Hi Line Ministries: Recent Episodes
Owen S. Childers
Pray is not only about asking God for answers to the situations in our life; it is also about asking God for wisdom. Wisdom to know when to speak, when to wait and when to keep the secret the sacred things that God has told you between you and God.
The tragic end of the wicked, God's warning to the wicked; the difference between the righteous and the wicked. How to deal with the wicked.
God wants to answer our prayers; God is not against us. He is for us and He is not deaf to our cries, He is not careless with our burdens, and He is not late because He is weak. The same God who heard and answered Abraham, Moses, David and the disciples still hears and answers his people today.
Godly wisdom teaches us how to avoid sin, harm (ourselves & others) & foolish mistakes.
Jesus declares in Matthew chapters 17 and 21 and in Mark chapter 11 that we can speak to the mountain- our massive, intimidating, seemingly impossible problem - and "command it to be removed and cast into the sea and if we don't doubt" it would be done for us AND YET so many believers speak to their mountains and those mountains don't move; WHY?
I believe the tragedy of many Christians is not that we have too many people praying, but too many people who do not understand prayer. People quit praying moments before the answer arrives.
Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them for they are the KEY to life.
Prayer is not religious decoration nor is it a religious filler. Prayer is us speaking to God. Our prayers matter. They matter to God and they matter to you & I. The prayer of repentance!
Proverbs 4:13 (NLT) Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
Our prayers are as important to God as they are to us. God never intended prayer as a dead form, not a cold ritual & not empty words repeated without faith. Our prayers should be a living pathway by which we, as believers, come boldly before the Heavenly Father to obtain mercy & find grace to help in our time of need.
Wisdom has benefits! What it's like to be lazy, the results of laziness, what happens to the lazy and the WAY (path) of laziness.
Because Jesus knew the importance of prayer and what it could accomplish, He taught us to pray!
Wisdom has a lot of benefits; Length of days, riches and honor, her ways are ways of pleasantness, her paths peace, happy are those who retain her, she is life to our soul, grace to our neck, by her we walk safely in our way, our foot will not stumble, when we lie down we will not be afraid, our sleep will be sweet.
In what is known as "The Lord's Prayer", Jesus gave it to us as a guide to pray as well as a prayer to be spoken. Jesus never intended for it to become a cold, empty or rigid religious ritual.
Oftentimes Christians wonder why it takes the Lord so long to prosper believers. Other ways may seem to work faster than faith in God's Word but it's not how quickly you get it, it's the side effects that come with it and how long the prosperity lasts. The way of the Lord is sometimes slow, but its dividends are well worth the wait.
The Bible is filled with prayers- from desperate cries for help to majestic songs of praise. As you read the Bible carefully, you will see the distinct types of prayers and their purposes. You will see the crisis or the situation that called for prayer and then the kind of prayer that rose to meet that moment.
Proverbs is the divine ability of God to correctly use the knowledge we have, and it is available to all who will ask for her and seek her.
The wisdom of God teaches us how to avoid sin, harm, both to ourselves and others, and foolish mistakes.
Checed is God's faithful expression of His Covenant love for His people - not only for Israel, but for all who have received or will receive the gift of His Son. God's Covenant love never changes and it never runs out.
Proverbs teach us how to avoid sin, harm (to ourselves and others), and how to avoid making foolish mistakes. In short, Proverbs provide practical wisdom for living and management of life.
The book of Proverbs is more than just simple sayings. They are the very wisdom of God expressed in the everyday language of man. The book of Proverbs covers seven main themes & within those seven main themes sixty different topics are covered.
Jesus was not a victim of the Cross. He was not overpowered by human means, He was not deceived by Satan or trapped by circumstances. Jesus laid His life down voluntarily.
In life we have four teachers: The Word of God, the word of satan, the word of man and experience.
As Christians, we believe in God, but often in the midst of an adverse situation we're not sure if He will really do what He said He would do.
All of the marvelous things found in the book of Proverbs; prosperity, protection and adding days to your life are a reality! But as true as they are, we still need to have wisdom in the natural, everyday things of life. That is where the book of Proverbs comes in. The book of Proverbs is the "owner's manual" for our daily existence.
All of the marvelous things found in the book of Proverbs, prosperity, protection and adding days to your life are a reality. But as true as they are, we still need to have wisdom in the natural, everyday things of life.
That is where the book of Proverbs comes in. The book of Proverbs is a prime reference source for wisdom in the natural, "nitty gritty" details of daily existence.
Any resurrection from the dead is amazing, but the resurrection of Jesus was not only amazing because a brutally murdered individual returned to life without any medical assistance, but it was also amazing because of the benefits/blessings this resurrection carried for you and I, in fact for all mankind.
The resurrection is more than just a Biblical event; it is also an historical happening. There is historical proof outside of the Bible of Christ's Resurrection.
Jesus not only died for us, but He rose from the grave for us and His resurrection not only confirmed He was the Messiah, but it also strengthens our faith, gives us hope for the future and it has made available the same resurrection power that now lives in every believer.
Hindrances to receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit & receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The Lamb enters the city! This was one of the most dramatic events in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.
We need God for more than just eternal life and to keep us out of hell. We live in the present by our five senses, we access the past through our memory, but when it comes to our future we are in the dark and AI is only accurate 40 to 65% of the time on real world scenarios.
Spiritual Language/Tongues for personal edification. Is "Tongues" a sign of the Baptism of/with the Holy Spirit?
As members of an earthly family, we are normally given certain promises; both spoken and unspoken. In the Family of God, we also have promises, and they are all written down in a book called the Bible; but unlike an earthly family where sometimes promises are broken, NOT SO when you belong to the Family of God.
Sometimes as a member of the Family of God, if we're not careful, we will leave a window or a door open, and we'll get an unwanted guest coming into our life. The unwanted guest is silent, insidious, crafty and he's pretty good at slightly tiptoeing around, but no make no mistake, he's evil!
If the only thing that guides our life or the only thing we expect to get out of life is the possibilities of what mankind, through his own means can accomplish, then, that's all you will get out of life; what the natural man can produce and provide. But if, as a child of God, you renew your mind to what God has provided for us through the blood of His Son Jesus, then you open up your life to all the possibilities that God has in store for you!
As we function in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit we should always be led by the Holy Spirit and remember to intertwine the Fruit of the Holy Spirit with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We should be as comfortable being a member of our heavenly family as we are with our earthly family.
If the only thing you expect & have hope in is what life has produced in the past, then that's all you will ever be destined to receive; but if you renew your mind to God's Word, faith is looking forward to God doing more than what has been accomplished in the past.
The indwelling Holy Spirit tells us things that are coming into our individual lives so He can show us what to avoid and what to embrace. Holy Spirit doesn't force control over us, we have a choice we can listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit or we can choose to listen to our flesh our own mind. The purpose of the fullness or Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
If we don't know what's in the Kingdom of Heaven, how can we access it or use it. When the Bible talks about us prospering it means a lot more than just money! There is mental, emotional, physical, financial, physical and spiritual prospering.
