Conditional LoveJohn 3:18-19; 35-36, Matthew 6:14-15, Proverbs 6:16-20 and 1 John 4:16-18 Yes, God’s love is unconditional towards us! The way all of humankind has learned to love is different. Therefore, our understanding of love is broken. Because of this, God establishes conditions to recognize if it is His love in us or our own … [Read more…]
Your Faith is in God, Not People
Malachi 3:6-15
Unfaithfulness (Part One) — Malachi 2:13-3:5 NIV Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Often, we quickly read through it. Most of us only know anything of Malachi because of numerous sermons on tithing. Even the message on tithing may have been taken out of context and usually you only hear sermons on … [Read more…]
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.
“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God!”
This is an ongoing theme. Misguided individuals looked to the teachings of the Major and Minor Prophets of the Old Testament and bent their understanding to the idea of who, when, and where the Messiah would be. Their idea of the Messiah was a political leader, a liberator, a king. Notice how the Pharisees investigated everything they knew about Jesus
After this, the people see a Powerful Prophet, and their future king. Finally, they could get their nation back after 765 years for Samaria (what use to be the northern kingdom of Israel (Assyria) and 620 years for Judah (Babylon))
While we could easily take the issue of the Armor of God as a war with dark powers, we often look past the things that these verses of Scripture are talking about. The premise of the dark power that we are battling against, Paul sets up in the preceding verses. They are ALL RELATIONAL:
We must imitate God? Isn’t this odd? But when you break it down, isn’t this what we are to do? Think of it this way instead. Check out the latest fad of “imitation” foods.
Okay, you say that Jesus is your Savior, how should you live? (vs. 1-3)
Guess what, He is not just your Savior, His gift is available to everyone! (vs. 4-6)