Kingdom's Troops

  Sharing the #gospel and preparing new #Christians.  

[kingdomstroops]

Are There Contradicting Bible Verses? Part 2

More contradicting Bible verses?

Are there contradictions in the Bible? Previously we looked at several Old Testament examples that some claim have contradicting Bible verses, but what about the New Testament - especially the gospels? With four different people telling essentially the same story, contradicting Bible verses seem almost inevitable. Supposed Contradictions in the Bible Although they tell the same story, they were originally written to different groups and emphasize unique aspects of Jesus' life and ministry. When multiple statements are taken from different people about the same incident, it is not suspicious when they recall different things or use slightly different terms. In fact, the opposite is true. If every account is identical, it implies that the witnesses have ‘gotten their stories straight’ rather than telling what they remember. The four gospels do not have contradicting Bible verses but paint a more complete picture than we would have with only one or two accounts. Not everyone agrees. The American Humanist Association rejects the Bible as not only made-made but harmful. They use so-called contradictions in the Bible as proof of its unreliability and human origin. Each instance below is taken from an article on why humanists reject the Bible. Keep in mind, a contradiction is not just different information being presented, but information that negates the other. Are these contradicting Bible verses really there, or is this simply an example of personal bias against the Bible itself?The Genealogy of Jesus ...Matthew says Josephs’ father was Jacob, while Luke claims he was Heli. Matthew runs Jesus’ line of descent through David’s son Solomon, while Luke has it going through David’s son Nathan. Two possible reasons for the differing genealogies both have to do with legal versus actual lines of descent. Many believe that Matthew records the legal genealogy of Jesus through his adopted father, Joseph, while Luke records the human genealogy of Jesus through Mary, his only actual physical relative. Others believe that both genealogies are Joseph’s, one a legal genealogy (with adoptive and legal information) and the other a physical line of descent for Joseph . Either way, these don’t represent contradictions in the Bible, but viewpoints. Who were the readers? What did they care about? Since we’re talking about genealogy, why does one start at Abraham and come forward to Jesus and the other starts at Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam? It’s all tied together. Matthew was originally writing to a Jewish audience, and showed how Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming Messiah - the Jewish king. The genealogy he provides ends with Abraham. Luke was writing to a Greek believer, Theophilus, whose name means ‘god lover’. As a gentile, he was unlikely to care about Jewish kings, but the perfect man was something that Greek culture was very interested in. That’s what Luke’s gospel draws out, and why the genealogy he provides goes back to the first man, Adam.The Journey to Egypt ...Matthew 2:13-15 depicts Joseph and Mary as fleeing to Egypt with the baby Jesus immediately after the wise men from the east had brought gifts. But Luke 2:22-40 claims that after the birth of Jesus, his parents remained in Bethlehem for the time of Mary’s purification...and then returned to their home in Nazareth. Luke mentions no journey into Egypt or visit by wise men from the east. This objection accurately states what each scripture reference says, but incorrectly assumes they are contradicting Bible verses. Joseph and Mary did flee to Egypt after the wise men visited, however that was approximately two years after Jesus was born. How do we know that? Based on the age of the children that Herod had killed when the wise men failed to report back to him. Joseph and Mary would have been traveling to Egypt with a toddler, not a newborn. Another thing Matthew says is that Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem, but it doesn’t implicitly say that Bethlehem is where the magi found Jesus. Matthew says: “the star went on before them and stood over the place where the Child was…after coming into the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother…” Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem for the census. They didn’t move there permanently. When the wise men found them, they were in a house, not a stable. We get different information from each account, but they are not contradictions in the Bible.The Death of Judas Iscariot ...Matthew 27:5 states he took the money he had received for betraying Jesus, threw it down in the temple, and “went and hanged himself.” ...Acts 1:18 claims Judas used the money to purchase a field and “falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out.” So what happened to Judas after he betrayed Jesus? Matthew tells us that he returned the money he had been paid, throwing it into the temple. If we keep reading we find that Jewish law wouldn’t allow the money to be returned to the temple treasury since it was blood money. Judas didn’t wait around to get this information, but went out and killed himself. Looking at Acts chapter 1, we see another account of the same event. Here we learn that not only did Judas hang himself, he fell and burst open and all his intestines gushed out. That gruesome scene made an impression on the people of Jerusalem, and they called that place Field of Blood. The same name as the field mentioned in Matthew that was purchased by the priests with the money they’d paid Judas. Evidently the priests used Judas’s money to buy the field where he hanged himself and made it into a burial place for strangers. Since it was legally still Judas’s money, one writer notes the legal transaction - Judas purchased the field, another writer notes who physically made the purchase - the priests. Not contradicting Bible verses, but different facets - legal versus practical.Who Carried the Cross? In describing Jesus being led to his execution, John 19:17 recounts that he carried his own cross. But Mark 15:21-23 disagrees by saying a man called Simon carried the cross. Crucifixion was a brutal form of execution. Before Jesus was crucified he was brutalized, mocked and beaten. The Bible says he was no longer recognizable as a man (Isaiah 52:14). After all of this punishment, He had to carry all or part of his cross up to Golgotha. The cross would have weighed between 100 and 300 pounds, depending on whether it was the whole thing or just the horizontal cross beam. Mark is not the only gospel to mention Simon of Cyrene. In fact all the gospel writers except John mention him. The question, then, is why did John fail to mention the man who helped Jesus carry the cross? Is this a contradiction in the Bible, or could there be another solution? Remember that each gospel emphasizes different details of Jesus' life. The gospel of John was written after the early church was already established. Believers of that time would have been familiar with what was included in the previous three gospels. John’s purpose wasn’t to retell the same story, but to clarify issues that had popped up in the early church. One of these issues was a false teaching that Jesus had not actually been human, but was pure spirit. John refutes that throughout his gospel, from the beginning where he says “the word became flesh and dwelt among us…” to the end when he emphasizes that Jesus was a flesh-and-blood man who carried his own cross.The fact that another person was conscripted to help him doesn’t make the first statement a contradiction in the Bible.The Mocking Thieves (or Thief?) ...Matthew 27:44 tells us Jesus was taunted by both criminals who were being crucified with him. But Luke 23:39-42 relates that only one of the criminals taunted Jesus, the other criminal rebuked the one who was doing the taunting, and Jesus told the criminal who was defending him, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Have you ever had a change of heart? That is the easiest explanation for why one account says both criminals taunted him, yet another account says that one defended him. Crucifixion was not a quick death. It took hours and sometimes even days for those executed in this way to finally die. These three men, the criminals and Jesus, were hanging on those crosses for hours. At some point during that time, one of the criminals who had been mocking repented and asked Jesus to remember Him in His kingdom. This criminal knew they were all going to die. He was essentially saying that he believed Jesus had a heavenly kingdom, that Jesus was who He claimed to be. When you dig a little deeper, you find not a contradiction in the Bible, but a beautiful example of how it is never too late to repent. As long as you have breath, you have hope of salvation. Even if you were a mocker before - Jesus loves you. His death was for you if you will accept it.Different ‘Last Words’ From the Cross ...Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 quote Jesus as crying with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Luke 23:46 gives his final words as “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” John 19:30 alleges the last words were, “It is finished.” Neither Matthew or Mark claim that the words they record were the final words of Jesus, just that they were spoken from the cross. Both gospels include additional information and conversation from those around the cross. Different details, but not contradicting Bible verses. All of these could be (and are) accurate accounts of what happened during the final hours at the cross. John includes an entire scene from the crucifixion that none of the others do, between Jesus, his mother and John. John was at the cross when Jesus breathed his last, close enough to hear things that weren’t cried out, but simply said, including instructions to take care of His mother. These are not instances of contradictions in the bible, (information that negates other information), but of completion of the picture.The Women at the Tomb ...Mark 16:2 states that on the day of the resurrection, certain women arrived at the tomb at the rising of the sun. But John 20:1 informs us they arrived when it was yet dark. This is easy to understand if you’re reading without a personal bias that requires contradictions on the Bible. The women showed up at the tomb as early as they were allowed to be there according to Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath, which ended at sunrise. They got there as soon as they possibly could, showing their devotion to Jesus whom they still assumed to be dead. The other gospel accounts make this clear. Luke 24:1 uses the term ‘early dawn’. Matthew 28:1 says ‘as it began to dawn’. When the sun first peeks over the horizon, the new day has begun, but it is still somewhat dark outside. Again we find, not contradicting Bible verses, but a well-rounded account of what happened....Luke 24:2 describes the tomb as open when the women arrived, whereas Matthew 28:1-2 indicates it was closed. This supposed contradiction is easily resolved by simply reading what the Bible actually says. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ~ Luke 24: 1-2   Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  ~ Matthew 28:1-2 Matthew says an earthquake had occurred, meaning it happened before the women arrived. The reason for the earthquake is also given - an angel came and rolled the stone away. By reading the text we can see that both indicate that the tomb was open when the women arrived. Not a contradiction in the Bible, and honestly a bit of a surprise to find something so easily refuted given as a reason for rejecting the Bible....Mark 16:5 declares that the women saw a young man at the tomb, Luke 24:4 says they saw two men, Matthew 28:2 reports they saw an angel, and John 20:11-12 claims they saw two angels. This may stem from a lack of understanding, but it seems to be willful misunderstanding driven by personal bias. Throughout the Bible these messengers or angels are referred to as having the appearance of a man. The word angel means messenger. These beings at the tomb definitely had a message! When people arrived looking for the body of Jesus, they were told: He’s not here! He’s alive!Details at the Tomb Who was there? Were they sitting or standing? Were they inside or outside the tomb? These eyewitness accounts aren’t scripted like a play, making sure to note every movement of every person who was there that morning. The point was: Jesus is alive! Not who sat where and did they stay seated, etc. By reading all four gospels, and using the presumption that they are true, can these ‘contradictions in the Bible’ be reconciled? There was an angel sitting on the stone when the women arrived. And there were two angels sitting inside the tomb where Jesus' body had been. The account of Mark only mentions one of the angels and what he said to the women, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t two there. Things were dynamic. People were in motion. It was a tense time, because as the people living this through it didn’t know how things ended like we do. Could the angels have been sitting at one point and standing at another? Of course. Were there people coming and going at different times? Definitely.Recognizing Jesus Whether Mary Magdalene immediately recognized Jesus is another instance some say is a contradiction in the Bible. Mary Magdalene was one of several Marys’ who went to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection. At some point she was there when others were not and had a one-on-one conversation with Jesus. She did not initially recognize Him until He said her name. As odd as that may sound, this isn’t the only instance after His resurrection that Jesus was not recognized by his followers right away. It happened with two unnamed followers on the road from Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-35) and again on the beach with his closest disciples (John 21:1-9). In each case, Jesus said or did something that sparked recognition.Paul’s Conversion ...Acts 9:7 states that when Jesus called Paul to preach the gospel, the men who were with Paul heard a voice but saw no man. According to Acts 22:9, however, the men saw a light but didn’t hear the voice speaking to Paul. What Acts 22:9 actually says is this: “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.” (emphasis mine) These aren’t contradicting Bible verses. Both verses say that those with Paul heard something. Paul’s detailed account given during his testimony to the Jews provides additional information that though his travel companions heard something, they didn’t understand it. Both are accurate. One is more specific, not a contradiction in the Bible. Find Out For Yourself When you know the authentic, you quickly recognize a counterfeit. Don’t let one person’s skepticism shake your beliefs. God isn’t intimidated by their questions, or by yours. He wants to be known by His people, and the primary way He reveals Himself is through scripture. These so-called contradicting Bible verses are great examples of why you should get to know the Bible for yourself. The more you know your Bible, the easier it becomes to answer arguments from those who suggest there are contradictions in the Bible.Do you know the Good News? Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Are There Contradicting Bible Verses? Part 1

Are there really contradicting Bible verses?

