Blog Articles
What Do You Want for Christmas?
Undoubtedly, this question has been asked by many this Christmas season. It certainly has been in my household. But what do you really want? As we celebrate Jesus this year, my heart yearns to love Jesus more and know Him more deeply. Maybe yours does too. If ever we...
In The Last Days
The phrase “in the last days” occurs several times in the New Testament. The word last translates from the Greek word eschatos from which we get the word eschatology. Two of the usages indicate parallel tracks. 2 Timothy 3:1 — “This know also, that in the last days...
The Faith Journey
In God's economy of grace and faith, God stirs, faith responds, and God works. God responds to those who respond to God. Romans 5:1-5 lays out a progression in the life of faith or, we might say, in the faith journey. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace...
The Dead End of One-Way Relationships
John 13:34 — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Healthy relationships involve love and humility—love that truly cares for and looks out for another person's needs and humility to apologize...
Revival Ignites Missions: The Shriners to Poland
Revival ignites missions. Wouldn’t it be special to support a missionary who was revolutionized in genuine revival and called to missions? Meet Matt and Rachel Shriner. Two years ago my wife and I met Matt and Rachel in a missions conference. Our hearts resonated. In...
Revival & Maturity
Psalm 85:6 — Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Romans 5:2 — By whom [Jesus] also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 2 Peter 3:18 — But grow in grace, and in the knowledge...
Help Me Win the Lost
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord...
Holiness: Primarily Physical or Spiritual?
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Recently, I saw two religious men walking down the street in their distinct religious garb. Their...
The Danger of Eclipsing the Role of the Holy Spirit
The areas that are not clearly defined in the written Word are often referred to as matters of “preference.” However, ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit's preference for each individual. We are admonished to let everyone “be persuaded” in his or her own mind (Rom....
Get to Jesus
Get to Jesus! “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). Both legalistic thinking that creates oppressive rigidity and relativistic thinking that creates unwise affinity become bondage-makers. Jesus is the only bondage-breaker. Even halfway hybrid-type versions on either...
The New Commandment of Love
The New Commandment of Love After Judas left on his mission of betrayal, Jesus spoke with the eleven disciples. Just before Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come in His place (John 14-16), Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;...
Experiencing Jesus – The Freedom of Victory
Many people have been blessed since Experiencing Jesus: Personal Revival through the Spirit-filled Life was published back in 2017. This title is neither a long book nor one best left to intellectuals. The truth it conveys is important. Experiencing Jesus is a...
Thoughts in John 6 on Divine Drawing and Human Coming
In John 6:37, Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The statements are straightforward. All who the Father gives the Son will come to Jesus. What does come mean? What does give mean? The...
In the Heavenlies, Yet Down to Earth
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying that some are “so heavenly minded, they are of no earthly good.” This humorous cliché makes a legitimate point; there is a fake heavenly-mindedness and one that is real. My grandmother, who knew the Lord intimately and evidenced a...
Perspective on Persecution
An erroneous view besetting the American Christian mindset believes that the will of God will always be comfortable. If things “go well” we view it as a sign of God's blessing. However, a view held by many believers in countries with pervasive persecution is far more...
Complementary Books
Misuse of the term repentance can produce misunderstandings causing some sincere souls to doubt and lose assurance of their salvation. Repentance and Faith: Two Sides to One DecisionThis book walks through the concepts of faith and repentance, two different emphases...
Jesus Fellowships
Recently, I was in an “aftermeeting” where the sweet breeze of the Spirit led to wholesome honesty and confession, heart cry and tears, faith and praying with laying on of hands, exuberant singing with worship and praise to God. Everything was spontaneous under the...
The Believing Touch
In Mark 5, we are told of a woman struggling with an affliction for twelve years. She went to many doctors, spent what she had hoping for improvement, but none of that helped. She was desperate. Then she heard about Jesus. Healings. Miracles of a nature convincing her...
Netcasters Junior Viewbook
Like the standard Netcasters™ Viewbook, the Netcasters Junior Viewbook is a particularly useful tool for explaining the gospel. Designed with children in mind, this full-color, pocket-sized, spiral-bound flipchart uses a simplified version of the Netcasters gospel...
Spiritual Movements: Confusion and Clarity
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? – Psalm 85:6 When a movement among God's people causes people to love Jesus, lift up Jesus, worship and praise the Lord, go to extreme lengths to meet with God, confess sins, get right with each...
The Spirit of Revival at Asbury
God is moving again at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. The school has been blessed with revivals on a fairly regular basis since 1905, and the major revival that occurred in 1970 impacted at least 130 other campuses at the time. All of this revival history is...
The Gate to Eternal Life Gospel Tract
As we continue into a post-Christian America, people are less familiar with the true gospel message and more apt to embrace broad ideas about the hereafter and heaven. Jesus, however, spoke of a narrow gate and a narrow way. The Gate to Eternal Life is a 4-panel...
The Revival Journey Download
In The Revival Journey, The Phases of Corporate Revival, John Van Gelderen dedicates a chapter to each of the five phases of corporate revival discernible in Scripture. If you do not own a copy, the book is available from the Revival Focus online store. Two...
Practical Helps for Spiritual Health
The human constitution involves physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions, or simply put, body, soul, and spirit. Each aspect interrelates to the one next to it; the body interrelates to the soul and the soul interacts with the spirit. So the soul, positioned...
Radical Faith
Revelation 12:11 provides an amazing testimony for persecuted believers. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” May we, as believers, enter 2023 with such love for Jesus that...
How to Approach the New Year
The prospect of a new year brings hope for positive change. Many will make resolutions, but what is the real key to change? Psalm 1:1-3 provides an answer: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor...
Living the Christ Life
If the Lord tarries, we will soon enter a new calendar year and have a great opportunity to choose a 365‑day devotional. Daily devotional readings can be used of the Spirit to stir the heart and whet the appetite for your own personal daily Bible study. The...
Short Books with Long-range Impact Potential
With the Christmas season upon us, our thoughts often turn to loved ones, wish lists, gift wrapping, and stocking stuffers. This year, would you consider giving gifts that God can use to change lives? These books are small in size; at 4½ inches wide, they would fit in...
Unconditional Love, Conditional Benefit
Speaking of Christ’s sacrifice for us, Charles Wesley wrote in his hymn And Can It Be the rich words “amazing love.” Truly God's love is amazing. It is undeserved. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom....
Gratitude or Grumbling
The Thanksgiving season is a reminder of the importance of gratitude. Paul exhorted, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,...
