Are You Willing to the Pay the Cost?

Posted on November 24, 2025 by russellmckinney

Author Lafcadio Hearn was known for his books about Japan. In particular, his collections of Japanese traditional stories and legends were very well received. One such story involved a Japanese farmer who owned a valuable rice field that covered a hilltop overlooking the sea.

As the story goes, one day an earthquake struck the area of the rice field. The farmer was working in the field at the time, and from atop the hill he noticed that in the wake of the tremor the ocean water started withdrawing from the surrounding shoreline. He realized what this signified: a tidal wave.

The farmer knew that somehow he had to quickly get his neighbors evacuated from their low-lying homes and fields beneath him. But how could he get their attention? Thinking quickly, he set fire to his rice field, ran to the local temple, and rang the bell.

His neighbors, upon hearing the bell and seeing the fire and smoke, all raced up the hillside to help put out the fire. Once the fire was out, with much of the valuable field ruined, it was discovered that the farmer had deliberately started the blaze. His neighbors were furious with him for wasting his field and putting their lives in danger.

The farmer then told them to look down to the shoreline. There they saw that while they had been consumed with putting out the fire, the ocean had come crashing in upon their homes and fields. Everything beneath the hilltop was flooded, and if the farmer had not gotten the people to come to higher ground they would have been drowned by the massive wave. In an instant the farmer went from madman to hero.

Jesus said, “The greatest among will be your servant.” Oh, how this world needs servants! It needs the volunteer who will look at a situation that cries out for help, roll up his sleeves, and get to work, no matter how hard or unpleasant the work is. Think Jesus stooping down to wash the dirty, smelly feet of His chosen 12 apostles and you’ll get the idea.

You see, the thing about being a servant is that it comes at a cost. It costs you your pride and ego. It costs you your time and energy. It costs you your ease and comfort. It might even cost you your money or reputation. It’s no wonder that the line marked “servants” is always short.

Like that Japanese farmer from lore, however, we Christians are called to be people who will make great personal sacrifices so that others may benefit. Christ’s death on the cross is our ultimate example of this. Of course, Jesus probably won’t ask you to literally follow His example by dying for others. What He will do, though, is ask you to live for them. And according to His definition, living for them means serving them, no matter what it costs you personally.

Posted in Character, Christ's Death, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Giving, God's Work, Good Works, Humility, Ministry, Missions, Money, Problems, Service, Submission | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rainbows

Posted on November 21, 2025 by russellmckinney

“Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. (Genesis 9:11-13, N.K.J.V.)

No portion of the Bible has had its literalness attacked more than the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis. Those chapters include the Bible’s record of the seven 24-hour days of the creation week, the story of Adam and Eve, and the story of Noah, the ark, and the worldwide flood. As evidence of these attacks a theory has been set forth in recent years that suggests the great flood was actually a localized event that only involved the flooding of the Black Sea.

But does any theory that relegates the flood of Noah to a localized flood actually hold water (pun intended)? No, it doesn’t. As Christian apologist Dave Hunt has pointed out, the fact that rainbows are seen all over the world proves that the great flood really was a worldwide deluge. He argues that if the flood was localized to the Black Sea (or anywhere else, for that matter), rainbows would only appear in that part of the world as a phenomenon unique to that area. Therefore, since rainbows can be found all over the globe, the floodwaters must have been found all over the globe.

Hunt also notes that 2 Peter 3:5-13 teaches that God will one day destroy this earth again, this time not with water but with fire. Following this fiery destruction, God will usher in a “new earth” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). According to Hunt, if the fiery destruction of the end times will be an event that involves the entire planet, the preceding bookend event (the great flood) must also have involved the entire planet.

For the record, some commentators interpret the “new earth” to be a brand spanking new planet, one that replaces the obliterated former earth in the universe. Others understand the “new earth” to refer to this same earth completely purged of all vestiges of sin, the phrase being akin to the born-again Christian being described as a “new creation” who has seen old things pass away and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). I myself hold to the latter interpretation, my primary reason being that God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants as an everlasting possession forever (Genesis 13:14-15; 17:7). God wouldn’t be able to keep that promise if Canaan was completed obliterated. Also, the idea of the “new earth” being this same earth purged by fire aligns better with the fact that God didn’t obliterate the planet by way of the flood, either.

