One day, Jesus took His disciples North of the land Jews felt comfortable in, to Caesarea Philippi. There, still today, is a cliff with a pool of spring water before it called “the rock of the gods.” On the day Jesus led the field trip, the water was flowing from a cave, and was called a “gate of Hades.” Such flows of water from underground were considered in Greek and […]
Category Archives: Kingdom
Eyes Wide Open
The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.” So the king said, “Go and see where he is, […]
We Need History
When we face temptations or terrors or confusion, it is helpful to have had a history lesson related to the subject, so that we have clues about possible answers, possible strategies, and possible outcomes in the situations we’re in. We can learn from others’ history what happened when they had certain answers, and either use their strategies, or avoid them at all costs. It is useful to have faced a […]
Better Questions
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ. If we are […]
Asking for Samuel
Hannah was prevented by Yahweh from bearing children. Her husband Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, would insult and torment Hannah. Peninnah had sons and daughters by Elkanah. Hannah cried out, “Yahweh Sabaoth (“IAM Commander of Hosts”), if You pay attention to my pain, and remember me, don’t forget me – give Your servant a son. If You do, I will give him to Yahweh all his days, and his hair will […]
Why the Law, Then?
Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. (Hebrews 10:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) Since the law Yahweh gave to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to transform them from the slaves of Egypt into the nation of God […]
Servants, Sons and Daughters
In the Old Testament of the Book, angels are called “sons of God,” and humans are called “servants of God.” In the New Testament, angels are called “servants of God,” and believing humans are called “sons of God.” There are other shifts in angels’ relationships, with God and with us, that have and are and must yet take place. We need to be seeking fervently that we would get the […]
Angel at the Pool
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well […]
Directed by the Spirit
On days, we hear a strong word from the Lord, but we are not sure it is from Him, and we don’t know what to do with it. It may sound extreme. It may sound irreverent. Maybe slightly psychotic. Some things we feel that we can discern to be not from Him without any help from the Spirit, like someone saying, “We must all move into one big community and […]
Heal The Sick
If I am sick and not getting healed too quickly, someone may tell me to go to a physician. “God gave us the medicine.” What sort of label should be placed on me if I prefer something supernatural? Jesus did not tell the people He sent out with instructions on how to bring the Kingdom that sounded like, “Try to heal them. If that doesn’t work, give them money so […]