Are there contradictions in the Bible? Christians believe that the Bible is God’s word, so if there are contradicting Bible verses, as some people claim, that’s a pretty big problem. God wouldn’t contradict Himself would He? Why People See Contradictions in the Bible One reason people may claim there are contradicting Bible verses is that they lack understanding of what they’re reading. One simple step to increase your understanding of the Bible is to read the verses in context. Don’t cherry-pick a verse here and there, but read the surrounding verses or even the entire chapter to understand what is being said. Another way to better understand the Bible is to know who is writing to whom, what they are writing, and the purpose of what they wrote. The Bible is actually a collection of sixty-six books by many different writers who lived in different cultures and different centuries. Historical narrative, poetry, parables, and prophecy are a few of the different types of writing in the Bible. With so many variables it may be easy to assume that somewhere along the line a few contradicting Bible verses must have slipped in. If this were an ordinary book, you’d be right. But the Bible is anything but ordinary. It is God’s divine revelation to us, and God is the only author, though He used many writers to pen His message. Personal Agendas Another reason people claim there are contradictions in the Bible is due to their own personal agenda. Something about the Bible or its message offends them, so they want it to be wrong. If they can disprove part of the Bible, they can throw the whole thing out as false, or pick and choose what they want to believe. A perfect example of a group with such an agenda is the American Humanist Association. If anyone would have done their homework to find contradictions in the Bible or contradicting Bible verses it would be them. So we took a look at some of these supposed contradictions as given in their article, “Some Reasons Why Humanists Reject the Bible.” By definition, a contradiction is: a fact or statement that is the opposite of what someone has said or that is so different from another fact or statement that one of them must be wrong. Other sources include the word inconsistent in the definition, which means incompatible. So a contradiction is in opposition or incompatible with something previously stated. Let’s dive into these supposed contradictions in the Bible and see what we can find. Supposed Contradicting Bible Verses According to their article, the contradictions in the Bible start in the very first chapter. Contradiction 1: “Genesis 1:2-3 says that God created light and divided it from darkness on the first day, but Genesis 1:14-19 tells us the sun, moon and stars weren’t made until the fourth day.” Can both of these statements be true? If I say I have light in my house on day one, and three days later I say I made candles and lit them in different rooms, have I contradicted myself? Are those statements incompatible? Not if I had a light source other than the candles to begin with. So if there was a source of light other than those created on day four, these verses are not in contradiction. Interestingly enough, a simple search for ‘where does light come from’ is all it takes. Without getting too complex, light is an expression of energy more commonly known as radiation. Even secular scientists agree there was light in the universe before there were stars. They call it ‘primordial radiation’ and attribute it to anything but a divine source. The Bible states it more simply. God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. For the Bible to state that light was created before the celestial bodies that give light to our planet is not a contradiction, but is actually a scientifically accurate statement that goes against what myths and outdated science once believed. Fancy that.Contradiction 2: “Genesis 1:20 says the fowl were created out of the waters; Genesis 2:19 alleges they were formed from the ground.” This one is definitely a contradiction, right? It would be if that’s what the verses actually say, but it’s not. Genesis 2:19 says: Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them… Genesis 1:20 says: Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” From these two verses we learn that birds fly in the air and were created from the ground. Those are two different facts, but not an example of contradictions in the Bible. Unless you’re willfully misunderstanding the verse, these are obviously not contradicting Bible verses.Contradiction 3: “Genesis 6:19, God ordered Noah to bring ‘of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort...into the ark.’ Nevertheless, Genesis 7:2-3 relates that the Lord ordered Noah to take into the ark the clean beast and the birds by sevens, and only the unclean beasts by twos.” Remember the definition of contradiction? It means something is incompatible or in opposition to something else. Giving additional information does not mean I’ve contradicted myself. If someone asked you to bring two of each of your favorite foods to a party and then said, also bring seven of each of a few specific foods you both like, have they contradicted themselves? You were bringing two of everything anyway, but they also want to make sure there are seven of a specific subset. Are you unable to do both of the things you were asked to do? No. Having seven of something means you also have a pair, since two is included in that larger quantity. This is an example of personal bias and willful misunderstanding, not contradictions in the Bible.Contradiction 4: “Genesis 8:4 reports that, as the waters of the flood receded, Noah’s ark rested on the mountains of Ararat in the seventh month. The very next verse, however, says the mountaintops could not be seen until the tenth month.” Why do we have lighthouses and buoys around coastlines? To protect ships from rocks, reefs or other dangers hidden beneath the surface of the water. Ships don’t sit on the surface of the water like a rock on a frozen pond. Depending on how large the vessel is and how much weight it’s carrying, a substantial part of a ship is below the surface of the water. If the Bible is accurate, Noah’s ark was the size of a small cargo ship, over forty feet from top to bottom and carrying so much weight that the water line would have been several stories above the bottom of the ship. According to Genesis chapter 8, it took seven months for the flood waters to recede enough for the bottom of the ark to snag on the top of Mount Ararat. It took another three months for the water to recede to the point where those in the ark could actually see the mountains. These are not contradicting Bible verses, but an accurate account of what happened.Contradiction 5: “Genesis 8:13 describes the earth as being dry on the first day of the first month. But Genesis 8:14 informs us the earth was not dry until the twenty-seventh day of the second month.” When there is a massive flood and water covers everything, you mark the day you can see the ground again. That’s verse 13. “...In the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried off the earth.” In essence, “I can see land!” Does that mean the ground was dry? Is that how it works with the puddles in your yard? When you finally see ground and not water, are you surprised to get muddy if you walk over the spot that day or even the next? Of course not. Ask any farmer if not seeing water on the ground means the ground is dried out. They’ll tell you absolutely not. The amount of time it takes for soil to dry varies depending on how saturated the soil was to begin with, what kind of drainage the area has, and the type of soil. In the case of Noah’s flood, everything was completely saturated. It’s not a surprise and not a contradiction in the Bible when Genesis 8:14 states that the ground was dried out almost two months after the water was dried off the surface of the earth. These aren’t contradicting Bible verses, but a continuation of the events being recorded.Contradiction 6: “According to II Samuel 24:1, the Lord had caused David to take the census - which makes the punishment appear even more nonsensical. But an attempt was later made, at I Chronicles 21:1, to improve God’s image by claiming that Satan incited the census.” This one is not just about contradicting Bible verses, but also questions the character of God. If God incited David to take a census, how can a just God punish him for it? And if it was Satan who moved David to take a census, then why didn’t Samuel just say so? James 1:13-14 can help us understand this. It says: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” God may test us, but He never tempts us. It’s important to distinguish between the two. A test is given with hope that you pass. Temptation is presented with hope that you fail. Satan is the tempter, not God. But ultimately we are responsible for our own actions. In the case of the census, David did what he wanted. He failed the test (from God) and gave in to the temptation (of Satan) to do what he knew was wrong. These aren’t contradictory Bible verses, but different facets of the same lesson.Contradiction 7: “At Jeremiah 7:22, God denies he ever gave the Israelites commandments about animal sacrifices. In contrast, Exodus 29:38-42 and many other verses depict God as requiring the Israelites to offer animal sacrifices.” Everything in the Old Testament is a foreshadow of the fulfillment we find in the New Testament. Sacrifice is an important theme throughout the Bible, culminating in the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of mankind at the cross. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist alluded to these Old Testament sacrifices when he said of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Sacrifices are a very important part of the Bible. If Jeremiah denied that God commanded sacrifices, that would indeed be a contradiction in the Bible. What does Jeremiah actually say? For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you. (Jeremiah 7:22-23) Jeremiah doesn’t deny God ever gave commandments about animal sacrifices. He says that wasn’t the first thing He commanded them to do. The first thing God wanted was obedience. Everything else follows. He said the same thing to king Saul, when he failed to follow instructions and chose to do his own thing, which included sacrifices God didn’t ask for. Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.  ~ 1 Samuel 15:22 The sacrifices that God commanded were important, but they weren’t the most important, nor were they the first thing he spoke to them. This is not a contradiction in the Bible, but a statement of priorities.What’s Your Motivation? These supposed contradictions in the Bible are not difficult to resolve when you have a desire to do so. When you approach the Bible with a desire to understand it, God will help you to do so. When your desire is to misunderstand the Bible or undermine it, you become willfully blind to the truth that is there if you are willing to see it. The examples above are from the Old Testament. What about the New Testament? In the next article, we will give the same examination to what some consider New Testament contradictions in the Bible. Do you know the Good News? Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Best Study Bibles For 2020, Our 10 Choices

Choosing Your Sword, Our Ten Best Study Bibles for 2020?

Are you ready to take your Christian walk to the next level? If so, you’re going to need a good study Bible. The notes, commentary and study helps are what set the best study Bibles apart from other Bibles. Chances are, if you’re interested in something specific, there’s a study Bible for that. Some, like the MacArthur Study Bible are from a single person’s study and ministry. Some are targeted for a specific area of study. Others are intended for a specific audience. With so many options available, deciding on the best study Bible for you can be quite a task. The best study Bible for you is one you will actually use. Don’t get something that intimidates you, but don’t be afraid to dive deep if that’s what you want to do. Find a Bible that appeals to you! Below are our top ten picks for 2020, in no particular order. For each Bible we’ve provided an overview, a sampling of what makes it unique, and which translations are available. Unless specifically noted otherwise, all of these Bibles include what we would consider basic study tools: book introductions that include at least the basics of who, what, and when for each book of the Bible, a concordance, and a cross-referencing system to find related verses.ESV Study Bible The English Standard Version is one of the fastest growing translations, partially because it is a more recent word-for-word translation. The ESV Study Bible has detailed introductions to the different sections and books of the Bible, a substantial cross-referencing system, in-depth commentary, and numerous other study tools included. The scripture text is single-column with commentary and helps in a double-column below. Over 80,000 cross-references are given in the inside margin. Because the notes are substantial they can take up much of the page, however, the outlining of sections and subtle use of color make this Bible easy to navigate. If you’re looking for a Bible with all your study tools in one place this is a great option. First impression: solid Translations: ESV Pros: extensive tools and commentary Cons: only one translation available Best study Bible for: those looking for a modern word-for-word translation with excellent built-in study toolsThe Life Application Study Bible The Life Application Study Bible has been around for decades. With seven different English translations available, it’s no wonder this is one of the best-selling study Bibles around. The page layout is almost identical to the ESV study Bible with single-column scripture, double-column commentary and helps below, and cross-references in the side margin. Commentary includes suggestions or leading questions to help you apply the Bible to your daily life. At the back you’ll find the Christian Workers Resource, intended to help you minister to those around you, along with an index of where to find specific helps which are put in line with the specific scripture they reference. Pages frequently have more commentary than scripture, which can make reading longer scripture passages a challenge. If you want everything relating to a specific verse on the same page, or you want a Bible in a specific translation this is a great study Bible for you. First Impression: great big notes…itty bitty scripture Translations: NIV, KJV, NASB, NKJV, NLT, HCSB, NTV Pros: personal application prompts and questions Cons: notes and commentary can overwhelm the page Best study Bible for: those who want every tool and resource at the verse to which it relatesMacArthur Study Bible John MacArthur is a well-respected minister, best known for his radio program Grace to You. His love for the word of God is reflected in the MacArthur Study Bible, which represents decades of personal study and ministry. The MacArthur Study Bible is available in NASB, NKJV, and ESV translations as well as translations in several other languages. The scripture text is double-column with three-column commentary below. Extensive cross-references are given between the scripture and notes sections. In addition to the basic study tools you would expect, the MacArthur Study Bible includes many unique resources: an overview of theology, an index to key doctrines, interpretive challenges, and “How We Got our Bible” to name a few. First Impression: unique Translations: NASB, NKJV, ESV Pros: distinctive resources Cons: single contributor to the commentary Your best study Bible if: you want a trusted mentor to help you understand the BibleCSB Apologetics Study Bible If you want to equip yourself to defend your faith against skeptics or answer skeptical questions of your own, the CSB Apologetics Study Bible is a great resource. Many well-known apologists including Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Josh MacDowell, Lee Strobel, and Ravi Zacharias contributed to the commentary, articles, and introductions to each book of the Bible. Study notes are very specifically geared toward apologetics and related issues. The scripture text is double-column with three-column commentary below. Surprisingly there is no cross-referencing of verses. Unique to this Bible are Twisted Scripture explanations of forty-eight commonly misunderstood verses in the Bible, biographical profiles of apologists throughout history, timelines of apologetics issues, and a comparison of world religions. First Impression: logical defense Translations: CSB Pros: in-depth apologetics resources Cons: no cross-references Best study Bible for: those who want to be better equipped to answer skepticZondervan Study Bible This is the most colorful study Bible on our list, with color on every page. In addition to four-color graphics, this Bible includes full-color photography, maps and timelines. Color is used to clearly define different sections of a page and to give visual breaks between sections of the Bible. The scripture text is single column with double-column notes in a shaded area below. Cross-references are in the side margin. The commentary includes a coding system to highlight biblical character studies, archaeology and personal application of scripture. With so much color, the pages have almost a magazine feel at times. It’s very engaging, and has everything you would want to dig deeper into the Bible. First Impression: visually engaging Translations: NIV Pros: extensive tools and commentary Cons: only one translation available Best study Bible for: those looking for a modern thought-for-thought translation with excellent built-in study toolsHebrew-Greek Keyword Study Bible At first glance, the different little numbers and letters inserted throughout may seem overwhelming. If you feel like you need a guided tour to use this Bible, you’re right. Fortunately, that’s included in the front, where the annotation system is explained in detail. The scripture text is double-column with cross-references in between and notes in a single-column below. Book introductions are brief. Graphics are extremely minimal. This study Bible has zero fluff, and some serious study tools. Annotations are coded to the notes below or the resources at the back, which include a Hebrew and Greek dictionary to help you discover the depth of the original language. I would not recommend this study Bible for beginners, but if you’re ready to take your study of the Bible to the next level, you may want to invest in this one. First Impression: hefty Translations: NASB, NKJV, KJV, CSB, ESV Pros: tools to understand the original Hebrew and Greek words Cons: the detailed annotations in line with the text can be intimidating Best study Bible for: those who want to understand the depth and shades of meaning from the original languageEvery Man’s Bible Everything about Every Man’s Bible is direct. Book intros, study notes, and graphics are specifically targeted to help men navigate their unique challenges. On the second page of every book is a one sentence answer to the question, “What is the point of this book?” Unique to this Bible are almost one hundred biographical sketches of men in the Bible who are examples of what to do, or what not to do. There are also Personal Gold articles throughout from respected Christian ministers. The scripture text is double-column with single-column commentary below. Because it is missing both cross-references and a concordance, this could be considered a discipleship Bible rather than a study Bible. If your focus is on developing in your relationships at home, at work, and with God, this Bible is an excellent resource. First Impression: to the point Translations: NLT, NIV Pros: rich insights from Christian men specifically for what men face Cons: no cross-reference, no concordance Best study Bible for: those who want discipling and devotional content for men Woman’s Study Bible The Woman’s Study Bible features devotional and inspirational articles from over 80 Christian women with a variety of denominational backgrounds. There are also inspirational quotes from Christian women throughout history and biographies of one hundred different women in the Bible. The purpose of much of the additional content is to highlight God’s love and care specifically for women. The scripture and notes are both double-column. Notes are in a shaded area and a different font, so they are easy to distinguish. One tool that is notably missing is a cross-reference system for related verses. The four-color graphics used throughout definitely have a feminine flair, adding interest without distracting from the text. First Impression: feminine Translations: NIV, KJV, NKJV Pros: biblical insights from women from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions Cons: no cross-references Best study Bible for: those who want a Bible with a good balance of study material and devotional content for womenKids’ Visual Study Bible One of the first things you’ll notice about this Bible is that once you take it out of the box, the embossed cover looks very grown up. The complete text of the NIV translation is included. The scripture is single-column with simplified study notes in the colored side bar of each page. The vibrant four color design makes the maps, charts and info-graphics fun and easy to read. The target audience is kids ages 8-12. Other than the simplified study notes, this Bible doesn’t include the basic study tools an adult would look for, such as cross-referencing and a concordance. If you use this as an adult it would be more of a colorful, easily accessible, reading Bible rather than a study Bible. First Impression: vibrant Translations: NIV Pros: great graphics, easy-to-understand notes Cons: missing basic study tools for digging deeper Best study Bible for: kids 8-12 years old, or someone at that reading levelThe Inductive Study Bible This study Bible is designed to help you discover for yourself the meaning of the scripture and how to apply it. If you don’t like marking in your Bible, this one is not for you. Bible study tools are kept at the front and the back of the Bible, leaving the single-column scripture text almost uninterrupted. Cross-references are on the inside margin. The Inductive Bible Study method is explained in detail in the front section. Each book of the Bible has an introduction and overview, but chapter headers and book outlines are left blank for you to fill in as you study. Other than minimal prompts on keywords to look for as you study, there is very little commentary. If you want to pull scriptural truths from the Bible for yourself, without getting too technical you will love this Bible. First impression: pencils ready! Translations: NASB, ESV Pros: makes understanding the Bible accessible to everyone Cons: you are on your own and may miss inspired insights from seasoned ministers Best study Bible for: those who want to discover things for themselves and are comfortable marking their BibleThe Best Study Bibles Help Make Studying A Habit The Bible is God’s instruction manual for living. No matter where you’re at in your Christianity, studying God’s word will change you for the better. The bottom line is to start making the Bible a part of your everyday life. Whether you choose a highly technical tool like the Hebrew-Greek Keyword Study Bible, an exposition of the word developed from one persons’ lifetime of ministry like the MacArthur Study Bible, a different Bible from our top ten list, or one that wasn’t listed at all - the best study bibles get you to start digging into God’s word for yourself. Once you do, you will be glad you did. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Understanding The Bible, It's Reliability And It's History

