Category: Bible Study

THE ULTIMATE SPRING CLEANING

“You are clean already, thanks to the word I have spoken to you.” –John 15:3 We must let the Lord clean us so that we can bear fruit abundantly. If we don’t let the Lord clean us “in the bath of water by the power of the word” (Eph 5:26), we will be thrown into the fire to be burned (Jn 15:6). “Blessed are the clean of heart” (Mt 5:8, our transl). In nine days, we will begin praying the Pentecost novena. This can be a time of miraculous cleansing, leading to unprecedented fruitfulness. If we let the Lord have...

OPENING THE DOOR OF FAITH

“They called the congregation together and related all that God had helped them accomplish, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” –Acts 14:27 Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:16), He wants all people to be saved (1 Tm 2:4). Because all people are naturally alienated from God, we all needed God to do something extreme to open the door of faith and break through our resistance to His saving grace. God even became a man and let the devil kill Him. Jesus did this to show us His love for, and obedience to, the...

MARK-ETING THE GOSPEL

“Signs like this will accompany those who have professed their faith: they will use My name to expel demons, they will speak entirely new languages, they will be able to handle serpents, they will be able to drink deadly poison without harm, and the sick upon whom they lay their hands will recover.” –Mark 16:17-18 By saying “signs like this,” Jesus means that the signs and marvels He mentioned above are only a few of the signs He will work to confirm our proclamation of the gospel. There are many other ways that Jesus backs up those who spread His...

KNOW NEW OR NO NEW

“I give you a new commandment.” –John 13:34 The Lord makes all things new (Rv 21:5). We will see “new heavens and a new earth” (Rv 21:1). We will see “a new Jerusalem” (Rv 21:2). The Lord makes all things new through us, especially as we obey the new commandment of love (Jn 13:34). “This means that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!” (2 Cor 5:17) The Holy Spirit is renewing “the face of the earth” (Ps 104:30). “All that matters is that one is created...

THE COST OF PENTECOST IS THE _____

“The disciples could not but be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” –Acts 13:52 In thirteen days, we will begin praying the Pentecost novena. The Lord intends to give us a renewal of our Baptisms and Confirmations that will truly change the world. In the Holy Spirit, we will receive power (Acts 1:8) and be “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). In the Holy Spirit, we will do works even greater than Jesus did (Jn 14:12). Because of our great power in the Holy Spirit, we are a threat to the devil. He must stop us by...