To get back to the point, though, the rainbow is the covenant sign of God’s promise to never again destroy the earth by way of water. So, the next time you see a rainbow, don’t casually dismiss it or relegate it to life’s category of the humdrum. You see, a rainbow is special. It’s important. It’s BIBLICAL! It shows that its creator is a God who makes promises and keeps them. Thousands of years may pass, but God never forgets His promises.

As further evidence of this, guess what God’s throne in heaven has around it. If you answered, “A rainbow,” you’re correct (Revelation 4:1-3). It’s an emerald rainbow, to be precise, and it extends in a circle all the way around God’s throne. This rainbow being green symbolizes life, in this case the eternal life that every saved believer will experience throughout eternity. As for the rainbow being circular, the circle symbolizes the completion of the believer’s salvation, that salvation being at last being fully claimed and realized.

Needless to say, the emerald rainbow around God’s heavenly throne is the ultimate rainbow that anyone can ever see. If you lay your eyes on it, you’ll know beyond the shadow of all doubt that you are a member of God’s eternal family and a citizen of His eternal kingdom. Whatever pain and sorrow you experienced on the earth will be over at that moment, and you’ll be able to say like David, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). But until we Christians get to see that heavenly rainbow, we’ll just have to settle for the earthly version. Really, though, considering the history and the promise behind the earthly version, that’s no small consolation prize.

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Creation, Doubt, Eternal Security, Eternity, God's Omnipotence, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, God's Mercy, God's Sovereignty, Heaven, Prophecy, Restoration, Salvation, Scripture, The Bible, Trusting In God, Waiting, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Fresh Spark

Posted on November 19, 2025 by russellmckinney

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” (Revelation 3:3, N.K.J.V.)

Dr. G. Curtis Jones tells the story of a board meeting he once attended at a city church where he was serving as pastor. The focus of the meeting was the church’s lackluster performance at winning people to Christ. Everyone in the meeting was in agreement that the church’s evangelism program needed a fresh spark, but no one was willing to volunteer to be that spark.

Finally, quite unexpectedly, a prominent physician stood up from the group and said, “I don’t know much about evangelism, but I love Christ and His church. Pastor, if you will teach me how to become an evangelist and if you, the members of this board, will cooperate, I will head up our evangelism program for next year.”

As Jones describes it, “It was an exciting statement! Like a blood transfusion, he injected new life and enthusiasm into the group. We experienced a great ingathering of souls that year. Moreover, the physician grew in Christian grace and loyalty, as did the congregation.”

Christian, are you willing to be such a spark in your church, your workplace, or your home? Like that physician, you don’t necessarily have to have a ton of ability; what you have to have is availability. You have to be willing (willing to learn, willing to put in the required time, and willing to devote the necessary energy).

The fact is, there are situations all around you that need a fresh spark. Even as you’ve been reading this, it’s possible that God has already brought a situation to your mind. So tell me, are you willing to be the vessel that He works through to bring restoration and revival to that situation? While it’s true that God loves doing new things, it’s equally true that He loves reinvigorating tired, old things and taking them to a level they have never known. But, as always, He needs workers.

Posted in Attitude, Change, Church, Commitment, Decisions, Doing Good, Evangelism, Family, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Leadership, Ministry, Missions, Problems, Restoration, Service, Witnessing, Work | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Can’t Have the Best of Both Worlds

Posted on November 17, 2025 by russellmckinney

A Sunday School teacher told her children’s class the story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar (Luke 16:19-31). She said, “The rich man had a lot of money and lived in luxury every day. He had a beautiful house that had a big gate in front of it. He wore expensive, bright-colored clothes that were made from the finest linen. And he ate delicious food every meal.” The children’s eyes danced with excitement at the thought of getting to live such a life.

Then she continued. “But Lazarus was very, very poor. He didn’t even have any money to buy food for himself. That’s why he laid at the gate of the rich man’s beautiful house and asked to be fed with the crumbs that happened to fall to the floor under the rich man’s table. And Lazarus was sick, too. He had sores all over his body and no money to buy medicine for them. So, he let dogs lick them to try to get them better.” The children’s faces turned to horror at the thought of having to live such a life.

“Everything changed, though,” said the teacher, “when both men died.” “The rich man went to a place where he was tormented by hot flames all the time. He was thirsty constantly but could not get even one drop of water to drink. Lazarus, on the other hand, went to a place of perfect happiness. He was healed, comforted, and all his troubles were over.”

Then the teacher asked, “Now, class, which person would you rather be? Would you rather be the rich man or Lazarus the beggar?” After a second or two of thought, one little fellow piped up and said, “I’d like to be the rich man right now and Lazarus when I die.”

That’s what we all want, isn’t it? We want an earthly life of wealth, splendor, ease, and good times to segue seamlessly into an afterlife of joy, bliss, comfort, and even better times. Unfortunately, in case you haven’t heard, being a follower of Jesus doesn’t work that way. If you think it does, you are setting yourself up for a ton of disillusionment and disappointment.

The Bible says that Christians must enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations (Acts 14:22). It says we must endure with Jesus before we can reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). It says that we must suffer with Him before we can be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17-18).

We are told to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), which implies that we will have them. We are told that God comforts us in all our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), which implies that we will experience a great deal of it. We are told that God is a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), which implies that trouble will be no stranger to us. We are promised that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes in the eternal city of New Jerusalem, which implies that we will have cried many of them on earth (Revelation 21:4).

Needless to say, none of this makes for popular preaching. It’s not the kind of information that people, even Christians, rush to share. Show me a preacher who preaches numerous sermons about Christians suffering, and I’ll show you a preacher who is preaching to a small congregation.

Nevertheless, it’s Bible truth, and it helps us make sense of this confusing and painful earthly life. You see, those Bible passages about Christians suffering are not in there because God is a sadist who enjoys watching His people hurt. Instead, those passages are simply God’s way of helping us Christians to not only acknowledge that suffering will be a part of our earthly lives but also to apply an eternal perspective to our suffering.

So, can we ideally have the best of both worlds? No, not really. But can we ideally have the best of the one that will last for all eternity? Absolutely! That’s the world that Lazarus the beggar is enjoying right now, and it’s the one that Jesus promises to anyone who truly knows Him as Savior.

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Death, Disappointment, Eternity, Heaven, Hell, Human Life, Money, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Reward, Salvation, Scripture, Suffering, Sunday School, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear Not

Posted on November 14, 2025 by russellmckinney

According to what I read somewhere there are over 500 Bible passages that mention the issue of fear. I’ve also read that the specific phrases “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” are used 103 times in the King James translation. Obviously, God is trying to tell us something.

What are you afraid of right now? What’s got you stressed out? What’s causing you to lose sleep? Perhaps it is a health problem. Perhaps it is a relationship problem. Perhaps it is a financial problem. Whatever it is, have you talked with God about it? Have you sought His guidance? Have you sought His will? Have you sought His courage to face it?

In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (N.K.J.V.)

Specifically, this promise is for Christians. A couple of translations even capitalize the “S” in the word “Spirit” to indicate that the reference is to God the Holy Spirit, who indwells each Christian. Therefore, Christian, you of all people should never allow fear, fear of anything or anyone, to dominate your life. To do so is to cut against the grain of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside you. He’s not afraid, and so why are you?

You say, “But Russell, you just don’t know what I’m dealing with.” No, I don’t. I do know, though, that God is bigger than your problem, and I also know that once you get Him on the case, He will do one of two things. He’ll either rescue you out of the problem or He will give you the wisdom, strength, and, yes, courage to tackle it. What’s for certain is that He doesn’t want you walking around scared to death. The key is to replace your fear of the problem with your faith in Him. If you will do that you will be amazed at how He responds.

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Courage, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Grace, Needs, Peace, Problems, Scripture, The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When God Tells You to Do Something

Posted on November 12, 2025 by russellmckinney

I’ve been friends with Beau Thomas for most of my life. We grew up together, attended school together, ran around together, and played a lot of ball together. When each of us became a father, we also coached our share of youth league baseball and football together.

Beau had a coaching principle that I really liked. He’d say, “I’m not going to ask a kid to do something that he can’t do.” That applied to pitching, stealing a base, playing quarterback, punting, and anything else a team might need done.

I often think of Beau’s line when God burdens me to do something. Maybe I don’t have a lot of experience in the field. Maybe the money required to pull off the feat is a bit iffy. Or maybe I just don’t want the job. It’s times like these that I can start sounding like Moses giving his list of excuses why he shouldn’t have been the man God chose to lead the Israelites out of their Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3:11-4:17).

