All Articles For Slopsema, James D.

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy—James 5:11 Many of the saints were suffering terrible mistreatment at the hands of the ungodly rich. The rich kept back the wages they had agreed to pay the saints for working their fields. They took the saints to court to defraud them of the little they had. The result was that the saints were in desperate straits. Some were even dying because they lacked the basic necessities...

minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches, and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan   And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance—Acts 2:1-4...

minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan   Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded— Proverbs 13:13. What is your attitude toward the Word of God? This proverb speaks of those who fear God’s Word and those who despise it. These two are opposite of each other. These are also mutually exclusive. There is no third possibility. This proverb was given to the church of the Old Testament. This indicates that you will find both attitudes in the church as she comes...

Rev. James Slopsema, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan 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. I Corinthians 10:13 You may find yourself in a situation where you are sorely tempted by the powers of darkness. You have struggled against this temptation for a long time. You are not...

Rev. James Slopsema, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of First PRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9 In the preceding verses Paul gives instruction concerning the use of our gifts in the body of Christ. Each believer is wonderfully gifted by Christ. Paul gives a sampling of these gifts. There are the gifts of prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, ruling, and showing mercy. Whatever gifts believers have, they must use them cheerfully for the welfare of the other members of the...

The other disciples therefore said unto him [Thomas], We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand,...

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34, 35 Jesus was with His disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem eating the last Passover supper. After dismissing Judas Iscariot to set in motion the events that would lead to Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus informed His disciples that He would be with the disciples only for a little while. And where He was going,...

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. Proverbs 28:25 What a sharp contrast is found in this proverb, more technically known as antithetical parallelism. He who is of a proud heart is contrasted with he who puts his trust in the Lord. The implication is that one who is of a proud heart does not put his trust in the Lord. In turn, one who puts his trust in the Lord is not of a proud heart but is humble. Let’s look a little...

Rev. James Slopsema, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches and member of First PRC (Grand Rapids, MI) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 The apostle John indicates in the preceding verses of this chapter that he was writing to the churches that they may enjoy God’s fellowship and, in God’s fellowship, may also have fellowship with one another. John emphasizes that this is possible only when the saints walk in the light. God is light and in Him is no...

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26-27 Jesus spoke but seven times during the six hours of suffering on the cross. The first crossword was spoken after the soldiers nailed Him to the cross at 9:00 a.m.: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The second crossword was spoken later in the morning to the penitent thief who...