Understanding the Bible

For a believer, nothing is more important than understanding the Bible. It tells us about God, ourselves, the universe, and how to live life. It teaches us the greatest problem facing humanity (sin and separation from God) and the only solution (Jesus). As a child you accepted what adults told you, assuming it to be true. After all, adults know everything, right? If you grew up in a Christian family, authority figures taught you that the Bible is God’s Word and that you can trust it. Questions with Understanding the Bible However, as you grew older, you realized that you (an adult), didn’t know everything, which meant that your authorities didn’t know everything. In fact, you likely started wondering… Is the Bible even true? How long has it been the Bible? Did it become the Bible after the last book was written, or was it the Bible all along? Out of all the literary works from that time period, how can I be sure we have the right books in the Bible? Is it really a book from God or just another man-made religious book? What about all the mistakes people find in it? If you’ve thought these questions, or ones similar to them, good for you. When you allow doubts to challenge your faith, it helps you prove whether or not your faith is genuine. Don’t be afraid that you have these questions. It’s what you do with them that counts—do you bury them in fear, or do you face them and look for help? Let’s turn now to some of the most common (and important) questions about understanding the Bible.Question 1: How Did the Bible Become the Bible?  By God’s design and under His direction, His people the Israelites began compiling works of Scripture thousands of years ago (for two examples, see Deuteronomy 31:26 and Hebrews 9:4). Fast forward, and the early church fathers (as far back as 300 AD!) continued the task. To be clear, these people didn’t decide which books would be Scripture. Instead, they determined which books God had inspired and then compiled those into the canon. (“Canon” is just a fancy word for the books accepted as biblical).Question 2: How Do We Know the Right Books are in the Bible? Early church fathers used several tests to determine which books God had inspired. The first was to look at internal proofs. For example, many passages speak about God preserving His Word. For example, Psalm 119 says, Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven ~ Psalm 119:89 God values His Word too much to allow humans to mess it up. If we believe He is in control, we must also acknowledge that He guided our forefathers as they compiled the Bible. Additionally, certain biblical authors actually talk about other books and call them Scripture. Peter, speaking of Paul’s writings, says, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. ~ 2 Peter 3:16 “So, you’re saying that to find out if it’s God’s Word, you look at what it says? And since the Bible says it’s God’s Word, that proves that it is? Isn’t that circular reasoning?” In reality, all worldviews come back to presuppositions, faith, and circular reasoning. Christians believe in the integrity of God's word when understanding the Bible—innocent until proven guilty. They believe God created the world because the Bible says so. Evolutionists, because they don’t believe God exists (or if He does, He’s not very involved), champion the theory of evolution. Their presupposition is “no God,” so their conclusion is evolution. The truth is that no one was there at the beginning of time, so we all have to choose to believe in something. The second type of test for canonicity is external proofs. Even over the last few decades, archaeological discoveries match biblical stories and genealogies. For instance, many believed the story of David and Goliath to be fictitious until an incredible discovery. Archaeologists found pottery with the name “Goliath” inscribed in it. The time period and location of this artifact matched up perfectly with the biblical account. This is just one example of thousands! One of the most astounding discoveries in this realm is the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947, an unsuspecting shepherd threw a stone into some caves and heard the sound of shattering pottery. When he investigated further, he saw old scrolls rolled up inside pots. He brought them to a dealer to be appraised. They were passed from hand to hand as archaeologists and scholars began to realize their worth. Despite being a couple thousand years old, they matched up with almost the entirety of the modern Bible.  Finally, early church fathers analyzed the authority, uniqueness, and universal acceptance of books in order to determine whether or not they were of divine origin. Certain books, like the Apocrypha, failed these tests. While they were historical, they did not carry the same biblical authority, unique attributes, and international acceptance as the books that are now in the Bible. In addition, they contradicted books that God had clearly inspired.Question 3: How Do We Know It’s Not Just Another Book of Religion? One of the most incredible facts about the Bible is its internal unity. Despite its multiple authors across many centuries, it remains consistent to one storyline without contradicting itself. This points to God’s sovereign hand preserving His Word over thousands of years. Another reason the Bible is different from any other book is its transformative power throughout history. By it lives permanently change, fighting ceases, and kingdoms crumble. No other book can honestly boast such importance. Additionally, we see many biblical prophecies clearly fulfilled. The Messiah, Jesus, came born of a virgin (predicted in Isaiah 7:14; fulfilled in Luke 1:34). Cyrus, predicted hundreds of years earlier in Isaiah 45, unwittingly did exactly what God had promised (see 2 Chronicles 36:22-23). By the way, if you’re skeptical, remember that scholars and archaeologists have found external proof that Isaiah was written long before 2 Chronicles (click here for a list of dates).Question 4: What About All the Errors? Despite the Bible claiming that it is error-free (John 10:35), people still find what they believe to be errors in the Bible. While almost none of these affect any major doctrines, they are still important to look at. For instance, what do we do about the discrepancy between Numbers 25:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:8? One says that God killed 24,000 people, but the other says that 23,000 died. It does look like an error, doesn’t it? This could easily be an instance of rounding to the nearest thousand or describing how many died total versus how many died in one day. However, many other minor discrepancies like this occur in the Bible translations. What’s important to understand is that, while God inspired the original text of Scripture, not every copy of the Bible is inspired. Humans copied the text, and humans make mistakes. Another example of a potential problem in understanding the Bible is when it says that God repented or regretted making humanity before He sent the flood (Genesis 6:6). “If God is sovereign and never makes mistakes, how can He regret something?” many people ask. From man’s perspective, God sometimes appears to repent, because His disposition toward a person changes when that person disobeys. Because of the progression of the English language, the choice of the word “repent” in the King James Version could lead people today to believe that God repents in the way humans do (as if He had done something wrong). However, He is probably just using a term that we would understand, since we can’t fathom all the ways of an infinite, all-knowing God. We could tackle many different supposed errors and contradictions in Scripture, but we do not have the time or the space here. However, a serious student of the Scriptures will be able to respond to criticisms against the Bible with intelligence and confidence. While alleged discrepancies often shake a believer’s faith in the inerrancy and inspiration of God’s Word, they should actually engender the opposite mentality. If you just dig a little deeper into the original text, the historical background, and other passages of Scripture, you will come to the realization that God’s Word that spans the centuries is truly like no other book in its harmony, beauty, accuracy, and penetration. Most of the criticisms against it arise out of subjective, biased twisting of Scripture’s plain meaning.Question 5: Can I Understand A Book As Complex As the Bible? Thankfully, many helpful study tools exist for you as you study God’s Word. You don’t have to know Hebrew or Greek to understand it. Other believers have done deep study and compiled their findings in books and articles that are easy to digest. If you’re unsure of what theologians to read, ask your pastor or Christian friend who their favorites are. In conclusion, your quest to understand God’s Word will be lifelong. Thankfully, He doesn’t expect you to have all the answers. If you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit who will guide you as you try to understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:15). Even if you’re not a believer, you can pray for God’s help to understand. He loves to answer humble prayers! But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ~ James 1:5-6 Go learn Everything You Need To Know About The Word Of God. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Gospel of Peace: What You Know & Don't Know

What does the Gospel of Peace have to do with shoes?

In Ephesians Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

10 Facts That Prove The Truth Of God

Proving the Truth of God

There are many facts that prove the Truth of God.  The Bible is filled with countless fulfilled prophesies, eyewitness accounts of Jesus Christ and all that He did, and history is filled with personal experiences that prove the Truth of God.  Below we explain ten of the boldest, most amazing facts that prove the Truth of God.Fact #1 – Fulfilled Prophesies The Bible is absolutely filled with prophecies that have come true.  In Isaiah 39:5-6, we read where Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah that Judah would be defeated by Babylon and would be taken into captivity.  It was so specific to even go into detail that the people, all that they own, and everything their fathers had saved up would all be carried off to Babylon.  History proves that Babylon did indeed conquer and take into slavery Judah, about 100 years after this prophecy was spoken. We also see in John 1:10-11 that the Bible tells us about Jesus, and how He was the one who was with God from the beginning and lived in the world, yet the world did not believe who He said He was.  It even goes into further details about how He went to His own and His own received Him not. This is all fulfilled through the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to the Jewish people and they rejected Him, opening the Gospel to the gentiles.vFact #2 – The Truth of God Changed Lives There have been many changed lives because of the Truth of God.  The Truth of God is the Word of God, and the Word of God has revolutionized the lives of many that have heard its words.  One very prominent example of this from the Bible is the story of Saul. Saul was a Roman soldier who hunted down, imprisoned, and killed Christians for their beliefs.  Jesus appeared to Saul during his walk from Damascus to Jerusalem. During Jesus’ appearance to Saul on the road to Damascus, Jesus asked Saul why he was persecuting Him.  It was during this personal experience with Jesus Christ that Saul was converted to a Christian. Saul was later renamed Paul and became one of the strongest proponents of Christianity in history. If you asked any Christian that you know what God has done for them, I am sure you would hear about more changed lives.  There are countless stories of people being able to overcome being addicted to drugs, sexual immorality, and many other sins through their newfound relationship with Jesus.Fact #3 – Manuscripts that prove the accuracy of translations With over 25,000 manuscripts of the Bible, there is insurmountable evidence of the Truth of God.  These manuscripts are copies of a very old text, a text that could have easily faded over time, but it did not.  The fact that we have such a large amount of manuscripts of the Bible and that they all line up and agree with each other is amazing proof of the Truth of God.  If you write a friend a letter and ask him to take the letter and write it to another friend, you would likely have a completely different story by the end. Not with the Bible, these manuscripts have been painstakingly copied and they all line up to tell us the same story of Jesus Christ. Fact #4 – A truth worth dying for, many apostles gave their lives for the Gospel Not many people would die for a lie but a truth so strong, so life-changing had many of the apostles give their lives.  How many people do you know would allow themselves to be killed because of some guy who calls himself the messiah? But what if they were 100% certain that he was the messiah?  What if they believed with all their hearts that he was truly the son of God and that his words were true? Some of the apostles were beaten, clubbed, or even stoned to death for their beliefs in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Truth and the apostles died because of their faith in that Truth. Fact #5 – The Tel Dan Stele mentions the House of David, skeptics said David did not exist. It was until 1993 that many skeptics did not believe that the David of the Bible ever existed.  The Tel Dan Stele is a fragment of stone that was discovered by an archeologist named Gila Cook in Tel-Dan in 1993.  This historical find contained a language very similar to what the historical Jews used. On this fragment of stone contained details about the House of David, proving that the David of the Bible and his house really existed and quieting many skeptics.  Not only did it mention David and his House, but is also mentioned the King of the Jews, further proving the truth of the Bible. Fact #6 – Acceptable as a Historical Text The Bible is widely considered as a historical text throughout the world today in many college campuses and scholarly journals.  Many textbooks today refer to the Bible as a valid and accurate historical text for the History of the Jews and even in the Roman Empire.  For the scientific and scholarly world to consider the Bible true enough to be used as a historical text, that confirms that the Bible is held to a very high standard among the scholarly.  There are many very old books but very few of them hold the test of time to be used as an accurate account of history over 2000 years later. The fact that the Bible is still used as an acceptable historical text proves the Truth of God because the Bible is the Word of God. Fact # 7 – Witness testimony of the Bible Proves the Truth of God The Bible is full of eyewitness testimony.  Today, eyewitness testimony is still one of the strongest forms of proof in a court of law.  Eyewitness testimony gives us a direct account of what occurred during major or historical events.  What makes the eyewitness testimony of the Bible so amazing is that there were multiple eyewitness accounts and they all line up to tell the same story.  It is hard to get people in the same room to agree on something, let alone all of them tell the same exact story without exaggerating about what had happened.  If we look at the four Gospels of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, all of these are first-hand eyewitness accounts of what happened during the Life of Jesus Christ.  These accounts cover the announcing of His birth, His early childhood, how He called His disciples to follow Him, first-hand accounts of many miracles that Jesus did, and most importantly His death on the cross and resurrection three days later.  The fact that these four Gospels all line up and tell the same story is proof of the Truth of God.Fact #8 – Personal Experience Proves the Truth of God Personal experiences prove the Truth of God.  If you have never had a personal experience with God, then this bold statement might be hard to believe.  However, if you have had a personal experience with God then you know exactly what I am talking about. There have been thousands, if not millions of stories of people having personal experiences with God that not only prove the Truth of God but also change their lives forever.  Alice Cooper, for example, was most famous for his “Shock Rock” and graphic music. He lived a life of partying, drinking, and even drugs until he announced to his fans one day that he was giving up that life and that he was now a Christian. He admitted that living a life of partying was easy but living life as a Christian was hard, yet he still chose the path of following God.  Alice Cooper had a personal experience with God and it absolutely changed his life forever. We are made up of all our personal experiences throughout our life and that is why these personal experiences prove the Truth of God.Fact #9 – The Bible proves the Truth of the Bible The Old Testament has stood the test of time all on its own, but it was just the beginning of something great.  The Old Testament teaches us so much about God, how He loves us, how he knew us before we were even in the womb, and how He longed to save humanity.  The Old Testament told us of a coming savior, one who would be born of a virgin, hated and rejected by His own people, yet would give his life for humanity so that they might have eternal life.  The New Testament and the Old Testament go hand in hand, they are both the Word of God and they both confirm and prove the Truth of God. By reading the Bible God speaks to us, He tells us how we ought to live our lives as Christians.  His Word is true, and you can see the consistency of His Truth throughout the entire Bible.Fact #10 – Jesus, the Son of God The most important fact that proves the Truth of God is Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.  You cannot speak of the Truth of God without mentioning Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Truth.  By reading the Bible and studying the words of Jesus, the love of God is revealed to us. Jesus is the ultimate message to humanity, a message of love and of hope.  We just need to read John 3:16 to see how much God loves us. God, the creator of the world, the universe, and every living thing sent His only Son to Earth to die for our sins.  He loved us so much that He was willing to have His Son be the ultimate sacrifice for Humanity. It is through our faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and his sacrifice on the cross that we are saved and can be united with God.  Jesus proves the Truth of God through His life and ultimately through His death on the cross.How explore these 5 Amazing Reasons God's Word is Truth! Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

