There are thousands of Christians scattered throughout the world today. Some of them are filling places of importance in the Lord’s kingdom. Others are just sitting idly by. What makes the difference? What does the Bible say?
The 90th Psalm, written by Moses, is considered to be one of the world’s oldest poems. It dates back several generations from the psalms of David…and evidently was written near the close of the wanderings in the wilderness. But how does it apply to us? That's the topic of today's episode.
Have you ever prayed to God and felt He didn’t answer your prayer? I’ve always heard it said that God does answer prayers, and He does so by saying, “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait awhile.” That may be true, but the fact remains that some prayers are simply not granted. Why is that? We’ll try to find the answer in today’s episode.
One of the outstanding things about both the Old and New Testaments is the number of short sentences which grab our attention and say so much in so few words. One of those examples is found in the book of Nehemiah, chapter 8, verse 10, where Ezra the priest told the people, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This may be one of the most striking sentences of the entire Bible. Why Ezra said it and why we should believe it is the topic of today’s episode, simply called, “The Strength of Joy.”
Today, we are engaged in a battle, well underway, in which one army is against God and everything Christian...from the killing of little babies to the promotion of homosexuality and an attempt to take God out of every place and everything. We are not sufficient, alone and apart from God, to overcome this enemy. But we can win the battle, because, as David said, "The battle is the Lord's." That's the topic of today's GOD'S EVERLASTING WORD podcast.
Many people obey the gospel…but, just like the children of Israel, fewer remain faithful, even in light of such passages as Matthew 10:22, which says, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." Or Revelation 2, verse 10, which has Jesus saying, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." And when we see the dangers of unfaithfulness, I think all of us might need to ask ourselves, "Can the Lord call me faithful?" That's the topic of today's GOD'S EVERLASTING WORD podcast.
In Acts 8:36, we find a man asking, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” Here was a man who wanted to be baptized...and he was asking, “What’s stopping me?” You know, a lot of people today will ask, “Why must I, or why should I be baptized?” But the Ethiopian simply said, “What’s hindering me?” Why would anyone be hindered from being baptized? What does the Bible say?
A thought found in Philippians 3:13,14 offers a contrast in living -- paying the cost of what it takes to gain eternal life or paying the cost of physical living and losing our soul. What does the Bible say about, the high cost of low living?
In Psalm 19:7-9, we find: "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Volumes could be written on the entire passage, but in regard to the statement found in verse 7, I think the world needs to learn that message more than any other. In a time when God's Word is questioned on every hand, or is simply ignored altogether, today's lesson is one which could certainly considered as, "timely."
The Bible tells us about a kingdom that cannot be destroyed. In fact, the Old Testament tells us about several kingdoms that would rise and fall throughout history...but were defeated by a kingdom that can never be moved. In fact, that kingdom is in existence today. The apostle Paul was one of its citizens...and you can be, too! In fact, it’s the subject of today’s episode -- “The Immovable Kingdom.”
The fact that God is who He is makes it impossible for Him to do some things. God cannot sin...He cannot lie...He cannot change...He cannot save a man against his will...and finally, God cannot answer the question asked in Hebrews 2:1-3.
There’s a question that I think all Christians have, at one time or another, asked themselves -- “How good is good enough for God?” In other words, how good do we need to be to be pleasing to God and receive His blessings and favor? One of the psalms addresses this very question...which is also the topic of today’s episode, as we undertake a short study of, “The Fifteenth Psalm,” or “How Good is Good Enough for God?”
How does the Holy Spirit operate when saving a person? Some people believe that He acts directly on that person, causing him to be saved at that instant. Others believe that the Holy Spirit operates through the Word of God. Which one is correct? What does the Bible say?
There are several things that members of the Lord’s church have always considered important in our worship unto God. We believe in the importance of Bible study, preaching, prayer, of taking the Lord’s Supper, and in the giving of our means on the Lord’s day. But for today lesson, I want us to pay particular attention to the singing we are to offer unto God as we worship and praise Him...not only on the first day of the week, but at all other times, as well. Our study today is about, “Singing in Worship.”
