374:  In Everything Give Thanks… Why?

374: In Everything Give Thanks… Why?

In the final few words in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul leaves them with some heartfelt, bullet-point warnings and admonitions that speak to living in the Kingdom.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 he said,

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

If you look closer, you will see this is another classic, life-changing if / then passage.  If we do the first three, then we won’t experience the last.  Or, if we don’t do the first three, then the last, quenching the Spirit, is ours as a consequence of the first three.  And who in their right mind wants to willingly quench the Spirit of God in our life.  But there is so much more to be found here.  Interested?  Then keep listening.

The following is a study on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.

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370:  When Our Saved Life Looks Like Our Lost Life

370: When Our Saved Life Looks Like Our Lost Life

When we look at the chilling words of Jesus that tell us “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20) we are perplexed.  And rightly so.  When we then see the requirement of becoming a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) in order to possess the “righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,” we are faced with even more questions.

Are you a new creation in Christ?
Has God changed you from the inside out?
Do you possess a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?
If so, how do you know?
Can your friends and family tell?

And then one more:

Does this describe you?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).

Have you ever asked yourself these questions?  How did you answer?  What does it mean if your answers to these questions are, no?  To find out more, keep listening.

The following is a study on Matthew 5:20.

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366:  The Downside of Revival

366: The Downside of Revival

Often we preach about the need for revival in the church and in our own lives.  We hold the virtues and blessings of revival up high, for all to see, yet fail to talk about the dark side of revival, the downside of totally surrendering to Him.

And that downside is satanic attack.

For the novice, this attack can be devastating because they are often ill-prepared to stand against it.  For the more mature believer, the attack is just another affirmation they are living as light and walking where the enemy dwells.

Do you know how to prepare for a spiritual attack?  Do you know how to stand when the day of evil comes (Eph. 6:13)?  If not, then keep listening.

The following is a study on Spiritual Warfare.

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365:  Revival, God’s Way

365: Revival, God’s Way

One of the greatest needs in the life of the believer today is revival.  Revival is defined as “a restoration of life, consciousness, vigor, or strength. It is an awakening to something previously dormant.  It is an improvement in the condition or strength of something or someone.”  Spurgeon said revival means “to live again, to receive again a life which has almost expired; to rekindle into a flame the vital spark which was nearly extinguished.”

But how does revival come about?
What does true revival look like?
How does it change the person being revived?
Are there stages or steps to revival?
And how can we have revival now, today, in our lives and in the church?

Are you interested in finding out more?  Then keep listening.

The following is a study on revival.

To download the slides to this message, click – HERE

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362:  Forever vs Flash and Fade

362: Forever vs Flash and Fade

Often we find ourselves focusing on the temporal things in life and not on the eternal.  We seem to devote most of our time and energy on the things that pass, things that fade away, things that are transitory at best and have an expiration date, and not on what truly matters and what lasts.  Why is that?

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:18 – “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Jesus said the law, the Word of God, is something that will outlast even heaven and earth.  Then, according to Psalm 138:2, God said He honors His Word above His name.  So what does all of this mean?  And what are the implications for each of us?  To find out more, keep listening.

The following is a study on Matthew 5:18.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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361:  What is Truth?

361: What is Truth?

Great question: “What is truth?”  It’s the question Pilate asked Jesus and the same question our culture asks of the church today.  But there’s more to that question than is readily apparent.  For example:

Is there such a thing as absolute truth?
And if so, what is that truth?
How do we know that absolute truth is absolute?
What about the changing times in which we live?
Does truth change to meet the culture?
Is truth living and active?  Does it evolve?
Why is truth for yesterday truth for today?
Doesn’t each generation need their own truth?

Jesus addressed these questions in His first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7.  Let’s take a look at His answer together, shall we?

This is a study on Matthew 5:17.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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