Article
Everybody remembers the famous story of David and Goliath; but few people remember that there was one giant that David could not kill. His name was Ishbi-benob, and he almost killed David! “But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
There are several practical lessons from this story of the “forgotten giant” that I would like to share with you.
Giants Keep Multiplying
David killed a …
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Article
“And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me.”—Exodus 33:21
What God’s people might be and what they really are are two different things. Our interpretation of the truth, and our unbelief have fixed a great gulf between the two. This is not only true of the “higher critics” but also of multitudes who profess to believe the whole Book and stand for it in theory. They see their privileges and contend that they may be enjoyed, but how very few are they who really practice them.
Moses found a place close by God, but the …
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Article
Among the many characteristics of Christian love listed in 1 Corinthians 13, one of the most neglected is this: “Love thinketh no evil.” If you and I would practice this, what a difference it would make in our relationship with the Lord and with one another. “Love thinketh no evil.”
Even people who do not believe the Bible admit that 1 Corinthians 13 is the greatest statement on love found in any literature anywhere. Inspired by the Spirit, Paul describes true Christian love in terms that excite us and convict us. Apart from God’s love in our hearts, we could …
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An address by Dr. Herbert W. Bieber at The Moody Church during the first week of the opening of the new church building in 1925.
I have with a great deal of thought chosen my subjects for these three nights. I suppose you believe with me that there are favorite sugar sticks that we Bible teachers like to suck, but I want to bring you messages from the Word of God which I believe would be helpful. My own desire is that in this magnificent church there shall never anything be preached but the gospel of the grace of God. …
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Article
Within in the church, and throughout broader society, a great deal of mysticism and superstition surrounds the reality, ability, and work of demons. Because of this haze of opinions, we must root our understanding in Scripture.
The Demonic Narrative
Satan is the origin of evil, the father of lies (John 8:44).
Satan and his angels apparently still have access to heaven because during the tribulation period, there will be a war in heaven and they will be cast out unto the earth (Revelation 12:7-9).
Though crushed by the work of Christ two thousand years ago, their final end, eternal punishment, …
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More is at stake in 2020 than public policy and political leadership. Recently, Decision spoke with Erwin Lutzer, author and pastor emeritus of The Moody Church, about what’s at stake for the church in a culture that seems ever more secular and opposed to biblical truth.
Q: What issues does the church need to address this coming year?
A: I believe that as the church enters 2020, many of the issues we’ve already seen are going to have to be confronted, and there is really no place to hide. Courage will be essential—the willingness to stand for truth against incredible …
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Article
It is surprising that after nineteen hundred years of Gospel light and testimony, one often finds professing Christians who manifest great ignorance in regard to the most important fundamental truths of the Word of God. I do not know how many times I have had people come to me—people who had faith in Christ—and put the question in all seriousness, “Just why did Christ have to die in order that we might be saved?” I want to show from the Scripture seven very clear, definite reasons for which Jesus died.
The first Scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 15. In …
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Article
“Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God, of that which doth cost me nothing,” (2 Samuel 24:24).
The burnt offering is the Old Testament picture of entire consecration. It was voluntary. It was all upon the altar. It was made by fire, a sweet savor unto the Lord. I want to use this text as the basis for what is recounted in Nehemiah 2, for the principle of the burnt offering is the principle behind the preparation and equipment of this man, and all others, for the service of God.
The Burden He Carried (Nehemiah 2:2) …
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Psalm 77: “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me…”
This psalm tells the story of David and how he got out of the cave. As Professor James G. Murphy of Belfast says in his commentary, “The psalm was most probably composed on some critical emergency in the eventful life of David. The hiding of David in the cave of Adullam has been suggested by different writers.”
It is the devil’s peculiar joy to get us into a hole, and it is God’s particular delight to get us out …
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Article
A great flaw of Western Christianity is its profound ignorance and trivialization of the occult with its related activities. The Scriptures not only confirm their reality and danger, but they also consistently condemn any association with them (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Galatians 5:19-20; Revelation 21:8). In fact, the church in Ephesus gives us an example of how occult practices were removed from the early church (Acts 19:11-20). No syncreticism (a blending of two or more belief systems) was allowed, as Christ alone was and is sufficient.
Condoning (or observing) occult practices is inherently an act of distrust against …
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