"But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.'" - Numbers 13:30 (NKJV)Moses sent out a committee, a team of twelve individuals who would spy out the land and see what it looked like. Ten of them came back with an evil report, a report of doubt, a report of "I can't do it." These ten spies came back and they sai...  Read More

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)Paul says in Ephesians 1:3 that we've been blessed "in the heavenly places." "Places" is not in the Greek. It's fine to put it there, but it's just "in the heavenlies." What ...  Read More

"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!" - Psalm 68:19 (NKJV)Ray Stedman once said, "It is amazing the change that comes over us when we simply review our resources and count our blessings. That is where true encouragement is found in an honest accounting of the Father's limitless resources and blessings, made available to us in Christ."He wrote, "I once r...  Read More

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)There was a man in South Africa who owned a small compound where he and his horse would travel daily. As they passed through his property, there was a little stream filled with shiny objects that frustrated him greatly. His horse would c...  Read More

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:2 (NKJV)Remember the story of Mephibosheth? He was the grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan, David's best friend (2 Samuel 4:4). Due to an accident in childhood, he was crippled and living in a wasteland called Lo Debar - literally meaning "no pasture" (2 Samuel 9:4). When King David sought to show kindness ...  Read More

"Him who knew no sin He made to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)"The me I see is the me I'll be." This simple phrase captures an important truth about human nature. Have you ever been to a house of mirrors at a carnival? Those distorted reflections show you a false version of yourself - sometimes taller, sometimes shorter, sometimes ...  Read More

"To the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 1:1 (NKJV)When you hear the word "saint," what comes to mind? Perhaps stained glass windows, haloes, or someone who lived centuries ago and performed miracles. Maybe you think of the New Orleans Saints football team or those celebrity-faced candles you might see in gift shops. But here's what might surprise you: if you've...  Read More

"... [T]o the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 1:1 (NKJV)When someone asks what you do for a living, you might say "I'm in education" or "I'm in business." When you're newly married, you might say "I'm in love" - and everyone understands. But when the Bible says we're "in Christ," people often scratch their heads, wondering what that means.Think about having an ...  Read More

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 1:1 (NKJV)There was a couple traveling from Minneapolis to Florida for their 20th anniversary. Due to scheduling conflicts, the husband flew ahead to set things up. Using the hotel's email system, he tried to send his wife a message saying he'd arrived safely. But he mi...  Read More

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NKJV)In Chase the Lion, Mark Batterson tells a story about a woman named Bonnie Martin who was very discouraged with family issues, feeling defeated and beat u...  Read More

"Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." - 1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV)When Peter says "steadfast in the faith," he's talking about remaining true to your doctrinal convictions - the faith, the doctrines you know to be true. Satan is described over and over as the liar and the father of lies. He comes into our life with deceptio...  Read More

"Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." - 1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV)There was a woman who struggled with materialism. She'd spend way more money than she had, and her husband was trying to help her with this. She came home with a very expensive dress, and he said, "Honey, I thought we talked about this. We don't have the mone...  Read More