God Is Sufficient!
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 Paul asks a personal question in 2 Corinthians 2:16: “Who is sufficient for these things?” By “these things” the apostle means the demands and sacrifices of the Christian life. Who is sufficient for living a creative, victorious Christian life? But Paul does more than ask the question: he gives us the answer!
What’s Stopping You?
Our Adversary is unrelenting. He has nothing else to do. He isn’t interested in a night off or a little vacation. The devil is pure evil and ruthlessly intent to steal, kill, and destroy. Today and tomorrow, 24 hours a day. And most leaders are seriously naïve regarding his activity. Nehemiah, Chapter 6 illustrates the
The Purpose
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” – Proverbs 19:23Paul Revere’s name has become synonymous with a ride made during the tumultuous days leading up to the American Revolution. His purpose was to warn the “Minute Men” of New England of an impending crisis. They
Simple Marks of Faithfulness
During the reign of Queen Victoria, a heartwarming story made its way to the headlines of British news. The story is told of a homeless, mixed breed puppy that wandered the streets and came to the feet of a sentry outside St. James Palace. The dog was covered with snow, and was both hungry and
The Seven Deadly Sins of a Pastor (Part 1)
For fifteen years I served in a church staff position. I was surprised when God called me to the pastorate. Early in my ministry I had no desire to be the Senior Pastor…but God changed my heart and the direction of my ministry. I count myself a blessed man for having served as both a
Strength for the Journey
1 Kings 19:1-8; Isaiah 40:28-31 Whether a man carries a briefcase or a lunch bucket, he needs “strength for the journey.” Elijah had been in hiding for three years when God called him to face the Baal worshipers on Mount Carmel. Because he had been waiting on the Lord, Elijah was able to “mount up
How We Defeat Our Enemies
Victory is sweet. Whether it’s your son’s football game, your favorite team, making it a week with no failures on a diet plan, paying off nagging debt, closing a business deal—success brings a tremendous joy and sense of fulfillment. The amount of joy is directly related to the size of he enemy and the scope
The Cost
Prayer is the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven. God uses gold for asphalt on the streets of Heaven, but He places His highest value on the prayers of His children. Jesus is seated at His right hand. God has assigned to His Son and our Savior the office of Chief Intercessor. His place and
Guard Your Heart
One of my good friends growing up was a guy named Richie Beene. Although he only stood 5’6″ and weighed less than 130 pounds, pound-for-pound, he was perhaps the toughest football player I have ever seen. In fact, he once put a lick on my rib cage that I can still feel today if I
There Is a Hope
If all I did was watch the news and listen to the prognosticators, I would be very discouraged. I’d probably be in a cave in the mountains and become a mystic. But, that would be a mistake. Yes, I know the world is devolving (not evolving, that’s obvious even to a scientist with common sense),
My Favorite Cemetery (Part 2)
Retracing our steps and walking west, we pass Bunyan, then the graves of the Cromwells (not Oliver or Richard), and to the right discover the grave of Mrs. Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles—and seventeen others! In spite of her busy life, she spent at least one hour each morning and evening in prayer
How Our Enemies Defeat Us
It is sad, true commentary, that most Christians live defeated lives in comparison to what they could be experiencing. A large measure of this is due to our ignorance of our enemy. We do not understand the “wiles of the devil” which gives him a massive tactical advantage. The Bible, in all its parts, is