Tag Archives: Christianity

The Power Of Deliverance

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Luke 8:26-29

The Greater Power

In the quiet hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee, an extraordinary encounter took place that would forever change one man’s life—and teach us profound truths about the spiritual battle we all face.

Imagine a man so tormented, so completely overtaken by darkness, that he lived among the tombs rather than among the living. He wore no clothes. Chains couldn’t hold him. Society had given up on him. His family could only watch in horror as the person they once knew became unrecognizable.

This wasn’t just a story from ancient times—it’s a vivid picture of what destruction looks like when evil is given free reign in a life.

The account from Luke chapter 8 presents us with a sobering reality: there is a very real enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. This isn’t a comfortable truth. We live in an age that either dismisses spiritual warfare entirely or becomes unhealthily obsessed with it. But the Scripture presents a balanced view—one that acknowledges the reality of evil while proclaiming the supremacy of Christ.

Trust in Jesus is paramount for winning the spiritual battles in or lives. If the Lord can overcome the demons of Hell, He can handle our problems and fears.

Tony French

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The Mosaic Covenant

Ancient scrolls with wax seals, ink bottles, quill pen, and candle on wooden desk

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Hebrews 9:1-10

God’s covenant with Israel is beautiful and glorious. It shows forth God’s covenant dealings with the people He chose for Himself—the nation of Israel. The Law still has much to say to God’s people in our day.

We are no longer under the Covenant of Moses. As believers, we are partakers of the New Covenant given to us through the blood of Christ. Nevertheless, let us give thanks today for God’s Covenant with Israel.  Three aspects of this Covenant are revealed in Hebrews 9.

They are………………….

**The Old Covenant Was Earthly (1-5)

**The Old Covenant Was Temporary (6)

**The Old Covenant Was Symbolic of Jesus (7-10)

God bless you all!

Tony French

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A Better Covenant

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Hebrews 8:1-13

The New Covenant has a………………

**Better Sanctuary (1-2)

The New Covenant has a heavenly Sanctuary and an everlasting Sanctuary,

administered By Christ—our great High Priest. The Covenant of Moses was temporal while the Covenant of Grace is everlasting. The New Covenant is anchored in Heaven through our Savior, Christ our Lord.

**Better Sacrifice (3-4)

The Levitical priests offered animal blood as a covering for the people’s sins. By contrast, Jesus, our High Priest, offered His own blood for the forgiveness of sins. While the Levitical priests offered sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered Himself once for all.

**It Has A Better Security (5-13)

The Mosaic Covenant was ruined by Israel’s sin, written on stone, and impossible to keep. The Covenant of Jesus teaches us that Jesus paid for sin while the New covenant is written on human heart. The Covenant of Grace is based on the obedience of Christ and not the obedience of sinners.

Tony French

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Heaven

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 15:1-6

Let us consider a few thoughts about Heaven.

**Heaven is place. Jesus is preparing a destination for believers. We don’t know where it is and we can’t describe it in our limited human understanding. However, it is a real, actual place.

**Jesus is in Heaven. Jesus is preparing a place where we can be together with Him forever. It is indeed a wonderful thought to consider—forever with Jesus!

**Heaven is for believers and is appropriated through believing in Jesus by faith. Belief in Jesus Christ is the key to heaven. He is the way. He is the only way. He is the perfect way.

With these thoughts in mind, I end with a question. Where will you spend eternity?

Tony French

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Great High Priest

15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever,  n the order of Melchizedek.”  18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn     and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 7:15-28

Jesus is our Great High Priest. Since this is true, He has a different priesthood. It is…….

**An Everlasting Priesthood (16-17)

**A Guaranteed Priesthood (20-22)

**A Permanent Priesthood (23-24)

**A Holy Priesthood

Jesus is our High Priest who makes intercession for us and cares for all who believe on His name. Jesus paid it all and all to Him we owe. He is our priest forever forevermore.

Tony French

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The Receptive Heart

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

The last heart that Jesus describes in this parable is what is referred to as the receptive heart. This person hears the gospel, receives it by faith, and becomes fruitful throughout their lives. Let us pray for fertile hearts as the gospel seed is sown.

The Receptive Heart (Good Soil)

Some seeds fell on good soil, producing a bountiful crop. This represents hearts that are open, understanding, and committed. These individuals not only hear the message but internalize it, allowing it to transform their lives and bear fruit.

These are the lives where we see genuine spiritual growth and impact. They don’t just profess faith; they live it out, demonstrating love, joy, peace, and all the fruits of the Spirit. Their lives become a testimony to the power of the Gospel.

Tony French

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The Shallow Heart

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

This post will briefly discuss the third type of soil Jesus described in Luke 8. The gospel sometimes falls on hearts crowded by worldly concerns, causing its message to be lost amid life’s distractions. Jesus clearly explains this in the passage.

Some seeds fell among thorns, which grew up alongside the good plants and choked them out. This represents hearts preoccupied with life’s worries, riches, and pleasures. The message takes root, but its growth is stunted by competing priorities.

In our modern world, this may be the most relatable scenario. We live in an age of unprecedented leisure time and choices. While not inherently bad, these can become idols that crowd out our spiritual growth. The “thorns” of career ambitions, entertainment, social media, and material pursuits can easily overshadow our commitment to spiritual matters.

Tony French

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The Shallow Heart

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

When the gospel seed is sown it falls on different types of hearts. Today, let us take a brief overview of the shall heart. This condition is described in Luke 8:13

The Shallow Heart (Rocky Soil)

Other seeds fell on rocky ground with little soil. They sprang up quickly but withered just as fast due to lack of moisture and depth. This represents those who initially receive the message with joy but have no deep roots. When trials and temptations come, their faith falters and fades away.

We’ve all seen people who appear to embrace faith with great enthusiasm, only to drift away when life gets challenging. Their initial zeal isn’t enough to sustain them through difficult seasons. This reminds us of the importance of cultivating depth in our spiritual lives, not just surface-level excitement.

May we pray for those whose faith has faded. Our hope is for the glory of the gospel to shine through so that those with shallow hearts would be saved. Lord, grant our request.

Tony French

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Maturity

 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:9-14                  

Three important lessons emerge from the end of Hebrews 5. The writer of Hebrews directs Believers to grow in the faith and move into spiritual maturity. Let us all heed the words of the Bible. Those words are indeed wonderful words that give us spiritual life in a darkened world.

As Christians….

**We Should Be Quick To Learn (11-12)

**We Should Grow In Christ (13)

**We Should Be Mature (14)

Blessings upon you all!

Tony French

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The Hardened Heart

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

As the Word of God is distributed, it falls on the hearts of the hearers. Some will receive the “gospel seed” and many will not. Let’s delve deeper into this heart condition mentioned in Luke 8:4-5, 12

**The Hardened Heart (The Wayside)

Some seeds fell on the hardened path where people frequently walked. These seeds had no chance to take root and were quickly devoured by birds. This represents hearts that have become calloused and unreceptive to spiritual truths. The message bounces off, making no impact, and is swiftly snatched away by the enemy.

In our daily lives, we may encounter individuals who seem impervious to any spiritual discussion. Their hearts, like well-trodden paths, have been hardened by life’s experiences, skepticism, or indifference. Yet, we must remember that even the hardest ground can be tilled and softened over time.

Let us pray for God’s power to move over those who are experiencing a spiritual hardness of heart. May God’s power and grace overwhelm them and may they see their need for a Savior.

Tony French

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