"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Come to Me, were the first words on my mind a few... Continue Reading →
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). Just as Joshua was commanded to be strong and courageous, Timothy was instructed not to let anyone look down on him because of his young age. 1 Timothy... Continue Reading →
A relationship with Jesus is common vernacular in the church today. It is such a common phrase you probably do not give much thought to it. But have you ever stopped to ponder the meaning of the phrase? We all know the implication behind the phrase is salvation. After that, it is about what living... Continue Reading →
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV Yesterday Grace Life Church in Alberta, Canada, met in an undisclosed location after the government put three fences around the church building and put locked chains... Continue Reading →
Today we are looking at James 2:14-26 and the relationship between faith and works. Before we get to the text, I acknowledge that there is significant debate about this subject. Some say James contradicts the teachings of Paul, but Scripturally this cannot be so. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,... Continue Reading →
This morning I was thinking about how easy it is to believe God for things, yet when we go through hard times, our faith can be shaken, and we aren't believing anymore. When we think about believing God, it's typically believing God for something and not in the middle of something. As I was thinking,... Continue Reading →
Prayer can be a hard thing to do for many of us. You may have had the experience of saying, just or Lord, every fourth word in prayer at church, and we have all had times when we did not know what to pray or how to pray during our prayer time. I have heard... Continue Reading →
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."Romans 12:2 NKJV The only way our minds can be renewed is by spending time in the Word. It's easy for us as Christians to be conformed to the... Continue Reading →
James 2:1-4 NKJV "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes... Continue Reading →
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is , there is liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. The Greek word for liberty in this verse means we are not a slave. We have been set free from the slavery of... Continue Reading →
Have you ever been in a church service where, as it is coming to a close, you hear these words? "If you don't know Jesus today and would like Him to be your savior, just repeat these words after me, "Dear Jesus, I believe you came and died for me. I repent of my sin... Continue Reading →
In the last two weeks, we have looked at how to handle temptation, keep the right perspective, and how to persevere through trial. This week we will look at a major key in all of those areas, giving attention to the instruction of Scripture. Making Bible reading a priority in life, not just reading, but... Continue Reading →
John 15:1-8 NKJV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As... Continue Reading →
The book of James provides us a practical perspective on navigating the trials of life. In this week's study, we will look at maintaining a biblical perspective during trials and temptations. James 1:9-18 NKJV "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will... Continue Reading →
In a day when professions of faith abound, and the common question is, how can I know I am saved? The book of James helps us answer that question by giving us several ways to examine our lives to test whether our faith is genuine or not. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV "Examine... Continue Reading →
Casey D. Bell 