Martin Wickens
Speaking the Truth in Love
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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…
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Contentment – the Antidote to the Poison of Comparison
In Psalm 73 the writer wrestles with the injustice he witnessed in the world. Three verses from this song will enable us to join the psalmist on his journey from comparison to contentment. 1. Comparison “…I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:3 In Proverbs and throughout…
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“Enough!” – Dealing with Discouragement and Depression
In recent months I have studied and preached on the life of Elijah. Most weeks I reference James’ description of him as a man of like passions. He faced the same highs and lows that do, he knew strength and weakness, joy and sadness, victory and defeat, peace and discouragement, and perhaps even depression. At…
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God to the Rescue
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31 In Psalm 107 we witness God rescuing sinners from themselves. Many times in other psalms the author describes God delivering him from his enemies, but here we see God saving…
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Gentleness
When I think of Elijah my mind usually jumps straight to his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel. There the prophet of God stood alone against 450 sworn enemies! As they attempted to call down fire from heaven by the power of their false god, Baal, they danced, chanted, and…
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That Which is, Has Been
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you… Rudyard Kipling, “If” Does it seem like the world is going crazy? In 1895 Rudyard Kipling penned one of his most famous pieces, “If”. Every line of that poem is gold. But the opening two lines struck…
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Now is the Time to Get Ready for Church (Before Sunday)
Sunday mornings might be the worst time to get ready for church. Not just for preachers who need to have prepared a sermon, but for anyone. Now, if someone gets up Sunday morning and decides out of the blue to go to church then wonderful, get up and go. But if you have the opportunity…
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Book Review: Does God Desire All to Be Saved – #3
Part 1 – Introduction Part 2 – Piper’s Aim In the 2nd chapter of Piper’s booklet, he sets out to give examples of God’s two wills. His goal is to prove that God has one will that desires all to be saved, but a second will that acts to only save some. We must keep…
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Because of, Not in Order to
At times, the guilt and shame of acknowledged sin can leave us feeling crushed, speechless, and perhaps even wondering how we can recover. In these instances, I believe the Penitential Psalms can give voice to emotions and thoughts we cannot express on our own. The majority of the Bible cover God speaking to us. One…
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How to Pray for One Another – Thankfulness (1/4)
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you al toward each other aboundeth: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul modeled the prayer life to which each Christian should aspire. As Paul writes to his friends and co-workers,…