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 unbelief! ” (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 wh...

“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 develop...

“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 th...