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And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
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What does the Bible say about:
The Sabbath
I have been talking with someone from the Seventh Day Adventist church. What is their stance on what they call the Sabbath and how does the Bible look at all of that?
The New Testament church met on the "Lord's Day" (first day of the week) as a memorial of Christ's resurrection. The SDA Church's insistence that Sabbath-keeping is mandatory for Christians is unwarranted. The claim that Sunday worship is the mark of the beast is unfounded. Salvation and commitment to Christ are not demonstrated by adherence to external legalities (see Rom. 13:8-10, 14:4-13; 1 Cor. 16:2; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:13-17). If you recall that is the same stance the Pharisees complaint was in John 5: they were upset that Jesus was not keeping the Sabbath and Jesus was simply doing what His Father had commanded Him to do!
What does the Bible say about:
The Secret Place
Pastor Mark: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1NKJV What is this secret place and how are we to abide in it? Is this done by using His Word?
What a great question! First of all there is some discussion among scholars as to who the author is of this Psalm. Some say David, others Solomon and still others point to Moses-to me it doesn’t really matter because whoever wrote it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.! In this verse there are three key action words: ’dwell’, ‘secret’ and ‘abide’: once we understand those words we can gain a better understanding of the verse.
First the word ‘dwell’: it’s most prominent meaning in Hebrew (the language Psalms was written) is ‘to inhabit’. The word ‘secret’ in Hebrew has the meaning in English which is ‘shelter’ . The word ‘abide’ in the Hebrew language translates as ‘to lodge or to pass the night’. So when you look carefully we can say the verse says, He who inhabits the shelter of the Most High shall pass the night under the shadow of the Almighty.
Since Father God does not physically walk among us today (as He will in the millennium) we must look at His Word and take comfort in His character and His instruction for our lives there. It tells us in His Word that All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.2 Timothy 3:16NCV
What does the Bible say about:
Dinosaurs
The word "dinosaur" is not found anywhere in the Bible. This is because the word "Dinosaur" was not invented until the mid 1800's. The "King James Bible" was translated into English in 1611. - So we would not expect to find the word "dinosaur." However, that doesn't mean that the animals we now call "Dinosaurs" are not in the Bible. It just means that if they are in the Bible, they are called by a different name. The Bible says that Adam named all the animals that God created. So to find the dinosaurs we will have to look for the original Hebrew names given to these creatures (names like "Behemoth", "Tannin", etc..).
The original name given to the dinosaurs would more accurately describe these animals and their disposition. The word "Dinosaur" means "terrible lizard". And though they became a menace to man after sin had entered the earth, the dinosaurs were not created that way. Dinosaurs are one of the most beautiful of Gods creations. They were created to peacefully coexist with man.
In the book of Job the Bible talks about some of these magnificent creatures. In the book of Job we see the word "Behemoth" being used to describe the largest of the animals God made. The word "Behemoth" means "Giant, kingly beast". But why the funny name? It is not unusual to see animals referred to with names we don't recognize. If you look in any Bible dictionary under animals, you will see lots of animals and their original Hebrew names. For example who would recognize the word "namer" as being the cheetah? Or "akbar" as being the mouse?
The translation of many animal names from Hebrew was quite easy. Scholars could look at the physical descriptions and apply the appropriate English name. But when the translators came to the animal called "Behemoth" (described in Job chapter 40), they didn't know what animal it was because no living animal fit that description. So in the English bible, they kept this animal's original Hebrew name.
The word "Behemoth" is not a direct translation it is a transliteration. Which means that the original Hebrew letters were substituted with the equivalent English letters to enable us to pronounce it. The translators did this because they did not know of any living animal that fit the description to directly translate the name with.
The obvious conclusion is that the Behemoth was either an unknown animal or an animal that had gone extinct. But it did not live millions of years ago, because Job saw one of these animals with his own eyes. God was not showing Job a vision. The behemoth was created "with" man. This enormous creature lived at the same time, and in the same region as Job. That is a fact that evolutionist simply can’t deal with. If you would like to read more on this subject I would suggest, “The remarkable record of Job" by Dr. Henry Morris.
What does the Bible say about:
Jesus and His Mission
Excellent question and one that has created a lot of questions through the centuries: Timothy refers to Him as, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Ti 2:5), Mark refers to Him as The Son of Man; (Mark 10:33), Matthew refers to Him as the Son of Abraham and the Son of David; (Matt. 1:1). The apostle Paul tries to describe this great mystery in Colossians, To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col. 1:27).
It all comes down to this one main point: Love demands a choice. How significant would Christ’s sacrifice been if He had no choice? That is why it was imperative that Jesus was fully man and at the same time God but remember that it tells us in Colossians that He ‘emptied’ Himself of His divine powers when He came to the earth and relied on the same power you and I rely upon-the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why at His baptism when He subjected Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist we see the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus and Father God declaring, This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
Yes: that night in the Garden of Gethsemane recorded in Matthew 26 He was struggling with what He knew was coming. How did He know? He (as a man) had studied the prophecies and being aware He was the perfect Lamb being let to slaughter as a man He did not want to go to the cross. Yet He did. Why? Love demands a choice: His love for the Father and His love for you and I was what caused Him to cry out, Not my will but Yours be done!
What does the Bible say about:
The Ice Age
To answer your question directly; the Bible does not mention the Ice Age specifically and it has always been a problem for science. While abundant evidence has been found for continental glaciations, the cause has remained a mystery. Scores of scenarios have been proposed: global cooling, decrease in the sun's intensity, rampant volcanic activity, etc., but none are truly able to bring about such profound changes—none except the creation proposal, that is.