How Faith in God Can Make Your Life Better

Making life better with Faith in God

When you are considering your faith in God, not only is it important for you to understand faith as it relates to God, but also how faith in God can improve or revolutionize your life as a believer. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. ~ Matthew 21:21 Faith and the Trip Switch Let's start with a simple parable.  It's a humorous story about a motorist who pulled into a service station to have his vehicle refueled. The refueling went off without incident and the driver pulled away from the pump.  However while pulling away, he accidentally drove into a very large pothole some 20 feet away.  As a result, the back end of the vehicle slammed down hard against the pavement. To the dismay of the driver, the vehicle came to a complete stop. Any endeavors to restart the engine failed in it's efforts to coax the motor back to life. And to make matters worse, of course this took place on a Saturday when no mechanic was on duty. Unfortunately, the motorist was stuck and had to leave the vehicle there until Monday, when they would finally be able to talk with the mechanic. Enter the mechanic Long story short, on the following Monday, the mechanic asked the driver what had happened. So the driver related the story about the refueling, then driving away from the pump, followed by hitting of the pothole and then the hard slam of the back end of the vehicle on the pavement. With that information, the mechanic quickly went to work.  First he consulted the repair manual for this 1980's vehicle. After a few moments, a smile began to emerge on the mechanic's face and he returned to the vehicle.  Next he lifted the hatchback and began fumbling around in the trunk area. So what's the problem? After a brief moment or two, the mechanic asked the driver to try to start the engine. So the driver inserted the key into the ignition, turned the key and soon after the engine roared back to life. Astonished, the driver was incredibly happy and asked the mechanic what had happened? To which the mechanic replied that this vehicle was equipped with a specially designed "trip" switch. When the vehicle experiences a significant bump, the switch is then activated and stops the flow of fuel from the fuel pump. Faith is like a trip switch So for us, faith in a believer's life is like that "trip" switch in this vehicle. As the need for fuel is critical for an automobile, so is the importance of faith to fully engage the life of the believer towards God. Therefore, faith in God can make your life better through a number of powerful attributes that faith brings. To begin with...Faith and the Trip Switch Let's start with a simple parable.  It's a humorous story about a motorist who pulled into a service station to have his vehicle refueled. The refueling went off without incident and the driver pulled away from the pump.  However while pulling away, he accidentally drove into a very large pothole some 20 feet away.  As a result, the back end of the vehicle slammed down hard against the pavement. To the dismay of the driver, the vehicle came to a complete stop. Any endeavors to restart the engine failed in it's efforts to coax the motor back to life. And to make matters worse, of course this took place on a Saturday when no mechanic was on duty. Unfortunately, the motorist was stuck and had to leave the vehicle there until Monday, when they would finally be able to talk with the mechanic. Enter the mechanic Long story short, on the following Monday, the mechanic asked the driver what had happened. So the driver related the story about the refueling, then driving away from the pump, followed by hitting of the pothole and then the hard slam of the back end of the vehicle on the pavement. With that information, the mechanic quickly went to work.  First he consulted the repair manual for this 1980's vehicle. After a few moments, a smile began to emerge on the mechanic's face and he returned to the vehicle.  Next he lifted the hatchback and began fumbling around in the trunk area. So what's the problem? After a brief moment or two, the mechanic asked the driver to try to start the engine. So the driver inserted the key into the ignition, turned the key and soon after the engine roared back to life. Astonished, the driver was incredibly happy and asked the mechanic what had happened? To which the mechanic replied that this vehicle was equipped with a specially designed "trip" switch. When the vehicle experiences a significant bump, the switch is then activated and stops the flow of fuel from the fuel pump. Faith is like a trip switch So for us, faith in a believer's life is like that "trip" switch in this vehicle. As the need for fuel is critical for an automobile, so is the importance of faith to fully engage the life of the believer towards God. Therefore, faith in God can make your life better through a number of powerful attributes that faith brings. To begin with...Faith in God Enhances our Relationship Through your faith in God you will begin to know God's heart.  His great commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart. This is the ultimate purpose of our being as humans. James invites you to, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ~ James 4:8 Additionally, through your faith in God and the study of His Word, you will also begin to know the mind of God. Therefore, in Romans you are encouraged, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2 By having faith in God and being in communion with Him, you will have a renewed mind enabling you to learn the will of God. As a result, when you are following the will of God, your life becomes better because you are now following His plans. Another benefit, having faith in God makes your life better because faith transforms or transfigures us. C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me. ~ C.S. Lewis· Prayer by faith in God will begin transforming your life. Remember, the closer and longer you are near the fire, the more you will feel the effects of the fire on you. Futhermore, faith in God transcends - your faith will elevate you beyond the reality and confines of this world and lift you up to see everything from God's perspective.Faith in God is Transcendent As you are already aware, the world you and I live in is a negative, selfish and self-serving place. Consequently it often seems like God is barely even an after-thought. Even still, the mantra of this corrupt and fallen world seems to be nothing more than eat, drink and be merry. However, Jesus emphatically states in I John, Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ~ I John 2:15 You faith in God should always embraces Him.  Consequently, your back is turned on the world. Therefore, you should no be looking back but focused on the Lord. Furthermore, in Luke, Jesus states, But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” ~ Luke 9:62 Additionally, you need to rise above it all. Indeed you and I are crucified with Christ and therefore are dead to the circumstances of this world and world itself. John declares, If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you ~ John 15:19 You will no longer be a citizen of this world. In other words, through your faith in God, you will be elevated above what you see around us and you securely lock your heart towards the matters of heaven. The reality of the spiritual realm seen by faith in God is best described in II Kings when Elisha prayed, Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ~ II Kings 6:17 Furthermore, through your faith in God, your will experience a better life because we, as followers of Christ, become conquerors. In 1 John we declare with the beloved disciple, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4 Through your faith, you will share in the victory of Christ over this corrupted world, our sins and the evil one. Finally, by having faith in God, you will revolutionize your life by receiving Life of Christ through His Spirit.Faith in God is Transformational Your first miracle of transformation will occur in your heart. Here you see the psalmist cried out, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. ~ Psalm 51:10 Additionally, in Jeremiah you will see the promise of God is, I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. ~ Jeremiah 24:7 By having faith in God, you will have your heart of stone transformed into a new heart.  Your transplant by God will be transformational. In addition to having a new heart, through your faith in God, you will experience the transformation of your  mind as well. In Colossians, you should be inspired to hear, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him ~ Colossians 3:10 In I Corinthians 2:16 you hear that we have the mind of Christ. By faith in God, you and I believe this and find that our thoughts become His thoughts. You will understand His will and we are bathed in life and peace (Romans 8:6). Consequently, because you have faith in God, you will have different actions and behaviors. We will now act and react in a transformational and heavenly manner. Isaiah declares, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. ~ Isaiah 40:31 And in II Corinthians we embrace by faith the reality of Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ~ II Corinthians 5:17 You will be empowered, through your Faith in God, to behave differently in this world.Where is your trip switch? Similar to our motorist in the opening narrative, your live can seem on track and has everything ready to go. And like the vehicle in the story, you will appear to be fully operational with a full gas tank all the latest automotive technology, etc. As a Christian, you really need to ask yourself, is your toggle switch, of faith in God, in the engaged position or have you hit a pot hole or speed bump that has caused your toggle switch to be disengaged? Engage your faith  If your toggle switch, our faith in God, is not engaged, you are probably stranded and lost, kinda like that 4,000 pound vehicle. Everything in your life may look good, have all the bells and whistles, but you may be living aimlessly with no direction. That is not the purpose for your life.  You need to figure out how to safely travel from point A to point B and figure out where point be even is for you. Maybe, like the mechanic,  you just need to refer to your owner's manual, The Word of God, and with God's guidance you will release your full potential in the world.  Our Christian lives in this world attesting to the reality of God and his wonder working power in this world. Live your purpose As a Christian, you are intended for a variety of purposes in God's plan. You are intended to have a deep and personal relationship with God.  Additionally, you are meant to be a loving force in this world towards others, be the salt and light in this world against the darkness.  Finally, God intends for you to live a better ...a life of quality, empowerment and transformation. You should now know that true Faith in God will make your life better.  Like with the car, your faith is the toggle switch that allows the fuel or life of God to race in and through your very being.Now go learn about Whole Armor Of God, Understanding All Six Pieces Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Everything You Need To Know About The Word Of God

Asking the Right Questions About The Word of God

A professor of mine told his class once, “If you’re going to ask adult questions, you need to expect adult answers.” In other words, the deeper your question, the more willing you should be to work hard for a deep answer instead of a quick, easy fix.  Even more so, this is true when trying to understand the word of God. People have many different views and opinions on the Bible. They ask questions like, “How do we know the Bible is really God’s Word?” or “Doesn’t it have errors in it?” These are valid questions, but sometimes it takes years of study to answer them. However, here we will take a wide, surface-level approach at answering some prevalent questions about God’s Word. Let’s begin with authorship. Who Wrote the Bible? Christians believe that the Bible is inspired, or God-breathed. In other words, God spoke (or breathed out) the words of Scripture, which is why we call it “God’s Word.” “I thought humans wrote the Bible,” you may be thinking. You’re right! For example, Moses wrote the first 5 books, David penned many of the Psalms, and Paul is the author of much of the New Testament. How did both God and man write the Bible? God used the unique writing styles and personalities of various authors to bring the Bible into existence. Many of the books tell us who the human authors are (e.g., Romans 1:1). Yet, we learn in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is inspired by God” While this may seem like a contradiction, it isn’t—for both are true! So, what? Is it really such a big deal who wrote the Bible? Yes! If it were simply the words of people, it would just be another book of religion like The Book of Mormon or the Qur’an. Consequently, it would not hold any divine authority. ​Why Is the Bible Such an Important Book? Because of its divine origin, the Bible holds extreme power. God’s words have full authority over the universe, as we see in Genesis 1 where He speaks everything into existence! (As a side note, it appears that the only part of His creation that He didn’t speak into existence was man and woman—these He fashioned more intimately, demonstrating our value to Him.) Many people struggle with parts of Scripture because they don’t like that God can tell them what to do. Yet, because He made us and knows what’s best for us, He does have the right to give us commands. “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’? Isaiah 45:9 This picture of the clay talking back to its maker sounds ludicrous to us, and it’s supposed to. The point is that it’s just as foolish for us as humans to look at God and say, “Who are you to tell me how to live my life?” Another way the Bible is powerful is in its ability to change hearts. God tells us that His Word can turn a rebel into a follower of Jesus (1 Peter 1:22-25). Have you ever known someone who was always miserable or angry, but then he became a Christian, and everything changed? This is the power we’re talking about. You may have experienced this power yourself to some degree. You read a verse that you’ve read a hundred times, but that day it speaks to you in a whole new way. “I never thought about it like that before!” you exclaim. You feel the truth of that verse working its way into your heart, creating a softness that wasn’t there before. Can I Trust the Bible? It’s a popular opinion that the Bible is a good book but not a perfect book. People believe they see errors and contradictions here and there throughout it. If this is the case, how do we know we can trust anything that it says? If it were just a book of human origin, we could explain away many of the truths and commands. “Times change,” we would tell ourselves. “Sure, we can learn from the Bible, but we should take what we read with a grain of salt.” But God says the following about His Word: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. ~ 2 Peter 1:20-21 Yes, you can trust the Bible, because God is the author behind it all, and He never lies (Numbers 23:19)! If a reader of the Bible encounters any apparent contradictions, he or she, through prayer and deep study, will eventually find that they aren’t contradictions at all. Another reason you can trust the Bible is that it applies to every situation. It doesn’t speak specifically to everything specifically, obviously—like which doctor to choose or how to set up a budget—but it is full of truths and principles that you can utilize no matter what you’re going through. One of David’s Psalms, the 19th, talks about the beauty and value of God’s Word. He uses the following adjectives to describe it: perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm, precious, and sweet. Wow! You would trust any book that had all those qualities! David also describes in the same passage how the Bible helps us: It refreshes our souls, makes us wise, creates joy in our hearts, brings us light, lasts forever, and warns us against danger (v. 7-11). So, can you trust the Bible? Is it worth clinging to? Yes! What’s the Point of the Bible? Every quality work of literature has a main point that it wants to convey to its readers. In The Count of Monte Cristo, author Dumas demonstrates the ugliness of revenge as it overcomes his main character. In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, we see the beauty of sacrificial friendship between Frodo and Sam. The Bible is a long book—longer than even those other two! Can it really have one overarching theme? Basically, God’s Word boils down to two themes: the nature of humanity and the nature of God. The Bible describes itself figuratively as a mirror for its readers (James 1:23-24). In it we find all the answers that humans are looking for: “Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?” The Bible tells us that we came from God, that we fell into sin, that we exist to bring Him glory, and that we are going to one of two places—Heaven or Hell—depending on how we respond to God’s Son, Jesus. It helps us understand ourselves and our needs. Not only is God’s Word like a mirror, but it also acts as a telescope pointed up at the heavens. The main point of Scripture, even more than understanding ourselves, is to help us understand who God is. Jesus said it best when He was talking to the proud religious leaders of the day: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. ~ John 5:39-40 These religious people devoted their entire lives to studying the Old Testament, but they tragically and completely missed the whole point of those Scriptures—God Himself. The Word of God and You What about you? Have you missed the point of the Bible? Perhaps you grew up with barely any knowledge of Christianity. To you, the Bible is just another book of religion. “That’s great if it helps you,” you tell a Christian friend, “but it’s not for me.” But it is for you! The Bible is for everyone. Don’t miss out on the beauty of a relationship with your loving Creator. If you give your heart to Him, your life will still be hard, but you’ll never be alone. He will relieve your heavy soul with whispers of His kindness. Maybe you grew up very religious. To you, the Bible was a rule book. “Do this; don’t do that.” If so, here is the passage for you. God says: “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen. So then the Word of the LORD to them will become, “Do this, do that; a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there,” so that as they go they will fall backward, be broken, snared and taken captive. ~ Isaiah 28:12-13 God’s Word isn’t primarily a rule book. If you live that way, you’ll never know freedom. The Bible is a sign post pointing you to Jesus so that your soul can find rest in Him. Stop trying to work off your guilt—take it to the foot of the cross. Even if you’ve walked with God for a long time, you still need this reminder sometimes. While there’s nothing wrong with reading the Bible to find a nugget of encouragement for the day, remember that the point of the Word isn’t to make you feel good but to help you know God (which, consequently, will make your heart joyful!). So, there you have it—everything you need to know about the Word of God. Yet, it’s not everything there is to know. You have a lifetime and eternity to get to know this amazing God! Learn more about the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

