Romans 6:12-14

Dear Brethren,

What is sin? To put it simply, a sin is either doing something the Bible says not to do or not doing what the Bible says to do. Quite often you may hear a person caught in sin say, "I didn't do anything wrong." Many people, even Christians, will engage in sin and then deny that they did anything wrong. Regardless of his claim, if a person does something the Bible calls a sin, then he has done wrong.

One of the secrets to a Christian living a godly life is to overcome sin. In order for a Christian to overcome sin, he must make the decision not to let sin "reign" (or dominate) in his life. The Christian must say no to any and all temptations. With the attitude of not letting sin "reign" in his life, a Christian will be able to say no to all temptations. It is a matter of personal choice and decision. It is a matter of serving our heavenly Father. Here is Romans 6:12-14 presented for your consideration.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

In Love,

John Duvall

Hebrews 2:1-4

Dear Brethren,

There are many religious people who claim that God performs miracles through them. Turn on the television and you may find some man or woman touching some "sick" person on the head and saying, "Be healed!" At that point, the crowd begins to clap wildly while many people cry out, "Praise God! Praise God!" while the "healed" person falls backwards into the hands of the attendants. However, how real are these "miracles"? Do these "miracles" fit the purpose of miracles seen during the early days of the church?

The only way to answer the question of whether or not a "miracle" is real is to do a careful study of every "miracle." For instance, have medical verification of the existence of the cancer before the cancer victim goes to be healed. Then show the world the medical verification of the cancer being healed. Let a person with a clearly visible disease be healed. For instance, take a celebrity known by much of the world to be blind and let him be healed. That would be simple. Going to the local hospital and healing everyone present in the name of Jesus Christ would also get the attention of unbelievers as well. However, you and I both know that "miracles" of today do not operate in this fashion. Often times the "healing services" are very controlled as to who can be healed. Not just anyone can get in line to be healed by the visiting faith healer. Try it some time. Take a friend that you have known for years to be ill or afflicted to a "healing service" and insist that they be healed. See what happens.

What purposes did miracles serve in the early days of the church? The Bible clearly reveals this answer for us. Mark records the following in Mark 16:19-20: "19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." Miracles of the New Testament were performed to confirm what the apostles and teachers were teaching.

In the beginning of the church, the New Testament in written form as we have it today had not yet been compiled. Much of the early teaching relied upon men inspired by the Holy Spirit. Then, as the various writers penned their letters and books, men would copy these writings and distribute them among believers. Instead of telling the people to "turn in your Bibles to" a given passage for verification, the apostles would show God's approval of the teaching with miracles. Since we have the New Testament in written form today, there is no longer any need for modern day confirmation of what is taught. The Bible serves as confirmation itself with its records of miracles. Here is Hebrews 2:1-4 presented for your consideration.

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

In Love,

John Duvall

Isaiah 5:20-21

Dear Brethren,

Followers of God will follow the Bible, the one true standard of right and wrong. Through His Word, the Lord has given a standard by which man should guide his life. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV) Those who follow God's word will govern their lives, their actions, and their thoughts, by the Word which will judged them in the day of judgment. Jesus said, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48, NKJV)

Mankind would do well to heed the warning found in the book of Isaiah. There are many differing ideas regarding what is right and what is wrong. Some people go so far as to say that no one really has the right to say what is wrong and what is wrong for someone else. Every person must make his or her own decision regarding right and wrong, some would say. However, this way of thinking has created a generation of people who do not feel bound by standards of right and wrong. They are free to do their own thing without expected consequence. They will call evil good and good evil. Here is Isaiah 5:20-21 presented for your consideration.

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

In Love,

John Duvall

Ephesians 5:25-28

Dear Brethren,

One of the key elements to a successfu marriage is love. However, not just any love will do. The love between the husband and the wife must be a God established love; a love that is selfless and unconditional. While this type of love may seem unreasonable and unrealistic to some people, it is, nevertheless, required for a sucessful and happy marriage.

For families who follow the Bible, the spousal love taught by God is a love that grows daily within their relationship. It is a love fashioned after the love Christ had for the church. It is a love of self-sacrifice; a love composed of care, concern, and compassion. Every husband and wife should carefully examine their love for one another to see if their love measures up to the love established in God's holy word. Here is Ephesians 5:25-28 presented for your consideration.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

In Love,

John Duvall