First, let's talk about the nature of the Ice Age: To start with, the Ice Age was a time when great sheets of ice built up on land. As snow accumulated in extreme northern (and southern) latitudes, its own weight packed it into ice. And then, because ice is less than rigid, it can flow out from heavy snow accumulation areas into lower latitudes.
What creation scientist tell us is that as the Flood of Noah's day provides the key. As the Flood ended, the oceans probably were warmer than today. The pre-Flood world had been uniformly warmer, and during the Flood, the "fountains of the great deep" (Genesis 7:11) would have added much heat, as would the tectonic readjustments late in the Flood and following it. This warmth would be a continual pump of warm moisture into the atmosphere—thus warm, wet winters. This causes greater snowfall in cold regions.
Furthermore, the land surface at the end of the Flood was little more than a mud slick, and would have reflected solar radiation without absorbing much heat. The large temperature difference between ocean and land and coupled with strong polar cooling, would cause intense and prolonged storms. Finally, the late and early post-Flood times witnessed extensive volcanism, as the earth struggled to regain crustal equilibrium. This would cloud the atmosphere, bouncing incoming solar radiation back into space—thus, colder summers.
More evaporation, warmer winters, more intense storms, and colder summers: The result? An "ice age" which would last until the oceans gave up their excess heat, the volcanism lessened, and vegetation was re-established This likely would take less than one thousand years following the Biblical Flood.
One of the best authorities on this subject is Dr. John D. Morris, who is President of the Institute for Creation Research; which is the resource I used to answer your question. If you would like more information on this check out their web site; it is very informative at http://www.icr.org.
What does the Bible say about:
The new Earth
I’ve heard mention of a new earth, are we on the new earth or is the new earth to come?
What a great question! The first heaven and earth were prepared for the first man and woman and their descendants. God had readied everything for them when He placed them in the Garden. Unfortunately, our first parents sinned, ushering death and decay into God’s beautiful world. Creation is in bondage (sin) and travail according to Romans 8 (Rom. 8:18–23), and even the heavens “are not clean in His sight” (Job 15:15). We are in the same ‘earth’ right now as what was created for Adam and Eve and renewed after the flood of Noah-but not living the same existence.
However the apostle John in Revelation was given a vision of the new heaven and new earth in chapter 20: Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. A little while later he records in verse 11 of the same chapter: Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:11NKJV
Give some time studying 2 Peter 3 week and focus your attention between verses 10 and 15 and you will find that three times it uses the Greek verbage that the elements themselves will be loosened and that the world will be released. Right now He is keeping it all together (it tells us that in Colossians) but there will be a point in time where God will no longer hold it together and He will just release all of it and the entire universe will become just one big explosion. It will simply incinerate in one big boom!
Now there are some who will say that what God is going to do is to renovate the present heaven and earth. Now I don’t believe that: I don’t believe that He will burn down the old earth and use the same foundation. I don’t believe that at all: Why? “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17NKJV
A very interesting thing about this passage: He uses the word in the Hebrew for ‘create’ that is ‘bara’- it is the same word that is used in Genesis where in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. What it means is to create something from nothing. It does not mean to renovate, it means to create something from nothing.
So you and I as His sons and daughters will have the privilege of standing by God Almighty and hearing His voice say, Let there be a new heaven and a new earth. What I am sharing with you is this: you and I will be witness to much like the scene in Genesis 1 where God created something from nothing. We will be there and watch Father God, through His creative power speak the new heaven and the new earth into existence. It will be formed right before our eyes. What a great scene, eh?
What does the Bible say about:
historian Josephus
Pastor Mark, you have referred to a historian Josephus several times: what can you tells us about him?
Flavius Josephus (A.D. 37 – c. 100) was a Jewish historian born in Jerusalem four years after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth in the same city. Because of this proximity to Jesus in terms of time and place, his writings have a near-eyewitness quality as they relate to the entire cultural background of the New Testament era. But their scope is much wider than this, encompassing also the world of the Old Testament.
His two greatest works are Jewish Antiquities, (unveiling Hebrew history from the Creation to the start of the great war with Rome in A.D. 66), while his Jewish War, though written first, carries the record on to the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Masada in A.D. 73.
Josephus is the most comprehensive primary source on Jewish history that has survived from antiquity, and done so virtually intact despite its voluminous nature (the equivalent of 12 volumes). Because his job was to write and he was paid by the emperors of Rome that ruled during his life—(Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian) —Josephus was able to generate incredible detail in his records, a luxury denied the Gospel writers. Accordingly, Josephus has always been regarded a crucial extra-biblical resource, since his writings not only correlate well with the Old and New Testaments, but often provide additional evidence on such personalities as Herod the Great and his dynasty, John the Baptist, Jesus' half-brother James, the high priests Annas and Caiaphas and their clan, Pontius Pilate, and others.
Against this background, we should certainly expect that he would refer to Jesus of Nazareth, and he does—twice in fact. In Antiquities 18:63—in the middle of information on Pontius Pilate (A.D., 26-36)—Josephus provides the longest secular reference to Jesus in any first-century source. Later, when he reports events from the administration of the Roman governor Albinus (A.D. 62-64) in Antiquities 20:200, he again mentions Jesus in connection with the death of Jesus' half-brother, James the Just of Jerusalem. These passages, along with other non-biblical, non-Christian references to Jesus in secular first-century sources—among them Tacitus (Annals 15:44), Suetonius (Claudius 25), and Pliny the Younger (Letter to Trajan)—prove conclusively that any denial of Jesus' historicity is either simply ignorance or down right lying.
