In 1 Samuel 15 we read the account of Saul being rejected as King. He is commissioned to be God’s agent of judgment upon the Amalekites and while he does go to war with the Amalekites, He does not carry out the directives of God. As a result Saul is rejected as the King of Israel. Samuel in confronting Saul says, “Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft” (v23) . Rebellion divides, and destroys, and yet we see this manifested not only in America but globally. Rebellion is not just manifested in total rebellion, but is seen in the partial obedience of Saul. We must understand that partial obedience is still disobedience! Saul’s sin of rebellion not only affected his status before the Lord, but it changed the role of his son, Jonathan, and created disunity in Israel. We must understand that the battle with rebellion is not an ancient battle that we do not face, but is a temptation that we battle every day. The key to overcoming is learning to be obedient to the Word of God.… READ MORE

     In James 1:15-16 there is a shift of metaphors from hunting and fishing to childbirth. “Lust is depicted as a mother conceiving and bearing a child, which is “sin” and whose ultimate destiny is “death”. Early in my ministry this was known as the “LSD” verse of the Bible. The Lord makes it clear here that sin is not an isolated act or even a series of isolated acts, but rather the result of a specific process. That process can be seen in the 4 “D’s” of the nature of lust. It starts with “Desire” (lust) which begins with an emotion, feeling, or longing for something, that at first may be largely subconscious. Something we see or hear about suddenly grabs our attention and draws out a strong desire to have it or do it. Then we move to “Deception” (lust has conceived) This is more closely related to the mind than to the emotions. We think about a desired object, and our mind begins to rationalize a justification for getting it. That moves us to “Design”. When our plans start to be made to fulfill the emotional desire that we have rationalized and justified in our minds. This stage … READ MORE

I am a fisherman, and as such I purchase a lot of fishing lures. Every lure is designed to catch a fish, but I my wife tells me from time to time, each of my lures has caught one sucker! – lol. When I buy a lure, I often walk through a store like Cabela’s and look at all the lures they have, can then begins the struggle with the purchase. I first look at the lure, and then I return and pick up the lure, and look at, often shaking it to see if it has a rattle or some other distinctive feature. Then I put it back on the shelf and begin thinking about whether I want to spend the money it takes to purchase it. Again I have an inner struggle, as I consider the benefits of getting the lure, finally I will do one of two things, either I will leave the store, and drive away, or I will go back and give into the desire to have a lure that I believe will bring me the happiness I desire as I unhook the fish that I believe that it will bring me. I would like … READ MORE