Whether or not we can experience God directly is something Christians have discussed and debated since…I don’t know when. I can’t say from biblical times because it is impossible to read the Bible without seeing that the authors expected to experience God directly and did. But somewhere between now and then, this basic expectation changed….
Tag: miracles
Behind the Spotlight
The other day I was thinking about Jesus turning water to wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2). This was Jesus’s first miracle and, as John tells us, “displayed His glory” (John 2:11). When we hear of miracles and glory, our minds tend to think about the “wow” factor. Turning water to wine is…
Overlooking and Undervaluing
As a “baby Christian,” I attended a discipleship/ministry school. As we prayed to end class one day, the Spirit fell. Prayers and worship erupted spontaneously. During the joyful pandemonium, I felt a hand on my shoulder. A friend had a prophetic word for me. The Lord said He was putting a spirit of Stephen on…
The Complete Jesus–Mallory Patrick
Today’s post is by my sister-in-law, Mallory Patrick! *** “Behold, I cast out demons, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected” (Luke 13:32) Many believers focus on Jesus’ pre-Cross ministry, which included visible, miraculous healings and miracles. But in this verse, Jesus says that His coming was…
What Is the Gospel?
Ministering to the poor and homeless is not the gospel. Speaking in tongues, prophesying, and moving in other gifts is not the gospel. Pro-Christian political activism is not the gospel. Intercessory prayer is not the gospel. Healings and miracles are not the gospel. Tradition is not the gospel. Creation care is not the gospel. Evangelizing…
Daybreak–GK Chesterton
On the third day the friends of Christ coming at daybreak to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realised the new wonder; but even they hardly realised that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a…
Buddha, Bahaullah, & the Other Jesus-es
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. […] They have eyes full of adultery and are always looking for sin. They seduce unstable people…
Weeks/Pentecost (part 2)
Painting by Patrick Murphy http://www.inspiredsketch.blogspot.com In the last post, we looked at the fulfillment of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. Jesus was anointed with the fullness of God’s Spirit, and His anointing flowed down to the church. Sharing in Christ’s anointing means many things. First Corinthians 2:12 says, “We have not received the spirit…
Firstfruits
Picture by Patrick Murphy http://inspiredsketch.blogspot.com/ On the 16th of the first month, the day after Unleavened Bread started, the Israelites were to bring a sheaf of new grain to the priest. This was also “the day after the Sabbath,” or Sunday (Lev. 23:11). This new grain was the first of the harvest to ripen, the…
Crux
Graphic by Patrick Murphy: http://inspiredsketch.blogspot.com/ Here— where clouds overhead and crowds at your feet thicken into an untimely darkness— you can’t tell miracle from murder, blessing from curse, God from your enemy. Here— where vultures overhead and priests at your feet circle, waiting for a body— you can’t tell mystery from mockery, life from death,…
The Voice of One 