Friday, April 17, 2009

Jesus Healing Miracles

Jesus Healing Miracles, recounted in scripture, are many and diverse. The healing prayers he recites are always simple in content, yet profoundly moving. All of the stories involve people of great faith, who either came themselves to ask for help, or were brought by someone else. It took great confidence in Christ for the friends of a crippled man to make a hole in the roof of the place where Jesus was, so they could lower him down to be cured. Not to mention the physical difficulties in getting him there. One can imagine the surprise, and perhaps the anger of the people inside at this interruption to Christ's teaching. The Teacher didn't rebuke them though, and instead helped the crippled man. Sometimes the persistence of the sick person was what achieved divine assistance. When a woman who had suffered from hemorrhage for a long time joined the crowd along with other followers, and then kept touching the hem of The Lord's robe and asking for help, he finally noticed her and made her well.

A Roman soldier asked for a cure for a sick daughter, and Christ simply told him to return home and he would find that the daughter was well. In that instance, readers aren't told what healing prayers Jesus might have said. Readers can just see how great the faith of the father of the sick girl was, and how compassionate Jesus was. Readers are told in Matthew 4:23 that "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." It's fair to assume that there were far more miracles than were written down and there are enough in scriptures to be inspiring. One can imagine the joy of a man who had been blind from birth being given his sight. One of Jesus healing miracles was such a case. Christ used an outward sign when curing this man. He made mud out of dirt he spat in, and put it on the man's eyes, then told him to wash the eyes in a pool of water. When the mud was washed off, the man could see. Jewish officials tried to discount the miracle, but were unable to do so. Stories of this magnitude included a deaf-mute, and ten lepers as other examples of physical curing. Spiritual healing, such as curing the boy possessed by demons is also included. For other examples of God's Grace, visit these Bible resources.

Today there are people who are credited with aiding the cure of individuals with prayer and supplication and "laying on of hands." God has given this gift of healing prayers to some ministers and laypeople, in order that His healing powers can still be present to us. This type of prayer is often said in a formal service in a church, but sometimes it is a more intimate setting, where the patient is visited by one of these intermediaries in a home. When cures are affected, it is always God at work, not the person praying for the cure. It is crucial that that distinction be made. When the person who has been given this gift begins to think it is their own doing, recognition begins to fall in the wrong direction. In a divine setting, there is no place for an individual's pride. Sometimes physical symptoms are a sign of spiritual problems, and those times are recorded in scripture with Jesus telling those infected to "go and sin no more" after healing a physical illness. Jesus healing miracles included the forgiveness of sins, which no one on earth had ever been given the power to do before. His healing prayers and admonitions were very powerful in a world where sin and oppression were everywhere.

Christians say specific prayers, i.e. prayers for healing fairly often in our lives. Christians supplicate for friends and family when illness or tragedy strikes. Most recently, many supplication prayers were offered for the victims of natural disasters, both in the United States and abroad. Hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis wreak havoc both physically and spiritually on the people where they occur. Prayerful requests are offered in Christian churches and homes all over the globe, and spiritual cures are as important as any physical help that is needed. Jesus healing miracles teach Christians not only that He had power over all things, but how important faith is in receiving the gift of healing. Sometimes, it appeared that the people in Jesus' time had faith in His power only, but out of a cure came faith in his message. Readers have the advantage of all the information scripture has to offer to bolster faith, even though none can physically see the Lord. Praying for ourselves, and others, should be part of a Christian's regular communication with God because believers know about the power of prayer through scripture and personal experience.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/bibleverses

Saturday, April 11, 2009

God's Plan of Salvation

God's plan of salvation reveals the way to eternal life and that is through His son Jesus Christ. The only way that a person can truly experience salvation is by believing in the crucifixion of Jesus. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). Before Christ came God required that people present sacrifices of animals for the atonement of sin. Christ was the perfect sacrifice and his death on the cross was the ultimate atonement for all sin, past, present, and future. However, a person must believe and confess Jesus as Lord to be saved. God's word is the authority and is a Christian's guide to eternal life.

Recognizing the need for a Savior is the first step towards being saved. Recognizing the need for a Savior leads to repentance. A person becomes truly sorrowful over his or her sinful nature. Romans 3:23 says, that absolutely everyone is a sinner and unable to save themselves. Christ was the only one who has ever lived that was not a sinner. This is why He could become the sacrifice for all sin. The crucifixion of Jesus made the way for people everywhere, no matter what race or color, to experience eternal salvation and freedom from death forever.

Repentance means to not only admit to sin but to be willing to turn away from it. God's plan of salvation reveals how to do this. Salvation is not a complex concept but instead is very simple and easy to understand. A person can make Heaven home by simply believing in Christ and confessing that belief openly. When Jesus rose from the dead He completely conquered death and the grave. When Christ ascended into Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to Christians everywhere so that they can attain the rights to become sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit is a comforter, guide, teacher, and counselor giving Christians everything needed to live for Christ and eventually make heaven home.