What does the Bible say about:
Adam and Eve
Pastor Mark: Do you think that Adam and Eve really understood who God was?
Boy, I am glad you asked this question! I wondered about that for many years until the Lord led me to teach through Genesis. First of all, if you look at Genesis chapter 1 you will see that Father God created man in his image and in verse 28, God blessed them and said, “Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God said, “Look, I have given you all the plants that have grain for seeds and all the trees whose fruits have seeds in them. They will be food for you. I have given all the green plants as food for every wild animal, every bird of the air, and every small crawling animal.” And it happened. (Genesis 1:28-30NCV)
Secondly, in reading the creation account you also find that Father God created man for the purpose of a relationship. Finally, one of God’s characteristics (the way in which He defines who He is) is that He is truthful. Therefore; based on these three facts we can come to the assumption that yes Adam and Eve did know they were dealing with God.
However, I also believe that they did not know exactly whom they were dealing with in chapter 3 when they sinned. The ‘serpent’ brought the first doubt into the world by denying the truth of what Father God actually instructed Adam and Eve to do, Now the snake was the most clever of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day the snake said to the woman, “Did God really say that you must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1NCV)
That is something we can find comforting: Father God goes to great lengths for you and I to make known His desires for us and to make it very easy for us to grasp His leading in our lives. The question is, Are we listening? If you have yet to read it today-take a look at Thoughts to Ponder!
What does the Bible say about:
Jesus' Resurrection
Since Christianity hinges on Jesus rising from the dead; how do we know for sure that actually happened?
There is no descriptive eyewitness account of the resurrection; and to some over the years that has posed a real problem. However; there are also no eyewitness reports of dinosaurs; we study fossils. We may not know how a disease originates, but we study its symptoms. Maybe nobody witnesses a crime, but police piece together the evidence after the fact.
That is how we look at the resurrection; the evidence, first, did Jesus die on the cross and second did he appear later to people. If you establish those two things then you have made your point because quite honestly dead people don’t do that.
Historically there is plenty of evidence that Jesus was crucified; actually there is more evidence to prove that fact than if the Emperor Napoleon ever existed. So that simply leaves did people actually see him after he was dead and resurrected? The Apostle Paul helps here: In 1 Corinthians 9 he writes, ‘Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Later on in chapter 15 verse 8 he writes, ‘Last of all he appeared to me also.” In chapter 15 verses 5-8 if also says that Christ appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time.
This portion of Scripture is part of an early church creed and for the sake of space in this article simply let me encourage you to purchase a small book titled, The Case for Easter, by Lee Strobel. It is a great little book that will shed more light on this subject.
What does the Bible say about:
Salvation
There is a theology in many denominations that is called eternal security; which summarized would be ‘once saved-always saved.’ Some have taken this belief to the extreme and live their life thinking that since they walked and aisle and said a prayer that they are saved and going to heaven. Once saved, always saved-I have eternal security!
I don’t agree with that belief although I do believe that I am eternally secure. I know I am eternally secure-I just can’t stand in judgment of anyone else. James tells us that faith without works is dead. Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. Paul continue throughout his epistles that we must be “in Christ”-which refers to one abiding in Christ. Salvation doesn’t come though saying a prayer-Paul defines this in Romans 5:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:8-10NKJV
Notice that the apostle says we shall be saved by His life-not just the life of Jesus that He lived while He was on this earth but also His life that is lived out through our lives as we make our pilgrimage through this earth. I really don’t believe you simply say a prayer and then do what you want and expect you are going to go to heaven. We, as His bride, live our lives submitted to Him…I personally have found an extreme sense of being eternally secure as I seek to accomplish that in my life.
What does the Bible say about:
Tithing
While tithing is part of the Old Covenant arrangement God had with Israel for the support of the priests, the New Covenant does away with tithing as required in the Old Covenant. There is no longer a Levitical system of priests to support. We have Jesus as our High Priest and as believers we are now considered a part of the priesthood. Consider the following verses:
So all of you holy brothers and sisters, who were called by God, think about Jesus, who was sent to us and is the high priest of our faith. Hebrews 3:1NCV
You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual temple—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. He will accept those sacrifices through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5NCV
Note however, that while tithing is no longer required, giving is still a principle of God. As believers all that we have is God's. We really should be praying along the lines of how much should I be keeping for myself, not how much do I give to God. And we believe God still honors giving, even structured giving such as tithing. Look at God's promise to those who give tithes.
Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD All-Powerful.
“I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.
Malachi 3:10NCV
Will He not also honor those who give from their heart? The apostle Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who tell the Good News should get their living from this work. 1 Corinthians 9:14NCV
The ultimate answer to the question of tithing is found in your prayer closet. Seek what God would have you to keep, and then as a faithful steward of that which He entrusts to you, seek to know how to use the rest for His kingdom.
What does the Bible say about:
Suicide
In the past some have said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. From a Christian perspective-that statement is far from the truth: first of all, suicide is not permanent. We are created in God’s image: therefore, we are eternal beings and our accountability and responsibility go beyond our earthly grave.
In reality suicide is a selfish action taken against oneself in order to eliminate experiencing unrelenting pain. The one who inflicts suicide often cannot see any hope that the future will be different then the painful past or present. That is in direct contrast with the truth found throughout the New Testament where we can overcome any obstacle as long as we keep looking to and living for Jesus.
For you Bible students you should know there are six recorded suicides in the Bible: (5 in the OT and 1 in the NT). It is important to note that none of the suicides found is God’s Word are looked upon favorably or as a legitimate option, even in the most difficult of times.
