"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." Eph. 1:11,12; NKJ Unlike some family inheritances ours is spoken of in the present tense. Jesus' last will and testament went into force when ...

"Having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth--in Him. Eph. 1:9,10; NKJ A mystery is something previously hidden, now revealed. God will write the final chapter in human histo...

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7; NKJ Redemption, in reference to believers, means that God has bought us back to Himself from the slave market of sin which held us as prisoners. The price that had to be paid was not silver or gold, but the blood of His dear Son. Only Jesus Christ coul...

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:3-4 KJV Apart from the gospel message, there is no solution to the sin question. The word "gospel" means glad tidings and goo...

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:19-20 NKJ Ever since our first parents rebelled and sinned against God in the Garden of Eden and tried to hide from ...

"He said to them, “An enemy has done this." The servant said to him, "Do you want us to go and gather them up?" But He said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also up-root the wheat with them.’" Matt. 13:28-29 In this marvelous parable, Jesus in His explanation makes it clear the tares and wheat represent two very different groups of people ming...

"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them." Ps. 106:23 NKJ David knew well the history of Israel's sinful behavior from Moses through Jeremiah. They had despised the pleasant land, did not believe God's word, complained in their tents, and did not heed His voi...

"To You I will cry, O LORD, my rock: Do not be silent to me, lest if You are silent to me, I might as well give up and die." Ps. 28:1 The word "cry" is used 30 times in the books of Psalms and Jeremiah and is synonymous with prayer. King David and the "weeping prophet" Jeremiah frequently used this word "cry" to characterize their prayers. In O.T. times, and lesser in ...

"Consider and hear me, O LORD My God, enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed against him"; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved." Ps. 13:3 Godly leaders always face opposition. The higher up the spiritual office and fruitfulness, the greater the opposition. One cannot move without creating friction. David i...

And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, my own hand has saved me." Judges 7:2 NKJ Although "Bigness" can be a hindrance to the work of God, you would certainly not have thought this true of the incident before us. This story seems to be ...