Why are some prayers not answered?

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Steve Husting

The Bible gives us several reasons why prayers may not be answered. Here are a few. In addition, we can learn to live a life of answered prayer. I’ll cover that later.

If we have enough faith to pray, but then are unbelieving about the issue, then go back and forth, then we won’t receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6-8 tells us, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Continue reading →

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How can you prepare yourself for the rapture?

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Steve Husting

Jesus told us how in Matthew 24:36–51. There, Jesus told his disciples to “watch therefore, for you do not know” when he will come again. Then Jesus gives us two examples of what it means to watch and not watch.

In 24:43–44, the man of the house knows a burglar is coming to rob him. So he makes preparation to defend his home and his life. We have an enemy who wishes to rob us of our spiritual blessings. The one who is ready, therefore, will be protecting his faith.  Continue reading →

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Why was Jesus against the Pharisees so much?

Posted on November 18, 2017 by Steve Husting

We don’t have very far to look to find out why Jesus and the Pharisees clashed; He pointed out their flaws repeatedly. Let’s look at a few, for the reasons He had against the Pharisees are the same general reasons He has against all religions. Continue reading →

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Continuing in faith

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Steve Husting

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6).

How did we receive Christ the Lord? When we heard the gospel and received it by faith. We realized that we were in need of a savior to save us from our sins. We knew we did not have it in us to save ourselves. God presented His Son to us and we believed, and were saved.

It was not supposed to stop there. We were not to go on in our own strength. We were to continue to believe. The Spirit will continue to show us where we are lacking. In those cases, we are to acknowledge our inability and find in Christ the ability. Continue reading →

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Happy in the Kingdom

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Steve Husting

[This is a book excerpt from Life in the Kingdom: The Gospel According to Jesus in the Book of Matthew, by Steve Husting, in  print now, then ebook soon.]

Introduction

Normally, we think that we can be happy only when certain pleasant conditions are met, such as everything going our way, or doing a fun activity we like to do, or just having peace between times of stress.

With the kingdom of God, the times of happiness are dramatically broadened. The verses at the beginning of Matthew chapter five begin with the word blessed, which means happy, fortunate, or well off. Therefore, in the kingdom of God people can be happy though poor, mourning, meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, or persecuted. These are not normal areas for happiness. Who is happy when they have been mistreated or wronged? Rather than being merciful with a smile, the normal response is revenge, anger, or be scared. How can there be happiness in these situations? Continue reading →

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Using logic and reason to share the gospel?

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Steve Husting

Some Christians are frustrated when using arguments of logic and reason, such as from nature, to prove the existence of God or convince a person to become a Christian. The problem with this approach is that it does not take into account the corruption of our faculties, including our reasoning faculties, by sin. Our reasoning abilities don’t exist in a vacuum. Because of the polluted root at the base of our reasoning, our arguments will be co-opted by the flesh and not formed on purely logical grounds. Let’s see some examples. Continue reading →

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Steve Husting

I recently re-watched the movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I found in this viewing some uneasy parallels with today’s church. In this episode, the Ministry of Magic took over the running of the Hogwarts school, denying the return of the enemy, He-who-shall-not-be-named (Voldemort), which occurred in the previous movie. The ministry made many efforts to squash any affirmation of his existence.

The Defense of Magic teacher was replaced by a Ministry official, Dolores Umbridge, who taught that the mere theory of defense was good enough to learn, as there was no enemy to defend against anyway. This was disturbing on several levels because it mirrors the affair of the church at present. Seminary-trained teachers have entered our pulpits and insist that there is no spiritual enemy. He-who-shall-not-be-named (Satan) does not exist as a literal person, and he and hell are only metaphors of evil or error. Continue reading →

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Jack Romey, 1956-2017

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Steve Husting

I want to talk about how my friendship with Jack changed my life and his. I first met him at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa around 10 years ago. We were both seated in front of Lessie, the sign language interpreter, for the 9:30am service, since both of us were deaf and needed the help. Eventually we got to talking and I found out that he lived in Fountain Valley like I did, about 20 minutes away. I offered to drive him up and back Sunday mornings. Then we began going out to dinner on Fridays then to the prayer meeting. We often had lunches on Saturdays and attended the matinee now and then together. In this way, our friendship took form. Continue reading →

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Sin Perverts the Law

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Steve Husting

A scribe asked Jesus which was the greatest of all the commandments. Jesus answered that these two laws are the framework upon which all the OT laws hang: love God with all you are and love your neighbor as yourself. From Jesus’ answer we can derive some fascinating aspects of the law and its connection to our sinful nature. If we love, then we already fulfill all the commandments; we are living as the God of love has designed us.

In a fascinating twist, all the commandments in the Mosaic books, Proverbs, Prophets, and Psalms are all about helping us see how we as sinners have turned away from loving God to loving self. The law helps us see in what way we are sinners — we don’t love God and man from the heart, or “authentically,” as some like to say. Continue reading →

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Meditation: Love for the Saints

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Steve Husting

“since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints” (Colossians 1:4)

The fruit of the Spirit is love. Not self-love; not love of the world’s cultures and values; not love merely as an emotional feeling. Rather, it’s a love for other people.

Paul was ecstatic to hear of their love for all the saints. It meant that the Spirit was working in them, and they were responding to the teaching of God. God was reproducing Himself in them, and they were being His helping hands in a needy world.

I’ve known how to be obnoxious, difficult, reclusive, and harsh with my lips. In addition, I’ve been a project-oriented person, doing things on my own. I want to build relationships with God and others. More and more, I watch what I say, because I know what impact my words can have, whether to heal or hurt, build or destroy. God’s word builds me up, and I know it can build up others as well, so I share it more.

To do:

  • Tame my bad attitudes about other people, for they are made in the image of God.
  • Guard my tongue, for I want to use words that will build healthy relationships.
  • Don’t be miserly with my time, goods, or talents, for others need what I have to offer.
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