In 1 Samuel, Abigail was a Godly woman who was married to a worthless man named Nabal, who intentionally offended future king David. Rather than letting David sin by killing Nabal, Abigail took wise steps to defuse the situation, protect lives and help David stay in God's will. This calls us to humble sacrifice, especially when we see the Lord's ha…

Consistency and faithfulness in our faith and life tend to be underrated qualities, but the Lord greatly values them, especially because they dictate how we live. When David sinned with Bathsheeba, his character and behaviour were clearly altered, marked by emotional instability and irrational decisions. The fact that the devil tried to seize on th…

Jesus' resurrection was verified by hundreds who saw Him alive, but there is another powerful Truth that comes from it: The fact that when we trust Him to save us, He makes us alive, too. This is not an improved adaptation of our old life which was controlled by sin--it is now dead! And as those made alive in Christ, we gratefully make significant …

There were two groups--the Jewish leaders and Romans--with everything to gain if Jesus stayed dead, and everything to lose if He was actually risen. But even a violent execution, a sealed tomb and extra soldiers could not defeat Jesus, because He has all power and victory over sin and the grave. This proves man's inability and our need for the salv…

It is historically likely that just one person was with Jesus from arrest to being put in the tomb--a Roman centurion. This harsh, secular leader had his heart changed as he witnessed the events and Jesus' humble reactions. His fresh faith and convictions were confirmed when Jesus died, and then there was no doubt once the tomb was empty. Video of …

In the week before HIs death, Jesus cleansed the temple of the moneychangers--an event that almost seems out of character. But while He was righteously angry, He was also deeply sad at the callousness of the people as they conveniently bought sacrifices in the temple. This reminds us that when we come to worship, we need to upend pride and careless…

As believers, we hear about the importance of God's Word, but do we love it? Do we have a strong relationship with it? As we go deeper into the Word, we find that it makes us uniquely wise, strengthens our faith and gives us distinct advantage in spiritual warfare. When we meditate on it, we will experience it's power in our lives. Video of this se…

The new believers in 1st Century Ephesus were wrestling with false worship & immorality all around them, and were at risk of being deceived. The apostle Paul wrote to them, praying that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened, and that they would live in "the surpassing greatness of God's power". This power gives believers the ability to have …

There are times when we experience strong, negative emotions due to people and circumstances, including deep insecurity, anger, fear and hurt. These can undermine our faith and do significant damage, but the Lord has given us "divinely powered" weapons for this war against us. So He calls us to "take our thoughts captive", casting our care on Him, …

Like we have seen with the exposure of corruption and secret agendas in our government, our spiritual enemy is trying to advance his evil agenda by creating an internal conflict in us. We are forgiven and delivered from sin's bondage, but we sometimes still allow our flesh to have a place. This grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit. So the Lord give…

When Israel finally occupied the Promised Land, the Lord told them to drive out all their enemies, because they defied the Lord and might influence them to worship false gods. But Israel allowed them to persist, holding an ungrateful and careless attitude toward God's commands. So many of our problems, and the reason we often get stuck, is because …

The Lord offers eternal life to us, and makes abundant life so simple, but somehow we still can feel stuck, lacking in discernment and needing consistency. In Psalm 19, David says the answers are found in the strength of God's Word, which offers 6 traits that refresh our soul and provide strength and stability. He reminds us that the Word is more p…

Our emotions and feelings are powerful and can become debilitating if we focus on them and ourselves. So in Psalm 42 & 43, we are called to "speak to our soul", challenging it's doubt of God's faithful provision. We have to identify the root of our despair, knowing that coveting and regret impede us from walking by faith, and live in hope in the Lo…

As believers, it is vital that we have a strong understanding of the cross. Through it, Christ is eternally established as the Victorious King, who has permanently defeated the devil. Because of the cross, we should be ecstatic about our position and also recognize all He is doing. He has given us power and authority, and a unique calling to draw e…

New research is finding that some of our memories may be stored in the cells of the heart, in addition to our brain. So when a person gets a heart transplant, often the donor's preferences, temperament and identity can also be transferred to the recipient. In Ezekiel, the Lord assures us that He gives us a new heart and a new spirit when we trust i…

After a period of great rebellion against the Lord, He called Israel to consecration, and His presence regularly came down to be among them in the Tent of Meeting. When it came time to build the more permanent Tabernacle, He called Bezalel to be the chief artisan, along with Oholiab. Bezalel was chosen for his heart for the Lord, Who filled him wit…

Our missionaries from Kenya share how fully the Lord is working in the lives of children and adults in Africa, and how we can minister to them. Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDBR8HyUaFU

Esau and Jacob came from a mess of a family situation--with favoritism, deception and resentment. Esau understandably developed a hateful grudge against Jacob after he stole Esau's birthright and blessing. So when they finally saw each other 14 years later, Jacob was terrified his brother would kill him. But Esau's mercy is a huge example of reject…

King Hezekiah of Judah came from a long line of evil kings, including his father, who worshipped idols and corrupted the nation. He instead chose to repair the temple, consecrate the priests and reinstitute Passover and worship. His conviction changed the national culture. Predictably, He was attacked militarily and spiritually, but he recognized h…

We all struggle with uncertainty, insecurity and lack of clarity, because it frustrates us and incites fear. How do we overcome that, and move forward in faith and maturation? When Abraham's servant was sent to find a wife for Isaac, instead of panicking and making an impulsive decision, he prayed to the Lord--specifically and confidently. Before h…

When the Lord gives the 10 Commandments, the first 3 all emphasize that He is the only God, and that we must not worship any false gods or idols. It can be hard for us to grasp that God subsequently calls Himself "a Jealous God", because our concept of jealousy is almost always self-centered and and manipulative. But He is jealous for our soul, and…

The account of Jesus' incarnation can be so familiar that we lose our sense of awe over the miracle of God's mercy. That was true when He was born--very few people were looking for the arrival of Messiah. But two faithful older people--Simeon and Anna--were constantly in the temple, looking for His coming. When they personally saw "God with us", Wh…

The book of Exodus is an allegory for the spiritual condition of mankind, & God's response. We're in bondage and need deliverance, and only the Lord can provide salvation. But even with that, we can fall into grumbling--a red light indicator of a deficiency of faith and entitled indulgence. Our flesh pushes us into the negative and forgets God's go…

When given an assignment by the Lord that shows just how valuable our faith is, Abraham didn't waver, even though he may not have understood why. He told his son that the Lord would provide the lamb for the sacrifice. It is a powerful advance picture of Jesus Christ, and proves that God not only knows and provides what we need in advance, but also …

After one bad decision had far-reaching consequences on history and on Hagar, she was left alone in a desperate situation, likely feeling very marginalized like so many do now. But she quickly learned that the Lord saw her situation and was there to minister to her, learning that it was an opportunity to learn to depend on the Lord. Video of this s…