January 2023

“It’s ALL Good”?! Are You SURE?!

By Brother Michel Lankford Here is an important “TRUTH Nugget” to ponder and keep in your truth file. Consider the phrase… “It’s ALL Good.” I confess, that I have often used that phrase myself. We usually mean to express that something someone did, or something they said does not offend us or we are not going to hold it against them. The intent and desire to be forgiving and magnanimous is a good and gracious thing. However, using the phrase “It’s ALL Good,” to express that noble desire to be forgiving, is a HORRIBLE and unclean way to express that Read more…

By michel, ago

Does Diligence GUARANTEE that You Will Have EVERYTHING You Want?

Brother Michel Lankford The truth is that ALL diligence produces SOME results for better or for worse. If we are diligent at planning and working for good things, our diligence will produce good results. Conversely, if one is determined and diligent to work for evil results, people will achieve that as well. Diligence does not discriminate. Whatever you are diligent about determines what you will produce. Diligence, if one is determined for good, will always produce good, and diligence for evil will eventually produce evil. At the same time it is also true that while we cannot achieve anything we Read more…

By michel, ago

Great is Thy Faithfulness?

By Brother Michel Lankford Question: Is the word faithfulness in the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” misused, since faith is trusting on things not seen and God can see us? Your confusion is completely understandable on one level. This is WHY CONTEXT matters. The big problem is that you are making a classic mistake when it comes to Scripture interpretation. Don’t feel bad. Many people fall into this classic mistake. You are operating on the incorrect ASSUMPTION that a key Bible word or phrase has only ONE meaning. Every language, (including the Bible languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), all Read more…

By michel, ago

Self Control IS a Salvation Issue

Brother Michel Lankford Question: What are some scriptures that talk about self-control? To be “Self-Controlled” is a FRUIT of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). That means that self-control is a RESULT that will occur when we allow the Holy Spirit to rule over us instead of being dominated by our sinful nature. To be self-controlled means that you are MODERATE and NOT extreme or excessive in anything. It means that you are balanced and temperate. A person who lacks self-control is like an unprotected city with no defenses (Proverbs 25:28). In other words, a person with no self-control is unprepared Read more…

By michel, ago

Grace At Meal Times

Question: Can I say grace during a meal? You can say grace before, during, and after a meal if you choose. The point is to be thankful and remember that without God’s Grace, you wouldn’t have what you have. In Western culture we typically are taught to pray BEFORE a meal. The idea is that you put God first; before your appetite. However, if were going to put a fine point on it, Scripture actually directs us to pray AFTER a meal. This is so that after our appetites have been satisfied we do not forget the Most High, who Read more…

By michel, ago

What About Those Who Have Never Heard the Gospel?

By Brother Michel Lankford Question: How can a person be saved if they are unaware of their need for salvation? We must remember that God is love (1 John 4:7-8). It is His desire that everyone is saved and that no one will be condemned (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). God wants everyone to be saved who is willing to be saved. With this in mind, I am reminded of a testimony that I read or heard about a man who was born in a remote jungle island that had been untouched by modernization. He and his entire village Read more…

By michel, ago

What Happened to the Proverb, ‘Trust Your Heart?’

By Brother Michel Lankford Question: What Happened to the Proverb, ‘Trust Your Heart?’ – Anonymous My Response: Please, I BEG you. DON’T Trust your heart if you have a functioning brain in your head. As it is written: “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NASB95) As it is written: He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26, NASB95) As it is written: Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the Read more…

By michel, ago

How Can I Repent From Evil Speech?

By Brother Michel Lankford Here is a highly practical ‘how do I live Biblically’ question: Question: How can I repent for saying bad things about someone who I don’t know? He lives in the apartment building where I live at. So, keeping in mind the core precept that we need to use EVERYTHING as a teachable moment to remind us of Godly Principles (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 1:1-3). Here are some keen ideas we can use to overcome in situations like this one: Very Simply. Make Up Your Mind to ALWAYS T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak Let us Pray: Blessed Read more…

By michel, ago

Does Scripture Offer Any Guidance About Overcoming Sin?

By Brother Michel Lankford Yes, overcoming could hardly be more important. In fact, the bulk of Scripture is all about overcoming. Thank you so much for your kind attention. If the Holy Bible had a subtitle it would likely be, ‘God’s Practical Manual for Overcoming Life’s Challenges.’ That is the WHOLE goal of Scripture. ANY good thing that you want to do is going to REQUIRE that you overcome SOMETHING in order to successfully accomplish it. There is NO REAL accomplishment WITHOUT OVERCOMING in some way. The BIGGEST Promise in the entire Bible centers on overcoming: As it is written: Read more…

By michel, ago
Image describing Greek and Hebrew Thinking

Question: “I can’t repent and I’m not sincere. Have I lost all hope of repenting?”

By Brother Michel Lankford My guess is that you are probably judging your repentance based on how you FEEL, more than you are basing it on your CHOICES and your ACTIONS. So you feel powerless to change; because your feelings go up down all the time. From the biblical point of view, genuine repentance has more to do with the CHOICE of your WILL, followed by your ACTIONS, more then it has anything to do with how you FEEL about anything. That is the key difference between Greco-Roman thinking, which is based on theoretical ideas, feelings, and emotions, as opposed Read more…

By michel, ago