Theinnermaninme

"...... Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another". (Galatians 6 : 2 - 4) We cannot change what we will not confront. And even while confrontation is often uncomfortable, it is necessary for healing and restoration. Second Samuel 11 finds King David walking on the roof of his house. On that spring night, his eyes fell on a beautiful woman as she was bathing. Upon discovering that she was the wife of Uriah, the soldier, David did the unthinkable. He sent a command to have Uriah placed at the front of the fiercest battle so that he would be killed. After Bathsheba mourned the death of her husband, David took her as his wife. This evil deed displeased the Lord (2 Samuel 11:27). The Lord sent the prophet, Nathan, to confront David regarding this grievous sin (2 Samu...

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Hebrews 9 : 22) The idea that sacrifice is the purchase price of freedom is not new. In the book of Genesis, we grieve as Adam and Eve hide in humiliation after eating the forbidden fruit. God, in His mercy, sacrificed an animal to cover their nakedness and shame. In the book of Exodus, we watch as God set His divine plan in motion to free His chosen people. As the Israelites packed their bags and prepared to walk out of Egypt after four hundred years of cruel slavery, God commanded a curious thing. Each family was to sacrifice a spotless lamb and apply its blood over the doorpost. God set apart and spared His own at the sight of that dark stain. Later, as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God demanded that an animal be sacrificed, that its blood be poured on the altar for the cleansing of their sin. The blood was the means by which the Israelites could e...

" He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed  us  into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins ". (Colossians 1 : 13 - 14) For all that Jesus Christ did for us at the Cross, as much as He makes possible through His sacrifice, it is only accessible to us when we cross the border from unbelief to belief. Our faith unlocks His promises in our lives. As we travel from country to country, when we cross borders, we are given forms and asked to declare certain things. From where are we coming? Where are we going? What are we carrying with us? How long do we plan to stay? When we come to the Cross — the border of salvation — we have some declarations to make. We declare that we believe that the Word of God is true. We recognize that we are sinners in need of a Savior, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We come from the other side of the border of salvation. And w...

"I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one". (1 John 2:14) Fathers, God has a plan and a purpose for each one of you! Those on “the home team” need you, our “most valuable players,” more than ever before. Fathers, your children need you. Your children need to see you loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Your sons need you. They need a real-life example of how a man of God lives his life with integrity. They need for someone to demonstrate a strong work ethic, to tell them that diligence is worth the effort, to exhibit the honor in providing for and loving your family well. Your daughters need you. They need your tender embrace, to know that your arms are a place to find confidence, comfort, and strength. They need you to show them how real men love and respect their wives...

".......As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." (John 15:9) From Genesis through Revelation, God demonstrates His deep desire to be with us. How amazing that the Creator of the universe longs to spend time with us. In Genesis, God lovingly fashioned Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed His own breath into him (Genesis 2:7). As He molded Adam and Eve, He formed them in His own image. He wanted us to recognize Him, to relate to Him. In the garden of perfection that He had created just for them. If you are longing for fellowship with God Almighty, if you are reaching for Him, He is reaching back to you. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro across the earth; He wants to show Himself strong on behalf of those who are loyal to Him (II Chronicles 16:9). Be careful not to confuse His longing with any sort of need. God does not need us. He is all-sufficient unto Himself. He needs nothing from anyone. How awe-inspiring that He wants us! He desires to s...

.......So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work. (Nehemiah 2:18) The borders that God establishes bring blessing to those who choose to honor them. One of the boundaries most in need of repair today is the broken border of marriage. Biblical, God-honoring marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime is under threat. The sacrificial love of which the Bible speaks, that inspires one person to give his life to another and to raise children in the fear of the Lord, has been forfeited. This breakdown of the family unit erodes the foundation for our future. Great relationships require effort, practice, and intentionality. Good husbands, good wives, and good families are not born of luck. They are built by hard work.  For single people who desire to marry, you are working on your future relationship. Are you preparing to be a superb spouse? Or just hoping for the best? If you are a broken person before you marry, marriage will on...

"......this is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it". (Psalm 118:24) Because this is the day that the Lord has made, it doesn’t matter if it’s a wonderful day or the hardest day of our life; we will rejoice and be glad in it. The reason we’ll rejoice is not because of the outcome, but because of the promise of what’s coming. Oftentimes we like to wait on the results before we start to celebrate, but the context of what David was writing about here was something that he didn’t live to see. He was talking about a day of salvation in which Jesus, the Stone that the builders rejected, would become the Chief Cornerstone. David didn’t live to see that, but he said it because that day is coming. He was rejoicing in advance of its arrival because the One who promised it is faithful to complete it. Child of God, you don’t have to wait for the mountain to move or the crooked place to be made straight before you can start rejoicing in the joy of your salvation, b...

…for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.(Deuteronomy 20:4) TODAY'S TRUTH What was King Saul thinking when he allowed a young shepherd boy to face down a hulking giant? What chance did David have against Goliath? In ancient times, warring armies commonly staged a dual between their two strongest soldiers. The winner of the duel determined the outcome of the battle and sent his fellow soldiers home to plant crops, build homes, and control their trades. In the valley of Elah, the Philistines put up their champion fighter, Goliath. For forty days, morning and night, he challenged the Israelites to send out a worthy opponent. Goliath poured out his contempt when, instead of a battle-hardened warrior, a boy with his trusty slingshot stepped onto the plain. God sent out a Warrior to fight for us. Jesus has proven Himself in the ultimate battle with the enemy of our souls. He won a war that He knew we did not have the power to win....