Posts filed under ‘Sonrise Thoughts’
Him Who Is Able
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24-25
I’ve been guilty in the past of reading quickly over the final verses of New Testament letters. They often are so similar in their language—a brother expressing his goodbye and well wishes for the church while praising the Lord. Not that these things are without worth. We say “amen” to them, but don’t think much about them after that. But, I sure am glad the Lord parked me on this passage and made me stop and think. Just listen…
Hell On Earth
…for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds…
2 Pet 2:8
I’ve always thought the phrase “hell on earth” had little truth behind it. After all, how can we compare the temporary sufferings of this present world to eternal suffering in hell? I was surprised, however, to find that the word “tormented” in the verse above comes from a Greek word often associated with the sufferings of hell…
Continuing Steadfastly
Acts 2:42-47
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
What is the purpose of the church? How should she spend her time? There are a lot of answers floating around to those questions, but what does Scripture teach? Our text reveals what the early church was like in its purity just after God gave His Spirit on Pentecost. These Christians are an example to us, and we should measure our assemblies today by their standard….
How Shall They Preach Unless They Are Sent?
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
Rom 10:13-15
We’ve been looking at evangelism the last several weeks, and the passage above fits right in with that topic. What a wonderful promise we have in v. 13. “Whoever calls…” What a message of comfort and hope we have for the lost! Can any soul be denied that calls upon the name of the Lord? No! God said so! Call upon Him, and He will answer. You will be saved!
But, we often remember v. 13 of the above passage and forget what follows…
You Cannot Serve God And Mammon
“You cannot serve God and mammon.” Lk 16:13
I’ve recently been meditating on the parable of the unjust steward in Lk 16:1-13. If you remember, when the master found out his steward was wasting his goods, he told him to get things in order because he was losing his job. The steward was immediately thrown into a panic about what to do. He decided he would cheat his master further by cutting the debts owed him by some of his master’s debtors. The purpose of this act was…
