The Holy Spirit came to perform a twofold work — a work of salvation and a work of sanctification. A work of salvation with reference to those who are in the world; a work of sanctification with reference to those who are in the Church. And both of these aspects of the Spirit’s work are…

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life …. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives,…

“By that will [God’s will] we [believers] have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering [required to pay] for sin … Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for…

The Indwelling Presence is the Risen Christ. In Galatians 2 : 20 it is “Christ lives in me.” In Colossians 1: 27 it is “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.” In Galatians we have the great fact. In Colossians we have the glorious hope which this great fact brings. Let us consider, 1. The…

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? …For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high…

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them…and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:1,2a,5b). “Therefore, brethren, having…

Identity is an essential aspect of our self image. In our post Christian society the belief in no absolute truth has allowed our culture to drift into extreme confusion and subjectivity. An example of the escalation in gender identity controversy is an Internet article posted this year that is titled “81 Types of Genders &…

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 Brother Andrew went to be with the Lord on September 27, 2022, at age 94. He founded Open Doors ministry for world-wide distribution of free Bibles, and was known as “God’s Smuggler,” a name borrowed from the title of…

The leaves of a tree this year are not the same as they were last year; new foliage comes with each succeeding year; the climate, the circumstances are never the same as in the former year. So it is with us as Christians. The Lord’s purpose is not to teach us habits, which a continued…

The Search “So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward…

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before you. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder me in my prayer…

Aging has my attention theses days. Perhaps because my grey hairs keep increasing. Receiving my my Medicare card last year made my “senior citizen” status somewhat undeniable! All who are past their prime in life are increasingly aware of the discouraging symptoms of physical decline. As Bill Gillham would say, our “earth suit” is wearing…

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love” (Song of Solomon 2:3,4) [Should the believer…

“God our Savior…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:…

“…Let us take notice of a great and substantial aid to prayer, namely, thanksgiving: “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).   Probably the advantage of thanksgiving as an aid to the…

“I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the…

“Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.”– Heb 10:22. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”– Eph 3:17. FAITH IS our power of appropriation. The pity is that we are so slow to make use of our Lord’s resources! He does not force Himself upon us. Though…

Reflections on Consecration “But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You” (1 Chronicles 29:14) [David’s prayer when he dedicated his treasures for the building of God’s Temple ] What…

[“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:4-6…

“And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.…

“…I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which…

Orchestra members recognize the importance of following the conductor. As a trumpet and French Horn player, I have fond memories of many concert experiences. Our high school band marched in halftime shows (at football games), parades and gave concerts. At Florida Bible College I was a member of the orchestra, and then began a two…

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). As I look forward to the New Year, I have mixed emotions. On the one hand I am ready for an exiting year of growth despite the challenges we may face, but on the other hand I…

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) Sealed by Him “In Him [Jesus Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the…

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end… Isaiah 9:6,7a [1] Perhaps none of…

Identity “In Christ Jesus” is the definition of all Christians, and it defines them as a people identified with the One who as a man has entered into the presence of God; “for in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that he lives, he lives unto God” (Rom. 6:10). “In Christ”…

“I have called you friends” (John 15:15). “You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). If you meditate upon these words, you will never reach their profound depths, nor shall we even in eternity. For who shall tell what friendship with Christ involves? No one can or ever will gauge…

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” – Acts 1:8. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:4. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see…

Creation [You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Rev. 4:11 NKJV] O my God! before You made the Heavens and the earth, there was none other but You. You were, because of Your years there was…

“Fight the good fight of faith.” – 1 Tim. 6:12. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (or, who at all times is leading us in triumph in Christ).” – 2 Cor. 2:14. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” –…