What does the Bible tell us about angels? Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him, though created higher than man. Some, the good angels, have remained obedient to Him and carry out His will, while others, fallen angels, disobeyed, fell from their holy position, and now stand in active opposition to the […]
What do you know about heaven? – the presence of God, holiness, angels, purity, beauty, perfection, sinlessness, etc. As I pondered Jesus leaving heaven and coming to earth as the God/man, I cannot really comprehend what that must have been like for him. Transition As we examine the incarnation from Jesus’ standpoint, I want us […]
This painting is of my great-grandfather’s farm on my father’s side of the family. I do not remember seeing my great-grandfather, but I do remember being in his house when I was very young. Other than those few vague memories, all I know about my great-grandparents is historical facts passed down to me. Historical facts […]
Last week we sought to answer the question, “What does God say about discernment?” From a Christian perspective, discernment is the ability to understand the mind of God when considering various options. A good definition by another preacher is, “Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth […]
Two mice were examining the cheese on a mousetrap. As the young mouse was ready to dive in for a feast, the older mouse shouted, “Stop!” The younger said, “What’s wrong?” The elder said, “There are some important facts you have overlooked. I smell human around this cheese. Not only that, but my brother ate […]
There have been many battle strategies used by successful generals down through history. Though they varied in type, they all had one thing in common; they worked to conquer the enemy. Just before the flood in Genesis 6:5, we read, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that […]
Having a garden is very rewarding. It gives us needed exercise. It is fun to watch plants grow and produce. It is wonderful to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. It is enjoyable to be able to share with others. In an even greater way, self-control is rewarding. Transition As I pondered the rewards of self-control, […]
God tells us in James 3:7-8, “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Yes, the tongue cannot be tamed so that […]
Last week, we began this brief series on self-control. We identified the fact that we all struggle with self-control in one area or another. Paul wrote, (1 Corinthians 9:25-27) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. […]
The word temperance, as used in the Bible, refers more to self-control than it does to avoiding excess. When God tells us to be temperate, he is saying that we must control ourselves. Self-control is forcing self to do right. We must control our actions, our attitudes, our mouth, our emotions, and every other area […]