead End of One-Way Relationships
John 13:34 — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Healthy relationships involve love and humility—love that truly cares for and looks out for another person's needs and humility to apologize...
Revival Ignites Missions: The Shriners to Poland
Revival ignites missions. Wouldn’t it be special to support a missionary who was revolutionized in genuine revival and called to missions? Meet Matt and Rachel Shriner. Two years ago my wife and I met Matt and Rachel in a missions conference. Our hearts resonated. In...
Revival & Maturity
Psalm 85:6 — Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Romans 5:2 — By whom [Jesus] also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 2 Peter 3:18 — But grow in grace, and in the knowledge...
Help Me Win the Lost
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord...
Holiness: Primarily Physical or Spiritual?
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Recently, I saw two religious men walking down the street in their distinct religious garb. Their...
The Danger of Eclipsing the Role of the Holy Spirit
The areas that are not clearly defined in the written Word are often referred to as matters of “preference.” However, ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit's preference for each individual. We are admonished to let everyone “be persuaded” in his or her own mind (Rom....
