Bible Questions
In the Name of the Lord, We Set Up Our Banners
Not too long ago, a little boy asked me to play a board game. I agreed. He pushed the instructions toward me and told me to read them. I asked him about one of the playing pieces. “What does the flag stand for?”
He was quick to inform me in a rather definitive voice, When you capture the flag, you win.
A little child shall lead them.
Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
In a Bible Dictionary, Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary, “banner” is referred to under “ensign”. Among the definitions it says this: “probably resembled…a figure or device of some kind elevated on a pole…such as…the king’s name.”
And who is the King’s name? The name of Jesus.
And so when the authority of the name of Jesus is used over a situation, when Jesus is Lord, the victory is won.
When you capture the flag, you win.
Short Clip of Kenneth E. Hagin, The Authority of the Believer
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
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John P Salvatore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
God is a God of Order
Photo Credit: Brett Jordan, Unsplash
I Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
Translators have a certain latitude when it comes to translation. In other words, “truck” could be defined as a pickup, dualie, 4-wheeler, semi, or perhaps even by manufacturer name. When translating from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, translators make those judgment calls, sometimes in committees with extensive notes.
So when I Corinthians 14:33 is translated, some use the word “confusion”; some use the word “disorder”.
In reality, the two are related. Where there is disorder there is confusion.
There can be disorder in various ways: in a church, household, family or individual life.
There can be disorder in the body of Christ, where one part of the body tries to play the part of another part of the body.
There are many ways to approach the topic of disorder. There can be disorder in a sports team, where players are not working in unity. There can be disorder on a medical staff.
For purposes of this post, the topic will center around disorder|order on an everyday basis.
Much more can accomplished the more perfectly you can order your environment and day.
Another word for “ordering” a day would be walking in a certain “way” and the Bible has many verses about way(s), path(s), and pathways. Here are a few.
(KJV) Psalm 25:1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth….
This is intended to be extremely practical on a day-to-day basis. While it is recognized that this could also apply to “enemies” in other considerations, this will be about day-to-day “enemies” in disorder, for example, strugging to find what you need when you need it, or forgetting to pack something that you need for a trip, or forgetting to take your passport to the airport.
This will only be an outline, a lot more could be said, perhaps at some other time. But for now, here are a few helpful points.
First of all, recognize that organization, like nutrition, is somewhat unique to each individual. If you read various books on organization or listen to various organizational teachers, this becomes apparent. One size does not fit all. So find the system that works best for you. These are some general tips and taylor them to what works for you.
- Do it now. Whatever it is, do it now. If you think of it, do it now, or as much as you can, right now. In other words, if you remember you need to call someone Monday, and it is Saturday, at least write a note in a way that you won’t forget. If it is coming to mind, there is a reason. Deal with it now, whatever it is, now.
- If you have the same problem more than once, figure out why and deal with it. Don’t keep having the same issue day after day. Not necessary. If it is a family or group-related thing, figure out how to solve it. Get together. Find the best solution. Implement it. Yes, that takes time to get everyone together to do this, but once you find a solution, your daily/weekly time wasted dealing with that problem over and over will disappear. And if it is a group thing, there is accountability, and that really is better for everyone. Everyone becomes better as they become accountable, even if it is a voluteer organization.
- If you can’t figure it out, find someone who can. There is someone who can give you an idea that you might not be able to think of on your own, simply because you may not have the experience or background necessary. Read a book. Find someone with skills you don’t have and barter skills. If you absolutely are stuck, it is worth it to pay someone who can easily do what you find difficult to do. There is no shame is saying, this is not my skill set. There is no point in staying stuck. Someone can easily do what you find difficult to do, or can at least teach you a few skills to make your life easier.
- Give away or sell what you don’t need. You will find a simplified life is a more peaceful life. Recognize that some things are needed for a season, but perhaps you no longer are in a certain line of work, or have moved, or for any number of reasons, no longer need certain objects. When they are out of your life, you life will be simpler.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Finding Your Place Within the Body of Christ
Jesus prayed:
John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
The importance of oneness was brought out in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 11:1 (KJV) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
St. Paul likens the Christian church to a body where each part of the body has a particular function.
I Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
In science we learn that for anything to happen within the human body, digestion, movement of muscles, growth, anything, a number of factors are involved. For example, in digestion there are enzymes. There are also co-enzymes which do not do the job of the enzymes, but are necessary for the enzymes to work. And so it goes. Multiple comparisons could be made.
Perhaps the thinking of the world has seeped into the body of Christ. Some people seek to have the most “likes” on Facebook. American Idol pushes the idea that unless you are the “one” winner, that you are the loser.
All that really is not in line with the thinking of the body of Christ.
There are those with the gift of administration. They should be leading in whatever capacity their gifts take them. There are those with the gift of helps. They should be helping in whatever capacity their gifts permit them to help.
If the body of Christ is ever to be one and have the power that is promised in oneness, there has to be a unity that comes from all members finding their place in the body, not trying to take the place of another, but finding their exact place and functioning there.
In reality, in a physical body, a liver cannot do the work of the kidney. The tongue can’t do the work of the hand. The eye can’t do the work of the ear or foot. It would be foolish to even try.
A liver is best being a liver. An eye is best being an eye. A hand is best being a hand. An ear is best being an ear.
When each part is fitly joined together, that is the place of increase.
Ephesians 4:16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
What of the Cross?
I Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
….
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; 25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, 29 that no flesh should boast before God. 30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost: ANCIENT CHINESE RECORD ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS!
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Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost: Pray This 4 Minute Prayer with Morris Cerullo NOW To Receive The Greatest Miracle In All The World!
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Unless you are born again verse
What does it mean to be born again?
What is born again in the Bible?
What is the born again scripture?
Nicodemus asked Jesus about being born again. The story was recorded in the book of John.
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
So how is one born again?
Matthew 3:3 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make the way of the Lord ready!
Make his paths straight!”4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
What is a born again prayer?
Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace,
who bring glad tidings of good things!”16 But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Not all churches preach “be born again”. If you are looking for a born again Christian church, and don’t know where to find one, you can start online with tbn.org They have numerous channels in numerous languages. Or go to the page linked at the bottom of each post where other churches and Christian resources are listed.
As you pray and seek the Lord to guide you, He can lead you to to the right born again church.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
The Challenge of Taking Dominion
Genesis 1:26 (ISV) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!”
Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 7:24 “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
God has never reneged on this.
The challenge to rise to what the Lord God wants.
The earth belongs to mankind. God will not swoop in and do man’s job.
If there is a problem in the earth, it is because man individually or collectively permits it. It is particularly up to believers to use the authority of the name of Jesus and the Word of God. God will work with believers in accordance with His Word. Believers have a part to play. Everyone is a part of God’s creation, but to be born again, to be a believer in Jesus Christ, is a personal choice.
Mark 16:20 They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
The Bible is full of examples where different ones or groups receive a miracle or a blessing or walk in the power of God
Does God have favorites?
No.
Acts 10:34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
What about grace?
A distinction must be made between the initial born again experience, which is by faith, through grace, and then serving the Lord after being born again.
Ephesians 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Paul, who originally was known as Saul and who was persecuting Christians until he was converted, clearly understood that there was something beyond being born again.
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This same Paul, who wrote a good deal of the New Testament, wrote this.
Philippians 3:7 However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. 8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death, 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.
17 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
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A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.