Daily Devotionals--NEW

[la.lady]

Yes, we want you here and please do share. We all can bring new things to this thread and share what God is teaching us. I am so thrilled that you have came here and as we post, we will get to know each other better...

[la.lady]

Girls, if you want to know what Heaven looks like, then get the book by Jesse Duplantis, called (Heaven Close Encounters Of The God Kind.) He is a preacher from New Orleans and he had a vision from God. Whether you believe it or not, it make for good reading, or if, you would like I will type a few pages each day that I can, on here. It truly is awesome what he says God showed him. We actually live in Mansions and as families. According to Jesse, we have bodies in Heaven and I often wondered why God gave us a body, if we are going to live eternity as a spirit.

[Pcola Girl]

Isn't it wonderful that we can serve the one and only true God, The only God to have died and then was raised from the dead and one that still lives forever and forever. The God that we truely know in our hearts and the one we will spend eternity with in Heaven.
There is no other god(idol) that has ever been raised from the dead, those idols are worldly idols and deny the true Gods existence and do not have everlasting life like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We know who the true living God is and the God who created our world and everything in it, even you and I.
He is a God who will not fade away and die, He is eternal.
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"The Only True God"

1 Thessalonians 1-9-10

9-For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

10-and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come

1 Corinthians 8: 5 -For though there be that are called gods, weather in Heaven or in earth,(as there be gods many and lords many)

In today's world, just as there were in the ancient pagan world. In fact, the worship of many of these ancient deities is being revived in various dark corners of the so-called "New Age" movement today.

There is, however, only one true God, the God who created all things.

1 Corinthians 8: 6 - But to us is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.

One thing all false gods and false religions have in common is the denial of the true God and omnipotent Creator.



1 Corinthians 8:4- As concerning therefore the eating of those of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that a idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one.

A dead idol obviously can be of no use. The infallible test as to just who this "true" God, may be is that His identity is confirmed as the only living God; therefore, He is the only true God. He died for our sins, yes, but now He lives forever as King of all His creation. We are to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come"

(I Thessalonians 1:9-10).

9-God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10-Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.

[Pcola Girl]

Patty I love watching Jesse Duplantis on TV. He is funny and I feel he knows his Bible really well and preaches the true word of God.
I will check on that book, would love to read it.

I know we will recieve a new spiritual body when we get to Heaven but have no idea what it will be like though, no one does only God.
I just hope and pray that a family can be reunited in Heaven because my son is there now and I do want to be with him again as his mom.

We are all Christians and believe God is our true God and that He has forgiven our sins.
We are all one big family in Christ.

[la.lady]

Mary I really believe in my Heart and that God is revealing to me that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. Just like Jesus was and is reunited with his Father. That shows to me that we will live in Heaven as families and Jesus having a body and body in Heaven is to show us too that we will have. Some have said that no one will be over 33 years old, because that is how long Jesus lived on this earth, before he died and went to be with God...The Holy Spirit will reunited with them when Jesus comes to get us in the Rapture or we are raised with the Dead In Christ...

[Pcola Girl]

http://


Patty I heard a preacher once on TV say that when we get to Heaven we all be be the age of 33, just what you said here.
(Hope thats true because I am old and grey haired and I don't wnat to look like this for eternity!) Our son was 33 when he passed away back in
2002. I feel to that we will all be re-united with our families and love ones, God knows how we love our families and our children and I do not think He would keep us from them for all eternity.

Todays lesson is on Christian Strength,Hope you enjoy it.
God Bless you Today.
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"The Christian’s Strength"

The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall.

(But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40: 28-31)

The strength of the world and the strength of God are so different.
In the world strength is seen through military power – nations building bigger weapons and waging war. In economic power – companies buying other companies or those who use money to influence others. In political power – dictators arresting or executing those who refuse to follow them.

In each case those who have worldly strength hold on to their power by intimidating, oppressing or seducing those with little strength. The strong in this world are glorified by breaking those under them. But the glory of God is seen through giving power to the weak. By giving and renewing and increasing the strength of those who take refuge in Him. Where the world forces down and breaks, God lifts up and rebuilds.

There are people who say, “I have strength and power and I don’t abuse it.” Or maybe they say, “God isn’t responsible for my success. What I’ve accomplished I’ve accomplished on my own.”

