by Steve McCranie | Jan 14, 2015
One of the most theologically packed words spoken by our Lord is found in John 10:27-30 where He says:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
In these few words of Jesus we find the doctrines of grace, election, the state of the lost, the effectual call, salvation, regeneration, sanctification, eternal life, eternal security, the perseverance of the saints and the trinity. It’s a literal treasure trove of truth given as a gift to each of us.
Want to know more about this gift? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on John 10:22-30 and on the importance of meditation.
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by Steve McCranie | May 19, 2014
As crazy as it may sound, many of us spend our Christian lives playing Whac-A-Mole with the strongholds of sin and consequences of disobedience that we have allowed to take root in our lives. And why do we do this? What’s the point? Where’s the payoff for us?
There isn’t any. We strive and struggle again and again, whacking one mole only to have another pop up in its place, with no end in sight. Our so-called “abundant life” can easily become one of frustration and defeat.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can live victorious over the enemy and experience true freedom in Christ. How? Keep listening to find out.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 28, 2014
The book of Zechariah begins with one of the most challenging and frightening conditional promises found in Scripture.
First, there is God’s statement of their condition: “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers.”
Then, the wonderful and frightening promise: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.”
But the flip side of this promise is also true. If they won’t return to Him, then it logically follows that He won’t return to them.
Sounds like much of the church today. Keep listening.
The following is a study of Zechariah 1:1-6.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 20, 2014
On April 13th, 1832 George Muller received a letter from Henry Craik, his friend and co-laborer in ministry, to come to Bristol to join him in the work there. One week later, on April 20th, George Muller left for Bristol encouraged by the preaching, teaching, witnessing… you know, all the ministry stuff— that he was soon to be engulfed in. The air was full of excitement and anticipation, much like we are as we plan for a two week summer mission trip.
“Boy, when we get to the mission field, we’re going to win the area to Christ!” Right.
Question: But what about now? What about your preparation for that mission outreach? How are you preparing today for the harvest tomorrow?
Answer: Oh I know, it’s the classic “bloom where you are planted” thing. “I’m looking for every opportunity to tell people about Jesus right where I live.”
Good. Excellent, in fact. But what about your private time with the Lord? What about your personal accountability and relationship with Him? Are you too enamored, too giddy with the “doing” that you have neglected the “abiding”? And if so, what are you prepared to do about it?
Be encouraged, for this is exactly the lesson that our friend, Mr. Muller, learned on his way to Bristol. In fact, Arthur Pierson, Muller’s biographer, reflects on this very lesson the young man of God learned and, so it seems, never forgot.
The following is from Pierson’s book, George Muller of Bristol:
On April 20th, Mr. Muller left for Bristol. On the journey he was dumb, having no liberty in speaking for Christ or even in giving away tracts, and this led him to reflect. He saw that the so-called ‘work of the Lord’ had tempted him to substitute action for meditation and communion. He had neglected that ‘still hour’ with God which supplies to spiritual life alike its breath and its bread. No lesson is more important for us to learn, yet how slow are we to learn it: that for the lack of habitual seasons set apart for devout meditation upon the word of God and for prayer, nothing else will compensate.
We are prone to think, for example, that converse with Christian brethren, and the general round of Christian activity, especially when we are busied with preaching the Word and visits to inquiring or needy souls, make up for the loss of aloneness with God in the secret place. We hurry to a public service with but a few minutes of private prayer, allowing precious time to be absorbed in social pleasures, restrained from withdrawing from others by a false delicacy, when to excuse ourselves for needful communion with God and his Word would have been perhaps the best witness possible to those whose company was holding us unduly! How often we rush from one public engagement to another without any proper interval for renewing our strength in waiting on the Lord, as though God cared more about the quantity than the quality of our service! *
Wow. Point blank, slam-dunk, “slap-ya-up-side-da-head” for me. How about you? I am guilty of this very act— continually. So much so that I’m beginning to realize that I must crave the pleasure and acceptance of men, mere humans like myself, more than the pleasure of God. I must be a card-carrying man-pleaser and not a God-pleaser. Ugh. Like how stupid is that!
Resolution #1 for 2014 – actually for the rest of my life.
I will strive to keep the good subordinate to the best. Let’s flesh that out. It means that ministry, being good, will always take second place to intimacy with the Lord, which is, obviously— best. I will seek His face first, and allow ministry to follow as an after effect or a result of that intimate relationship. I will place abiding where it should be in my spiritual life and try to live the years I have left as a Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and not as a Martha, working in the kitchen too concerned about putting Cheese Wiz on Wheat Thins.
After all, as an old preacher once counseled me years ago, “Son, you take care of the depth of your ministry (intimacy with God) and let the Lord worry about its breadth.” Exactly. Couldn’t have said it better.
* George Muller of Bristol by Arthur T. Pierson, page 90. Proverbs 29:7,18,23.
Proverb for Today:
The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern.
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. *
by Steve McCranie | Mar 19, 2014
The entire message of Haggai can be summed up in these three words: Consider your ways.
After all, consider this warning given five times in Haggai:
Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!” – Haggai 1:5
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!” – 1:7
“And now, carefully consider from this day forward.” – 2:15
And again, “And now, carefully consider from this day forward.” – 2:17
There is something – something important – the Lord is trying to tell us through the words of Haggai. Keep listening to find out more.
The following is a study of Haggai 2:1-23.
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