A Roman centurion comes up to Jesus as he is teaching. A murmur ripples through the crowd—perhaps a gasp or two. This soldier of Rome represents Caesar and all that the Jewish people resent in his oppressive rule. For years they have longed for a Messiah to set them free from this cruel and arrogant yoke. 

Here is their arch-enemy, symbolized in this one man who stands now before the Rabbi.

But believers who know Christ, understand that delight and faith are so blessedly united that the gates of hell cannot prevail to separate them. They who love God with all their hearts, find that His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace. Surrendered saints discover in their Lord such joys, such brimful delights and such overflowing blessings. Delighting in the Lord is a far cry from serving Him from obligation.

Jesus said He would build His church upon this foundation—the Spirit-revealed knowledge of Jesus written upon the hearts of His people. God builds the church by revelation knowledge “precept upon precept,” stone upon stone—it will be His building. Psalms 127:1 puts it this way, “Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. …” Can you think of a better foundation for God to build His church than Spirit-revealed knowledge of His Word?

A Prayer to Stop the Extreme Abortion Ballot Initiatives - from Priests for Life

Our faith builds when we experience God’s grace through fellowship with Him. The more we know our heavenly Father, the more faith we have in Him. Faith grows in direct proportion to the amount of time spent in His presence.

My parents were building a brick wall.

They carefully placed a string, with a small weight attached to the end, from the top to the bottom where the wall was going to be.

It was measured and precisely straight.

When praying for someone in person, we pray most effectively when we have heard from God through spending time with Him. In that place of intimacy, we receive an overflow of God’s anointing and compassion.

“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” When we abide with God in prayer, our yielding to Him will bear the fruit we seek. This seems to be a paradox and backward to our finite earthly minds, but the power for the answer comes from laying down our concerns and burdens and choosing to abide in Him.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV)

The terms “faith” and “believing” are synonymous, but these two concepts often have different meanings in Scripture. Therefore, I feel it necessary to distinguish between them. While studying the Scripture references that help define “faith” and those defining “belief,” I discovered a subtle shade of difference between the words.

Knowing your position in Christ, who you are in God’s sight, will allow you to see and experience life from an eternal perspective. Your walk with Christ will no longer be a hum-drum experience weighed down with rules, worries, lack, and woes. Moreover, knowing and then realizing that you are a child of the King, will vanquish low self-esteem and any lingering feelings of unworthiness.

The resurrection gives purpose and value to our labor. All our efforts to alleviate suffering, show compassion, advance justice, combat corruption, educate for virtue, and create opportunity are never in vain. Never. Why? Because Jesus Christ has risen. He lives and reigns, and in due time he will make the world over.

The sun was setting gently across the broad Pacific. In its breathtaking beauty and confident serenity, it was a majestic and powerful sight.

It was, perhaps, this peaceful sunset, together with the relentless violence and destructive contagion of war, that led the great man to take pen in hand on this evening. Just harrowing days earlier, he and his family were crossing turbulent and dangerous waters in a small PT boat, surrounded by the enemy. He had found solace and protection on this island nation.

Time Management is crucial in everyday life. Family, work, and friends all demand our time.

How many of you have been so busy that you prayed for a 25th hour in the day?

How many of you want a stronger relationship with God but you just can’t find the time? You are just too busy at this moment, maybe later.

Sometimes I don’t get it. I just don’t.

It reminds me of what Winston Churchill said of Russia: “A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”

My definitions don’t fit. My reasoning is defied; my hopes and expectations unrealized, and my assumptions overturned.

It makes no sense.

How odd of God.

David is betrayed. It is brutal. It is personal. And it is real.

This is his cry for help to God. His prayer where he seeks understanding from God of the trials he is going through.

We’re accustomed to politicians who see all sides, talk all sides, take all sides.

Personal ambition too often rises above principle. Fear weakens conviction. Indecision clouds courage. Apathy steals confidence. Deception covers surrender and confusion prevents judgment.

If we’re not careful, this can happen - to you and me.

If you think the first half of 2020 was crazy, chaotic and confusing — Brace yourselves.

As someone who likes to see the cup half full rather than half empty I will tell you this…

There is an invisible enemy determined to end humanity. This enemy has no borders, it’s widespread and it locks people in forced and permanent confinement.

This enemy is tiny, but don't be fooled because it knows how to force all of humanity to its knees with its crafty infection. It can paralyze the body and the mind…

I have something to say, and if you don’t want to hear it, it is probably because you most need to hear it:

It is time to break off the fear that coronavirus is producing in our world.

This is not the first time we have faced disease and terror in our nation, and it won’t be the last…