What does the Bible say about:
The Old Testament
Some people say that we do not need the Old Testament; that in the New Covenant we only need the New Testament. What does the Bible say about that?
It is hard to me to imagine the validity of the New Testament without the Old Testament. Can you imagine not having the book of Genesis?! No understanding of creation; to be without the story of the great flood and the mercy God showed to Noah? Then when you really begin to study the Word you find that for every New Testament principle there is an Old Testament picture pointing to the principle. The greatest example of this is what is referred to as the Proto Evangelicum; (which is the first mention of the plan of salvation) in the Bible. It is found in Genesis 3:15; immediately following the sin of Adam and Eve.
More importantly the Old Testament represents the Law of God. It was given to man to prove to us we are unable to keep God’s commands and that without His mercy and grace we have no hope of salvation. The apostle Paul explains this truth in Galatians 2: 15-21-check it out and thank you for the question!What does the Bible say about:
Neighbors sinning
Pastor Mark: if we see a person (believer or unbeliever) living in sin are we to warn them of their sin? It would seem as though since sin separates us from God that we should be on guard for those around us: so they do not get separated from God. What does the Bible say about this?
I am so thankful for each of you that keep sending in this questions-this is an excellent one. First of all you are correct that sin does separate us from God: but remember that for those of us who know Jesus personally, it tells us in Romans that nothing can separate us totally from Christ: the only way we can be totally separated from Christ as a believer is if we choose to walk away completely.
Now, to your question: First look at what the apostle Paul tells us in Romans:
If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty, because you do the same things they do. God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that his judging is right. - Romans 2:1-2NCV
If the apostle Paul isn’t good enough to capture your attention in this matter then how about Jesus Himself: in this passage He is speaking and Matthew records His speech:
“Don’t judge other people, or you will be judged. You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you. “Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5NCV
Notice Jesus tells us the pre-requisite to judging someone else is that we first remove our sin. Once I read that about thirty years ago I tried to immediately stop playing policeman for the ‘Righteous Patrol’: personally I try to let Jesus do the judging-I simply try to love all those who are in sin or in righteousness: that is hard enough to do!
What does the Bible say about:
Predestination
Acts 13:48, “and as many that were appointed to eternal life believed.” Pastor Mark, is this verse talking about pre-destination?
To answer your question we need to look at the entire passage there in the Book of Acts: Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem preaching to the Jews. Paul had preached the gospel of grace in verse 43 and many had believed-this is the same message we preach today. Some Jews and Gentiles came to know Jesus as their Savior. As you read the passage it is obvious that these religious people, trained in the Scriptures were best prepared to receive the gospel.
Then in the next passage it tells us that the whole city was gathered together: that means all the Jews and Gentiles were there to celebrate the Sabbath. This provoked the Jews to jealousy and they sought to hinder the ministry of Paul because of it. The result was that he turned his ministry from the Jew and began to focus on the Gentiles. In verse 46 He explains his actions and points out that this was God’s program from the beginning and he used Isaiah 49:6 to tell them this, “…. But, more importantly, I will make you a light for all nations to show people all over the world the way to be saved.”
Now for your question: many commentaries ‘tone down’ the verbiage in verse 48 but the phrase “ordained to eternal life” in the Greek actually means, ‘enrolled’ which connotes having their names being enrolled in a book. While salvation is by grace through faith, there is also the mysterious working of God whereby ‘we are chosen in Christ” (Ephesians 1:4) We do not know who God’s elect are, so we just offer the Gospel to everyone! We will know later by the fruit that is born in a person’s life if they truly are saved.
Hope that helps to answer your question and keep them coming!
What does the Bible say about:
Rising from the dead
Then the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart. The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead. Matthew 27:51-52NCV
Pastor Mark: Where did these people do when they rose from the dead? Did they go with the Lord to heaven or did they stay here on earth?
What a great question! There are two resurrections with at least a thousand years in between the first and second resurrections. The Apostle John confirms this fact in Revelation 20: 4-5.
At the completion of the First Resurrection there are three companies of believers who will have been raised at different times. Let us say, for clarity, there are three stages of the resurrection of believers. The passage you are referring to in your question is part of the first resurrection. Each time a resurrection takes place it is for the purpose of being with Jesus-so these who were dead did not remain here on earth-they went to be with the Lord when He returned to heaven.
(2) There is the second stage of the First Resurrection to which we already have made mention (1 Thessalonians 4:16), when all true believers are raised at the first appearance of Christ. To this we add the Apostle Paul’s word in First Corinthians: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
(3) The third and final stage of the First Resurrection occurs about seven years after the resurrection of saints at Christ’s coming at the rapture. “Those resurrected near the close of the seven years’ period of the tribulation are the multitude of believers who were led to the truth through the witness of the 144,000.” Because they would not receive the mark of the beast in their hands and foreheads, they were martyred. These are brought forth from the dead at the end of the Tribulation just before Christ comes to earth to reign for one thousand years.
What does the Bible say about:
How did the Bible come into being.
God used quite a variety of writers and circumstances to compose what we now call the Bible. God took his time. In fact, at least 1,500 years passed between the writing of the earliest books to the writing of the last books of the Bible. Yet despite the passage of generations and nations, the message of the Bible maintains a startling consistency. Dozens of writers contributed to scripture, yet they present a unified voice—God’s Word. Many minds went into the writing; one mind provided the inspiration—God’s Spirit.
The apostle Peter summarized the process when he wrote: “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets’ own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21). The apostle Paul offered the best known statement regarding the Spirit’s work behind the scenes in creating the Bible: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16). Only God could have brought into being this amazing book we now get to hold in our hands.
