Martin Wickens
Speaking the Truth in Love
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Ebenezer Scrooge – a Man Misremembered
In 1841, while walking through Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Charles Dickens noticed a weathered gravestone bearing a curious inscription. The man’s name was Ebenezer Scroggie, and Dickens believed the stone described him as “a mean man.” Dickens reportedly thought to himself, “How dreadful must a man be for such a verdict to be carved into
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Why Jacob was Afraid (3/3): Depending on Self
Scripture: Genesis 43:11-14Key Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Jacob had a long history of relying on his own schemes rather than trusting in God. He lied to his faither
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Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown
John and Charles Wesley were used of God in a powerful way. Not only in the Christian world, but nations and empires were different because of their lives. Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 hymns during his lifetime and many of them are still favorites today. Isaac Watts, who himself is probably Charles’ only equal when
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Corporate Worship – Book Review
Recently, I finished reading Scott Aniol’s book, “Biblical Foundations of Corporate Worship“. It is a relatively small book at 121 pages, but its conciseness is part of its strength. Across five chapters Scott lays out a Biblical case for what constitutes Biblical, corporate worship. Many today worship in a purely emotional way and then assess
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God’s Word in Possession of Me
The first book I preached through, verse-by-verse, was Ephesians. That was 17 years ago at Faith Baptist Church, Newtownabbey, in Northern Ireland. It has shaped my whole preaching ministry ever since. At that time I found a story and then lost it, until this morning when I found it again. It’s not enough for us
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Genesis 10-11; Psalm 4
Genesis 10-11 Chapter 10 may seem to be one of those chapters to get through in order to get on with the rest of the story. After all, how does a list of names and nations compare to the devastating rebellion and judgment at Babel? But looked at another way, chapter 10 serves as one
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How to Pray for One Another – Peace and Unity (3/4)
Part 1 – https://martinwickens.com//2019/07/how-to-pray-for-one-another-thankfulness-1-4 Part 2 – https://martinwickens.com//2019/10/how-to-pray-for-one-another-wisdom-knowledge-2-4/ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 Many years ago I remember my pastor
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Book Review: Does God Desire All to Be Saved – #4
Part 1 – Introduction Part 2 – Piper’s Aim Part 3 – Two Wills How extensive is the sovereign will of God? This is the chapter title of chapter 3 in John Piper’s small book. The author asserts, Behind the complex relationship of the two wills in God is the foundational biblical premise that God
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How to Pray for One Another – Wisdom & Knowledge (2/4)
Part 1 – https://martinwickens.com//2019/07/how-to-pray-for-one-another-thankfulness-1-4/ A few weeks ago I began a series looking at how we can pray for one another. In the first part I focused on the blessing we have in our brothers and sisters in Christ and that we ought to constantly thank the Lord for them. In this post, we will