How To Become A Christian And Be Saved

Discover How to Become a Christian

The King of Kings, the Creator of the entire Universe, wants to know you and love you. He is reaching out for you. Whether you fight Him today or choose to accept Him, He will always want you. Learning how to love God back is what it means to be a Christian. If you want to live in this kind of loving, intimate relationship with the All-Powerful God, forever, keep reading to learn how to become a Christian.What is a Christian? A Christian is, very simply, a person who chooses to live in community with God. To do this, you should first understand that Jesus is the Son of God, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Even though each part of this Trinity is a separate being from the others, they are all united in the single true God. (I know this sounds confusing now, but Jesus will make everything clear to you as you live longer with Him.) Why does it Matter? Why does it matter whether you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Well, since the beginning of the human race, we have all lived in sin—constantly! Sin simply means disobeying God, and it has the power to separate us from God forever. However, if you want to find out how to become a Christian, you can escape the clutches of sin and live a new life! How It Works? Remember how we said that God loves you and wants to be with you for eternity? Because he loves you so much, he made a way for you to get to Heaven, and that way is through His Son, Jesus Christ. We’ll talk more about how this works later, but for now, just remember that being a Christian just means choosing to accept this free gift of eternal life. To sum it all up, a Christian is a person who strives to follow Jesus’ path. Most importantly, He calls us to love one another and to lover everybody, no matter what. We also try our best to follow his example in everything we do, even though it can be really hard sometimes. If you want to know how to become a Christian, just as important as understanding what a Christian is, you should know what a Christian is not.What a Christian is Not Since we already know that following Jesus is the most important part of being a Christian, let’s clear up some misconceptions about Jesus. Jesus was not just: A prophet like the many before him Another good or wise man One god among many other gods Even though He was a prophet, he was a good and wise man, and he is God, Jesus was not just any one of these things. He was the perfect man, God in human flesh, and the only person who has the power to save us from our sin which would otherwise keep us apart from God forever. Understanding Jesus himself is the crucial first step in becoming a Christian.Not Haters, Not Naïve, and Not Blind Since Jesus is all of these things, Christians always try to be like Him. So, Christians are not haters. In fact, we are called to act with love and kindness in every situation. Even when Jesus flipped tables in the temple, He did so out of love and compassion, not out of rage or anger. Christians also do not believe in fairy tales. The Bible is the God-inspired true story of salvation. We might disagree on what certain parts of the Bible mean. Sometimes we may even draw different meaning. However, Christians believe in the Bible as God’s truest revelation of Himself to us. Finally, Christians do not blindly believe everything we are told.  True, listening to sermons and receiving teaching from other Christians is an important part of growing in faith. But, it is also important to discuss the teachings and reason for ourselves. Since the Word of God is infallible, no challenge is too much.How to Become a Christian We’ve learned a few things so far. First, we saw that God loves each one of us and wants to be with us forever. Then, we learned that Jesus is the Son of God, and God created a way for us to live with Him forever through His Son. Finally, we clarified a few misunderstandings that people often have about Jesus and about Christians. Now, let’s get to how you can receive the free gift of salvation by becoming a Christian, and live forever with the God who loves you more than you could ever imagine. The Role of Sin in the Gospel But, you may ask, why do I need to be saved in the first place? I live a good life, I do good things, I even donate to charity and volunteer in my community. But here’s the problem: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ~ Romans 3:23 Sin can mean a lot of different things—lying, cheating, stealing—but no amount of sin can keep you from God’s love if you choose to accept it. Everyone, including you, me, the pastor in your local church, the General of the Salvation Army, the President, has sinned, so no one on their own deserves to live with God forever. God’s Plan for Salvation The great news, dear reader, is that God has a plan to keep you with Him forever in spite of this sin! We call this good news the Gospel, and it’s pretty easy to get the basic idea of it. This is the most important thing to understand before you become a Christian. We’ve already covered most parts of it, but here is a quick summary: The Plan God created the entire Universe, and He saw that everything he created was good. That means you, me, the trees, the sky—everything in our Universe, God thinks is good. (Genesis 1:31) However, humans—starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden—chose to sin. That is, rather than choosing to live with God in this very good Universe, humans choose their own basic pleasures. This sin has a price, which is eternal death. Some Christians think this means condemnation to Hell, while others think it means being separated from God forever. (Romans 6:23) Either way, this is a terrifying idea! But God loves us so much that he sent His one and only Son from Heaven to Earth to live a perfect life, then die for our sins. This ultimate sacrifice, freely given by the One True God out of love for us sinners, is the only way to erase our sins and live with God forever. If you want to learn more about this good news, check out some of our blog posts. This will help you get a better idea of just how much God loves us and help you as you think about becoming a Christian.Make sure you know the Gospel! Saved by Grace Alone For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ~ Ephesians 2:8 The central part of this Gospel message is that we are saved by grace alone. This means that God chose to give us salvation out of His love for us. There is nothing we can do to earn it—no amount of donation to charity, good deeds, or volunteer hours can earn your place with God forever. It might be a little concerning or upsetting that we can’t do anything to earn our salvation—but it is actually the best news of all. All that is required of us to have eternal life with God is believe in him! But what does that even mean? Becoming a Christian You Can’t Save Yourself The first step in becoming a Christian is embracing that you cannot save yourself. Only God’s love can save you from your sin (and remember, even the best person you can think of has sin in their life). Once you understand this, your heart is ready for salvation. Repent of Your Sins The next step is to repent of your sins. That means first seeking out and acknowledging the sin in your life. Sometimes it might be hard to find, but it’s there somewhere. Once you have figured out the sins you have in your life, repentance means apologizing to God for your sins, then working every day to sin no more. For many, this is the most difficult step—but never forget, even in your sin, you are never out of God’s reach. Furthermore, as you grow closer to God, it will become easier to live apart from your sins as the Holy Spirit works in your life. Repenting of sin is a lifelong process, but being a Christian requires that you start that process. ​Submit to Jesus After you have understood the Gospel message and repented of your sins, the next step is to understand what it means to submit yourself to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This means that you will study God’s Word and learn more about what it means for you, then put what you learn into practice every day. Pray to Your New Father! After you have done all of this, talk to your new Father through prayer to accept this gift of salvation. This is the most exciting part of becoming a Christian.  You get to leave behind your old life of sin for a new, clean, pure life in God, the Creator of the Universe. The One who loves you more than you could ever imagine! Praying for the first time can be scary, but God is excited to hear from you, no matter what you have to say. He knows your heart, and He knows exactly what you mean to say, even if you don’t have the words. When you pray, you may choose bow your head or not. You may even choose to close your eyes or keep them open. And when you pray, you may even talk out loud or talk to yourself.  In the end, you just need to tell God you’re ready to become a Christian and live your life for Him.Signs of Salvation We’ve had quite a journey so far! We learned about what it means to be a Christian (and what it doesn’t mean), we discovered the Gospel of salvation through grace alone, and we walked through how you can become a Christian. If you have followed along this whole time, and followed the steps to be a Christian, you might be wondering what your new life should look like. Here are a few things you will begin to notice. The Holy Spirit Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ~ Acts 2:38 First, you will receive the Holy Spirit as another gift from God. Just as Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is also God, but, unlike the Father and Son who live in Heaven now, the Holy Spirit lives with us. This Spirit is with us throughout our daily lives and shows us how to better Christians. The Spirit makes us more sensitive to others’ needs, helps us understand what God says to us through the Bible, and even lets us recognize and resist sin. You will also begin to hate sin. It’s hard to realize how harmful sin is without Jesus in your life, but as you become more like Him, you will grow to see how much it hurts you. Your new life in Jesus will be so much more fulfilling than your life in sin that you will despise your old ways. An Abundance of Love Love will also enter your life like it never has before. You will be able to show others how much you love better than you have been able to before as you experience how well God loves you. Additionally, you will also feel love more deeply than ever before as you become surrounded by people who also love Jesus. Things Make Sense! And, at long last, a lot of that “crazy Christian stuff” will begin to make sense. Maybe you thought going on a mission trip or giving a tenth of your income to the church seemed crazy before.  However, you will begin to understand just how much sense it makes as you understand how radical it is to be Christian and to be loved by God. If you want to know more about how your life will begin to change, consider reading the Bible book of 1st John. (If you don’t have a Bible yet, you can find this online—we’ll talk about getting a Bible soon.) Keep in mind that this will be a slow change over time. Though some Christians experienced immediate changes as soon as they accepted Christ, different people experience Christianity at different speeds. Don’t lose heart if you feel frustrated in the beginning. I Am Saved! What Should I Do Now? First—congratulations on your decision to accept God’s greatest gift! You’re probably wondering, well, what should I do now? If you have Christian (or non-Christian) friends in your life, they would love to hear about your decision to become a Christian. A great next step is to publicly celebrate your decision with loved ones, and especially with other Christians. The angels in Heaven rejoice at your decision, and Christians here on Earth are excited to do the same. Pray After that, here are some great next steps to beginning your life as a Christian. The first thing you may want to do is pray. You prayed to accept Christ, but now you can talk with God about anything in your life. Through Jesus, we can have direct communication with God and ask for help, give thanks, or seek guidance. There is nothing magical about prayer. You may find a book of prayers to be helpful as you learn how to put words to your inner thoughts, but God just wants us to talk to Him—whatever words you have will work just fine! To many believers, this direct and intimate communication with God is one of the best parts of being a Christian. Find a Church For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” ~ Matthew 18:20 Now that you’re praying, finding a church community is a good next step. But why should you even go to church? Isn’t reading your Bible and praying enough? Well, that’s a hard question, and one many Christians debate today. Remember that being a Christian means doing everything you can to be more like Christ, every day. What is a Church? A “church” is not a building, but a community of believers who meet regularly to learn more about God and to become more like Christ together. Being more like Christ must involve community—Jesus is always in community! From the Holy Trinity that Jesus exists in to the communities He made here on Earth, Christ has always been in community. Churches provide this community, but they also provide teaching, opportunities for discussion, community service programs, and many other ways to grow closer to Christ. For anyone who is serious about becoming more like Christ every day, joining a church is an extremely helpful decision. Before joining a church, take some time to pray about it. Use your prayer time also as a time of silent reflection to think about what you want need in a church and how you want to serve the church. And don’t be afraid to visit many churches as you think through your decision! Choosing a Church Let the Holy Spirit guide you, and don’t rush into joining a church. In your church search, you will need to learn about different denominations, which can be intimidating. Keep in mind that denominational differences are typically over healthy and acceptable disagreements about the best ways to honor Christ. All denominations of the Christian faith accept the Gospel as presented here, so feel free to explore the denominations—but make sure to pray as you do and listen as the Holy Spirit guides your search.Get a Bible Many churches today are very friendly to digital versions of the Bible, as long as the device you use doesn’t disrupt service (and doesn’t distract you or others). If a Bible app or website best fits your lifestyle, feel free to use that. If, on the other hand, you prefer a paper Bible, take some time to pray about this, too. There are many different translations, and many different kinds of Bibles. Talking with a friend from church or a trusted Bible salesperson can be indispensable here. Finding a Translations For your first Bible, you will likely want to keep it simple. Bibles can range in price from five dollars to five hundred dollars, but any Bible will help you in your journey. For your first Bible, you will likely want to stick to common translations: The English Standard Version (ESV), New International Version (NIV), and King James Version (KJV) are among the most common and most easily accessible Bibles. (But be aware that the KJV translation can be difficult to understand—look for a translation that is easy for you to read!) What about a Study Bible? Each of these translations will have a version called a “study Bible,” which means it contains extra commentary from Bible scholars. Some trusted study Bibles include the MacArthur Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, and the Apologetics Study Bible. Just as with the translation, pick a study Bible that is interesting and helpful to you. Now What? After you have found the Bible that works for you, do your best to read it every day. Many Christians choose to begin their day with a study of God’s Word because it helps center their day on Christ and sets the tone for the rest of the day. However, a study at any time of day is better than no study. If you don’t know where to start, you can just pick any book that is interesting to you. It may also be helpful to invest in a book by a trusted Christian author to guide your study, or simply begin with Genesis! There is no secret or trick to reading the Bible, just read it in a way that helps you grow. You may also like to join a Bible study to make your Bible reading time more productive, and to engage more deeply in a smaller community of believers. Most churches offer Bible studies, but you can also start one with your friends. Getting into this small community is one of the best ways to develop good habits right after deciding to become a Christian. Getting Baptized Christians disagree over whether baptism is a necessary part of a believer’s life. When considering this question yourself, take the time to pray about it and talk it over with other believers or the leadership at your church. It is a big decision, and no one can make it for you. However, knowing that baptism is a public profession of faith, it should surely be considered by every Christian. Every apostle was baptized, as was Jesus Himself. Beyond even this, baptism is symbol of beginning your new life, and demonstrates to everyone the choice you have made. Listen for God As a Christian, God may begin to talk to you and guide your decisions. Especially during your prayer time, keep an eye out for God trying to lead you. Through the Holy Spirit, you have direct access to God, who wants to be a part of every piece of your life. Know that Science and God Are on the Same Side Never be afraid to ask questions and seek true, reasonable answers. Only then will you be able to answer others, and have a true and convincing answer yourself. As you question things about science or about Christianity, keep in mind what might be a difference of interpretation rather than a difference of fact. Many so-called conflicts between science and religion are a result of a difference in interpretation, not a conflict in reality. Share the Good News! Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:19-20 Now that you have eternal life, be bold and share the good news of salvation with others. After all, the only way anyone can share in this gift is if they are told. Remember that this is the greatest gift of all, and that it is a great act of love to share it with others. Tell others how to become a Christian, and watch as their life and your life are changed forever. To Sum It All Up We started off talking about exactly what a Christian is and is not. Then we saw why you might want to become a Christian and explored how you could become a Christian. Then, once you decide to follow Christ, we found a few good steps you could take to grow more like Christ. Remember that the essence of a Christian life is loving everyone and working to be more like Christ. If you have made a decision to follow Christ, don’t start your new life alone. Seek out a church, read your Bible, pray, and you will feel the love of God in your life.   Help Others Find Jesus! Help your friends and family hear the good news by sharing this article. You can even use the simple buttons below to help spread the word to all creation! And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. - Mark 16:15

Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

The Oldest Yahweh Inscription

Oldest Yahweh Inscription

Discover more confirming archaeology about the history of God.  Join Joel Kramer of SourceFlix as he talks about an Egyptian Inscription from the Sudan referring to "the Land of the Nomads of Yahweh."Video Information Channel: BibleArchaeology​ Title: The Oldest Yahweh Inscription: Digging for Truth Episode 49 To Support: https://biblearchaeology.org/support  Disclaimer: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Kingdom's Troops of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The Kingdom's Troops bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Understanding The Helmet Of Salvation