It’s also during these times that I’m reminded of the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). That story begins with Him getting into a boat with His chosen 12 apostles and saying, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake (the lake of Gennesaret, the “Sea” of Galilee).” That command was followed by the 12 grabbing their oars and Jesus grabbing a nap in the back of the boat.

But somewhere out there on the water a great storm arose, one that battered the boat with waves and threatened to sink it. The 12 woke up Jesus and said, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And how did Jesus respond? He stood up, calmed the winds and the sea, and restored order to the situation. Then He asked the 12 the penetrating question, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

He could well have added in, “I didn’t say, ‘Let us get out into the middle of the lake and drown.’ I said, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’” The point was that they should have had enough faith to know that He wouldn’t have told them to cross over to the other side of the lake if it was going to be physically impossible for them to do so.

By way of applying this story to your current situation, if the Lord is burdening you to do (or keep doing) something, all your excuses for not doing that something are lame. The old saying “God’s commandments are God’s enablements” still holds true. God knows your talents, strengths, and abilities as well as your weaknesses, faults, and shortcomings. And He’ll never ask you to do something that He knows you honestly aren’t capable of doing.

Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Christ's Miracles, Commitment, Complaining, Courage, Decisions, Disobedience, Doing Good, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Money, Obedience, Perseverance, Personal, Problems, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Submission, Talents, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Disciple’s Road Bible Study Guide

Posted on November 10, 2025 by russellmckinney

There is a God. (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1)

a. Creation proves His existence: Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6; Genesis chapters 1 and 2

b. Rain and fruitful harvests prove His existence: Acts 14:14-17; Matthew 5:43-45

c. The conscience within each individual proves His existence: Romans 2:14-15

d. The convicting of the Spirit of God proves His existence: Genesis 6:1-3; John 16:5-11

God is indescribably awesome. (Job chapters 38-41; Isaiah 40:12-26)

a. He is all-powerful: Genesis 18:14; Job 42:1-2; Nahum 1:3; Luke 1:37; Revelation 19:6

b. He is all-present: Psalm 139:1-16; Jeremiah 23:24

c. He is all-seeing: Job 34:21-22; Psalm 33:13-15;  Proverbs 5:21; Hebrews 4:13 

d. He is all-knowing: Job 37:16; Psalm 147:4-5; Matthew 10:29-30; Romans 11:33

    -He knows our thoughts: Isaiah 66:18; Ezekiel 11:5; 1 Corinthians 3:20

    -He knows the secrets of our hearts: Psalm 44:21; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; Acts 15:8

    -He knows the future just as well as He knows the past: Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 46:10

e. He is eternal: Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 1:12; Psalm 90:1-2; Psalm 92:8; Psalm 93:2

f. He is unchanging: Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Isaiah 31:2

g. He is love: 1 John 4:8

God is one God who eternally exists in three persons. (1 John 5:7)

a. He is God the Father: 1 Corinthians 15:24; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 John 2:3

b. He is God the Son, Jesus: John 1:1-3,14; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13

c. He is God the Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3-4; Acts 13:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17

d. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one: Matthew 28:19; James 2:19; Deuteronomy 6:4

God is perfectly holy. (Isaiah 6:1-5; Revelation 4:8; Job 34:10; Psalm 145:17)

a. His name is holy: Luke 1:49; Psalm 111:9; Psalm 99:3; Isaiah 57:15; Ezekiel 39:7

b. His throne is holy: Psalm 47:8

c. His works are holy: Psalm 145:17

d. He speaks in holiness: Psalm 60:6; Psalm 108:7; Isaiah 45:19

e. He cannot do wickedness: Job 34:10; Psalm 18:30; Psalm 92:15

f. He cannot even be tempted to do evil: James 1:13

Every human being is a sinner. (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20)

a. We are conceived with and born with the nature of sin: Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1-3

b. Our nature of sin comes from Adam: Genesis 3:1-24; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Romans 5:12

c. Our nature of sin compels us to commit acts of sin: Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:11-18

d. To break just one of God’s laws is to stand guilty of breaking them all: James 2:10

e. The person who claims to be without sin is a liar: 1 John 1:8,10

Adam’s sin brought death upon his race. (Genesis 2:15-17)

a. It brought spiritual death: Ephesians 2:1,5; Colossians 2:13; 1 Timothy 5:6

b. It brought physical death: Romans 5:12; Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Our sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 5:4)

a. It separates us from spiritual life: Ephesians 4:18

b. It separates us from spiritual light: Ephesians 4:18; Romans 1:21; 1 Peter 2:9

