When I was teenager, I became weary of the word “obedience”. This happened because of the hundreds of rules that I was expected to follow that resulted in punishment if I was caught violating one. I wasn’t rebellious, but I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could make my own rules. Then I joined … [Read more…]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS CHRIST AND TO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE HE IS THE ONE WHO SAVES MY SOUL MERCIFUL AND LOVING HOLY AND JUST CREATOR OF ALL WORTHY OF ALL HONOR AND POWER. ~Stephen Beagles
The increase in spiritual attacks against Christ and the church will continue to get worse until the end of time. Jesus said, “take up your cross and follow me!” Jesus went to the cross to remove the wrath of God against those who believe and trust in Him. His followers are called to sacrifice ALL if … [Read more…]
I have been watching “Surviving the Cut”, a documentary series on Military Special Forces training. As a Marine, I learned first hand the type of motivation, perseverance, knowledge, courage, and loyalty that this type of training requires from each student. The documentary brings back many memories of sleepless nights, lack of food, endless hiking, seemingly … [Read more…]
For a long time the church has been preaching the gospel in reverse. This has led to the same results as attempting to carry a horse on our backs for hundreds of miles over rough terrain. It simply doesn’t work. The false gospel is that God loves the righteous and hates the wicked. The truth … [Read more…]
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24, KJV There are many churches that focus on truth and yet their spirit is cold. Not only are there many cold churches, but there are also those whose spirit is on fire but water down doctrinal … [Read more…]
A few days ago, I purchased a book from my local Christian bookstore written by A.W. Tozer. The title of the book was, “The Crucified Life: How To Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience.” Actually, it was more of an edited paraphrase of various sermons he had preached during his lifetime. The editor James Snyder … [Read more…]
Now that I am older, I dislike Halloween. When I was a kid, I thought it was fun to dress up crazy and get candy. But now I have no desire to put on a costume, and I can buy all the candy I want from the store. I also know the true meaning behind … [Read more…]
What does it mean to live a crucified life? First, it means that we have died to our self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. We must rely completely on the merits of Jesus for salvation. Second, it also means that we are called to do the right thing–no matter the personal cost or sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus … [Read more…]
Heaven fill me with your glorious light Lead me from the darkness of the night Let the angels guide me on this way Guard my heart from evil – Lord I pray. ~Stephen Beagles
Genuine holiness is found in loving the God who first loved us. When we focus on the love of God in Jesus Christ, it is impossible for us not to be filled with the fruits of His spirit. The Bible says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” … [Read more…]
Whether in pleasure or pain, Whether I’m happy or mad, Whether in want or in gain, Whether I’m glad or I’m sad, I know I will endure! For God’s promises are sure. ~Stephen Beagles
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21, KJV Growing up in the church, I don’t remember the exact time that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and grant me eternal life. But I do remember how I felt when I … [Read more…]
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” ~ John 6:37, ESV It is hard for many to believe in the assurance of salvation. Some people want to believe in a gospel that says Jesus forgives past sins, and gives us complete victory … [Read more…]
I don’t want people to think that I encourage sin by focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality is that God saves us for obedience to His moral law. Those who love God will want to be obedient to His word. The problem is that the law of God demands perfection and “there … [Read more…]
Over the years, I have heard many people stand up in a church meeting and ask: How do we know the will of God? This is a question that perplexes many people who believe that God will reveal His specific will for every area of their lives. The problem is that they never seem quite … [Read more…]
There is an “EAR” in your “hEARt”–Start Listening! ~Stephen Beagles
What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? Whenever I ask this question I get numerous responses. Some say to preach the gospel is to proclaim the word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. Others say that the gospel is the message that Christ gives us power to overcome our sins. More refined theologians might … [Read more…]
James 2:26 is one of the most misunderstood texts in the bible, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (NKJV). This verse is often a reminder of the fear that permeates many of the professed Christian churches. I have heard many sincere ministers counsel their church … [Read more…]
Richard Dawkins, one of the most famous atheists of the 21st Century, is noted for asking the age-old question: If God created the Universe then who created God? He then goes on to state that if it is illogical for the building blocks of the universe to “pop” into existence then it is even more … [Read more…]
Religion is not a game. God is real. Everything that we do in our lifetime has real consequences. Some may think that they are getting away with bad behavior, but every person who lives will be judged by God and held accountable for their actions. Right now, God might seem like an illusion. Religion might … [Read more…]
Your spirit speaks to me this mystery The love of God who died for one like me The power of your blood to free from sin The grace and peace that fill us from within. Jesus paid the debt I could not pay The Father stops to listen when I pray I stand before the … [Read more…]
“All I can say in this affair is that, however mysterious the leadings of Providence are, I have no doubt but they are superintended by an infinitely wise God.” ~William Carey One of the main objections to Christianity is the question of evil and suffering. If God is all powerful and good, then why does … [Read more…]
God will never tell us anything that is contrary to the plain teachings of the Holy Scriptures. The more we learn of the Bible the easier it is to discern the voice of God in our daily walk with Him. Most of the time He is simply reminding of us what He has already said … [Read more…]
For Bible study I am reading commentaries on the book of Revelation. During these studies I see that there are many ways to approach the book in light of its linguistic, grammatical, historical, and spiritual contexts. Not everyone agrees on times, dates, symbols, or events. It almost seems that the book was written for ancient … [Read more…]
I may be the only one that I know who was made fun of for being “too religious” at a private Christian boarding school. I would sit in the common area of the dormitory, read my Bible or another piece of religious literature, and organize prayer meetings and bible studies. I didn’t have many friends … [Read more…]
