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Jesus, as He taught, used the mustard seed in two different analogies. We at times have mixed the two, causing us to miss at least one of the teachings. In Matthew 13:31, Mark 4:31 & Luke 13:19 Jesus compares the Kingdom of God (the Kingdom of Heaven) to a mustard seed growing from very small to very large. This analogy focuses on the size of the seed initially and the plant it becomes. The message to the disciples is that the Kingdom thought it will start out small, will gro

During my years of developing a relationship with the Lord, I have often found it very difficult to pray. I’ve always had time to pray.  But often I’ve failed to know what to pray. Much of the church world teaches us to pray for things that please the flesh – the carnal nature. The scriptures teach us to shun those things. Some have taught that “hours” of daily prayer is what we need. Sometimes that may be true. But most often for me, it’s not hours in formal prayer but livin

THE POWER The power that created the universe and all that is in it; the power, wisdom and knowledge by which all this universe continues to operate; a power that is more immense than man can imagine; the power of the “Almighty” God is that power that secures a true believer in Jesus Christ. If a believer is kept by this “Almighty” power as 1 st Peter 1:5 says, then there is no other power in the universe that can cause him to be not kept - to be lost. 1 st Peter 1:5 conce

1 John 4:1-6: " Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." John encourages us to “test” the spirits of those who claim to speak for God, because there are many who are false. "By this you know the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of

We are a congregation; a group; a body. We, the Church – as a group, as a body find several scripture passages directed to us. But many times these passages are taught as if they are for the individual. This tends to bring confusion when the individual is not able to be it all , or do it all , or receive it all. Let’s look at a couple of these passages: Mark 16:17 – And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons;  they will speak with new

Wrongful separation of the laity from the leaders – elders, deacons, board members, pastors, bishops or whatever you may call those in authority – hinders the work of the church. The lust for religious power continues to infect God’s congregation. Often unholy authority (homosexuals, molesters, lovers of money, boasters, drunks, blasphemers) exercises control over God’s people – manipulating, dominating, intimidating. It’s wrong. Paul said in Ephesians 4:11, “And He Himself g

As Christians read the scriptures they often fail to receive a clear understanding, because they don’t have a proper definition of some of the words used in scripture. Even when these words are clearly understood, often they are not used in the proper context when ordering the events comprising salvation. I trust that the next few pages will help to define words associated with salvation, place them in their proper context, and give a clear understanding of the on-going proce

Jesus came to bring salvation from sin (John 1:21). Initial Salvation saves from sin’s consequences (separation from God) (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:5). Faith – believing God can and will save those who seek salvation through Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:9-10, Hebrews 11:6) Repentance towards God means a change of attitude towards God and all He stands for. It will necessarily bring a change in attitude towards sin and self (Luke 13:3, Acts 26:20).   Faith encourages

Often people are quick to lead a person to a profession of Jesus as Savior. If they are not careful, they may over-simplify the route to salvation. They then have only a professor of salvation instead of a possessor of salvation. We should never make salvation easier or harder to be had than the Lord intended for it to be. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. When the Bible says “believe”, does it mean to acknowledge the existence of Jes

Pope Pius IX defined the doctrine of infallibility but it was opposed by many bishops at the council of 1870.  Bishop Jose Strossmayer, opposing the infallibility doctrine, told how some popes had opposed other popes, how they had contradicted each other, and how Pope Steven brought former Pope Formosus to trial. To accent the madness of some popes the story of this trial is worth hearing.  Pope Formosus, dead for eight months, was dragged from his tomb and brought to trial b

Babies must be feed properly. The nature of things is that they can not feed themselves. Usually parents, and possibly siblings, are responsible for their feeding. But the day does come when – although the spoon may be held wrong – they take that first bite for themselves. Parents and siblings begin to clap and cheer their encouragement. It isn’t long before baby is expected to do his own feeding. Much the same is true for new converts. The scriptures call them “babies in Chr

Abraham Gave The Tithe. The first mention of tithing in the Bible is in Genesis 14:20. Abraham gave to Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, a tithe (or tenth part) of all the spoil he had taken in a battle. He wasn’t instructed or commanded to give, he gave as he purposed in his heart. Jacob Gave The Tenth. Jacob, having received a blessing from God the night before, vowed to God a tenth of all that God prospered him with (Genesis 28:22). He gave not because he was i

1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. John encourages us to “test” the spirits of those who claim to speak for God, because there are many who are false. By this you know the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.

The creator of everything – God, the Father of all, was approached by Satan, one of His creations. Satan had been hard at work doing what he was intended to do – being man’s adversary. God asked him, “ Have you considered my servant Job ?” You know the story related to us in Job chapters 1 and 2. This ancient account allows us to see how Satan was allowed to approach the Father and to accuse the saints. Job lived long before the covenant that God made with Israel – the Old Co

Can Sickness Be A Part Of God’s Plan? Who created the “terrible” viruses, germs, bacteria, etc. that cause sickness & disease? To attribute this creative act to God, flies in the face of so much theology. But who else has the ability to create life? After all, these things are alive, and they do invade our bodies. Is it right to say that our loving God often ignores our sickness? Or might He have a purpose in our sickness? Yes, many times God heals the sick; likewise many tim

There are those outside the Christian community who see Christians as polytheistic. We are not. We have only one God, but sometimes fail to find the words to clearly portray Him as our Heavenly Father, our Savior – Jesus, and our companion – the Holy Spirit. The scriptures clearly show us that there is one God and that He manifests Himself in these three ways. Can we understand the Godhead? Surely! Romans 1:20 says, “His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood

The scriptures clearly teach that He has not. There are events that He has foreordained and they have happened or will happen just as He has planned. Likewise there are events that will happen or not happen because He has given us freewill. Whether these events will happen or not is up to us. Our decision may not have been made as yet. Therefore it’s not yet known what we may decide. Let it be clearly understood that God’s knowledge of all our past decisions, and what we’re d

What part does God have in hard hearts and evil spirits? In Deuteronomy 2:24, God is speaking to Moses after He had led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Rise, take your journey, and cross over the river Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and engage him in battle. This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report o

King David, some 1,000 years before Christ, was inclined to do that which seemed good to him in bringing the Ark of God from Kirjathjearim to Jerusalem. After much preparation and with much joy he proceeded to do just that. A new cart was built to carry the Ark of God. As they were bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, the people sang and made music, rejoicing with all their might. Everything seemed beautiful until the oxen shook the cart and the Ark of God began to fall. Uzza

I believe divine healing is ordained by God for the church today. In the Bible I don’t find the slightest hint that it should be otherwise. This precious gift that God has given to the church has been misunderstood or misused by so many, that much of the church today shuns its practice. Might we now seek truth, build faith, and dispel fear concerning God’s healing. Sickness and disease do not always relate to our spiritual condition. Some causes are natural (contagious diseas