Hosea 4:15 NASB95 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: “As the LORD lives!” Several years ago, the FBI announced that the most dangerous neighborhood in the USA was one that I frequently visited in my business. In fact, I had two customers in this neighborhood. Statistics showed if my memory is correct that 7 out of every ten people who lived in that neighborhood for 10 years wo

1 Corinthians 10:4 NASB95 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Paul talks of Israel's journey through the wilderness, where God gave them manna, both physical bread to satisfy their bodies' hunger, and spiritual, as He fed them the word of God. In our text, he transitions into thirst. He says they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which

Ruth 4:6 NASB95 The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.” What a picture this paints of a future dealing. The closest relative had an opportunity. He could have the land to increase his wealth, but he would also have to take Ruth and have a child with her, who would belong to the line of Elimelech. Because he feared having to di

Ecclesiastes 10:9-10 NASB95 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Life in a sinful world contains dangers. I remember as a child watching The Flintstones. Fred would be working in the quarry using his dinosaur crane to move stones. Suddenly something would go wrong and the dinosaur would toss

Deuteronomy 22:1 NASB95 “You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman. I live in the country and it is pretty common to see a neighbor's cow out of the pasture. It is common practice, as we see this, to let the neighbor know. I could not even begin to think of the times I have gone to the door of people I don't know to see if the cow belongs to them or if they might know

1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB95 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. The stones for the temple were quarried off-site and brought to the Temple Mount to be used in perfect order, perfectly mat

Proverbs 10:2 NASB95 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. Ill-gotten, means a wrong or wicked manner was used to receive. It could be stealing, cheating, taking advantage of someone else, lying, or even finding but not seeking the correct ownership. There are many ways a person can come about gains. Gains, means treasure. It can be physical, spiritual, or emotional treasure. It just needs to have value. The value can be personal or corporate.

What have you done for the Lord? Let me start by telling you all that I have done for the Lord. I was saved at 15, and I am 56 now. So as you can imagine in those 41 years my list should be long. So here goes. I have at times been obedient. There is my list. This is what I have done for the Lord in my 41 years of salvation. In other words, at times I have surrendered to Him. Now someone might say. You played a part in Sharing the Gospel with me and I was saved. To which I re

Mankind has always felt its way was right. It is a pride issue. However, the truth is that it is God who has perfect vision. Science has always attempted to offer theories as facts while consistently changing what it says is the truth. As more things are discovered scientific "fact" continues to change. However, God the Creator has never changed and knows all. I remember that when I had children, I felt I knew what was best for them. I wasn't willing to take advice. If I did

Jude 1:7 NASB95 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. We see in this scripture that the cities around Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not because of Sodom and Gomorrah but because they indulged in the same sin. You will not suffer eternal punishment for the sins of others but because of you

Are you looking for a sign? The world has always looked for a sign. Yet no one really tries to understand them. Even plainly written signs are seldom followed correctly. We are all guilty. We tug on a door with a sign reading, 'Use other door.' We turn left with a sign reading, "No left turn." The label says, "Eat before taking," yet we take it on an empty stomach. The sign says, "May cause cancer," yet we sue the company when we get it. Either we don't read the sign or we do

Malachi 4:2 NASB95 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. When I was a child growing up there was a change going on. I didn't notice it at the time but looking back I see it. I actually became a part of it. For this I have regret. Respect for others was disappearing. It has diminished greatly over the short 56 years of my life. Little steps that I fought to t

Mark 8:33 NASB95 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Peter had just rebuked Jesus for being truthful about what was going to happen. We are seeing this happen more and more to Christians today. We are told that if we don't tolerate, accept, and even celebrate sinful lifestyles then we are in the wrong. However, Jesus told Peter that this type of behavio

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Why should we forgive and ultimately do it as many times as we are wronged, which is forgiveness to perfection? The answer is it sets us free! Dr. Robert Jeffress shared the following in a sermon ,several years ago. Do you all remember - did you ever g

Have you ever questioned God about your struggles? Have you ever blamed Him for the suffering in life? Many prophets having written much of scripture, have shared their times of struggle. Elijah ran and hid from a woman as he feared for his life. Hosea's wife cheated on and left him multiple times for harlotry. Ezekiel lost his wife while being obedient to the Lord. John the Baptist was beheaded. Paul was stoned. Then there is Jeremiah. He was probably the prophet who suffere

Around 6000 years ago God created this world as a place where His ultimate creation could live. A creation that could freely choose to live righteously in His presence. Then Satan convinced the first man and his wife that they could be like God. It was a lie and in their pride they sinned against God. Death became the result of a sinful life. Because of sin all men would need to die. Because of God's holy righteousness, they had to be removed from His presence. However, God m

I have had many hard times in my life. Like the heartbreak I felt when the girl in Highschool broke up with me and I thought my life was over. Which was a lie from Satan. Then there was the death of my unborn child. I walked out of that emergency room and had to be caught by a nurse and lowered to the floor as I almost passed out in anguish. I can't forget when they told me that my baby girl would live for a very short time, suffer, and die as they encouraged an abortion. Tha

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was well-respected and considered a leader among the Jews. He came to Jesus and admitted that the Pharisees knew something was different about Jesus. Nicodemus revealed, that we know you have come from God to teach us. We recognize this by all the signs. Yet as a Pharisee, he believed that Moses was the ultimate teacher until the Messiah would come. Moses revealed that the Lord would raise up another like him and that they should listen to Him. M

Is that fish vomit I smell? I come to you today as a man who never wants to say no to God again. I have learned my lesson, and I no longer want to be stubborn. I found out God has more patience, than I have stubbornness. 29 years, that is how long I said no to God. I now regret every moment of those years. I have found that there is no place I would rather be than doing God's will. Even if I have to do it covered in fish vomit. Jonah found this out before me. God had a plan f

Do you ever wonder why God allows us to face struggles? Brokenness and hurt do not seem like things a loving Lord would allow. However, it is not until we feel the hurt of the consequences and wages of our sin that we desire grace and mercy. Our text says, Isaiah 19:22 NASB95 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them. LORD is Yahweh the Self-Existent One, it is He who will allow and by all