Acts 1:8 – Power of Holy SpiritActs 3.6 – Authority. Not Silver and Gold… Jesus didn’t leave them with monetary assets, but gave them authority in His Name.Acts 4:30,31 – Not to flee the field, but to boldly proclaim despite oppositionActs 5: 11,12 – Purity of ChurchActs 6:7 – Administrative WisdomActs 9:31 – Divine Breakthrough. The Big FishActs 12:24 – National Changes. The church pray...
Classification of Miracles
Miracles of Creation – e.g Blind Eyes Opened, Aaron's Rod BuddedMiracles of Multiplication – e.g. Multiplication of Bread and fish, Widow's Oil MultipliedMiracles of Resurrection - e.g. Raising LazarusMiracles of Power over Nature – e.g Stilling Storm, Walking on Water, Dividing Red Sea, Iron swimsMiracles of Destruction – e.g. Withering of the Fig Tree, Uzzah Struck DeadMiracles of Healing - e.g. Healing of NaamanMiracles of Transformation - e.g. Water Turned into WineMiracles of Opening - e.g. Balaam's Donkey Speaks, Elisha's Servant's Eyes...
The Basket and the Rope (Acts 9:25)
"Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket." (Acts 9:25)Christians having access to the wall are responsible to help save lives of other Christians threatened by enemies of the Gospel; if unable to physically help, then at least fervently pray and send relief by any means possible. (Matt.10:23; 2Cor.11:23; 1Sam.19:12; Rom.15:30-32; Acts 12:5; 2Thes.3:1,2; Matt.25:37-40; Phil.4:15-18).When they persecute...
Love God With All Your Strength (Mark 12:30)
"Love the LORD your God with all your ...strength." (Mk.12:30)There is a reason why Solomon tells young people to remember God when they are still young (Ecc12:1); it's because youth is the time when one has great opportunities to love God truly with all one's strength. It's the time when one can choose to use his strength for the Master. To know God at an old age is fine; however, then strength is weak, the keepers tremble, and the grasshopper is a burden (Eccl.12:3-5). But, in the robust vigor of youth, one can truly speak of loving God with...
Godly Sorrow Vs Godless Sorrow
There are two kinds of sorrow: godly sorrow and godless or worldly sorrow (2Cor.7:10). Godly sorrow over sin leads to repentance; godly sorrow over the state of people or things leads to prayer (often with fasting) and action. Godless sorrow leads to works of flesh, to anger, lust, bitterness, hatred, and ultimately death. Godless sorrow is abomination in God's eyes. Godless sorrow hurts self and others.Examples of Godless Sorrow:1. Cain's sadness...
We Shall All Give Account To God (Rom.14:12-15)
We will all have to give an account to God of our:Thoughts/Conscience (Rom.2:15-16; Heb.4:12,13)Words (Matt.12:36; Jude 14-16; 2Cor.5:10)Works (Eccl.12:14; Rev.20:12,13)Desires/Pursuits (Rom.2:7)Treasures, Stewardship/Talents, Expenditures and Investments (Matt.6:20; Phil.4:17; Matt.25:19; 1Tim.6:17-19; Rev.3:18)Obedience to Faith (Rom.4:3; 2Thess.1:8)Choices and Lifestyle, Time Spent (Eccl.11:9)Souls (Heb.13:17; Rom.14:12; 1Cor.8:12,13; 1Pet.5:4)Acts towards the Body of Christ (1Cor.3:10-17)Ministry (James 3:1; Lk.12:47-48; Jer.48:10; 2Cor.4:...
National Integrity: Neighborliness, Not Culture is the Answer
In the past, empires and regimes identified national integrity with a cultural, ideological or religious unity of some kind. Thus, from Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image and Alexander's Hellenization to Nazi Fascism and Soviet Communism, the attempt was to unify on the basis of symbols, forms, and slogans. However, it didn't unite but only divide turning a nation against itself and its own people, in some cases leading to persecution by the government...
The Third Temple At Jerusalem, How Far Now?
The building of the Third Temple is one of the most anticipated events for Jews all over the world; for, the Temple is considered to be the heart of the identity of Jerusalem as the Holy City of God. For about 2000 years now, Jerusalem and the Jewish people have been Temple-less. However, the vision of a third Temple burns brightly in their hearts.History tells us that the First Temple built by King Solomon was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of...
