The Sword of the LORD

"And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, if any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:25-30) My wife and I just celebrated our 40th year of marriage, and many folks have asked us what the secret of our success is. We are always more than happy to share what has made it work for us. I could mention that my wife and I are the best of friends and enjoy many of the same interests, but have learned to give one another space to pu

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27) There are many of you who are sincere Christians, but you struggle with some besetting sin or another, and don't know how to get free once and for all. You feel hypocritical every time you fall down, and you are battered by your guilt, and hindered in your ministry. This message is for you. There is an answer to yuor dilemma, and it is much simpler than you might imagine. I recently read a tract by the great Charles G. Finney which was first published in 1839 in the Oberlin Evangelist . The tract was entitled, How to Overcome Sin , and the portions that I quote were edited by the late Keith Green. In it he writes: “There are multitudes of anxious Christians who are inquiring what they shall do to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil...They ask, "Why am I overcome by sin? Why can't I get above its power? Why am I the slave of my appetites and passions, and the s