[This is an excerpt from my Sunday message and new series on Ephesians. PTL! -Joel] Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Notice that we have in this one verse, blessed, blessed, and blessings, all variations... Continue Reading →
What is clutter? It is acquiring and maintaining things in a crowded, chaotic manner.This kind of disorder can make things difficult to manage or utilize. Clutter is generallythought of in the physical realm, what is seen around us. Yet, it can refer to a state ofmind or heart. Clutter can hinder us from living the... Continue Reading →
When we share the gospel with the lost, we help unbelievers invest in eternal life with our Savior. God offered His Son to be the perfect sacrifice to fully pay for all his past, present, and future sins: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for... Continue Reading →
As I continue to explore the believers walk from Ephesians 5 my understanding is heightened to God's profound call to believers to live with intentionality and spiritual awareness. Much can be considered in Ephesians 5:8-14, but in v10-15 Paul provides a framework for understanding how believers should navigate their relationship with the Lord and in turn the... Continue Reading →
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The first word Paul says is Wherefore. This means “for this reason.” Therefore also means “for this reason.” Same Greek word. The translators... Continue Reading →
In a time when finances are tight and needs are high, how can we give, doing all things unto God? “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Col. 3:23) While I Corinthians 16 provides direction on financial support to others, we are to know that money is... Continue Reading →
In the scriptures, we often encounter the profound contrast between light and darkness. From Genesis "in the beginning" and "let there be light" to Revelation and "a new heaven and new earth" with the "new Jerusalem" where "there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the... Continue Reading →
This is perhaps one of the most epic visions in all the Bible, the single greatest revelation of what is perhaps the most striking, the most powerful, the most prestigious, the most elite class of all angels in all of God’s heavenly host. Some have called Ezekiel “the Patmos-seer of the OT,” because Ezekiel’s visions... Continue Reading →
From birth forward, each person learns to serve his own physical needs, progressively developing a passion for a multitude of worldly enticements. Our nature is to hyper-focus on our bodies, becoming addicted and under its power to serve its every need. If we’re hungry, we feed it, and when fearful, we protect ourselves. The flesh... Continue Reading →
In our studies of God's Word, we often grapple with the tension between our positional identity in Christ and our practical, day-to-day walk. As believers, it is evident, we are called to a higher standard - one that reflects the new man as children of God. But what does this look like in practice? The... Continue Reading →
Sermon on the Mount was a message that I’m sure many people, especially His disciples, had been anticipating ever since the Lord began His ministry, because they want to know what’s the kingdom going to be like? How will people get into the kingdom? “The Chosen,” for example, had Jesus thinking through what He was... Continue Reading →
John 15:13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Rom. 13:14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. By the doctrine which is according to godliness, we are taught that our love... Continue Reading →
The epistle to the Ephesians offers a deep and rich understanding of what it means to live as a follower of Christ. As we step into Ephesians 5:1-2, we are met with a call that encapsulates the essence of Christian living: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as... Continue Reading →
Personal conviction is becoming fully persuaded in your heart and mind, about something. This often takes time and study, thinking about the topic or issue and turning ideas over and over to assess it from different angles. Study of things from the Word of God is imperative and not just for students or teachers. In... Continue Reading →
We’re going to consider a Psalm that does not have a title. David is not mentioned either. Bullinger would write, “…for we have no more right to insert the name of ‘David’ where it is not written, than to take it out where it is.” The common thinking is that this Psalm was written by... Continue Reading →
Take a moment right now to stop and think: The time we have on earth is truly a precious resource. Life is a training ground for eternity; an opportunity to put into practice what we learn. Paul is our example: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16) One way to view life... Continue Reading →
Eph 6:18. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” We all know the context is the armor of God. While you are putting on the armor and after you’ve put on the armor, you are praying always. Before you get on... Continue Reading →
Rom.5:3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. At first glance, the word tribulation... Continue Reading →
As we seek to live as who we are in Christ, God reveals His desire to dwell in us: “…I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (II Corinthians 6:18b) To dwell means to reside in or inhabit. The Spirit dwells in... Continue Reading →
There is a monumental shift in your thinking and how you live your life when you have reckoned that you have a perfect standing in His grace, when you know who you are in Christ. From that moment onward, you rest in those truths. You don’t worry about upsetting God because, say, you ate something... Continue Reading →
SUPPLY OF GRACE 