Joint Heirs With Christ
Matthew 12:50, 'For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.'
MATTHEW 12:46-50
We are not just heirs, we are joint-heirs with Christ. It would be wonderful to inherit any amount of God's glory and power. But, the idea that we share equally with the one who has inherited everything God is and has is beyond comprehension. This is an awesome blessing, but it also places a tremendous responsibility on us.
In the same way in which a check made out to two people cannot be cashed without the endorsement of both parties, so our joint-heirship with Jesus cannot be taken advantage of without our cooperation. Unaware of this, many Christians are just...
Like many songwriters, I sit down daily to write. Lately, the Holy Spirit is moving my pen faster than I can write the words. Seems I've been writing a new song every single day, if not more.
Much of my inspiration comes from old Gospel Hymnals, as I read and sing some of them a particular phrase will grab my attention and I'll write it down. Often I can find a passage in the bible that supports the line and lends meaning to the words. That will get me started with the spark of the Lord and I just follow his lead because he is leading the band.
Adela & I traveled and performed in all sorts of venues, churches, farmers' markets, and more. If we can get a crowd at 2 am in a punk bar in Brooklyn to start singing "Amen, Amen" along with Hank Williams, "I Saw the Light", we can bring the Holy Spirit anywhere. Jesus went among the sinners to show them that he is the light and the way. We follow that example, he is our guiding light.
As Covid...
His Chosen Treasures
Matthew 13:44, 'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.'
MATTHEW 13:44-50
The interpretation of this parable is this: the field is the world, the man buying the treasure is God, the treasure is the true believers in Christ. The price that was paid was the very life of Jesus on the cross. Jesus saw, through His foreknowledge, a remnant of people who would receive Him as Lord, and 'for the joy that was set before him,' He endured the cross (Heb. 12:2) and purchased us unto Himself with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He purchased the whole world, but not everyone will...
THE NAME OF JESUS
King Of Hearts
Mark 4:30, 'And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?'
MARK 4:30-34
The word 'kingdom' means 'the realm over which a king rules.' When applied to God, it could refer to all creation, since 'his kingdom ruleth over all' (Ps. 103:19), but the kingdom more often applies to His rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. 'The Kingdom of God' more specifically refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts. So praying 'thy kingdom come' is praying for the expansion and influence of God's rule in the hearts of men everywhere and, ultimately, the establishment of His physical Kingdom here on earth at His second coming (Rev. 11:15; 20:4).
Throughout...
Tares Among The Wheat
Matthew 13:25, 'But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.'
MATTHEW 13:24-30
Satan has secretly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the influence of the Church. This has been a more effective strategy than direct opposition.
These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain....