All Articles For Marcus, John

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts—2 Peter 1:19   Scripture is the lens by which we ought to interpret creation. You can put an elegant book in front of a man with blurry vision, but he will not be able to make out the words until you give him a pair of glasses or some other sort of lens to help him see clearly. So too, God...

pastor of Peace PRC in Dyer, Indiana   Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep...

Pastor of Peace PRC in Dyer, Indiana   According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain—Philippians 1:20-21. Everyone has desires. Those desires relate to such things as church, marriage and family, careers, schooling, vacations, money, and even eating and drinking. But of our many desires, which one is chief? Which desire rules all the others? The...

Rev. John Marcus, pastor of Peace PRC in Dyer, Indiana   My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O...

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:21-23 Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, will certainly save His people from their sins! The Devil would have us question this truth. The world mocks at it. But,...

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. I Peter 1:13-16 Every child of God who hopes for heaven will also strive for holiness. Not because we have to do something to earn our...

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? Matthew 27:17 Early Friday morning, after the Jewish Sanhedrin condemned Jesus, they brought Him to Pilate asking for Jesus to be executed by crucifixion. Pilate had little difficulty recognizing that Jesus was innocent and that the Jews had brought Him there because they envied Him. Knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate wanted to release Jesus; but he was afraid of the Jews. As it happened, it was Pilate’s custom to release a prisoner during the Passover...

…the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78b-79 Christmas is a season in which we see many glittering lights and enjoy visits with friends and relatives. But how much more glorious is the Light that God sent forth to shine in darkness! And, how much more wonderful is that visit of the Dayspring from on high! Zacharias had not been able to speak because he doubted God’s word when the angel first announced that...

And set up over his head his accusation written, this is Jesus the king of the Jews . Matthew 27:37 The superscription above Jesus’ head is a glorious declaration of the truth of the gospel. Jesus was and is the King of the Jews. The superscription is so significant that all four gospel accounts record it in differing levels of detail. Significantly, all four contain the crucial phrase, “The King of the Jews.” We must see Jesus on the cross as the King of the Jews. Matthew, more than the other gospel accounts, treats the subject of Jesus’ kingship and...

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots…. Isaiah 11:1 The mighty Assyrian empire had already conquered the northern kingdoms of Syria and Israel at the time of this prophecy; now it was threatening Judah. Assyria with her ruthless and invincible armies had conquered one nation after another. From a human perspective, Judah appeared to be doomed. Today, the antichristian kingdom goes about to establish itself. It manifests its agenda in greater and greater wickedness. It shows its hatred of God and the church more and...