Posts with the tag: Dirk Warren
Insights for Today From the Book of RUTH
The short book of Ruth details the account of Naomi’s family moving from Bethlehem in famine-stricken Israel to Moab, which was a 7-10 day trip to the Southeast by foot (which you can get a visual of here). The two sons married Moabite women but, unfortunately, Naomi’s husband and sons soon died and thus Naomi […]
Is the LORD a “JEALOUS GOD”?
The Bible plainly describes the LORD as a jealous God: 4“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the […]
Was Jesus White, Black or Yellow When He Was on Earth?
Some depictions of the Messiah are too Caucasian-like, such as blue-eyed Jeffrey Hunter playing the role in the 1961 film King of Kings. You’ll also come across sincere believers claiming that Jesus was black in the sub-Saharan sense when he was on Earth. I’m sure there are others who insist he was Far East Asian. […]
What Is a “SAINT” According to the Bible?
A ‘saint’ in the biblical sense does not refer to a deceased Catholic of heroic faith canonized by officials of the Roman sect, but simply to God’s people — whether Old Testament or New Testament — assuming they are set apart through dedication and service to the LORD. The Hebrew Word for ‘Saint’ In the […]
Why Wasn’t God Pleased With CAIN’S OFFERING?
Let’s read the passage in question: Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his […]
LEGALISM Creates Sheeple; CHRISTIANITY Creates Unique People
Because religious legalism is obsessed with outward adherence to the letter of the law and “the letter kills” (2 Corinthians 3:6), it typically creates either automaton-like sheeple or prune-faced authoritarians; it can’t produce unique people who are freed-up and full of the life and love of the LORD. Consider some of the mighty men and […]
Is There Such a Thing as RIGHTEOUS ANGER?
We tend to look down on anger and for good reason in light of passages like these: A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22 As such, the Bible […]
FRUIT THAT WILL LAST & Why It’s Linked to Answered Prayer
The Lord made this interesting statement: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16 What exactly is “fruit that will last? And why did he […]
Seven Proofs That JESUS CHRIST IS GOD
What are the main proofs in Scripture that Jesus Christ is God? Let’s look at seven of the most glaring proofs and the support texts thereof: 1. Christ Plainly Said He and the Father Are One This can be observed here: “I and the Father are ONE” John 10:30 And is implied here: “…Anyone who […]
“LAW is Made NOT for the Righteous”
Many believers may find this surprising, but the Old Testament Law—the Torah—was not made for the righteous. Note what the Bible says in this regard: We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the […]
LEGALISTS Are Obsessed With the LETTER of the LAW
Legalists by definition are obsessed with strict adherence to the letter of the law, whether the rule in question is biblical or extrabiblical. This would include things they feel the Lord instructed them to do or not do. A good example from the New Testament is when the Pharisees objected to Jesus’ mere intention of […]
Was Mighty SAMSON “Ungodly”?
Samson was called by the LORD before his mother even conceived to “begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:3-5). He led Israel for 20 years after 20 years of oppression by the Philistines (15:20), not as a king, but as a ‘judge’ in the sense of a fierce warrior […]
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT vs. TONGUES PROPHECY—What’s the Diff?
Praying in the spirit is not the same as a believer speaking in tongues in the prophetic sense to minister to the assembly, which requires an interpretation for the people to be blessed by it. The difference is simple. To explain, let’s first define… Praying in the Spirit Praying in the spirit is defined by […]
The SHEPHERDS and Baby Jesus vs. the MAGI and Toddler Jesus
People tend to mix-up the stories of 1. the shepherds who came to see Jesus when he was born, inspired by an angel, and 2. the Magi who came to see Jesus when he was a toddler, inspired by a moving “star.” Let’s look at both to distinguish the two… The Shepherds and the Angels […]
Does Each Person HAVE A STAR?
There is no personal relationship between stars and people. Stars neither light up when a person is born nor blink out of existence when someone dies. Actually, most of the stars that are visible to the eye have been known about since the Sumerians from Mesopotamia mapped them out 5000 years ago. Scientifically speaking, stars […]
Beware of Developing a Religious SPIRIT OF FAMILIARITY
A religious “spirit of familiarity” is when a believer develops a go-through-the-motions manner concerning God and the things of God, including things related to church & ministry. Take, for instance, a pastor who has a “go through the motions” manner. How does a minister of God fall into such a rut? It’s something that slowly […]
What Are the “LAST DAYS”?
