Lively Hope

Most struggle through life because they have knowingly or unknowingly chosen independence from God. Independent thoughts, words and actions lead to confusion and loss. Independence unleashes all of the corruption that is in the world. We were not created to live independently from God. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remainsContinue reading "Are you dependent or Independent?"

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. (Isa. 55:8) Paradox: a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a truth. In the Kingdom we find many paradoxes. The unrenewed natural mind cannot grasp the way God’s kingdom works. But the transformedContinue reading "The Kingdom Paradox"

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Pr. 22:6) When a child is born he has a genetic identity that came from his parents. For purposes of this example we can say that he has the nature of his parents. However,Continue reading "Boot Camp"

Our hearts determine our lives. How our hearts respond to God and His Word will set the course for failure and frustration, or the abundant life that Jesus has promised. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (Prov. 4:23) Many times our failure to receive from GodContinue reading "The Heart: The Factory Of Faith"

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly (2 Thess. 1:3) When we truly hear the gospel, the seed of God’s Word finds the soil of our heart and faith is released. If that faith is enough to make you a new creation andContinue reading "Growing Stronger in Faith"

The subject of love can be quite complex. We speak of loving ice cream or cookies and then speak of loving God. We say that we love a person. but we are prepared for love to fade over time. Human love is often based on the perceived value of the thing or person that isContinue reading "What is Love?"

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7) What does it mean to walk by faith? While our senses and emotions are bombarded daily by the fallen world in which we live, Paul declares that the Christian’s life must revolve around the unseen, not that which is seen. “While we do notContinue reading "Walking by Faith"

In the ongoing dialogue that deals with the place of the Law of Moses in the New Covenant of grace, it seems that the baby is often thrown out with the bathwater. As I have written in other articles, it isn’t really the Law that is the culprit in Christian living. Paul declared the LawContinue reading "Law or Grace? A New Perspective"

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, (Col. 2:6-7) Receiving the Lord is obviously the key to everything. We reconcile ourselves to God, we receive the gift of righteousness and we are born again and made a newContinue reading "Are You Rooted?"

In all of our explorations of the ‘manifold grace of God,’ we should never lose sight of the message that sets men free and releases them from the grip of death. It is the message of the Cross. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us whoContinue reading "The Power Of the Cross"