Choices
Life is made up of choices. Man has been given the freedom to choose.One may not be able to choose circumstances, but he can choose how to respond to those circumstances (Matt.25:26,27)God will judge us according to our works, that is according to the choices we have made in life (Rev.20:12)Choices involve acceptance and rejection; acceptance of good and rejection of evil. Those who choose good receive favor, but those who choose evil invite trouble...
Does Faith in God Make us Invincible and Devoid of Responsibility to Lock our Doors? (Matt 2:22)
"But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee." (Matt.2:22)Faith-life in this world is doesn't mean that we should not lock our doors. It is not about supernatural invincibility and perfection all the time. Sometimes, God can also guide us through rational fear. A few verses earlier, God tells Joseph to flee to Egypt. Joseph could have argued, "Why flee? Isn't God powerful to protect us? Is Herod greater...
Is Yoga Just About Exercises?
Contrary to popular assumptions that yoga is just about exercises, the Hindu scriptural text, Yoga Sutras declares yoga as the path to self-realization or union with God. The doctrines of karma, reincarnation, and spiritual powers are integral to the philosophy. If this aspect of philosophy is removed from yoga, then it becomes just a set of exercises and is no longer worthy of being called yoga. It would do injustice to call a set of exercises as...
Ocean of Kindness - Poem
Ocean of Kindness, How great is Your Infinite Love;I entered in dark, soiled, and dirty; I came out spotless and white.I entered in broken, wormy, and leprous; I came out unblemished as a child.I entered in troubled, confused, and ignorant; I came out with unspeakable peace of mind.O Ocean of Kindness, Ocean of Kindness, How great is Your Infinite Love!Your Kindness never gets deplete,Your Kindness never gets soiled,Your Kindness is constant forever;Ocean...
Sardis (Rev.3:1-6) - Poem
From the One who holds the Seven Spirits and the Seven Stars,"I know you as you are:By reputation, alive; by character, dead!""Watch and strengthen the things now dying; your works aren't perfect before God;Hold fast, repent, and watch;If you don't defile your garments, I'll give you garments white!""For, I am coming soon to take the overcomers home;And, before the Father's throne,Their names I will confess and won't blot from the Book of Life."There...
Sowing Money and Goods to the Spirit (Gal.6:7-9)
"He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Gal 6:8)This speaks in relation to giving to the Lord. Verse 7 instructs us to assist full-time Christian workers and teachers in the ministry by sharing in all good things. Verse 9 tells us to do good to all, esp to the family of believers, whenever we have opportunity to help (and opportunity is precious, the season...
The 7 Laws of Noah For All Mankind According To The Babylonian Talmud
Judaism doesn't say that conversion to Judaism is necessary for non-Jews; however, it does hold it obligatory for every human to obey what are considered to be the 7 Laws of Noah. Anyone who abides by these 7 laws is considered to be a "righteous gentile" and is assured of a portion in the world to come.1 In other words, though the Law of Moses given to the Covenant people of Israel is not obligatory for the non-Jewish world, the Laws of Noah are...
Conditional Identities - Friend and Neighbor in the Bible
The New Testament talks of relations as conditional identities, implying that people can only claim certain identities with Christ if they fulfill certain conditions. Following are some of them.1. Only those who receive Christ and believe in Him have the right to become the children of God (Jn.1:12)2. Only those who obey the commandments of Christ are His friends (Jn.15:14)3. Only those who deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Christ are fit to be called disciples of Christ (Lk.9:23)4. Only those who do the will of the Father...
Freedom in Christ
Christ Gives Us Freedom From:1. Falsehood (Jn.8:32)2. Sin (Jn.8:33-35; Rom.6:7)3. Power of Darkness (Col.1:13)4. Corruption of flesh (2Pet.2:19)5. Vain Traditions (1Pet.1:18)6. The Law (Rom.7:6; Gal.5:1,13)7. Corruption of this World (Rom.8:21)8. This Present Evil Age (Gal.1:4)9. Fear of Death (Heb.2;15)10. Oppression (Lk.4:...
Mega-figure Perversions in Christian Ministry
This kind of perversion is a spirit of high-class mindedness that prevails among Christian ministers and is evident in their speeches and gallery or media display in which they speak of friendships or acquaintance with rich, powerful, and popular or elite figures; portray themselves in context of or association with Universities, Clubs, or Associations; and create an environment of aloofness from the common people. Whenever they show themselves with the common, it is like condescending to help them. This pervert spirit craves to be seen as popular...
