The Sword of the LORD

“But if You can do anything , have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, " If you can believe , all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, " Lord, I believe; help my un-belief! ” (Mark 9:22-24 NKJV).    Jesus and three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, had just come down from a mountain where the Lord had been transfigured before them.  Jesus’ raiment had shined with the glory of God, and His heavenly Father had spoken from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son: hear Him .”  When they came down to join the other disciples, they found them speaking with a crowd of people.  The scribes were questioning this group about something, and when the multitude saw Jesus, they ran to Him and greeted Him.    When the Lord then asked what was happening, a man came forward and said, “Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and w...

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His [Jesus’] name’s sake.  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.  I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.  I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.  I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:12-14).   The story of Joseph in the Old Testament has come up a lot in our fellowship meetings recently.   We have talked about many aspects of his life, including what a perfect example he was of faith, patience, and integrity.   I see also in Joseph’s story a pattern that we can follow in order to come into spiritual maturity in Christ.   In considering the various phases of Joseph’s deve...

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world .” (James 1:26, 27).   Many Christians would tell you that God does not want His followers to be merely “religious.” He doesn’t want us busy with religious activities, but missing the personal relationship that He wants to have with us.  They quote James 1:26 to support this belief.  While there is a measure of truth in what they say, it misses the real intent behind what James is teaching in this verse and the one following it.  The NIV puts it this way, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: ...

“Paul, and Silvanus [Silas] , and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2).   The Apostle Paul visited the City of Thessalonica about 50 or 51 A.D. during his second missionary journey.  During this trip, he had intended to go into Asia and preach the Gospel there, but the Holy Spirit prompted him not to.  He would have then traveled to Bithynia, but, again, the Spirit forbade him to do so.  It was then that Paul had a vision.  In it he saw a Macedonian man who prayed for Paul to come to Macedonia and help them.  Such clear direction from the Lord couldn’t be ignored.  Paul and his group, which included his fellow minister Silas, and the young disciple Timothy, promptly reversed directions. They passed through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica.    Wheneve...

“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, Whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness .” (Malachi 3:1-3).   “ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light : which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9, 10).   My wife and I had the opportunity to...