Signs & Wonders Blog

When ministering over the Internet, I’ve noticed selected topics spark doctrinal debates more than others. Among them are tithing , the rapture , and “ once saved, always saved .” In response to a recent Facebook post I wrote regarding the latter, one friend made reference to blaspheming the Holy Spirit (also called “the Unpardonable Sin”). Jesus talked about this in Mark 3… 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” 23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. 28 “...

Two nights ago I briefly listened to an online church service. I logged off after hearing a young preacher say, “You’re not going to come here [to his church] and feel condemned…or convicted.” I believe he meant well since he talked about mistakes the church made generations before him. Unfortunately, many ministers who emphasize grace disregard the Bible’s warnings on not obeying God’s commandments. Certainly God doesn’t want us feeling condemned. One dictionary defines condemn as “officially declare (something, especially a building) to be unfit for use.” That same dictionary defines condemnation as “the action of condemning someone to a punishment; sentencing.” Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”  As long as we stay in communion with the Lord, we shouldn’t fear condemnation.  There is always hope for redemption. On the other hand, Jesus told a woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin n...

Apple cofounder Steve Jobs once said, “ Be the person you want to be. Be the best you can be.” I wouldn’t agree with the first part of that statement. Many individuals try to become someone God never intended them to be. I do agree we should be people of excellence. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...”  Before I committed my life to the Lord, I was turned off by things such as “Christian music” that sounded inferior to songs released in the secular market. Anything done in God’s name should be of high quality. One Old Testament prophet certainly demonstrated excellence. “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3) On the other hand, one can go the other extreme by being a perfectionist, which is defined as “a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection.” As a ...