But remember Daniel 2:21, “He removes kings and raises up kings” and again in Matt. 5:45 “God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Or think of John 19:10-11, where Jesus is refusing to answer Pilate’s questions. Pilate says, “Do you not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” And Jesus, who always introduces us to the big picture, answers, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.”

God gives a measure of gifts and talents to everyone. He raises and removes nations and individuals according to His Will. So even those who reject God owe their strength and talent to Him. On the other hand the strength that God gives to those who follow Him comes through acknowledging Him in faith.

Romans 16:25 says that God is able to establish or strengthen us according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ. Habaccuk 2:4 tells us that “the just shall live by faith,” while in 1 Corinthians 2:5 we told that “our faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

There must first be knowledge – we must be informed of a fact. “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” Romans 10:14 asks. We are introduced to the fact that Christ died for sinners and all who call to Him will be saved.

Next comes belief – “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 promises. We believe that Christ paid the price of sin on our behalf.

The finally there’s trust – we place our hope in our belief. “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 declares. We trust in Christ to make peace with God on our behalf.

So faith is believing that Christ is who He said He is, that He will do what He promised to do, and then expecting Him to do them. And through faith, the Bible tells us, we find our strength. What does this strength look like as we live it out in our daily lives? The strength that God gives through Christ isn’t limited by our circumstances.

He isn’t helpless when difficult times come. Our Lord neither faints nor is weary. No situation is too great for Him. In this world we will have trouble, but Christ has overcome the world.

His strength gives us the power to not repay evil with evil, to turn the other cheek, to bless those who curse us. His strength enables to serve Him through good works, which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Remember our text? They shall walk and not faint.

Through Christ we can do all things because His grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in our weakness Phl 4:13 and 2 Cor 12:9 tells us. Remember our text? “to those who have no might He increases strength”. When we are weak He gives us the power to go on when we trust Him.

His strength allows us to see the greater picture, to look past the problems of this life and see our circumstances as opportunities to grow and draw closer to Him. As it says in 2 Cor 12:10, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Remember our text? Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength.

[Star123]

Morning Ladies,

I had a tape that someone had recorded Jesse's testimony and gave it to my sister. She hasn't given it back and usually puts everything away and doesn't look at it. But, the okay, maybe one day she and her kids will discover it and watch it.

Patty, thanks for mentioning it. You reminded me about him and now I'm intrigued to read his book. I remember watching the video and being impressed with what he had to say about his accident and heavenly visitation. I want to read that book. Might have to order it from ebay, but it would be worth it.

Mary, I heard that too and believe that we'll all be young in heaven, and we will be living in mansions just like what Jesus said in the scriptures, [in red print]. Jesus always warned his disciples about things to come [ahead of time], and I believe everything he said was truth, because he never lied. I think he said those things for us to read in the future, because he knew we'd be reading the bible and studying his wonderful word.

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you."

Tammy

[Pcola Girl]

Hello Patty, I know Heaven will be a beautiful place to spend our eternhity.
I know it is more than I can or anyone can even imagine.
We have a son there already and I know he will be waiting to give me a great big hug when he sees me coming in that gate of heaven.

(And I sure am hoping that I will be 33 when I get there and not old like I am now with all my grey hair I have to keep colored.)

Heaven will be wonderful I because Gods tells us so.

Study today is on "What Will Heaven Be Like.
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"What Will Heaven Be Like"

Eternal Life in the Holy City is perfect and is completely different from this life man is suffering here on this earth.

(Is it this body we possess today that will dwell in the holy city?)

Apostle Paul states in 1Cor:15:50:

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (NIV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

Brothers, I am saying this, because men in their physical form cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which can decay cannot have a share in what never dies. (IEB)

An earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into the Kingdom of God. These decaying bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever.

(What will be done to these bodies of ours to make them fit for heaven?)

(When will this happen?) In the verses 1Cor:15:51-53 this is written:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed --- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (NIV)

Our mortal bodies will be transformed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. All those who will be saved but who have died, the faithful members of Christ's Church who have died will suddenly live again with new bodies that will never, never die. Our earthly bodies shall be changed to heavenly bodies that will live forever.

