The psalms are wonderful guides for our prayer. What besetting sin have you fallen into again—overspending, pornography, alcohol, gambling, gluttony? Psalms 51 or Psalm 32 could provide a template for your prayer, leading you in confession of your sin. Another prospect would be to employ Psalm 143 to take you by the hand and […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Using Psalm 143 as a Template for PrayerThe end of a calendar year brings a flood of communications and solicitations. I confess that amidst the avalanche that crosses my desk most go unread, many even unopened. Something in one I did open, however, caught my eye. It contained a brief article entitled, “Prayer Changes Things.” The Lord has been working mightily […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Prayer Changes Things – But What?I’m leading my congregation in growing as a house of prayer. What does that look like? Do we keep our doors open 24-7 so people can drop in to pray? Perhaps a prayer hotline fits the bill. What exactly is a house of prayer? That’s the question that piqued my curiosity. So I did […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on God’s Prayer Stimulus(This article is the ninth and final in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) How do we go about standing in Christ? How do we wage war with spiritual weapons (cf. 2 Cor. 10:4-5)? If standing is our strategy, how do we combat Satan’s schemes? Satan has at least three primary […]
Continue Reading... No Comments.We’ve been exploring the theme of spiritual warfare in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. On this Christmas Eve, with the celebration of the incarnation of our Lord much in mind, we would do well to remind ourselves that Christ’s birth is couched in terms of combat. The following is excerpted from What is Spiritual […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Born for Battle(This article is the eighth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Spiritual Warfare Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not […]
Continue Reading... No Comments.(This article is the seventh in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Field of Battle Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (6)(This article is the sixth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Kingdom Allegiance Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (5)(This article is the fifth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Confidence in Christ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the […]
Continue Reading... No Comments.(This article is the fourth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Power of the Age to Come And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is […]
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