Tag: God
-
Surprised By God
Acts 12 records Peter’s deliverance from Herod. It is an amazing passage of Scripture highlighting the power of God. It is also a profound example of fervent prayer. Yet, the part that I personally find so instructive is the response of the people. Acts 12:5 says, “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer…
-
At Calvary – Episode 133 – Grace Changes How We See Life
When life changes how we see life also changes. Think about having children. Before we had them, my wife and I thought we understood what we were getting into. How funny is that!? The Bible is clear that the same thing happens when a person becomes a believer. We are encouraged to be prepared to give…
-
At Calvary – Episode 132 – Why Is Hell Okay?
In Paradise Lost, Milton puts these words in the mouth of Satan, ““Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.” However, the Satan in Paradise Lost is as mistaken as some people are. No one rules in Hell but God. Hell is the absolute rule of God absent His love, mercy and grace. Those who…
-
Valley Walking
Mountains and valleys. We seem, as spiritual beings, to desire the mountain top experience with God. In Acts chapter 10, Peter has quite a mountain top experience with God. His vision of 3 sheets of animals shows him that all people can receive the gospel. This vision profoundly clarifies Peter’s understanding of the gospel message. …
-
At Calvary – Episode 131 – God’s Choices and My Choices
If God is in charge, do our choices matter? There are many people who answer that question by making God smaller. They reduce the sovereignty of God to either God is in charge of everything but man’s free will OR God is sovereign over what He knows, but the future is in flux. I think…
-
Love First
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – 1 John 4:10 Think about that. This is love. It isn’t that we loved God and so He loved us. He loved us first! Of all the differences between…
-
At Calvary – Episode 130 – Spiritual Gifts 101
The Bible tells us that we have spiritual gifts. They are part of what makes the church what it is. Each believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit for the building up of our fellow believers and doing the work of ministry together. Just one question… how do I know my spiritual gift? Let’s think…
-
Trusting Peace
At this time of year we hear a lot of talk about peace. We have sung Silent Night. We have thought of the baby in the manger and the stillness of Christmas morning. Yet, even in these scenes there is the reminder that all is not still. The animals would have made noise. The visit…
-
At Calvary – Episode 129 – Where We Came From – The Glory of Grace
Our fathers in the faith unapologetically reminded their people where they came from. They did not do it for guilt’s sake. They weren’t trying to make those Christians they loved feel guilty or simply relive the past. No, they did it for glory’s sake. Our past isn’t primarily about us. Like our present and our…
-
At Calvary – Episode 128 – When We Disagree (Without Tearing Each Other Down)
Family gatherings are all the rage this time of year. They will talk about their activities. They will talk about their favorite book, music, and movies. Eventually, the talk will touch on something they truly disagree on. What happens then? Let’s think about that together At Calvary… Looking for more? You can always find all…
Pastor John D Jakes 