"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." - Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)Ephesians 2:1-3 emphatically testifies to the lostness of all humanity. As Paul looked down on the world, he saw one vast spiritual cemetery, and inscribed on every grave-marker was this phrase, "dead in trespasses and sins." He doesn't say that they simply have needs, that they are sick, feeble or blundering; He ...  Read More

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 (NKJV)A leading psychiatrist wrote a book called "Whatever Became of Sin?" He wasn't even a Christian, but he was asking better questions than most preachers. He wrote: “[Sin] was a word once in everyone’s mind, but now rarely if ever heard. Does that mean that no sin is involved in all our troubles…? Is no one any longer guilty...  Read More

"He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps." Psalm 40:2 (NKJV)A church I know quite well once decided to change the lyrics to "Amazing Grace." Instead of "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me," they sang "that saved someone like me." They felt uncomfortable with the word "wretch."John Newton, w...  Read More

Romans 8:37 - "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."A young boy at the zoo observed an old lion behind bars. Every day, the zookeeper would enter the enclosure and place food for the lion. The boy saw the zookeeper feeding the lion, but he was concerned that something might happen to the man."Mister, aren't you scared in that enclosed area with that lion?" ...  Read More

James 4:7 - "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."A man dreamed he lived in a two-story house when Jesus knocked at his door. "Come in," he said. Jesus asked, "Do you have a place where I can stay?" "I have a spare room upstairs on the second floor," the man replied. Jesus accepted this offer because He won't take control where you don't yield to Him.Later that nigh...  Read More

Colossians 2:15 - "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."I read an account of a boxer - "Mysterious" Billy Smith - who went into a San Francisco bar with a sports writer named Wilson Mizner. Billy was always looking for a fight and started brawling with the longshoremen at the bar. While Billy was fighting everyone else, Wilson f...  Read More

“And that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” – 1 Chronicles 4:10Jabez’s name meant “pain.” His mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Can you imagine naming your child “Pain”? Every time someone called his name, it must have been a reminder of sorrow, grief, or hardship. It could have been because his mother experienced a great deal of pain in chi...  Read More

“That Your hand would be with me…” – 1 Chronicles 4:10One of the most important parts of Jabez’s prayer was his request for God’s hand to be with him. This wasn’t just a sentimental phrase or a casual request. It was a plea for God’s anointing, guidance, and power. He knew that without God’s presence, all his efforts would be in vain. Jabez wasn’t asking to accomplish great things on his own. He w...  Read More

“And enlarge my territory…” – 1 Chronicles 4:10Enlarge my territory. This is about achievement. Each of us has a desire to achieve, and we should bring that to God. Have you ever asked the Lord to enlarge your territory? The Apostle Paul did this repeatedly. In Ephesians 6:18 and following, after discussing spiritual warfare and the armor of God, he requests, “Pray for me that doors would be opene...  Read More

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed…” – 1 Chronicles 4:10Jabez prayed, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed.” We sometimes water down the word “bless.” We say, “Bless the food,” or “Bless the missionaries,” or even, “Bless you” after someone sneezes. But Jabez’s prayer was personal and specific. He cried out for God’s favor in his life.It’s okay to ask for God’s blessing. Deuteronomy 28 describes t...  Read More

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.’ So God granted him what he requested.”     - 1 Chronicles 4:10Is there a desire in your life to be great? Oftentimes, I’ll hear men and women talk about their goals, their aspirations, and th...  Read More

Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."A missionary pastor traveled to Haiti to learn about the work being done there and to start a church where needed. When word spread that a church was going to be started in a particular village, this pastor was approa...  Read More