But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. Psalm 102:12 It would be interesting to read through the Bible and mark every “…but God” that you come across. In Psalm 102, the author is clearly distressed and depressed. “But you, O Lord…” He remembers God’s sovereignty and His eternal existence. Charles H. … More But you, O Lord….
In 1 Samuel 5, we see an example of God’s sense of humor. The people of Israel were using the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm, taking it to battle with them. Their enemies, the Philistines, ended up slaughtering them and capturing the Ark. The Philistines placed it in their temple before … More God’s sense of humor?
1 Samuel 3-5 describes a very dark period in the history of Israel. In 1 Samuel 4:10-11 we read, “ So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. And the ark of God was … More Draw near in the dark days
In Him we have set our firm hope, that he will deliver us, as you join in working for us by prayer, so that the blessing that comes to us from the prayers of many persons might result in thanksgiving to God by many as they see our deliverance. —2 Corinthians 1 Pastor Coty Pinckney asks: … More What is prayer? Is prayer effective?
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 ESV A prayer to see and … More The freedom of sovereign grace
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 are a vessel of mercy. You were called out of spiritual … 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: (Psalm 60:6 ESV) 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 faithful God drowns every sound … More Faith regards the promise not as fiction but fact
