“Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12, NKJV) When Obedience Becomes Optional Disobedience is defined as a refusal or failure to obey authority. It often begins subtly with excuses, pride, or misplaced emotion and ends in painful consequence. Whether it’s speeding on the road, breaking policies at work, or ignoring God’s commandments, disobedience never leads to blessing. It is the root that separates us from divine favor. The story of Moses in Numbers…
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (First Corinthians 6:9–11, KJV) What Hinders Revival? In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul exposes the danger of spiritual compromise within the church. He names sins that not only destroy lives and relationships but also rob believers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God. These same compromises hinder revival. Revival is more than a church event or a weekend crusade—it is a lifestyle. The Hebrew word chayah means “to live” or “to revive,” and tachliyah speaks of “restoration.” True revival is a return to life— a restoration to the presence, power, and purpose of God. Throughout Scripture, revival always follows repentance and obedience. At Pentecost, believers were filled with the Holy Ghost, and three thousand souls were added to…
“And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank… Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names…” (Daniel 1:5–7, KJV). “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” (First Corinthians 16:13, NLT). Most of us know the story of Daniel—the young man taken captive to Babylon and chosen to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s royal court. Far from home and surrounded by a foreign language, strange customs, and idol worship, Daniel and his friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—stood firm in their faith. Babylon was more than a geographical place; it symbolized a culture opposed to the ways of God. The Babylonians changed their names, attempted to reshape their identity, and offered them the king’s meat and wine. Yet Daniel and his friends refused to be defiled. Though strangers in a foreign land, they remained steadfast in their convictions. In many ways, we live in our own “modern Babylon.” We are surrounded by worldly influences that challenge our Apostolic faith. Like Daniel, we must learn to stand in Babylon—to hold our convictions, preserve our…
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8, KJV). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23–24). Finding Direction in a Lost World In a world filled with complexity, shifting values, and uncertain choices, we all long for direction—something steady to help us navigate life’s crossroads. Sailors depend on a compass to cross uncharted seas. Pilots…
Prayer affects all aspects of our lives; therefore, Scripture admonishes us to pray without ceasing. Jesus declared, “I desire that my people commune with me. They with me and I with them.” Communication The primary purpose of prayer is to commune with God. Commune means to focus on Him, to converse frequently with earnest vigor, and to engage in intimate communication marked by trust and respect. Psalm 145:18 affirms this truth: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” God desires that we commune with Him regarding the plans He has for our lives. When we seek God regarding His will for the children with whom He has blessed us, we acknowledge that we are stewards of His heritage. Therefore, we commune with Him and submit to His will for their lives. It is easy to imagine what or who we want our children to become. However, it is imperative that we pray, not my will, but “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Jeremiah 33:3 declares, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Relationship…
Living here in Canada, we have a famous coffee shop that many Canadians visit daily: Tim Hortons. Because of its popularity, it’s not unusual to see this chain referenced online. One meme in particular caught my eye. It said, “In Canada, we don’t say ‘I love you.’ We say, ‘Goin’ to Tim’s, want anything?’ and it means the same thing.” It gave me a chuckle, but also resonated with me. How I say “I love you” isn’t always by vocalizing those three little words. Early in our marriage, my husband and I set some boundaries based on the principle of “fencing the Torah” (the Old Testament Torah—simply put, setting rules to protect the rules). Although some things aren’t necessarily wrong, we wanted to add an extra layer of protection to our marriage by building intentional safeguards. It was one of the ways we could say, “I love you.” For example, we decided not to ride alone in a car with someone of the opposite sex. On the rare occasions when that couldn’t be avoided, we would give each other a quick courtesy call—just a simple gesture that communicated love, respect, and trust. Love can look like a lot of little…