“And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James "5":18 The Lord had explicitly told Elijah to seek out King Ahab because He was about to send rain on the earth. He did not, however, send this rain until Elijah had prayed. God does not always carry […]
“Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians "5":15-16 With the parable of the ten virgins, the contrast between the wise and the foolish was over the matter of readiness. Here, a similar contrast is made, for the wise are described as
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.” 2 Peter "1":20 The word “private” points not to the interpreter but to the words being interpreted. It means that prophetic Scripture is not to be explained by its own context alone. For example, Matthew 24 should be read in the light of
“I coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel.” Acts "20":33 Paul made no contract with the church in Ephesus or with any other church that he should receive a certain remuneration for a certain period of service. That God’s servants should look to human sources for the supply of their needs has no precedent
“He spake unadvisedly with his lips.” Psalm "106":33 After more than thirty years of proving God in the wilderness, the people of Israel were still rebellious and quick to blame Moses and Aaron for the lack of water. For His part, God was ready to meet their needs and commanded His servant to take His
“Having put off from himself [margin] the principalities and the powers he made a show of them openly.” Colossians "2":15 How did the Lord Jesus put Satan to shame? By shaking off from Himself the powers of evil as He rose from the dead. Resurrection implies a realm beyond the touch of death. Men die,
“I say unto you, this man went down to his house justified.” Luke "18":14 At most, the publican could only plead for forgiveness. God heard his prayer but gave him much more than he had asked for, since Jesus said that he returned home “justified.” Do you see how far this exceeded the sinner’s expectations?
“For to me to live is Christ.” Philippians "1":21 On the evening of April 29, 1920, I was alone in my room struggling to decide whether or not to believe in the Lord. At first, I was reluctant, but as I tried to pray, I saw the magnitude of my sins and the reality and
“Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.” Genesis "32":29 After his struggle at Jabbok, Jacob wanted to know who “touched him,” but he was not told. Jacob did not know who the Wrestler was when he came, and he knew no more when he went. Jacob just
“Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us . . .” Ephesians "3":20 God’s glory for endless ages is to be “in the church and in Christ Jesus” (verse 21). But God’s glory now, in the exercise of