Jesus is our only hope of salvation. But we miss out on many blessings he offers us if we are not attempting to be more obedient to his laws. Legalism is putting our self-righteousness before the righteousness of Jesus Christ for salvation, but being a mature Christian means that we are willing to conform to … [Read more…]
When it comes to the Christian faith there is nothing new to be learned about Bible doctrine that hasn’t already been discovered. The goal of reading the Bible is not to unearth something new, but to gain a deeper understanding of what is true. The truth of the Gospel is a straight and narrow path. … [Read more…]
Tonight, I was feeling burnt out on ministering to others by sharing the word of God. I was thinking that I was either preaching to the choir or pushing people away. I know these thoughts are not of God, and I asked God for some motivation. Then the thought came to me that ministry is … [Read more…]
One of the most difficult things to accomplish is to bring theology out of the realm of ideas and infuse the truth about God into the practicality of everyday life. It is easy to read the Bible texts about how God interacted with the ancient world of the Israelites. But few people ever stop to … [Read more…]
In the Book of Genesis, Moses tells the story of Cain and Abel who were brothers born to Adam and Eve after sin entered the world. One day Cain and Abel brought an offering of sacrifice before the Lord. Cain offered fruit from the field while Abel sacrificed one of the sheep from his flock. … [Read more…]
There is a book sold in book stores around the world called, “The Bible Code” where the author claims that there are secret messages encoded in the Hebrew Torah. Unlocking the “Bible Code” requires computer software that scans for keywords found in specific mathematical skip patterns. This is a case of people going to extremes … [Read more…]
Have you ever wondered why the disciples of Jesus were enthusiastic about quitting their jobs to follow Jesus? Honestly, they had no idea what they were getting themselves into at first. They thought that they had been called upon to start a political campaign for world domination. This is exactly why they closed down their … [Read more…]
The first verse of the Bible reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NIV). If God did not create the universe then there is no point to reading the rest of the Bible. However, if God created everything that exists then human beings have a responsibility to read the … [Read more…]
We may have peace in a world full of pain, Not the absence of conflict, but the strength to endure; When the world falls apart and nothing seems sure, The word of God forever remains the same– The promise of God’s love is ours to claim. ~Stephen Beagles
There is simply no excuse for people living in the United States of America to be ignorant of the word of God. There is at least one Christian church in every town, and anyone can find a Bible in a library or bookstore. Turn on the radio and you can tune into a Christian radio … [Read more…]
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry.” ~ Psalms 34:15 Have you ever wondered where God is on days when it seems everything is going wrong? I know that there are some days when it seems that God is ignoring us or that He has … [Read more…]
I bow before the throne of grace I don’t deserve to see His face He wraps me in His kingly robes He puts His crown upon my head “My child,” He said, “I took your place! Your debt is gone, your sin erased I paid your price, My blood was shed Now sit and eat … [Read more…]
You are my God, I place my trust in you Creator of the Universe Divine There is nothing that you cannot do You cause the rain to fall, the sun to shine. You paint the flower and make the water wet You cause the seeds to grow and birds to sing I need not trust … [Read more…]
Without the cross there would be no resurrection story; without forgiveness there is no cleansing. Thank God that the lamb of God died, so that we might live an eternal life in heaven. The resurrection of Jesus is proof that God’s holiness was satisfied by the Father pouring divine wrath against sin on Jesus at … [Read more…]
Sacred warriors fight for what is right, With God given strength and awesome might; Fearlessly they walk this sin-filled land, Disrupting evil forces dark at hand. Making light of all that’s good and true, They stand among the earth’s most precious few; Raging through the darkness with a fury born of God, They plunder satan’s … [Read more…]
Open my eyes that I might see Your love unfolding tenderly; Your grace is pure, The cross shines bright Into this darkened hour bring your light. ~Stephen Beagles
His promise still remains He will never change He’ll see us through the pain And peace he will arrange. Why now does he promise To give us life anew We do not deserve this But someone does love you. There are deep red bloodstains Those who believe are few But the fact it still remains … [Read more…]
When it comes to spiritual warfare, most people either ignore the devil or focus on him. The only way to fight the devil is to focus on the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Evil spirits exist and their main objective is to destroy our faith in Jesus. They don’t worry much about the … [Read more…]
I have learned over the years that most Christians use the same words to explain biblical doctrines: Salvation, Grace, Faith, Obedience, etc. The problem is that many have attached different meanings to the words they use to describe Christian beliefs. Different word definitions often leads to confusion for new believers who are interested in learning … [Read more…]
One of my favorite authors, Ellen G. White, wrote a single sentence that encapsulates most everything there is to know about the act of praying to the God of heaven. She wrote: “Prayer is the secret of spiritual power.” She also wrote in Steps to Christ, a 126 page book that ranks in the top … [Read more…]
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” ~ Psalms 1:2 The King James Study Bible (1988) contains a statement in the beginning section, “How to Study the Bible”, that contains valuable insight into the best way to study the Holy Scriptures: “A … [Read more…]
Christmas is a time for reflecting on the Birth of Christ. There are many reasons why Christ is different from the others who claimed to be from God. First, his coming was pre-announced in Holy Scriptures. This is how the Wise Men from the East knew that Christ had been born. Furthermore, history was split … [Read more…]
The first sentence of the first book of the Holy Scripture reveals the origins of the universe, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Moses penned these words as the Spirit of God –the same spirit that “moved upon the face of the waters”—directed his attention to the day God … [Read more…]
If anyone had a reason to lose faith in God it was Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar invaded his country and stole him away from his family and friends. He was taken as a royal captive and forced to live in Babylon. He was given a new identity and made to serve the Kingdom that destroyed his … [Read more…]