There’s a constant question ask by members of the Lord’s church: “Why do I need to be at every service? Isn’t Sunday morning enough?” What does the Bible say? There’s a familiar text in the book of Hebrews that is often misquoted and many times disregarded. Sometimes it’s meaning is taken far beyond what God intended, and, at other times, its application falls short of the truth. Nevertheless, it is an essential command by God. It’s also an exhortation to faithfulness that needs to be studied and obeyed more and more as time goes by. I’m talking about Hebrews 10:25...and in today’s episode, we’ll see what the Bible says about, “Forsaking the Assembly.”
During the latter part of the 19th century, a group of courageous, godly men found that the simplicity of New Testament worship had been corrupted by innovations directed by the will of man rather than God, and they plead for a return to New Testament patterns and practices. They succeeded in that plan...but, have we restored the spirit? Are other restorations needed? What does the Bible say?
Knowing the God of the Bible is so very important. John 14:3 tells us that knowing God is necessary, because eternal life with Christ depends on it. Plus, according to Second Thessalonians 1:7-8, we must know God if we expect to escape the wrath to come for those who DON’T know Him. Solomon said, “We know God and serve Him with a willing mind.” If we’re going to know God, we need to know something about Him, and be able to answer the question: “What is God like?”
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Second Timothy 4:1-4, where, in verse 2, the apostle Paul tells young Timothy to "preach the word; be instant in season out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine." A whole sermon could be preached on the entire passage…but for today's lesson, we'll focus on Paul's charge to "be instant, in season, out of season." In other words, we’re going to be discussing, “Seasonal Religion.”
In the first chapter of Timothy, the apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners...and said that, in saving him, Christ had demonstrated the fact that He could save anyone. Jesus Christ is a friend of sinners, and the Savior of them, as well. He loves the sinner, but not the sin...which means that we must meet certain conditions before we can receive His mercy and pardon -- and that is the subject of today's episode.
There are many sermons in the Bible, and most, if not all of them, are easy to understand. But the simplest one was delivered by someone who wasn’t even a preacher...and it’s found in Second Kings 5:13. In fact, it’s the basis of today’s lesson -- “The Simplest Sermon Ever Preached.”
The term, “Christian,” is mentioned three times in the Bible -- in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and First Peter 4:16. In those passages we’re told that “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch,”that Agrippa told Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” and that, if we suffer as Christians, we should not be ashamed. But what exactly is a Christian? That’s something that a lot of people claim to be. Buto, what are the marks of a real Christian? That’s the topic of today’s episode.
In the first part of John, chapter 2, we have a very human story. Jesus and his disciples were at a marriage, and His mother was there. And in talking of her Son, she used this language: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
Have you thought about what a transformation would take place in the world if everyone were to take the wise advice of this woman! It would bring happiness on earth and eternal life in the world to come. And that’s the topic of today’s episode -- “Whatsoever He Sayeth.”
In First Thessalonians, chapter 4, the apostle Paul talks about "them which are asleep." Jesus even talked about those who were "asleep." Exactly what did He and Paul mean by that expression and why should the idea be so comforting for the Christian? That's the topic of today's episode: "Concerning Them Which Are Asleep."
Our lesson today is about the gospel Paul preached. And I suppose the first question someone might have would be, “What’s the difference between the gospel Paul preached and the gospel that was preached by the other apostles?” What was so special about Paul’s message regarding the gospel of Christ and why is it so important for us today? That’s what we’ll be talking about in today’s episode...and it very well could be the most important lesson you’ve heard in a long time.
Here’s a question for you -- have you repented? Or better yet, have you really repented? Maybe some more questions would be: do you know what repentance is and how to do it? Our purpose in today’s episode will be to show what repentance is, how to repent, and, if you haven’t, to encourage you to do so. Nobody denies that repentance is taught throughout the Bible...but...have you repented?