The "indwelling" Holy Spirit will produce in us wonderful, magnificent fruit to help us in journey here on earth.
Christians should be as comfortable as members of the "family of God" as they are with their earthly families.
The indwelling Holy Spirit: guides us into all Truth, tells us what He hears, and He tells us of things to come. We need to learn to tap into the power and abilities of the Holy Spirit living within us.
As Christians the Bible says we are Children of God. Are we comfortable with that? Do we approach God with the same ease we approach our earthly father?
Last week I shared with you that 2026 was a year of choices: I shared with you four things that would help us live in and navigate this new year. The problem was last week I only gave you three.
2026 A year of choices! do we choose to put our hope in mankind's wisdom and our own abilities to solve our problems and the temporary and sometimes non-solutions they bring or are we going to allow the Word of God to be our council and guide.
Jesus's birth is a testimony of God's love, grace and mercy and it transcended time, civilizations, governments, religious authorities, social status and human limitations.
What the "indwelling" Holy Spirit does on our behalf. Intercessor, counselor, advocate, comforter, guides us into all Truth; What is Truth?
In this journey we make from the cradle to the grave that we call life, we are going to meet people who do a lot of irritating, stupid and foolish things especially during the holidays. God would like to help us navigate this journey successfully: to do that God will use just about anything He can to help us and in this case....
What the "indwelling" Holy Spirit, which a person receives upon their profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, does for us.
79 to 89% of people polled reported feeling stressed during this time of the year. Four things we can do to help take the stress out of this Holiday Season.
So far we have learned, the Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of a person, we've learned the activities the Holy Spirit engages in concerning humans, the relationship the Holy Spirit has with human beings; the Holy Spirit possesses the Divine attributes of the Godhood, we've learned the different names the Holy Spirit is referred to and the symbols that illustrate Him; all these things testify to the vast Realm of the Spirit's operation in the Old and New Testament and in the present-day church.
When Jesus died and rose again, God reconciled the entire world to Himself. But the reconciliation, the forgiveness, the peace that God provided for us at the Cross is not automatically applied to every person's heart.
The first king of Israel was appointed at the insistence of the people. He was chosen because of his outward appearance, but he disobeyed God and as a result is reign came to an end. The next king was chosen by God and he was chosen because of his heart.
Last week the question was asked, "if once someone has blasphemed the Holy Spirit or fallen away can they be restored?"
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the daily struggles of life that without realizing it would become agitated, stirred up, and we can allow our hearts to be troubled. What can we do when these times invade our lives?
The Holy Spirit engages in many activities involving our lives; revealing, teaching, witnessing, interceding, speaking, commanding and testifying. He also interacts with us. He can be grieved, He can be lied to and He can be blasphemed.
Through His work on the cross, Jesus substitutes or exchanges many of our earthly experiences with His provisions. When we don't know what Christ has done for us, we open ourselves up to fail in our relationship with God and to be taken advantage of by evil people and wrong thoughts that would try to dismantle our relationship with God and make chaos of our life here on earth.
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead. The Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of a person and there are numerous activities He engages in.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (AMP) For you are recognizing more clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
For those who will receive the Redemptive work provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus exchanges (substitutes) many of our Earthly experiences with the provisions He made through the cross & His subsequent resurrection.
The Third person of the Triune Godhead. The Scripture states clearly that the Triune Godhead operates co-equally, co-eternally, and co-existently (or as one unit).
2 Corinthians 8:9 is one of the many verses in the Bible telling us of the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we see all that is going on around us, it is easy to feel insignificant or helpless. To feel there is nothing we can do but "pray." BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE!
The Bible is the definitive (complete, ultimate) handbook on living a successful life here on earth. It covers every aspect of our life. There isn't a financial advisor on this earth that can compare with the Bible insights into dealing with money. There isn't a dating coach alive that can give us the informed instructions on dating as the Bible can. When it comes to marriage, there isn't a marriage counselor available that has the understanding of the husband - wife relationship that the Bible has.
Three questions imperative to "binding and loosing." Do I have the spiritual authority in this matter? Is what I want to bind or loose in line with God's will? Am I a part of the problem I want to bind?
God created us for fellowship with Him, but He wanted our fellowship to be based upon a mutual desire not an imposed command, so God gave mankind the freedom of choice.
God has provided the provision of binding and loosing through His cross; the Church (Born again believers) is then charged with implementation of what Jesus has released to his life, death and Resurrection.
It brings life. Proverbs 4: 20-22 (NLT) 20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them and healing to their whole body.
There are two types of life: our physical being as we live down here on earth and eternal life.
Binding and loosing has to do with forbidding or permitting. To forbid or permit something means the individual doing the forbidding or permitting has been given the authority to do so.
The importance of knowing the Word; not just any word the Word of God. It increases our faith, it is the first step in having our prayers answered.
What did Jesus mean when He said, "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven?"
There are approximately 15,000 self-help books published in the United States each year. The words in these self-help articles, whether on paper or recordings have no power in and of themselves. Not so with the Word of God!
Faith and its cooperating forces: Knowledge, corresponding action, patience, and love. The first three words of 1 Corinthians 13:8 are "Love never fails". When we respond in love to people, even those who don't deserve it, that love will never fail! We have God's Word on that!
The enemy, Satan, and many liberal pundits would like you to believe the Bible isn't relevant for today; but this book that some people say is not relevant in today's society is not only the best seller on the "New York Times" bestseller list but also around the world!
Amid the chaos and seemingly unnecessary pain in this fallen world, God has always been and always will be good!
Patience doesn't surrender to circumstances or succumb come under trial. Patience is courage under fire. Patience answers every doubt and fear with the assurance of God's Word.
As a Born-Again Believer, you have residing inside of you Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Bible is very specific about what the Holy Spirit will do for us as believers.
Hebrews 6:12 "that you do not become lazy but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
The word patience used in this verse is only used one other time in the New Testament in James 5:10 and it means "to be long-tempered."
One of the most important steps that you can take in allowing God to speak to you is that you believe, have faith, that God wants to speak to you!
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. The body needs the spirit and the spirit needs the body. Faith needs works (the corresponding actions) and works needs faith.
God loves us so much that He will try to communicate with us in any way we will let Him; With Moses it was a burning bush, with Jonah it was a big fish, with Balaam it was his donkey. But we can unknowingly shut God out when we don't believe He wants to talk to us.
If you get your opinion about God strictly from reading the Old Testament your opinion will not be one that invites you into a close relationship with Him.
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. (James 2:18 MSG)
It may seem like James is contradicting Paul's teaching on grace which we see in Romans and Galatians, but this is not true. Paul and James are not fighting each other, they are fighting two different enemies.
No matter what our occupation or status is in life, God is desirous to talk with us, to give us direction and counsel. What are some of the different ways God speaks to us; when I do hear something how can I know whether it's of God or not?
God created us for fellowship with Him and with each other. We see this from The Book of Genesis with Adam and Eve fellowshipping with God through the Book of Revelation where we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, because of God's provision, will for eternity get to fellowship with our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and one another, without the hindrance of Satan.
