Charles Carrin Praise is an instrument of violence; Praise destroys the atmosphere in which sickness, defeat, discouragement, and futility flourish. Praise upsets the climate which allows the growth of life’s suffering–confusion, turmoil and strife. Praise breathes Heaven’s life into the vacuum death produces on earth. Praise casts down the obstacles which sin, self, sickness, and … [Read more…]
Fence sitting Christians are in trouble but Jesus is merciful. He says help them, for He will not break off a broken reed or quench a smoldering wick. Love them in word and deed. Nurture them with words of comfort and edification. Speak forth blessings to them that the eyes of their hearts would be … [Read more…]
Our Messiah Leads In 1978, God gave me a dream about our call to build the way our Messiah leads instead of man’s way. Now, years later, I can see much progress in the restoration of the church [ecclesia/ekklesia—called out ones, congregation, assembly, community of our King] to the leadership of our Messiah in the … [Read more…]
Most children come to know God through their parents Children raised by godly parents are greatly blessed. It is natural for children to love and trust their parents. Children who are loved and secure trust what their parents say about Jesus Christ. Jesus says we must become like children to enter the kingdom of God … [Read more…]
“Let yourselves be built as a spiritual temple” (1 Pe 2:5). Peter leads up to this beginning his letter by blessing God for His work of salvation that culminates with receiving the inheritance stored up for us in heaven (1 Pe 1:4; Mt 25:34). Peter continues with a call to be holy (1 Pe 1:13-21). … [Read more…]
To work in the body of Christ is God’s calling for our way of life and spiritual work. Our goal is to attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in Christ and work properly. In the first 3 chapters of Ephesians, Paul tells what God has planned, did and is doing for His … [Read more…]
God has a plan for all who trust in Jesus. God’s plan is summarized in Ephesians 1 and explained in the rest of Ephesians. After his greeting and blessing, Paul urges us to bless God, for God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven. Then, Paul blesses God, declaring the reason God is … [Read more…]
Paul addresses Ephesians to God’s holy ones/saints and blesses with grace and peace. As saints, we believe in Christ Jesus as our Redeemer that has atoned for all our sins, and by this faith we are consecrated and sanctified to God. Grace and peace are blessings which come from God our Father and our Lord … [Read more…]
The kingdom of God as Shalom. Excerpts from: Kingdom, Church, and World: Biblical Themes for Today, Howard Snyder. Shalom, usually translated “peace,” is one of the great words of the Old Testament. It occurs some 350 times and clearly underlies the concept of peace found in the New Testament, as we shall see. Shalom is so … [Read more…]