Leaving Laodicea

Psalm 106 tells of Israel's rebellion and sin and the bountiful mercy of God.  But is also paints a prophetic picture of the church in America today. Consider the following:"But they mingled with the Gentiles (or heathens) and learned their works.  They served their idols, which became a snare to them.  They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons."Are you wondering how someone could sacrifice their children to demons?   Then keep listening... because we do it everyday.The following is a study on Psalm 106.

Did you know that one of the true signs of saving faith is the fact that you will face persecution?  Consider the following:The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Romans 8:16-17Are you wondering exactly what that means and how it plays out in our lives today? Good.  Then keep listening.The following is a study on John 15:18-27.

The players from John 15:One, Jesus is the Vine... all of the Vine.  He is the roots, the stalk, the leaves... literally, He is everything. Two, we, as Believers, are the branches of the Vine.  We are a part of the Vine, not separate and distinct from the Vine, but connected to the Vine to serve a specific purpose.  And what is that purpose?  To bear the fruit of the Vine.  Note, we don't create the fruit for our own use, we just bear it.  And why?  For what purpose? Three, for the enjoyment and glory of the Vinedresser, God the Father.  But there is so much more.  Keep listening.The following is a study on John 15:1-8.

When the Scriptures speak about the terms of salvation, they always seem to frame the event as either right or wrong, with no wiggle room, no grey area.For example, two roads and two paths.  One leads to destruction and the other to life.  Notice, there is no third choice.Two fruits, one good and one bad.  Nothing in between.And when Jesus calls Himself the true vine, doesn't that imply a distinction between a possible false vine?  Absolutely!  Listen and find out more.The following is a study on John 15:1.

There is a cryptic statement Jesus makes to the religious establishment of His day that is startling if taken at face value.  It goes like this:"You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."Wow.  What Jesus is saying is that all Scripture, even the genealogies of the Old Testament, testify and speak of Him. Really?  Does that also include the "in your face" passages like Psalm 55? Listen and find out.The following is a study on Psalm 55.

Just because we live in the age of grace doesn't mean that works do not play into the Christian life.  After all, Scripture clearly teaches that we will be rewarded for our deeds done in the flesh... or, our works. Oh yes, there is a Bema seat judgment where we will be judged by the Lord for our works and we will receive our rewards. In fact, the promise of receiving rewards from the hand of Christ was an incredible motivator for the apostle Paul and countless other heroes of the Christian faith throughout the centuries. What?  You think that sounds self-promoting and selfish?  Then listen on.The following is a study on the motivation of Heavenly Rewards.

In the 3rd chapter of Romans we see the word "faith" repeated over and over again.  Believers are deemed righteous by faith.  Man is justified by faith.  God justifies both the circumcised and the uncircumcised by faith.  God is even called the just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Everywhere we look it's faith, faith... and still more faith. But what exactly is this faith?  What kind of faith are we talking about?  And is this the kind of faith that saves?  Is there another kind of faith that doesn't save?  What is the difference?  How can I know? Are you hungry for some answers?  Then listen on.The following is a study on the Saving Faith.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, before he died at the Flossenburg Concentration camp on April 9, 1945, summarized in his book, the Cost of Discipleship, the Christian life like this:"When Christ calls a man,He bids him to come and die."Is that true?  Does Christ really demand total abandonment of self to follow Him? Is that what was portrayed in the gospels?  Because it certainly isn't what is esteemed in current Christian circles today, is it? And why not?The following is a study on the Cost of Following Jesus.

Sometimes life is just hard.  Real hard.  And sometimes it's hard to understand why the Lord allows things to happen to His children that, well... happen to his children.  And when they do we are often left with the nagging thought that maybe God doesn't care as much as we care or maybe we've done something to make Him not love us anymore. Do you ever have thoughts like that?  Maybe when the situation looks hopeless and dark?  Maybe when you feel alone and forgotten?  Or maybe when you're sure you're going down for the last time? If you have, you're not alone.The following is a study on Peter and Jesus.

Question:  If we cannot be saved by keeping the Law, does that mean that we are no longer under any obligation to pay attention to the Law?Answer:  No.  When a person is saved or redeemed, there is never a separation between Law and grace.  Christian grace does not remove the obligation from us to obey God.Question:  Then, can I receive Jesus as my Savior and not my Lord?  Or, can I get saved today and make Him my Lord at a later date?Answer:  Keep listening.The following is a study on Romans 3:20-26.