Jesus Christ is the focus of Scripture. Walking the road to Emmaus on the morning of his resurrection, Jesus gave two disciples a survey of the Bible: “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The Scriptures to which Luke referred in that verse were the Old Testament writings. If the ancient Hebrew Scriptures were all about Christ, then certainly the New Testament has the same central figure and purpose—Jesus.
In answering the question, “How did we get the Bible?” we need to remember that the process had those two major steps. (1) The Old Testament represents God’s Word delivered to and through the Jewish people before Christ, and (2) The New Testament represents God’s Word written by Jesus’ followers during the first century.
In the majority of the New Testament books or letters, we have a pretty good idea who those writers were. The main principle that emerges is the fact that the authors had personal knowledge and contact with Jesus. As to how we ended up with twenty-seven “books” in the New Testament, it’s important to realize that no individual or small group or church council ever sat down and sorted through a huge stack of “possibilities” from which they selected the “books” of the New Testament. The role of individuals and groups in the formation of the New Testament had more to do with recognition than choosing.
What does the Bible say about:
The Garden of Eden
Pastor Mark: The Bible speaks of God creating man and woman and placing them in a suitable habitat—the Garden of Eden. After they sinned the two were forever banished from the Garden. Are we to assume that the Garden of Eden is an actual place? If so, then where is it?
The Bible makes it clear that the Garden of Eden was an actual, rather than a mythical place. It is associated with four rivers which are named in the text. There are the Euphrates, Hiddekel (Tigris), the Pishon and Gihon. The Tigris and Euphrates are well known as rivers that flow through modern day Iraq. Indeed, they are located in Assyria (vs. 14) which is modern day Iraq.
The exact location of the Gihon and Pishon are not known. The Gihon is associated with the land of Cush which would place it northeast of the head of the Persian Gulf. Thus, the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Mesopotamia.
If the Garden of Eden were a literal place, then should we expect to find it today in its pristine condition? No. Its magnificence is portrayed to us before sin entered into the universe. The influence of sin was felt upon the Garden of Eden as well as every other place on earth. Since two of the rivers, the Gihon and the Pishon, are unknown this may suggest that many geographical changes took place in the time between Adam and Moses.
The Fall, as well as the great Flood, may have altered some of the geographical references. Thus, it would be fruitless to attempt to search for the Garden of Eden in modern times because it degenerated along with everything else. We should not expect to find any archaeological evidence of the Garden of Eden because Scripture does not indicate that Adam built any permanent structure nor did he make any pottery.
There is the interesting fact that the writer of Genesis describes the rivers in terms of known geographical boundaries at his time. This indicates that the rivers were known to him. This suggests that at least this portion of Genesis was written at a very early date—possibly before the Flood.
What does the Bible say about:
His dwelling place and the Word of God
Pastor Mark: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1NKJV
What is this secret place and how are we to abide in it? Is this done by using His Word?
What a great question! First of all there is some discussion among scholars as to who the author is of this Psalm. Some say David, others Solomon and still others point to Moses-to me it doesn’t really matter because whoever wrote it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.! In this verse there are three key action words: ’dwell’, ‘secret’ and ‘abide’: once we understand those words we can gain a better understanding of the verse.
First the word ‘dwell’: it’s most prominent meaning in Hebrew (the language Psalms was written) is ‘to inhabit’. The word ‘secret’ in Hebrew has the meaning in English which is ‘shelter’ . The word ‘abide’ in the Hebrew language translates as ‘to lodge or to pass the night’. So when you look carefully we can say the verse says, He who inhabits the shelter of the Most High shall pass the night under the shadow of the Almighty.
Since Father God does not physically walk among us today (as He will in the millennium) we must look at His Word and take comfort in His character and His instruction for our lives there. It tells us in His Word that, All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 2 Timothy 3:16NCV
So to answer your question: get in His Word: especially when night casts a shadow in your life and things seem bleak: most tend to run from Father God at that time and that is the time they need Him the most!
What does the Bible say about:
Emotions and the closeness with God
Pastor Mark: I am a fairly new Christian and struggle with feeling really close to God one day and like He is a million miles away the next day. What does the Bible say about dealing with emotions like this?
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness, ‘the Lord is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. (Lamentations 3: 22-25)
That is a real nugget of wisdom in the Bible that should be of great help to us. If you look at this passage there are a couple of very important points to note. First: no matter what happens today, tomorrow will be new. A fresh batch of God’s mercies awaits us each day! Second: the best response when circumstances threaten to overwhelm is to wait quietly on the Lord’s help.
One of the keys to maintaining a health emotional outlook is to leave the circumstances and challenges of everyday life in God’s hands and to trust Him to do what’s best.
Another portion of Scripture that is applicable to your question is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13: I encourage you to look it up but it tells us that God never gives us more than we can handle but the proviso in that passage is that He never gives us more than what we can handle…with His help!
What does the Bible say about:
Overcoming evil with good
Pastor Mark: I enjoyed your sermon on ‘Binding Satan’ and understand the overcoming evil with good strategy; however how can that be applied practically in a relationship where one person consistently acts with disrespect or unknowingly (due to illness) causes tremendous grief for you. How do you overcome evil with good then?
Good question! To answer this question let me point you to our friend the Apostle Paul:
Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. .. Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people who need help…Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them…Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are. If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.. My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,” says the Lord. Excepts from Romans 12:9-19NCV
Hope this helps: I really don’t think I can improve on it!
What does the Bible say about:
The 2 testaments
Why are there two divisions in the Bible called the Old and New Testament?
