Marc Shepherd

Overcoming Temptation - 9

After Hurricane Ike hit Southeast Texas, the people of Bridge City Texas returned to find their homes had been destroyed. The storm surge had severely damaged every home and building in the city. But…

Matthew 4:11 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation

This temptation probably has to do more with "worship" than anything else. Satan leads Jesus to a place where he can see the majestic riches of life. Palaces, land and wealth. It's his last and hardest…

Matthew 4:8 (NIV), Matthew 4:9 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 7

Jesus may not have been the first one tempted to take a flying leap off the temple high point. Some scholars believe others who thought they were the Messiah had jumped to test their own claim....with…

Matthew 4:6 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 6

Temptation is not just about being coerced into doing something physically wrong. It is about a battle in which darkness tries to shape behavior and attitude. When Satan asks Jesus to turn stones into…

Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 5

Christians most often lose the battle with sin because they play "whack-a-mole" with that sin. Each time they whack the sin down another takes its place. It's a tiresome game of trying to overcome resulting…

Matthew 4:3 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 4

Many Christians handle temptation in one of two ways: they either ignore it and fall into its trap, or, they use there own efforts without the guidance of the spirit to "overcome" it. The first group's…

Matthew 4:2 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 3

Christian maturity is not measured in how we are tempted, but in how you respond to it. If the first step in overcoming is to approach our day as a chance to overcome, the next step means being wise…

Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 2

Life is about overcoming. Each day, we face temptation, difficulties and sin. Satan's goal is to see that we do not overcome. The question a disciple must ask themselves is how we deal with those events…

Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Overcoming Temptation - 1

One of the most important verses in all of the Bible. The son of God is about to be tempted to sin...and led into the place where it will happen by the Spirit nonetheless! But what is so great about…

Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Son of God

I wonder how many people consider that verse and realize the impact of that statement in their own lives. As soon as Jesus comes out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord descends on him and God voices…

Matthew 3:17 (NIV)

Baptism

It must have been a huge shock for John when Jesus came to him to be baptized. Here, the forerunner of the messiah is asked by the messiah to be baptized; the Master "submitting" to the disciple. It was…

Matthew 3:13 (NIV), Matthew 3:14 (NIV), Matthew 3:15 (NIV)

The True Jesus

What really stands out to me is what John DOESN'T say about Jesus. Johm describes a Christ who is bringing an axe, fire, and the Holy Spirit. What would someone think of they say a man walking down the…

Matthew 3:12 (NIV)

Posers

If there is one group Jesus and his followers were in constant "battle" with it had to be the religious leaders of his day. John spotted the arrogance and self righteousness from the very beginning. After…

Matthew 3:9 (NIV)

Fruit

If God has a list of favorite words, "fruit" would have to be in the list. Perhaps even among the top ten. Adam and Eve "ate" the "fruit". Jesus constantly called for the right kind of fruit, Paul even…

Matthew 3:8 (NIV)

Straight Paths

Our prophet, John, doesn't mince words. His statements are clear, precise, and demanding. Few Christians today even think of discipleship as a path. However, to the people of that day, and to today's…

Matthew 3:3 (NIV)

Wild man, tough message

John may not have fit into our society very easily. In fact, he would probably find himself locked up in the mental ward. However, his type, while not very common, was not unheard of in those days. In…

Matthew 3:2 (NIV)

Fasting

The spiritual discipline of fasting helps us see the spiritual world that surrounds us. This spiritual world is filled with many deep understandings that came only bee seen with a mind prepared to see.…

Luke 5:34 (NIV), Luke 5:35 (NIV)

Buddhism

Buddhism teaches we are to escape our suffering by eliminating desire. Buddhists believe suffering comes from desire. So the only way to escape suffering is by meditating away our desires. This is a catch…

John 16:33 (NIV)

Discipleship

Jesus promises to give us what we need when we need it. God believes in timing. Everything has a purpose. As our father watches us he also disciplines us in his ways. However, each act or discipline is…

John 16:12 (NIV)

"Their law"

Jesus makes it clear that the disciples live by a different standard: the spirit. There is no law in the spirit except the "law of the spirit". Many Christians today want to have a law given to them to…

John 15:25 (NIV)

Purpose of the cross

Why did Jesus have to go to a cross? For several reasons. One of which is to show us these difficulties in life can and will be overcome if we do what the father tells us to do. Christ left this world,…

loving Christ

It isn't whether Jesus loves us. It's whether we love him. We prove this by learning his teachings and commandments, by becoming a disciple and not a pew sitter.

John 14:15 (NIV)

Heaven

Is Christ really talking about heaven? Or is he talking of our place in his kingdom in relation to the end of Ephesians 2.

John 14:3 (NIV)