Days of Praise from ICR

The Problem of Pressure

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." (2 Corinthians 1:8)

Every Christian must endure times of great pressure, for this is part of our training for God's service in eternity. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of ...

God's Divine Detours

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt." (Romans 6:22)

There are several words translated "servants" in the New Testament, but the most common is doulos, as in our text, and its actual meaning is "bondservants," or "slaves." Its root meaning is to...

The Gates of Hell

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

Many take this verse to teach security, that although Satan and his henchmen are attacking, the church and the Christian are safe within their fortress. In fact, many commentators and translators understand &quo...

Christ and the Writings of Moses

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:46-47)

This sharp rebuke by Jesus to the Jewish leaders who were seeking an occasion to have Him executed came as the climax to a long message following His miracle at the pool of Bethesda. These Jews always made a great ...

Flowing Faces

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." (Psalm 34:5)

This is a fascinating verse, speaking of the wonderful afterglow on a believer's countenance when the Lord has answered an urgent and specific prayer. The previous verse contains such a testimony: "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." So...

The Shining Path

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18)

This beautiful promise is inserted in the midst of a sober warning against taking the broad, well-traveled path of the ungodly. "Enter not into the path of the wicked. . . . Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. . . . The way of the...

Instant Creation

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together." (Isaiah 48:13)

This is one of many passages in Scripture which not only tells us that God is Creator of both heaven and earth, but also that He created them instantaneously. Creation is not a "process," but a miracu...

Priestly Intermediaries

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office." (Exodus 28:1)

God granted Aaron and his descendants authority to "serve" as intermediaries between God and the people. The priests had no authority to forgive sins (forgiveness comes only from God), but they...

The Story of Nicodemus

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." (John 3:1)

The man named Nicodemus appears only on three occasions in the New Testament, but these three reveal a most remarkable character. In a way, he has become a "type" of all those who come to Christ for salvation. This was not easy for him, both because he was a member of the Pharisee...

The Absence of Sin

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13)

For thousands of years the followers of God have battled against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12) led by Lucifer, th...

The Scriptures Teach Christ

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

This challenge was posed by the Lord Jesus to the Jewish leaders when they objected to His healing a hopelessly crippled man on the Sabbath day. Rather than attempting to justify this Sabbath miracle, however, Jesus realized that their real objection was f...

The Prayer Warrior

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12)

We sometimes speak of others as "prayer warriors," though we may use the term too lightly, and few of us would claim such a title for ourselves. It is fairly easy to...

Lest We Forget

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons." (Deuteronomy 4:9)

This admonition was given by God through Moses as the children of Israel were preparing finally to enter God’s promis...

A Provoked Spirit

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." (Psalm 106:32-33)

This terse passage summarizes the tragic events described in Numbers 20:1-13. If ever a religious leader had a right to ...

Let Him Hear

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:22)

This is the final exhortation in Christ's letters to His seven representative churches. It is the seventh such exhortation, one addressed to each church, so must be unusually important. The emphasis, obviously, is not merely hearing with the physical ear, but hearing with a...

When He Comes

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

When He come...

It Is Finished!

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)

Lifted up was He to die,

"It is finished" was His cry;

Now in heav'n exalted high:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

The people of Israel many times...

The Spotless Lamb of God

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Guilty, vile and helpless we,

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

Full atonement, can it be?

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Before God each...

Condemned in My Place

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Matthew 27:41-43)

Bearing shame and scoffing rude...

Man of Sorrows

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3)

The marvelous hymn of the last century "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" provides in pithy but powerful form an insight into the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross. F...