The Corrupt Church I am reminded of Jesus’ statement to the disciple Nathaniel when he called him to become a disciple. On first meeting Nathaniel, Jesus said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Guile is the word used in the Old King James Version of the Bible. In numerous translations it is translated “deceit.” I found the […]
AUTHOR and FINISHER…MESSIAH Part Six
The Compromising Church In this critical hour of history, one thing that is sadly missing in many churches today is a message of real spiritual substance. When we read back over church history, it is noteworthy that it was not some great ecclesiastical, theological finesse that brought about the great revivals. Rather, it was plain and simple preaching about […]
AUTHOR and FINISHER…MESSIAH Part Five
The Persecuted Church The second of the seven churches that the Messiah addressed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, is the Church of Smyrna. As we continue through the comments Jesus made to these churches, it is important that we remember that all seven churches did exist in the first century. Each church however is also a representative of a […]
AUTHOR and FINISHER…Messiah Part Four
The Church That Lost its First Love After the Messiah revealed Himself to John the Apostle in the first chapter of Revelation, He gives him a message for seven specific churches of the many in existence at that time in what today is modern Turkey. Jesus was not only speaking to these seven churches with facts descriptive of their individual […]
AUTHOR and FINISHER…MESSIAH Part Three
As we left off in part two of this series, we were examining what the Apostle John saw in Revelation, chapter one. It is obvious that John saw the risen Messiah, but not at all as he remembered Him! He was not looking at the suffering Christ nailed to a Roman cross, and he was not seeing Jesus as He […]
THE AUTHOR and FINISHER…MESSIAH Part Two
As we continue our study, we look at the vision that the Apostle John had of the risen Messiah, and his reactions to what he saw and experienced. The passage is found in Revelation 1:9-20 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called […]
AUTHOR and FINISHER…MESSIAH Part One
This multiple-part study, which will for the most part reference the Book of Revelation, will cover what it is that Messiah/Yeshua has done as the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Because this study primarily goes overseas to the underground Church in the Mideast and because Bibles are always in short supply, all of the Scriptures are printed out in […]
A DIVINE PRIVILEGE
Very few people who sing the old hymns written through the years know the life stories behind the words they are singing. Quite often, what made these hymns so powerful and moving, was the pain and suffering the composer had to go through. It is these bitter experiences that are often the source of the greatest inspiration. Although God is […]
THE “BE” ATTITUDES Matthew 5:1-12 Part Eight (Final)
Continued From Part Seven… After presenting seven beatitudes, Jesus then spoke about a blessing that the soon to be established Church would experience in great measure for the next 2,000 years. He said in verses 10-12: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute […]
THE “BE” ATTITUDES Matthew 5:1-12 Part Seven
Continued From Part Six… After speaking to His disciples about the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, and finally, the pure in heart, Jesus continues in verse 9 with… Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God When a person has a pure heart, they […]