Has our policy in Iraq failed? Civil war in Iraq is now a reality; it is only left to be determined how long and devastating it will be. Even though there has been a noble attempt to avoid such an internal conflict, it was probably inevitable and should surprise no one. Even so, the progress toward stable and lasting reform in Iraq has been truly remarkable. In fact, things are going so well that we should not have much doubt that it is possible for Iraq to become one of the most stable and prosperous democracies in the world.

This week we continue our study with Ephesians 4:14:

In Ephesians 4:11-13 we are told, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to t

Significant events which take place in the natural often reflect what is happening in the spiritual realm. The Persian Gulf War is such an event. It is essential that we understand this war because the prayers of the church can be more powerful in effecting world events than all of the politics and weapons combined. Effective prayer moves God, and He is the One who controls the affairs of men. The following are a few of the natural parallels which I believe we should consider in relation to their spiritual applications:

 
 We continue with our study of how love is the foundation of the kingdom economy. Because we are told in I Corinthians13:8 that “love never fails,”

We are going to spend the next few weeks examining the lessons from the recent elections because we probably will not get a greater illumination of the times than this for a long time.

Amazingly, right after Israel absorbed the lessons from Achan's sin and their initial defeat at Ai, the next main event in the conquest of the Promised Land was their deception by the Gibeonites. This, too, was the result of presumption on the part of Israel's leaders. Indeed, presumption is a difficult habit to break.

Now it came about when they had finished circumcising all the nation, that they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

 

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

 

Last week we discussed how the evil kingdoms are built on unrighteousness and injustice, but in the beginning they may appear even more righteous and just than God’s kingdom. Without question, God’s standards of righteousness and justice are pure, true, and right. They extend to the heavens and to eternity. They are the very definition and standard of these, and always will be. Even so, the devil usually sets the stage for his unrighteousness and injustice by at first seeming to be even more righteous and just than God.

         The Book of Revelation was not meant to be a mystery, but to be understood. Its name means “what is revealed,” not “what was hidden.” However, there are some basic keys to understanding it. These are the same keys to understanding all revelation in the Bible. We will begin our study of this book with the first of these keys—the first statement made in Revelation:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ.…”