Desire is referred to in the New Testament in two different contexts. In and of itself, desire can be either good or bad, but the lust or desire of the flesh is the most common use of the word. But, as seen in Romans 7, there is also a desire of the mind or spirit….
Adam and Eve went from a tranquil place of sweet fellowship with God to a place that would eventually become a den of iniquity, so bad that God would say He regretted ever making man. Human beings became enslaved by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). This entire sequence of events…
The creation of Adam in God’s image and likeness had no reference to God’s physical form because He is not a physical being. Again, He may have to power to display any physical form He desires, but He is a Spirit. Ironically, humans grapple with how Jesus could be fully God and man but do…
It has always amazed me to hear people justify their practice of religion by quoting Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This is usually said when we want to continue any practice today that was condoned and/or authorized in the first century. The discernment seems rather lacking to make such…
It is real common for the Bible to use physical examples to illustrate spiritual realities. The subject of healing is one such example. As usual with all of these illustrations, many will apply them literally instead of spiritually. In the New Testament, we have examples of the deaf, blind, lame, demon-possessed, or lepers being healed….
1 John 3:13 would read in today’s vernacular, “Therefore, brothers and sisters if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that the world does at any time hate any one of you and we agree that they do hate all of you, then each one of you must continue…
We often focus on the things people do that infuriate us and disturb us, wishing that some justice would be met and all the wrongs are corrected. I have seen thieves who continue to steal without any evidence of a bothered conscience but only look for another opportunity. When it angers me to see some…
When someone shares an experience, I can neither exegete it, nor deny their sincerity. Too many factors exist to explain it, but this should not be something we feel obligated to do. We can agree that all have hunches, impressions, inklings, premonitions, intuitions, and strong urgings within us. Even unbelievers experience these feelings. Thoughts enter…
It is common to hear people who claim that God is giving them revelation and signs today to misapply the Scriptures. Some explain that God uses “sign language” in the form of dreams, visions, fleeces, open and closed doors, people’s conversations, our circumstances (Henry Blackaby’s emphasis), and internal peace. They will take passages out of…
As long as I can remember, men and women have spoken of their personal relationship with God and the closeness of their relationship while living in open sin. We all have a tendency to justify ourselves in whatever we like or that is within our own comfort zone. I would have a good little retirement…