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We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.(I John 5:18-21)The Apostle John wrote his...

The Chinese pastor, author and martyr, Watchman Nee, in his book “What Shall This Man Do ?”, made an interesting observation about the careers of the three apostles, Peter, Paul and John. Nee observed that there is spiritual significance in the occupations that these three were engaged in when they were called by Jesus. We are told in Scripture that when Peter was called, he was busy as a fisherman, ‘casting his nets into the sea’. Paul happened to be a tentmaker by trade, crafting portable dwelling places. John, the beloved apostle, was also a fisherman, but when Jesus first...

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.( Isaiah 53:1-3)The true Church is the creation of Jesus. He said...

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because...

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3″9-11)The Bible...

Why Paul Is Important to Christianity By Philip Cottraux Skeptics often ask what makes Christianity right and all other religions wrong. The implication is that various contradicting faiths renders none of them right. But the Christian’s best answer is to point out how well Christianity holds up under historical scrutiny. The ministry, death, and aftermath of Christ is the most well-documented event of the ancient world. The time span between His life and the first historical mentions of Him is the shortest in history; and even when we don’t include the sheer volumes of ancient copies of the four gospels,...

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ( I Corinthians 11:17-19)All things work together for the good, to those who Love God and who are the called according to his purposes (Romans 8:28)I hope my readers will indulge me briefly...

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.( ! Corinthians 3:16-18)We are currently living in the very times that the Apostles and Prophets long warned of, the terrible “last days” which would be marked by such things as Betrayal,...

KENOSHA, Wis. — Jill Gilmore is one of those voters who have confounded both Democrats and Never Trump Republicans the most. She is a college-educated, gun-owning female conservative Republican who voted for Donald Trump. But here’s the real kicker: She is also a devout Evangelical Christian. “In the list of what is most important to myself and my family, faith is always first,” said the striking 34-year-old mother of seven, small business owner, and community volunteer who says she and her husband teach their children daily that behavior and respect towards others is not an option, but a requirement. Contrast...

His Hand is Stretched Out Still By Philip Cottraux Isaiah is a reflection of the entire Bible itself. The Bible is 66 books. Isaiah is 66 chapters. The Bible is divided into Old and New Testaments. In the 39 books of the Old Testament we tend to view God as angry and vengeful, destroying Sodom and Gomorra with fire and brimstone, killing the firstborn of Egypt during the tenth plague or having all the men, women, and children of Jericho slaughtered by Joshua’s army. Likewise, the first 39 chapters of Isaiah focus primarily on dire warnings of God’s judgment; but...

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that...

CALLING TO PRIESTHOOD Bishop Barry Knestout grew up in a Catholic home, as one of nine children (3 girls, 6 boys), to the late Deacon Thomas and Caroline Knestout. His father worked for a national security agency. Barry recalls that growing up, his family always prayed. “Family prayer was in the context of meals — prayer around the table at every meal, and outside of that it was all connected with the Church’s prayer and my father’s personal prayer life.” Bishop Knestout also shares, “I have a devotion to the Holy Spirit that goes back to my father’s participation in...

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)When man fell from grace and Righteousness God promised him salvation …but it would come through a woman. Genesis 3 is the account of that fall and of the promise which was offered in the midst of it. The Judge of the Universe summonsed three perpetrators to come out of hiding and to stand before Him, in inquisition for sin and guilt. First, the Most High asked the man to give...

A precious tool in my hand is the one I am able to wield to build and construct My Temple in each and every child I have given life to. So be the trowel of My hand laying the mortar of Unity my children for I AM building My Temple in others as I have built My temple in you . . . 1 Peter 2:1-10 2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in...

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)In all of the rest of Creation, the LORD God spoke and it was. Creation by Fiat, The Lord said…”Let there be Trees, fish, beasts, domestic animals, etc.” . But when He made man, The Most High got down in the clay, and formed with his own hands the marvelous body of the first man, Adam. Then he did something completely intimate, something very close to ‘mouth to mouth’ , He breathed...

The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.(Deuteronomy 28:56-57)But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not...

The Molten Sea By Philip Cottraux Exodus 30:17-18: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. The laver was a brass tub outside the tabernacle between the altar and entrance. Like a perfect procession, a ram was sacrificed at the outer altar, then the priests would enter the outer court to the brazen altar to make the burnt offerings. But they had to wash...

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou...

Evangelicals, we can no longer say sexual misconduct is just a Roman Catholic problem. At one of our seminaries, controversy has centered on a president (now former president) whose sermon illustration from years ago included advice that a battered wife remain in the home and the marriage in hope of the conversion of her abusive husband. Other comments represented the objectification of a teenage girl. The issues only grew more urgent with the sense that the dated statements represented ongoing advice and counsel. ..We thought this was a Roman Catholic problem. .. When people said that evangelicals had a similar...

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,(Ephesians 1:22) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. (Ephesians 5:23) But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.1 Corinthians 11:3) He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the...