Surrounded by a roomful of eager young disciples, I had just finished “waving the flag” for the idea of meeting according to the Church pattern as laid out for us in the New Testament. It was not only a good theological idea, I told them passionately; it was a good practical idea as well. The […]
It is a rare chapter in the book of Acts that does not prominently remind us of the strategic influence of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the Church. The early chapters emphasize the once-for-all baptism of the Spirit, a (partial) fulfillment of Joel 2 and of the promise of John the […]
We need David thinking in a Goliath world. How does the book of Acts begin? The disciples asked the Saviour (only moments from leaving), “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). He responded, “Ye shall receive power…and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in […]
We live every day behind enemy lines. No place to relax, is it! The Scriptures teach us that we are part of an army. Perhaps we don’t often think of it that way. But maybe that’s because this army is so unlike any other army in history. It is a truly remarkable fighting force. It […]
The Christian is not to live life as a consumer but as a combatant. There is a real adversary who seeks to destroy the testimony and effectiveness of believers. This enemy is not of flesh and blood but is spirit, and operates in the heavenlies. To withstand him, a believer must have spiritual armor and […]
What is faith? Our world in this age of “enlightenment” has so twisted its meaning that the typical person has no real idea of what it is. To most, it’s a feeling. It means wishing for something extremely hard. It means putting your confidence in something, gritting your teeth, hoping it won’t fail. It’s no […]
The description of the Christian soldier given by Paul in Ephesians 6 is compact and comprehensive. He is depicted as being ever in the conflict, which has many fluctuating seasons—seasons of prosperity and adversity, light and darkness, victory and defeat. He is to pray at all seasons, and with all prayer, this to be added […]
Isaiah 59 should be read in any study of Ephesians 6 and the armor of God. Isaiah tells of a day when the wiles of the devil (as in Eph. 6:11) seem to have swept the field. All is sin and iniquity. Justice is not practiced. There is no man to stand up and make […]
Has God said…?” The first recorded assault against mankind was made in the Garden of Eden, a direct attack on the truth of the received Word of God. The assault was made by one whom Scripture calls the “father of lies”—the master of distortion and confusion. The first victim of the assault was Eve, the […]