God requires a blood sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11)

a. This can be seen in His killing of animals after Adam and Eve’s sin: Genesis 3:21

b. This can be seen in His demanding of Old Testament sacrifices: Leviticus chapters 1-7

    -These sacrifices covered (not cleansed) peoples’ sins: Hebrews 10:1-4  

Jesus left Heaven and came to earth to be the cleansing sacrifice. (John 1:29)

a. He had to be sinless to qualify as the sacrifice: Leviticus 22:20; 1 Corinthians 5:7

b. He was conceived and born to a virgin: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

c. The virgin birth allowed Him to bypass humanity’s nature of sin: Hebrews 4:14-15

d. Without this nature of sin, He lived without sin: 1 Peter 2:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21

e. He was human: John 1:1,14; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5

f. He was divine: Colossians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus died for the world’s sins. (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Isaiah 53:4-6)

a. He died according to the divine plan: Acts 2:23; Luke 22:22; 1 Peter 1:18-20

b. He predicted His death: Mathew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:17-19

c. He died by way of crucifixion: John 19:17-19; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:24

d. He died because He allowed Himself to die: John 10:17-18; Luke 23:44-46

e. The Romans made sure of His death: John 19:31-34

Three days after His burial Jesus arose from the dead. (John 20:1-31)

a. He had promised to resurrect: Matthew 12:40; 16:21; 17:9,22-23; 20:18-19; 26:30-32 

b. He arose in a glorified body: 1 Corinthians 15:20-24,35-49; Acts 3:13; John 20:11-31

c. God the Father did the resurrecting: Ephesians 1:15-23; Acts 2:22-24; Galatians 1:1

d. The resurrection proved Jesus’ sacrificial death was accepted by God the Father:

Isaiah 53:10-11

e. The evidences for Christ’s resurrection were undeniable: Acts 1:1-3; Acts 4:33

    -The tomb’s seal was broken: Matthew 27:66, 2:1-2; Daniel 6:16-17

    -The stone was rolled away from the front of the tomb: Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-7

    -His body was not found in the tomb: Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1-8

    -His grave clothes were still in the tomb: Luke 24:12; John 20:3-8

    -Angels served as witnesses that He had arisen: Matthew 28:1-7; John 20:11-13

    -The Roman guards were bribed to say His body had been stolen: Matthew 28:11-15

    -He was seen, in His resurrected body, by hundreds of people: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

    -His followers flatly refused to deny His resurrection: Acts 4:1-22; Acts 5:17-42    

Forty days after His resurrection Jesus ascended to Heaven. (Acts 1:1-11)

a. In Heaven, He took His seat at the right hand of God the Father: Mark 16:19

b. The Father then made Him head of all things: Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 2:5-11  

We must now make the choice to believe in Jesus as Savior. (John 3:16)

The following are the Bible’s many different ways of explaining what it is to believe in Jesus. These are not separate decisions or different “stages” of belief. Instead, each of them is one more way of describing what authentic belief in Jesus is. The point is, when a person places the right kind of belief in Jesus, he or she will automatically be doing all of these things. Salvation is a moment-in-time experience, not a process.   

a. To believe in Jesus is to come to Him: Matthew 11:28-30; John 5:39-40; John 6:35-37

    -Coming to Him involves repentance (turning from your sins): Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15

b. To believe in Jesus is to receive Him: John 1:12; Colossians 2:6

c. To believe in Jesus is to open the door to Him: Revelation 3:20

d. To believe in Jesus is to put your faith in Him: Romans 3:21-31; Colossians 1:3-5

e. To believe in Jesus is to trust in Him: Ephesians 1:11-14; 1 Timothy 4:10

f. To believe in Jesus is to call upon Him: Romans 10:9-13

At the moment of belief the believer gains great blessings. (Ephesians 1:3)

a. The believer becomes a new creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17

b. The believer becomes a recipient of God’s mercy: Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:4-6

c. The believer becomes a recipient of God’s grace (undeserved favor): Titus 3:3-7

d. The believer is forgiven of all sins (past, present, and future): Colossians 2:13

e. The believer is redeemed (bought back): Romans 3:24; Titus 2:13-14; Galatians 3:13

f. The believer is justified (declared righteous): Acts 13:39; Romans 3:28; Romans 5:1

