The Crisis of Our “Dustness”: Reflections from the Testimony of Oswald Chambers

“Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man….” -Is. 6.5a There is a place of crisis to which every saint must come, for there is an inherent humanism in all men and women, and even after conversion to Christ there lingers a dualistic nature. We have tasted of the Divine nature, but we...

Is Introspection a Sin?

Finally brothers… (Paul is saying to sum up this whole book) whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 I used to...

The Spirit and The Word

“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:7-8) “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4, ESV) Before proceeding in the direction I’d like to...

Ephesians: The Mystery of Church 11-Heavenly Places

It seems that heavenly places essentially describes a position in the supernatural realm. This realm dictates all aspects of the natural. Heavenly Places is mentioned four times in the first three chapters of Ephesians. I believe that this supernatural aspect of the heavenly places and the Church’s...

For God So Loved the Kosmos

“For God so loved the world (kosmos), that He gave His only begotten Son….” -Jn. 3.16 There is a high and glorious note in the Gospel that we don’t often hear sounded in modern preaching, and in many ways, it has lessened the majesty of our understanding of salvation. In the minds of...

Ephesians: The Mystery of the Church 10

Ephesians 6b & Conclusion III. Strength in the Spirit Part 2 a) 13-17 Taking up the Full Armor: As previously stated, each part of the armor about to be mentioned must be present if we are going to be able to stand. Each armor piece represents a virtue (inner strength and moral excellence). We must have...

Unconditional Obedience?

“And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back. And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, but...