Grace

Paul’s Vision And Thorn in The Flesh

Just as God permitted Satan to test Job (Job 1-2) and Peter (Luke 22:31-34), so He permitted Satan to attack Paul. To avoid exalting himself he describes these experiences in the third person …

The Stone That Made People Stumble

Paul quotes Hosea 2:23, which declares that God would turn from the Jews and would call the Gentiles (v. 25). He quotes Isaiah 10:22 and 23 to show us that only a remnant of Israel would be saved, and that the greater number would suffer judgment (vv. 27-28). Today only a remnant of …

Rahab Hides the Spies

We all have a past. There are very few people today that have not been touched by divorce. We have all heard the statistics that cite that roughly one-half of every marriage ends in divorce. Forty percent of young women before the age of 20 become pregnant here in the United States. Many …

Slaves in Their Own Land

D. The grace of God (vv 32-39) – God was good to His people when His people were not good to Him. In His mercy He didn’t give them what they deserved.The history of the children of Israel is brought up to date (v. 32). In the past they had enjoyed abundant blessings even th …

IllustrationA man who was hopeless

I heard the story of two friends who were talking to each other. One remarked to his friend and said, “Man, you look so depressed. Whatever could you be thinking …

IllustrationTo Seek to Earn Salvation is To Insult The Giver

To seek to earn, merit, or purchase salvation is to insult the Giver. Imagine yourself invited to a banquet in the White House by the president of the United States. You are seated at a table that is …

IllustrationSwindoll – Washing The Family Car

One Saturday afternoon I said to my two children, “I’ll give you 75 cents to wash my car.” My younger son Chuck said, “Who in the world wants to wash a car for 75 cents?” So I turned to Colleen, our younger daughter and said, “Honey, I’ll give you $1.50 i …

IllustrationGod’s unmerited favor

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a …