Let us look at the 29th verse of the 24th chapter of Luke. This is just one verse out of what, to me, is one of the most wonderful eye-opening stories in the Word of God, “But they constrained him, saying, Abide within us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.”
This one that they asked in, of course we know was Jesus, but those who asked Him in did not know it. Jesus had been crucified, and buried, and the hearts of the disciples were very sad—more …
To the Members of The Moody Church Chicago, Illinois
Brethren:
Seven years ago, under the manifest leading of the Holy Spirit, I began my ministry through the pastorate of this great church. As we look back over those years and consider all the experiences attending them we are thrilled at the evident marks of God’s goodness and blessing, and our hearts are full of gratitude as we exclaim with one of old, “This is the Lord’s doing, marvelous in our eyes.”
It has pleased our heavenly Father to bless the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. No …
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the …
“Now, when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught…And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”—Luke 5:4, 11
This little Scripture that I read today is a splendid example of revealing truth by contrast. These men had been fishers all their lives. They has been trying to win in a big way ever since they started business. To get enough fish and sell them so they would have enough money for the rest of their lives was a dream. …
In the sixth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, beginning with the sixth verse, we read,
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: …
Behind enemy lines, our mightiest weapon is wielded from a position of fervent prayer.
In truth, only desperate people pray.
When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon, they were commanded to seek the welfare of this pagan city and to “pray to the Lord” for its people (Jeremiah 29:7). They were to pray for their cruel captors whose armies captured Jerusalem, killed many Jews, and for sport threw Jewish babies against the rocks.
Let me say it again: they were to pray for their enemies! To pray for their oppressors! They were to pray for the people who worshiped dumb …
Recently, I was asked what changes I have observed over my five decades of ministry. At the top of the list was the impact, scope, and effects of the sexual revolution. Another change I mentioned was the explosion of technology, which has fueled the sexual revolution. We all know the internet is filled with destructive websites promoting an entire range of sexual immorality and LGBTQ+ lifestyles. We no longer have to go looking for pornography—it comes looking for us.
Sexual immorality, of course, was one of the after-effects of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God, which resulted in their banishment …
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation …
Young man! The Bible is true. What have these infidels to give you in its place? What has made England but the open Bible? Every nation that exalteth the Word of God is exalted, and every nation that casteth it down is cast down. Oh, let us cling close to the Bible. Of course we shall not understand it all at once. But men are not to condemn it on that account. Suppose I should send my little boy, five years old, to school tomorrow morning, and when he came home in the afternoon I say …
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
In this second chapter of Ephesians we have already had brought before us in a very vivid way our relationship to the Father as those who have been quickened together …
