Beholding His Glory ~ Pastor Bill Slabaugh Bill Slabaugh

When Jesus was walking on this earth, all the power of Hell was launched against Him. There was no other time in human history when the demonic activity was more actively at work and furiously engaged against the Kingdom of God. (Incidentally, the world will experience a similar unleashing of the powers of Hell during the Tribulation Period described in the Book of Revelation).
But nevertheless, whether we realize it or not, as believers in Jesus Christ we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare as well.  How are we to fight these spiritual battles today and what does it all have to do with the physical battles we wage?

John Wesley, the leader of the Methodist Revival in 18th Century England was once asked how he knew if his preaching was successful.  He responded, “I know my preaching is successful if some are angered and some are saved.” Wesley’s ministry revealed something of the same kind of rejection, anger, and denunciation that descended upon our Lord when He first brought God’s message to His people. Their response? They tried to throw Him off a cliff.

In the account of when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness we discover the essence of every temptation we experience as well. In every temptation we face, whenever we have a crises or need, or whatever trial we go through, the question we face is: “Am I going to trust God and obey Him or am I going to do something else?”  The temptation is always to get our needs and desires met outside of God and His will. We want our needs met our own way, with our own resources, and to accomplish what we want apart from the will of God. The Lord Jesus Christ shows us how to stand fast and resist temptation.
 

Since Alex Haley's best-seller— “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” – and blockbuster television miniseries aired in 1977, a new genealogy craze has swept the nation. Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the U.S. after gardening.  It's a billion dollar industry that has spawned television shows, scores of books, and a cottage industry in DNA ancestry testing.
 
But the most important genealogy, as well as the most exciting, is the genealogy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

In Luke chapter 3:21-22, the Gospel writer gives us a sketchy description of the baptism of Jesus. And it raises the question, “Why would Jesus be baptized by John the Baptist?” John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was sinless and did not need to repent. So why did he come to be baptized by John?

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11)!” From this great man, there is much we can learn about preaching the gospel in such a way that people repent and are forgiven of their sins.