Category Archives: Holy to the Lord

STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH: TIPS AND ADVICE FOR BELIEVERS

Faith is the foundation of many people’s lives. It provides a sense of purpose, hope, and peace in the midst of life’s challenges. However, faith is not always easy to maintain, especially in times of adversity. Strengthening your faith requires effort and intentional actions. Here are some tips and advice for believers looking to strengthen their faith.

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THE PROBLEM WITH SIN

The concept of sin has been an integral part of many religions and belief systems throughout human history. It is often defined as a transgression against divine law or moral principles, and it is typically associated with negative consequences or punishment. However, the problem with sin is that it can be a vague and subjective concept that is used to control and manipulate people, rather than promote moral behavior and personal growth.

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THE NATURE OF GOD

The nature of God has been a subject of philosophical and theological inquiry for centuries. Throughout human history, people have attempted to understand the nature of the divine and the role it plays in the universe. While the concept of God varies among different cultures and religions, there are some common features that define the nature of God.

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NAMES OF GOD (MESSIAH)

John 4:25-26: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

These two verses are part of the account in John’s Gospel of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. He admitted openly to her that He was the Messiah, the deliverer whom God had been promising to send to His people for hundreds of years.

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IS VIOLENCE OKAY WHEN FIGHTING VIOLENCE?

Moses learned an important lesson about violence and anger here. In the first case, he observed violence against a fellow Israelite and responded by killing the perpetrator. Clearly, other options were open to him: reporting the misdeed, using his position to bring the power of the state to bear against the perpetrator, advocating a change in state labor laws. In the second case, he intervened when some annoying shepherds pestered a group of young women, This time he did not kill but drove off the nuisances.

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BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (SEEING BENEATH THE SURFACE)

Solomon’s bride, the Shulamite, is speaking in this verse. In an age when women prized pure white skin, she was a country girl whose skin had been darkened by long exposure to the sun.

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EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES (HAND “TO RAISE OR STRETCH OUR” PT 2 OF 3)

Apart from these examples of literally raising hands, we also find biblical examples of this action in two related figures of speech. The mutinous revolt against established authority is described as raising one’s hand against a sitting ruler. Shortly after David survived the coup attempt of Absalom, Sheba initiated a revolt against David (2 Sam 20:1). Joab characterized this act of aggression by stating that Sheba had “lifted up his hand against the king” (2 Sam 20:21; 18:28; Ezra 6:12). The violence behind this figure of speech is also present in the figurative

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EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES (HANDS “TO RAISE OR STRETCH OUT” PT 1 OF 3)

As students , we learned to raise our hand in the classroom to gain recognition to speak. The en masse raising of hands at a sporting event signals celebration. Neither of these forms of hand raising are apparent in the art and literature of the ancient Near East, but we do find both morals and gods depicted with uplifted hands in a variety of scenarios.

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EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE BIBLE TIMES (ENGRAVE PT 2 OF 2)

Two onyx stones were attached to this garment and were inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes (Exod 28:9-12; 39:6-7). Similarly, the small cloth breast piece that the high priest wore over the ephod had twelve precious and semiprecious stones attached to it, each engraved with the name of one of Israel’s tribes gold plate was slung so that it faced forward. It was engraved with the phrase “HOLY TO THE LORD” (Exod 28:36; 39:30). Solomon’s temple was also filled with handiwork that called for the skill of the engravers. The panels of the ten

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