Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Moses and the Burning Bush: What Is Scripture Teaching Us? Part II
In Moses and the Burning Bush Part I we began our study of the deeper meaning of the account of the call to Moses from the midst of a burning bush that was not consumed. If you have not read part I, you are strongly encouraged to do so to benefit from the read.
A Bible Lesson in Moses and the Burning Bush
Keeping in mind the close relationship between the physical/natural world and the spirit realm, we know that there is natural fire and spiritual fire. God is the author of both worlds; therefore, his power to have spiritual fire burn in the natural world that Moses could see should not seem strange. It's obvious that the fire in the account of Moses and the burning bush was spiritual. Firstly, it did not burn the bush; natural fire would have consumed the bush. Second, the Lord himself was the fire and he tells us in his word that he is a Spirit (St. John 4:24); hence, we know the fire was spiritual. God's word also says that he is a fire (Hebrews 12:29). In fact, Hebrews 12:29 tells us that he is consuming fire. Let's consider the following scriptures:
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you (test your faith), as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (I Peter 4:12-13).
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matthew 3:11).
"Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test the faith of) every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yes so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Corinthians 3:13-16).
A Brief Comment on the Above Scriptures
The scripture of I Peter 4:12-13 speaks of the fiery trial of faith in the Christian believers life. While God does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13), he does try the faith of his servants to purify them that they bring forth more fruit of obedience. The scripture of 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ."
This is also why Jesus said, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit (of obedience), he taketh away. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (st. John 15:2). To purge something is to purify it. Remember that God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:9) and that fire purifies. His fire is not to consume or burn up his servants; it is to consume and burn up all that is in them that is not of him. Plant life, like animal life, cannot sin against God. There was nothing unholy in the burning bush. This is evident in the fact that God told Moses that he was standing on holy ground. Remember, however, that Moses himself couldn't draw too close.
The second scripture of Matthew 3:11 records John the Baptist teaching that he could only baptize with water for repentance, but that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God, so he is a baptism of consuming fire. He takes up residence in the Christian believer for the purpose of molding and shaping him further into the likeness of his Son, Jesus.
The world has a saying that goes something like, "Trials will either make or break you." The fiery trial of faith is to make the servants of God by consuming in them what is not of God.
The third scripture of I Corinthians 3:13-16 speaks of a believer's work being tried by the fire to see what kind of work it is and whether it abides. Remember in the account of Moses and the burning bush, the bush abided; scripture says that it was not consumed. When God calls someone to salvation, he does not mean for them to temporarily serve him. Many people often backslide for various reasons. Nevertheless, this is not the will of God. As Christian believers, we want to abide when we experience baptism by fire. We want the fire of God to consume in us all that is not of him, but we don't want our spiritual life to be consumed, as in lost. We are to be on fire--on the fire of God and continually burn without being consumed. We are to be God's holy ground because we are the "bush" in whose midst he is to forever dwell. This is why the scripture asked, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Corinthians 3:16).
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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