So, as it relates to God and one another, there is knowledge of facts. This is knowing things about God. Then there is knowledge of God Himself. This is knowing who He is personally and knowing what He is like in His character, intimately.

It can seem like wickedness, evil, and deceit have no end. That this visible and tangible environment is the ultimate and only reality. It can appear as if societal structures and political positions are the most important issues of life.

This is the question that must be answered by everyone.

I was looking for a feeling that would indicate that the Holy Spirit was moving and that He was filling me with the fuel of blessing in my soul so that I could better resist temptation all week—or at least until Wednesday night when I could gather again if needed.

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on…

When we who are in Christ contemplate how we can engage with society in a godly way, we must remember that this world is the domain of darkness, the valley of the shadow of death.

Acknowledging the world for what it is helps keep our mindset on the spiritual and off the fleshly, or natural.

We all know that the Lord Jesus atoned for our sins, right? Actually, He did far more than that.

It’s important not to miss the fact that this is teaching us about the Kingdom and these virgins are all wanting to meet the Bridegroom. The parable says, “the Kingdom is like this” and then goes on to explain that not everyone gains entry.

There’s only one baptism. Accept no substitutes.

Wrath is a form of indignation against evil. It doesn't need to be caused by God because it is the natural effect of evil upon righteousness.

We cooperate with what He is doing within us by yielding to prompts and urges that whisper things like…

We do not work to get this power. We merely allow it to flow by flipping the switch as it were from off (living in fleshly ways that quench His guidance) to on (living in dependence on Him by faith).

This isn’t anger directed particularly at people. Rather it is indignation at that which seeks to harm His children. The wrath of judgment is the necessary first step in the eradication of wickedness and evil in all its forms.

Religious zealots would like us to elevate pastors and teachers. They love to call themselves “apostle”, “prophet”, “bishop”, and so on. Then they berate the flock into submission, often demanding that people treat them with deference and respect due only to God.

Moses was a mediator between God and the people of Israel (see Galatians 3:19-20). Then under the New Covenant we are told that there is one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (see 1 Timothy 2:5).

The passage also indicates that God recognizes that carrying all this stuff a great distance will be problematic so He tells them that if it’s too far, they should “exchange it for money, and bind the money in [their] hand and go to the place which the LORD [their] God chooses.”

Then He says a very surprising thing.

What if God actually wants you to enjoy yourself?

A good friend recently asked, “Can we completely subvert the working of the Spirit in our lives totally?” I think this is an insightful question and one that many believers find themselves asking at one time or another.

Then Father says something very interesting. “The LORD is his inheritance.” This tribe of priests have as their inheritance the Lord God Himself.

This is a shadow. The reality is found in Christ Jesus.