Finding a focus Once upon a time, two friends were building their houses on adjacent lots. One house made good progress, but the other seemed to struggle. Concerned for his friend, the man whose house was now getting its roof put on made a visit next door. When he asked how things were going, […]
Maximizing our effectiveness The common expression “It’s not what you say, but how you say it” reminds us of a key biblical principle on the use of our spiritual gifts. The apostle Paul, when writing to the saints in Rome, expressed this same thought. Note Romans 12:8, “…he that giveth, let him do it with […]
“… when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” In the early stages of church history, as recorded in the Acts, the ministry of the apostles was accredited by accompanying supernatural demonstrations of power—the dispensing of healing, speaking in tongues, etc.—as the Holy Spirit continued the work that the Lord Jesus had begun […]
Whose gift is it anyway? “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Though Herodotus wrote these familiar words some 2500 years ago, it wasn’t until 1912—when they were inscribed above the entrance to the New York City General Post Office—that […]
How did they “preach the gospel to “every creature”? “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…” (Mt. 9:35). All? How many were there? In His final instructions to His own, the Lord expressed His desire that the Good News be disseminated as […]
Sense out of confusion The gift of tongues is one of the most controversial and misunderstood gifts found in the New Testament. We are first introduced to this gift in Acts 2, where it says, “And they [the disciples] were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the […]
What are spiritual gifts? They are not: • natural talents • secular skills • evidences of spirituality but they are: • the God-given ability to serve Him in a particular way – Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12 • manifestations of Christ’s character • the permanent gifts all reflect various aspects of the normal Christian life […]
In every other area of life, most people think it is advisable to have a plan: plan your work and then work your plan, they say. Homemakers should plan their grocery shopping with a list and not buy on impulse. Business people live or die by their planning. The wise man said, “The plans of […]
Millennial manifestation It is sometimes surmised that the millennium is one of those prophetic details which, although intriguing, has no significant relevance to the real business of day-to-day Christian living. But, when viewed properly, prophecy is vital to proper Christian living, for “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). A proper […]