#Ephesians 5:25-26

[libearyn]

You Will Be Found

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing…

[doulafaith]

Christ's Breakthrough

“His Abide”  Reading  Reflecting Responding To God’s Word while Walking it Out Context: Matthew 27: 1-66 Focus:  Matthew 27:51-52 “At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” Matthew 27: 51-52 Definition: Breakthrough – a military…

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"PRACTICE SPIRITUAL WARFARE FOR YOUR MARRIAGE"

If I were to choose the most important thing as the key that has kept my marriage united and healthy, I would have to say it is loving my husband and family more than myself and practicing spiritual warfare EVERY DAY! Since we are spiritual beings, we cannot direct our combat against a human person. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and…

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 The wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. 2 To have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about the words of reason: 3 To be trained in the ways of wisdom, in righteousness and judging truly and straight behaviour: 4 To make the simple-minded sharp, and to give the young man knowledge, and serious purpose: 5 (The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:) 6 To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching.

Advice to a Son

8 My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother: 9 For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way, do not go with them. 11 If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause; 12 Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death; 13 Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth; 14 Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag: 15 My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways: 16 For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life. 17 Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird: 18 And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves. 19 Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.

The Good Woman—Wisdom

20 Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places; 21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town: 22 How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear to you? and pride a delight to the haters of authority? how long will the foolish go on hating knowledge? 23 Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you. 24 Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand; 25 You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to do with my sharp words: 26 So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear; 27 When your fear comes on you like a storm, and your trouble like a rushing wind; when pain and sorrow come on you. 28 Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for me early, they will not see me: 29 For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord: 30 They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them. 31 So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full. 32 For the turning back of the simple from teaching will be the cause of their death, and the peace of the foolish will be their destruction. 33 But whoever gives ear to me will take his rest safely, living in peace without fear of evil. — Proverbs 1 | Bible in Basic English (BBE) The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 41:42; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 4:6; Deuteronomy 21:18; Deuteronomy 28:63; 1 Samuel 19:10; 1 Kings 4:32; Job 4:8; Job 21:14; Job 27:9; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 10:8; Psalm 25:12-13; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 81:11; Psalm 116:6; Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 5:12; Proverbs 5:22; Proverbs 8:1; Proverbs 9:9; Proverbs 15:27; Proverbs 16:19; Luke 7:30; John 7:39; Romans 2:5; Romans 10:21; Ephesians 5:11; James 4:3

[hopethroughscriptureministries]

Discovering the Power of God's Word:

A Journey Through Scripture

Introduction: Embark on a captivating journey through the timeless wisdom and power of God's Word as we delve into the pages of Scripture. Join us as we uncover the transformative truths, hidden treasures, and life-changing promises waiting to be revealed in the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Cross References: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22-25

Commentary: In Psalm 119:105, the psalmist declares, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The Word of God serves as a guiding light, illuminating our way and directing our steps in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture, declaring that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It penetrates deep into the innermost recesses of our being, exposing truth and bringing transformation.

James 1:22-25 admonishes believers not only to be hearers of the Word but also doers, for blessed are those who hear the Word and obey it. The Word of God is likened to a mirror, reflecting our true spiritual condition and revealing areas in need of alignment with God's will.

John 15:1-17 - Jesus' teaching on abiding in Him as the vine and bearing fruit.

Colossians 3:12-17 - Paul's exhortation to clothe ourselves with virtues such as kindness, humility, and forgiveness.

Matthew 7:16-20 - Jesus' teaching on recognizing false prophets by their fruits.

Ephesians 5:9 - Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as being in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Matthew 12:33 - Jesus speaks about how a tree is known by its fruit.

James 3:17-18 - James describes the wisdom from above as being pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of good fruits.

Proverbs 11:30 - "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

Psalm 1:3 - "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Galatians 5:16-26 - The contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

Luke 6:43-45 - Jesus' teaching on how a good tree brings forth good fruit, and an evil tree brings forth evil fruit.

These cross-references provide additional insights and perspectives on the fruit of the Spirit, encouraging further study and reflection on this vital aspect of the Christian life.

Questions:

How does the Word of God guide and illuminate your path in life?

In what ways do you actively engage with Scripture to experience its transformative power?

How can you apply the truths and principles found in God's Word to your everyday life and decision-making?

What steps can you take to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the King James Version of the Bible?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Open our hearts and minds to receive the truths and promises contained within its pages, and empower us to live according to your will. May your Word dwell richly in us, guiding, transforming, and renewing us day by day. Amen.

