Tag Archives: preaching

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Sin Leads To More Sin – 30 Days to Victory

Day 20

Sins don’t happen alone.  They operate in groups.  If you surrender to one sin, expect more to follow.

Luke 11:26  “Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

This parable speaks of a man who had an evil spirit.  The evil spirit left him.  I believe the story implies that the man worked to rid himself of the evil spirit.  He was successful for a period of time.  However, the evil spirit recruited seven more wicked spirits and barged back into the man’s life.  He was worse off in the end than he was in the beginning!

There are several vital truths found in this parable.

Willpower is not enough to (more…)

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Christ Died For Our Sins – 30 Days To Victory Over Temptation

Day 5

Why did Jesus Christ endure the Cross? It was the price required to pay for sin. He did it to pay for the sin that you are tempted to commit.

 

1 Corinthians 15:3  “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

It helps to remember how terrible sin is when struggling with temptation. The world, the flesh, and the devil try to convince us that sin isn’t really a big deal. They will say that most of what the Bible calls sins are personal preferences that don’t hurt anybody.

Just how bad is sin?

The awfulness of a storm is measured by what it costs to fix the damage created by it. The awfulness of sin can be calculated using the same measure.

It is easy to see the horrible effects of sin in the world. That evidence alone should be enough to convince a rational person of sin’s repulsiveness.

Furthermore, sin is so damaging, dangerous, and destructive that it was dragging the entire human race to Hell!

However, if you want to see just how terrible sin is you must look at the Cross of Calvary. There you will see (more…)

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JUST SAY NO to Temptation 30 Day Devotional

30 Days to Victory

Temptation is a reality in every Christian’s life.  Learn how to overcome it with God’s Word in this 30-day devotional journey.

I have something exciting to announce.

Every morning for the next 30 days I will post a Bible truth that empowers us to say NO to temptation.  This devotional style series will give 30 Bible Truths that will change the way you think about and respond to fleshly desires.

Summer is a time of increased temptation for many.  Over my 20+ years of ministry, I’ve witnessed many Christians succumb to temptations during that summer that they would have never considered any other time of the year.

Let’s decide together that we will finish the summer spiritually stronger than when be started it.

Will you join us for the journey?

See you tomorrow!

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Spiritual Decisions That Don’t Fail

Making a spiritual decision is great. Keeping it is better. Make decisions that don’t fail using these three tips.

As I write this, I am in the chapel before an evening service of New England Baptist Teen Camp. God has been working mightily. Friendships of a lifetime have begun. Happy memories have been made. Powerful sermons have been heard. The altar has been full after every message as tender hearts surrender to God. Several people have been born again. Hundreds of life-changing choices have been made.

I am thankful to God for every decision made this week. Imagine the wave of change that would take place if every decision took root and bore the fruit of righteousness!

However, as an experienced youth worker, I am saddened to know that many of the decisions will not stick. I’m not being cynical. I believe that the decisions were from God. I heard God’s power in the messages. I felt the same Holy Spirit conviction. I saw the tears of repentance.

Nevertheless, the statistics are undeniable. Many decisions will not last past 60 days. Some people will fall into the old sins before they walk in the door to their home.

How can this be? How can God move so powerfully, on a heart with no lasting fruit? (more…)

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3 Reasons People Commit Suicide

and how to stop them

Suicide is a tragedy that takes place far too often. Don’t let it happen to you or your loved ones.

Every human is created with a desire to live. Self-preservation is the first instinct of mankind. Even satan knows that most people will do anything to save their own skin.

Job 2:4
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”

Why then do some people choose to take their own lives?

Years ago we had a young man start coming to church sporadically. He was in and out of jail and had a daughter that would ride our bus occasionally or come with a family member. He stopped interacting with us, and I lost track of him until the day my phone rang with the news that he hung himself in his parent’s garage. The family was devastated. Everyone that knew him was hurting deeply.  It was a difficult funeral.

Most people give the quick answers of depression, anxiety, and mental illness. Is it really that simple?

Suicide is too complicated to cover thoroughly in one article. Today, let’s look at a few reasons people take their own lives and learn how to help them before it’s too late. (more…)