Cooperating force #1 (not in order of importance) Knowledge: We can't have faith in something we don't know about.
The Bible lists 9761 times where "God said", "God spoke," "The Lord spoke", or the "Lord said." That doesn't sound to me like a God who is silent or doesn't want to talk with us.
Faith; believing with someone says because of their integrity, ability and authority without the need of any other evidence.
Peace is a condition of the mind that affects the emotions, it is not a feeling brought on by external conditions or happenings. God's kind of peace is an inward stability, and an inward assurance in the willingness and ability of God to act on your behalf for your best interests.
"A Good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." Billy Graham
The Hebrew word for Idol comes from the root word in Hebrew "AI" Which means "good for nothing." The word "Idol" itself means vanity, vain, no value, thing of nothing.
Circumstances can affect the value of anything, and differing circumstances can make the very same thing either worthless or extremely valuable and precious.
We must remember, we are never beaten until we decide we are beaten, until we quit or give up. It is not in our Spirit Man we are where we are tempted to give up; it's always in our minds. It is there, in our mind, the battle takes place as the devil attacks in an effort to cause us to give up.
Heredity is a splendid phenomenon that relieves us of responsibility for our shortcomings. Hereditary is what sets the parents of a teenager wondering about each other.
Heredity: The passing on a physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.
Which is greater, the Law which came by Moses or Grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ and the love of God that was shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit?
The Dasypelis is a snake native to Africa and the Elachistodon is a snake native to India. These snakes like and swallow eggs revealing to us a spiritual principle.
Proverbs 16:7: When a man's (or woman's) ways please the Lord, He (the Lord) makes even His enemies to be at peace with Him.
Dispelling two ideas; the first idea that's not true is that the work of the ministry, for Christian, is done strictly behind the pulpit. NOT TRUE!
The second idea is that if you are doing God's work without being behind the pulpit the work you are doing for God is less essential, or less important. NOT TRUE!
The event of the Cross was necessary; it dealt with sin. But the empty tomb is what gives us victory.
Close your eyes, empty your mind of all distractions, and allow yourself to be taken on a journey to Jerusalem many years ago.
A simple rule to follow concerning walking in love: "Deal with and treat others just as God deals with and treats you".
Our faith works not so much by how much Word we have in our talk, but in accordance to the amount of love we have in our walk!
Christians are under a law; not the Mosaic law, but the law of love.
The Mosaic law is imposed from the outside, love impresses from the inside.
The Law compels; love impels (urges, drives).
The Law is what we do because we have no choice; love is what we do because we have a choice.
The law is what our bodies are forced to obey; love is what our hearts won't allow us not to obey.
The law binds us to service; love frees for service.
Proverbs 12:25. "A person's anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful." I believe this podcast is an "encouraging word" to you>
Whenever and wherever God's people praise Him, He reigns among them and does miraculous things on their behalf.
"...Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." "And I, brother, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the Cross has ceased."
Grace is not a license to sin; it is a license to serve; God gives us freedom to serve Him and binds us only with love.
Heart disease is the number one killer in the world. One of the major contributors is stress and anxiety. Three (3) things the Bible shows us we can do to keep stress and anxiety out of our lives.
For us to continue to grow and mature in God, we need to see ourselves as God sees us and dominate our flesh by operating in the Spirit.
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s Body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:4-5 NLT)
"5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them;......."
Because of what Christ has done for us upon the Cross, we need to quit seeing our self as sin stained and see ourselves as blood washed.
The Apostle Paul uses the two sons of Abraham as examples of law and grace, and the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit!
The word "church" appears 120 times in the NKJV of the Bible. All of them are in the New Testament. What does "church" mean and how do I as a Christian fit in.
The old written Covenant ends in death; but under the New Covenant the Spirit gives life.
Jesus literally became our mercy seat. Not only was He the place of mercy between God and mankind but instead of the blood of an animal it was His blood that was used and paid the price for our sin.
The Bible is God's written will for us; whether you read it as a novel or study it as a student of the Word, it contains the answers to every situation you will face in life.
Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
The shedding of innocent blood to cover man's sin and protect him, started a long time ago, long before the Passover at Exodus.
Since God created both worlds, spiritual and the natural, He saw to it that His Word, the Bible, contained wisdom for both realms. It's our Creator's handbook for living life successfully all areas.
The more I read the Christmas story the more I realize it was an era of change; from Heaven itself to the very soul of man.
How surprising that this profound message of the birth of the Messiah, was trusted the one of the lower classes in society, shepherds. God wasn't about to let the birth of His Son go unheralded by some missed earthly tradition.
Colossians 2:8-10: 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
"Because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
It's one thing to know the different types of prayers, but it's another thing to have answered prayer.
Romans 5:12: "Here is how it works: It was through one individual that sin entered the world and through sin, death; and in this way death passed through to the whole human race, in as much as everyone sinned."
Romans 5:15: "But there is a great difference between Adams sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful Grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other Man, Jesus Christ."
Unlike a general prayer, the prayer of petition or supplication is a prayer in which you are very specific about what You desire. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is okay to petition God for something specific, as long as you have a submissive heart that says, "Not my will Lord but Yours be done."
Galatians 3:17-18 17 And this I say, that the law, which was 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. God made promises to Abraham. The obligation to fulfill those promises we’re not Abraham’s, but God’s.
Sometimes the problem with general prayer is we pray "the same old things about the same old things." When praying is boring then we don't feel like praying. And, if we don't feel like praying it's hard to make ourselves pray because it's hard to do something you don't feel like doing.
"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
Satan will attack you where your identity is concerned, because he knows often times, we can have a poor Identity of ourselves. Our identity is so important that when Jesus was tempted of Satan one of Satan’s tactics was to attack Jesus’s identity “If you be the son of god.” (Matthew 4:1-6)
The great exchange! Christ gave us something, and He took something in return; but what Christ took from us was not anything we wanted.
Abraham was the first Jew. But he was not born a Jew, nor did he become one by circumcision of the flesh. Instead, he was circumcised after he believed as a sign of his covenant relationship with God. The first Jew, then, was a heathen who one day exercised faith in God and from that day forth was acceptable to God by his faith.
Praise brings the presence of God into a situation; worship brings you into the presence of God.
There are six major types of prayer, each one of these types of prayer can be very beneficial to us when used in the right manner.
In the Old Testament, people were saved by grace through faith in the future work of Christ on the cross. In the New Testament, after resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, people are saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
"Sing like no one's listening, show love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching and live like it's heaven on earth." (Anonymous)
However it is said, life can be full of a lot of struggles and problems; It's the daily struggles and problems adding up that create a lot of anxieties, worries and stress for us.
There are things we can do in life that position us so we can have the life that God Intended us to have.
Galatians 3:4 Have you suffered so many things in vail - if indeed it was in vain? Often times Christians do not understand the connection between faith and persecution.