(What will be the likeness of the changed bodies?)

Apostle Paul answers in Philippians 3: 20-21:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (NIV)

When our Lord Jesus Christ comes back He will change these bodies into glorious bodies like his own, with the same mighty power that he will use to conquer all things.

(If people will not die anymore, how will they live?) (Will they still marry or given in marriage?)

In Matthew 22:29-30, Jesus explained:

Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. (NKJV)
They will live like angels in heaven and they will neither marry or given in marriage.

Eternal Life in the Holy City is perfect and is completely different from this life here on this earth. This decaying earthly body is not the right kind to live forever. When the Lord Jesus Christ return, all those who will be saved but who have died will be resurrected, and those who are still alive will never taste death. The Lord will transform their lowly bodies into a glorious body like his own so they can live forever. God's people will then live like angels in heaven. They will never die anymore and neither will they marry or given in marriage.

(The Quality Of Eternal Life In The Holy City)
In heaven, all the miseries here on earth will no longer exist. A completely different world and quality of life will be experienced by God's chosen people.
Will there still be need for the sun and moon to shine on it?

(In Revelations 21:23 and 25, it says
23. And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.
25. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). (NKJV)

The city needs no sun nor moon to light it, for the glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ illuminates it. There shall be no night in the Holy City..

(Why is it that there is no need for light or the sun in the holy city?)
In revelations 22: 5, it says:
5. And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever (NKJV)
The Lord God will illuminate them and be their light through eternity.

(In the holy city, will there still be chronic problems of food or water as we experience here on earth?)

Apostle John testifies in Revelation 22:1-2:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding is fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (NIV)

There will be be no more problems of food and water in the Holy City for the "river of the water of life" flows from the throne of God and of the lamb down the middle of the great street. On each side of the river grows the "tree of life". The leaves are for the healing of nations. Truly there are no more problem there about food nor water.

(What would God's people do, if they would not have to struggle to survive anymore?) (What kind of life will they have? )
In Revelations 7: 15-17, John answers:
15. This is why they are before God's throne. They worship God day and night in His temple sanctuary. The One who is sitting on the throne will live with them.
16. They will never be hungry or thirsty. No heat or sun will burn them.
17. The Lamb in the middle of the throne will take care of them, like a shepherd does. He will lead them to springs of fresh water. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'' (IEB)

The same verse in another version of the bible:
15. That is why they are here before the throne of God, serving him day and night in his temple. The one sitting on the throne will shelter them;
16. they will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat.
17. For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away.'' (LVB)

(What a wonderful way to live.) They will worship God day and night in His temple sanctuary. God will live with them. They will never be hungry or thirsty. No heat or sun will burn them. The Lamb in the middle of the throne will take care of them, like a shepherd does. He will lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

(Will there still be a curse in the Holy City?)
In Revelation 22:3, this is written:
There shall no longer exist there anything that is accursed (detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful, or horrible). But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall worship Him [pay divine honors to Him and do Him holy service]. (Amplified Bible)

The same verse an another version of the Bible:
There shall be nothing in the city which is evil; for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. (LVB)
There shall no longer exist there anything that is accursed (detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful, or horrible). There shall be nothing in the city which is evil; for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.

(How unique is it to live in the Holy City?)
In Revelation, 21:3-4 it is written:
3. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, "Look, here God lives among human beings. He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them.
4. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone." (NJB)

In the Holy City, God will live among human beings. He will make His home among them. They will be His people and He will be their God. He will wipe all tears from their eyes There will be no more death and no more mourning or sadness or pain. For the world of the past has gone. All the miseries that man has suffered on this earth shall have passed away.

[Star123]

Originally Posted by la.lady

Girls, if you want to know what Heaven looks like, then get the book by Jesse Duplantis, called (Heaven Close Encounters Of The God Kind.) He is a preacher from New Orleans and he had a vision from God. Whether you believe it or not, it make for good reading, or if, you would like I will type a few pages each day that I can, on here. It truly is awesome what he says God showed him. We actually live in Mansions and as families. According to Jesse, we have bodies in Heaven and I often wondered why God gave us a body, if we are going to live eternity as a spirit.

