Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!  James 1:22 (MSG) REFERENCE James 1:22-25 (MSG) We were not created to reason with what God’s Word says, but to obey it! Why spend time studying and listening to the Word if you will not obey it? Before God, obedience is the ultimate; as seen in today’s passage, the doers and not just the hearers are the ones that get blessed. It is not what you give to God...

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.  Mark 6:26 REFERENCE Mark 6:17-29 The late French historian and philosopher, Voltaire, said, “We are rarely proud when we are alone.” This statement rings true considering King Herod’s action in today’s text. On realizing that he had made a brash and thoughtless promise to his step daughter, one would expect that the logical thing for him to do was to repent and retrace his steps. However, He proceeded to add evil upon evil by ordering...

And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you…up to half my kingdom.” Mark 6:22-23 REFERENCE Mark 6:17-29 Herod’s character is further put on trial in our text today. We have seen him as an incestuous and shameless man. He exhibited a half-hearted devotion towards God’s Word - passive in doing what was right. We also saw yesterday that he postponed doing whatever he knew was right. Now today, we see him making...

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.  Mark 6:21 REFERENCE Mark 6:17-29 As we continue to look at Herod Antipas, we see the danger of procrastination in the events that took place in his palace. To procrastinate is to delay or postpone action; or to put off doing something. We read yesterday about passivity: “If not dealt with, passivity will eventually lead to mediocrity…and it will eventually put you in situations where you will compromise your convictions, as Herod later did.” It then...

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Mark 6:20 REFERENCE Mark 6:17-29 To put the records straight, Herod is a title-name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the time of Christ and the Apostles, the first of whom was Herod the Great, who ordered the killing of babies 2 years old and younger when Jesus was born (Matthew 2:16). The Herod in our text is his son, ‘Herod Antipas,’ a shameless man who...

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…  Proverbs 23:7   REFERENCE Proverbs 23:7   The human mind wields great power! God gave man a creative mind; it is a force that can condition or determine our outcomes in life. King Solomon said in our text, “As he thinks, so is he.” That is, a man will end up becoming the thoughts that dominate his mind. Man is a spirit, who has a mind but lives in a body. Unfortunately, many Christians exercise both the spirit and the body but neglect the mind. Out of the ‘mind,’ the...

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:27 REFERENCE Romans 8:26-28 Yesterday we concluded with the thought that the spirit realm only understands the language of power; and for a believer, speaking in tongues is your language of power. Below are some of the benefits of speaking in tongues: One: You magnify God and thank Him most accurately: It is a supernatural means of speaking to God because you are speaking mysteries to Him – you discuss at His...