prosperity

Modesty and the Scandalous Culture The world screams sex and licentiousness – on billboards, in magazines, television and movies. The growth of the pornography and sex trafficking industries, teen sexting, and increasingly seductive fashions are just three examples. The church frequently mirrors the values of the world instead of promoting believers’ identity in Christ and solid biblical values. Modern, Western culture has clearly influenced and desensitized Christians, but God’s standard for moral purity is still high (Matthew 5:27-29; Job 31:1; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 14:13). Sexual lust is not just a men’s issue, but because of the Fall (Genesis 3), men are more prone to lust via visual temptations, especially regarding sexual images. Because of this struggle, men are usually addressed i...

Jesus said, “And whoever welcomes a little child… in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5, NIV). Now that may not seem like a whole lot, but in the Bible the idea of “welcoming” someone was very specific and meant a lot more than it means today. It meant to be concerned about someone—to care for them, to show kindness to them. To welcome someone in the name of Jesus means to do as He would do, to do so for His sake, to do so as a Christ follower. Then He added these words: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6, NIV). A millstone was a circular stone that was used to grind grain. There were two kinds of millstones: a small one t...

A Prayer for When You’re Stuck in the Waiting Place By Marlo Schalesky But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. – Romans 8:25 Waiting. I’ve never been a fan. But it seems I have a PhD in the art. Waiting for the results of infertility treatments, waiting for an offer for a job, waiting for a change in a relationship, waiting for a change in life. And recently, waiting for test results that could mean cancer or mean nothing. Once again, I was in the waiting place, and while there, I wrote this: I find myself here again, in this waiting place. The place where I know God is sovereign. I know He holds my life in His hands. I know He is there. I know He cares. I know the very hairs on my head are numbered… as are my days. And yet there is a knot in my...

Because there are many opinions about healing, and those who use healing in self-serving ways, it’s important for Christians to go to the Bible for direction and guidance. Christians should want to approach healing in a biblical way, and in Scripture we discover the source and purposes for healing, as well as instruction and models for asking in faith. Here are nine things the Bible says about healing and praying for healing. 1. Healing comes from God. No Scripture condemns the legitimate use of doctors or medical science, but one of the names of God is Jehovah-Rapha meaning “the Lord who heals.” The Father has the power to heal the whole person. Healing also comes through the agency of the Holy Spirit working through believers’ spiritual gifts (Acts 3:1-13a). Jesus healed “every disease a...

Remembering God involves more than thinking about him or having warm feelings toward him. Remembrance involves the dreaded “O” word: obedience. For the Jews, remembering involved obeying the law that God had given on Mount Sinai. But let’s be honest. Most of us aren’t thrilled when we hear the phrase “God’s law.” To many of us, talk of religious laws conjures the prospect of legalism, of being bound to a life of rigid rules and regulations. While English translations of the Bible translate the Hebrew word torah as “law,” Jewish translations often render it as “teaching” or “instruction.” So if we think about what transpired on Mount Sinai, it makes sense to think of it as the moment when God gave his people vital instructions for their journey. Without these instructions, they would never ...

Why should I be interested in the Bible? That’s a great question! Sure, the Bible can be confusing at first glance and seem a tad overwhelming. It can make people feel uncomfortable, especially when it brings about change (goal change, habit change, heart change) they may not be ready to face or even want to face—at least not today. Then why read it? Before we dive into “why,” what does the Bible have to say about itself? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword . . . discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (ESV). Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (ESV). 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for ...

We have just released a brand-new booklet called Death is Not the End of Our Story. It addresses many common questions: What happens when we die? Is death really the end? How can we be sure? I wrote this booklet because God’s Word offers solid answers to these important questions.The Bible says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Life is short and death is certain, but Jesus showed us the way out of the grave.You have friends who need the message of this booklet. We’re making it available for a suggested donation of $1 per copy with a minimum order of 10. Please note that we only ship within the United States. Click on this link to place an order.Y ou can download a FREE P...

A Prayer to Strengthen Your Prayer Life By Julie Gillies “He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him” (1 John 5:14). Whether you’re facing an impossible situation, stepping out into a new area, or trusting God for a miracle, prayer is arguably our most potent weapon as believers.  Prayer is not only a privilege and a blessing, but through prayer our hearts are strengthened and encouraged. Through prayer the atmosphere of our homes and our hearts change. Through prayer God brings our hearts into alignment with His. And through prayer God works in surprising and incredible ways.  One of the best investments we can make is taking time to strengthen the foundation of our prayer lives. 1.    Know who you are.  When we surrender our hearts a...

For many, the word “hedonism” may conjure ideas of loose living or earthly pleasures. However, some Christians believe that a different form of hedonism— “Christian hedonism”—is in fact worthwhile and ultimately glorifying to God. Meaning and Origin of Hedonism The term hedonism itself dates back to the ancient Greek word for pleasure. The philosophy of hedonism is believed to have first been taught by Aristippus of Cyrene, a student of Socrates. He taught that the meaning of life is pleasure, and thus pleasure should be the ultimate pursuit. Though Aristippus may have been the first to teach hedonism, he wasn’t alone. Around roughly the same time, Chinese philosopher Yang Zhu taught that since there was no afterlife and no god, one might as well pursue as much pleasure as possible in the ...

In his new book, Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell explores why so many of our interactions with strangers go wrong.  For example, how did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for an entire generation? Why did the Prime Minister of England Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler after meeting him, but Winston Churchill – who never met him – never trusted him? Gladwell notes that the people who were right about Hitler were those who knew the least about him personally, and the ones who were wrong about him were the ones who had talked with him for hours. But this plays itself out over and over again. Why did so many trust Bernie Madoff with their money? Why did so many parents trust Jerry Sandusky with their children? In other words, why can’t we tell when the stranger in front...

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious Heart By Jennifer Heeren “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Feelings of worry and nervousness will inevitably pop up as you travel your life’s path. Things will happen that you don’t understand. You will be called to do something even when you don’t have a clue about the outcome. Anxiety will present itself to your uncertain mind. But you don’t have to live there. The answer to anxieties is to go to God as soon as you sense a worry. Don’t wait. Pray immediately and ask for His strength to carry you. Philippians 4:6 has the first three steps to talk to God about your anxiety: 1. Pray about everything. Does it say only pray about the...

The Ark of the Covenant was one of the most instrumental symbols of faith and God’s presence. The contents of which included the tables of the Mosaic law, a pot of manna, and the rod of Aaron. The Ark’s origin stemmed from Exodus 25:10 when Moses was commanded by God to “make an ark of acacia wood.” The Ark of the Covenant Dimensions and Features In Exodus 25:10-22, the specifics of the Ark were laid out. It needed to be two cubits and a half in length (one cubit being about 19.8-20.6 in.), a cubit and a half in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height. The Ark was overlaid inside and out with pure gold with a molding of gold around it. For transportation, the Ark had four rings of gold with two rings on each side. A pole of acacia wood overlaid with gold was placed into the rings to carr...