Tagged: Bible Study

“Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants, the prophets.” –Amos 3:7 The above verse has been an important foundation of Presentation Ministries since our beginning. Our ministry seeks to operate in the prophetic word of God, that now-word (Ez 33:30) which pierces hearts and brings conversion, discipleship, and Kingdom-victory. Prophecy is not necessarily telling what will happen in the future, although that can be part of prophecy. Prophecy is simply speaking or writing what God wants said at the moment He wants it said. The Holy Spirit knows exactly the right word for the...

“Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” –Matthew 8:21 Jesus would not allow a potential disciple to first bury his father. Many Scripture scholars have commented that this man’s father had not yet died, and so anyone who wishes to be Jesus’ disciple must renounce all His possessions, including a potential inheritance (see Lk 14:33). Elsewhere, Jesus said that if anyone comes to Him without hating his father and mother, that person cannot be His disciple (see Lk 14:26, RNAB). Hate is a strong word. In the language of Jesus’ time, there were no words to express the...

“Would You not have us call down fire?” –Luke 9:54 James and John asked Jesus: ” ‘Lord, would You not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?’ [Jesus] turned toward them only to reprimand them” (Lk 9:54-55). On another occasion, Jesus proclaimed: “I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited!” (Lk 12:49) Sometimes Jesus wants to call down fire; at other times, He doesn’t. Elijah was the world champion in calling down fire from heaven (see 1 Kgs 18:38; 2 Kgs 1:10, 12; Sir 48:3). However, on at...

“They did not lay bare your guilt, to avert your fate.” –Lamentations 2:14 Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem as a dwelling place for the Lord. God was pleased and came to dwell in the Temple. “The Lord’s glory filled the house of God” (2 Chr 5:14). During the next three-hundred years, Jerusalem was miraculously spared from attack on several occasions (e.g. 2 Kgs 19:35). Eventually the people grew complacent and neglected the Lord’s commands, falling into lifestyles of sin and injustice. Many “prophets” of the time fueled this lax attitude with “false and specious visions” and “misleading portents” (Lam...

“What will this child be?” –Luke 1:66 St. Augustine noted that we celebrate John the Baptizer’s birthday after the summer equinox, when daylight begins to lessen in the northern hemisphere, and we celebrate Jesus’ birthday after the winter equinox, when daylight begins to increase. St. Augustine connected this with John’s statement regarding Jesus: “He must increase, while I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). Today, may there be more of Jesus in your life and less of you. May you continue this pattern each day until you can truthfully say: “It is no longer I that live but Christ Who lives within...