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Heritage Blog (Page 3)

God’s Plan

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:22-24 (NLT) Peter…

God Always Knew

No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Acts 2:16-17 (NLT) Peter explains what happened in the room when the violent wind blew and the tongues of fire appeared above the Believers.  Peter took the moment to remind these religious people of what was written in the Old Testament.  They should have understood and expected God…

Pentecost

 13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” 14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. Acts 2:13-15 (NLT) Pentecost:  An annual event that drew Jews from many places to celebrate in…

Filled with the Holy Spirit

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21 (NIV) In this verse it is comparing being under the…

Love

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control… Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) The Holy Spirit is not some nameless, uncaring force. The Holy Spirit loves us. He wants the best for us and helps us. He fills us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit is with us at all times. The Holy Spirit wants what’s best for us and cares for us. Action…

Sin

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)  We have the power over sin (through Christ Jesus) and we have the Holy Spirit helping us daily. We all have sin…

Power

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 1:8-9 (NIV) The Holy Spirit is very powerful. He (the Holy Spirit) should not be viewed as the “other one,” and should not be…

The Advocate

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 (NIV) In this verse, Jesus is explaining what will happen after He dies on the cross. He states that He is going to send the Advocate. He is talking about the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to go so that the…

New Covenant

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31 (NIV)In the Old Testament, God established a covenant with the Israelites.  Usually, a contract is between two parties.  The covenant between God and the Israelites was all based on God’s character to fulfill his promises.  The Israelites lived under the old law.  But through the blood of Jesus, we now live under the…

Plan

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Sometimes, people can see God as a strict father.  We think he is looking down from heaven waiting for us to make a mistake so he can punish us.  But God is love (1 John 4:16).  He looks down from heaven and sees us as perfect through the…

Faithful

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) Moses proclaimed in Exodus, that God is astounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6).  He planned how to save the world from the beginning and was faithful to follow through.  Even when the Israelites broke their covenant with God, He was still faithful to save them.  Faithfulness is in God’s character.  We can reflect his character to others. Prayer:God, thank you…

Influence Them

This is how the Lord responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you! Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT) We live in a fallen world.  Evil things are all around us.  Bad things happen to good people.  But that doesn’t mean we need to let it impact us.  We are…

Message Burns

You tricked me, Lord, and I was tricked. You overpowered me and won. People make fun of me all day long. Everyone laughs at me. Every time I speak, I cry out. All you ever tell me to talk about is fighting and trouble. Your message has brought me nothing but dishonor. It has made me suffer shame all day long. Sometimes I think, “I won’t talk about his message anymore. I’ll never speak in his name again.” But then…

Astonishing Courage

18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir.  Come in.  Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.  19 “Please give me some water,” he said.  “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again. 20 “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”  Judges…

Absolute Control

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.”  Judges 4:14(NLT) God always give us the voice of one person who reminds us God is in control.  They remind us God has made us promises.  Deborah points out twice in one sentence the Lord is control.  When we trust God’s promises, we have what we need to move forward in tough situations. …

Against the Majority

Deborah was an Israelite, one of God’s chosen people.  Deborah was leading Israel as a judge and a prophetess.  Deborah decided disputes among the people, and she also delivered messages of God to His people. History did not recognize women so let’s pay close attention to this woman named Deborah.  In this specific time, Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Israel has a reputation for walking close to God and drifting far from God.  At this…

Apart from the Crowd        

We are ALL leaders.  We all lead SOMETHING or SOMEONE. Our ability to lead and inspire others should increase throughout the course of our lives.  As we get older and our families grow, our children’s need for guidance and wisdom increases.  Those around us start looking for advice and direction.  The people of God should have influence on those around them.  Godly wisdom and direction are treasured things.  In today’s culture Christian wisdom is often contradictory to the world’s ways. …

Abdicating Credit

8 Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” 9 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” Judges 4:8-9 (NLT) 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000…

Anxiety

6 “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (MSG) Wherever we go, God is first. When we keep him first there is no need to fear. All we have to do is do the right thing and follow God. Anxiety is one of the worst feelings we can have and a…

Do not Be Frightened

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV) That is good news isn’t it. God is with us wherever we go. We don’t have to bear all the burdens of life by ourselves because God is there to be with us. Is life always easy? No, it isn’t. God is on our side though. He…

The Hard Thing

1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then…

God’s Plan

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (NIV) Esters uncle Mordecai is talking to her about the murder of her people sanctioned by the king and about her speaking out about it. The king’s first wife was killed for disrespecting…

Worship

8 Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. Esther 3:8 (NLT) In this verse, it is talking about the Jewish people putting God first, instead of…

New Commandment

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35 (NIV) As God’s ambassadors in the earth, we are called to be different.  Jesus tells us not to judge others unfairly (Matthew 7:1).  Sometimes we forget that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23).  Since we are all sinners saved by grace (Ephesians…

Most Important One

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love…

The Lord Hates

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV) God loves humankind. He created us out of an overflow of love. But God can hate the attitude of our hearts. He hates when…