"Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5 NKJ). Out of the Reformation there emerged a manifesto, a new idea that each believer could read the Bible for himself. He could trust the Holy Spirit to interpret what he read and illuminate it to him...

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6 NKJ). Assuming leadership as pastor of a church put me in position to "do it all." I picked up people in my car to bring them to church, then led the singing, made the announcement, performed the...

"Shammah....stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it....And the Lord brought about a great victory" (2 Sam. 23:11-12 NKJ). Shammah was one of David's heroic warriors. He came to a field that was a food supply for David's army. The Philistines had...

"The children of Issachar...had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..." (1 Chron. 12:32 NKJ). A person who reads his Bible consistently is soon attuned to world conditions. After you have read Jesus' description of the last days (Matt....

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Ps. 34:19 NKJ). This verse is not declaring that you and I are going to suffer all our lives. There is no redemptive value in suffering; it entered the world as a result of sin...

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Rom. 12:2 NKJ). A lady came home from a revival meeting and cheerfully announced to her agnostic husband, "I have been born again." In contempt he snarled these words at her:...

"And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer. 3:15 NKJ). I am grateful for all the sincere men and women of God who I know personally are in the ministry because of a "call" of God upon their...

"The Lord is my shepherd. Nothing shall be lacking to me" (Ps. 23:1; Author's literal translation). This is a security verse. Safe in the shepherd's fold we know no lack, no want, no deficiency, no shortage. Psalm 84:11 assures us: "...No good thing will He...

"And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15 NKJ). The ability to remain on one's feet during battle requires good footing, strong ankle action, and proper footwear. This expression, "...having shod your feet with the...

"Thou shalt not see evil any more" (Zeph. 3:15). Here the Lord assures us of total deliverance and complete freedom from whatever it is that is pressuring us. One translation of this verse reads:"...You shall see disaster no more." Another states: "...Never again...

"For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6b NKJ). This phrase diligently seek expresses great intensity. It implies more than mere searching or ordinary seeking. The primary Greek word...

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him..." (Heb. 11:6a NKJ). What is faith? It is a combination of several things: TRUST: Faith enables us to approach the Lord in trust. It causes us to say by our actions: "Lord, I trust You. Your Word says You can be...