UNDERSTANDING THE HELMET OF SALVATION

Before we dig into the helmet of salvation, we need to understand the purpose of the armor of God.  Every day you encounter temptations, trials, situations, and circumstances that test your faith in God. The good news is that God never asked you to face these battles alone. In Ephesians 6:10-18, the “armor of God” is presented as one of the keys to victorious Christian living. There are six pieces of spiritual armor that we can wear to withstand and overcome the attacks of the enemy.A Quick Look at the Armor of God Belt of Truth: The belt holds all of the pieces of armor in place. The truth of God’s Word serves as the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Because the Bible is true and never changes, we can depend on what it says. Breastplate of Righteousness: The armored breastplate protects some of the most vital organs in your body, including the heart. In your walk with the Lord, being righteous, or living a God-honoring life, is only possible with God’s help. You can only be righteous because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. That righteousness protects your heart from sin and helps you to live for God from the very core of your being. Shoes of the Gospel: The good news of Jesus and His gift of salvation is referred to as the “Gospel.” As believers, God’s Word directs your steps and leads you to live a holy life, as Jesus lived. We are commanded and compelled to share the Gospel everywhere we go. (Mark 16:15) Shield of Faith: In Roman times, a shield was used to deflect anything that was used to attack a soldier. It was held out in front of their bodies and protected them from whatever was intended to cause them harm. Whenever a soldier dropped their shield, they became vulnerable to attacks. Strong faith in God can protect you from fear and doubt that can make you vulnerable to attacks from the enemy, the devil. Sword of the Spirit: A sharp sword can pierce just about any object. The Word of God is powerful and can cut through even to the hardest of hearts and keep the enemy at a distance. Let's take a more in-depth look at the final piece of armor mentioned in Ephesians 6 – The Helmet of Salvation.What is the Helmet of Salvation?  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ~ Ephesians 6:17 The function of a helmet is to protect the head and, more importantly, your brain from injury. The human brain controls movement, the function of vital organs, and memory and speech. It also controls your thoughts. If your brain is damaged, it affects your entire body. Severe injury to your brain can impact your mobility, stop organ function or even lead to death. Helmets are a priority for construction workers, cyclists, and athletes because they drastically decrease impact injuries to the head and brain. In battle, a soldier would be at a severe disadvantage without a helmet. In Roman times, the enemy would first attack a soldier’s head. Because the brain controls decision making and reaction time, they could gain an advantage if they were able to injure the soldier’s head and cause them to enter a state of confusion. The devil operates similarly in your life. If you are confused or feel unstable in your relationship with God, then you are more vulnerable to his attacks.The Purpose of the Helmet of Salvation  But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:8 This verse reminds you to "be sober" or sensible in putting on your spiritual armor. When you wear the helmet of salvation, you are making a conscious effort to ward off fear and doubt, by allowing God to protect your minds. You are putting your hope in the confidence you have gained from accepting Jesus as the Lord of your life. No longer are you left utterly vulnerable to attacks. Instead, God provides all of the protection you need to feel secure in times of spiritual battle.Believers and the Helmet of Salvation  The helmet of salvation is only available to believers. Why? Because someone who does not trust in the saving grace of Jesus, would not want God to protect them from anything. Unbelievers inadvertently, or purposefully, decide to face life's battles on their own. As a believer, you can have complete confidence in the eternal salvation you have received from the effects of sin and death. It’s not dependent on what you do or say, but on God’s perfect grace. You might fail, but God never will. When you face tough situations, you can put your hope in God and be at peace in your mind. It’s not uncommon for attacks from the devil to hit you at times when you should be at peace. If you lay down at night and your mind races with thoughts of worry and dismay, you need to rest in the fact that God is always with you. He can handle anything that comes your way. If you are in the midst of celebration and joy, but suddenly feel scared and troubled, remind yourself that God is guarding your mind. In order for fear to affect you, it has to pass by God first. Allow yourself to rest in God’s infinite love for you.Wearing the Helmet of Salvation In the Book of Isaiah, we read about a time when the Lord Himself fought against His enemies to protect His people and gain victory.  He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. ~ Isaiah 59:17 God had given the Israelites numerous opportunities to turn from their sin and turn back to Him. But when asked, not one person offered to step forward for the Lord. So, God Himself stepped forward. This scripture says God “put on” the pieces of armor, including the helmet of salvation. There is a direct correlation between the armor of God you read about in Ephesians 6 and the armor mentioned here in Isaiah. When Paul refers to the whole armor of God, he is referring to God’s actual armor – it’s belongs to God. As a believer, you have permission to wear His armor. This passage in Isaiah is also a reminder that God is not dependent on man. He always desires to work through the life of a believer, but if you don't step up, then He will step in.Protecting Your Mind from the Enemy God knows every thought you have ever had or will ever have. Sometimes your thoughts lead you away from God, and other times they draw you closer to Him. It's always your choice. No one, including the enemy, can make you think anything. The helmet of salvation protects your mind from the attacks of the enemy and helps you live victoriously every day. The battle always begins in your mind before it becomes an action. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we read, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” When you focus your mind and heart on holy things, you are putting them under the Lordship of Christ. As a follower of Jesus, your goal is to become more like Christ. Every action reflects whether you are modeling His character or following your own will. When you surrender your life to Christ, you allow Him to be in control instead of choosing your own ways. The goal is to honor God in your mind, as well as in your actions. You can't control whether or not you have an individual thought, but you can choose to quash it and keep it from moving into your heart. In that way, you are “taking every thought captive.” It’s the difference between being ruled by your thoughts, or causing them to submit to the Ruler of your life.Examining the Motives of Your Thoughts For as he thinks within himself, so he is.(Proverbs 23:7) Every thought has value. As a human being, you are not smart enough to control your mind. You need the help of the Holy Spirit. He can provide the strength and power you need to run every thought through the filter of God’s holiness. The Holy Spirit can also reveal what is at the root of your thoughts. Here are a few questions to help you determine whether your thoughts are affecting your walk with God in a positive or negative way. Are these thoughts godly? Are they influenced by the world? Do these thoughts lead me closer or further away from God? Does the surrender of these thoughts provide an opportunity to grow in my relationship with God? As a follower of Jesus, you are called to live separate from worldly desires that pull you away from God. You should continuously be in the process of developing the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5) In times of battle, the enemy doesn't want to hurt a soldier; he wants to destroy them. The enemy of your heart wants you to doubt your salvation and tempt you to live in your own strength. Until you completely surrender your mind to God, you will continue to struggle in your thought life.

The Hope of Salvation 

Romans 6:14 says, For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  A helmet only protects your head; that's why it's essential to put on the entire armor of God. Your mind is protected by the assurance that God's grace has saved you. No longer will you face God's judgment for your sin, but instead, you will receive mercy because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. You have the opportunity to put on the whole armor of God and rest in the hope of salvation that protects your mind and helps you live a godly life. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

Simple Guidance For You in the Sword of the Spirit

Simple Guidance For You in the Sword of the Spirit

“Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). Every soldier knows he or she would be lost without a weapon. A shield protects defensively, but a weapon provides the means for active combat. “Take…the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). As we continue to look at a Christian’s necessary spiritual armor, this command deserves some serious attention.What is the sword of the Spirit? If we must have a sword, then who is our enemy? Unbelievers? People of other religions? Those who disagree with us politically? While many professing Christians use their faith to attack others, this is an unbiblical attitude. A few verses earlier in Ephesians 6 (v. 11-12), Paul clarifies who our real enemy is. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. So, we should be fighting the devil and his spiritual armies. It sounds sort of vague, doesn’t it? How do we fight an enemy that we can’t see? While there are many ways to answer this question, a battle that you may overlook is the one inside you. According to 1 Peter, the devil hunts us like a lion to devour us and turn us away from God. To fight him, we must stay alert and resist him (5:8-9). Now that we understand who we are fighting, let’s zoom in on the weapon we carry. What is our sword of the spirit? Back in the Ephesians 6 passage, we learn that it is a metaphor for God’s Word, the Bible (v. 17). Yes, your greatest weapon against sin and Satan is the Bible!Why is it called a sword? Obviously, soldiers back in this time period didn’t have guns—they fought with swords. But is there a deeper meaning behind God’s choice of a sword to symbolize His Word? Ephesians 6 isn’t the only passage that talks about the Bible in this way. Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. First, the Bible pierces the heart. Have you ever read a verse, and it felt like the Bible was talking right to you? You might have even felt a tightness in your chest and thought, “Wow, that is so powerful! It was just what I needed!” Maybe it was even a verse you needed but didn’t necessarily want to hear. After Jesus ascended into heaven, one of His disciples, Peter, was preaching the truth to a crowd of people. As they listened, “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and asked what they could do. Peter went on to tell them how to become Christians. These are a couple of examples as to how the Bible acts like a sword that comes to a sharp point. It thrusts itself deep down into you so that your old, sinful nature will die and a new life can spring up in its place. Not only does the Bible pierce the heart, but it also divides and discerns. It’s “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). That’s a little scary, right? It feels vulnerable. Indeed, God sees everything and everyone (v. 13), and He uses His Word to expose what’s inside of each person. The Bible also describes itself as a mirror. When you look at it, you see yourself as you really are. God isn’t a shallow, flattering “friend” who only tells you what you want to hear. He loves you so much that He wants you to know the truth about yourself—that you were created in His image, but sin has damaged you; that you are precious to Him; and that He has made a way for you to become whole again in Jesus. If a person sees all this truth but still goes away unphased, it’s as if he looked in the mirror, saw that he looked terrible, and left without changing anything (James 1:23-25). Let the Word of God expose what’s really in your heart. It’s painful, but it’s the only way to find healing. How is it of the Spirit? The first way the Bible is of the Spirit is that God actually created this “sword.” His Spirit breathed out the words of Scripture as He guided the authors in what to say (1 Peter 1:21). This point becomes particularly significant when people begin to question the authority and truth of the Bible. If men wrote it, surely it would contain errors of judgment, bias, and misunderstanding. However, we can be sure of the veracity of God’s Word because it is just that—God’s Word. This sword will never fail you; it never needs sharpened; and it always hits its target. Secondly, the Holy Spirit helps people understand the Bible. Jesus, before He left His followers to go to Heaven, told them that He would send someone even better—a comforter and advocate that would guide them to understand all truth. This guide was the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-13). What’s even more exciting is that you, if you are a believer, also have this Spirit inside of you! Many passages in the Bible teach this beautiful truth, but one example is in Romans 8:11. It says, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Now that’s quite the promise. You have the same strength in you that raised Jesus from the dead! It is a divine strength. It is God infusing your soul with the ability to overcome whatever you might face—temptation, trouble, sorrow, pain, or regret. He will not make you go through something without giving you the strength to do it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Key takeaways 1. In a world full of change, you have something that never will—the Bible. Kids grow up, health declines, and summer ends. “Nothing lasts forever,” we say to each other. If we’re honest, all the ups and downs wear on us after awhile. We would love for some stability. Why can’t things be like they were? Why does everything have to change? When you’re feeling discouraged about the uncertainty of life, you can hang onto the Bible (literally if it makes you feel better!). God promises that His Word will never fade from existence (Matthew 24:35). Through all of life’s moments, you can go back to the same promises over and over. They will always be there. Yet, you’ll always find something new, too! Proverbs says that if you search for truth in God’s Word like you’re digging for treasure, you’ll find something infinitely more valuable than silver and gold—you’ll know God (2:1-5). You won’t know God second-hand anymore (listening to a sermon, asking your Christian friend questions). You’ll know Him intimately for yourself, and what you’ll find is something extraordinary: a God of love, compassion, kindness, truth, and help. 2. With the Bible and the Holy Spirit, even failure can become a victory. Usually when we’re struggling with fear it’s because we don’t want to mess up. Failure is embarrassing and deflating no matter how small the situation is. Remember how we talked about God’s Word being a mirror—that He doesn’t lie to you about who you really are? It might sound nice at first if He were to say, “Don’t think so negatively about yourself. You’re not a failure!” In reality, though, it would be unloving for Him to patronize you with lies.   Instead, He comes to you with open arms and says, “I know you’ve failed. I see how you’ve messed up—I see it all. Guess what? I love you anyway. I sent my Son Jesus to live a perfect life in your place and to die for your failures. I brought Him to life again to prove that I accept this sacrifice on your behalf. So, in Him, you are now healed and whole.” Isn’t that so much more beautiful than fake flattery? When you give in to temptation or make a huge mistake, it’s an opportunity for the grace of God to shine. “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). You don’t have to live in fear or shame anymore. God has taken care of all that for you, and He whispers kind words of assurance to you in His Word. 3. Sometimes you need a little spiritual surgery, and that’s a good thing. The Bible cuts deep. You may wonder, “Why would God try to injure me in this way? His Word cuts me like a sword. I ache and sometimes cry when I read some of the things He says to me. Doesn’t He care?” Does a surgeon care when he’s cutting you open? After surgery when you’re in pain, would you call up your surgeon and say, “How could you cut me like that? It hurts! I ache and sometimes even cry from the pain. Don’t you care?” We go through pain physically because we know it will actually help us grow healthier. The same is true spiritually. Sometimes we must go through spiritual surgery so that we can become more mature believers. Have you ever gone through an extremely difficult experience during which you kept asking God, “Why?” Years down the road, did you look back on that time a little differently? You might have said, “I still don’t understand it, but I can say that my faith in God is stronger and that I’m a more humble, compassionate person for going through it.” Ah, spiritual surgery. 4. The Holy Spirit will use the Bible to guide you through life. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). It’s clear from reading the rest of the passage that the author of this psalm went through deep suffering. He writes that the words of God helped him through the darkness. “It was good for me to be afflicted,” he says (what?!), “so that I might learn your decrees” (v. 71). Hard times drive us to God and His Word for answers. Have you noticed that people have no regard for God when life is good, but as soon as tragedy strikes, they blame God? “How could He do this?” Sometimes, we need a drastic experience to give us a wake-up call, reminding us that our lives are about more than ourselves. As you study the Word of God, you gain the wisdom you need to live a life that points to Jesus. Thank God for this trusty, sharp, unfailing sword! Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

10 Things To Know About The Righteousness Of God.

What is the Righteousness of God?