John Wayne once said, "life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid." However it is said, life can be full of a lot of struggles and issues and these struggles and issues can create a lot of anxieties, worries and stress for us. Is there something we can do so that we do not get soured on life and in that process sour others we come in contact with? The answer to that question is a definite YES!
The Apostle Paul is trying to teach the Galatians to never again be deceived into trying to attain something by their own efforts that God had already given them by His Grace.
Not whether we can see 20/20 or where we envision ourselves in 5 or 10 years but what are we seeing on a day-to-day basis. Our natural senses will cause us to only see and consider the existing conditions and leave us trapped within the confines of what is humanly possible.
Galatians 2:14" (MSG) "If you, a Jew, live like non-gentiles when you're not being observed by the watch dogs from Jerusalem, what right do you have to require non-Jews to conform to Jewish Customs just to make a favorable impression on your old Jerusalem buddies?"
The Bible is also known as the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Good Book, a Treatise, the Holy Writ, the Living Word, and an anthology. It's power, influence and endurance is unmatched by anything! The Bible is not just a collection of writings from a group of authors like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Longfellow, Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Louisa May Alcott but it is handbook for living life in harmony with our Creator not only in this life but in the life hereafter as well.
"The Law". (NLT) "The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship."
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one-part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. (1 Corinthians 12:25-26
If we're not careful, we will assume that just because someone goes to church, and they are a good person in the community that they are Christian; that may not be the case!
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (1 Cor 2:2) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
"...Love my neighbor as myself." In dealing with others, we can either be controlled by our emotions or we can be led by the Holy Spirit.
Then Peter began to speak, saying, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34)
God's desire for us as His children, is to be able to tap into His wisdom, His knowledge and to be partners with His abilities so that we can navigate life here on earth in such a matter that we not only enjoy it, but in the midst of all the troubles and trials life brings our way, if we let Him, God not only brings us out of them victorious, but in the midst of all the troubles and trials we have, we have peace, so much peace that it makes other people want to get to know and serve the Lord our God.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [a]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
A teaching of what God desires of us, not only in our everyday life, but in relation to the church we attend
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Sometimes we can get so embroiled in the daily grind of life and all the things that we have to do and accomplish that it just wears us down; and then when the unexpected rears its ugly head and threatens to create mayhem and destruction in our life we can just get weary, worn out and exhausted and sometimes even discouraged.
A teaching of what God desires of us, not only in our everyday life, but in relation to the church we attend
Most English Bibles simply use the term fear, while in the Hebrew and Greek there are many different types of fear, that come in different forms, that manifest themselves in individuals in a myriad of different ways.
Most English Bibles simply use the term fear, while in the Hebrew and Greek there are many different types of fear, that come in different forms, that manifest themselves in individuals in a myriad of different ways.
A Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. How to use a Sword of the Spirit efficiently.
We look at the scriptures that prophesy that proclaim Jesus is the Messiah. We look at the prophecies surrounding his death and Resurrection
The Helmet of Salvation. The Helmet of Salvation is not only a source of protection, but also emblematic of hope; it covers the past, the present and the future.
The Shield of Faith! Shield: a large wooden shield normally covered with an animal skin that the roman soldier could hide behind. Faith: Believing what someone says because of their integrity, authority and ability without the need of further evidence.
Are some people predestined to go to hell and the Lake of Fire? What about my salvation, if I am Born Again, can I reject it?
Mashach and Chrisma. Two words, one in Hebrew and the other in Greek; both mean the same thing, it is the gift God has given mothers.
We live in a world that is governed by invisible laws or principles. Some of these laws are called the law of physics while others are called the laws of the Kingdom of God. It doesn't matter how old you are, how educated you are, how much money you have in the bank, whether you're married, single, whether you are male or female; these laws still affect you. The laws of Physics deal with our interaction with the earth. The laws of the Kingdom of God deal with our interaction with God. You believe it or not, these laws, one way or the other affect your life.
We live in a world that is governed by invisible laws or principles these laws are called the Laws of Physics or the Laws of Nature. These laws affect everything in our natural world. There are also laws of the Kingdom of God, These, like the Laws of Physics, are invisible but the effect every area of our life. Our spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial, and relational.
Two of the many benefits of serving God are (1) deliverance and (2) enlargement. We have God's promise of His deliverance in time of trouble if we will call upon him. We also have God's promise that when we are faithful to Him, He will bless us, promote us, enlarge us in our particular calling, in our station in life (whatever occupation we choose to pursue).
Until the pain of remaining the same is worse than the pain of changing, we will not change! (Author unknown)
We don't like change, it makes us uncomfortable, and yet sometimes the only way we can move forward in life, accomplish the things we want to accomplish, is by change.
The law, give it to Israel but it was never given to the gentiles or to the church. The law was intended to reveal sin, not to secure righteousness. The law demanded righteousness but was powerless to provide it. The law versus grace.
Everything God has done or will do has been for our (mankind's) benefit. We may not always recognize those benefits but they are there and they are real. Here are just four brought about by this Easter season.
Although the people are greeting Jesus as their king, in fact, they are following their own concept of who Jesus is as king of Israel.
The disciples were faced with a situation the likes of which they had never encountered before. They have run out of ideas of what to do. What can we do when we have reached the limits of our abilities?
These statements from the Word of God are more than cheerful optimism, wishful thinking, or positive affirmation. THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD! When we declare these with our lips, we are declaring what God has spoken over us and declared to us that we have and are, as a member of His Family.
So far, we have covered 22 different "in Christ", "in Him" scriptures and the list continues to grow. These statements from the Word of God are more than cheerful optimism, wishful thinking, or positive affirmation. THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD! When we declare these with our lips, we are declaring what God has spoken over us and declared to us that we have and are, as a member of His Family.
I am so glad the Bible is completed! I would hate to have my name brought up on some Sunday morning, used as an example of how not to live life.
The benefits of knowing "who you are in Christ" and what you have because you are a Child of God!
We live on a blue plant that circles around a ball of fire next to a moon that moves the sea..... and you don't believe in miracles? Author unknown
The reality of who we are and what we have because of our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All of His goodness!
If you don't really believe in what Jesus did for you by His death and resurrection, you will never believe in God's Grace or your freedom to access His presence.
Everything God did for us, through Christ Jesus was for two purposes: #1) to prevent the devil from taking advantage of us and destroying our lives; #2) to position us so His goodness, His blessings can flow to us.
IN - expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
WITH - accompanied by (another person or thing).
- possessing (something) as a feature or accompaniment.
REALITY - the state or quality of having existence or substance.
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
The reality of who we are and what we have because of our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do you do, when it seems as if God hasn't heard you or is late in answering your prayer.
There are 3 wills exerted simultaneously on the earth: the will of God, the will of satan and the will of man.
There are 3 wills exerted simultaneously on the earth: the will of God, the will of satan and the will of man.
IN - expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
WITH - accompanied by (another person or thing).
- possessing (something) as a feature or accompaniment.
REALITY - the state or quality of having existence or substance.
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
The reality of who we are and what we have because of our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are situations that take place in our lives that cause us to face an uncertain future; how we deal with them will determine the quality of our lives.
