Is there a war going on between God and His forces on one side and Satan and his forces on the other?


by Mike Ratliff 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand delivered from the fire?” Zechariah […]

Slavery Freedom Faith and Fruit


by Mike Ratliff 1 Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν· στήκετε οὖν καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε. Galatians 5:1 (NA28) 1 For this freedom, Christ freed us, therefore, stand fast, and be not held again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) In Galatians 5:1 (above), the reference to […]

Be Diligent Spotless and Unblemished Found With Him in Peace


by Mike Ratliff 14 Διό, ἀγαπητοί, ταῦτα προσδοκῶντες σπουδάσατε ἄσπιλοι καὶ ἀμώμητοι αὐτῷ εὑρεθῆναι ἐν εἰρήνῃ 15 καὶ τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν μακροθυμίαν σωτηρίαν ἡγεῖσθε, καθὼς καὶ ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἡμῶν ἀδελφὸς Παῦλος κατὰ τὴν δοθεῖσαν αὐτῷ σοφίαν ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν, 16 ὡς καὶ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐπιστολαῖς λαλῶν ἐν αὐταῖς περὶ τούτων, ἐν αἷς ἐστιν δυσνόητά […]

A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation


1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be […]

Sanctify them through Thy truth


This Devotional comes from Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning for July 4th. “Sanctify them through Thy truth.”—John 17:17. SANCTIFICATION begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into man that new living principle by which he becomes “a new creation”1 in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two […]

Sin, faith, regeneration, righteousness, flesh and spirit


by Mike Ratliff 51 “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52 And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matthew 13:51-52 NASB) Charles Spurgeon […]

Judge With Right Judgment


by Mike Ratliff 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24 (NASB)  What is the definition of the English word “fact?” The following is from the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. Main Entry: fact Pronunciation: \ˈfakt\ Function: noun Etymology: Latin factum, from neuter of factus, past participle of facere Date: 15th […]