We’ve been in “the last days” since the Church Age began, also referred to as “the end of the ages,” as observed in these two passages: but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews […]
Why 2000 Years Until the RETURN OF CHRIST?
The Bible promises that the Lord will return (John 14:3 & Acts 1:11). Although we cannot know the exact day or hour of this return (Matthew 24:36), Christ said there will be glaring signs that the time is nigh for those alive on the Earth (Luke 21:10-11, 21:25-28 & Luke 21:31). Many sound ministers believe […]
Beware of RELIGIOUS FORMAL DEATH
Since legalism is a dead religious spirit that focuses on rules above relationship with God it naturally saps life, freedom, joy and spontaneity. God is the Fountain of Life from which all life flows, whether physical or spiritual, and Yeshua is “the life” who came to give us “life to the full” (John 14:6 & […]
What Is a “Spirit of STUPOR” or “Religious FOG”?
I was giving a sermon at a small Assembly of God church a dozen years ago and the Word was just not getting across to the people, except a few. With all due respect, they sat there with blank faces in what seemed like some sort of religious trance. I’m not putting these people down, […]
God Exists in a State of TOTAL FREEDOM
People in the world sometimes perceive God as some old fuddy duddy in the sky who can’t stand folks having a “good time” and therefore is obsessed with removing anything “fun” from our lives. While human religion and forms of legalism might be like this, the LORD is quite different and actually operates from a […]
How to TAKE CAPTIVE Thoughts (Noémas—Mindsets, Ideologies)
Notice what the Bible exhorts us to do: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Christ is the living Word of God who is the truth (John 1:1 & 14:6). So we are […]
Does the Bible Support “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”?
The revolutionary idea of “innocent until proven guilty” can be observed in God’s Law for Israel in regards to six “cities of refuge” being established for this very cause (Deuteronomy 19, Numbers 35:6-34 & Joshua 20). To explain, these cities served as sanctuaries for those guilty of involuntary manslaughter — an unintentional killing of another […]
What Form of GOVERNMENT Is Best?
The righteous laws of human governments and corresponding enforcement of those laws are God-ordained for the purpose of punishing criminals, including the right to execute when appropriate (Romans 13:1-6). In other words, the LORD uses flawed human governments in general as an instrument to bring order to societies in this fallen world since they […]
What Does It Mean to “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY”?
Let’s read the passage in question: 22And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be […]
Should Pastors Schedule Other FIVEFOLD MINISTERS at Services?
Pastors of local fellowships should make sure the flock under their care (1 Peter 5:1-4) is regularly exposed to the other fivefold offices, which are detailed in this passage: 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of […]
INTIMACY WITH GOD and Its Benefits
At its heart, Christianity is about reconciliation with the Creator and therefore relationship with God. The word ‘intimacy’ is usually associated with sex, but what about intimacy with the LORD? Intimacy just means closeness or warm familiarity and there are different kinds of closeness. For instance, when a man hires a prostitute, they obviously have […]
What Can We Learn From JOB’S “FRIENDS”?
In the first two chapters of the book of Job we observe Job being hailed by God as a blameless, upright man with “no one on earth like him” (Job 1:8). Satan responds by arguing that Job was devout simply because God blessed him. In other words, he was “in it” solely for the blessings. Thus […]
TEMPTATION, TRIALS and TESTS — What’s the Diff?
Let’s define each… Temptation is due to the cravings of one’s flesh or sinful nature, which is the satanic nature (James 1:14). Trials are separate from temptations, although you can of course undergo a temptation during a trial. For instance, Christ experienced hunger during his 40-day fast in the desert and so his flesh no […]
SPIRITUAL REBIRTH: Is Being “Born Again” Biblical?
It amazes me when I come across believers, especially ministers, who play down or write-off spiritual regeneration as core to the Christian experience. Let’s start with the fact that the doctrine of baptisms is the third doctrine of Christianity, according to Hebrews 6:1-2, and the very first baptism that a believer experiences is spiritual baptism, […]