IN - expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
WITH - accompanied by (another person or thing).
- possessing (something) as a feature or accompaniment.
REALITY - the state or quality of having existence or substance.
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
IN - expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
WITH - accompanied by (another person or thing).
- possessing (something) as a feature or accompaniment.
REALITY - the state or quality of having existence or substance.
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
IN - expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something.
WITH - accompanied by (another person or thing).
- possessing (something) as a feature or accompaniment.
REALITY - the state or quality of having existence or substance.
- the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
The more I study the Bible, the more I learn about God and the more I read about the events surrounding the Christmas story, the more I see God’s love, integrity, and His wisdom involved in that narrative.
Often times, like those under the old covenant, we are sin conscience; Because of Christ we need to be GRACE CONSCIENCE!
The Bible is a wonderful, exciting Book; full of romance , intrigue, mystery, crime, love stories, poetry, comedy, war and war stories, the miraculous and the dumb.
What would you do if you woke up in the morning and found you were responsible for 2 million people.
What would you do if you woke up in the morning and found you were responsible for 2 million people.
What would you do if you woke up in the morning and found you were responsible for 2 million people.
The devil will never defeat a thinking Christian; whose mind is on the Lord and His Word.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Substitution: the action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing. Christ was our substitution in many ways.
Mrs. Johnson had a beautiful yellow canary named Tilly. Its feathery yellow coat glowed like sunshine through a freshly cleaned window. Not only was Tilly a beautiful bird but Tilly could sing. From morning until evening, she would sing and so beautiful was her singing it sounded like a chorus of angels.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Interesting facts not only from the Bible but from man's history on the Resurrection.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Jesus, who through everything was created, the One who, with His life, paid the price for our sins, inviting us to come to Him all who labor & are heavy laden.
Prosperity: Spirit, soul (mental, emotional), physical, financial and it responsibilities.
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. It's not boring but interesting!
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. It's not boring but interesting!
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. We need to always "be ready always to answer anyone who asks us to explain the hope we have in us." (1 Peter 3:15)
In Matthew chapter 6 and Luke chapter 11, Jesus gave us a model by which we could follow when we pray. "in this manner, pray therefore." Jesus didn't want this prayer to be a "catch all", one we repeat over and over, in place of a meaningful prayer life. Our prayers should be made up of the different parts of the prayer Jesus modeled for us.
In Matthew chapter 6 and Luke chapter 11, Jesus gave us a model by which could follow when we pray. "in this manner, pray therefore." Jesus didn't want this prayer to be a "catch all", one we repeat over and over, in place of a meaningful prayer life. Our prayers should be made up of the different parts of the prayer Jesus modeled for us.
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. It's not boring but interesting!
Expectations can be one of the strongest motivators or it can be the most crippling, debilitating forces there is.
Christ's Blood; Because Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, His blood shed on the cross of Calvary is 100% sufficient to cleanse us of all sins when appropriated individually through repentance and faith. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for the sins we have committed, enabling all who believe to be freed from the penalty of sin (which is death)
Repentance; Repentance is a commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ. Through repentance we receive forgiveness of our sins
The Apostle Paul & his companion Silas were imprisoned through no fault of their own, yet they were commanded to be set free. They came out of the situation victorious. Why? Here are three (3) things they did that brought their release. (Part III)
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. It's not boring but interesting!
The Apostle Paul & his companion Silas were imprisoned through no fault of their own, yet they were commanded to be set free. They came out of the situation victorious. Why? Here are three (3) things they did that brought their release. (Part II)
As Christians, we need a firm foundation of what we believe and why. It's not boring but interesting!
The Apostle Paul & his companion Silas were imprisoned through no fault of their own, yet they were commanded to be set free. They came out of the situation victorious. Why? Here are three (3) things they did that brought their release.
When we are obedient to the Lord and His Word, we have success, we are protected and we remember have no amnesia!
Jesus invites everyone, everywhere, to participate in the miracle of salvation, after which Jesus also invites us to participate in the promised miracle of the Baptism of or the Fullness of the Holy Spirit along with the gift of a Spiritual Language (Tongues). Here are some things you can do to help you position yourself to receive those gifts.
Just as surely as Jesus gave Peter the invitation, on that stormy day out at sea, to participate in a miracle, I believe there are people today who God has invited to participate in a miracle. That miracle may be the fulfilment of a God given dream, a God given desire, the restoration of a broken relationship, the healing of a disease, or sickness. "come!"
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. God's desire for us is for us to receive everything He has to offer us.
Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord My Banner. Banner: A flag, a standard, a long piece of cloth that defines or identifies a person, company or and event.
If God accomplish what He did for the Children of Isarel and they were under the old covenant, think what He'll accomplish for us who have a Better Covenant established upon better promises.
The Holy Spirit works only to edify, comfort and exhort, thus, whenever His is truly present all things are in order and devoid of embarrassment or uneasiness.
1 Corinthians 14:28,33,40.
"“Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never]. HIGH: To be made safe, to defend, to exalt; KNOWS; Recognizes, discern, NAME; A name or a title as an appellation.
The working and benefits of the Gift of Tongues (Spiritual Language) in the life of an individual.
As Jesus so often did, Jesus uses an Old Testament event to proclaim a New Testament fulfillment.
I New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed!
Greater love? Most of us will never be called upon to give up our physical life for another, but....
Mom is the only person on earth who can divide her love among may children and still give each child all her love. Four (4) Biblical principles to help you through motherhood.
Brothers and sisters, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding concerning spiritual gifts.
It is possible for a person to read the Bible as mere literature; to put it in the category of a classic such as Shakespeare, Plato, Gandhi or Einstein. It is also possible to read the Bible with the aid of the Holy Spirit. It then becomes a love story, a compass, a guide, an instructor, a comforter, and a friend. The Bible can become food for the soul and refreshing water for the inner man.
W.E. Vines
When you add God to your decision-making process, you open up a whole new infinite dynamic of problem solving!
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the motivating force which produces the Fruit of the Spirit.
Whenever you add God to your decision-making process, you open up a whole new infinite dynamic of problem-solving!
No matter your status with God, Christian or not, God places a high value on you as His Creation, or why would He have given His Son to die on your behalf
Jesus, instead of hiding, entered the City of Jerusalem willingly, knowing what lie ahead!
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, (Luke 9:51). This is the 2nd stop on Jesus journey to Jerusalem.
As Christians, we should face every situation, good or bad, in light of our New Covenant and our position in that Covenant!
What would it be like to get a crop 30, 60 or 100 times what you normally would harvest. You Can!
And Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" If you don't understand the rules you are to observe to profit by the Word, how shall you profit by any other rule?
David, not only (1) Reminded himself of what God had done for him, (2) He not only refused to be distracted by human reasoning and methods (3) and He not only used what he had, but he did one other thing before he ever picked up a stone from the brook.
What do you do when you are up against seemly unsurmountable odds, faced with a problem for which there seems to be no answer?