The Bible is divided into two testaments or covenants – the old and the new. Testament is not the best word to describe these parts of Scripture. They are not part of a last will or testament but rather an agreement, or contract that God has made with His people.
The Bible speaks of different agreements that God made with humanity. The entire flow of biblical history is based upon the covenants that God has made with humankind. In the Bible we find covenants made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Through the prophet Jeremiah God also promised a new covenant. Jesus Himself is the one who instituted the new covenant.
God has kept His part of the bargain in all of these covenants. However humanity miserably failed to keep their part. This is why a Savior is desperately needed.
What does the Bible say about:
Many wives
Pastor Mark: In reading the Old Testament it is noted that Solomon and David had many wives and concubines.
A passage of Scripture that answers this question directly is 1 Kings 11: 1-13 and several of the chapters leading up to that passage in Kings. We know for a fact that Solomon had more wisdom that anyone else in the world; yet he didn’t listen to the warnings of the Lord. Instead he married lots of foreign woman who eventually led him to be involved in pagan religions and his heart turned away from following the Lord. The repercussion of this sin is found in chapter eleven where God tells Solomon that his family line would not be able to continue to reign over Israel. The kingdom would be divided and eventually conquered. If you want to reach you fullest potential for the Lord: let Him be your first love.
What does the Bible say about:
The Sabbath
Pastor: I have had conversations with others about which day is the day we are supposed to worship? Which day really is the Sabbath?
First of all let me say in answer to your question about which day we are to worship: everyday. Our relationship with the Lord is supposed to be the most meaningful one in our lives: if that is the case then He is one you speak with everyday and prayer is a form of worship. Now let me give you some history on the Sabbath: Our Sunday is different from and a substitution for the Jewish Sabbath. After God had led His people out of slavery in Egypt, He commanded this new nation at Mount Sinai (where He entered into a covenant with them) that they should work for six days. The seventh day could be used for physical and spiritual refreshment. The Sabbath was a call to rest. God also rested on the seventh day after He created the universe (Genesis 2:1–3). On this day believers should worship Him and have fellowship with Him in a special way, in order to be renewed for service in God’s world.
Through Jesus Christ a change came from the Sabbath to a Sunday as the day of rest. As the full meaning of the resurrection of Christ dawned upon the early church, they spontaneously shifted their day of worship from the Sabbath (Saturday) to the Sunday (the first day of the week). Because this was the day on which Christ arose, it became known as the Day of the Lord.
What does the Bible say about:
Psalm 91:10
Pastor Mark: Psalm 91:10 says, “…no plague shall come near your dwelling”. What does this promise cover? Our cassia bushes are covered with big yellow caterpillars and although we have sprayed and prayed they are still there. Why doesn’t this verse work?
The Bible tells us that even creation groans waiting for the return of Jesus. Why? Because it remembers what it was like before the fall of man. Up until that time all of creation was as Father God intended: but once Adam and Eve sinned; then everything began to exist in a fallen state and everything is appointed to death. Stop and consider what your real ‘dwelling’ is: who you and I are, is all captured in one place-our souls. The one part of us that will never die: and that cannot be touched by anyone-even your big yellow caterpillars! Our souls are secure as long as we abide in the Lord: just like our saying on the front cover of the Calvary Connection says today, ‘for all you do, His blood’s for you.’ His blood keeps the plague of our soul (sin) from affecting us as long as we abide in His love. I am reminded of that every time I take part in the Lord’s Supper.
What does the Bible say about:
Perfection
Pastor: Hebrews 10:14 and other places in the New Testament tells us we should be perfected? Does that mean we should strive to be without fault?
Everyone would like to look perfect, act perfect, and do perfect work. Aside from a few people receiving ‘perfect’ scores at the Olympics, most of us will find perfection elusive in every area of life. No matter how much we try, we fail. If we seek to live the perfect Christian life, our thoughts or attitudes will trip us up before we even get out of bed in the morning!
So what does it mean for believers that Christ’s sacrifice perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Heb. 10:14). Believers have been made perfect in God’s eyes because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the same time, however, we are “being sanctified” being made perfect and holy progressively through our walk with Him. As we let God work in us, He perfects us. Instead of measuring perfection by worldly standards, we should seek to obey God, looking forward to the day when He will finally make us perfect for life with Him in our perfect eternal home…heaven!
What does the Bible say about:
Salvation
one reader wrote in: I recently read John 15: 1-8; and am unsure if you can lose your salvation or not?
Many people endlessly debate about the issue of eternal security. Can you lose your salvation, once you are a child of God? This passage is one of the passages that seem to indicate the possibility that you can lose you salvation. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
But this passage doesn’t make me insecure at all. I intend to always abide in Him. Why would I ever want to cease abiding in Him? If I abide in Him, I live a life of fruitfulness. If I abide in Him, He answers my prayers. If I abide in Him, I abide in His love. I am eternally secure as long as I abide in Him, and I am going to do just that. I will leave the argument to the theologians. Me? I am simply going to abide in Him!
What does the Bible say about:
Sanctification
1 Corinthians 6 teaches us to glorify God in Body and Spirit – to live a sanctified life. Does that mean that if we don’t – are we still saved? Does this teaching apply only to Christians?
There are two real questions here. Let me address the issue first of Christians living immorally: First of all; I am not God, nor should any of us try to be therefore we are not to judge – we are to love one another – the judging is left to Him. However, Paul does address the issue in verse 12: “all things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” As a Christian we will still sin and we will not be perfected until we get to heaven. If we commit an act of immorality we are still saved: but it will not assist us in growing in our relationship with the Lord. Think of your child (if you have one) even though they act out of stupidity they are still your child. Jesus told us the only sin that can separate us from the love of God is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That is refusing to accept His forgiveness and acknowledging our need for a Savior.
