December 3, 2014

Is Anyone Among You Sick?

Man in hospital bed

Sickness is a natural part of human life. One of the reasons why heaven is so appealing is because it is a place where “there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). While here on the earth “our outer man is decaying” (2 Corinthians 4:16) and we will have to deal with the infirmities of the flesh.

How are we to handle the times in our lives when we are sick and suffering from various illnesses and diseases? The Scriptures help us answer this question. Let us notice a few points.
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January 20, 2014

Audio: A Snake in the Fire

After the shipwreck on the way to Rome, Paul and the others ended up on the island of Malta. They were there just three months, but Luke’s account of their stay provides us with some important lessons about miracles, assumptions, and the preaching of the gospel. All of this began with Paul being bitten by a snake and shaking it off into the fire. This sermon examines the lessons taught to us in Acts 28:1-10.
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July 10, 2013

Faith on Man’s Terms

The Scriptures are clear in describing faith as essential. The Hebrew writer said, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Yet too many have a conditional faith. In other words, even though the Bible tells us that faith is based upon the word of God (Romans 10:17), this is not enough for some people. They will not believe unless they see, receive, or otherwise experience something beyond the revealed will of God.

This is nothing new. Even during the first century, there were those who would only have faith on their terms, rather than have faith based upon what God had chosen to reveal to them. In this article we will notice a few of these conditions that men have placed upon their faith. At the end, we will also see what genuine faith looks like.
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October 24, 2012

The Blind Man’s Lesson for the Pharisees (10/24)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from John 9:1-10:21.

When Jesus healed a blind beggar, the Pharisees became upset because this was done on the Sabbath (they had a faulty notion that Jesus’ actions here violated the Sabbath law when they did not). So the man who was healed was brought before the Pharisees to answer for what had happened. After this they interviewed the man’s parents. Then they brought the formerly blind man back before them. During this second interrogation, this man taught the Pharisees of some important facts and showed them why they should believe in Christ.

“They reviled him and said, ‘You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.’

“The man answered and said to them, ‘Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.’

“They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?’ So they put him out” (John 9:28-34).

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October 7, 2012

"The Son of Man Has Authority on Earth to Forgive Sins" (10/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Mark 2.

“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying” (Mark 2:1-4).

It became common for those with various ailments to be brought to Jesus to be healed of Him. At this time, four men brought a man who was a paralytic in hopes that Jesus would heal him. When the crowd prevented them from meeting the Lord, they did not allow that to deter them but went through the roof and lowered the man in his pallet down to Jesus. After seeing this, Jesus healed him.

“And Jesus, seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:5).

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June 17, 2011

The “Miracle” of Birth

Baby yawning

It is common to hear people speak of the “miracle of birth.” The birth of a child is truly an amazing event that is only possible because of our Creator. Yet the term miracle is often misused and abused by people to simply describe something incredible or coincidental. The miracles described in the Bible, however, are different. Speaking in Biblical terms, is it accurate to describe birth as a miracle?
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May 16, 2010

How God Speaks to Us Today

Many today are seeking God’s guidance and direction but are unsure where to look. The Scriptures plainly teach us that God speaks to us today through His Son, Jesus. The Hebrew writer began his letter by affirming this fact:

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Previously, God spoke to man in different ways, providing bits and pieces of revelation to the fathers during the Patriarchal age, and also through the prophets. But that was in times past. He does not speak to us in the same way today. Now that we are in the “last days,” there is a new spokesman.
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