In Sermon Illustrations: "Spirit Of Fear"

[203]. A Message From A Poem - On The Eve Of Trial

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 17, 2025

[203]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ON THE EVE OF TRIAL This poem was written at the airport when I had to go away for a very unjust hearing before a wicked, unjust Commissioner/Judge, and the whole setup was so evil. If you ever feel the dragon’s breath then you will know what I mean. I don’t wish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 16:33

Tags: Unjust, Trials, Trepidation, Peace, Overcome, Tribulation, Control, Trial, Injustice, World, Fear, Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Oil Was Discovered On Some Oklahoma Property ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Mar 1, 2001

Oil was discovered on some Oklahoma property belonging to an elderly Indian. All his life he had been poverty stricken, just eking out a living. But the discovery of oil had suddenly made him a very wealthy man. The first thing he bought was a very big Cadillac. He wanted the longest car in the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Essentials Of Faith, Excercising Faith, Gift, Prosperity, God's Omnipotence, Holy Spirit Attributes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Are Advantages To Being Able To See. For ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Flynn on May 17, 2001

There are advantages to being able to see. For example, when I was a seminary student, I went to apply for a driver license. The clerk at the Department of Motor Vehicles asked me to read a line on the eye chart. I responded by reading a series of what I thought the correct letters were. To this, ...read more

Tags: Display, Honor, Holy Spirit Attributes, Kingdom Of God, Lord, Love Of The Disciples, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

A Professor One Day Demonstrated To His Class ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Bley on Jul 11, 2001

A professor one day demonstrated to his class the power of an electro-magnet. He placed 2 lbs. of nails on a table with the wires of an electo-magnet under the table. When he flipped the switch, the nails came togehter and he was able to form the nails into various shapes as long as the current ...read more

Tags: Gifts Discernment, God's Omniscience, Holy Spirit In Believers, Oneness, Unity, Power Of Unity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meekness Is Not Weakness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

The Greek word for meek in Matthew 5:5 is praus. This word was was also used to describe an animal which has been domesticated, which has been trained to obey the word of a command, which has learned to answer to the reins. It is the word for an animal which has learned to accept control, such as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Meekness, Beatitudes, Gentleness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Sermon On The Mount, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have A "chip On The Shoulder"?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Hebrew scholar Gensenius, says that the meaning of the Old Testament word for "meekness" involves "a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them." Meekness is not only the opposite of pride, but of stubbornness, fierceness, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Meekness, Beatitudes, Anger, Sensitivity, Sermon On The Mount, Chip On The Shoulder, Spirit Controlled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Denying The Flesh What It Wants

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 16, 2020

When you get saved later in life like I did (I was 36), your spirit gets recreated, you’re all in on this salvation deal, but your flesh is still out there in the world, and it don’t know yet the program has changed. It’s like when you go on a diet. You stop eating all the ice cream, and donuts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23

Tags: Sin, Flesh, Fleshly Desires, Denying The Flesh, Walking In The Spirit, Crucifying The Flesh, Dieting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Six Kinds Of Biblical Preaching

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of biblical preaching: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) paraklesis, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Ministry, Church, Holy Spirit, Teaching, Preaching, Word Of God, Pastors, Simon Peter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Symbolism Of Pentecost

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Roy Gingrich has an interesting note on the possible symbolism of the signs of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: ? The rushing mighty wind—A symbol of the Spirit’s POWER (to convince, convict, and convert) ? The cloven tongues of fire—A symbol of the Spirit’s PURIFICATION (of sinners from the guilt ...read more

Tags: Power, Preaching, Purity, Signs, Evangelism, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What The Church Needs Today

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

E.M. Bounds is right when he says, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use— men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Anointing, Pastors, Simon Peter, Acts 2, Ministry, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tweeners

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 23, 2023

"Too many Christians are “’tweeners”: they live between Egypt and Canaan, saved but never satisfied; they live between Good Friday and Easter, believing in the Cross but not entering into the power and glory of the Resurrection. It is clear, then, that the believer cannot deliberately be ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-21

Tags: Lazarus, Spirit Filled Life, Canaan, Easter, Egypt, Identification With Christ, World, Victory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have This Much Self Control?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

I heard a funny story about a stunt pilot who was selling rides in his single engine airplane. One day he got into an argument with a pastor who insisted on taking his wife along at no extra charge. Not wanting to miss out on a chance to make some cash, the pilot said, “I’ll take you both up for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Denial, Self Control, Marriage, Fruit Of The Spirit, Character Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church At Pentecost Was In Tune With Each Other!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

Acts 2 explains that before the Holy Spirit came and indwelt the believers at Pentecost, they were in unity. The Greek word is homothumadon, which the King James translates with the phrase “in one accord.” It’s a musical term that means to strike the same notes together. We all know what it is ...read more

Tags: Church, Feast Of Pentecost, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, Pentecost, Oneness, Unity, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was The Church Chosen To Replace The Fallen Angels?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 24, 2024

Augustine believed that God created the order of angels to exist in a perfect harmonic balance with one another which was subsequently lost due to the fall of Satan (and those who followed Satan in his rebellion). This showed the tragedy which developed as a result of Satan’s rebellion. Not only ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-4

Tags: Spirits, Sovereignty Of God, Devils, Worship, Heaven, Satan, Angels, Demons, Rebellion, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Isn't The Book Of Enoch In Our Bible?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 24, 2024

This question illuminates one of those painful intersections between theology and church history: the canonization of Scripture. Throughout church history, many books have been scrutinized by theologians, and before those theologians, other theologians, and before such, were the members of the ...read more

Tags: Scripture, Holy Spirit, Inspiration, Enoch, Inerrancy, Church History, Canon, Book Of Enoch  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fight Like A Man

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 13, 2023

A man came to his pastor who had attended church for 25 years and was a respected, leader in the church, said, "Pastor, I've got something to tell you. I've never told this to a soul, extremely difficult to tell you this now, but my wife and I have had a fight every day for the past 30 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Marriage, Men, Love, Quarreling, Conflict Management, Cowards, Anger, Fear, Fights, Husbands, Women, Wives  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[055]. A Message From A Poem – Death For The Christian

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

[055]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DEATH FOR THE CHRISTIAN We deal with a subject today we often like to forget about. When we are young we give it little thought but when we are old, it tends to preoccupy our minds a lot more. This poem is not so much about the subject of death itself, as it is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Egypt, Poetry, Poem, Christian Death, Absent From The Body, Keys Of Death And Hades, Death, Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Author's Miraculous Testimony On Psalm 91

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 26, 2025

Christian author, William MacDonald had a miraculous testimony about Psalm 91. He began by saying: "Psalm 91 is my Psalm. In 1922, in the Western Hebrides, a five-year-old lad was dying of diphtheria. A mucous membrane was forming across his throat, and breathing was becoming increasingly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Tags: Fortress, Eternal Life, Refuge, Cross Of Christ, Messianic Prophecies, Fear, Protection, Resurrection, Trust, Overcome  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

God's Ultimate Protection - Psalm 91

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 26, 2025

God's Ultimate Protection - Psalm 91 Judy Anderson grew up as a missionary kid in Zaire. As a little girl, she went to a day-long rally celebrating the 100th anniversary of Christian missionaries coming to that part of the country. After a full day of messages and music, an old man came ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Tags: Eternal Life, Refuge, Cross Of Christ, Messiah Prophecies, Fear, Protection, Resurrection, Trust, Overcome, Fortress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist