Kim Riddlebarger concludes a sermon on the life of Samson, on Judges 16 (our Bible reading passage for today) As for application for us today, there is much to learn from the life of Samson. No question, his allegiance is to YHWH. No question, his sin–especially his dalliances with Philistine women–was his undoing. Like Israel … More God uses us, his sinful people, for his purposes.
Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. —Judges 9:56-57 Pastor Kim Riddlebarger comments on Judges 9, our … More When we look at the life of a man like Abimelech we see not Christ, but his opposite
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue … More Even the judgments of our most impartial judges will be revised by the High Court of heaven
In Joshua 18-19 we read that Joshua called together the people of Israel to divide up the land, the land that “lay subdued before them.” What method did Joshua use? He cast lots. Rolled the dice. Really? Yes. “Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to … More God is sovereign over the lots
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay……..And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of … More Pastor John, please preach this sermon at my funeral!
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.—Romans 11:21-22 A prayer to see and understand … More The freedom of sovereign grace
Today in our Bible reading plan we read Romans 9:19-33. God’s purpose in Romans 9:23 is “to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.” John Piper states in a sermon, “God’s Ultimate Purpose: Vessels of Mercy Knowing the Riches of His Glory”- As a Christian you … More By mercy, through mercy, and for mercy.
Our read-through-the-Bible plan brings us to Romans 9 today, a difficult passage to understand. John Piper has written a whole book, “The Justification of God” which covers the first 23 verses of chapter 9 of Romans. In 2002, he preached a sermon on Romans 9 and said this, “because of Romans 9 I left teaching … More Piper: The God of Romans 9 has been the Rock-solid foundation
Romans 8 is such a beautiful, wonderful passage of promise and hope. It was hard to know what part to highlight on our read-through-the-Bible plan. Here are John Piper’s comments: Verse 35 says that there will be tribulation and distress and persecution and sword. Verse 36 says that Christians are being killed all day long, … More O how different we will be if we believe that God is for us and no one can be against us!
God has spoken in his holiness: (From our Bible reading passage today, Psalm 60:6) Spurgeon, in The Treasury of David: Faith is never happier than when it can fall back upon the promise of God. She sets this over against all discouraging circumstances; let outward providences say what they will, the voice of a … More Faith regards the promise not as fiction but fact
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 