Blogs
Jesus Challenges The Sadducees
May 23rd
Matthew 16:1, 'The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.'
MATTHEW 16:1-4
The Sadducees were a Jewish sect (Acts 5:17), of both a political and religious nature, that was best known for its opposition to the more popular party (the Pharisees), because of differences in various doctrinal and political questions. Sadducees rejected the oral tradition of the Pharisees who made a 'mountain' of burdensome legislation and accepted only the written law. We are told they believed there is 'no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit' (Acts 23:8). From Josephus, we learn that the Sadducees believed that the...
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The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit
May 22nd
Mark 8:12, 'And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.'
MARK 8:11-13
The Greek word used here for 'sighed deeply' means an intense grieving, inaudible prayer, or groan. This is intercession of the Holy Spirit, with groanings that cannot be uttered. Some Spirit-filled Christians believe this means groanings that cannot be uttered in normal speech and that this refers to speaking in tongues. However, this actually refers to a type of intercession different than speaking in tongues.
In John 11:33 and 38, Jesus groaned in the Spirit twice,...
Andrew Farstar, A Legally Blind Recording Artist Released His Album Hymns & Inspiration
By Devine Jamz Gospel Network , 2019-05-21
Hymns & Inspiration By Andrew Farstar
Andrew Farstar, Pop & Smooth Jazz singer and songwriter, who is best known for his song “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” releases his new album “ Hymns & Inspiration ”.
So why a hymns album? Andrew want to connect with the Christian audience. As a Christian, he grew up with these songs. It’s just natural for him to explore this music and to interpret these classic numbers.
“I love the Old English words in hymns. They sound elegant and poetic to me. Some of these songs have also...
Jesus Tried Her Faith
May 21st
Matthew 15:27, 'But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it unto the dogs.'
MATTHEW 15:21-39; MARK 7:24-37; 8:1-10
It is very clear in scripture that Jesus was sent to fulfill God's covenant to the Jews. However, it was equally clear that Jesus would open up faith unto the Gentiles. Jesus certainly knew this, and had already ministered to numerous Gentiles without the apparent disdain that we see here with the Syro-Phoenician woman. Jesus could not have been forced into ministering to this woman's daughter if it was not His will to do so. Therefore, His silence and rough answer to this woman must...
Change Your Mind
May 20th
Mark 7:21, 'For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders.'
MARK 7:17-23
These verses (21-23) further establish the fact that our heart includes more than just our spirit. Even Christians still struggle with things like pride and foolishness, which Jesus said comes out of our heart. It's certain that our born again spirit is not the source of these sins; therefore, the heart encompasses more than our spirit.
The word 'spirit' is used in different ways in scripture. The most frequent usage refers to either the Spirit of God or the spirit of man. In that context, it denotes the person of the Holy Spirit or identifies a...
HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE WHO TITHE OR GIVE TO THE POOR AND HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH THEY GAVE? THEY EVIDENTLY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT MOTIVATION FOR GIVING. IN THE FIRST 4 VERSES OF MATTHEW 6, JESUS HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT GIVING. "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." JESUS SAYS THESE PEOPLE ARE HYPOCRITES.