Weekly Word

Religion

By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

A recent poll showed that worry is the number one negative emotion facing Americans. Second place is fear. I believe the two are connected. Western bandit Black Bart robbed Wells Fargo stagecoaches. From 1875-83, he committed 29 robberies, never once firing his gun. Bart used fear to keep his victims paralyzed. Satan wants to robe us of our joy by planting fearful thoughts in our mind.
1 John 4:18 (paraphrase) love removes fear. Remember, God is love. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” Don’t be a victim, be a victor.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Galatians 5:16, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. J. Venon McGee wrote, “The whole Christian life, from the moment we are are born again until we come into His presence, is a walk by faith – a faith that rests upon the indwelling Holy Spirit.” McGee is saying that we do not walk by self effort, rather in His Holy Spirit, implanted within us to insure we finish strong!

Weekly Word – Psalm 119:130

Religion

By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

Psalm 119:130, “The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.” (NLT)  Mark Twain wrote, “It’s not the things in the Bible I don’t understand that bother me, it’s the things I do.”  The Word will often convict the reader by identifying sin. Anyone who claims the Bible contradicts itself should research the scriptures, for there is no evidence to support this claim. The Word of God does contradict a sinful lifestyle.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

In World War II, a German submarine shot and sank a ship off the coast of N. Carolina. The ship’s crew lowered compass-equipped lifeboats into the water, and used the compasses to guide them toward shipping lanes closer to shore. After three days, the men were rescued. When I read this story, I was reminded of seeing a walking-stick for hikers; a small compass was mounted on top. We have a built-in spiritual compass, the Holy Spirit, that guides us in the right direction. Psalm 48:14,” For this is God, our God forever and ever, He will be our guide . . .”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. On July 20, 1969 (50 years ago) Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon. Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. Astronaut James Irwin wrote, “The entire space achievement is put in proper perspective when one realizes that God walking on earth is more important than man walking on the moon.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Second Peter 1:21, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Historical records prove Bible prophecy is 100% accurate. Human attempts at predicting the future have failed. Case in point is inventor Thomas Edison who once declared that talking movies would never replace silent films. And in 1928, Henry Ford stated, “People are becoming too intelligent to have another war.” Let’s not listen to ungodly predictions, rather read the scriptures that set the stage for the second coming of Christ! Don’t be deceived, be relieved.

Weekly Word

Religion

Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword . . .” In 1921, a New York doctor, Evan O’Neill, operated on himself. Using a local anesthetic, he removed his inflamed appendix. The surgery was successful. In like manner, we need soul surgery. Using the scalpel of Scripture (Sword of the Spirit), we can remove the deadly disease of sin.

The Weekly Word Devotional

Religion

Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

In 2005 my wife Mary Ann was diagnosed with cancer. I posted signs in our home that read: Too Blessed to be Stressed. Following surgery, she underwent months of radiation treatments. Today she is cancer free! We were shocked to learn that her surgeon lost her life to cancer. In the same way a surgeon removes cancer cells, Doctor Jesus, the Great Physician, performs spiritual surgery to remove a deadly disease, sin. Hebrews 9:6, He came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 

The Weekly Word Devotional

Religion
By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

The Weekly Word is now 5-Years Old. To God be the Glory!  Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  In Timothy Keller’s book, COUNTERFEIT GODS, he warns of the emptiness of money and power. Keller explains how these can become false gods, plunging people into a pit. P.166, “The secret to change is to identify and dismantle the counterfeit gods of your heart.” P.168, “One way to discern your heart’s true love is to look at how you spend your money.” Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also” Matthew 6:21.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

In 1995 the U.S. Stock Market experienced a modern record downturn. Investors lost 37.6% of their investments. In 2008 investors lost 37%. Market experts caution investors, warning of possible negative results due to uncertain economic relations with China.

I recall my study of economics in college, and how stocks and bonds chart up and down at a fast pace. There is one investment that will always pay positive returns: invest our time, talents, and treasure in growing the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:30 ” . . . and in the age to come eternal life.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Continuing with John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way . . ” There is only one way to be physically born. Whether it’s in the womb or test tube, there has to be a natural union of a sperm and egg to produce birth. When Jesus said, “You must be born again…” (John 3:3), He was speaking of the super-natural union of a soul with the Savior. Being born of the Holy Spirit makes us a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

We celebrated EASTER SUNDAY, victory in Jesus over sin and death. In 2018 Jeremy Sutcliffe killed a rattlesnake in his backyard, cutting off its head. He got a plastic bag, and when he picked-up the head, the snake closed its fangs in his hand. A helicopter rushed him to a hospital where he received antivenom that saved his life. The ER doctor told Jeremy that decapitated snakes can bite for up to an hour. Jesus decapitated satan at Calvary, but the old serpent still strikes. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that the thief comes to KILL. Stay clear of his deadly bite by staying in the Word.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

Numbers 22:28, Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me three times?”  When America’s Beloved Gospel Singer, George Beveraly Shea, was invited to speak at an event, he asked his dad for advice. His father replied, “Son, God helped Balaam’s donkey to talk, I’m sure He can do the same for you.” When we are given the opportunity to talk, ask God for help; His Holy Spirit will give us His words.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

The thing that separates Christianity from other world religions is grace. While other religions teach works are needed to earn eternal life, the Bible states its a grace gift. Ephesians 2:8,9 “For by grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, least any man should boast.” Verse 10, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” May our good works be a witness of a changed life.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

1 Coronicles 29:14 “For all things come from You.” There are some 150,000 Life Coaches (personalized helper who for a fee, will partner with you in designing your future). For Christians, our Life Coach is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Einstein wrote, “Any intelligent fool can make things more complicated.” Isaac Newton once wrote, “Truth is found in simplicity.” Jesus is simply all we need (John 14:6).

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

The TV show TMZ consist of a platform where the host calls on entertainment reporters with celebrity news. On one episode, a picture was shown of a female movie star with a Bible in her hand. The host asked why she would take a Bible to lunch with her friend. The reporter responded, “the Bible makes for good reading in the Old Testament when David the warrior is really dramatic, but when Jesus shows up in the New Testament, its all downhill from there.” The Lord’s miracles were really dramatic, and His is the greatest love story ever told. Pray for the host, reporters, and producers of TMZ.

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