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DO YOU BELIEVE THE WHOLE BIBLE IS TRUE? A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T, EVEN SOME CHRISTIANS. I OFTEN WONDERED HOW THEY COULD PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE AND THINK THEY ARE SAVED. I ONLY SAY THIS BECAUSE OF WHAT PAUL SAYS TO TIMOTHY IN 2ND TIMOTHY 3:16-17 WHERE HE SAYS "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH ME TRYING TO TEACH A MESSAGE LIKE THIS ONE IS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE THESE TWO VERSES. THERE IS NOT A LOT ANYONE CAN DO BUT TO PRAY FOR THEM. IF ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF, HOW CAN ANY CHRISTIAN NOT BELIEVE IN IT?
It was a Jewish custom to anoint one's self with olive oil and in Jesus' day it was apparently customary to anoint the heads of your guests, also (Lk. 7:46). At times ointment or perfumes were used in this personal anointing. A lack of having one's head anointed was associated with mourning or sorrow.
Jesus is saying that there should be no external sign of fasting or sorrow, but it should be done secretly to the Lord to receive a full reward. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 7:5, that abstinence from the physical relationship in marriage for the purpose of fasting should not be done without the consent of one's spouse. A fast does not always have to be totally...
ARE YOU BEARING FRUIT? IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN YOU SHOULD BE. JESUS SAYS YOU ARE A BRANCH AND HE IS THE VINE. IF YOU ARE NOT ABIDING, OR CONTINUING WITHOUT CHANGE, WHICH IS WHAT ABIDING MEANS, IN THE VINE, THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN BE FRUITFUL. HERE IS WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15:4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." WE LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, THIS IS GREAT, BUT IS IT? IT IS IF WE ARE BEARING FRUIT. WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS ABIDING IN US FROM WHAT HE SAYS ABOVE BUT ARE WE ABIDING IN HIM.
A temptation can be a difficult situation or a pressure. Contrary to popular belief, God is not the source of our temptation (Jas. 1:13). When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Mt. 4:3; 1 Th. 3:5). Then why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation? This was simply a request for guidance so that we could be delivered from evil.
Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4, Lk. 4). He trusted God fully for provision, protection, and purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread. But as stated in James 4:2, "Ye have not because ye ask not." Both "give us our...
We do not have to live a beggarly existence here on this earth and just wait till we all get to heaven to begin to experience the benefits of our salvation. Jesus told us to pray "thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." In heaven, He will "wipe away all tears from our eyes" (Rev. 21:4), so here on earth we can pray and believe to receive "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8). Healing, prosperity, and all the other benefits of heaven are ours here on earth to the degree that we can believe and receive them.
It is God's will to deliver us from this present evil world. The Lord didn't save us from our sins so we could be "saved and stuck" until we go to heaven. He made provision for our success in this life as well. Our salvation is effectual in this life too, not just...
DO YOU FEEL STRANGE BEING CALLED GOD'S CHILD? DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH JESUS? THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE BOTH OF THESE. LET'S JUST READ WHAT IT SAYS IN ROMANS 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." THE WORD "ABBA" WAS A WORD USED BY THE ROMANS MEANING "FATHER" BUT WE COULD USE IT AS "DADDY". I KNOW GOD IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER BUT I FIND IT HARD TO CALL HIM DADDY. IT JUST SOUNDS SO ORDINARY OR COMMONPLACE FOR OUR GREAT HOLY GOD.
Although God was referred to as "our Father" 13 times in the Old Testament, Jesus' frequent use of this title brought a whole new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus referred to God as His father over 150 times, and He spoke of God as being our father 30 times. This infuriated the religious Jews of Jesus' day who considered it blasphemy to call God their father, because they understood that to mean they were equal with God (Jn. 5:17-18).
This title has become so common in the church today that we, many times, don't perceive its real significance. The revelation that we are instructed to call God "our Father" reveals the kind, gentle, loving nature of our God (1 Jn. 4:8). Paul amplifies this by using the term "Abba Father" (Rom. 8:15), which is an...
Some of the most effective prayers are the shortest prayers. Jesus said, "Peace, be still," and the wind and the waves ceased (Mk. 4:39). He said, "Lazarus, come forth," and Lazarus came back from the dead (Jn. 11:43-44).
Today, there is a new emphasis on the quantity of prayer instead of the quality of prayer. Jesus never advocated long prayers, and there are only a few instances where Jesus prayed long prayers. This is not to say that communion with God is not important. It certainly is, but formal prayer is only one part of our communion with the Lord.
Psalm 5:1-2 uses the words "prayer" and "meditation" interchangeably. Therefore, communing with God through keeping your mind stayed on the things...
GOD WAS REFERRED TO AS "OUR FATHER" 13 TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. JESUS REFERRED TO GOD AS HIS FATHER OVER 150 TIMES AND HE REFERRED TO GOD AS BEING OUR FATHER 30 TIMES. IT REALLY UPSET THE JEWS WHEN JESUS DID THIS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HE WAS MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD. (JOHN 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal God.)