"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world..." (1 John 2:15). Demas, Diotrephes, and Demetrius each had a love, but each loved a different thing. DEMAS: "Demas has forsaken me, and has departed for Thessalonica..." (2 Tim. 4:9-10 NKJ). Paul was...

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne..." (Isaiah 6:1 NKJ). In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, we see that the prophet received three distinct visions. As a result, his whole perspective and purpose was dramatically changed: Vision...

"I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, 'Open for me...'" (Song of Solomon 5:2 NKJ). Part Two This verse is good news. The voice of the beloved who knocks is that of Christ, Who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is waking up...

"I sleep, but my heart is awake..." (Song of Solomon 5:2 NKJ). Part One This verse indicates a restless state. The spiritual man wants to stay awake and alert to the Lord's visitation, but the fleshly man wants to sleep. There is a New Testament parallel in this...

"Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come" (2 Tim. 3:1 NKJ). Sometimes it is easier to understand a word when we see how it is used elsewhere in scripture. This is the case with the word translated here as perilous. In the Greek it is chalepos...

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober..." (1 Peter 1:13). Part Two In the original Greek text this word translated sober is nepho (nay'-fo). It is usually interpreted as meaning "to abstain from alcoholic beverages." So this phrase could be translated...

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober..." (1 Peter 1:13). Part One In Biblical days in the orient, a man would normally wear a long flowing gown. This style of dress was appropriate when in a relaxed mood and position. However, if he had to move fast...

"I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1 NKJ). In this verse Paul lists four kinds of prayer. Each word used is individually descriptive of one form of prayer: Supplications: This word...

"Your enemies...shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways" (Deut. 28:7 NKJ). This is God's promise to us that the forces of our evil adversary will be scattered before us and their opposition turned into fearful flight. When the Bible states...

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (Rom. 8:19 NKJ). John referred to Satan as that old serpent, the devil (Rev. 12:7). Jesus indicates that our enemy has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning...

"Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." (Eph. 1:13-14). Part Two Here Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the "earnest" of our inheritance. This word translated...

"Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." (Eph. 1:13-14). Part One As a youngster seeking the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit, I was preconditioned...