SURROUNDED WITH GODS SHIELD OF FAVOR David wrote of Gods loving-favor and blessing as a shield that surrounded him, both protecting him from harm without, and comforting him with acceptance within. It may seem unusual to visualize Gods love and favor as a shield, which is a defensive weapon of war. But David felt surrounded

PAULS FAITHFUL WITNESS Paul was held prisoner by the Roman procurator of Judea, Marcus Antonius Felix for two years. Felix understood the religious culture of Judea better than most Romans, having married the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, Drusilla. Both of them divorced their first spouses in order to be together.   Pauls captivity during

THE LORD SUSTAINS US EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP David wrote this psalm after he had to flee from his son, Absalom, who sought to overthrow him and take the crown. Surely he was overcome by grief from this betrayal. Sleep had no doubt eluded him during this time. Yet, he finally lay down and slept.

REMEMBERING OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP Pauls Roman citizenship was often a help to him as he traveled throughout the empire spreading the gospel. Being a Roman citizen gave him certain rights. One of those rights was the right to a trial before any punishment might be administered. It was this right that Paul brought to the

WHEN THE KING REDISCOVERED GODS WORD King Josiah was crowned at age eight after his father, Amon, was murdered by conspirators. Both his father and his grandfather, Manasseh, were evil kings who had led the people into idolatry. Apparently, during the 55-year reign of Manasseh, the Book of the Law had been lost. How this

HEZEKIAHS TUNNEL STILL REMAINS King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5, he was described as one who trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. The only foolish event attributed

WHY SING A NEW SONG TO THE LORD? The Scripture often instructs that a new song be sung to the Lord. In fact, this is in the Bible a total of nine times: six in the Psalms, once in Isaiah, and twice in Revelation. So, why does the Lord desire a new song from his

SHARING THE TESTIMONY WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN The apostle Paul reminded his friends from Ephesus of the calling he had on his life from Jesus. Even though he knew that suffering and jail awaited him, he was determined to fulfill his life purpose of telling others the Good News about Gods wonderful grace. Protecting his

PRAYING FOR REVIVAL IN OUR CITY The preaching of Paul and the apostles and the story of how demons acknowledged the name of Jesus and even of Paul, caused the fear of God to come over the city of Ephesus and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. A spiritual awakening took place in

PAUL RENTS A LECTURE HALL FOR CHURCH MEETINGS Ephesus was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire during the time of Paul. It was a seaport city with a population of over 250,000. It became the center of Pauls missionary efforts in Asia Minor. Some gospel work had already been done in Ephesus,