g. The believer is sanctified (set apart): 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Jude 1:1; Hebrews 10:14

h. The believer is adopted into God’s family: Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5

i. The believer obtains an inheritance: Ephesians 1:11-14; Colossians 1:12; 1 Peter 1:4

j. The believer becomes a joint heir with Jesus: Romans 8:12-17

k. The believer becomes a part of Christ’s bride: Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:6-9

l. The believer becomes “in” Jesus: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 16:3-10

m. The believer comes to God the Father: John 14:6

n. The believer is “saved”: Matthew 18:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:8-9

o. The believer becomes a “Christian”: Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16

p. The believer will miss the horrors of hell: Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 2:3 

    -God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell: 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9

Human works play no part in salvation. (Romans 3:28; 2 Timothy 1:8-9)

a. Even our so-called “good” works carry the taint of sin: Isaiah 64:6

b. To be saved by works, you would have to keep God’s laws perfectly: Galatians 3:10-13

c. Your law-keeping would have to extend inwardly: Matthew 5:21-48; Mark 7:20-23

d. If we could “work out” our salvation, we might brag about it: Ephesians 2:8-9

e. Even Abraham and David were saved by faith (belief), not works: Romans 4:1-8

At salvation God the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside the Christian’s body.

(Romans 5:5; Romans 8:5-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:5)

a. The indwelling Holy Spirit creates the “born again” experience inside the person:

John 3:1-8; 1 John 5:1

   -This experience is also referred to as “Spirit baptism”: John 1:33; 1 Corinthians 12:13

   -This experience is also referred to as “regeneration”: Titus 3:5

b. This experience makes the individual a “child of God”: John 1:11-13; Galatians 3:26

c. This experience brings spiritual life to the person: 1 John 5:10-13; Romans 6:23

d. This experience brings spiritual light to the person: 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:8

God the Holy Spirit has a vast ministry within the Christian. (1 John 3:24)

a. He sets the person free from the bondage of sin: Romans 8:1-2; Romans 6:17-23

b. He anoints the person: 1 John 2:20,27; 2 Corinthians 1:21

c. He sanctifies the person: 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:16

d. He seals the person: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:30

e. He empowers the person: 1 Corinthians 2:4

f. He brings the nature of God into the person: 2 Peter 1:1-4; Ephesians 4:17-24

g. He causes the person to think like Jesus: 1 Corinthians 2:16

h. He bears witness with the person’s own spirit: Romans 8:16

i. He teaches the person: John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13

j. He guides the person: John 16:13

k. He gives the person spiritual discernment: 1 John 4:1-6

l. He makes intercession for the person: Romans 8:26-27

m. He promotes the fruit of the Spirit in the person’s life: Galatians 5:22-23

n. He enables the person to understand spiritual matters: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

o. He gifts the person with at least one spiritual gift: 1 Peter 4:10

    -A spiritual gift is a special ability to be used in service to Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:1,7

    -There are many spiritual gifts: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:11

The indwelling Holy Spirit desires control of the Christian. (Galatians 5:25)

a. The Bible describes this control as “the filling of the Spirit”: Ephesians 5:18

b. This controlling of the Spirit affects the Christian’s decisions: Acts 16:6-7

c. This controlling of the Spirit affects the Christian’s praying: Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20

d. Quenching the Spirit means not doing what the Spirit says to do: 1 Thessalonians 5:19

e. Grieving the Spirit means doing what the Spirit says not to do: Ephesians 4:30

God has acts of service that He wants the Christian to do. (Philippians 2:13)

It must be understood that none of these acts produces salvation. They are, instead, acts that flow out of salvation. A person doesn’t do these things to get saved; he or she does them as evidence of salvation.  

a. The Christian should submit to water baptism: Acts 8:12; Acts 16:14-15; Acts 18:8

    -The Biblical method of baptism is full immersion: Acts 8:35-39; Matthew 3:13-17  

b. The Christian should study the Bible: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12   

c. The Christian should pray often: Matthew 6:5-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 

d. The Christian should attend church: Hebrews 10:25; 1 Timothy 3:14-15

e. The Christian should tell others about Jesus: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8

f. The Christian should give monetarily to support God’s work: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

g. The Christian should use his spiritual gift (gifts) in service to Christ: Romans 12:6-8

h. The Christian should use his talents and abilities in service to Christ: Romans 12:1-4

i. The Christian should live a life of personal holiness: 1 Peter 1:13-16; Romans 6:12-16

j. The Christian should be a Christian example wherever he is: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

