Situation Person Scipture 1 Taken Captive in Babylon , he remained faithful to God even when it meant certain death. When King Darius decreed that he was the only one to whom anyone should pray, this man prayed anyway. ____?____ ____?____ Chapter 6:10 2 This boy prayed to God throughout his life. Even when God turned down his request to build the Temple he gave thanks. ____?____ ____?____ Chapter 17:18,20 3 God brought his people back to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon , but many who returned did not follow God's path. This man was so upset that he tore his clothes, pulled his hair and prayed. ____?____ ____?____ Chapter 9:5-15 4 When this woman prayed for a son, she promised to commit him to the ser...
Posts
There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power that God makes available to followers of Christ. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? Simply put, the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, a being with a mind, emotions, and a will. The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in many Scriptures, including Acts 5:3-4. In this verse Peter confronts Ananias as to why he lied to the Holy Spirit and tells him that he had “not lied to men but to God.” It is a clear declaration that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. We can also know that the Holy Spirit is God because He possesses the characteristics of God. For example, His omnipresence is seen in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heaven...
The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to perfectly and completely understand it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different Persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean the Trinity is not true or that it is not based on the teachings of the Bible. The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods. Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. This is a term that is used ...
NOAH Noah was a good man. He walked with God and was pleasing to Him. He did not live as the people around him lived. They were wicked and violent. God warned Noah that the earth was going to be destroyed with a flood, but He told him how he could save his family and himself. He could also save some of the animals. God told Noah exactly how to build the ark. It was to be 300 cubits long. That's about as long as one and one-half football fields. It was REALLY BIG! It was to have three stories, a window and one door. Two of every kind of animal, both male and female, came to Noah to be kept alive. Seven of each of the "clean" animals went into the ark. Noah had stored food for the animals and for his family. There were eight people in the ark. Noah had a wife and they had three sons named Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Each of their sons also had a wife. After they were all in the ark, God shut the door and it began to rain. It rained and rained. For 40 days it rained!...
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over" (Psalm 23:5). As I sit down to write, there's a table before me with many interpretations of this well-known Bible verse. One of my favorite attempts to unravel this Scripture comes from Elizabeth, age 8: "Be kind to your enemies, and I'll make you a king." King David treated his enemies with kindness and became a king. But I think he had something else in mind when he wrote this psalm. "God prepares a life with enemies in it for us," says Jessica, 9. Well, this also has possibilities. David was an unknown shepherd boy until he heard Goliath taunt the armies of Israel. Certainly, the Lord can use enemies to test us and to teach us how to trust him. As David said when facing Goliath, "The battle is the Lord's." "The enemy is around you, and God can help you," says Scott, 10. You've got it right, Scott. Some e...
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). "When I am scared, God will help me," says Joseph, age 7. "And if a burglar is coming into my house, God will protect us." This world is full of dangerous places and situations. Sheep, like people, are especially vulnerable to fear. Their greatest comfort is seeing the shepherd, but sometimes it's difficult to rest in his protection, says Juliet, 11: "This means to me that he is with you always. I know that he is there, but sometimes I fear, and I know I shouldn't." Isn't that the truth? The shepherd is there with rod and staff in hand ready to defend his sheep against all danger, yet the sheep panic. Often, it's the unexpected that sends sheep and people into a tizzy. Former shepherd and author Phillip Keller writes about the time a friend came to visit. As she opene...
The Bible nowhere mentions cyber sex, obviously, because “cyber-anything” was not possible in Bible times. The Word of God does give us some principles that apply to activities such as cyber sex. Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” There are many Scriptures which indicate that sex outside of marriage is a sin (Acts 15:20; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13,18; 7:2; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7). Jesus Himself taught us that to desire something that is sinful is also sinful: “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks within himself...
A man who is born again will have a new nature, that is a wonderful thing. In Romans 8:7 we are warned that with the old nature a man has a difficult time, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can be." Man in his sinful nature hates the law of God. The Lord has to make a new man out of him. He has to give him a new nature. St Paul certainly knew what he was talking about he said it is just like a fight every day fighting self. One person said, "I will tell you what I will do, I want to come back to God but I am going to move out of town to do it." The preacher said, "Friend, the first person that you will meet in your new location will be yourself." It is self that we have the trouble with. The old nature, its always there; it is lying dormant. But God can bring it into subjection. St Paul says, "I am in constant struggle; my best wants to do right, but my body wants to do wrong...
What is the first thing that a doctor does when he has a dangerous case brought to his attention? He goes right to the heart and begins listening. If a man has a good heart, the doctor has hopes for him. But if he has a bad heart there is not much else that can be done. If a man’s heart is going to stop pumping there isn’t very that you can do. It is the same with a man spiritually. In Ezekiel 11:19 we read, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh!" Now isn’t that wonderful? You can bring a man to God and you say, "Lord, I don’t think there is much you can do, this fellow has a bad heart." I have heard people say, "He is just naturally bad; there is nothing good in that Fellow.” You take a man like that to the Lord and He listens to that man’s heart and shakes His head and says, "He does have a bad heart, there is no doubt about tha...