Mark H. Stevens, Th.D's Blog – May 2009 Archive (87)

What is a stronghold?

A stronghold is a faulty thinking pattern based on lies and deception. Deception is one of the primary weapons of the devil, because it is the building blocks for a stronghold. What strongholds can do is cause us to think in ways which block us from God's best. For example, if you think you have to confess all your sins to everybody you've ever wronged, you'll feel just awful and guilty until you do all that, and even then, you'll probably feel… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 17, 2009 at 5:11pm — No Comments

Forgive Yourself

When you look inside, you hate yourself, you could kick yourself over and over for your past failures and choices. You've came to Jesus and repented, but you haven't really accepted the truth about what Jesus has done for you yet. You still feel ashamed and guilty over your past and you keep holding it against yourself. The way you see yourself is not an accurate picture of what Christ has done for you. It is basically denying the work that Jesus… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 17, 2009 at 7:35am — No Comments

The Sin of Materialism....Wake Up Saints it is Polluting God's House!

Mat 6:19-21 (TEB) "Do not save riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, save riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are."

It is easy enough to "explain away" one or two verses to come to the conclusion we want. But what you are about to read is more than one or two… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 16, 2009 at 2:17pm — 1 Comment

Does Hell Exist?

Does Hell Exist - What does the Old Testament say?

Does Hell exist? A proper biblical worldview includes a belief in a real, eternal, and physical hell. What do you believe?

It is very interesting to discover that there are more Bible verses about Hell than there are about Heaven. Here are a few verses in the Old Testament about Hell. Daniel 12:2 proclaims, "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 16, 2009 at 8:59am — No Comments

Did Jesus Go to Hell?

More specifically, did Jesus go to hell between His death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday? The Apostles' Creed states that Jesus, "was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead." The Athanasian Creed, speaking of Jesus, asserts, "Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead." Therefore, two of the three great ancient creeds… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 16, 2009 at 8:41am — 5 Comments

The Lamb of God

Lamb of God - The Passover Lamb The Lamb of God is dramatically revealed in Exodus 12 and 13, with the Jewish Feast of the Passover. This is perhaps the most compelling foreshadow of the coming Lamb of God, the Messiah. The Passover Feast occurs each year on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan. It is eaten in remembrance of the Lord "passing over" the houses of those who had sacrificed the Passover Lamb and sprinkled its blood on their wooden… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 16, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Psalm 100, A Call to Worship

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. 3Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations."

Alright, for those of you who are you… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 16, 2009 at 6:43am — No Comments

Why No Revival?

I had a conversation with a group of Pastors about “What’s wrong with the Church?” As these men bantered back and forth with different theories, I held my peace. Finally I remembered the quote in this chapter by John Stott, “As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead.” As I shared this quote the conversation ended with a soft “amen”. When we realize the problems of the church all stemmed from our lack of realizing… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 15, 2009 at 9:39pm — No Comments

The importance of forgiving yourself

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 15, 2009 at 2:52pm — No Comments

Why Sexual Sin is So Devastating?

Why Sexual Sin is so devastating

3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? (2 Sam.chapter 11)

David’s sin with Bathsheba lead to him also killing her husband as well. David spoke his own punishment when the prophet Nathan confronted him concerning his sin. Nathan used a story about a wealthy man that stole a poor man’s lamb, while he had many sheep of his own. David said this… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 13, 2009 at 10:25pm — 2 Comments

What God Cares About ...

2 Tim 2:4,7 (NIV) No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer... Reflect on what I am saying... the Lord will give you insight.

1 Tim 6:11 (NIV) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Luke 10:33-35 (NEB) "But a Samaritan who was making the journey came upon him, and when he saw him was moved to pity. He went up and bandaged his wounds,… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 13, 2009 at 9:07pm — No Comments

LOVE NOT THE WORLD—THREE CATEGORIES OF SIN

"Love NOT the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM. For [for means ‘because’] ALL that is in the world,

the lust of the FLESH,

the lust of the EYES,

and the pride of LIFE,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever" (I John 2:15-17).

Notice that "…ALL that is… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 13, 2009 at 12:39am — No Comments

THE HISTORY OF SEXUAL SIN

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 13, 2009 at 12:22am — No Comments

HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL FINANCED HIS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

Worldliness in the Church today is not looked upon as shameful, but rather as being chic. Power, wealth, and notoriety are not things to be repented of, but are rather to be lusted after and pursued with great vigor. Young aspiring ministers are not thought to be vain or ambitious when seeking worldliness, but are rather thought of as being enthusiastic for the work of the Lord. Let’s see how Paul did things.

"For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 7:30pm — No Comments

The Sin of Materialism

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 12:35pm — No Comments

Mormonism and Race (Heresy Alert) Christians Need to Know what False Religions Teach!

Mormon scripture: God curses bad races with black skin

2 Nephi 5:21

21 And the Lord had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

Alma 3: 6 "And the… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 9:09am — No Comments

How to Help Get Your Family Delivered From The Watchtower Organization

Has your husband, wife, son or daughter become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses? If this is so, you have probably experienced turmoil which has disrupted your family. The “face” of your family has probably changed because of his/her belief which prohibits participation in Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Family Reunions, etc. This cult’s influence has broken family ties that you once held sacred and dear.

How many times have you tried to convince… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 8:51am — No Comments

Preachers NEED Training! Time out for ignorance in Pulpits!

Preachers need REAL classroom training as well as OJT (On the Job Training) in order to be effective ministers. Unqualified preachers are killing churches!

In too many of our churches (I am talking to Black folks) we have the ancient slave mentality that says, “I don’t need to go to school to be a preacher, I got the anointing!” Well during the days of slavery and Jim Crow we didn’t have an opportunity to go to Seminary or Bible Colleges.… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 7:55am — 2 Comments

Where are the Men on Sunday?

Most Black churches have one thing in common, NO MEN! I have heard black pastor’s talk about how much more cooperative women are than men are when leading them. I think this is an excuse to not have to deal with the strong personalities of men. Men are born to lead and deal with problems. Many pastors are insecure and don’t like having strong men in their churches, and that is why their churches are dying! David led Israel primarily due to the fact… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 12, 2009 at 7:37am — 2 Comments

Pornography (Everyone’s Problem)

Pornography is over an eighty billion dollar a year industry in America. Why? Sex is one of Satan’s greatest snares. (maybe the greatest) From Noah to Solomon, great men have fallen into the trap of sexual sin. The sin of adultery has contributed to more divorces than any other one. Adultery breaks the marriage covenant! Satan wants fathers out of the home at any cost. Satan knows the chances of children becoming a problem will increase when dad… Continue

Added by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on May 11, 2009 at 8:53pm — 2 Comments