Our  hearts desire should not be to gain wealth for our own lusts, but rather to minister to the needs of people in every area of life. It is important to have the funds necessary to help those in need, such as underwriting a mission project or helping to support a...

The Apostle Paul points to the church of Macedonia as an example of the kind of giving that pleases God, advances His Kingdom, and activates His blessings in our personal lives. Notice what Second Corinthians 8:2-7 says from the Ben Campbell Johnson paraphrase: In...

There is always outward evidence when God works within the hearts of believers. It can be seen in the earliest accounts of the Church as the Holy Spirit began to bring the early believers together as a corporate body. Acts 4 tells of the time Peter and John were...

When God calls us into His plan, it is not our talent or intelligence He is interested in. He looks specifically for those who will do His will, regardless of their personal ability. The Apostle Paul is a great example of this kind of person. He was a man respected...

God’s Word says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). If our faith grows by hearing the Word of God, then how does our grace grow? Grace grows by entering the presence of God to obtain the added measure of His grace...

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus provides us with the clearest example of someone who drew on an extra measure of God’s grace in an intense time of need. While in the garden,  Jesus asked His disciple to pray with Him. He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful,...

It is important to recognize God’s grace as the source of power in our lives and learn to draw upon that grace in time of need. God’s grace is the power within a believer to bring change. As we are changed by God’s influence on the inside, we become more effective...

The real strength of Jesus’ message is not our ability in ourselves, but our potential in Him. God has made us in His image and likeness to reveal His goodness and to show His greatness in human form. Jesus Himself is our picture of the goodness of God in action....

God’s work in the physical world was finished at creation. His work in the spiritual world was finished through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We have been created to live in God’s rest. He has created everything for us. The work was God’s...

When God entered into a covenant with Abraham, the father of faith, He set in motion the events that would bring Jesus Christ to the earth and, ultimately, to purchase the redemption of all mankind. As a result, we have been given the privilege of living in...

God gives His greatness and His grace to all who come to Him in simple faith. His covenant is a covenant of grace. He is a God of grace, and He imparts grace to all who have entered into His covenant. The word “grace” is primarily used in two different ways. First,...

As each year draws to a close, we often find ourselves reflecting on our achievements during the year. Some may look back feeling satisfied with what they accomplished, while others may feel quite dissatisfied. Typically, those who look back with satisfaction also...