Psalm 38:17-18 NASB95 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin. The anguish of sin in the life of a follower of Christ is extreme. There are many different types of pain. Physical, Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual pain can all cause great suffering. All suffering is ultimately traced back to sin. This is because sin is what caused the fall of man in the first place. There was no

Matthew 28:7 NASB95 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Stop, wait, hold on, listen, pay attention, you don't want to miss out on this. The Angel of the Lord said, "GO QUICKLY and TELL!" Do you feel a sense of urgency about sharing the gospel with others? I wonder why the Angel said, 'Go Quickly?' Could it be that the longer they are without, th

A significant life issue is looming ahead; how will you handle it? We have all been in a place where we have seen what looks like an impossible circumstance ahead in life and thought, 'I don't see a way to overcome.' Whether it is a job issue, a health issue, a family issue, or a schooling issue, the issues never stop. You can worry yourself to the point of illness seeking to find a solution. These things can and should be a growing experience. I remember being so excited ab

Sin prowls in the dark to start. It wants no one to notice it until it has built up enough confidence to proudly stand up and bring attention to itself. Satan's plan is used by all who live in sin. They attempt to remain hidden until they feel they are strong enough to sneak out and fight off righteousness in the hours of dawn and dusk. In pride, when they feel they have become strong enough, they start to reveal themselves in the daylight. Then eventually they pridefully dec

Imagine that there is nothing in all creation that is desired more than you! This is 100 percent true. There are wars all around the world over land. Yet in the end no one keeps it. They die and the land goes to the next person. Ultimately, the land will be destroyed by fire. God created the earth and all the rest of creation for man. He created man for Himself. When man sinned and left God, then God willed the sacrifice of His own Son for you. God desires you above all crea

Imagine a man has pled guilty in court for robbing a bank. He threw himself on the mercy of the court and spoke to the judge before sentencing. I was completely wrong. I should never have done it. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, and please know that I am sorry for what I did. I will never steal again. The judge recessed the court until the next day for sentencing. The man who has been free on bond goes home. During the night he drives to his local convenience

James 3:17 NASB95 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. Wisdom can be false or real. The false wisdom is from Satan and is often shown in pride. Selfish and evil desire is often the fruit of this type of wisdom. However, God has been known to use this for good as we are told in Romans 8:28 NASB95 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who lov

Psalm 122:9 NASB95 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. This verse speaks of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. However, the house of God today is the church and the church is the body of Christ. The Church is those who have placed their measure of faith in Jesus and continued to strengthen this faith by obedience in following Christ. The writer says for the sake of the house of the Lord (Yahweh) our God (elhoim) triune God the Father, God the S

Matthew 20:11-12 NASB1995 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ A landowner visited the town multiple times during the day, and each time, he found people to work in his field during the harvest. At the end of the day, he paid each a day's wages. Those who had worked only an hour and those who worked all day rec

Exodus 1:1 NASB95 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household: When God guides you into His protection that He has prepared before you even knew you would need it, I ask, whom will you take with you? Years before our text, God had started the work to provide safety for the family of Jacob through Joshua. Now, as the family seeks protection, each father is bringing his personal family along, simply out of lo

What do you want Jesus to do for you? What is your greatest need? Think really hard. Is your greatest need money? If Jesus provided you with a million US dollars would you be satisfied? What if our nation collapsed the next day and your million dollars was worthless would you still be satisfied? Maybe money isn't your greatest need. Is your greatest need that certain person that makes you feel really special? If Jesus provided you that person, would you be satisfied? What if

It amazes me how many thieves and those running from the law get caught by going back to their old habits. If they hang out in a certain place they end up going back there. If they steal in a certain area they go back to it. The police are expecting this so they stake out those places and finally catch them. Scripture says, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 NASB95 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. The police know that they

Joshua 12:24 NASB95 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings. Thirty-one earthly kings and their people were defeated by a group with no earthly king. It seems impossible, yet it happened. Just look at Scripture. This group of people had spent 40 years traveling the wilderness. They lived in tents, moved their livestock, and set up their place of worship, only to dismantle it and continue wandering the wilderness. They did all of this with a leader who, by his own ad

Genesis 38:29 NASB95 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. God has always planned for everyone to have the opportunity of salvation even though the Jews always felt it was just for them. I love how God reveals this through hidden gems in the Old Testament. Judah a son of Jacob had sinned. He had broken his promise to give his youngest son to his daughter

Song of Songs 5:8 NASB95 “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.” The bride speaks and remember the bride is the church. She says I adjure you. She is saying swear to me by seven objects of most importance. Swear by perfection. Bind yourself with seven cords so that you can't escape this promise. Swear O daughters of Jerusalem, those who are not part of the church but are very close. Maybe they are unde

From the NIH National Institute of Health: Sight happens as light passes through the cornea. The cornea is shaped like a dome and bends light to help the eye focus. Some of this light enters the eye through an opening called the pupil. The iris controls how much light the pupil lets in. Next, light passes through the lens. The lens works together with the cornea to focus light correctly on the retina. When light hits the retina, special cells called photoreceptors turn the li

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hearing a man speak who truly amazed me with his knowledge. I have met a few people in my lifetime who have shown such wisdom that I was in awe of it. Our scripture today speaks of a man whose wisdom surpassed that of all others. 1 Kings 4:34 NASB95 Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. The man I heard a few weeks ago had spoken before Congress, on TV, on the

The Old Testament confirms that the Messiah would be God! His deity was set in Scripture showing us that Jesus is truly the Christ. He is all man and all God. Listen to these verses speaking of the Son of God. Psalm 45:6-7 NASB95 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows. Speaking of Jesus G

Colossians 1:4-5 NASB95 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel Notice that faith in Christ Jesus, and love for all the saints (fellow Christians), are because of the hope that is laid up for you in heaven. The hope you found when you heard the gospel which is the word of truth! Hope embraces expectation, trust, and

Paul, giving instructions to Titus on how to teach others to live, and likewise live himself, speaks this text. Titus 3:2 NASB95 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. Teach them to malign no one. The Greek word used is a form of the word blasphemy. Meaning to deny them or refuse them of God. Do not in any way cause a person not to desire God. Do not in any way cause them to hate God. Be thoughtful about the way you address and tal