On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed His 95 Theses on the door of the church at Wittenburg. His letter to the Bishop of Mainz sent theological shockwaves around the world.  One of the high impacts was the emphasis on private interpretation of Scripture.  Each believer should have access to read the Bible for themselves.  

Here's a Bible that reinforces the powerful truths gained from the Reformation. ​Praise God! 

Daniel was exiled to Babylon. The king had a dream and was upset with his astrologers.  He commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be killed. Daniel was one of those wise men.  He learned why the king was upset, went to his friends, and called them to pray.  The Bible says that God revealed the dream to Daniel in the night and he praised the God of heaven.
May the name of God
    be praised forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
Daniel 2:20-23
Prayer worked and God intervened.  We can call on His name with confidence and expect deliverance.  Praise God! 

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the "Spirit of Truth".  We have the high privilege of the Spriit's presence when we confess Christ (Romans 8:16) and the assurance that the Spriit will light up Scripture and infuse us with power (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:44-46). There is a valuable blessing from the Spirit that is automatic and instant for the believer. It's convincing.  The Spirit convinces us of sin.  The Spirit truly guides the believer into what is right.
 Rom. 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
When we are convinced of our sin, it paves the way to repentance, mercy and forgiveness. (Romans 3:23-24)       Praise God! 

James was the half-brother of our Lord.  In his book he gives a discourse on the differences from worldly wisdom and God's wisdom.  There are moments in our journey when our own assessments are insufficient. God is available when we ask. 
James 1:5  
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
​Praise God! 

The Old Testament is the subject matter expert on God's love.  Lovingkindness is the powerful word translated from the Hebrew.

The Lovingkindness of God never fails.  Praise God! 

I love John 3:16.  I love seeing the signs behind Game Day episodes and sports teams.  I love the background of it.  Jesus had one conversation at night with one man about His redemptive mission.  This grand text has text after it.  It's the result of the Christian experience and the best news for all who believe. 
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Praise God! 

In a Recipe for Revival, we should look to the word of God.  Jesus had much to say about the the world that would be after His ascension.  Here is part 2! 

Praise God! 

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he encouraged them about their demonstrative worship and vital faith.  Then he began instructing them.  Almost every chapter of 1 Corinthians addresses a different human dysfunction. Church leaders  rely on chapters 12 and 14 to provide instructions on how to conduct worship when we lean on God's guidance.  Chapter 13 is right in the middle of those instructional passages and is famously known as the love chapter. It's at the end of chapter 13 we get a fascinating verse in this regard.
1 Cor. 13:8        Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

Praise God! 

The first time I heard the phrase "Pay Attention" was when I was sitting in a reading circle while a child in first grade. Mrs. Thornton said "Danny, pay attention".  I would learn soon what it meant. In ancient Israel, things were not going well.  The priest Eli had rebellious sons and the Bible tells us about a woman who was distressed that she couldn't bare a son.  Her name was Hanna.  Hanna prayed.  The prayer is powerful and is found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.  The answer to that prayer was also powerful.

1Sam. 2:21        The LORD paid attention to Hannah’s need, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

God would do amazing things through Samuel.  I think it's fantastic that in 1 verse the writer tells us that God answered Hannah's prayer and how great it was, because he "grew up in the presence of the Lord" Praise God!

Jesus is coming back.  It's not if, but WHEN.  A simple search of "when He comes" in the New Testament gives a powerful reminder that the apostles expected Him any day and so should we. 

Matt. 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.
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Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 13:36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.
Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.

Luke 12:36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.

Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

John 4:25        The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
2Th. 1:10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.

​Praise God! 

I appreciate the Christian Standard Bible mostly because of the way it treats Acrostics and New Testament quotations of the Old Testament.

There is often much discussion about a church's vision or mission.  This has always been puzzling to me, because the purpose/mission/vision/goals of the church are clearly spelled out in Ephesians 4:11-16.  Another place is in 1 Corinthians 12:28.  After talking about the "same Spirit" that blesses the ministry of the church, Paul throws down it's mission/vision/purpose and goals.

1Cor. 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 
The ministry has been provided to build up every member of the Church  as it says in Ephesians 4:11-16.  It's as clear as can be.  Praise God! 

