When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; We are…
A Way Out (Psalm 124)
Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:6-8 God is…
God is FOR You (Psalm 124)
“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say, “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive.” Psalm 124:1-2 God is on our side. Literally, Lord is “for us.” David recognizes that…
Little Notes on Anger
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. - Proverbs 14:29 Great understanding of what? I think the patient person has great understanding of himself. He knows anger only hurts himself. When you harbor anger, you can begin to have it harden to hate. It can…
Fatherhood for Older Father’s
Two weeks ago I preached on fatherhood from Ephesians 6:4. Unfortunately, due to a congregational medical emergency, I wasn't able to conclude my message. Here is my conclusion: Some of you in here may be thinking, "What can I do? My children are all grown up and out of the house! I've blown it with my…
It only takes one chapter to crash and burn: Reflections on 1 Kings 1-11
The establishment of God’s kingdom in Israel takes ten long chapters to describe (1 Kings 1-10). But it only takes one chapter for the kingdom to begin to fall apart; the crash and burn is inevitable (1 Kings 11). 1 Kings opens up following the exploits of David from 2 Samuel: David is clearly king,…
What Does God Really Promise Us? 10 Always True Promises
The problem with the prosperity gospel--the belief that God wants you healthy and wealthy--is not that it promises too much, but that it promises way too little. It forfeits the pattern of suffering now, glory later, which runs through the New Testament. Such teaching is also deceiving because it can lead people to despair, for…
Daniel’s 70 Weeks: Interacting with Jim Hamilton’s book, With the Clouds of Heaven
With fear and trembling, I am interacting with Jim Hamilton’s interpretation of Daniel’s 70 weeks found in his new book on Daniel, With the Clouds of Heaven. Fear and trembling, because Dr. Hamilton is just that—a doctor in biblical studies. And having gone to Southern, I know his grasp of the biblical languages! Now as…
Jesus Is the Temple (and so much more)
Old Testament “Shadow” Fulfillment in Christ The Priesthood Christ is the True, Eternal Priest “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently” (Hebrews 7:23-24) The Sacrifices Christ brought in…
Tips for Reading Bible Prophecy
This summer at Lincroft Bible Church, we’re walking through the book of Daniel chapter-by-chapter in a series called “Exiled: Faith in a Faithless World.” Like Daniel, God’s church is living within a foreign culture as an ambassador to His kingdom. The book of Daniel teaches us how to live faithfully amidst the temptations, pressures, and…
Raising Lazarus 