With Authority (Mark 1:22)
There have been many great preachers throughout history. God has used men like George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, and Billy Sunday to proclaim the gospel to millions of people. But there is no greater preacher than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Living Word who proclaimed the written Word like no one else has.
Many things set the preaching of Jesus apart from others, but one of the first things that people noted was the authority that Jesus preached with. They were not used to someone declaring the truth without hedging or hesitancy. The religious leaders they were accustomed to hearing always seemed uncertain and left the door open for other possibilities than what they thought might be true. Jesus, on the other hand, boldly declared the Word of the Lord as absolute, unwavering, undeniable truth. That truth was to be believed and not questioned, cross-examined, or factchecked by bookworms who put more emphasis on what man said God said rather than what God actually said. Things are not all that different in our day. We have an abundance of so-called Bible teachers and preachers who will happily tell you all the ideas scholars have come up with about the meaning of scripture, but it is rare for someone to declare in simple faith, “This is the truth.” Christ taught with authority, and if we are to be faithful followers of
Him, we must have the same boldness in proclaiming the truth. From the preacher in the pulpit to the soul winner on the porch, Christians must be firm in their faith and authoritative in their witness.
Him, we must have the same boldness in proclaiming the truth. From the preacher in the pulpit to the soul winner on the porch, Christians must be firm in their faith and authoritative in their witness.
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- Jan 22, 2023With Authority (Mark 1:22)
With Authority (Mark 1:22)There have been many great preachers throughout history. God has used men like George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, and Billy Sunday to proclaim the gospel to millions of people. But there is no greater preacher than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Living Word who proclaimed the written Word like no one else has.Many things set the preaching of Jesus apart from others, but one of the first things that people noted was the authority that Jesus preached with. They were not used to someone declaring the truth without hedging or hesitancy. The religious leaders they were accustomed to hearing always seemed uncertain and left the door open for other possibilities than what they thought might be true. Jesus, on the other hand, boldly declared the Word of the Lord as absolute, unwavering, undeniable truth. That truth was to be believed and not questioned, cross-examined, or factchecked by bookworms who put more emphasis on what man said God said rather than what God actually said. Things are not all that different in our day. We have an abundance of so-called Bible teachers and preachers who will happily tell you all the ideas scholars have come up with about the meaning of scripture, but it is rare for someone to declare in simple faith, “This is the truth.” Christ taught with authority, and if we are to be faithful followers of
Him, we must have the same boldness in proclaiming the truth. From the preacher in the pulpit to the soul winner on the porch, Christians must be firm in their faith and authoritative in their witness. - Jan 15, 2023A Biblical World View
- Jan 1, 2023Sowing and Growing
Sowing and GrowingThe laws of sowing and reaping were established by God at creation. Everything multiplies after its kind and all living creatures instinctively seek to grow and multiply.The laws of sowing and reaping that apply to nature also apply spiritually. A healthy plant or animal will be growing and multiplying, and so too will a healthy church. In fact, actively seeking to increase the number of Jesus’ disciples is part of the church’s mandate. However, we must recognize that it is the Lord who builds His church and adds to it “such as should be saved.” How much of church growth is our responsibility and how much is God’s?Our responsibilities can be summed up in two words: going and sowing. As followers of Jesus, we have been commanded, “Go ye therefore and teach all ations.” (Matthew 28:19) We have to go out into the world for the definite purpose of making disciples of Jesus. We do that by sowing the seed of the gospel as we are going. “God ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)God’s responsibility is to do the growing. Just like a farmer may till the soil and plant the seed but he is dependent on God using the forces of nature for the growth of the crops and fruitfulness of the harvest, we are dependent on God to make our ministry fruitful. As Paul wrote, “So then neither is
he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7) In 2023, we need to be busy sowing good seed and trusting the Lord to give the increase. - Dec 25, 2022The Christ of Christmas The Glory of Christ
The Christ of Christmas The Glory of Christ
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth; And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Philippians 2:9-11)Many of the Christmas carols we sing
mention the angels’ glorious announcement
of Christ’s birth. It is true that no birth in
history has ever been announced with as
much heavenly majesty as Christ’s.But the exaltation of Christ at His birth
is just a shadow of the glory that will one
day be given him. When he was born, there
were only a few people who were told. Mary
and Joseph knew. The shepherds were told
by the angels. The wise men saw the birth
announcement written in the sky and came
from afar.Jesus had a humble birth, He lived a
humble life, and He died a humiliating
death. But there is coming a day when He
will be exalted above everything. Everyone
who has ever lived will see the glory of
Christ and bow their knee to Him. They
will also confess that He is Lord, even if
they refused to acknowledge that truth
during their lifetime.Either we can bow before Christ now,
as the shepherds and the wise men did or
we can bow later. But we will bow, and it
is far better that we humble ourselves
before Christ now, receive Him as our Savior,
and live for His glory. - Dec 4, 2022Oh Come All Ye Faithful
- Nov 27, 2022The Spirits Sword
The Spirits Sword"The Spirits Sword" by Teen Choir.
- Nov 27, 2022He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels"He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels" from Special Music by Mrs. Baron, Mrs. Whitley, Mrs. Bachman. Released: 2022.
- Nov 27, 2022Mind Your Own Business
Mind Your Own BusinessA busybody is a person who meddles in the affairs of others. The word “busybody” is used three times in the Bible, but the concept of being a meddlesome person and a talebearer is mentioned many more times. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 summarizes the Biblical teaching about being a busybody when it calls it “disorderly.” It is rude to intrude on other people’s affairs,
and it requires you to ignore or neglect your business. Symptoms of a busybody include too much curiosity, too little work, and too much talking. Instead of doing these things, you should “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11)There is a balance that we must learn as well. Genuine concern and compassion for others must not be confused with being a busybody. But if we are to help others, we must first mind our own business, or else we are not qualified to assist them. We must “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)The simple truth is that you are responsible for your own actions. Since you will answer to God for yourself and no one else, you need to be sure that you mind your own business and don’t be “a busybody in other men’s matters.” (1 Peter 4:15) - Oct 23, 2022Ordination and the Call to the Ministry
- Oct 16, 2022Running At God’s Pace Part 1