Patty, I just ordered this book yesterday at the Christian book store. And it will arrive within 1.5 weeks from now. I'm looking forward to read it, because I remember his testimony from watching the video that I had recieved years ago. The one that I gave to my sister, who I'm praying will find it and watch it with her children. LOL.

I blieve everything that Jesse mentioned in his account of that vision he had of heaven. Yes, we do have mansions in heaven and one day we will be caught up with Christ in the heavenly realm. When the bride is ready, [that's us: his saints], I want to be apart of all that happens, when the city of God comes down to a new earth and a new heaven, where we will rain with him forever and ever, amen.

God bless,

Tammy

[la.lady]

Tammy I have heard people say that, if we really knew what Heaven looks like, we would be in a hurry to get there... Isn't it awesome that we have life eternally with our Lord. I can't wait for you to read his book.

[Pcola Girl]

I found this poem in my Bible folded up in a tiny wad and put back where it was never seen, I just happen to be cleaning some papers out of my Bible because they kept falling out all the time and came across it.
I do not even know where it came from or how long it has been in my Bible but When I discovered it I felt compelled to share it with you all here.
Enjoy......God Bless You and Protect you....

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"You Never Know"

You never know when someone
might catch a dream from you.
Or something you say may open up the windows
of a mind that seeks light;

The way you live may not matter at all,
But you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be
that another's life,
through you,
might possibly change for the better
with a better and brighter view,

It seems it might be worth a try
at pointing the way to the right;

Of course, it may not matter at all,
but then again, it might.

Author- unknown

[Star123]

Hi Ladies,

Mary, I just loved reading your devotionals about christian strength and what heaven will be like. You always encourage me and my faith is strengthened and encouraged, to the point of building up my christian character and by increasing my spiritual walk with him. Thanks.

A little Devotion for today: Are you ready for the Kingdom come?

At this moment, God is preparing us for His kingdom to come. By this I mean, he is getting his children 'ready' for when Christ comes back in his heavenly glory to take us home to be with him forever.

This 'readiness' is what God is doing to his saints right now. How is he doing this you ask? By preparing us for the kingdom to come. He is refining us like fire, by making us blameless, without spot or blemish, by cleansing us from sin with his redemptive blood, and making our garments white as snow.

Friend, if you don't think you're 'ready', I have one solution and one solution only to this delemia. It's impossible for man to be good enough to enter the kingdom of God. One must be born again. Which means being born, not of flesh and blood, but by the spirit of God. So, you ask, what can I do to become worthy to be called a child of the King? Can I get this priviledge by being a good person on this earth, by doing good things to others and living a good honest life?

The answer is a definite No! What is required of you is this: Salvation is a free, yes, a free gift from God the Father. He gives this gift freely to anyone who will surrender their life to Christ Jesus, by faith. It's that simply, my friend. There is no comdemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. All is required is a willing heart, who asks for forgiveness of sins and believes that Jesus was sent in this world by God, to be a sacrifice on the cross of calvary for the remission of sins, the redemption of all mankind.

The Scripture says, "But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming; That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13 NIV.

God is so meriful, and loving and compassionate. And doesn't want anyone to perish. Take the time my friend, and seek the Lord while he may be found. Make it today and you will never be disappointed.

God Bless,
Tammy

[Pcola Girl]

Patty I to enjoy the Bible studies here. I love posting them for you all. I loved you devotional on "Are You Ready for he Kingdom Come".
Anytime there is a topic you want to discuss just let me know and I will find it for you.
I thought this topic today was interestinbg because just yesterday someone told me the reason why I was suffering from all this arthritis and pain was because I was doubting Gods healing for me..
I do pray for my healing but I do not think I am doubting Gods healing because He has not healed me yet.
I feel that God has a purpose for me in my life and the arthritis is His way to show me the way He wants me to go.
What do you all think about todays topic on why we suffer pain and sickness?


God Bless You today and always.
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"Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?"

According to the Bible, “the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), and “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, no one is innocent in the sense of being sinless. Sin entered the world when Adam and Even rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, and mankind has been in rebellion ever since. Sin’s effects permeate everything, and the suffering we see all around us is a direct result of that sin.

1- Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose.
First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33).
Trials and distress are not something unusual in life; they are part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. In Christ we have an anchor that holds fast in all the storms of life, but if we never sail into those storms, how would we know that?
It is in times of despair and sorrow that we reach out to Him, and, if we are His children, we always find Him there waiting to comfort and uphold us through it all. In this way, He proves His faithfulness to us and ensures that we will stay close to Him. An added benefit is that as we experience God’s comfort through trials, we are then able to comfort others in the same way
(2 Corinthians 1:4).

2- He proves to us that our faith is real through the suffering and pain that are inevitable in this life. How we respond to suffering is determined by the genuineness of our faith.
Those with faith truly from God, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), will not be crushed by suffering, but will come through the trial with their faith intact, having been “proven through fire” so that it “might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).
Those are the ones who do not shake their fists at God or question His goodness, but instead “count it all joy” (James 1:2), knowing that trials prove that they are truly the children of God. “
Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

3-God uses suffering to take our eyes off this world and put them on the Him. The Bible continually exhorts us to not get caught up in the things of this world, but to look forward to the world to come.
This world and all that is in it will pass away, but the kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and those who would follow Him must not see the things of this life, both good and bad, as the end of the story.
Even the sufferings we endure and which seem so terrible “are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Could God prevent all suffering? Of course. But He assures us that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
So even suffering is part of the “all things” that God is using to accomplish His good purposes. His plan is perfect, His character is flawless, and those who trust Him will not be disappointed.

[la.lady]

Before I read todays topic I just want to tell you not to pay any attention to that person telling you that. Jesus told us that there would be sickness and the poor with us always. Now I do believe in Devine Healing, but it must be in God's will to heal this person and I do not believe that shows the lack of Faith just because someone is not healed. Paul had some kind of sickness himself and yet he went on spreading God's word and doing his bidding. It really makes me Mad when someone says that a person doesn't have enough Faith to be healed. Shame, shame on them...

[la.lady]

Mary the Devotional was well said. There is nothing that I can add to that, except, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, he will bring us through anything, that we may have upon us...

[Pcola Girl]

http://


Patty, I was alittle upset over what was said about Gods healing my arthritis but I just talked to God about it and I know He understands,. I got over it fast. I feel when someone tells you such things that they are the ones who are letting things get in their way with God, not me.
I know where I am with God in my life.
Still not feeling to good today so I probably won't be here on the net long. The arthritis in my neck and left arm is bothering me today. I may need to put on my neck brace for today.

Hope all of you are doing well today and I hope you have a Blessed day in Christ Jesus.


Just some Bible information you might not know today. Thought you may enjoy reading them.
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1. What does “Bible” mean?

The Bible gets its name from a Greek word meaning “books”.
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2. What is the Bible?

1. The collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion comprising the Old and New Testaments.

2. The collection of sacred writings of the Jewish religion known to the Christians as the Old Testaments. In this respect, the Old Testament is also called the Hebrew Scriptures or the Hebrew Bible or Jewish Bible. In Hebrew, the Hebrew Bible is called Tanach.

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3- What are the main divisions of the New Testament?

1. The Gospels (4 books).
2, The Acts of the Apostles (1 book).
3. The Epistles or letters (21 books).
4. The Revelation of St. John the Devine (1 book).
In total: 27 books.
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4-. What is the main religious importance of the Old Testament?
Jewish point of view:
The Revelation of Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites. By following these commandments, the Jews were set apart from all other nations – from a group of slaves emerged a new nation and religion. A Testament (covenant) between God and humans was established.

Christian point of view:

Traditional Christianity affirms that the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament is fully inspired by God but has historically denied that all of the laws of the Pentateuch apply directly to Christians. However, the OT has much importance in Christian theology:

1. It revealed the coming of a new and better way which is the New Testament: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah." (Jeremiah 31:31).

2. It revealed the coming Messiah. Many prophecies showed this. It prophesied Messiah's birth (Isaiah 7:14), miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), betrayal and death (Zechariah 11:12; Psalm 22), resurrection and ascension (Psalm 2:7; 68:18; 110:1), etc.

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5- What are the Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to some religious traditions, were written by God and given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of two stone tablets. They feature prominently in Judaism and Christianity. The phrase "Ten Commandments" generally refers to the broadly identical passages in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

Jewish point of view:

God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at the Revelation of Mt. Sinai. By following these commandments, the Jews were set apart from all other nations – from a group of slaves emerged a new nation and religion.