Confession and believing is how a person receives this wonderful gift from God. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). Confession of the need to be forgiven from sin, being willing to turn from sin, and accept Christ is the necessary formula in God's plan of salvation. One of the most important things to do after becoming saved is to find a local church that preaches and teaches the Word of God. The things that can help a person to grow in faith are reading God's word, fellowship with other Christians, and worship. The Bible says that those who are in Christ are new creatures. Every born again believer needs to renew their mind with the word of God and walk accordingly. This can be done by reading God's word faithfully everyday and spending time in prayer.

Baptism is another very important step in receiving salvation. John 3:5 says that a person needs to be born both of water and of the Spirit. Right after Jesus began His earthly ministry He went to John the Baptist and asked to be baptized of him. Baptism symbolizes the burial of Christ. Most sources believe that a person should be totally immersed in the water during baptism. Baptism is a symbol to the believer of the crucifixion of Jesus and the burial. Christian's should not forget that Christ rose again after being in the grave for 3 days. Before being baptized search out the scriptures and talk to clergy about the importance of this act.

Commitment is what God expects from His sons and daughters. Being committed to live by faith and to grow spiritually in the Lord are vital for successful Christian living. The Lord wants commitment out of love and obedience with the right attitude. Living for God means never having to make excuses for faith in Him and never denying Him. Some Christians will only profess the crucifixion of Jesus if living for Him does not cost them anything. Several good examples of faithful Christians in the Bible include Daniel, Joseph, and Paul. Daniel was willing to be put in the lion's den for having faith in God. God honored that and sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths. He prayed three times to the Lord every single day when in captivity by the Babylonians even after being ordered to quit praying.

Daniel refused to eat the delicacies served by the Babylonians but instead ate what was acceptable in God's sight and according to His word. Daniel had great wisdom and may have been tempted by the food of the Babylonians but knew that honoring God meant taking care of his body so chose to eat what was good for him. Joseph remained faithful to God even after being sold into slavery. Both Joseph and Daniel whom lived at different times were blessed by being able to interpret dreams. This raised Daniel and Joseph both to leadership positions in which they were able to help God's people. God saved them both from times of famine and drought. Paul spent a long time in ignorance and persecuted the church of God. However, after Paul was saved, he was completely faithful and obedient to God. He preached God's plan of salvation to everyone that God sent him to and underwent great persecution himself over and over again but never renounced faith in God.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/biblestudy

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Praise and Worship

To praise God is to esteem and regard Him as the almighty omnipotent being that He is, bringing glory to the throne in the presence of angels and in the presence of men. From early accounts in the Bible, men and women of God praised and worshiped in a variety of ways and with all their hearts, souls, and minds. When mankind reflects upon the blessings, gifts, and judgements of God, one can not help but be ushered into a state of gratitude that evokes praising the Lord. Many denominations approach worship in different and very distinct ways, and when we take a close look at scripture and the commandments about worshiping God Almighty, we find that there is a broad range of activities that are associated with exalting our Maker. From the first time worshiping is associated with sacrifice to the grand songs sung by choirs of angels at the victory of Christ, the Bible has much to teach us about living a life that expresses the gratitude that God so richly deserves.

In the book of Genesis, one of the most well-known stories of the Old Testament is recorded. In chapter twenty-two we find that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac. After Abraham had journeyed three days, the Lord showed Abraham the place to build an altar and offer Isaac as a burnt offering. At this point Abraham tells the servant men with him to stay put and that he and Isaac were going over yonder to worship the Lord. As this familiar story goes, God provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice and Isaac's life was spared. Christians understand that this story is a foretelling of the sacrifice of Christ, but it is also a wonderful demonstration of how sacrifice equates to worshiping. Our Lord considers it worshipful when we offer up our most prized possessions. To discover more about what the Bible has to say about praising and worshiping God, visit these Bible resources.

Throughout much of the Old Testament we find that sacrifice was a intricate part of worshiping. But, we also find that singing and dancing before the Lord were used as means of praising. The Psalms are full of examples and urgent pleas for the people of God to lift up holy hands and to sing to the Lord. We see that worshiping God is not only giving up the things that have first place in our hearts, but worshiping God is also having and demonstrating a joyous heart and attitude. "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the trimbrel and the harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." (Psalm 149:3-4). Scripture compels us to praise God among the people and to also sing praises to him when we are alone in our beds. "Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds." (Psalm 149:5)

Moving into the New Testament, we find that exalting the name of the Lord takes on a new tone. Jesus Christ himself addressed worshiping with an adulteress woman at a well. The woman, confused by many traditions and segregation, asked Jesus about proper worship protocol, believing that he was a prophet. Jesus answers the woman with a profound truth. "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John 4:23) And, in the book of Hebrews, the writer teaches that praising God is now an ongoing activity, not one reserved for Sunday mornings before an altar. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15) Because the Spirit of God lives in believers, each is to live in a constant state of praising the Lord for all that is given, for all that is taught, and for every circumstance because we know that all things work to the good of those who are called.