The Narrow Gate (Matt.7:13,14)
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt.7:13,14)To enter through the narrow gate means to leave every worldly luggage outside of the gate. One must save his own soul. Therefore, Christ said that he who wished to be His disciple had to deny self and...
Sinful Nature and the Crucifixion of the Christian With Christ
The Book of Genesis records the historically vital account of the Fall of man. Now, there are those who are skeptical of this account. It seems to them very unlikely that a race can be condemned to eternal damnation just because its progenitors took a secret bite of the forbidden fruit. Firstly, the fruit-nature correlation itself seems to them incongruous. Then, there is the issue of justness of such damnation. However, there is something about...
Child-Like Faith
In this article, we will be looking at three simple aspects of child-like faith:1. Primacy of Faith2. Purity of Faith3. Practicality of FaithPrimacy of Child-Like FaithFor a child, faith precedes understanding. His faith doesn’t say “I am never going to drink milk until I understand how a brown cow can eat green grass and produce white milk and yellow butter.” In modern times, there is a great clamor about providing evidences for belief; however,...
Should a Christian Be Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian?
After the Flood, God blessed Noah and granted to him every living creature as food even as he had given the green herbs (Gen.9:3). Prior to the Noahic Covenant, we don’t find any mention of humans being non-vegetarian. But, after the Flood, man was granted to kill and eat every living creature, with the following two conditions:1. Humans, under the Noahic Covenant, are not permitted to eat flesh with its blood (Gen.9:4)2. Homicide (murder of humans)...
Making the Best Use of Time
"Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Eph.5:16, ESV) Things that Waste Time1. Godless Mysteries (Acts 1:7). Indulging time in things which are hidden by God is a wastage of time, because no matter how hard one will try, one cannot find out anything that is hidden by God. You cannot hack the secret files of heaven; there are no heaven-leaks. Beware of false teachers and mystery cults!2. Gainless Controversies (2Tim.2:23; Tit.3:9,10; 1Tim.6:3-5). Do not waste time with someone who is obviously a rebel and has no interest...
Gift of Time: A Day Doesn't Need To Have Only 24 Hours
Two horses have more horsepower than the sum of both their individual powers put together. This is called the principle of synergy. Similarly, when two people work together on a job, their individual times add up to a greater whole than both of theirs individually. Thus, in a team work, one ends up getting more than 24 hours in his quota. Consequentially, a person in social engagement has more time than those who wish to work in solitude only. Of...
Australopithecus Deyiremeda: Strong Argument for Evolutionism?
Australopithecus deyiremeda is a proposed species of early hominin among those who lived about 3.3–3.5 million years ago in northern Ethiopia, around the same time and place as several discovered specimens of Australopithecus afarensis, including the well-known "Lucy", a juvenile specimen. (Wikipedia). Some 3 jawbones discovered on March 4, 2011 were proposed as specimens of this proposed species. While the discovery may have prompted overjoy in...
Overcoming Language Barriers in Communication
Communication is a bi-way event; both the communicator and the receiver are actively involved in determining what the communication comes to be. There is nothing like passivity in the communication process. Some form of active involvement is always present. For instance, one cannot say about a listener that his mind is a blank slate (a tabula rasa) upon which everything that a person is saying or communicating is exactly imprinted in the way that...
How to Worship
Worship in Spirit (Jn.4:24; Phil 3:3) Not external, ceremonial, slavish, but spiritual.... Not carnal worship that focuses on performance. Not a worship that is connected with location or tradition. Worshiping God in the Spirit means to know God, not after the flesh, but in the Spirit; to not have confidence in the flesh but to rely in the Spirit of God.Worship in Truth (Not False, Rom 1:25; Psa 51:6). Sincerity in worship means that...
Moving Forward
Things that Hinder Our Run1. Social Bonds (Lk.14:26-27, Mat 8:21-22). A person who gives priority to social relations above Christ, can never walk with Christ.2. Cares and Desires of World (Lk.8:14; Phil 3:7). When the cares of the world and its desires, the urge to not miss something "good" of the world, take control of a person's decision, he becomes deaf to the Spirit of God and fails to move forward anymore.3. Besetting Sin (Heb.12:2). A person...