The Ten Commandments are very central in Jewish tradition and are recognized as the ideological basis for the rest 613 commandments mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Christian point of view:

Most Christians, Protestant and Catholic, maintain that the Mosaic Law was only intended for the children of Israel of the OT and removed when Jesus died on the cross. However, many Christians today tend to regard the Ten Commandments as the basis of civil and moral laws of all humanity.

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6- What is the main religious importance of the New Testament?


In the New Testament are embodied the central teachings of traditional Christianity that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God; that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity and God's forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life.
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7- What does “Gospel” mean?

A gospel is any of the four New Testament books narrating the life, death and teachings of Jesus - they have been named Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and placed at the beginning of the New Testament.

The Gospel gets its name from a Greek word meaning “good news”. According to the Gospels, the “good news” are the Revelation of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God by that enabling the salvation of humanity from sin and misery.


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8- Who were the prophets?

Many people today think of a prophet as any person who sees the future. While the gift of prophecy certainly includes the ability to see the future, a prophet is far more than just a person with that ability.
A prophet, according to religious traditions, is basically a spokesman for God, a person chosen by God to speak to people on God's behalf and convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to God. They set the standards for the entire community.

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9-Who were the Judges of Israel?

The Judges of Israel were Military leaders, Legal authorities and Heroes.
Came to power in periods of emergency when Israel experienced difficulties from enemies.
Authority was limited to the period of the emergency only - after saving their people, they would have been respected and consulted but had no formal leadership role.
Authority was limited to one or a few tribes and not all Israel.

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10- What is the meaning of “Old” and “New” regarding the Testaments?


The designations “Old” and “New” have meaning only from Christian point of view since in Judaism only the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) is recognized.
There are two meanings for “Old” and “New”.
1.The chronological one, simply because of the fact that the Old Testament preceded the New.
2. The theological one, meaning that the New Testament is meant to replace the Old.
The designations “Old” and “New” seem to have been adopted after 200 A.D.
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11- How many books are in the Bible?


The Protetant Bible contains 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT); the Catholic Bible contains 73 books (46 OT, 27 NT); the Eastern Orthodox Bible contains 78 books (51 OT, 27 NT). The Hebrew Bible (the name of the OT by Jews) contains only 24 books.
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12- How many books are in the Old Testament?

The Protetant OT contains 39 books, the Catholic OT 46, the Eastern Orthodox 51, whereas the Hebrew Bible (the name of the OT by Jews) contains only 24 books. The OT is called by people of the Jewish faith the Hebrew Bible.

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13-. How many books are in the New Testament?

There are 27 books in the New Testament, this is accepted by all Christian denominations.
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14-. What does "testament" mean?

Testament means "covenant" or "contract."
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15- Who wrote the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)?

Most of the writings in the Old Testaments are authored by anonymous Israelites, and in many cases it is not known whether they were compiled by individuals or groups.
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16- Who wrote the New Testament?

The four gospels, according to tradition, were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and john (the four evangelists); the Acts of the Apostles was probably written by the evangelist Luke; most of the Letters or Epistles were written by Paul.
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17- What are the oldest and the youngest books in the Old Testament?

Many scholars agree that Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written by an unknown Israelite about 1100 B.C. Others hold that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) are the oldest books in the Bible, written around 1000 B.C. The book of Malachi is the youngest - written about 400 B.C.
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18- What are the oldest and the youngest books of the New Testament?

The oldest, probably the book of James, written as early as 45 A.D. The Book of Revelation is the youngest book of the New Testament, written about 95 A.D.
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19- In what language was the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) written?

The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), was originally almost entirely written in ancient Hebrew, with a few short elements in Aramaic.
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20- In what language was the New Testament written?

Probably in Greek, though some may have been first written in Aramaic.
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21-When was the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) canonized?

Around 300 B.C.
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22- When was the New Testament canonized?

The entire New Testament as we know it today, was canonized around 375 A.D.
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23- When was the first translation of the Bible made into English?