Because the Spirit of God lives within us, we may partake in praising and worshiping in quiet, reflective devotions or in grand corporate praise services. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19) The first step to discovering the type of joyful activity that suits the unique soul is to discover an attitude of gratitude. Just as Abraham built an altar as a grateful expression after receiving the promise of God, so we should have a way of expressing our thankfulness to the Lord for the many promises that He has made to each and every one of us.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/bibleverses

Friday, April 3, 2009

Bible Quiz Questions

The use of Bible quiz questions is an interesting and non-threatening way to impart knowledge of Biblical topics. A series of Bible study questions is presented, and the participant attempts to respond with a correct answer. There are a great variety of settings and formats which can be employed using this basic system. Quizzes can be made available to individuals in a Sunday School setting to offer more variety in teaching methods. They may also be used as an ice-breaker at events or serve as a tool to focus attention upon a particular topic at the start of small group Bible studies. Other quiz questions provide a way to deal discreetly with embarrassing or controversial subject matter. Quizzing is also regarded as an activity or competition, used by many congregations to help train their young people in the knowledge of the Bible and in the development of various aspects of Christian character.

Interest can be developed or maintained in a particular area of Bible knowledge. Quizzes can simply be printed out on paper and issued to participants in a multitude of settings. Adults and children alike seem to enjoy the challenge of measuring their understanding of Biblical matters. Topics for Bible study questions may vary according to the purpose of the quiz. Quizzes may be employed to increase one's Biblical understanding or to review particular subjects taught recently at Sunday School. Teen classes may particularly enjoy the anonymity of personally scored quizzes, especially if the material involved is about relationships or other matters which they might be reluctant to discuss or reveal to others. Bible quiz questions can fill in gaps in understanding in persons of all ages, without the embarrassment of having to publicly admit one's lack of knowledge in a particular area.

The Bible study questions found in a quiz may help to focus a group upon a certain topic. Used at the beginning of a class or event, they put participants at ease and help develop a sense of cohesiveness. These exercises can help a speaker or teacher to quickly gauge the needs of an audience or group of students. For example, if a teacher notes that nearly everyone easily completes Bible quiz questions, it is probably safe to move on to a new topic. If, however, students struggle over every answer, perhaps some additional instruction in this area is in order.
Speaking of instruction, many church denominations use quizzing as a tool to further train young people in spiritual matters. Some churches participate in denominational or even national competitions, where quizzing takes on the quality of a sport or challenge. These competitions often feature special equipment for electronically determining (through buzzers or lights) the first person to respond to Bible study questions or to volunteer to quote Biblical passages.

Between competitions, young people study specific passages assigned for the next competition or activity. In this way, the material is being memorized and perhaps also even incorporated into Sunday School or youth group meetings, so that participants have a full understanding of the passage and its application to daily living. Memorization and learning occur naturally, rather than being part of a list of behaviors a teacher is nagging the student to accomplish.
One important result from participating in quizzes is that this activity brings one to the realization that there is much about the Bible which one does not know. Humility is a valuable and rare quality, and Bible quiz questions quickly reveal an individual's need for further study. Quizzes can be designed not only to reveal this fact, but also to impart more knowledge in an enjoyable and interesting manner. Many quizzes are fashioned in such a way that the answer is immediately evaluated. Correct answers are congratulated and Biblical answers presented to those who answered incorrectly. Most on line questions are followed by supporting Scriptures, conveniently displayed.

Churches can also use Bible quiz questions for a method of outreach to the community. Many 'facts' which the public believes are Biblical are actually erroneous. Booths with electronic quiz boards may be set up at fairs or community events to offer participants the chance to explore certain topics in a non-threatening way or try their hand at answering questions. Additional free information such as Christian tracts, books or DVDs can be offered. Perhaps a special class for those who have never studied the Bible can be arranged.

Jesus often posed questions to his disciples and detractors alike. Whether to cause the individual to clarify his or her thinking about a matter, or to confront evildoers with the reality of their sin, such questions proved to be a very effective teaching tool. A person might be uncomfortable with the conclusions they come to, but such questions present one with the opportunity to come to a point of decision about the matter. In all of the above situations the final result is that Biblical truths are becoming fully understood and available to everyone. Whether presented to believers during Sunday School classes and church events, or to seekers looking for the truth, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17) The truth of God's Word is the precious jewel shining forth in the setting of a Bible study question.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/biblestudy