Let God Fight For You

Posted on 2013/07/27 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 35:1 opens: “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight with me.” The key principle taught here is: let GOD do your fighting for you.

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Whose House We Are

Posted on 2013/07/26 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 3:6 says: “But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house – whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”
What is His “house”? It says here “whose house WE ARE.” The Bible indicates that those who demonstrate by their perseverance that they are genuine followers of Christ, constitute His house — WE are the house of God! This is just what I Cor. 6:19 tells us: “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”

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Not Just For Atheists

Posted on 2013/07/25 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 53:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.'” It has often been quoted in regard to atheists, and certainly it applies. But the verse also applies to the many who claim to be God’s people who too often live and act as if there is no God: Continue reading →

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Bearers of Bad News

Posted on 2013/07/24 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 3:9-10 tells how Eli taught Samuel to say to God, “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” But we also need to remember the message He subsequently gave Samuel — it was not pleasant! God immediately said in :11, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.” In :12-14 He indicated that He was about to judge the house of Eli because he did not rebuke his sons for their heinous sins as servants of the house of God.

This serves as an important reminder to us: those entrusted with God’s message do not always have “good news” to share.

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Hearing Is Not Enough

Posted on 2013/07/23 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 4:2 warns: “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they did also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
“They” in this verse refers to the people of Israel in the Exodus. They all heard the good promises which God gave them – but they didn’t believe, and act upon them, and as a result they never entered the land of “rest” which God had promised them.

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Tremble Not On God’s Behalf

Posted on 2013/07/22 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 4, the people of Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines. Verse 13 of that chapter says “Behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching, because his heart was trembling for the ark of God.” This is quite a revealing verse:

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Is “God Calling” Through That Devotional Book?

Posted on 2013/07/19 by Shawn Thomas

The books God Calling and Jesus Calling have become very popular devotional readings over the years, making numerous “best-seller” lists. But from the moment I began to see quotes from the books being posted on Facebook and other places I had some grave concerns. Upon investigation, I discovered that I am not the only one with reservations about these books. Indeed, many discerning Christian leaders are concerned that they are dangerous spiritually in several ways.

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Suffering and Empathy

Posted on 2013/07/19 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 2:18 teaches: “Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” This verse, which specifically refers to Jesus’ ministry, also has application for us, and explains the reason for much of our own temptation and suffering.

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Speak Lord

Posted on 2013/07/18 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 3:9 contains one of the great prayers in scripture: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Eli taught Samuel to say it to God the next time He called him in the tabernacle. It is a simple but powerful prayer.

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From Tumult To Peace

Posted on 2013/07/17 by Shawn Thomas

There is quite a segue in Psalm 46, from :3, where it says the “waters roar and foam” to :4, which contains the peaceful, “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” The waters are described as going from tumultuous to peaceful – upon the contemplation of the “very present help” of God which is referenced throughout the Psalm:

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