Posts Tagged ‘Empowered’
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:6–7 (NLT) John 3:16 is probably the most familiar verse in…
Read MoreReopen the Wells
Isaac dug out again the wells that were dug during the lifetime of his father Abraham. The Philistines had closed them up after Abraham’s death. Isaac gave them the same names his father had given them. Genesis 26:18 (CEB) It is noteworthy that two essential elements of life, breath, and water, are symbolic of the…
Read MoreDegrees of Faith
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:19–20 (NLT) Faith and belief are closely interrelated in Scripture. At times, the words are used…
Read MoreBoot Camp
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the…
Read MorePriorities
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33–34 (NLT) Every generation faces challenges, but it is hard to imagine that life has ever been…
Read MorePreaching Confirmed
And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. Mark 16:20 (NLT) People will tell you that the power and capabilities that Jesus gave to his disciples were only for the early church. They will say the early church needed credibility to demonstrate…
Read MoreShould We Be Afraid?
The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart…
Read MoreFrom Brokenness to Brokenness
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:17 (NLT) We live in a world where the brokenness is evident. Some people realize their brokenness, while many do not. We need to understand three things about the brokenness in this world. At times,…
Read MoreBlessed!
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (CSB) The venerable song of the church urges us to “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”…
Read MoreDelivered!
Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Psalm 108:6 (NIV) Words are interesting. While English may not be as expressive as other languages, including Greek, studying and understanding how we use language is still important. Today, we want to look at what it means to be…
Read MoreRestored!
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. Job 22:23 (NLT) Restoration is big business. People spend countless dollars restoring antiques, fine art, vehicles, homes, and much more. In the end, however, there is often little practical value. For example, certain restored antique cars are valued at millions…
Read MoreRedeemed
They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” Isaiah 62:12 (NLT) When I was a boy, “trading stamps” were a big deal. I remember my mom and grandma collecting S&H Green Stamps and pasting them into books. When they accumulated a sufficient quantity, they brought them to the redemption…
Read MoreSanctified!
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV) “Saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost!” It was not unusual in the churches I grew up in to hear people begin a testimony with that declaration. Is sanctified a word that has, for the…
Read MoreDetermined
Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6 (NET) Determined is a good word. Some synonyms for determined include decisive, purposeful, resolute, steadfast, and even tenacious. Determination begins with a decision that we resolve to follow through to completion. The Bible gives us examples of determined people.…
Read MoreFinish Well
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 (NLT) In our previous post, “Start Well,” we emphasized the importance of starting well in our faith to construct a life that will withstand the storms and earthquakes that…
Read MoreStart Well
In the Beginning God… Genesis 1:1 How important is it to start well? A good start is critical in a 100-meter race, often decided by hundredths of a second. But a fast start is only one aspect of starting well. One must also begin in the right place and at the right time. It may…
Read MoreGot Hope?
Where then is my hope? Can anyone find it? Job 17:15 (NLT) The Associated Press reported last week that the number of suicides last year in the United States reached an all-time high of 49,500 people. While other factors may be involved, hopelessness was undoubtedly a significant factor. Is there anything that we can do…
Read MorePerfect Unity
I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:23 (NLT) Perfect unity? What does that even mean? We look around us and see a multitude, or more…
Read MoreJust in Time
The concept of time is fascinating. Each day consists of twenty-four hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. But all time is not the same. Everyone knows that “time flies when you’re having fun.” The Bible tells us of one occasion where time stood still (or at least the sun stood still Joshua 10:12-14). Perhaps even…
Read MoreA Great God
“For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3 (NLT) I have no idea how many people would agree with Psalm 95:3. We know that one day every knee will bow in acknowledgment, but how many people live their lives today with the thought of God’s greatness foremost in…
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