Leaving Laodicea

There are several questions that each Believer will ask themselves sometime during their spiritual journey.  And these questions usually go something like this:How are we to be delivered from the guilt of sin and the unrelenting attacks of Satan?How can we walk in faith and confidence and guard against the “wiles of the devil”?How are we to daily face the struggles of the enemy and our fallen flesh?What has God provided for our victory?And how can we continually live in that victory?But remember, the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10) is found when we live in the victory already provided by Christ.  And to do that, we need to simply “put on” what we often leave behind.Confused?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Matthew 6:13 and Ephesians 6:10-18.

When Jesus said to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11), He was speaking to the critical issue of dependence.  What, or who, are we dependent upon?
Are we dependent on our own ingenuity, hard work, investments, our education, job, retirement, our view of the future, our own wits, our self-determination, self-esteem, competitiveness, aggressiveness, our advanced degrees from esteemed institutions, or family pedigree, our status, popularity, charisma or fame?
Or, are we dependent on God alone?
One is repeatedly taught and modeled in Scripture.  And the other is the darling of our fallen culture.
Which of them are you dependent on?
The following is a study on Matthew 6:11.

When Jesus said to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11), He was speaking to the critical issue of dependence.  What, or who, are we dependent upon?Are we dependent on our own ingenuity, hard work, investments, our education, job, retirement, our view of the future, our own wits, our self-determination, self-esteem, competitiveness, aggressiveness, our advanced degrees from esteemed institutions, or family pedigree, our status, popularity, charisma or fame?Or, are we dependent on God alone?One is repeatedly taught and modeled in Scripture.  And the other is the darling of our fallen culture.Which of them are you dependent on?The following is a study on Matthew 6:11.

When Jesus begins to close His public ministry He makes a statement that, if not understood correctly, casts the Father in the light of a cruel taskmaster, a petty ruler, or a cold, cynical, calculating Nazi.  But when this same statement of Jesus is understood properly, in context, it shows the breathtaking love and grace of the Father in a way that will astound each of us.
We find the controversial statement in John 12:39-40:
Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
“He (God) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, (why) lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I (God) should heal them."
Does this really mean what it says?  Does God really harden people's heart so they can't believe in Him?  Yes. And no.  But you'll have to keep listening to find out more.
The following is a study on John 12:37:50.

When Jesus begins to close His public ministry He makes a statement that, if not understood correctly, casts the Father in the light of a cruel taskmaster, a petty ruler, or a cold, cynical, calculating Nazi.  But when this same statement of Jesus is understood properly, in context, it shows the breathtaking love and grace of the Father in a way that will astound each of us.We find the controversial statement in John 12:39-40:Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:“He (God) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, (why) lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I (God) should heal them."Does this really mean what it says?  Does God really harden people's heart so they can't believe in Him?  Yes. And no.  But you'll have to keep listening to find out more.The following is a study on John 12:37:50.

One truth in the Christian life is that we have all been hurt by those we love and by those who we thought loved us.  Whether it's our spouse, our family, a former close friend, or someone in the church, we've all suffered from the words or actions of someone else we trusted.  And the scars run deep.
So what do we do?  Mostly, we withdraw, vowing to never trust again.  We pull up the drawbridge, turn out the light, and hide alone deep in our room.  Simon and Garfunkel, many years ago, captured this so well in their song, I Am a Rock.
I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty, that none may penetrate.I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.I am a rock, I am an island.
Don't talk of love, I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory.I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.If I never loved I never would have cried.I am a rock, I am an island.
But the Christian life is not meant to be lived in bitterness, fear and unforgiveness.  Why?  Because Christ purchased our freedom and freely offers that freedom to us.  It's ours for the asking.To find out how to love those who have hurt you or the ones you love, keep listening.
The following is a study on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13.

One truth in the Christian life is that we have all been hurt by those we love and by those who we thought loved us.  Whether it's our spouse, our family, a former close friend, or someone in the church, we've all suffered from the words or actions of someone else we trusted.  And the scars run deep.So what do we do?  Mostly, we withdraw, vowing to never trust again.  We pull up the drawbridge, turn out the light, and hide alone deep in our room.  Simon and Garfunkel, many years ago, captured this so well in their song, I Am a Rock.I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty, that none may penetrate.I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.I am a rock, I am an island.Don't talk of love, I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory.I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.If I never loved I never would have cried.I am a rock, I am an island.But the Christian life is not meant to be lived in bitterness, fear and unforgiveness.  Why?  Because Christ purchased our freedom and freely offers that freedom to us.  It's ours for the asking.To find out how to love those who have hurt you or the ones you love, keep listening.The following is a study on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13.

In Matthew 6, in the middle of what we call the Lord's prayer, Jesus told us to pray this way:
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done (to what extent) on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).
But what does that really mean? And what are we actually praying for?
We could say it like this:
"Your (the Father's) kingdom (or, dominion, reign, sovereign rule, authority, throne, the exercise of kingly power) come (or, arise, come forth, show itself, be established, become known)."
Or like this:
"Your (the Father's) will (or, active volition, resolve, purpose, mandate, a command with the emphasis on the authority of the one commanding) be done (or, to become, to begin to be, to come into existence, to happen)."
Does that change anything for you? It does me. To find out more, keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 6:10, the Lord's Prayer.

In Matthew 6, in the middle of what we call the Lord's prayer, Jesus told us to pray this way:"Your kingdom come. Your will be done (to what extent) on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).But what does that really mean? And what are we actually praying for?We could say it like this:"Your (the Father's) kingdom (or, dominion, reign, sovereign rule, authority, throne, the exercise of kingly power) come (or, arise, come forth, show itself, be established, become known)."Or like this:"Your (the Father's) will (or, active volition, resolve, purpose, mandate, a command with the emphasis on the authority of the one commanding) be done (or, to become, to begin to be, to come into existence, to happen)."Does that change anything for you? It does me. To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on Matthew 6:10, the Lord's Prayer.

With our society and culture crumbling all around us it behooves the church to assess its commitment to Christ.  Are you hot or cold or lukewarm?  Is Christ on the outside of the church knocking, waiting, for us to open the door and allow Him into His church? (Rev. 3:20).
These are scary times.  But not unprecedented times.  
In fact, it's these very times that bring out the best in the church.  It's times like these where true men and women of God step forward to take their stand for truth.  
It's the time of Daniel, Elijah, John the Baptist and Gideon.
The following is a study on the call of Gideon.