[jeremiah-33-3]

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Psalm 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Isaiah 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Deutoromy 32:5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

[childofchrist1983]

God loves and cares for us more than we will ever know. He rejoices with us in moments of happiness; His heart breaks with us in times of sorrow. He is present during good times and bad. Our lives are His treasure. He loves us when we are unlovable and forgives us when unforgivable. God is the same from beginning to end. He is consistent, reliable, and loves us unconditionally. He remains devoted to us all the days of our life. And as true and born -again Christians we thank Him for this and for His eternal presence and everlasting love. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace. - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[apocrypals]

Previously, on Apocrypals part 5: The Fifth One

As we begin our sixth (!) calendar year of Apocrypals, here is a list of the texts we have covered so far on the show in case you want to read along or catch up. They’re arranged in a way that appeases my systematic nature.  

Tanakh/Old Testament:

Genesis (episodes 16-20)

Exodus (episodes 33 and 35)

Leviticus (episode 59)

Numbers (episode 62)

Deuteronomy (episode 65)

Joshua (episode 73)

Judges (episode 80)

Ruth (episode 45)

1 Samuel (episode 89)

2 Samuel (episode 90-91)

1 Kings (episode 99)

2 Kings (episode 106)

Esther (episode 37)

Job (episode 101)

Ecclesiastes (episode 52)

Song of Songs (episode 34)

Isaiah (episode 4)

Jeremiah (episode 43-44)

Lamentations (episode 48)

Ezekiel (episode 55-56)

Daniel (episode 2)

Hosea (episode 108)

Jonah (episode 31)

Micah (episode 74)

Nahum (episode 74)

Deuterocanon/capital-A Apocrypha:

Tobit (episode 13)

Judith (episode 22)

Greek Additions to Esther (episode 37)

1 Maccabees (episode 27)

2 Maccabees (episode 28)

3 Maccabees (episode 53)

4 Maccabees (episode 78)

The Prayer of Azariah aka the Song of the Three Holy Children (episode 2)

Susanna (episode 2)

Bel and the Dragon (episode 2)

The Prayer of Manasseh (episode 6)

New Testament:

Matthew (episodes 8-9)

Mark (episode 7)

Luke (episode 10)

John (episode 11-12)

Acts of the Apostles (episode 1)

Romans (episode 5)

1 Corinthians (episode 25)

2 Corinthians (episode 42)

Galatians (episode 72)

Ephesians (episode 81)

Hebrews (episode 104)

1 John (episode 49)

2 John (episode 49)

3 John (episode 49)

Revelation (episode 50)

Pseudepigrapha (Jewish apocrypha):

The Testament of Solomon (episode 24)

The Story of Ahikar (episode 14)

The Ascension of Isaiah (episode 6)

1 Enoch (episode 39-40)

2 Enoch (episode 61)

3 Enoch (episode 86-87)

Jubilees (episodes 82 and 83)

The Letter of Aristeas (episode 70)

The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (episode 71)

Joseph and Aseneth (episode 93)

New Testament apocrypha:

The Protevangelium aka Infancy Gospel of James (episode 29)

The Acts of Pilate/Gospel of Nicodemus (episode 23)

Mors Pilati/Death of Pilate (episode 23)

The Acts of Paul and Thecla (episode 22)

The Acts of Peter (episode 3)

The Acts of Peter and Paul (episode 3)

The Acts of Andrew and Matthias (episode 60)

The Acts of Thomas and His Wonderworking Skin (episode 66)

The Life of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca (episode 57)

Questions of Bartholomew (episode 41)

Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew (episode 41)

The Book of Bartholomew (episode 67)

Acts of John (episode 46)

The Acts of Andrew (episode 97)

Syriac Infancy Gospel (episode 47)

Infancy Gospel of Thomas (episode 54)

Infancy Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (episode 79)

The Adoration of the Magi (2020 Christmas bonus episode)

The History of Joseph the Carpenter (episode 103)

The First Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Second Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Third Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (episode 68)

The Apocalypse of Peter (episode 75)

The Apocalypse of Paul (episode 95)

The Gospel of Philip (episode 92)

The Gospel of Mary (episode 92)

The Gospel of Jesus’s Wife (episode 92)

The Gospel of Judas (episode 100)

The Greater Questions of Mary (episode Secret 69)

The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine:

The Life of Saint Nicholas (episode 26)

The Life of Saint Lucy (episode 26)

The Life of Saint Christopher (episode 15)

