Recent Comments
Myron on The People Had a Mind to … russellmckinney on The Holy Spirit as Comfor… Myron on The Holy Spirit as Comfor… pioneeringec5b6f9825 on Does God Want Everyone to Get… pioneeringec5b6f9825 on Does God Want Everyone to Get…
Category Archives: Discernment
Following Your Own Counsel
If you ask me to name the #1 problem that Christians exhibit in their daily conduct, my answer might surprise you. It wouldn’t be “sin,” even though we certainly do sin far too much. It wouldn’t be “a lack of … Continue reading
Posted in Choices, Counsel, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Guidance, God's Will, Obedience, Rebellion, Seeking Advice, The Heart, The Holy Spirit, Trusting In God
Tagged Bible verses about receiving counsel, five facts about getting counsel, grieving the Holy Spirit, quenching the Holy Spirit, the danger of following your own counsel
Leave a comment
A Special Antenna
As a Christian, I sometimes get frustrated with people who just can’t seem to grasp spiritual issues. No matter how many Bible passages I cite, how many illustrations I use, or how eloquently I explain a subject, these folks simply … Continue reading
Posted in Backsliding, Communication, Discernment, Discipleship, Evangelism, God's Guidance, God's Work, Personal, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Truth, Witnessing
Tagged a special antenna, christianity, Christians who tune out the Holy Spirit, god, holy-spirit, illustration about Sirius XM Satellite radio, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, things that are spiritually discerned
2 Comments
God’s Perspective
A man was having a particularly intimate conversation with God by way of prayer. The man asked, “God, how long is a million years to you?” God answered, “It’s just like a second of time for you, My child.” The … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Belief, Commitment, Disappointment, Discernment, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Impatience, Money, Needs, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer Requests, Problems, Prosperity, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting
Tagged God's perspective is different than ours, illustration about God giving a penny in a minute, Isaiah 55:8-9, My thoughts are not your thoughts, My ways are not your ways
4 Comments
How to Spot a Work of the Devil
Life is filled with all kinds of unpleasant situations. As Job 14:1 says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” But how can you tell the difference between one of life’s inevitable troubles … Continue reading
Jesus: The Unkept Hippie
“The Jesus You Know” series (post #7) Johnny Paycheck was a country music star who had his biggest success in the 1970s. He was most famous for his hit Take This Job & Shove It, which went to #1 on the … Continue reading
Posted in Balance, Church, Church Attendance, Discernment, Discipleship, Dress and Appearance, Personal, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sanctification, Series: "The Jesus You Know"
Tagged Did Jesus have a beard?, Did Jesus have long hair?, Do everything in the name of Jesus, God looks at the heart, If a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him, Jesus was a hippie, Johnny Paycheck, present your bodies a living sacrifice, Take This Job and Shove It, The Outlaw's Prayer
Leave a comment
The Mixed Multitude
Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds — a great deal of livestock. (Exodus 12:38, N.K.J.V.) … Continue reading
Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Complaining, Contentment, Counsel, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Discipleship, Friendship, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, God's Provision, Greed, Influence, Lust, Prayer Requests, Rebellion, Separation, Service, Temptation, Trusting In God
Tagged exodus, God providing Israel with quail, the dangers of Christians associating with lost people, the influence of unbelievers, the mixed multitude, the people of Israel longing for the foods they had in Egypt, Who were the mixed multitude?
Leave a comment
A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity
In Mark 6:45-52, we find the story of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee to rescue His chosen 12 apostles. At the time, they are in a boat, struggling to make their way to the opposite shore through the … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Change, Choices, Christ's Miracles, Courage, Decisions, Discernment, Doubt, Faith, Fear, God's Timing, God's Will, Ministry, Obedience, Trusting In God
Tagged a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Faith, getting out of the boat, jesus, Peter walking on the water, stepping out in faith, taking Jesus up on His offer, the meaning of Mark 6:48, Why was Jesus going to walk past the disciples?
2 Comments
Kateland’s Answer
I was in my first pastorate, and our church was having its annual Bible School week. The attendance was excellent each night as several visiting kids who weren’t part of our church were coming. One of those visitors was a … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Children, Church, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Work, Humor, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Reward, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Witnessing, Youth
Tagged Bible school professions of faith, counseling with children during Bible School, How can you tell when a child is ready to accept Jesus?, how to witness to a child, leading a child to Jesus, the age of accountability
3 Comments
Look Out for Those Unequal Yokes
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what … Continue reading
Posted in Abortion, Business, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Decisions, Discernment, Discipleship, Doctrine, God's Will, God's Work, Government, Homosexuality, Influence, Lesbianism, Marriage, Politics
Tagged A.C. Gaebelein, Amos 3:3, Charles Ryrie, examples of an unequal yoke, Exodus 22:10, Freemasonry is an unequal yoke, John Philipps, Merrill Unger, Oliver B. Greene, Ray Stedman, Should a Christian stay in a church that teaches wrong doctrine?, unequal yokes in politics, What is an unequal yoke?, What's wrong with fraternities and sororities, What's wrong with Freemasonry?What's wrong with fraternities and sororities?
Leave a comment
What Should Have Been
I was a little under two years into my first pastorate when one afternoon, as I was driving in my car, I happened to drive past the sign for a certain church in our area. It was a sign that … Continue reading
Posted in Choices, Church, Counsel, Decisions, Disappointment, Discernment, Disobedience, God's Timing, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Rebellion, Service, Waiting
Tagged Bible, choosing the wrong pastor, christianity, Church, discerning God's will, Faith, He did not do many mighty works there, jesus, limiting what God can do, Matthew 13:58, Matthew 23:37, seeking your own counsel, the dangers of missing God's will, the problems with pulpit committees, when a pulpit committee gets it wrong
2 Comments
The Disciple's Road 