Let me address the second question: Does this teaching apply only to Christians? Running up to a non-believer telling them that their lifestyle is damning them to hell is no way to lead them to Jesus. Let me direct you to 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13. It isn’t our job to fix the world. It is our job to share the gospel (Good News) with the world. I don’t make rules for how the world should live, I think it is a mistake to endeavor to write Christian legislation. You can’t make men holy with laws. They need a change of heart. We can’t fix the world by judging it, but rather by introducing them from the inside. The changed believer will change the world.
What does the Bible say about:
Creation
Isn’t there any scientific evidence that the Earth is billions of years old?
If you were to ask the average person on the street this question, he or she would answer unhesitatingly, “Yes!” However, if his life depended on coming up with one positive proof, he would be unable to do so.
The reason there is such a worldwide belief that there is evidence for the evolutionary theory is the result of indoctrinization by evolutionary scientists. They claim a lot of things about the theory of evolutionism that simply are not fact. Though the public assumes that the evolutionary community has firmly established the age of the Earth, the truth is that they have not, and the more candid evolutionists will admit it. For example, evolutionist Dr. Stephen Moorebath of the University of Oxford, stated:
No terrestrial rocks closely approaching an age of 4.6 billion years have yet been discovered. The evidence for the age of the earth is circumstantial, being based upon … indirect reasoning (Scientific American, March 1977, p. 92).
Another evolutionist, Dr. John Eddy of the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, stated in the prestigious journal Geotimes:
There is no evidence based solely on solar observations that the sun is 4½ to 5 billion years old … I suspect that the sun is 4½ billion years old. However, given some new and unexpected results to the contrary, and some time for frantic recalculation and theoretical readjustment, I suspect that we could live with Bishop Ussher’s value for the age of the Earth and Sun. I don’t think we have much in the way of observational evidence in astronomy to conflict with that. (Geotimes, Sept. 1978, p. 18).
So the next time someone begins to insist that the Earth is billions of years old, ask them: “How do you know that it is so old? Were you there?” If they respond by claiming that there are dating methods that prove the Earth is billions of years old, then ask if he could supply a list of some of them. If by chance he remembers one of the radiometric processes such as uranium-lead, then ask, “Are these methods of dating absolute or are there certain assumptions built into them which cannot be proven?” If he hasn’t walked off, and if he is honest, he will have to concede that there is not one dating method which can positively establish a verifiable date for the Earth.
What does the Bible say about:
Gods Will (continued)
We began last week looking at this issue and discussed the first facet to understanding God’s will in our lives-the ‘decretive will’. This week we look at the second and final part.. God’s Permissive Will
This represents what God allows. For example God allowed Job to go through suffering. He didn’t cause the suffering – He permitted it. God does not cause sin but He does permit it. He is not pleased when His creation yields to temptation, but He uses even that to accomplish His purposes. God’ s leading in our lives generally follows basic principles that can help us determine His will for our lives. 1. His Written Word. Psalm 119:105, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 2. The prompting of the Holy Spirit. Phil. 2:13, It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 3. The counsel of wise, qualified, trustworthy people. Proverbs 11:14, Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. 4. An inner assurance and peace. Col. 3:15, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
Ultimately, God’s Word provides all the light we will ever need for our journey through this earth. When you have decisions to make: keep His Word close to your heart and stand in faith on what you know to be true. Anything else is sinking sand.
What does the Bible say about:
Gods Will
There are two facets to God’s Will: we will look at the first facet this week and complete this topic next week.
Much of the confusion goes back to not understanding God and how He does his inscrutable work in our lives. The Christian life is not merely a matter of getting from here to there. Instead, god’s will for us in this life is more about the journey itself.
The first facet of God’s will is His ‘decretive’ will. This determined, decreed dimension of God’s will has four qualities: (1) It is absolute (2) It is immutable-unchangeable (3) It is unconditional, (4) It is always in complete harmony with His plan and His nature. In other words, the decreed will of God will be holy, just, good and righteous; therefore, it will be best.
What does the Bible say about:
Abortion
Psalm 139: 13-16 gives a powerful, poetic look inside the wondrous world of the pregnant womb: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret…Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were formed, and in You book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Obviously; human life is no accident of biology. God, the grand Designer of the universe, forms the ‘inward parts’ and works to ‘weave’ together a masterful conception. Genesis demonstrates God as the Creator of life. (Gen. 1:27) A personal God personally created life so the people could have a personal family relationship with Him. God brings life into the world purposefully and deliberately. God created and blesses life and therefore deems it sanctified.
What does the Bible say about:
Worry and Anxiety?
The Bible has lots to say about these topics. Psalm 37: 1-3 specifically reminds us that we are to ‘trust in the Lord’ and “Delight ourselves in the Lord” and we are to “Commit our ways to the Lord” and finally to “Rest in the Lord”.
Ever try to rest when you are really nervous? Not an easy task: yet to be able to rest in someone you first must trust them. Now when you stop and consider that we are to rest in the Lord which implies we are to trust in Him; that is not so hard when you think about it. After all, He is the Creator, He does sit on the throne and His plans for us are to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
Now I am not trying to be flippant: but the cure for worry is to trust the one who is in charge of all things. Philippians 4 tells us that we are to ‘rejoice in the Lord’ in all things and Proverbs 17 tells us that ‘a merry heart does good, like medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones’. It is important to learn to trust the Lord; not only for our sanity but for our bodies as well!
