Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross. He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly (Proverbs 26:23-26 NKJV).

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” This commonly misunderstood passage carries great implication in general, and specifically for the context in which it is found. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? How do we properly apply this passage?

Think of flattery as the opposite of gossip. The latter is something you say behind someone's back that you would never say to his face. Flattery is something you say to someone's face that you would never say behind his back. In other words, you heap praise upon a person, but it is a lie to gain something from them.

When we respond to the grace of God in obedience to the gospel, Jesus washes away our sins (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16), and we then have fellowship with God and with one another (1 John 1:3). The underlying word in the original language of the New Testament for fellowship means: "close association involving mutual interests and sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close relationship" (BDAG).

First of all, realize that you are not alone. Death and grief are as old as the human race (Gen. 3:19; Heb. 9:27). Yet death cannot be treated as just another fact of life. It is inevitable and universal, but not to be taken lightly. Since it is inevitable, coping with death should be a preventive measure, as with any other event. A study of the subject may help prevent some of the bitter effects of grief in ourselves and others. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

I stand in awe when I consider the love, mercy, and longsuffering of God! God has done so much for us in order for "us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Col. 1:12). God's eternal desire is for "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).

 I believe it is no coincidence that the men the Lord appointed to oversee the church would be called shepherds/pastors. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11 NKJV). 

Man has always been the victim of his pride and selfishness. It goes back to Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3). Pride was the problem of the nation of Edom (Obadiah 1:3). Pride is one of the major problems of our society. Our generation stresses self-sufficiency – do your own thing.

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon" (Luke 18:31,32 NKJV).

What will stretching (reaching) forward take? Like the physical body requires exercise, the spiritual body requires the same (action). As the physical uses every muscle in the body, the spiritual must have every member actively involved. It will require: faith and trust in God and His promises; every member must be enthusiastic about the work; diligence is a key ingredient; there must be a vision for great things; there will be no successes if there isn’t work, work, work!!!

When we are wrong about something, the right response is the humble response. We must be willing to admit when we are in the wrong, and change our minds. 

William Cowper writes: “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.

"The goal of Christianity is not to get people to act like Jesus, but to think like Jesus." The apostle Paul wrote, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). If we think like him, then the way we act will be like him. 

This is a broad statement, and it includes everything which pertains to the Christian life. Too many professed Christians are content with merely having their names on the church record, but anyone who is acquainted with the New Testament knows that the Lord expects more of them than that. (Read Titus 2:14-3:1).

 How is your prayer life? If I could list some of the things I would like to improve in my walk with God, my prayer life would have to be on that list. I believe I am not alone and that many other Christians feel the same way.

In these two little Psalms, which are plainly one, we see the conflicting emotions of gloom and sunshine, which comes to a close with sunshine in triumph.

Though one must not change the word of God, one ought to be changed by the words of God:  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2 NKJV).

We often talk about the concept of restoration. There are some in this room who know vastly more than I do about what is sometimes referred to as “the Restoration Movement.” In a nutshell, that movement was meant to bring people back to the original New Testament church; in other words, to “restore” what Christ said and what the Holy Spirit inspired men like Paul and Peter to write down in the pages of the New Testament.

We often talk about the concept of restoration. There are some in this room who know vastly more than I do about what is sometimes referred to as “the Restoration Movement.” In a nutshell, that movement was meant to bring people back to the original New Testament church; in other words, to “restore” what Christ said and what the Holy Spirit inspired men like Paul and Peter to write down in the pages of the New Testament.

Opportunities for serving God are in abundance all around us but so nearsighted are we that we fail to perceive their presence.