“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 NKJV).

November 22, 2020

WHAT IS THIS LIVING HOPE? The apostle Peter wrote of the “living hope” that we have by faith in the Resurrected One, Jesus Christ. But what is it? The word “hope” we understand. It is the expectation and desire for a certain thing to come to pass. Yet why call it “living?”   The first

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14 NKJV).

November 21, 2020

WHO DO YOU CALL WHEN YOU’RE SICK? Today, when someone complains of an illness or pain. The first question they are asked is: “Have you called the doctor?” Yet, when James was writing his epistle, the first question would’ve been: “Have you called the elders of the church?”   Having available modern medicine, we forget

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1 NKJV).

November 20, 2020

WILL WE EVER HAVE PEACE ON EARTH? We may blame conflict on external circumstances caused by others, but James said that war actually originates within each of us. How long in human history did man exist before his first war? Not long. Just long enough for two brothers to be born. Yet God saw the

“‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves” (Ezekiel 37:12 NKJV).

November 18, 2020

THE AMAZING PROMISE OF RESURRECTION Ezekiel was called to prophesy to the Jewish exiles in Babylon and those scattered throughout the nations. This was a time when Israel has ceased to exist as a nation. In the national sense, it was dead. So, this resurrection prophecy might first be considered symbolic of a day when

“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15 NKJV).

November 17, 2020

ONLY GOD CAN HELP US WITH OUR OVER-DESIRE The Greek word translated “desire” is “epithumia,” which literally means “over-desire,” or “over-heated desire.” It might also be translated as “lust.”   Desire itself is not evil. God created us with desire. No one has to teach a baby to cry for its mother’s milk. It is

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).

November 16, 2020

THE IMMUTABLE, ETERNAL CHRIST IS OURS The author of Hebrews warned believers not to be “carried about” by strange and various teachings that might come along. They were to remember the teachings and conduct of those who first shared the gospel with them and discipled them in the Word. In the midst of this warning,

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV).

November 15, 2020

PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE Those who are at peace with God through faith in Jesus are to “pursue peace with all people.” Peace is the third member of the first triad of the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22). Therefore, peace is one of the key attributes of those who are

“Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God'” (Ezekiel 29:3 NKJV).

November 14, 2020

THE LORD’S NEWSPAPER BOY This was God’s instruction to His prophet Ezekiel as he was given a word from the Lord for Egypt and its pharaoh. This is still the instruction God gives to all His prophets. They are to speak saying, “Thus saith the Lord God.”   The late Evangelist Billy Graham was known

“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV).

November 13, 2020

FAITH IN GOD CHANGES OUR IDENTITY AND OUR FUTURE Rahab lived in the ancient city of Jericho. She was a business woman who ran a house that offered meals, lodging and other entertainments. Both here in Hebrews 11 and in Joshua 2:1 and Joshua 6:22-25, Rahab was called a harlot. However, that identity did not

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV).

November 12, 2020

WHAT IS FAITH? The Scripture says “faith is…” Thus giving us the biblical definition of faith. Yet before we unpack this definition, we must clarify the kind of faith of which we speak. This is not faith as a passive noun describing one’s religion or untested belief. No, this is faith from the active sense,