When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Acts 24:27 NIV Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea until Governor Felix “decided his case.” He had broken no law nor had charges been …
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV We now come to the last portion of this verse of Paul’s writing. Could this actually be the verse that lays out, in very simple terms, how we all can have the joy of Jesus in …
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV Again, I ask you brothers, can it really be this simple? We discussed in my prior writing the importance of being joyful in hope and it’s simplicity. Joy being one of the fruits of the spirit, we …
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” Acts 23:1 NIV I’m challenged by Paul’s declaration before the Council, and it causes me to examine my own heart to decide if I could boldly …
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV Could a key to our daily walk, really be this simple? Being joyful in hope: How important is this, as we fight to maintain our walk with Jesus, while living in the world? Joy, by definition, is …
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were …
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the …
Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge. Acts 21:16 NASB Every so often the Bible introduces us to someone who played a significant enough role to be mentioned by name, …
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD” Lam 3:40. NIV How easy it is, while we remain in this world, to fall back into a pattern of self. We strive to make things happen, we struggle with impatience, and we strive to …
He was handed over by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to …