The other day I saw a quote that said something like the part of the Bible we would like to ignore is the part we need the most. In Matthew chapter seven, we read the words judge not, that you be not judged. And that's where most people stop. They don't want to acknowledge that... Continue Reading →
We cannot defend the truth unless we know it first. Acts 17:11 ESV "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." 2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be... Continue Reading →
Last night, as I was lying in bed not thinking of anything in particular that I was aware of, these lines came to me; “My life is not my own and this world is not my home. Forsake things unknown there, we live for His glory alone here.” The thought made an impression on me, so... Continue Reading →
What comes to mind when you think of the word discernment? Is it angry basement bloggers? Someone with an ax to grind? Or is it, as one minister recently said, "someone who doesn't have the Holy Spirit but a relationship with the Bible, those people lead people to Hell." That little snippet right there shows... Continue Reading →
If God wrote you a letter, what do you think He would say? Would He thank you for serving in kid's church or for helping as a youth group sponsor? Would He commend you for opening your home for a weekly small group? After He listed your accomplishments and obedience, would it be followed by,... Continue Reading →
Do not love the world or the things in the world. Variations of this command appear throughout the New Testament. It is a straightforward command. Yet, as in days past, it is time to issue a call to holiness and Christlikeness in our day. Over the past several years, you have most likely heard the... Continue Reading →
As we come to the end of the book of Jude, we switch gears from recognizing and dealing with false teachers and their teaching, and we are given instructions on staying safe from apostasy and rescuing others from the grips of falsehood. Jude 1:20-25 LSB "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy... Continue Reading →
"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds... Continue Reading →
In the last four weeks, we have covered various aspects of recognizing false teachers and false teaching. Even though Jude has spent his entire letter on this topic, he also reminds his readers of what the apostles said on the subject. Jude 1:17-19 LSB " But you, beloved, must remember the words that were spoken beforehand... Continue Reading →
July 2021. There is a distance between now and September 2019, when all the questions began. That distance allows for clarity of thought and better reflection. It started with examining whether Todd Bentley, the leader of the Lakeland Revival, was qualified for ministry. The clear answer was no; a committee said as much, but his... Continue Reading →
In the last post of the Jude series, we looked at the profile of a false teacher. This week we will look at two verses that explain why false teachers will face judgment at the end of time. Jude 1:14-16 LSB “But Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam, also prophesied about these men, saying,... Continue Reading →
Take every thought captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 As I began praying this morning, I was led to take authority over my thoughts. Last night I was listening to Rabbi Curt Landry talk about the importance of looking forward and thinking about the future. One of the things he mentioned was how we all have a... Continue Reading →
But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. Ephesians 2:13 TLV There is much division in the world today. And sadly, the same kind of division has come into the Church. That should not be so. In Christ, we are all one; Jew... Continue Reading →
My son, pay attention to my words— incline your ear to my sayings. Proverbs 4:20 TLV This verse and much of Proverbs talks about the Word of God, the Bible. To incline your ear means to bend your ear; we would say listen intently. But what about hearing God and knowing when the Spirit of... Continue Reading →
"Be still, and know I am God." Psalm 46:11a TLVa I don't know about you, but when I go to bed at night, I can never get my mind to stop. Sometimes I'm thinking about a Scripture; sometimes it's just stuff, other times it's the weird, deep stuff, like what if there was nothing….. and... Continue Reading →
Casey D. Bell 