How prone are we to self-deception? Are we really able to be honest with ourselves as we talk with God? Do we remember daily the true source of our righteousness? Remember me with favor, O my God (Nehemiah 13:31b). Some people think this sounds self-serving, that Nehemiah is concerned that God is going to forget … More God Will Remember and Help
Ray Stedman comments on Nehemiah 7: Here Nehemiah seeks to perpetuate the achievements that he has brought about, by appointing wise successors and establishing sound policies. After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of … More Never let down our guard
Ray Stedman, in a sermon “Help for Elders” based on 1 Timothy 5: He [Paul] goes back to the Law, to the book of Deuteronomy, and quotes what Moses said: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” {cf, Deut 25:4}. That was a requirement in Israel. In those days, … More The Old Testament, Oxen and us
Ray Stedman, in a 1965 sermon, “Ezra:The Way Back” comments on the events of Ezra 6: The minute the people began to turn back to God, he also turned the hearts of the kings, Darius and Artaxerxes, and they issued the decree that started the temple work again. Finally the work was finished. In chapter … More Celebrating fellowship with God!
Ray Stedman on Ezra 4-5 (from a sermon “Ezra: The Way Back”) The third factor in this return under Zerubbabel is the opposition that immediately develops, as we read in chapters 4 through 6. A force is at work in every human heart, as in world affairs, that immediately rises up to oppose everything that … More Opposition!
Pastor Ray Stedman writes: First Kings is the gripping story of how to lose a kingdom. As we read these Old Testament books, the key to making them live and be vital in our lives is to see that they are visual aids by which God is showing us what is going on in our … More Stedman: How to Lose a Kingdom
Here is an except from a sermon based in our reading for today, Acts 17:1-15 “Rabble and Nobles” by Ray Stedman, preached in 1970 We are told here that the Jews were jealous. They were unable to win against the power of the Scriptures and the logic of the apostle, and so they revealed the … More Ray Stedman: Upside down and right side up
Ray Stedman comments on the first 3 chapters of Hosea: So Hosea is rather discouraged and in the opening chapter of this little book of prophecy we read a personal note about him. He went to God and God told him to do a strange thing. God said, “I want you to get married.” I … More Redeeming Love
Ray Stedman helps us take a step back and review the prophecies of Ezekiel: In chapters 25-32 there is a series of judgments pronounced against foreign nations which are guilty of crimes against the people of God. Since Israel could not sin with impunity, neither could other nations escape the wrath of God. But though … More The enemies of God cannot overthrow His purpose of redemption and salvation.
John 8:4-9 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with … More What did Jesus write on the ground in John 8?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 