Do You Sound Like a Sounding Brass Or a Tinkling Cymbal?Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.— 1 Corinthians 13:1It seems that the apostle Paul encountered a group of people who were extremely “super-spiritual” in the city of Corinth. However, Paul was unimpressed with these people and their lev...  Read More

The ‘Morons’ of the World Are God’s Kind of People!For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise....— 1 Corinthians 1:26,27If you feel that you just aren’t smart enough to be used by God, then today’s Sparkling Gem is written just for you! Get ready...  Read More

Learn To Think Like a Snake!Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents,and harmless as doves.— Matthew 10:16When I was growing up, we had a lot of snakes in the countryside where we lived, and many of my young friends thought it was fun to search for and collect snakes. Because I was a typical little boy, I joined the rest of my friends in their purs...  Read More

Here’s How To Extinguish The Fiery Darts of the Wicked!Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. — Ephesians 6:16Would you like to extinguish every flaming dart the devil ever tries to shoot in your direction? Does that proposal sound too good to be true? Well, Ephesians 6:16 assures you that if you have your shield of faith lift...  Read More

Thoroughly Furnished Unto All Good Works!That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.— 2 Timothy 3:17When I was growing up, my father loved to go fishing. As the years passed and his love for fishing grew more intense, he purchased himself a boat so he could go to the lake and fish at any location he wished. I remember his first boat well. It was just a plain, simpl...  Read More

Tell-Tale Signs That Bitterness Is Growing in Your LifeLooking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.— Hebrews 12:15When you find yourself constantly saying something derogatory about someone else, pay attention to what’s happening! What you’re saying about that person is a tell-tale sign that some bad se...  Read More

Here’s What To Do if the Devil Is Trying To Devour You!Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.— 1 Peter 5:8Has the devil ever tried to use your past against you? Maybe he’s told you, “You’re in this mess because of your own actions! Don’t even try to ask God to help you because you got into this mess by yourself, and no...  Read More

Are You Guilty of Exaggerating the Facts Or Embellishing the Truth?Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.— Colossians 3:9The Bible has much to say about liars. If you have a tendency to lie, it is essential that you bring correction to this part of your life as soon as possible. But you may ask, “How do we define a lie? What exactly does the Bible mean when...  Read More

The Holy Spirit Knows How To Get You There Faster and Safer!Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you....— John 16:13Occasionally when people visit Moscow, my wife and I give them a tour of the Kremlin. Because people usually want to see the Kremlin, we have been there hundreds of times and we know all the routes and shortcuts. Often as we visit this historic complex of buil...  Read More

Are You Going From Glory to Glory Or From Mess to Mess?But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. — 2 Corinthians 3:18Most believers quote the verse above when they are facing a difficult challenge. I did the same thing for many years. I often told myself, “Soon this mess will be ...  Read More

Be Proud of the Fruit Produced By Your Personal Investments!So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.— 2 Thessalonians 1:4Have you ever been so proud of someone that you just wanted to brag and boast about him or her for a few minutes? When you’ve invested a lot of your own time, talents, and energ...  Read More

You Are the Bishop Of Your Own Heart!Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.— Hebrews 12:15One of the most powerful verses in the New Testament is Hebrews 12:15. It says, “Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby ma...  Read More

Don’t Jump Ship!Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.— 1 Corinthians 4:1When you are serving faithfully and trying to obediently do what God has asked you to do, the devil hates it! He’ll do everything he can to dissuade you to stop. Often he attacks your mind with allegations, such as, “Why are you doing this? No one appreciates you anywa...  Read More

Who Were the Nicolaitans, And What Was Their Doctrine and Deeds?But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.— Revelation 2:6Have you ever wondered who the “Nicolaitans” were, mentioned in the book of Revelation? Whoever they were, Jesus loathed their doctrine and hated their deeds. Let’s delve into this subject today to see if we can ascertain the identity ...  Read More

The Devil’s DestinationPut on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.— Ephesians 6:11What I am about to tell you is so simple — yet it is also life-changing and revolutionary. I want to help you understand how the devil tries to work in the realm of the mind and emotions. If you grab hold of these truths, they can set you free from the devil’s lies for...  Read More

Truthfully Assessing Your SituationBrethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.— Philippians 3:13,14Every once in a while, my wife and I take time to seriously and thoughtfully review what we...  Read More

Make Up Your Mind To Live Fearlessly And Peacefully in These Last Days!That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.— 2 Thessalonians 2:2In Second Thessalonians 2:2, the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers and warned them about events that would occur right before the coming of the Lo...  Read More

Whatever Happens in a Person’s Private Life Affects His Public Life!Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.— 1 Corinthians 4:1I want to devote today’s Sparkling Gem to the private lives of potential leaders. In particular, I want to talk about their marriages, their children, the physical condition of the houses where they live, and the mann...  Read More

You Can Beat Any Temptation!There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.— 1 Corinthians 10:13Everyone has to deal with temptations at one time or another, so you don’t need to feel embarrassed if you’re facing...  Read More

High-Class Service With Distinction and StyleAnd whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.— Mark 10:44,45In the city of Moscow is a restaurant that is indisputably one of the most elegant places of fine dining in the entire world. The setting of this magnificent re...  Read More

When Mary Brought Jesus A Lavishly Expensive GiftThen took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus,and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. — John 12:3How a person spends his money tells a lot about his priorities in life. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:2...  Read More

Recognize and Respect Your Limitations!For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealtto every man the measure of faith. — Romans 12:3Have you ever been so anxious to do something big and powerful that you rashly offered to do a job you later discovered was way ...  Read More

Don’t Give Place to the Devil!Neither give place to the devil. — Ephesians 4:27You and I never have to fall prey to the devil! If we can shut every door, close every window, and seal every place in our lives through which the enemy would try to access us, we can prevent him from getting into the middle of our affairs.One of the “entry points” the devil tries to use to enter our lives is relationsh...  Read More

What Triggers a Demonic Attack?Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.For the which cause I also suffer these things.... — 2 Timothy 1:11,12What triggers demonic attacks against you, your dream, your vision, your calling, your business, your family, your church, or your ministry? What makes the devil so upset that he rises up to resist you and your effor...  Read More