Prayer has been a vital part of religious practice for centuries, and it continues to be a powerful tool for connecting with a higher power and finding peace in times of turmoil. The Bible is full of examples of prayer and offers guidance on how to pray effectively. In this article, we will explore the power of prayer and provide tips from the Bible for strengthening your own prayer practice.
Continue reading DISCOVER THE POWER OF PRAYER: TIPS FROM THE BIBLE
John the Baptist set himself apart from the normal lifestyle of his world to do what God had called him to do. He did not drink alcohol or cut his hair. He lived in one of the harshest desert environments in the world, dressing primitively and eating simply. Yet people flocked into the desert to see this unusual man and hear his powerful message. When they arrived, they saw a man dressed like Elijah, the premier prophet of Israel hundreds of years earlier. His speech was harsh, clear, and penetrating.
Continue reading WHY DID JOHN THE BAPTIST DRESS AND ACT SO DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHERS?
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
Continue reading SCRIPUTRES OF THE DAY (ACTS 21:26-36)
OLD TESTAMENT
WHAT DO THE BEATITIUDDES MEAN?
Jesus surprised his disciples by telling them what kind of people would be blessed by God. His list of traits are called the Beatitudes, meaning “to bless” or “to make happy.”
Continue reading THE BEATITUDES
All four Gospels describe Jesus clearing the money changers form the temple; none use the term “anger” as part of the description. We infer anger from the facts given and from the passion mentioned in John 2:17.
Continue reading HOW CAN JESUS BE CONSIDERED SINLESS WHEN THE BIBLE DESCRIBES HIS ANGER?
These were some of the same religious who had succeeded in having Jesus executed. They started thinking that His disciples might remove the body from the tomb and claim that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (SEALED AND SURE)
The vine was of great importance in the religion of Israel. It was used as a symbol of the religious life of Israel itself, and a carving of a bunch of grapes often adorned the front exterior of the synagogue. The symbolism was based upon passages such as Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5:1-5 where Israel is God’s vine.
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (VINE SYMBOLISM)
The NT distinguishes between demonic possession and physical disease. Matthew 4:24 states that Jesus healed “all those who were afflicted, those suffering form various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics” (HCSB). Thus the theory that demonic possession should be equated with epilepsy or any other neurotic ailment is weak. Some of the demons made assertions of Christ’s divinity when the disciples did not show such recognition. Mental or physical illness would not impart this type of knowledge (Mark 5:13; Luke 4:33-35; 8:29-33).
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (DEMONIC POSSESSION PT2)
Given that reality, the LORD addressed the plight of orphans in the laws given to the Israelites. God’s people were to set aside a tent of their field produce and animals born in their herds as a gift given at the sanctuary. Every third year, however, this tithe was to remain in storage at the local level so the disadvantaged of society, including orphans, would have access to it (Deut 14:22-29; 26:12-13). In addition, Israelites were to refrain from gathering a portion of their grain, olive, and grape harvest so that orphans and other disadvantaged people could gather food from land they did not own (Deut 24:19-21).
Continue reading EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBILE TIMES (ORPHAN “FATHERLESS” PT2)