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Christians Assist Victims of Myanmar Cyclone

World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization, has nearly 600 staff members on the ground assisting victims affected by Cyclone Nargis. ... Read Story

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Dignify Your Trials

by R. T. Kendall

In the fall of 1979, less than three years after starting my ministry at Westminster Chapel, I began a series of sermons on the book of James. Shortly afterward, I took my family on a vacation that included a trip to Disney World. We had been there the previous year and discovered a pizza parlor in Kissimmee, Florida, that served the best pizza I had ever eaten. So I promised my family I would get them pizza there again.

After we checked into our motel, we went to the pizza place, about six blocks away, and put in our order. A good while later I went to the counter and asked about the pizzas...Read More

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What Does the Blood of Jesus cry?

Years ago I talked with God about the cross, and I asked Him why Jesus had to suffer so much. The Father showed me something very precious. I believe Jesus actually bled to death during His crucifixion.

All those hours on the cross, His precious blood flowed from those fresh wounds until He was about to pass out from the loss of blood. At that moment, the Father took the sins of the world and placed them upon that broken, emaciated body, and Jesus became sin who knew no sin. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (see 2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus had been bleeding profusely for six hours. His blood had already been poured out before the sins of the world were placed upon Him. That holy blood was never contaminated by the sins of the world. His blood remains holy, untouched by your sins and mine. It is as pure and holy as ever, full of mercy and life. It was His body that was broken and contaminated.

That is why the Book of Hebrews says the blood of Jesus cries better things than the blood of Abel (see 12:24). The blood of Abel was crying out for revenge: “God, do something. My brother has murdered me.”

But what does the blood of Jesus cry? “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. For these guilty people, Lord, I will provide the way to mercy. I will take their place. Let mercy be given them.”

—John Arnott.

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Digging Deeper in God's Word: Insights to enrich your personal Bible study

by John Chasteen

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
—1 Corinthians 9:26-27, NLT

What's up with Paul and the struggle with his flesh? Shouldn't this spiritual giant have been beyond such a struggle? Why would he need to take drastic easures to control his body?

As Christians we are called to discipline our bodies. By "discipline" I mean to take charge of urges motivated by the flesh. Whether we like it or not, , the Lord is clear that we are to control our fleshly desires.

So why does Paul make such an extreme statement? Mainly because he knows our bodies are not yet redeemed and that they have the potential to impede our spiritual progress.

In verse 27, when referring to the discipline of his own body, Paul uses a strong Greek word to get his point across. The word hupopeadzo conveys the idea of handling roughly or forcing into submission. This was Paul's attitude toward his flesh.

Romans 8:9-10 tells us that because of sin our bodies are dead. The verses are not referring to physical death but rather to the fact that our bodies are not alive to God, that they do not want to participate in spiritual matters.

For instance, the physical body has no desire to pray or worship. It is dead, so to speak, to the things of God and must be made to...Read More