The Life of Saint Benedict (episode 15)

excerpts from The Passion of the Lord (episode 23)

The Life of Saint Sebastian (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Blaise (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Agatha (episode 58)

The Life of Saint Roch (episode 63)

The Life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (episode 77)

The Life of Saint Barbara (episode 77)

The Life of Saint Dunstan (episode 85)

The Life of Mary Magdalene (episode 94)

The Life of Saint Martha of Bethany (episode 102)

The Life of Saint Margaret of Antioch (episode 102)

Other:

Historia Trium Regum/The Legend of the Three Kings by John of Hildesheim (episode 30)

Muirchu’s Life of Saint Patrick (episode 36)

The Life of Saint Guinefort (episode 63)

The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt (episode 69)

The Life of Saint Pelagia (episode 69)

The Life of Saint Martin by Sulpicius Severus (episode 76)

The Life of Saint Columba (episode 84)

The Life of Saint Wilgefortis (episode 94)

Lives of cephalophoric saints (bonus episode cephalo4)

Stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 96)

More stories of the Baal Shem Tov from The Golden Mountain (episode 107)

Solomon and Ashmedai (bonus episode double chai)

Listener questions (episode 32)

Bible trivia questions (episode 38)

Halloween-themed Chick tracts (episode 51)

Christmas-themed Chick tracts (episode 98)

Bible Adventures and the Wisdom Tree catalogue of video games (episode 64)

The Da Vinci Code, the movie (episode 88)

Guess the Bible character from Persona 5 (bonus episode Persona 5)

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (episode 105)

You can find links to all these episodes with show notes and more on the Apocrypals wiki

[walkswithmyfather]

GOD IS GOOD!

God is good all the time (Psalm 25:8; 106:1; 119:68; 145:9; Matthew 19:17).

God is wise (Romans 16:27; Daniel 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25).

God is holy (Leviticus 19:2; Job 6:10).

God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 92:15; 119:37; Zephaniah 3:5).

God is merciful (Ephesians 2:4; Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 100:5).

God redeems (Psalm 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 47:4; 59:20; Jeremiah 50:34).

God saves (Isaiah 43:3-11; 45:21; 49:26).

God sanctifies (Exodus 31:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 1).

God is Judge over all (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 50:6; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23).

Nothing or no one is like God (Job 11:7; Isaiah 40:28).

Amen! 🙌

[sisterdragonwithfeathers]

[originally in answer to an anon ask, which was unfortunately lost in the drafting process. I am so sorry Anon! I hope you still find this, somehow]

{in summary, Anon respectfully asked me why I believed that LGBT+ pride was wrong, expressing that they were part of that community as well as a fellow believer and that they viewed LGBT+ pride as a positive reaction to and celebration of how God made them, as well as a support for their ostracized community}

{take this with a grain of salt, I cannot perfectly remember their wording}

~

Hey! Sorry this took me so long to answer. I felt like I had to have the time to give it the thought it deserved.

I really appreciate your willingness to have a peaceful discussion over disagreement. That's counter-cultural right now, but really important.

I do believe that LGBT+ Pride is a political/social agenda, but in the context of this conversation (between two believers in God if I have understood you), I think it is more important that it is a sin.

Not specifically the feeling of pride itself (I don't like to get too semantic about that word personally), but specifically the actions of being bisexual, homosexual, or transgender.

You will note I say actions: temptations are not sins (Hebrews 4:15, Jesus is sinless, yet was tempted).

Attraction to the same sex is not a sin; being insecure in one's identity as a male or female is not a sin. Acting inappropriately on those feelings or desires, however, is a sin. This includes entertaining sinful thoughts. (for example, being attracted to someone you are not married to is not a sin, but dwelling on that attraction and letting it become lust or emotional unfaithfulness to one's spouse is (Matthew 5:27-28). Anger is not inherently a sin, but dwelling on and holding on to anger is (Ephesians 4:26-27) , even if you never physically act on it (Matthew 5:21-24).

I think "pride" in general usage is neither good nor bad. It simply means to be happy or satisfied with something/someone. The Bible condemns pride when it is centered in selfishness, confidence in ourselves alone, but, as you implied in your ask, it is good to be proud of what we are given/made to be by God (2 Corinthians 1:12-14; Philippians 1:25-26; Romans 15:17-19; 2 Corinthians 5:11-12).

I am proud of the person God has made me into since I became a christian. I am proud to be a fellow heir with Christ, sanctified "by the washing of water" to be part of His church.

I am proud of being a woman, as God made me, with all the physical and spiritual and mental gifts and responsibilities which come along with that.

