The Place of Freedom (Galatians 2:4) Galatians 2:4 (ESV) 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— Who does not want to be free? Freedom is a blessed state of being. Those who […]
The Place of Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:2) 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV) 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: The word […]
The Place of Redemption (Romans 3:24) We are focusing this week on the importance and privilege of being in Christ. It is, indeed, the most important place you can be on earth. Last night we saw that in Christ is where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). For the rest of the week, I […]
The Place of All Spiritual Blessings (Ephesians 1:3) Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, The word for blessed means “to be praised,” and it only applies to God in the New Testament. […]
Three times inspired writers of the New Testament said, “The just shall live by faith.” Paul said it twice (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11), and the Hebrews writer once (Hebrews 10:38). Both men were probably thinking of the words from Habakkuk 2:4 where the prophet wrote, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright […]
The APA (American Psycho-logical Association), reports that stress among Americans is on the rise (USA TODAY, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, 7D). The report tells us that women are more likely to experience higher stress levels than men, singles have more stress than those married, and that money, work and high housing costs are the biggest […]
A Profitable Relationship with Brethren (Proverbs 27:17) Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) 17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Our interaction with each other as brethren is crucial to our spiritual development in Christ. We need to sharpen each other from time to time. When men challenge each other, it can lead to growth. There […]
A Profitable Way to Live: Listen to Advice (Proverbs 19:20) Proverbs 19:20 (ESV) 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. An admonition to listen to advice is always profitable. The problem is it is easier said than done. Personal pride, too often, gets in the way and […]
Being a Profitable Friend (Proverbs 17:17) Friends are precious. We are all blessed to have them. However, there are good friends and bad friends. There are those who are fair-weather friends; then, there are friends who are a constant part of our lives. Solomon helps us to put friendship into perspective. Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) 17 […]
The Profits of Godly Fear (Proverbs 8:13) Godly fear is an important characteristic to have. It does not mean that a person is terrified of God, it simply means to be filled with reverence for God. The person who fears God understands the greatest, power, and strength of God. Sadly, this world lacks godly fear. […]