Posts from 2023 (Page 2)

(Note from Mike – The following prayer was offered at PTP a few week’s back by Sam Dilbeck, the preacher for the University church in San Marcos. I think you will find it to be one of the finest prayers of its type that you may have ever heard or read). Holy Father, Creator, Giver, Sustainer of life, Thank you for the beauty of this land you have shared with us from the Smokies to the Rockies to the beaches…

I just want to go to heaven. I say it often and I really try to remind myself of these words all the time; boil it all down and through Jesus I know that I just want to go to heaven. Like you, I have known many through the years who just wanted to go to heaven. However, they had things come up in their lives and they found themselves drifting away from God. How can we ensure that we…

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14). Few things in life are more needed in life than an appropriate sense of commitment. During times of discouragement and difficulty, how we need to focus on the priority, importance and place of commitment to Christ. Few passages explain the nature of commitment better than Paul’s words through the Holy Spirit…

Studying the prayers of Paul is a life transforming experience! Philippians 1:9-11, while brief, packs a great punch as Paul prays for the church at Philippi. The apostle continually prays (present tense) for them; he loves them as they are especially dear to his heart. To have brethren in our minds and hearts is wonderful – to have them also in our prayers is greater still. Notice four great elements in this prayer. This Prayer Emphasizes Abundant Love (1:9) “And…

The word fellowship carries with it the idea of a common bond and commitment in Christ to the will, work and walk of God. There is a profound sense of identity (“a common bond and commitment”), belonging (“in Christ”) and participation and sharing (“to the will, work and walk of God). Fellowship is vertical – it involves God and us (1 John 1:3). But fellowship also is horizontal – it involves our relationship with other Christians (Acts 2:42; 1 John…

One of the greatest joys and blessings of being a parent is being able to introduce your kids to God and to His worship and praise. What an amazing opportunity parents have! (see Proverbs 22:6). While introducing children to God and to His worship is an incredible privilege, it can also be quite a challenge. One young Christian couple jokingly referred to their life as Christians as “Worship B.C. and A.D.” – Before Children and After Diapers! It can be…

“God, please help me to be more like Apollos!” A thoughtful statement and request that all should be willing to make in their prayers to our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit wants us to know about a man who did so much good for the sake of Jesus and His kingdom. The following is a description of Apollos in Acts 18:24-25, “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to…

John 3:16 describes the love of God in giving us Jesus. 1 John 3:16 elevates the LOVE and the sacrifice of the Lord in that it challenges all who would read it to emulate the Lord’s great example in sacrificial LOVE. – We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Consider 3 points from this powerful passage. 1. KNOWING LOVE- “We know love by…

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul is addressing Christians in a very personal and direct way. In chapter one, he marveled they were turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6). In chapter four he says, “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored in vain,” (4:11); and directly, “I have doubts about you,” (4:20). The fear these were going to continue down a…

There’s no doubt about it: What we prize, we praise. Whether we’re talking about our spouse, our children, our favorite sports team, our favorite restaurant or our God, it ’s true. It cannot be said that we ever can praise Got too much, but it surely is possible to praise Him too little. And that ’s something the people of God should seriously contemplate. In Psalm 34 David finds himself in the land of the Philistines (See 1 Samuel 21-22).…

In Ephesians 4:17-32 Paul through the Holy Spirit tells us what relationships look like when the will of God is loved and pursued. The passage also identifies 7 tendencies we might have to do great damage to relationships. These tendencies are crucial both to consider and to avoid. (1) The Tendency Toward Self-Indulgence. Relationships become all about what I want and what pleases me. People are “used” to serve the desires of the ones who makes a god out of…

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14).   Few things in life are more needed in life than an appropriate sense of commitment. During times of discouragement and difficulty, how we need to focus on the priority, importance and place of commitment to Christ. Few passages explain the nature of commitment better than Paul’s words through the Holy…