May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the Holy Spirit’s power….We wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself …
Think and Practice Whatever is Lovely and Loving
Jesus said: The Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God….Think about and practice whatever is lovely, loving, amiable, attractive, beautiful, gracious, kind, peaceable, and winsome. (John 16:27; Philippians 4:8-9, my expanded paraphrase) An Example of Jesus-like Love Peter Miller (1710-1796) was a Baptist pastor in Ephrata, Pennsylvania during the American …
Three Uses of God’s Law
I desire to do your will, my God. Your law is within my heart….The unfaithful ones did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law…..Blessed is the one You discipline, Lord, the one You teach from Your law….The Lord brought out His people with rejoicing, His chosen ones with shouts of joy…that they might keep His precepts …
Three Categories of God’s Law
Delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night and your ways will always be prosperous….All His laws are before me; I have not turned away from His decrees….The law of their God is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip….All His laws are before me. I have not turned away from His decrees. …
Helping One Another
Command Christians not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure …
Resist the Devil
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded….Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:7-10) Satan is God’s Defeated Foe William Gurnall (1616–1679) was an English pastor …
Gladness in Christ
Sing to the LORD, you saints of His. Praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me and help me. You turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sackcloth and clothed …
Goforth’s Rules
Jesus said: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20) …
Pastoral Counseling (Part 3)
Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18-19 NLT) More Pearls …
Pastoral Counseling (Part 2)
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me….God says: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you….You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory….Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 16:7, 32:8, 73:24, 119:24) This builds …