You are right. In being proud of these gifts He has given, acknowledging His work, His craftsmanship, I glorify God. God intends this.

and here we come to the crux of our disagreement: I do not believe that God made anyone "queer".

He absolutely made you and loves you and you are a human with a soul created in His image no matter what you choose, but I do not believe that God intends anyone to be (actively) homosexual or transgender or "queer", any more than He intends anyone to be (actively) alcoholic or vengeful or suicidal and depressed.

We may be (definitely are) born with a tendency toward certain temptations, a natural weakness against certain sins, but that is due to the fallen world. Our bodies, our minds, betray us. The flesh is at war with the Spirit (Romans 7:22-25; Galatians 6:8; look there's a lot of texts about this, here's a search list for "spirit" and "flesh" in the New Testament, which aren't all relevant, but it's a good place to start)

God will not allow any temptation to overtake us that He will not enable us to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). This does not mean that we do not stumble or struggle, or even (strangely enough! [to me at least]) that our tendencies to certain temptations do not in some ways define and shape us! (1 Corinthians 7 is...a lot. But, to the best of my current understanding, one of the takeaways we can get from specifically verses 7-9, is that some people have the gift to remain single [and thus celibate], and some do not, and the difference is whether or not that is a significant temptation for them. And neither option is morally more correct! It just depends! Fascinating. Lot more could be said about that. I'm not going to say it.)

Anyway. To make a long point short, I believe that God has made it very clear that every active LGBT+ lifestyle is sinful (I have specific passages for this, but that feels larger than the scope of this already lengthy ask). Regardless of our besetting temptations, God will make it possible for us to live according to His will for us. And once we have accepted Him by obeying the gospel, we are covered in the blood of Christ, which will continually cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7) (even those we continue to fall prey to, despite ourselves, after we have accepted Him)(Romans 7:14-25).

Finally, I know we are fellow believers. I hope dearly that we are also sisters. I pray that you have and maintain, or else find, full confidence in your salvation and assurance in the blood of Christ which covers all the faithful (1 Peter 3:21-22; 2 Peter 1; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:37-39)

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve [discover, distinguish] the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless [for] until the day of Christ; - Philippians 1:9-10

If you want to have any more discussion and/or on any of the points I've made, or more scriptures that I have not included here for brevity, or if you have a counter-argument from the scriptures, please do ask or even personally message me! We are both pursuing greater knowledge of God's word. Let us learn together.

Peace to you also, sister. May God bless you in your pursuit of truth.

[doulafaith]

The Breakthrough

“His Abide”  Reading  Reflecting Responding To God’s Word while Walking it Out Context: Matthew 27: 1-66 Focus:  Matthew 27:51-52 “At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” Matthew 27: 51-52 Definition: Breakthrough – a military…

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"THE CROSS DISARMED SATAN"

Colossians 2:11-15, “In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts). [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through…

[hiswordsarekisses]

Our sure and God-given weapons is The Word of God. As we consistently and prayerfully spend time with God in His Word, we will grow in faith and discernment ~ and it will also wash us and make us new. God’s Word provides protection for our minds like a helmet., and it arms us with truth like a belt wrapped around us ~ causing us to confidently stand firm. This belt holds a quiver full of promises that are like arrows that powerfully extinguish every fiery dart that the enemy will throw at us, as we take our thoughts captive as we replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of The Word. The Word also provides a shield of faith - because faith comes from hearing The Word - which places a divine breastplate across our chest ~ protecting our heart from sin and keeping us in righteousness as we hide The Word in our hearts. The Word enables us to stand in the shoes of the gospel of peace - because perfect peace comes to those who keep their eyes fixed on Him (Who is The Word.)

Every single piece of our armor mentioned in Ephesians chapter 6 is fully and completely provided by our sword, “which is The Word of God.” This is simply because He IS The Word! His blood, and His Spirit, and His Word ~ together ~ have given us everything we need for life and godliness ~ and everything we need to fight our battles. “And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these for war. The term "trains" here refers to He's walking us through a training exercise to fight the enemy much like a military training exercise. However, this is a spiritual war which cannot be fought with worldly ammunition ~ but know the enemy will try to distract you in a war of flesh - but only the weapon of His Word will ever be able to setus free, pull down spiritual strongholds m, and fight the principalities and powers of darkness in high places.

Our Father's goal is to bring us to the point where we have learned how ultimately trustworthy He is; so that we finally begin to automatically depend and lean 100% on Him as our natural reflex, and instinctive, reactive response... to literally e v e r y t h I n g..

