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All authority has been given. Let’s talk about Satan’s authority. What authority does he have and why? Does he have authority over us? The World “The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you…

Let’s continue our discussion on authority. While God the Father gave Jesus extensive authority, the authority Jesus gave the Twelve and the seventy He sent out seems limited to power over the demonic realm and the power to heal—all in the context of proclaiming the coming kingdom. The signs performed authenticated the message proclaimed.  In…

Got authority? Maybe. Maybe not.  What Is Authority? When you study authority in the New Testament, you notice immediately that authority is given. You can’t faith it into existence. The Father gave authority to Jesus. Jesus gave authority to the Twelve and to the seventy.  Interestingly, Satan offers authority to Jesus in exchange for worship.…

“There is much need for prayer and much cause to praise. Suffering should elicit prayer. Sufficiency should elicit praise.” (Blue, The Bible Knowledge Commentary) The fast pace of life can cause prayer to be a last resort. And praise? It’s often reserved for church. God intended both to be part of our normal day. Though Todd…

Off-ramps. We don’t take one unless we need to. At least, not intentionally. Traffic flows faster on the highway, and we have places to go and people to see. Unless God takes the wheel.  God’s off-ramp to suffering takes many forms. Nit-picky annoyances that stack up like unpaid bills. Chronic illness. Interruptions that become long-term…

Lord, are You listening? I needed an answer—yesterday.  Unanswered prayer. God encourages His children to pray, but sometimes answers don’t come. Could there be a good reason for unanswered prayer? Scripture gives several. Negative examples, we expect to find, but, surprisingly, several reasons pop up other than disobedience. Let’s take a look: 1. Timing: “Then…

When one of our sons proposed to his bride-to-be, he prepared for the big moment. Extensively. He recreated one of their favorite spots—even securing their favorite table, yes, the actual restaurant table! He hired a photographer. He flew her parents in for the engagement party. He attended to every detail—and created a perfect proposal she…

You belong.  Yes, you.  No membership fees. No sorority rush. No skills needed. You’re in. Often I forget the community of the worldwide Church in the pursuit of personal discipleship. While throughout Scripture, the Jews have always had a national mindset, Peter extends that thinking to his Gentile brothers and sisters.  But you are a…

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 1…

Last week, we studied Jesus, the living Stone, and ourselves as living stones. Today we’ll mine the concept of the cornerstone. For in Scripture it says, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:6 NIV)…