Lust of the Flesh

Lust of the Flesh In the Garden of Eden, Satan first appealed to the lust of the flesh. The fruit looked good to Eve, so why not have a bite? “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Notice that the devil said “any tree”...

Confronting Temptation

Confronting Temptation The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. No human being could have been more vulnerable. Jesus was alone in the wilderness and on the verge of starvation after fasting for forty days. The temptation was directed at His...

Counterfeit Gifts

Counterfeit Gifts Pharaoh of Egypt was not willing to let God’s people go, so the Lord sent one plague after another upon the land. It is interesting to note that Pharaoh hardened his own heart several times before the Lord finally hardened it (see Exodus 9:12). He...

The Rise of the New Age

The Rise of the New Age Since the day of Pentecost, all believers have received the Holy Spirit. Persecution in Jerusalem caused the gospel to spread to surrounding regions. The believers in Samaria had an incomplete gospel, which the apostles now graciously supplied...

Spiritual Demise

Spiritual Demise Saul had sinned, causing God to turn away from him. After much prodding by Samuel, Saul made a half-hearted attempt at repentance, but it was not complete (1 Samuel 15:24-31). “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from...

Esoteric Knowledge

Esoteric Knowledge The craving for esoteric or “extra” knowledge has led many people to seek out mediums and spiritists, which God strictly forbids. “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus...

Counterfeit Christianity

Counterfeit Christianity The thirst for knowledge and power has seduced the naïve and undiscerning since the dawn of history. More people have their palms and tea leaves read or read the astrological column in the paper than read the Bible. People want to know the...

Dreams and Nightmares

Dreams and Nightmares A mother visited her daughter on the mission field and became sick with malaria. Her body temperature rose to more than 105 degrees, and she started to hallucinate. Back in the States she attended a Discipleship Counseling conference and asked if...

Mental Illness

Mental Illness God warned Nebuchadnezzar in a dream and Daniel encouraged him to repent (see verses 5-27), but 12 months later he was as proud as ever (see verses 28-30). Finally, he raised his eyes toward heaven, and his sanity was restored (see verse 34). Was he...

Deceiving Spirits

Deceiving Spirits Paul, after speaking about the Church of the living God—the pillar and foundation of truth—inserts a parenthetical remark about the historical visit of Jesus on earth (see 1 Timothy 3:16). Then he says, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times...

9051 Executive Park Drive, Suite 503 • Knoxville, TN 37923 • 865.342.4000