Tagged: Bible Study

SEEING HEALINGS

“Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” –Luke 18:42 Many Christians in our secular humanistic culture have been programmed to have reservations about Jesus’ healings. They wonder whether Jesus really did all those healings. Even if they believe He did, they doubt whether He still does such things. They think that things are different now, and of course, they are right. Now we can’t talk to Jesus standing right in front of us, and we can’t audibly hear His voice. Things are different for us than for those who walked and talked with Jesus. However, these differences do not...

DEFENSE ATTORNEY

“I bid you resolve not to worry about your defense beforehand.” –Luke 21:14 Doesn’t the Word of God say to be ever ready to give a reply to those who question you about why you live a life of faith? (1 Pt 3:15) The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete (Jn 14:26), a term which can be translated as “Attorney for the Defense.” Since the Holy Spirit is our Defense Attorney, we are actually stifling the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) if we try to take over the Spirit’s job. Let the Spirit prepare your defense. You need only to be His...

DO NOT LOSE HEART (LK 18:1)

“This widow is wearing me out.” –Luke 18:5 If the unjust judge, who tends toward evil, and who simply wants the powerless widow to go away, will relent and render her justice (Lk 18:3-5), how much more will the Just Judge, the Lord, act rightly. We give the forces of evil so much credit. Evil strongholds seem indestructible to us (see Nm 13:31-33; 1 Sm 17:11). Yet evil is prone to imploding and bringing about its own destruction (see e.g. Jgs 7:19-22). The kingdom of God will outlast the forces of evil and emerge victorious (see 1 Jn 4:4). Even...

THE WORD ON OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

“Look out that you yourselves do not lose what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full.” –2 John 8 Satan wants to keep people on the sideline and off the field of spiritual battle. If Satan cannot keep a Christian from entering the field of spiritual battle, his next tactic is to keep the Christian weak and defensive by constant accusations (Rv 12:10). He attempts to keep both Christians and non-Christians apathetic, fearful, paralyzed, distracted, and doubting. However, one of Satan’s special opportunities is the occasion when a Christian achieves success in spiritual battle. Then the...

CROSS-CULTURAL EVANGELIZATION

“I, Paul, ambassador of Christ and now a prisoner for Him, appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten during my imprisonment.” –Philemon 9-10 Paul led Onesimus, a runaway slave and fellow prisoner, to the Lord (Phlm 10). Paul had also led Onesimus’ owner, Philemon, to the Lord (Phlm 19). Paul converted both slave and owner, both poor and rich. In his ministry of evangelization, Paul even did the unthinkable by converting both Jews and Gentiles. Most people come to the Lord because of the witness of someone like them. It takes an amazing person to lead to...