By Joe McKeever I know more about getting smaller churches to grow than larger ones. I pastored three of them, and only the first of the three did not grow—I was fresh out of college, untrained, inexperienced, and clueless about what I was doing. The next two grew well, and even though I remained at each only some three years, one almost doubled and the other nearly tripled in attendance and ministries. By using the word “grow,” I do not…
Why is it important or even necessary to study positions of prayer? The Apostle Paul expressed it well in Hebrews saying that he had much to teach them but found that they were stunted in their spiritual walk because of a lack of exercise in the things they had already been taught. "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full…
“Are you known at the throne?” There is an interesting event in the 19th chapter of the book of Acts. Paul was preaching in Ephesus, and God was doing great wonders among these spirit’s people. Two Jews took it upon themselves to cast out demons like Paul, using the name of Jesus as their magic words. It did not work. Jesus’ name is not a magic word. It represents a relationship. Without the relationship, there is no power in using…
"Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the Lord. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God. (Isaiah 66:9) You might have suffered many untold hardships in the past, yet you were not swallowed by them. May be you have undergone many embarrassing situations to the extent that you have become the laughing stock of friends and neighbours, yet you are still around to keep on keeping on. You have…
Abandoning that one, he dug another well, and the local people finally left him alone. So Isaac called it "Room Enough", for he said, "At last the Lord has made room for us and we will be able to thrive. NLT. (Genesis 26:22) Isaac’s move to Gerar: Isaac had settled near Beer-Iahairoi (“the well of the Living One who sees me”), where his sons, Jacob and Esau, were born. A famine drove him to Gerar. But when he became wealthy,…
Before the birth pains begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, the baby will be born, the nation will come forth. (Isaiah 66: 7-8) NLT One of the prophecies that will be fulfilled in your life as a faithful believer…
St. Thomas Aquinas Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do. Our lifelong quest for wisdom can strengthen our belief in God and our bonds with our children. On the path to wisdom we need to acquire knowledge. Yet too many of us live in darkness, failing to learn more about our relationship with God and also…
"He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well you." Deuteronomy 8:15-16(NIV). In God’s system of provision there is a way He usually provides for His children which they usually overlook….
What happens when you plan your life, map out your future, strategize your goals without first seeking God? The short answer is discontentment. The long answer is that if you’re willing, He’ll change your heart. The evening of our wedding reception, my husband boldly announced that he hoped we’d one day be the proud parents of six children. "SIX?" I laughed. "Was he serious? Who had six kids these days? NOT me! Wrong wife," I chuckled. I wanted one child,…
Genesis – The one who spread the idea to build a tower. ‘And they said to one another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.’ Genesis 11:3 The Sun was setting when the workmen removed the last burnt clay. The fires lighted around the camp sites of the workmen from near and far off countries which stretched far and wide. The discovery of the use…