Blog

Pastor Ray’s thoughts on issues in the church and contemporary culture.

A priesthood of ministers

Exodus 28.3,4 And thou shalt speak to all that are wise in heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make;...

The dangers of division

Romans 16.17,18 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth...

God's presence for a troubled church

2 Corinthians 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen The letters of Paul to the church of Corinth are filled with reproof, rebukes, corrections and warnings. They were divided over...

Good News, Not Good Advice

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Is it just me, or are some of you...

The Great Commission

Matthew 28.18-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in...

The Spirit of Pentecost

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every...

Evangelize, don't proselytize

Romans 16.25-27 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the...

Anointing, not eloquence

1 Corinthians 2.1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness,...

Being Holy, Not Hip

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them...

Form of Godliness, but void of power

2 Timothy 3.8 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. This statement made by Paul follows a blistering portion of Scriptures that are descriptive of the DNA of fallen man in the last days. The last days, of course,  is a description of the time from...

In God We Trust

On the back of the $1 bill that I have in my wallet (that’s the currency that I see the most of!), I read the phrase, “In God We Trust”. In our study today, we look at the believer’s responsibility towards their government (Romans 13:1-7). Obviously, since the middle...

The Master Method and Power for Ministry

1.1,2 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: The first chapter of the book...

Worship God, not Worship

Psalms 81.9,10 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.  I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. I have come to a belief that one of the strangest "gods"...

Commitment

Nehemiah 10.38,39 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the...

Hear, O Israel!

One of the mysteries in the New Testament is the mystery of the present day spiritual blindness of the nation of Israel (Romans 11:25). While many Jewish people are coming to the saving knowledge of Yeshua as their Messiah (Romans 11:1), by and large the Jewish people...

Fighting together

2 Samuel 10.11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God:...

Godward Investments

1 Timothy 6.17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to...

I Make All Things New

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. For those who have come to Christ for salvation, these words: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there...

Almighty God, not Mother Earth

The Bible clearly tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows the work of His hands. The Bible begins with these words, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Thus, the ownership and maintenance of this universe...

Not Ashamed

The Lord Jesus Christ warns us about the consequences of being ashamed of Him and His words. Couple that statement with the words of Jesus that the world hates Him, and that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, and you have a sure recipe...

The Godly Woman

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet,...

Born of The Spirit

Until a person is born of a the Spirit, he or she remains unconverted. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (human birth), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (spiritual birth). While every human being bears the image of God by creation, none are His...

Faith in the Power of God

Corinth was a city that prided itself as being a center of eloquent orators. That was a typical notion of the Greek and Roman world of the time. Like Corinth, our day and age is captivated by mesmerizing orators and motivational speakers. The "mantra" of the day is...

1 Corinthians 11:17-22

God has designed within all cultures the call for corporate gatherings of His people for worship, the hearing of God’s word, prayers and fellowship. It is my personal conviction that the body of Christ today is more divided and splintered than ever before. A church where social and class distinctions exist is no true church at all. A real church is a body of men and women united to each other because all are united to Christ.

Pune, Paris and God's Promise

Revelation 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things. I am writing this at 36,000 feet, en route from Pune to Frankfurt, and...

Old Photos, Y2K, and the church

1 Peter 1.24,25 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.I was...