I love how God is with us 24/7.  Romans 8:16 gives us the assurance of His blessed presence. As I was walking today, this phrase came to mind "Jesus Never Fails".  It is the title of a song made popular in the late 80s by the gospel group "Truth". I had heard it so many times, i was able to recall 2 of the verses.  It's a powerful and poetic refrain about the faithfulness of God. Here is a video of the great Brooklyn Tabernacle choir singing it.  

The word "blessing" first appears in the Bible when God makes a promise to Abraham (Gen 12:2). It then follows this family through the Old Testament and is mentioned 69 more times. In the New Testament it is seen in the ministry of Christ. (1 Cor 10: I 16) The last time it's mentioned is in Revelation 7:12 as part of a worship refrain. In Revelation 5, John describes what he heard and it was a blessing:

Rev. 5:13    I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
     Blessing and honor and glory and power
    be to the one seated on the throne,
    and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
The good news of God's love for His people is a blessing for now and eternity!  Praise God! 

The Good News about Jesus was shared under the inspiration of the Spirit by 3 of his disciples, and 1 of the second generation believers.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  These are 4 unique but distinctly solid proclamations of the life and ministry of Jesus:                              

John the apostle was part of Jesus's inner circle. Peter, James and John saw some things the others didn't.  This might be the reason that John zeroed in on the experience of belief when he wrote his gospel.  Throughout the book, the apostle, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, appeals readers to join him on the journey of belief in Christ.  We know about the grand presentation that Jesus made to Nicodemus, an old Pharisee, in the dark of night (John 3:1-17). There is another of the many promises made to believers in the Gospel found here:

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When Christ's invitation is received it comes with power to be a new creation and have a new identity.  Praise God! 

Paul the apostle preached and lived the best news in the world.  Toward the end of his life, he wrote something that has blessed Christians for over 2000 years.  I think of it as the "theological win-win". In Christ, the believer cannot lose.  We have the blessing and assurance of forgiveness in Christ and life in His name. (John 20:30-31).  We also have the assurance of eternity forever and ever and ever! Here is what Paul said to the Philippians: 

Phil. 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Praise God! 

Born to sin.  That is the condition of all humanity.  The story is told in Genesis 3:1-24.  Paul explains the implications in Romans 5:12-21.  The Good News that Christ brings is that we no longer have to suffer under the weight and condemnation brought by Adam into the world. Christ has conquered over death, hell and the grave and His invitation is for whosoever will. (John 3:15-17). Praise God! 

The key to James's discourse on faith is his summary statement in James 2:22.  He was using the example of Abraham's offering of Isaac as the action step that authenticated his faith.  This is easy to see with a Christian lens as we know about Abraham's grand example of faith for the Christian tradition.  James accentuates that point by affirming the simple notion of belief is what is to be modeled. Abraham's example only confirmed what was happening on the inside. Praise God! 

Martin Luther actually thought this book didn't belong in the Bible.  The reason?  James's assertion that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17) Romans 10:9-10 might seem to contradict that claim.  Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James would not be contradictory.  I choose to think of it as hyperbole. .  (An extreme statement to make a point).  He illustrated with the body and the spirit.  "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also". (James 2:26)  That's a strong claim but an important nuance.  Genuine faith will produce Christian works. As much as James talks about it in this chapter, I can appreciate Martin Luther's consternation.  The simple fact remains that James never asserts the opposite relationship. He never says that works produces faith.  This to me is crucial and the reason I can emphatically affirm the book of James as the word of God.  Praise God! 

It's the best kept secret, but certainly the most fun.  Responding to the message is when it gets real. 

We learn, we grow, and become more effective when we learn to RESPOND!  Praise God! 

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39) He referred to the "Promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4) Theology states that "the Holy Spirit is from the father and the Son proceeding". He's referred to as the "third Person of the Trinity".  Jesus said in John 14 and that the Holy Spirit would be a Teacher and a Guide. The Christian's  search for truth is led by the Spirit! Praise God! 

James says that "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much". (James 5.16) When we learn to pray unselfishly, we are getting close to that effective measure.