    -This includes the home: Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21

    -This includes the workplace: Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25

k. The Christian should do the specific tasks God has in mind for him: Ephesians 2:10

l. The Christian should live out God’s will for his life: Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 40:8

Posted in Bible Study, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Creation, Death, Eternity, Evangelism, God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Wrath, God's Foreknowledge, God's Judgment, God's Mercy, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Grace, Heaven, Hell, Holiness, Man's Freewill, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Resurrection, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Spiritual Gifts, The Gospel, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unopened Perfume

Posted on November 8, 2025 by russellmckinney

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15, N.K.J.V.)

Donald Barnhouse was one of America’s best-known preachers. He pastored Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1927 until 1960 and was always in great demand as a speaker at Bible conferences. His mastery of the use of illustrations was legendary.

Barnhouse once told the story of a man who visited Paris and bought an expensive bottle of perfume. The man brought the bottle home to his wife and she used the perfume freely. Even after the bottle was empty, she kept it on a table. On one occasion, when she longed to wear the scent from the empty bottle one last time, she placed a handkerchief inside the bottle and closed up the bottle so the handkerchief could absorb the remaining odors. After that even the faintest odors were gone from the bottle. By way of sermon application, Barnhouse said, “Many people in our churches are like that. As far as they are concerned, their bottle is empty. They have no life and fragrance of Christ.”

After the service Barnhouse was walking down the street to his hotel and happened to get behind a group who had heard his sermon. One of the women said, “I liked the story he told about the perfume bottle because it reminded me of a very expensive perfume that Frank brought me from Paris. It is a beautiful bottle, but I have never broken the seal. It sits right there on my dresser and the light shines through it. It is a beautiful amber.”

Seizing his opportunity for a second application for his illustration, Barnhouse overtook the group and let them know that he’d been listening in on their conversation. After a good laugh by all, Barnhouse said to the woman with the unopened bottle of perfume:

Don’t you see that the perfume was given to you to use? And what an illustration that is. Too many Christians have been given so much, yet they keep it tightly sealed in themselves. No one passing near would know for a moment that they have the life of God in them, for not the tiniest particle of the essence is allowed to come forth. The wonderful thing about God’s perfume is that as fast as we waft it forth, He keeps filling the bottle; its fragrance may change and grow, but it is more glorious every time we send it forth. That is God’s way.

Christian, our text verse says that you are nothing less than the fragrance of Christ for not only your fellow believers but also unbelievers. But the question is: How much of the “perfume” that God has given you are you using? I’m talking about your talents, skills, abilities, spiritual gifts, opportunities, time, energy, zeal, and money?

Tell me, are you using all of that “perfume” to make the world a better place? Or, like that woman’s unopened bottle, have failed to even break your seal? Listen, God hasn’t given you all that He has given you just so you can sit back, take your leisure, and enjoy the good life. He’s looking for workers, people who will serve Him by serving others, especially in situations that are downright stinky and in desperate need of a fresh, sweet-smelling aroma. And so, I close this post by asking you, “How are you doing at being the fragrance of Christ?”

Posted in Character, Commitment, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Will, God's Work, Good Works, Individuality, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Submission, Talents, Witnessing, Worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

John Wesley & the Robber

Posted on November 5, 2025 by russellmckinney

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9, N.K.J.V.)

John Wesley was the father of the Methodist denomination. It is estimated that over the course of his lifetime he rode horseback 250,000 miles in preaching the gospel. If you’re counting, that’s enough distance to circle the earth ten times!

One night, as Wesley rode across Hounslow Heath near London, a robber jumped in front of him, grabbed the horse’s bridle, and shouted, “Halt! Your money or your life!” Wesley, who was far from rich, politely obliged by removing the few coins he had in his pockets. He even invited the robber to examine his saddlebags, which were filled with books. Disappointed in the meager haul, the robber turned away to leave.

It was then that Wesley made a demand of his own. He said to the robber, “Stop! I have something more to give you.” Puzzled by Wesley’s invitation, the robber walked back to him. Wesley then bent down from his horse and said, “My friend, you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, I beseech you to remember this: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.’” Upon hearing those words, the robber scurried away into the night. Wesley, for his part, offered up a heartfelt prayer right then and there that God would burn the words into the robber’s conscience.

