Tag Archives: prayer

Spiritual amnesia (Ephesians 1)

Posted on January 30, 2019 by

It is so easy to forget as Christians. We forget how much God has blessed us. We forget how he chose us before the foundation of the world. We forget the riches of his grace that he has lavished on … Continue reading →

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I Peter 4:1-7 — Living for the will of God

Posted on February 18, 2016 by

From the very beginning of the letter, Peter made something very clear that he gets back to here. In chapter 1, verse 2, he let us know that we were chosen by God for obedience to Jesus Christ. And this … Continue reading →

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James 5:15-20 — A faith that pursues

Posted on February 8, 2016 by

The letter of James ends rather abruptly compared to a lot of the letters that you see in the New Testament. But it ends with one of its main themes: a faith that expresses itself in love. And here we … Continue reading →

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James 5:13-18 — A faith that prays

Posted on February 7, 2016 by

As I said before, a lot of James at first glance seems disjointed, but the more that I’ve read this book, the more I’ve come to see the overall flow of it. And here James comes back to an idea … Continue reading →

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I Timothy 2:8 — Manning up

Posted on November 13, 2015 by

No, this has nothing to do with Peyton or Eli or any football player for that matter. 🙂 It has everything to do with being a man. The man that God has called all Christian men to be. In verses … Continue reading →

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I Timothy 2:1-7 — Where our battle starts

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

In chapter 1, Paul starts by condemning those who were stirring up all kinds of controversies based on false doctrine that were taking the Ephesian church away from its main mission: to spread the gospel to those around them (1:3-6). … Continue reading →

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I Thessalonians 5:16-28 — Because the Lord is coming (part 2)

Posted on October 31, 2015 by

As Paul concludes this letter, he gives the Thessalonians some final instructions on how to live in light of the Lord’s coming. He told them, Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for … Continue reading →

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Colossians 4:2-4 — Praying behind the front lines

Posted on October 19, 2015 by

I wonder if we understand just how important our prayers are behind the front lines. There are so many people, pastors and missionaries especially, who are out there on the front lines. And many times, we act as if they … Continue reading →

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Colossians 1:1-14 — A prayer for all believers

Posted on October 14, 2015 by

If you ever want to pray a prayer for a fellow Christian but are not sure how to do it, and you want to go beyond a simple, “bless so-and-so,” you don’t have to look any further than the prayers … Continue reading →

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Ephesians 6:10-24 — Standing together in prayer

Posted on September 27, 2015 by

As we close Ephesians, we close with the same drum we’ve been beating for the last 4 chapters:  unity. Paul has been talking about the spiritual war we are in, and after talking about the armor of God we are … Continue reading →

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II Corinthians 10:1-8 — Tearing down Satan’s strongholds

Posted on July 26, 2015 by

I suppose the more that we look at the world around us, the more it seems like Satan has set up his strongholds in our culture.  Certainly we see it the moral shifts that have occurred in America over the … Continue reading →

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II Corinthians 1:10-11 — The importance of our prayers

Posted on June 20, 2015 by

Do our prayers really make a difference?  Or would God have just done what he was going to do anyway, even without our prayers? I think Paul definitely had his opinion on the matter.  He said concerning his trials, He … Continue reading →

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Romans 15:30-33 — Supporting those on the front lines

Posted on April 4, 2015 by

It is easy, sometimes, to forget that we are in a spiritual war.  But we are. And many people are out on the front lines sharing the gospel.  Some are doing ministry at home.  Others are in foreign countries.  But … Continue reading →

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Acts 2:42-47 — Devoted to praying…together

Posted on November 20, 2014 by

Before I get into today’s topic, a note. I’ve been thinking about the last few blogs I’ve written, and praying about whether I’ve been perhaps too harsh on those who are “Dones.”  I’m honestly not sure. Here’s what I can … Continue reading →

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Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1 — Weak

Posted on October 14, 2014 by

Nobody ever said Satan fights fair.  And he doesn’t.  When he sees us in our weakness, whether it be physically or emotionally, he will attack. You see this in these passages.  When Jesus and his disciples arrived at the Garden … Continue reading →

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John 17:11-15 — Prayed for in the midst of a hostile world

Posted on October 11, 2014 by

If there’s one thing I see in this passage, it’s the tender care that Jesus has for us as he prays for us. And he does pray for us. So often we pray for others.  But Jesus, as our high … Continue reading →

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John 16:16-33 — Finding peace and joy

Posted on October 9, 2014 by

It’s very clear from this passage that all that Jesus was saying was weighing heavily on the disciples, mostly because they were so focused on the idea that Jesus was leaving.  As a result, it overshadowed everything else he was saying. … Continue reading →

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John 14:12-14 — Powerful promises

Posted on September 28, 2014 by

Jesus made some pretty amazing promises here.  The type that make you say, “Really?  Are you serious?” Jesus said, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even … Continue reading →

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Matthew 18:18-20 — Loosening God’s hand in those who hurt us

Posted on May 20, 2014 by

This passage is similar to what we see in Matthew 16, and I have to admit, both are difficult to interpret within the context. In Matthew 16, Jesus talks about binding and loosing.  That whatever you bind on earth would … Continue reading →

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Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30 — Persistence, humility, and faith

Posted on May 4, 2014 by

One wonders exactly what Jesus was thinking throughout this conversation with this woman, and in what kind of tone did he speak to her. Jesus, after his confrontation with the Jews, actually left the confines of Israel and went to … Continue reading →

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Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:1-13 — The Father who gives good gifts…generously

Posted on March 13, 2014 by

In America, there are some Bible teachers that say that if you want something from God, just claim it in Jesus name, and he has to give it to you. For a lot of these people, God is like their … Continue reading →

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Matthew 6:13; Luke 11:4 — A daily spiritual battle

Posted on March 7, 2014 by

Every day, we are fighting a spiritual battle.  That’s why Jesus instructed us to pray, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  (Matthew 6:13) We’re living in an evil world, in which the prince … Continue reading →

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Matthew 6:7-8 — Empty words

Posted on March 1, 2014 by

Prayer is simple.  And yet somehow, it is difficult. At its base, prayer is simply talking to God, just as you would talk to any other person. If that’s all prayer is, why is it so difficult sometimes then?  I … Continue reading →

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Nehemiah 2-3 — Rebuilding the walls

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

Nehemiah had a massive task ahead of him as he looked to repair the walls around Jerusalem. But it was an important one.  As long as the walls were down, the Jews were defenseless against their enemies.  And so after … Continue reading →

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Daniel 10 — War

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

A long time ago, a book came out called “This Present Darkness,” by Frank Peretti.  It was a fiction book, but after reading it, it really made me think about the the spiritual warfare that goes on that we can’t … Continue reading →

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