The Sword of the LORD

(part 2 of a 4 part series) “The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalm 68:11). All spiritual gifts and ministries come from God and God alone.  Though man may develop his natural talents and abilities to the point that they may move the emotions and excite the fleshly senses, they will not be truly anointed if they don’t have as their source the Fountain of Living Waters.  God’s thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways.  There is a vast separation between what we know, understand, and discern; and what God does.  Just as the rain falls from heaven and waters the ground causing every growing thing to sprout and blossom, so also does God’s Word nourish His people and causes them to grow in Him (Isaiah 55:8-11).  God’s Word is sure: it will never return to Him without accomplishing the thing that it was sent to do.  Our words and thoughts are not so accurate.  That’s why it is essential for each ...

(Part one of a four part series) Imagine that you are sitting in a vast auditorium along with many other people.  At the front of the auditorium there is a large stage where a symphony orchestra is going through its warm-up routine.  Each individual is making sure that his/her instrument is ready to sound its very best.  The musicians on stringed instruments are making sure that each string is tuned to pitch, those on reed instruments are moistening their reeds so that each note will sound clean and pure, the musicians on brass are warming up the valves and the slides on their horns – along with their lips – to make sure that everything is working smoothly, and the percussionists are tightening their drum heads and checking the pitch of the kettles.  When the orchestra has finished going through their ritual, the conductor makes his appearance.  Every eye is fixed on him as he steps up to his stand and faces the musicians.  He smiles at them as he ...

Foundation Principles Series - Part VI “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.”   - Hebrews 6:1-3 In the above verses, we find six concepts that St. Paul refers to as “the principles of the doctrine of Christ,” and, in chapter 5 of Hebrews, “the first principles of the oracles of God.”  We have explored the first four principles, Repentance from Dead Works , Faith Toward God , The Doctrine of Baptisms , The Laying On of Hands , and The Resurrection of the Dead in earlier messages.  Now, let’s turn to the sixth and final principle, Eternal Judgment . Eternal Judgment “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered...

Foundation Principles Series - Part V “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.”   - Hebrews 6:1-3 In the above verses, we find six concepts that St. Paul refers to as “the principles of the doctrine of Christ,” and, in chapter 5 of Hebrews, “the first principles of the oracles of God.”  We have explored the first four principles, Repentance from Dead Works , Faith Toward God , The Doctrine of Baptisms , and the Laying On of Hands in earlier messages.  Now, let’s turn to the fifth principle, the Resurrection of the Dead . Resurrection of the Dead Among the world’s many religions Christianity is unique in that its divine Author and Architect became a man, was executed an...