One of the reasons people avoid becoming a Christian. is because they see no advantages in serving God, YET the Bible is full of scriptures that show the advantages of serving God and putting our trust in the Lord!
In this era of uncertain times, when every day we are assailed by uncertainties and changes that seem to threaten our way of life and often times our very existence, it is good to have somethings we can put our trust in.
When Joshua and the Children of Israel were getting ready to go into the Promised Land, they faced an unknown future, but God gave Joshua instructions on what to do so he and the Children of Israel would succeed and prosper. Those same principles can help us succeed and prosper in 2023.
There are so many different elements and personalities surrounding the Christmas Story. This is about two of them.
A lot of things changed when the Baby Jesus was born. The shepherds changed from being mere shepherds to being the first messengers to announce the birth of the Messiah. The Magi (Wise Men) life change as they left their home in the East to find the Baby who was "born King of the Jews." But I believe the individual whose life changed the most was........!
There are numerous interesting and miraculous stories, surrounding Jesus' birth. Here is just one series of events.
It's God the Father who energizes us with gifts when we are born. When we become active in a local body, God the Father positions us in the Body where He wants us to be. Jesus Christ gives the body church ministry gifts to help us understand who we are and what we can become in Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27: (NLT) "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it." God has endowed you with Gifts that are essential to the local body.
1 Corinthians 12:27: (NLT) "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."
When we are born, God places within us certain gifts (abilities, enablement's); these are the gifts that stir us, to which we inherently respond. Who the Father God created us to be.
Psalms 23: 4b. .......Your rod and Your staff they comfort me! What was it about these two instruments that gave the Psalmist David such comfort?
There are approximately 108 different types of fear. BUT you do not have to be held hostage by anyone of them.
A word or phrase strongly associated with a person or thing, often used in place of an actual name.
Abishi: "Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King? Let me go over and take off his head.
Staff Sgt. Johnny "joey" Jones lost both of his legs to an IED. As soon as I woke up, this nurse pulled the tube out of my throat, they handed me a sponge to wet my lips. It took me a minute to be understood because I was so parched, & everything I said came out sort of cracky. The first thing I said was “where’s Geer?” She looked back at me & started going through her protocol. She’s said, “you’re in the Landstuhl, Germany. You were hit by an IED. You lost most of your legs. You had severe damage to your arm, but were going to be able to save it.” And then she continued, “ And then she continued, “don’t worry, honey. You’re going to walk again.” I remember 2 things. #1, I remember believing her & never really questioning it after that. #2, I remember realizing I had asked about how Greer was & she answered me by telling me I’m going to walk again. Again: I remember believing her & never really questioning it after that.
If only my master were with the Prophet who is in Samaria, for He would heal him of his leprosy.
The cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, but we'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then."
Then the servant girl said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”
A woman was at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, she had flowers in her hand and a pen and paper to trace the name of the loved one she had lost in the war. As she began to trace the name she began to talk to the Lord; she told the Lord...........
To human nature it would’ve been very easy for the servant to have thought evil concerning Naaman and his plight; after all he had taken her from her home, separated her from her family and for all intents and purposes destroyed any future she may have dreamed of: AND YET
7 people who have an interaction with others that ultimately leads to the Commander of the Syrian Army (the enemy of Israel) to say; "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in al the earth, except in Israel;......"
"The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still; a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a cover here, settling a pillow there and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face, to kiss each, with lips that mutely, blessed and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter," Louisa May Alcott from Little Women.
Another name for covenant is Testament; in the Bible we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. We can't appreciate what we have (the new Covenant) until we know what and where we have come from.
Anyone who can descend into Hades, the place of the dead, conquer hell and the devil, then fellowship with Mary Magdalene, have a seaside breakfast with a group of doubting fisherman, appear to 2 disciples who were traveling on the road to Emmaus so they might know He was risen and then spring heavenward to be seated at the right hand of God, the Father on High; WELL, He has my vote of confidence about handling my problems and my future, whatever it holds!
BAD DAY(S)! We all have them; how can we deal with bad day(s) so that it doesn't destroy us and those around us and instead we position ourselves so God can turn our bad day(s) into a victorious event through which He gets the glory.
Regrettably a bad day(s) come to everyone regardless of who you are, your station in life, or how much you do or don't have. While Jesus was on the cross, He reacted to His situation in such a way as to provide us with a good example (a road map if you will) on how to deal with bad days.
Three things to help you in that time period between when you pray and the answer arrives! What to do so you can stay in faith and keep your hope alive?
Most Christians don't question God's ability to answer their need, they question His willing to.
It's one thing to know there are advantages to waiting on God; it's another thing to know HOW to wait on God. I share with you three (3) things you can do that will make waiting on God a little easier and will open the way for you to get God's answer to your prayer.
Often times between when we pray about a situation or when we speak a promise of God and the answer to our prayer or the manifestation of God's promise, there exists an interval of time. This interval of time is often called "The problem." Four things to help you to wait upon God.
Often times between when we pray about a situation or when we speak a promise of God and the answer to our prayer or the manifestation of God's promise, there exists an interval of time. This interval of time is often called "The problem."
In these tumultuous times, where can we go for help? Who or what can we put our trust in?
Hi Line Ministries will be taking a hiatus until January 9, 2022. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
When God chose to announce the birth of His Son to the world there were 2 types of beings present, Angels and Shepherds.
The King of Syria sent horses and chariots and a great army and they surrounded the city. And when the servant of Elisha, the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And Elisha's servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
Faith: Believing what someone says because of their authority and integrity without the need for any other evidence. There is a difference between fact and the truth of God's Word!
The farmer bought the best seed he could buy. He carefully took it home and placed it in the most secure, best storage in his barn. When harvest time came, the farmer took out the seed and planted it but a few day later when he didn't have a harvest he couldn't understand why!
"As long the the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer and day and night shall not cease. "SEEDTIME and HARVEST! When God spoke these words He wasn't just talking about the crops that come out of the ground; He was also talking about what we have in life!
In the 1800's a man named George Wilson was convicted of a serious crime and sentenced to hang. In a tremendous act of mercy, then President Andrew Jackson issued him a pardon, but to everyone's amazement, George Wilson refused to accept the pardon. After much deliberation Chief Justice Marshall issued the court's findings.....
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" A very famous statement made by Benjamin Franklin to fire-threatened Philadelphians in 1736. The same statement applies to keeping the worries and fears out of our daily life. The Apostle Paul gives us 5 wonderful, easy steps to keep worries and anxieties out of our life and becoming debilitating fears.
The world (psychiatrists, psychologists, life coaches) will try to teach you how to live with your fear; as a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches we do not have to receive or live with fear!
It's easy to see why we have so much violence in the world today; there is so much fear in our world. That fear produces frustration and anger because we don't know what to do. Yet fear has been around as long as there have been humans on the earth! As a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have God's promise to be delivered and set free from fear.
12 people, each raised with the same experiences, yet they view the problems of life so differently, why?
We have been given so much as Believers there is no reason why we should ever fail at being an awesome success in life, no matter what our occupation! We have much more going for us than we could possibly imagine!
