Paul W. Powell Legacy Library

How strong is your faith? Can it stand the shock of a “no” answer from God?  I have long been fascinated by the story of the three Hebrew children in the Old Testament. The king of Babylon commanded all people to bow down and worship his golden image. These devout Jewish young men refused. When they were told that they would be thrown in a fiery furn...

Whenever people ask me why I believe in God I answer, “I believe in him because I can’t help it.” Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968) was right when he said that man has an “incurable God sickness.” Atheism is of the lip rather than the heart. People may deny God with the tops of their heads but they believe in him with the...

A young man once asked me about temptation. He said, “There are times when I find myself wanting to do things that I know that I shouldn’t do. How am I to handle that?”  His experience is perfectly normal. Satan is going to see to it that we are tempted. He is going to place wrong desires in our minds. He is going to try to lead us astray. Her...

A young man once came to talk to me about his spiritual life. In years gone by he had tried it all—pot, alcohol, sex. You name it. But he was beginning to look at life more soberly and maturely. He told me some things that he is doing to improve his life. I was so impressed with them that I thought they were worth sharing with others.       1. He...

Christianity is not just a way of thinking and believing. It is a way of living and doing. The Bible tells us that as God’s people we should walk wisely in the world (Ephesians 5:15). What does it mean to walk wisely? It means at least three things. 1. Use every opportunity that comes our way to its fullest. The most any of us can do in life is to use or lose...

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Intro...

  17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear fa...

1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what Da...

Benjamin Franklin once remarked, “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Criticism could also be added to this list of life’s certainties. Sooner or later the guns of criticism are leveled at everyone. Jesus was not exempt from the problem of criticism, even though his life was perfect. If the Master could not escape criticism, h...