For the Christian, especially the new Christian, the righteousness of God may be both mysterious and intimidating. Now let me go ahead and state that even to the seasoned Christian the righteousness of God is mysterious on some level, simply because we cannot fully know and understand the nature of God. That being said, scripture is very descriptive regarding the righteousness of God and is helpful in our beginning to understand what it is and why it is important. So to help you in your journey of knowing our loving and gracious God, here are 10 simple, but important, things to remember about the righteousness of God. 1. What is the righteousness of God? The righteousness of God is referenced throughout scripture. It is described as the attribute of both God’s justice and rightness. In order to be both just and right, evil and sin cannot be present. 1st John states, This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. ~ 1 John 1:5 “No darkness at all” is referring to the absence of sin and evil. Also, if righteousness has to do with justice and rightness then there must be a presence of love to drive it, right? How can you adequately seek and act justly without loving those for whom you are seeking justice? 1 John 4:8 tells us that God himself is love. So, if he is love, then of course he practices righteousness. In fact, it is from him that all righteousness flows. Which leads us to our next point.  2. Only God is righteous. Psalm 145 tells us that, The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. ~ Psalm 145:17 As we learned previously, God is sinless. But what about us? In his letter to the Romans, Paul says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ~ Romans 3:23 So, the righteousness of God belongs to God alone. We are unable to obtain it on our own. However, as we will discuss in a bit, we have help to obtain it.  3. The righteousness of God is manifested through Christ. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; ~ Romans 3:21-22 Jesus is the God-man. When we want to see an earthly representation of God, we need to look to Jesus. He too was sinless, thus carrying the title of righteous. He lived a sinless life because he was God in the flesh, and also because he came to complete the work of salvation which could only be done by one who was able to fully keep the law. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ~ Romans 10:4. Christ is the end of the law, because in him the law was complete through his ability to fully obey it.  4. The righteousness of God is revealed through the Gospel. Paul tells us in Romans, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:16-17 In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. So, the more we understand the gospel, the more we understand the righteousness of God. The gospel is the good news of Jesus, of his life, death, and resurrection. That is how we are justified (through Jesus) and made right before God!5. The righteousness of God is imparted to us through Christ. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21 Basically this verse tells us that there was an exchange made. Jesus exchanged our sin for his righteousness. He absorbed all the sin of humanity on the cross and bore the punishment for it completely, so that by faith in him we could be made right in the sight of God. 6. We cannot obtain the righteousness of God on our own. So, we know that only God is righteous and that His righteousness is imparted to us through Christ. That is foundational to understand when we say we cannot obtain the righteousness of God on our own. Scripture has much to say about this. Philippians says, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ~ Philippians 3:9 And as stated previously in Romans 3:10, we know that none are righteous. But thankfully, we also know that despite our poor efforts at righteousness, Christ obtained it for us who believe on him. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ~ Romans 10:3-4 7. The righteousness of God is dependent on faith. Faith is an integral part of obtaining the righteousness of God. Christ did the work to impart righteousness to us, however, we must do our part in acting in faith and receiving the salvation He freely gives. We want the righteousness that comes from Christ because it is true righteousness, not any righteousness we try to get from following the law. and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ~ Philippians 3:9 8. We must boast in God’s righteousness, not our own. Our efforts at righteousness pale in comparison to the righteousness of God. Paul is the perfect example of this. Check out what he says in Philippians. although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ~ Philippians 3:4-9 Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says specifically to boast in the Lord because it is through Him we become righteous: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 9. The Holy Spirit works in us to produce righteousness. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ~ Romans 8:10-11 What good news that is for us! That the same Spirit that raised Jesus is the same Spirit that God gave us upon salvation! That is mind blowing! The work of the Spirit in us is a wonderful thing. Think about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are attributes of God’s character that he imparts to us through the Holy Spirit at work in us. We can pursue righteousness because we have the ability to practice the fruit of the Spirit by the Spirit’s help. 10. We must take joy in the work of righteousness. The work of righteousness is the daily work of loving God through personal devotion and putting away fleshly desires, as well as loving others and working out our faith; it’s the work of actively pursuing sinlessness in our thoughts and actions. It is not easy work. It isn’t perfect work either. We will fail, we will still stumble and sin, as long as we live in this fallen creation. The Bible is clear on that. However, we can still find joy and not condemnation in the pursuit of righteousness and the fact that it is a process that will only come to completion in heaven. Isaiah 64:5 gives us encouragement in our work of righteousness, stating that God is with us in it: “You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness​” And in Romans we are promised, Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 8:1 This is all good news! Yes, we are to joyfully pursue righteousness, and we can do that knowing that when we do fail, there is no condemnation for us. We can repent, and ask our heavenly Father, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), to empower us with the Holy Spirit to continue in the joyful work of righteousness.So, friend, as you learn and work toward righteousness, be encouraged! It is a task we can take on because of that which was already accomplished through Christ. It is Him working in and through us to do the good work “which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10). He will bring to completion all the good work He began (Philippians 1:6), including the work of righteousness in us! Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

10 Brilliant Ways to Live A Gospel Centered Life

What Does It Mean To Live A Gospel Centered Life?

As believers we toss around phrases like “be worthy of the gospel” and “live a gospel centered life.” The question that follows, though, is what those clichés actually mean. They do us no good if we can’t break them down into biblical, practical, daily principles that guide our lives. I offer you ten brilliant—and simple—ways to live a gospel centered life.1. Don’t suppress your doubts and questions. Have the courage to face them. When we hear of religions or cults that force their followers to believe their scriptures blindly and never ask questions or doubt, we shake our heads. “How sad,” we comment. “They will never know the truth if they can’t question what they believe.” Yet, how often do we as believers in the gospel breed the same attitude? If someone comes to a church leader with doubts about his faith, he will likely get a chance to talk for a few minutes before receiving the advice to “let go of doubts and choose to trust God.” Is this not the same counsel we so deride in other religions? You may protest, “But we already know the real truth. We shouldn’t question it. The Bible tells us to have childlike faith” (Matthew 18:2-4). To that I respond that the Bible also tells us to advance our spiritual diets from milk to meat (Hebrews 5:12). In other words, if we never ask questions, we won’t dig deeper into the truth. If we don’t dig deeper, we’ll never grow. It takes maturity and humility to admit that we probably aren’t right about everything. Instead of squelching your doubts, face them head on. Remember that you can find answers in the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and other believers. Living a gospel centered life can be a traumatic process. However, in the end you’ll be grateful to have your doubts settled. You’ll also probably realize that some of your beliefs were a bit off. Doubts can be healthy as long as you know what to do with them. Hide them, and they’ll slowly eat away at your soul for the rest of your life.2. Stop trying to fix everyone else, and let God work on you. We live in a culture that’s focused on controlling other people’s beliefs, opinions, and actions. In the name of relativism, we grow angry at those who have the audacity to believe differently than we do (quick tip: that’s not relativism). Unfortunately, this attitude has seeped into the church. Whether it’s a theological belief like the end times, or a lifestyle conviction like drinking alcohol, or even something as silly as what curriculum to use in Sunday School, believers fight a lot. Convinced of the validity of our beliefs, we grow annoyed when people can’t see how obvious it is that we’re right. I suggest to you that Satan loves these quarrels. They keep us focused on all the wrong things. When you spend your time trying to fix others, you lose sight of yourself and your sin issues (Matthew 7:3-5). You also forget that the real enemy isn’t the church down the road from yours but the spiritual forces of evil at work in the world, in the pews, and in your heart. Some of us get easily upset with people for not meeting our expectations (hmm, actually, I think we’re all like that). But if we are living a gospel centered life, we should be spending more time examining our own hearts. “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.…So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10, 12).3. In fact, stop trying so hard in general. “But the fruits of your labor are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Wait, what? No, that’s not what the verse says, but that’s how we live, isn’t it? If I work a little harder, pray a little longer, serve a little better, and read my Bible a little more, maybe I’ll be a little better Christian. How’s that working out for you? Thank God these verses in Galatians begin not with our effort but with the Spirit of God. Yes, the result of the Spirit’s effort is a life of virtue that points to Jesus. Isn’t that what all believers want in the end? Remember as you go about your day working hard (as you should) that your efforts are worthless without the Holy Spirit. “I am nothing without you, God, and I can do nothing worthwhile unless you change my heart to be more like Jesus today.” If you pray a simple admission like this with sincerity each day, it might just change your life!4. Relinquish the illusion of control. I say “illusion” with great purpose. Often, we remind ourselves to let God be in control instead of ourselves, but this really is foolish thinking. As if we could “let” God do anything! No, God is always in control. We know this truth. If we think for a moment that we can take the reins out of His hands, we deceive ourselves. Here’s where the illusion sets in. Perhaps, instead of telling ourselves to give God control of our lives, we ought to acknowledge that He already has it. Remembering His sovereignty keeps us from running around as stressed-out worriers, as if we’re the ones keeping the world going ‘round. One of the most powerful and difficult ways to remind ourselves of God’s control is to stop working. Rest. Even for a moment...a day...a week! The ability to take a break screams to others, “My God is in control, so I can relax for a little while!” After all, we’re only human, and we must worship God with our rest just as we seek to worship Him in our work.5. Understand that legalism is a form of worldliness in the gospel centered life. Stay on the straight and narrow. Stray too far to the left, and you will grow worldly. Stray too far to the right, and you will grow legalistic (trying to earn God’s favor with good works). Most of us have heard counsel like the above. The sad error in this spectrum mentality is the insinuation that legalism and worldliness are opposites. This is not the case. Legalism is simply worldliness wearing a religious coat. In John Bunyan’s famous book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, which serves as an allegory of the Christian life, we come upon an interesting scene. Christian, with a great burden on his back (sin), meets a man called Worldly Wiseman who strikes up a conversation. Worldly Wiseman urges Christian that the quickest way for relief is to climb over the nearby hill and visit a man named Legality (legalism). On his way, however, the hill grows so difficult and dangerous that Christian has to stop for fear of dying under his now even heavier burden. He only finds relief when Evangelist points out the way to the cross (Galatians 2:21). What I find most interesting in this scene is that it was worldly counsel that led Christian down the path to legalism. Yes, worldly thinking believes that we can somehow sponge away our sins and mistakes if we just work harder. This is why all false religions teach the necessity of good works for salvation. Let us not fall into the same trap and so degrade the beauty of the gospel.6. Gain security for your soul through Jesus and not a perfectly organized life. We have looked at several negative points, but here we turn the corner into the beauty ahead for you, dear believer. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that if we could just get everything organized, we would have peace of mind. We work ourselves to the bone trying to keep the house clean, update our schedules, stay on budget, and never make a mistake. The result? Fatigue, frustration, and emptiness. We live in a broken world. It’s impossible to stay on top of everything. While seeking organization is a good thing, trying to find security in it won’t end well. It sounds simple, but remind yourself that lasting peace of mind, soul, and heart come through a relationship with Jesus, and He has already made you perfect in your standing before God (Colossians 1:22).7. ​Cultivate relationships before rules and activity. Are you sensing a pattern yet? So much of the gospel-centered life comes back to our priorities. Picture a house’s foundation. On what values and beliefs are you building your life? I know that my foundation is often to do the next right thing, which usually looks like some flustered ministry activity or work project. While these pursuits are important, they cannot serve as your soul’s foundation. Remember the two greatest commands according to Jesus? Love God, and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). In one word, Jesus says that our entire lives should be about relationships. Yikes. I’ve got to admit this is a hard one for me as someone who usually finds my identity and value in how much I get accomplished in a day. We must remind ourselves of what will last forever—God and human souls. Boil it all down, and our life goals should point to these two relationships.8. ​A gospel centered life embraces the pain of brokenness. This one’s simple, but it isn’t easy. We all know the feeling of a broken heart. Many of us have experienced broken spirits as well. Unfortunately, these consequences come from humanity’s fall into sin. When you get a splinter in your finger, your first reaction is to jerk your hand away from whatever gave you the pain. Your second reaction is to nurse the wound. What would happen, though, if you never took the splinter out? What if you just went through the rest of your life avoiding anything that might touch the splinter and cause you further pain? When we experience the disappointments of this life, we naturally jerk back. We nurse the pains of our souls. It’s easy to let them fester, because dealing with them is initially painful. Unfortunately, our inner wounds grow infected if we don’t deal with them. The answer to feeling broken is to bow and worship as Job did. This worship may (and should) include sobs of grief, confused questioning, and sifting through anger. But as we embrace the humility that pain brings, we open ourselves up to God’s loving and peaceful embrace (1 Peter 5:5-8).9. Focus on the joy of God. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” This was God’s heart toward His people in the Old Testament, and His heart does not change. We may struggle to view God as joyful because we imagine Him looking at us sternly. We know we don’t measure up, and we assume that He is disappointed with us. Believer, understand that God has embraced you in Jesus as His friend and adopted you as His child. He filled the Bible with reminders of His joy and delight in you so that you would never forget. “He rescued me, because He delighted in me” (Psalm 18:19).10. Find beauty in your everyday experiences. In psychology, negativity bias is the tendency for humans to focus more on the negative aspects of their lives than on the positive. We become so overwhelmed with our daily trials that we miss the daily blessings. When was the last time you reveled in the colors, tastes, and textures of your food without doing anything else? Have you recently stopped and literally smelled the roses? Notice the beauty of sharing a laugh with a coworker, smelling fresh rain, and feeling your heart that, regardless of your outer circumstances, keeps right on beating 70 times per minute. It’s easy to miss these blessings from God—little shots in the arm to keep us going—because in our digital age we’ve lost the art of sitting and enjoying the moment. It’s a great habit to cultivate. Try it and see if you don’t feel more content.

Walking the Gospel Centered Life

This list was by no means exhaustive. As you progress in your spiritual walk, you will find many more principles to guide you in living a gospel-centered life. But, no matter what, it all comes back to the gospel, and the gospel points to the most important Person in the universe, Jesus Christ. As you yield to His Spirit in you, He will give you a peace that you can’t ever comprehend.Looking to live a gospel centered life, you should learn what the Gospel is! Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

What Is Salvation And How To Achieve It

So what is this Salvation thing all about?