God has made a covenant with mankind. It's His covenant. We can accept it, reject it or ignore it. For those who reject it, life is miserable, for they are missing out on what they were created for. Those who ignore it are in for a very sad ending, one that God did not design for them. Others accept it. What does this covenant hold for us?
As a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a Covenant with the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth; WHAT IS IN THIS COVENANT? The things in the Covenant are not promises but FACTS.
What is the reality of our life down here? Is it chance, or is there a definite order to things? Our NOT believing something does not make it not true. We can change our position in life, the quality of life we have down here and where we will spend eternity after we die.
When someone gives us a gift, we can discard or disdain it; we can accept it but never use it; we can accept the gift but misuse and abuse it or we can accept the gift, use it as it was intended . When we use the gift as intended, the gift becomes very precious to us and it is the blessing the giver intended it to be.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Why did Christ give these gifts to the church and what are they suppose to do?
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Why did Christ give these gifts to the church and what are they suppose to do?
The Ephesus; what a church! they hated evil, they labored for the Lord and had not grown weary, they made sure the apostles and their teachings were correct, BUT!
The book of Revelation; Probably the most difficult book in the New Testament to understand. The Book is aptly named, for the word "revelation" comes from the Greek word "to take off the cover" and it means "to disclose or be revealed." The Book not only reveals a time past, but also a time in the future (very near future, I believe) when the world will see that Jesus Christ really is who the Bible says He is.
What would cause a King, who was once described as the most handsomest man in his country, and who stood head and shoulders above all other men, to commit suicide? (PS; It wasn't just one mistake)
Saul was the most handsome man in Israel and a head taller than everyone else. The Philistines cut off Saul's head and stripped off his armor. His armor was placed in the temple of Ashtaroth (a temple to a Canaanite god) , and His body was fastened to the wall of Beth-shan. What took place in the life of Saul that would take him from the heights of recognition to this disastrous end?
And when the Sabbath had come, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! And then something happened!
Prevail: "to prove to be stronger and in the position of greater influence and power." Throughout the ages the Word of God has proven to be stronger and to have greater influence and power than any opposing force.
Jesus didn't die because there was no other way out; He willingly submitted to the cruelest form of death at that time, so you and I could be redeemed from the guilt and consequences of our sin.
Just as the elements of the Communion Service are a representation of what Christ has done for us, so are the elements involved in Jesus' crucifixion! What was it about Jesus' garment that would make the Roman soldiers want to gamble for it?
Just as the elements of the Communion Service are a representation of what Jesus has done for us, so are the elements involved in Jesus' crucifixion.
What had Judas, Jesus' betrayer, told the Chief Priest and Pharisees that made them think they needed approximately 300 well armed solders plus Temple Guards to arrest Jesus?
Why would Jesus leave the splendor of Heaven, come to earth and live as a human, knowing what the end result was going to be?
If we never learn and believe what Jesus did for us through His death and resurrection, our relationship with God will always be tainted by the doubts and fears of our mistakes and inadequacies instead of the wonderful freedom of His love, grace and mercy toward us.
"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." (emphasis mine) Matthew 6:9-10; Luke 11:2-4. Life has more than one path and we get to choose which path we want for our life. We can choose God's will for our life or we can choose to make it our own way, on our own abilities. There is a huge distinction in the quality of life (spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and financially) that is enjoyed here on earth between an individual who chooses God's will for their life and someone who chooses to make it their own way.
There are two categories of God's will; the general will of God and the specific will of God. There is a huge distinction in the quality of life that is enjoyed here on earth between an individual choosing God's will for their life and someone who chooses to make it on their own abilities, their own way.
There is a huge distinction in the quality of life that is enjoyed here on earth and in the here after between an individual choosing God's will for their life and someone who chooses to make it their own way.
What do you do when you're up against IT, so to speak? IT can be anything; sickness, disease, depression, failed relationship, mistreatment by someone, finances, anything that tries to do you in, cause you to fail, give up. A young shepherd boy knew exactly what to do.
I remember the nurse telling me, "Don't worry, honey, You're going to walk again." I remember believing her and never really questioning it again after that.
In these troubled times, if we will let Him, Jesus will give us peace when life's problems involve us in the storms of fear, doubt, anxiety and uncertainty. 202Won (WE WIN)
2020 is dead! Whatever may have shaped your life in 2020 is dead. Anything that may have been intimidating, problematic or disappointing is dead. It doesn't have any claim on you and where God wants to take you in 2021!
The decisions we make this year are going to go beyond, in scope and ramifications, those daily seemly mundane decisions that we normally make.
Thousands of years had passed since that first pronunciation of a Savior, and untold hundreds maybe even thousands of lives had been lived out, so on that night in the town of Bethlehem Mary, "brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn."
In the middle of 9 chapters given to genealogy, why would the chronicler interrupt his genealogy to introduce us to a man named Jabez who is found no where else in the Bible but in these two verses?
Why would the Holy Spirit have a historian interrupt his genealogy to introduce us to a man who only appears for two verses in the Bible?
I am amazed at the different ways the Lord uses the word "Harvest" in the Bible to make clear a principle or describe an event. Here are a few that I found very interesting.
Christianity and good citizenship should go hand-in-hand. Now more than ever, with the pandemic that has ravaged our nation, the violence that has filled our streets, with the evil ideology which has tried to permeate our places of worship, our educational institutions and the seat of our very government, our nation needs those Christians who will be the light of the world. We as Christians cannot claim all the privileges and then refuse all the duties.
“Do not be afraid nor dismayed ....., for the battle is not yours, but God’s. No matter what battle you face in life, it is not God's design nor His will that we fail!
The ability to make our own decisions is an incredible and exciting power that we have each been entrusted with by God and for which we have an obligation, not only to God, but for our own well-being, to be good stewards of. Each decision we make, as we fight life's battles, carry certain outcomes that are either good or bad. God's choice is that we succeed and enjoy our time here on earth.
Average person makes 35000 decisions per day. Each decision we face is in part, what makes up life’s battles that we each must fight and win if we are to prosper and enjoy our time here on earth.
"Thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." God would never ask us to do something He wouldn't do; with that in mind, here is an Old Testament story about how much God loves us.
Many people live their lives never getting rid of the bad experiences that keep them from being the wonderful person that God created and designed them to be!
·When a person interrupts another, it is because they believe that what they have to say is more important than what is currently being said. What was Jesus teaching that made this man think what he had to say was more important.
The main reason God blesses us and caused us to prosper in life is so others will see what a good God we serve and they will want to pursue a relationship with Him.
You may go through life making a living but until you discover & walk in God’s purpose for your life you will be like a bird that wanders from its nest; life will not produce the satisfaction, contentment & joy God designed & desires for you to have.
We, as Christians, are the light of the world but if our light, our actions, our conversation, is just like the worlds, then they will see no difference in us and they will have no desire to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, His love and His goodness. As the light of the world, only Christ lighting our lamp can make it so. We can't produce the light of Christ on our own.
