The background to this statement from the Lord was that the people of Judah had committed a long list of sins against Him (Isaiah 1:4-15). Their sacrifices were no longer pleasing to Him and He threatened to close His ears to their prayers (Isaiah 1:15). Yet, despite their actions, God wanted to have a conversation with His people. He gave them a list of things they could do to please Him (Isaiah 1:16-17) and offered an invitation, ‘Let us reason together’............………….
Read MoreTo ‘pray through’ is usually when we pray regularly until we break through and get an answer to our prayer. This usually means that we pray more than just one prayer and then expect an immediate result. What we actually do is to keep praying repeatedly until either we get a feeling of peace that an answer is going to happen, or we get a response to what we are looking for............………….
Read MoreIn her biography Straight Up Ruby Tui, who has represented New Zealand women in both 15 a side and seven a side rugby union, talks about the song ’You are my sunshine’. As a young girl it seemed strangely familiar. As she put it, ‘I didn’t know the song, but I knew the song’............………….
Read MoreBecause the general public often associate nudity with sex, many Christian groups and denominations are not supportive of naturism and nudism. This is because they feel that the temptation to lust is too difficult...........………….
Read MoreIn the previous four blogs we have had a look at how some recognised sins in the first half of the 1900’s were progressively ignored. People’s way of life changed, and their standards became laid-back.
One of the key changes was that manners do not mean much anymore............………….
Read MoreIn the previous four blogs we have had a look at how some recognised sins in the first half of the 1900’s were progressively ignored. People’s way of life changed, and their standards became laid-back...........………….
Read MoreIn the previous three blogs we have had a look at how some recognised sins in the first half of the 1900’s were progressively ignored. People’s way of life changed, and their standards became laid-back..........………….
Read Moren the previous two blogs we were having a look at how some recognised sins in the first half of the 1900’s progressively become ignored. It happened as people’s way of life changed and their standards became more relaxed.
One of the key changes was the loss of manners.........………….
Read MoreIn the previous blog we started to look at how some recognised sins in the first half of the 1900’s had progressively become ignored in the second half of the century. It happened as people’s way of life changed when personal standards became more relaxed.........………….
Read MoreWhat is sin? If we made a list of things that offend God, what would go on it? And does it really matter?
Sin is acting or behaving in a way that does not conform with God’s character or commands. It is about crossing lines that have been laid down for us by God. Sin is therefore an act of rebellion and distrust.[1]........………….
Read MoreIt was reported in March 2023 that the former Saddleback Church pastor and founder Rick Warren, recently said that there are three passages of scripture that have enabled him to see that there is a biblical directive to enable women to lead a church as a pastor. However,........………….
Read MoreRemember Joshua and Caleb, the two spies of the promised land who had a good report of what they saw, while the other ten spies were scared and could not see any way that the land could be captured? There are some good accounts of Joshua who led the people into the Promised Land after Moses died, but we do not read much about Caleb. What we do see, however, provides us with some interesting insights........………….
Read MoreFor I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16 NKJV)
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NLT)
The first version of Romans 1:16 above is probably the one that most Christians are familiar with, but the second version may be a little easier to understand........………….
Read MoreThe Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15 NIV)
But when God brought His first-born Son, Jesus, into the world, He said, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrews 1:6 NLV)
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29 NLT)........………….
Read MoreIn the previous blog we looked at whether the Holy Spirit and a demon would live together in a born again believer, but the study would not be complete if we did not look at how the demonic oppression occurs..........………….
Read MoreThe debate of whether Christians can be demonically possessed is considered by many to be both controversial and complex. When asked whether a Christian can be possessed, most people traditionally respond with a simple yes or no, with the more common view being no.........………….
Read MoreWe now look at the continuation of verse 4 and on to verse 6 of Psalm 23.
I will not be afraid [fear no evil], because you are with me. The presence of his Shepherd enabled David to overcame any fear of evil. Regardless of his circumstances, David could accept the Shepherd’s presence and know absolutely, ‘You are with me’, and because of that, ‘I will not be afraid [fear no evil].’[1]........………….
Read MorePsalm 23 is recognised by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is usually read at funerals because it is seen as a psalm of comfort. For many of us also provides hope, assurance and guidance.
Let us take a deeper look at this wonderful psalm for its greater meaning, and how it reveals the unconditional love that God has for all believers, by meeting their needs in the good, and not so good times.........………….
Read MoreThe shedding of blood as part of an animal sacrifice is something many modern Bible readers do not think much about. Our general understanding of animal sacrifices come from all sorts of sources, and many are not biblical. We may have read about pagan practices in the Greek temples through to modern day examples,........………….
Read MoreIn a previous blog we looked at why we nod off when we read the Bible, but there are other issues to consider as well.
Jen Wilkin is a Bible teacher and the author of several books. Her passion is to see Christians have a clear understanding of what they believe in the Bible, so that they can be clear communicators about what it says, while also being committed followers of Christ........………….
Read More
