Those who are trying for salvation often lean on either their own imagined goodness or some kind of religious observance or a combination of both. In the previous passages we have seen how the Jews boasted in circumcision and the law. Paul has already made it clear that there must be an …
It is written that a barren woman, who has not given birth to children should break forth with a joyful shout, because of not feeling birth pangs, in comparison to the desolate woman who has many more children than she who has a husband (v. 27). This quotation from (Isaiah 54:1) …
This is a psalm of humility. it records the meek and humble spirit of David. Pride is centered in the heart, but it is not clearly revealed in the eyes. Remember a proud look is one of the things God hates. He speaks of his soul as a weaned child. We are weaned from worldly thing …
It was hard for Paul to leave the Ephesian Elders. Luke implies that he had to literally tear himself away from these dear friends (v.1). He found a ship going to Phoenicia, so he got on board and sailed off (v. 2). From there he headed south. The voyage itself was uneventful and probably took …
Before Cornelius could be welcomed into the Church, Peter had to learn a lesson. Strict Jews believed that God had no use for the Gentiles. Sometimes they even said that help must not be given to a Gentile woman in childbirth, because that would only bring another Gentile into the …
The book of Proverbs begins with the command to fear the Lord (Prov. 1:7) and ends with the picture of a woman who fulfills this command. The foot notes in the Life Application Bible describes the woman in this chapter as follows: “She has outstanding abilities. Her family& …
Fear gripped the heart of Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, when he heard of Joshua’s destruction of Ai and that the Gibeonites had entered an alliance with Israel (vv. 1-2). He knew that if the advances of Israel’s armies continued without challenge, Jerusalem would soon be surrounded and …
Chapter 11 is set around the same time as the events of Chapter 6. Daniel made a choice to support and strengthen King Darius the Mede in the first year of his reign (v. 1). This chapter contains detailed prophecy of events that were to take place in Israel for the next three hundred …
Thirteen qualifications are given for deacons (servants). The original intention for deacons was to help meet the physical needs of the church so that the pastors could "give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word†(Acts 6:1-4) …
Paul shares with Timothy three principles that will bring success in the ministry if they are followed …