The ninth chapter of Acts begins abruptly. Saul’s blood is boiling. He’s on a murderous rampage toward Damascus. He charged north out of Jerusalem with the fury of Alexander the Great sweeping across Persia.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Crisis
Humble Yourself Now
Take special notice of Job’s words. He does not reply, “I’ve got an argument here.” On the contrary, He says, “I retract and repent.” There’s no divine force. There’s no threatening rebuke from God.
Read MoreLearn from Suffering
There is a man in our congregation who recently underwent brain surgery. The tumor in the frontal section within his cranium was pushing his brain back and slowly eroding his memory.
Read MoreHis Purpose
Job struggles, finally admitting his frustration: he cannot find God. Ever been there? Of course. All of us have! There are days we search in vain for some visible evidence of the living God.
Read MoreWalk by Faith, Not by Sight
Without Job’s knowing it, a dialogue took place in the invisible world. As the Lord and Satan had their strange encounter, the subject quickly turned to this well-known earthly man. The Lord calls Satan’s attention to Job’s exemplary life.
Read MoreBreaking Down Walls
It was like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all rolled into one. It was like Berlin on the ninth of November 1989! It was like nothing they had ever seen before. They would sing all night and all the next day because the gloom was lifted!
Read MoreGod Notices
Never fails, does it? Things are not as they seem. And about the time you think they cannot get worse, they do. This was certainly true for Mordecai at a pivotal point in the story of Esther. When all seems lost, it isn’t.
Read MoreCrucible for Christ
As we did earlier, let’s first examine the significance of the name of this place where the prophet was told to go. Zarephath comes from a Hebrew verb that means “to melt, to smelt.” Interestingly, in noun form it means “crucible.”
Read MoreOur Obstacle Course
Part of every boot camp experience is the grueling, grinding, and sometimes daunting obstacle course. It is neither fun nor easy, but its demanding discipline prepares the recruit for whatever situations he or she may face.
Read MoreRiding Out the Storm
David refused to give up. When suffering the backwash of sin, our tendency is to say, “I am through. I am finished with living. Life isn’t worth it any longer.” But look at what David did: he “comforted his wife Bathsheba.”
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