What does the Bible say about:
Is it wrong to attend church and worship on Saturday rather than Sunday?
Of course not! We are free to worship on any day; we are free to worship on everyday. But the Scripture strongly exhorts us not to be hung up on the days which we worship and not to go back underneath the bondage of legalism.
You still follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years. I am afraid for you, that my work for you has been wasted. Galatians 4:10-11NCV
“Religious” interprets that we must worship on a special day: yet Jesus calls us into a relationship that should be special everyday. It is important to attend church as we are not to forsake the fellowship of believers as Hebrews instruct-yet what day? Look at what the apostle Paul writes:
So do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17NCV
Remember, we do not have a Sabbath day, but rather a Sabbath life in Jesus Christ. The Sabbath day is a shadow, Jesus Christ is the substance. What a glorious rest we have in Him!
What does the Bible say about:
Christians and Demons
From time to time teachings circulate through the body of Christ that are neither Scripturally nor historically held. The Apostle Paul calls such unsound teaching "wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14)." Tragically, as these winds blow through the church some people find themselves caught up and blown out!
Recently, there has been interest in the so-called "deliverance ministries" which claim to have cast demons out of Christians. They often report of demons being coughed up and vomited out of believers. What about these experiences? Let us always be careful never to let experience supersede the Word of God. The Word is the only authority upon which we can build doctrine. Paul said, "but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8)."
So what does the Bible say about demon possession in Christians? First of all, we are told, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12)."
These demonic forces seek to hassle our walk with Jesus and hinder our work for Jesus. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, you may find yourself bummed out and feeling down and discouraged. This can be the work of a demonic attack, but a demon cannot enter into or exercise control over the life of any true believer. Let's see why.
First, you are in Christ Jesus
When you accepted Jesus as your Lord, you were placed into Christ Jesus. Jesus said, "... ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you (John 14:20)." In that same teaching Jesus went on to say, "... for the prince of this world (Satan) cometh, and hath nothing on Me (John 14:30)."
Satan and demons have nothing in Jesus for Jesus is, "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named ... (Ephesians 1:21)." Where are we? "And (He) hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)."
We see that Satan or any of his powers have nothing in Jesus Christ and, therefore, have nothing in us either! Praise the Lord!
Secondly, Christ Jesus is in you.
When you accepted Jesus as Lord, Jesus came into your heart to live in you (see Revelation 3:20).
He is, "... the light of the world . . . (John 8:12)" and Scripture declares that, "... God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)." Darkness and light cannot dwell in the same place at the same time.
Now, those who teach demons can possess Christians often hide behind a semantically smoke screen and say, "Demons possess or invade the body and the mind but not the spirit." But the Lord dwells in the body as well, as the word clearly states, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you ... (1 Corinthians 6:19)." The Lord also dwells in our mind for we are told, "... we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)." There just is no room for darkness when the Lord of light lives in us!
Thirdly, the Bible gives absolutely no example or teaching on demons in Christians
If such a major problem as demon possession in Christians was possible, without a doubt we would see several examples of this in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. We would also have clear teaching on this in the epistles, but it is just not there. The one example some do use as a "proof text" is that of Ananias and Sapphira. A careful study of that text, however, seems to indicate that they were not true believers at all. Even if they were, there was not an "exorcism or deliverance" that took place but rather instant judgment (see Acts 5)!
Also, is it not arresting that nowhere in the epistles is a teaching on demon possession or demon invasion of believers? Would God ignore such an important issue if it were such an important issue?
Then, why do people have such experiences of demons being regurgitated, cast out, or coughed up? I believe that these unscriptural practices come from sincere people who have a tendency to pass the blame for their carnal acts onto the devil. remember Flip Wilson's famous comedy sketch in which he said, "The devil made me do it?"
It is interesting to me that often the supposed demons identify themselves as the demon of lust, envy, impurity, witchcraft, anger, etc. But Galatians 5:19 specifically lists these activities as being "works of the flesh!" We are told to "... put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:22)," and recognize these things to be dead (Romans 6:11). We are never told to, "cast them out."
I believe we, as Christians, should avoid pitfalls of looking for demons and focusing on Satan; rather, we should keep our focus, teachings, and attention on our Lord Jesus Christ. The way to overcome darkness is to turn on the light. The way to overcome the devil is to resist him, and he will flee from us (James 4:7). We resist him by keeping close to our Lord (James 4:7), for "greater is He (Jesus) that is in you than he (Satan) that is in the world (1 John 4:4)."
What does the Bible say about:
Is there a difference between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Yes there is. Jesus was baptized with water by John the Baptist. In doing so (the Son of God really didn’t need to be baptized) He associated Himself with us; becoming like us in every way except for the fact that He did not sin. As we enter the waters of baptism we associate ourselves with our brother Jesus; taking a public stand for Him and announcing to the world we love Jesus.
At the same time Jesus was water baptized: we see in the account that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. This is the time chronologically as the very beginning of Jesus public ministry. Likewise; the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for us to be witnesses of the power of Jesus in our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit ‘comes upon’ us as it did Jesus for the purpose of ministry. It is significant that if you study the life of Jesus-He did not perform any miracles until after the Holy Spirit came upon Him. It is also significant that Jesus told the disciples not to try to do any ministry until after the Holy Spirit ‘comes upon’ them. It is my prayer as the pastor of Calvary Chapel Deltona every ministry we have is done in the power of the Holy Spirit – everything else is just a religious act that man performs; we should be witnesses to the power of His Spirit in our ministries!
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