Christians are suppose to be the light of this world but sometimes we need to adjust our light, so it’s visible to the world
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
Late in 1943, Ruth Caye Jones, mother of five and the wife of a busy Pastor, was reading 2 Timothy 3:1, which says, "in the last days perilous times shall come". As she read the Pittsburgh papers, saw the World War II casualty list, and watched the slow progress of the allied troops moving up the boot of Italy, it seemed that perilous times had already come. Rationing was hitting hard; discouragement was everywhere. How long could people continue in times like these? Ruth took out a small notepad from here apron pocket and started writing some words. Ruth had no formal music training but as she wrote the words, the melody came to her. It was the right song for the right time; soon people around the world were singing it.
My question is simple; "what do you want out of life? Are you content to go through life under your own power, under your own skills, under your own abilities or would you rather have the power, the skills, the abilities and the blessings God offers?
Everybody needs an Abishai! Someone who has their back, someone who will look out for them, to make sure someone or something doesn't come up and try to do them in.
Jesus' Words: 24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” Where are you building your life (house) on rock or sand, you choose!
We know that God loves, but God not only loves, the Bible states that "God is Love!" His whole nature, His whole being, everything God does is from the position of love; love for His Creation, mankind.
* The rule is simple: good is from God, bad is from the devil or other people!
Whatever storm you may be embroiled in - no matter how severe, no matter how
stressed and overwhelmed you may be, you are not out of the Lord's vision or
interest!
When you're stuck in the storm, the solution is the presence of the Lord!
* Whether your storm was just thrown in your face or it seems like hell is coming down the
road high speed right at you, your boat isn't going to sink, the Lord hasn't forgotten you
and the storm will end.
We can have pictures on the wall, we can have a Bible on the coffee table, we can even attend church once a week; but when we live out the values that Jesus died for, when our life becomes a mirror of His life, that's when we really honor Him!
If what has always happened to you is what you expect to happen to you, nothing will ever change; your past then becomes your future! But if you have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, your life has been dramatically altered by the covenant you have through the blood of the Lord Jesus. The Lord has given you a new future.
Just as a seed or a plant left in the ground begins to take root, the longer you allow anger to remain in your mind, the stronger it will become (take root in you) and it will produce a harvest that is related to that anger. Whatever anger or frustration resides in your heart, that you have lived with just a short time or for a period of years; you can lay it down and be free of it, if you desire too.
I believe one of the greatest myths that has infiltrated our minds is "You don't get nothing for nothing". While this might be true when what we receive is from another human being, not so with God!
Have you ever noticed how much the seasons of our lives seem to emulate the seasons we go through here on earth? I'm ready for Spring, how about you?
I have learned that many of our problems are brought on by unguided decisions and when things don't work out the way we want them to or additional troubles occur, we have a tendency to say, "well that's just the way it is, we try again hoping for better results or we blame God. It's not your independence that worries God, it's your lack of dependency on Him that concerns Him!
Not only was Jesus's death like none other, so was His resurrection; and anyone who can handle death as effectively as Jesus is more than adequate to conquer anything that assails you and I!
Why would Jesus leave the magnificence and joy of Heaven to come to this earth as a human, experience all the suffering, trials and temptations of human life and then endure the shame and pain of the cross. Here are three GOOD reasons why Jesus came to die.
Four Biblical principles to help us as we converse with others. We are responsible for what we say to others. If you are a Christian, you have the Spirit of the Lord dwelling within you, He will help you know what to say and how to say it.
Speaking the truth in love can be a rather vague term. Here are 4 Biblical principles that will help clarify how we are to communicate with others.
If God would use 6 people to meet the need of a foreigner, an individual who was at war with Israel, but a man, who had a willing heart (Naaman); think of how much more God will go through to meet your need. You have a covenant with the Almighty, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Often times, we miss out on the good things of God and the answer God has for us in our time of need because we don't like His answer or the method in which it was delivered!
Mankind has always been trying to purchase things from God, when in reality God has nothing to sell, it's all a free gift. It was already paid for by God's own Son, Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:32; "For God has proved His love by giving us His greatest treasure, the gift of His Son. An since God freely offered Him up as the sacrifice for us all, He certainly won't withhold from us anything else He has to give." The things of God cannot be bought, bartered for and they don't need to be begged for; everything is a free gift, freely given to you and I, we just have to receive it by faith.
Because of God's great love for you, God will use almost any method He can to give you the answers to what you may be going through. In the Bible, God has used a donkey, lepers, a burning bush, a big fish, dreams, handwriting on the wall, angels or even a young child. Many a person has gone through an unnecessary, unpleasant and destructive situation simply because they didn't recognize it when the Lord was speaking to them.
For a young servant girl whose life had been changed in one dramatic moment, no one would have blamed her if she would have kept her mouth shut; after all she had be taken from her home, separated from her family and for all intents and purposes any future she may have dreamed of had been destroyed: AND YET!
No external force can take our sonship away from us, but when we harden our hearts (mind, will) to God's tutorage, training and reproof, we are in danger of taking ourselves out of the Family of God.
Whether or not your church succeeds is only partly based upon who is in the pulpit, it is also the responsibility of the rest of the body of Christ who attend, the church members. If you’ve made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and attend a church on a regular basis then you are part of the local body and as with any organization, if you want that body to succeed and not die out you have an obligation to take your place in that body and work for it. Both spiritually and physically. When a church has volunteers, but those volunteers do not have a growing relationship with the Lord, the church then becomes just another social organization.
A Christians promised land is not a piece of real estate with set borders, instead it is the place in a Christians life where they are beginning to walk in the benefits that God has provided for them through Jesus Christ
· GIANTS – Unlike the Children of Israel, whose giants were real people, Giants, in a Christian’s life, most often doesn’t represent real people but instead giants represent the things in life that keep us from going forward in our relationship with God, receiving the promises of God for us.
As Christians, many times we allow things to be a part of our daily lives that are not God's will for us, like fear.
· MANY TIMES, AS WE ARE TRYING TO COMFORT OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A ROUGH TIME IN THEIR LIFE, OR WHEN WE WANT TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM DOING SOMETHING, WE THINK IS A FOOLISH OR BAD DECISION, TO MAKE OUR POINT, WE WILL QUOTE A PHRASE AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO THE BIBLE OR WE WILL QUOTE A BIBLE VERSE.
· BUT I HAVE FOUND OFTEN TIMES WHAT WE QUOTE IS NOT IN THE BIBLE OR IT IS BEING MISQUOTED, AND THAT MISQUOTE CAN GIVE PEOPLE A FALSE HOPE, AND FALSE HOPE MAKE WORSE AN ALREADY BAD SITUATION.
· We al have bad days. Regrettably they come to everyone regardless of who you are, your station in life, or how much you do or don't have. But how do we survive bad days, how can we deal with a bad day so it doesn't destroy us and those around us and instead we let God turn our bad day into a victorious event. While Jesus was on the cross, He reacted to His situation in such a way as to provide us with a good example, a road map on how to deal with bad days.