The following excerpt comes from “Twelve Appeals to Prosperity Preachers” found in the new edition of Let the Nations Be Glad.(John Piper)with a reference to our reading for today, Acts 14. Missing from most prosperity preaching is the fact that the New Testament emphasizes the necessity of suffering far more than it does the notion … More What is missing from most prosperity preaching?
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3 ESV) For the work to which I have called them…. … More A Call to Ministry and Suffering
The brothers of Joseph had committed great sins. They knew this, were no doubt plagued with guilt, but thought they had gotten away with it. Now, after obtaining life-saving grain in Egypt from Joseph (NOT knowing who he really was) they discover the payment for the grain was back in their sacks. Their immediate response? … More God: sovereignly summons and saves
Genesis 41:56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Henry Law, at “Grace Gems!”, challenged me to re-read Genesis 41 with eyes to see JESUS: The Scripture before us is precious, because every view … More Henry Law: Every view of Joseph exhibits Jesus!
John Piper’s sermon, “The Sale of Joseph and the Son of God” concludes his way: The story of Joseph is the story of a righteous one who is sinned against and suffers so that tribe of Judah would be preserved and a Lion would come forth, and would prove to be a Lamb-like Lion, and … More God takes the very sins of the destroyers and makes them the means of the destroyers’ deliverance.
Thanks to Coty Pinckney for his insights into Genesis 35-36. He has a wonderful reminder that we need to consider the eternal perspective and do not look at the results of obedience in our own lifetimes. Esau has been a central figure in Genesis since his birth in chapter 25. His actions and threats have … More God’s perspective is not limited to only a few hundred years.
Acts 8:1-4 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off … More An interesting way to get the Gospel spread
John Piper, in a sermon “Spreading Power Through Persecution” I want to encourage you this morning from Acts 8:1–8 that God rules over the sufferings of the church and causes them to spread spiritual power and the joy of faith in a lost world. It is not his only way. But it does seem to … More Don’t judge suffering too quickly
John Piper, in a sermon from Acts 7, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People: So in Acts 7:1 the high priest gives Stephen a chance to defend himself, “Is this so?” he asks. And Stephen does a very strange thing. He tells a story—a condensed version of the history of Israel. He starts with Abraham … More Stephen’s defense: a history lesson
God is sovereign and His Spirit leads us to the right opportunities for ministry. We see this in Acts 16:6-10…. Pastor Steven J. Cole comments: Opportunities come to those who are already serving, not to those who are doing nothing…..Sometimes people don’t serve the Lord because they’ve never experienced a dramatic “call” to ministry. But this … More Get Moving
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