1382 A.D., by John Wycliffe.
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24- When was the Bible first printed?

The Bible was first printed in 1454 A.D. by Johannes Gutenberg who invented the "type mold" for the printing press. It was the first book ever printed.
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25- How many languages has the Bible been translated into?

The Bible has been translated into at least 1000 languages, with countless more partial translations, and audio translations (for unwritten languages). This is an enormous amount of translations. In comparison, Shakespeare, considered by many to be the master writer of the English language, has only been translated into 50 languages.
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26- Who were the Apostles?

The Apostles were 12 men whom Jesus chose to help him while he lived and to spread his teaching after his death. Their selection by Jesus is described in the Gospels. The Acts of the Apostles describes their work in developing Christianity after Jesus’ crucifixion. Most of them were fishermen. The most notorious:
Peter, the chief apostle, was later to become the foundation rock of the Christian Church.
John was according the tradition the author of the Gospel of St. John and the three Epistles of St. John.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus.
Paul was not among the first 12 original apostles and this title was given to him later.
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27- What is the meaning of “apostle”?

From a Greek word that means “person sent” such as an envoy or ambassador.
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28- What is the main importance of “The Acts of the Apostles”?

The Acts of the Apostles takes up the story of how God’s promises to men, brought about by the life and death of Christ, began to be told to all men everywhere - the process by which Christianity ceased to be part of Judaism and become a new multy-national religion. This process was lead mainly by St. Peter and St. Paul who was the first to realize that a man could become a Christian without first becoming a Jew. And in this respect, Paul and Peter could be regarded as the founders of Christianity in its real sense of meaning.
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29- What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

A number of leather, papyrus and copper scrolls dating from 100 B.C to 135 A.D. containing partial texts of some of the books of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and some non-Biblical scrolls, in Hebrew and Aramaic and including apocryphal writings, commentaries, hymns and psalms; found in caves near the Dead Sea beginning in 1947. They are believed to be part of a library of strict Jewish sect, the Essenes. The scrolls shed light on a type of Judaism that existed when Jesus lived and include the oldest known manuscripts of books of the Bible.
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30- Why is the King James Version of the Bible so renowned?

This is an English translation of the Bible prepare in England under James I and published in 1611. The stately beauty of the 17th century English seems so well suited to the message it has to tell that many people prefer it to other translations.
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31-What is the Bible Code?

There is a claim made that there is a secret code within the Bible that proves the existence of God and even predicts the future. Its supporters include mathematicians from Harvard and Yale Universities and a senior code-breaker at the U.S. Department of Defense. Other experts have rejected the Bible Code as a myth.
The Bible Code refers to words or phrases found in the bible at equi-distant letter (ELS) sequences. For example, in Genesis chapter one the name "Abraham" (ABRHM) has been found at an equi-distant letter sequence of 50. Starting at the letter A, and skipping 50 letters, we find the letter B. After skipping another 50 letters we find an R, and so on.
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32- Is the Bible still the best-selling book in the world?

Yes

[Pcola Girl]

Hope you all are doing well today. I had my doctors appointment this morning and all went well. My blood pressure was up alittle but nothing to worry about.

Todays Bible study is on Faith, hope you enjoy it.
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"FAITH THAT MOVES THE MOUNTAIN"

"The Mountain represents Jesus the Christ, and His kingdom")

When you focus on God the problem looks small.but he truth is your problem is a speck of dust, and maybe even an illusion, but Jesus and His Kingdom are the Mountain. God takes us into the "Faith Zone" by allowing us to face situations that are bigger than us so that we can see demonstrations of His love, by His power.

An important lesson about faith is given to us by Jesus in (Matthew 17:14-21 NKJV)

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. "So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

A mustard seed was one of the smallest known examples that Jesus could use as an illustration during that time. Jesus was not teaching that they needed more faith, but rather where to place their faith. The disciples had some faith or they would not have tried to cast the demon out in the first place. But their faith was in themselves, they asked, "Why could we not cast it out?” They failed to recognize that even with the authority that Jesus had given them to cast out demons, that it was actually Jesus doing the work. Supernatural events are accomplished by His power not our own. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:14) Jesus told them, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”. So what is important is what moves God to intervene in a situation.

Since faith as small as a mustard seed will move a mountain and nothing will be impossible, just