The following are the verses that came to me as I was writing what was on my heart (if you are interested in further study) as well as the passages that inspired actually this post.

Ephesians 6:10-17 ~ John1:1 ~ John17.17 ~ John 14:6 ~ John 8:32 ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 ~ 1 Peter 2:2 ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 ~ Hebrews 4:12 ~ Romans 10:17 ~ psalm 119:11 ~Isaiah 26:3 ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 ~ Isaiah 50:7 ~ 2 Timothy 2:4-7 ~ 2 Timothy 2:15 ~ Isaiah 55:11 ~ Acts 17:11 ~ Deuteronomy 8:3 ~ James 1:21 ~ John 15:7 ~ John 16:13 ~ John 6:63 ~ John 7:38 ~ Matthew 4:4 ~ proverbs 30:5 ~ Romans 15:4 ~ 1 Corinthians 6:11 ~ Ephesians 5:25-27 ~ 1 John 5:6-13 ~ Psalm 144:1-6~ 2 Samuel 22:31-37 ~ Psalm 18:26-36

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

A Father's Wise Instruction

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. — Proverbs 4 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 11:21; Deuteronomy 32:2; 1 Samuel 2:30; 1 Samuel 12:23; 2 Samuel 22;37; 1 Chronicles 22:5; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 34:11; Psalm 36:4; Proverbs 1:2; Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 2:2; Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 3:8; Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 8:23; Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 19:1; Matthew 5:14; Luke 6:45; John 6:63; John 11:10; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:13

[hopethroughscriptureministries]

Embracing the Fruit of the Spirit:

Cultivating Christlike Character

Introduction: Embark on a transformative journey through the fruit of the Spirit as we explore the qualities that reflect the character of Christ. Join us on this enriching exploration of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and discover how they can shape our lives and relationships.

Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) Cross References: John 15:1-17, Colossians 3:12-17, 2 Peter 1:5-8

Commentary: In Galatians 5, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of a life surrendered to Christ. These qualities—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—flow from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit and reflect the character of Christ Himself.

In John 15, Jesus uses the analogy of the vine and branches to illustrate the importance of abiding in Him to bear fruit. He emphasizes the intimate connection between abiding in His love and producing fruit that glorifies the Father.

Colossians 3 calls believers to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving as the Lord has forgiven us. These virtues are essential for maintaining unity in the body of Christ.

In 2 Peter 1, believers are encouraged to make every effort to add to their faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These qualities ensure that we will be effective and productive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Broader Context:

Love:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - The characteristics of love as described by Paul.

John 13:34-35 - Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as He has loved them.

1 John 4:7-12 - Believers are called to love one another because love comes from God.

Joy:

Psalm 16:11 - In God's presence is fullness of joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 - The joy of the Lord is our strength.

John 15:11 - Jesus desires His joy to be in us, and for our joy to be complete.

Peace:

Isaiah 26:3 - God promises perfect peace to those whose minds are steadfast.

Romans 5:1 - Through faith in Jesus, we have peace with God.

Philippians 4:6-7 - God's peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Patience:

Ecclesiastes 7:8 - Patience is better than pride.

Romans 12:12 - Believers are called to be patient in affliction.

James 5:7-8 - Be patient and stand firm, for the Lord's coming is near.

Kindness:

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.

Proverbs 19:22 - What is desired in a man is kindness.

Colossians 3:12 - As God's chosen people, clothe yourselves with kindness.

Goodness:

Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

Romans 12:21 - Overcome evil with good.

Titus 2:14 - Christ gave himself for us to redeem us and purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Faithfulness:

1 Corinthians 4:2 - Faithfulness is required of stewards.

2 Timothy 2:13 - God remains faithful even when we are faithless.

Revelation 2:10 - Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.

Gentleness:

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath.

Galatians 6:1 - Restore others gently when they are caught in sin.

1 Peter 3:15 - In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Self-Control:

Proverbs 25:28 - A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

1 Corinthians 9:25 - Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Questions:

Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to cultivate in your life, and why?

In what ways can you abide more deeply in Christ to bear fruit that reflects His character?

How do the fruit of the Spirit impact your relationships with God and others?

What practical steps can you take to nurture the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who produces fruit in our lives that reflects the character of Christ. Help us to cultivate these virtues daily, empowering us to love as you love, to bring joy wherever we go, and to walk in peace amidst life's storms. May our lives bear witness to your transformative power and bring glory to your name. Amen.