As I continue exploring the Old Testament to see if we need to keep it, I read through Zechariah. This is not a very familiar book to many people. When was the last time you heard a sermon based on references from Zechariah? As you read this ask yourself if this is one book we don’t need. Zechariah teaches us: 1:3 “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you.” Isn’t that good news to…
Let’s see what the book of Numbers has to say about God and then decide if we need this book or if we should unhook ourselves from it. Here is a link to the book of Numbers for your convenience. 6:22-27 God wants to be gracious and give peace 7:89 God spoke to Moses from above the mercy seat- it was a seat of mercy 10:10 God wanted them to remember He was their Lord God 11:7-9 God provides heavenly…
Recently, I read of a well-known pastor of a large church that was quoted saying that we didn’t need the Old Testament. That we needed to concentrate on the New Testament. Have you heard that? Here is a link to one article, if you want to read about it. How would we know the character of God without the Old Testament? Or how could we fully experience God’s mercy without it? The New Testament is based on the Old Testament…
First of all, God is holy. God is completely other than us, completely different. God is holy. Totally separate from humans. Completely. So holy that we cannot look on Him and live. When God called Moses up to the mountain God instructed him to tell the people not to come near the mountain and not to even touch it lest His holiness breaks out and consumes them. Remember, Jesus had not yet come and died for their sins. They were…
This past week I have been pondering that word ‘holiness.’ Does that word make you feel uncomfortable? Uneasy? Offended, maybe? So what does it mean to be holy? Are we to be holy or is it for only a few. Maybe you don’t want to be holy. Is holiness pious behavior? Can things be holy? In looking for a picture to put with this post, I came across a variety of images. Bible, stained glass church windows, cross, temples, white…
God is always with us. Even when we don’t feel His presence. He promised to never leave us. Always with us. King David understood this when he wrote Psalm 139. 1,2 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. When you sit in the doctor’s office waiting your turn to be seen by your physician. As you sit waiting for your baby…
How have you been this week? Has the news been depressing? Has your world be shaken by upside-down behavior? Disturbing? Even, shocking? When God is rejected, those who reject Him are left in darkness. What are we as believers to do? Our society is so different than what I grew up with. How about you? I mean, who could have imagined even 30 years ago that laws would have been passed to protect behavior that we barely imagined. Now it is…
Twice saved? Saved from what? Saved again? No, this isn’t some strange new doctrine. Let me explain. We are saved from: Penalty of Sin Our sinful nature, our weak will, our tendency to fail Yes, I’ve been twice saved. For that, I am forever grateful. Finally, after 40 years of doing my best, and not doing so good I found I can’t change myself, free myself from my sinful nature. Free me from what the Bible calls flesh. But He…
Life is not all smooth sailing, right? Whether it is storms in our health, family, employment or social life, they can all be frightening and depressing. God tells us to fear not. How much do we trust him? Maybe the storm is because we are not getting what we want, or something isn’t turning out like we prefer. Maybe God is asking us to trust him. I know about dark, stormy times. It seems like it will never end. Here…
God asks us to give up things to surrender, not to deprive us, but to encourage us to let go of them so we can receive from Him the only thing worth having, that is, Himself, His life in us. He is the only thing worth having. Surrender all to Him and, in turn, receive all from Him. Initial surrender Once we surrender our right to anything, we are free. We can trust Him to provide all we need. We…