Years later, at the close of a Sunday night service wherein Wesley had preached to a large congregation, a stranger stepped forward and asked to speak with him. You can guess where this is going. It was the man who had robbed Wesley on Hounslow Heath so many years earlier. The man had long been a Christian and was now a wealthy tradesman in London.

Wesley remembered his first meeting with the man and was delighted to see him a second time. Almost reverently the man took Wesley’s hand, kissed it, and said, “To you, dear sir, I owe it all.” Wesley, recalling what he had said to the man that night so long ago, softly replied, “No, my friend, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin.”

It’s no coincidence that the text verse for this post is found in the same passage that gives us the familiar verse: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7, N.K.J.V.). By putting both verses together, we learn that appropriate reaping will surely come from appropriate sowing, but the harvests won’t appear overnight. Perseverance is required on our part as we are told to not “grow weary” or “lose heart.”

Perhaps, Christian, you have become discouraged because you are seeing precious little harvesting even though you’ve been faithfully sowing good seed. I believe that God led you to this post to say to you, “Hang in there! Don’t grow weary! Don’t lose heart! Keep sowing your good seed! You will reap in due season!”

One night John Wesley sowed a seed in a robber’s heart. Many years later, on another night, Wesley reaped the harvest from that seed. And that type of thing didn’t die out with John Wesley. We simply have to be faithful to keep sowing good seed and patient enough to wait for the promised harvests.

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Character, Comfort, Commitment, Depression, Disappointment, Doing Good, Encouragement, Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Work, Impatience, Influence, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Waiting, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Word About Church Services

Posted on November 3, 2025 by russellmckinney

A faithful churchgoer was asked by his fisherman friend, “How can you go to the same church every service, week after week, month after month, year after year? It’s the same place, the same people, the same hymns. You’ve even had the same preacher for several years. Hasn’t it all gotten boring to you?”

In reply, the churchgoer said to his friend, “You fish at the same hole a lot, don’t you?” But the hole is never exactly the same. The water is constantly flowing and changing as old water moves down the stream and new water replaces it. Well, church is like that. The hole is never exactly the same from one service to the next. Every time I go the Lord has something fresh for me.”

Like a fingerprint, each church service is unique. It’s a one-off collection of the specific attendees, the specific conversations, the specific fellowship, the specific songs, the specific prayer requests, the specific prayers, the specific scripture, and the specific sermon for that service. That day’s local and national news might have some bearing upon it. What’s happening within the church itself during that period of its history will definitely play a role in it. The time of year will even make a difference in how the service looks and feels. For that matter, that day’s weather will probably affect the service one way or another. But one thing is constant in church services: unending diversity. No matter if the church is big or small, city or rural, contemporary or traditional, each service will always be different than any service that has ever been held there.

Actually, even if everything about one service is an exact replica of a previous service, something will still be different: how God is dealing with you at that moment in your life. If you don’t believe me, listen to a copy of a sermon that you like. Then wait two weeks and listen to it again. What you’ll find is that God uses the sermon to speak to you in different ways from one listen to the next. You see, it’s not the sermon that changes. It’s you! Like the waters in a stream, your life is constantly flowing as old water moves down the line and is replaced by new water.

God is always up to something new not only in your outward circumstances but also in your inner spiritual life. This is why Jesus said that if you want to follow Him, you must pick up your cross each day (Luke 9:23). Whatever else we might say about God, He refuses to be predictable. If you think God is boring, that’s a tell-tale indicator that you aren’t walking with Him very closely. The apostles walked with Jesus every day, but I’ll guarantee you they would never have classified Him as predictable or boring.

And even though non-churchgoers might be loathe to agree, God does have something fresh and new for each attendee at each church service. He’s faithful in that way. The question is: Will we keep ourselves spiritually in tune enough with Him to catch what He is throwing us during each service?

So, the next time you attend church, be sure to ask God to make it crystal clear to you what He wants you to get out of the service. That’s a prayer request He’ll surely be glad to answer. Then put His answer into action and watch it make a marked difference in your life. Additionally, watch it make a marked difference in your church as God molds and shapes you into a servant who doesn’t just take  from church but also contributes to it. That, after all, is the highest ideal in regards to church services, and it’s where God ultimately wants to get you.

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Current Events, Discipleship, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Pastors, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Sunday School, Talents, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment