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Power of the Tongue
Joshua’s battle at Jericho is perhaps one of the Bible’s great military victories of all time. In historical reflection it was Israel’s first conquest after they crossed the Jordan and the city was its era’s most fortified city. Israel’s defeat of Jericho would set the tone for every other battle that lay ahead of them, of which there were many. All they had to do was obey the voice of the Lord and follow the leading of Joshua. Seems simple, right? Curiously, the scripture gives two orders in Joshua 6. God told them to march around the city; when and…
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“Leave the Corners”
In consideration of world conditions, American life is exceptional. By comparison, there are no food shortages; no imminent crises of disease; no energy failures, blackouts or currency devaluation. Other countries are not so fortunate: Venezuela, Pakistan, the nations of Central America, Congo and a host of other African nations; the Middle East, the northern regions of the Slovaks and more. It is astounding how good we really have it. We are blessed in ways we cannot measure. Our problem is that we are constant consumers. Americanism, with all of its profundity, consumes the whole. Christianity has bought into that thought…
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Raising Up Stones
If truth be told, John the Baptist was a renegade among his generation. His clothing, bold and harsh approach, and presentation in a wilderness were unique. No one had ever seen such a thing. He did not stand in front of plaster-coated columns as the Romans. He did not grace the steps of the Jewish Temple. His clothing was not that of rabbi or priest. Nevertheless, people came out to see him. Some came to see the “show”: The wild man in the wilderness. In Luke 3, John begins his sermon with these words: “You brood of vipers, who warned…
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Power of the Enemy
ESV – I Corinthians 3:1-3 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” Paul once wrote that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. He was not contradicting…
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Faith …
In reflection of the many times I have preached the Word, I realize how the subject of faith so often seems like an intangible thing. In some circles, it is met with disdain as it hinges on the supernatural and not on “reality.” To have faith in something you cannot see has been discredited by the humanistic mind. Sometimes even believers shrug off the word because of its illusive nature. The Bible, however, is clear that it takes faith to believe in God and faith to be saved. Healing is said to be “according to your faith.” Faith can be…
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Crown of Thorns
Peel away the outer layer of today’s modernized event and you’ll find the Passover. Israel remembered this day when God saved them from death through the blood of an innocent lamb. The fulfillment of their Passover occurred when Jesus, The Lamb of God, died on the cross. The work done on Golgotha paid the ransom for our sin. Nevertheless, while our sin was atoned at Calvary, the power to live an abundant life came on the third day when Jesus rose from the grave! Jesus paid it all as He conquered the grave. O death where is your sting; grave…
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The I AM …
The scripture records two reactions to the Lord’s Triumphant entry into Jerusalem: First: Matthew 21:9-11 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Second: Matthew 21:15 “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting…
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Balance …
Solomon wrote under the same direction of the Author, Who breathed His Word to all the anointed writers of the Bible. In his book, called Ecclesiastes, Solomon promoted a Balanced Life. Perhaps his years of success and failure had carved out a truth that God wanted us to learn. Solomon wrote of seasons and times; designated moments that are polar and yet appropriate. He also wrote: Ecclesiastes 7:16 “Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” The verse means that we should not think ourselves too righteous to repent or too ceremonially perfect…
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Preemptive Forgiveness
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Paul’s writing cannot be overstated as the most pivotal point in human history. Sin separated us from God. All death, disease, and human conflict was a result of sin. David said that we were shaped and made in sin. The scripture states that “all have sinned and fallen short.” None of us even knew our wretched condition. Nevertheless, Paul wrote, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It means that before we were aware of the debt we…
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Religious, but not Spiritual
It seems odd that these two things can be mutually exclusive. I’ve often wondered about the evolution of such a thing: To be ritualistic, but have no relationship. Yet, this tragedy has become prevalent in these modern times. Religion should help us think beyond ourselves. It is designed to move us toward action. James wrote of it’s true purpose: James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. The first portion has become a regular aspect of the church.…