One of the most misunderstood questions in Christianity is “what is salvation?” It’s inconceivable that the God of the Universe would offer you the opportunity to have a relationship with Him for eternity. You can't earn it. There's nothing you could ever do to deserve it. But it's available to you and all of humanity if you simply accept it. Salvation is free. So, what is salvation? For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9 You can accept salvation through faith in God. Instead of suffering the consequences of your sin, God demonstrates grace and saves you from the punishment you deserve. Doing good deeds and following the “rules” doesn’t activate God’s forgiveness and mercy in your life. You must repent and acknowledge your need for forgiveness as the Holy Spirit draws you back to the heart of God.Our Need for Salvation  To understand salvation, you have to recognize your need for it. In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect place where they walked and talked with God. Can you imagine what that experience would be like? When they made the choice to follow their selfish desires instead of honoring God’s instructions, sin entered the world. One disobedient action had catastrophic effects. God removed Adam and Eve from His presence in the Garden of Eden and in their lives. Their sin destroyed humankind’s relationship with God. Sin put a barrier between us and God, but He was not content in being separated from His creation. So, God sent Jesus to provide the one and only way back to Him.What is Sin?  Sin is any action or thought produced in the heart of man that isn’t pleasing to God. Without willingly handing over control of your heart and mind, it is impossible to please God. Sin is in direct opposition to God’s character and His laws. In order to live a life of holiness, you must submit your sinful human nature under God’s authority. God is pure and holy. Sin is evil and corrupt. God and sin cannot cohabitate in the life of a believer. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. ~ Isaiah 59:2 God has always desired a relationship with you. That insatiable longing to be united with your Creator can only be satisfied through a relationship with Him. Some attempt to fill the void with worldly substitutes that leave them feeling empty. Only in a relationship with God can you find the contentment your soul desires. The Law We Couldn't Follow. For centuries, the Jewish people studied God’s laws and obeyed His commands to atone for their sin. They sacrificed animals, performed rituals, and adhered to over 600 commands in the Torah (the Law). These practices only proved that no matter how hard we try, we are ill-equipped to follow God’s laws. We needed a Savior. The Old Testament gives the accounts of prophets who foretold of a coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. Not atone or cover them, but actually remove sin and provide an opportunity to be made right in God’s sight. At the perfect time, God sent Jesus to earth. He lived a sinless life, allowing Him to be the pure and holy sacrifice that could save humanity from their sin. The Jewish leaders who had heard of a coming Messiah for hundreds of years, had Jesus put to death. They refused to acknowledge that He was God’s only Son, sent to redeem His people. But it was all part of God’s plan. Have you heard the Good News? Discover the Gospel.Jesus, the True Messiah  Jesus died on a cross. It was the place for common criminals to pay the penalty for their crimes. Jesus was not guilty of any crime, but he was unfairly convicted and sentenced to death. The weight of every sin that has ever or will ever be committed was placed upon Him. After centuries of sacrifices and rituals, Jesus served as the final sacrifice for our sins.   Throughout history, people worshiped men like Mohammed and Buddha as prophets and enlightened teachers. They lived, created a following of loyal disciples, and then, they died. Unlike other “gods,” Jesus died and then rose from the dead three days later. Jesus’ resurrection was another way He was set apart from anyone who had ever walked on the earth. If He had remained in a grave, His death would have meant the end. But instead, He conquered life and death, allowing us to do the same.The Plan of Salvation So, why should you be saved?  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23 The Jewish people demonstrated that you can’t obey God on your own in a way that atones for sin – you will fall short every time. But because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, we can now exchange our sinful life for the eternal life that He offers to us. It begins by coming to grips with your own sin. God's Word is the standard for determining what qualifies as sin. In a society that is continually changing, actions that were once "evil" are now the norm or no longer regarded as sinful. Our standards are unreliable. God’s Word never changes. The Bible helps you discover who God is and enables you to study His character. You learn how to obey God and understand how His love can guide you through every situation in life. You can depend on what God says. Trust God with Your Future God’s grace was extended to you before you realized you needed it. (John 3:17) God is always looking out for you, including how He has made provision for your salvation. Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. ~ Romans 10:13  It is a common misconception that you must begin the process of getting your life in order before coming to the Lord. The beauty of salvation is that God embraces the repentant sinner and does the work in their life. At the moment of repentance and acceptance of Jesus, you exchange your life plans for God’s purpose for your life. You realize that the way you were living, no matter how “good” you were, was not the life God planned for you. God is no respecter of persons – salvation is available to murderers, gossipers, and “good” people. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11  God’s plans are good because God is good. Salvation not only enables you to have a relationship with God, but it allows you to live with hope. You can trust God with your future, knowing that His plans see past what’s happening today and extend into eternity.Spiritual Disciplines The Christian life begins at salvation and develops as you grow and mature in your faith. In 1 Timothy 4:8, we read, “…bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” It is vital to spend time in fellowship with other believers. “…that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me…” (John 17:21-23) Your relationship with other Christians demonstrates the hope and peace that Jesus offers to the rest of the world. When the world sees godly people, who live in unity with each other, it sets believers apart from the evil that is found apart from God. You need the encouragement and support of other Christians as you learn more about God and study the Bible. Prayer plays a vital role in nurturing your relationship with God. It enables you to talk one-on-one with God. Through quiet times of prayer and reflection, you can unburden your heart, bring your requests, and listen for His voice to speak to you.Living a Saved Life They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)  Through the sacrifice of Jesus, you can have a restored relationship with God and eternal life. You can't earn salvation. It is a gift from God to those who believe in Him and desire to have a restored relationship with Him. You can achieve salvation by admitting you need a Savior. You have sinned and deserve to suffer the consequences, but you can't save yourself. Next, believe Jesus is the Son of God, the pure and perfect sacrifice for your sin. This act means you refuse to accept the role as the ruler of your life. Instead, you willingly relinquish control to God and trust Him to lead you. Finally, you confess Jesus is the Lord and Savior of your life. Then, let the world know you have discovered who Jesus is and the change that’s taken place in your life. It almost seems too simple, except when you realize that God intentionally made it easy. God has provided a way for you to have a relationship with Him. In His Word, He has shown you exactly how to live and will provide the strength and power to be victorious. Today, you can fully trust God to redeem your past, direct your steps, and give you a future filled with His hope. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

What Is Faith and How Does It Changes Your Life?

What Is Faith And How Do We Understand It?

“Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. ~ Habakkuk 2:4 As we approach the topic of what is faith, let us springboard off of the movie entitled Indiana Jones and Last Crusade. The theme of this entertaining film is the search and quest to find the Holy Grail; the cup that Jesus drank from during the Last Supper. Towards the end of the movie, the plot has developed.  Indiana Jones, who's father has been shot, is forced by the villains to proceed through the various tests culminating in finding the Holy Grail. Helping the heroes of the movie is a book that reveals pictures, diagrams and words to help in the search of this seemingly important religious artifact. The Test Of Faith The last test brings Indiana Jones to the edge of a precipice where off in the distance is an entrance way, but seemingly no path that one can walk on to cross over the ravine. Looking at the book that has guided them up to this point, Indiana Jones reads, "The man of God will leap from the Lion's Head to prove his worth.” Indiana Jones says to himself this is impossible. Nobody can jump this. It is during this scene that the acting skills of Harrison Ford are in full display. He acts out his anxiety with his full fear of the predicament and certain death if he is wrong. Additionally, this is coupled with his intense desire to save his father who has suffered from a gunshot wound. Finally, he realizes what he needs to do and, in a dramatic pause; he extends his left foot, hovers above the precipice and takes the leap of faith.Defining It The word faith evolves from the Latin word fides. The actual meaning or definition of it means to trust or have assurance in a idea, a thing or a person. For example if you sit on a chair you are exhibiting faith or assurance in that chair that it will hold your seated weight. An example of this in an idea would be gravity knowing that if you jumped off of something, earth's gravitational pull would draw you towards the ground. Or an example of this in a person would be the child-like faith of a child jumping towards their parent knowing that the parent will catch them in mid-air. belief and demonstration of it is all around us and is a critical part of our environment, interactions and daily occurrences. If a Christian or a non-believer wanted to know what faith is, a textbook definition that can be shared is found in Hebrews 11:1. This verse declares, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith in God's Word Perhaps the best way to demonstrate this is to briefly study an example of what faith is in God's Word. Take for example Abraham in Genesis 22 who was called upon to sacrifice his son. In this chapter and verses we are witness to a powerful exhibition of trust between Abraham, his son and God. God instructs Abraham to take his son, his only son, his only son that he loves to a mountain top and there sacrifice his son on the altar. The purpose of this command by God is to test the relationship between Abraham and God and whether Abraham will prove to be faithful. Faith Defined In These Verses We See The Question Of What Is Faith Defined By A Number Of Elements: Obedience – God says to Abraham take your son – Abraham is obedient in verse three. Worship – even though the command is to sacrifice his son, Abraham clearly says to the servants that they're going to worship as seen in verse five Trust – God has nothing but the best intentions for us and therefore Abraham says that they will be returning in verse five. He knows God and that God has no evil intentions. Having Confidence Our confidence is well placed when we lean on God's faithfulness. This is seen as a particular name of God is revealed. That name is Jehovah-Jireh, or God will provide, as seen in verse eight and verse 14. God is faithful and will always provide for His people. And so, what is faith? For the Christian it is trust, worship, obedience and belief in the faithfulness of God. This is also emphasized by its importance. Consequently, knowing what faith is, it is important to know the role or importance of it.  It Pleases God: First of all, faith demonstrated towards God is crucial. Hebrews 11:6 states, And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. In addition to exercising it and pleasing God, our faith activates His presence and power in situations. It can be likened to the fullness of God in our lives as a stick of dynamite. In order for this dynamite to explode in any given situation; a spark needs to ignite the attached fuse. Our faith is the spark that is required to release the power of the stick of TNT. It Has A Direct Bearing On Believers: This dynamic demonstration of the importance of faith and answering the question of what it is can be directed towards the believer. The Scripture clearly states that this comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). In addition to our faith being increased by hearing and meditating on God's Word it is increased through prayer. However, It's important to remember that prayer is more of dwelling in God's presence and listening to His voice.  True prayer is not really about asking God for things to happen by reading a want list.  Communion With God Our faith is increased through communion with Him. This spiritual reality can be illustrated by comparing God to a fire burning within a fireplace. The closer one draws to the fire the more the intensity of the fire is felt. Also, when discussing what faith is, it is important to clarify the effects of this in the life of the believer. The first major effect in the life of the believer is their relationship with God. In responding to faith, the believer can state that it is the lifeline to a relationship with God through His Son and the indwelling presence of The Holy Spirit.Discover how faith is our shield of the armor of God. By Faith: We are justified by faith. Not only are our sins forgiven, but our past is forgotten. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:17 Faith is our duty, our privilege. Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” ~ John 6:28-29 In addition to having faith change us, our faith and the effects of it spill over into the world of those around us. In the gospel of John we read, Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” ~ John 7:37-38 We should and will have a significant and impact in this world. The life of Stephen, the first martyr, demonstrates this impact, And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ~ Acts 6:8 Through Faith, We Will Be The Difference: · James 2:17-18 reads, Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. ~ I John 3:23  We show forth the love of Christ in a world desperate for a demonstration of real love. The world does not need more of the doctrine of Christ, but more of a demonstration of His love. Also, In Answering The Question Of What Is Faith, We Find That We Are Part Of God's Army And A Force To Be Reckoned With: In our spiritual battles – in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ~ Ephesians 6:16 Our faith changes us in that we recognize the spiritual warfare around us and we stand, by faith, on our victory in Christ. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ~ I John 5:4 The answer to what is faith is also realized as our lives reveal that this world has no power over us. who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, ~ Hebrews 11:33 and continues on to talk about conquered, justice gained, flames of fire quenched and armies routed. Jones Takes The Leap The fictional character, Indiana Jones, was faced with a challenge. The challenge of what is faith was presented as he endeavored to heal his father who had been wounded. In order for him to find the Holy Grail, fill the chalice with the healing waters and take the vessel back to his father and hope that the waters poured out on his father's wound would heal, Indiana Jones needed to take a leap of faith. His leap of faith answered the question of the riddle in the book and what is faith. Obviously the story line is purely fictional. However, the emphasis on faith is the reality for the believer.

So What Does This All Mean To The Christian?

For us, even as Christians, we are not in a bubble of immunity from the negative circumstances and events that occur. Our walk, in good and bad times, requires the same demonstration or leap of faith in order to activate the power and presence of God in our lives and those around us. The beauty of a faithful relationship with God is that when these things occur, our leaps of faith fill us with the divine peace of God that passes all understanding. Our faith does not keep us from the fires of life, but God, through the presence of His Holy Spirit walks through the fire with us (Daniel 3: 25). Trust In God We do this by being obedient to His Word.  And also, by trusting in the Fatherhood of God and His care for us. And finally, by worshiping Him and knowing that He governs despite the negativism of circumstances and events in this world.  Through this we know He is Jehovah-Jireh Who is our provider. What is faith? It is the victory that overcomes the world and transforms us.  And not only us, but those around us while positively impacting the world we live in. Read the full article

[kingdomstroops]

We Have It Easy Today As Christians

Where Is Your Cross?

Lately I have been watching some shows on  the lives of the apostles after the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.  The lives they lived and the tribulations they suffered through to bear witness and testify the good new to the world. How easy do we have it compared to them?  What tribulations do we have now?  Oh No, my cell phone battery died!  Our toughest challenge is should we speak up for Jesus because we are afraid of the embarrassment. Hmmm, makes you question your devotion and faith doesn't it?  And it should! Compare that to the lives that 11 left everything pursued him without wavering.  Many lives were saved because of the Apostles' determination strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  But at the end, all of them were martyred except for Judas the betrayer who committed suicide and John who lived a full life.  Additionally, they were not just killed, they were slowly and painfully killed in most cases.  They carried their crosses until they we crucified on them.  That's how focused they were on following Christ. How The 12 Apostles Died* Peter was crucified upside down by Nero Andrew, Peter's brother, was scourged and tied, not nailed, to a cross so it took him days to die. James, son of Zebedee, was beheaded (Acts 12:1-19) Philip died in Egypt where he was scourged, tossed in prison, and finally crucified. Bartholomew was either beaten and crucified or skinned alive and beheaded. Depends on which account you choose to believe. Thomas was run through with a spear after angering the local religious authorities. James, son of Alphaeus, lived a long life until he was beaten and stoned to death by persecutors at 94 years old. Matthew was stabbed in the back by a swordsman sent by King Hertacus. Thaddeus was crucified in Edessa Simon the Canaanite was crucified in England Judas committed suicide after his betrayal. John passed away peacefully in Patmos So 10 of the 12 disciples of Christ died violently for preaching the Gospel of Christ to the world.  And that was just their deaths not to mention all who died for believing.  Many, like Peter, spent a lot of time in prison and were tortured over the years too.  This is true dedication and reminded me of this verse: "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." ~ Luke 9:23-24 We Have Failed! Almost all of them took up their cross, many literally, to follow Jesus.  How many of us would do that today?  How many of us have even been close to being in that position?  Sure there are some evangelists that travel into some unfriendly territories and have had their faith tested.  But for most of us, we live a cushy life where our faith and dedication is never really put to a test.  Even when it is slightly test we fail. To be fair most of us would never have the the faith to follow Christ where he has gone.  Most of us hide in our safe churches and when the heat is on, we deny him like Peter did.  We have all failed at this at some point.  We are afraid of what people think of us more than what God thinks of us.  If Peter failed as an Apostle who knew Jesus and witnessed the Gospel preached personally, what hope is there for us? We have all failed, just like Peter.  But if we truly have our hearts focused on following our Lord, we must carry our cross wherever he leads us.  How easy is it today when there is little risk of being put to death for our beliefs.  At most these days,we get some ridicule.  However, if we can't handle a little ridicule, how can we handle the more difficult path to come?  It seems to me that our relationship with God was built on sand in that case and we should take an honest look at our relationship with Him.

Will You Take Up Your Cross? The good news for us is we can learn and gain strength through our submission to God through Jesus and the strength of the Holy Spirit that he grants us.  Peter failed by denying Christ 3 times but he learned from his mistakes and became the Rock that Christ founded his Church on and performed great works in the name of Jesus.  More importantly he never denied Jesus again no matter the trials he went through.  So can you take up your cross and not longer be embarrassed by your faith in Jesus?  If you fall, and you will, can you get back up, put that cross on your shoulder and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on to his promised kingdom. Learn to find your peace in God's word References: * "How Did The Apostles Die?"  by Patrick J Kiger, National Geographic, February 19, 2015 Read the full article