Tag: Hope

When Family Forsakes Us

On By Jeff CrippenIn Family/children4 Comments

Jeremiah 12:6 ESV  For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.”

I have begun a new sermon series on the book of Jeremiah. You can find the sermons (just one so far) on here at sermonaudio.com/crc, youtube channel Unholy Charade (here is a link to the first sermon), and on the Christ Reformation Church Facebook page.

Jeremiah understood by hard experience what the cost of following Christ is. And one of the prices he paid was that of being hated by his family and close friends.

Jeremiah 20:10 ESV  For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my close friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him.”

Continue reading “When Family Forsakes Us” →

Magic, Superstition, and Biblical Faith

On By Jeff CrippenIn false teaching19 Comments

Acts 19:18-19 ESV  Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.  (19)  And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Magic is an attempt by man to direct and manipulate the spiritual realm. By means of incantations, spells, potions and other methods that are really witchcraft (forbidden by the Lord), practitioners of these dark deeds believe they can assume God’s role and bring about outcomes of their liking. These evils have no place in the life of the Christian, as the new Christians in Ephesus recognized immediately.

Much of what parades as Christianity is actually superstition and magic. Prayer becomes a christianized form of incantation (remember Jesus told us that we are not to pray like the Gentiles with meaningless repetition). Satan and demons are supposedly rebuked and defeated by assorted formulas that allegedly are derived from the Bible.  They are not.

Continue reading “Magic, Superstition, and Biblical Faith” →

Why Christian Abuse Victims Retain Their Faith

On By Jeff CrippenIn Biblical Teaching18 Comments

John 17:14-15, I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

The 17th chapter of John’s Gospel is known as The High Priestly Prayer of Christ.  This actually is most properly called “The Lord’s Prayer” because it is His prayer.  We have been given the incredible privilege of hearing The Son pray to The Father.  We don’t appreciate what that means right now – one day we will.

Even more incredible is that the content of this prayer is offered by Christ for us, His people.  As our High Priest, Jesus prayed for us (and continues to do so as our Intercessor).  This prayer is a perfect prayer, completely conforming to the will of the Father.  Therefore, this prayer is an answered prayer.  All that the Son requests has been, is being, or will be brought about.

Why haven’t all of you who are victims of abuse, renounced Christ a long time ago?

Continue reading “Why Christian Abuse Victims Retain Their Faith” →