Albert Finch's Blog (1,849)

Acts 26:24,25 -- Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you MAD! But He (Paul) said, "I am not MAD, most noble Festus, but speak the word of truth and reason."



The words 'beside yourself' mean to rave as a maniac, and it's the idea of incessant craving. Festus accused Paul of being crazy.



Modern culture is not drawn to Christianity because…

1 Corinthians 13:13 -- So faith, hope love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.



The power of love is the greatest power in the universe. It's beyond defeat. It never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

When you release love into a situation, you have released God into it.

When you release love into a situation, Jesus…

1 Corinthians 1:9 -- God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on.)



Seeds of affirmation, meditation, prayer, works, giving and other acts of obedience are ready to burst forth in bud and fruit.



Harvest awaits those who do not yield to discouragement and remain consistent in obedience and diligence.



Grasshoppers of discouragement will assault us when we're weary. Our…

2 Chronicles 17:9 -- For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him...



The word tells us that God shows Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are "perfect" toward Him. "Perfect does not mean that we have to do everything just right and live without making a mistake. I means "devoted" -- a heart consecrated, dedicated,…

Titus 2:6-8

I am self-restrained and behave prudently -- taking life seriously.

I show myself in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity (having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive), with dignity and seriousness.

My instruction is sound and fit and wise and…

Wait and hope for and expect God; be brave and of good courage and

let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect

God. (Psalm 27:14)

Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed. Pr. 16:3

Hard work means prosperity, only fools idle away their time. Pr.…

1 Kings 19:9 ^{9Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (So the word of the Lord came to him "what are you doing here Elijah". This is one of the most important questions God…}

Revelation 4:1,2 - After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.

A sign in front of a church said "we are just a…

Acts 1:4,8 - He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

This power came through an encounter with God.

Some because of their fear of error, have said it's improper to seek for an experience with God.

For decades the church has…

John 1:51 - Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

Jesus is Jacob's ladder which we ascend and descend upon.

It is our calling in Christ to both go higher and go lower. We are called to ascend into the heavenly places and be seated with Him there, and at the same time descend to the…

Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations....teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.

A young man told his pastor "I'll pursue signs and wonders when I know I have more of the character of Christ in me."

As good as that sounds, it comes from a religious…

Matthew 24:12 - And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Satan wants you to become the temperature of the culture that surrounds you, a believer bound by a stone cold heart. By exposure to hardness and darkness in the times that we live in, our love and passion will begin to cool by degrees.

When you see churches and individual who do not have the energy to reach out,…

Acts 26:16 - But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Paul knew that King Agrippa's dad (King Agrippa I) was responsible at that time for the execution of James, one of the 12 disciples. Yet Paul made sure the truth was on…

John 1:16 - And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace.

Most Christians believe God can do anything but experience very little. They believe that God can release His power in answer to prayer, but whether something comes to pass or not depends on their performance (ie. being holy, speaking right, studying the word. tithing, avoiding strife, etc).

This view short-circuits God's power…

Luke 8:14 - The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God's words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.

Your enemy wants to subdue your awareness and release a slumbering spirit. In this state he can sell you on giving in to a confortable life thereby causing a corpse-like…

Acts 26:24-25 - Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" But he (Paul) said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason."

The words "beside yourself" mean to rave as a maniac, and it's the idea of incessant craving. Festus accused Paul of being crazy.

Modern culture is not drawn to…