God’s Word tells us again and again to flee temptation. Whenever many Christians read such passages, their reflex is to muster up more will to honor his commands. Yet, although their intentions are good, their aim is off. Paul tells us that overcoming temptation isn’t about what we do or don’t do. It’s about what we believe concerning the one we serve.
It is time to pray. It is time for each of us to appeal to heaven for a revival in the church and an awakening in the nation.
True generosity has to come from the Spirit of Christ not from carefully measured human goals. We need to show discipline not so much in counting pennies and dollars but in obeying the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6, NKJV), he issued a powerful proclamation to his church. Tragically, we have not fully understood the power behind his words here. I believe if the church today truly grasped the simple statement that Jesus is the way, we would once and for all end our fleshly strivings to try to please the Lord and instead trust him for his promised favor.
Life is really, really short. James 4:14 likens it to a vapor, a whisper, its span no more than that of grass (see Psalm 103:15), something that appears for a brief time and is suddenly gone.
Paul told Timothy that in the last days, perilous times would come on the face of the earth. Surely this describes our time, with a global pandemic and political upheaval in so many countries. Paul added that people’s hearts would grow cold, causing them to fall away from faith. Every study shows that in the Western world, Christians are forsaking faith and the church is shrinking.
Most Christians I know are kind, loving, considerate, caring and helpful. I believe very few in the church think of themselves as unkind. I don’t think you can be a true Christian and be unkind.
When we think of kind people, our image is of quiet, soft-spoken men and women who never seem to say a negative word about anyone. They are sweet and gentle, always willing to do something for another person, always carrying a kind word on their lips.
When David wrote Psalm 3, he faced a dramatic and devastating time in his life. Overwhelmed by excruciating trials, he cried out in agony, “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me” (Psalm 3:1, ESV).
I believe the church will never understand the importance of prayer until we grasp one foundational truth. Simply put, prayer is not just for our own benefit or relief but rather for the delight of the Lord.
Throughout the New Testament, we’re told that in these last days there will be a great apostasy. Jesus said that even some devoted servants – “if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24, ESV) – might fall away from faith.
