Prayers Devotionals

 🤔 Tried out ChatGPT AI I posed a question: As an AI language model, I cannot express my personal beliefs or opinions, but I can provide a neutral explanation. The statement "Jesus is a relationship, not a religion" is often used by Christians to emphasize the personal and intimate nature of their faith. They believe that Christianity is not merely a set of rules or rituals to follow, but a dynamic and transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus is not just a historical figure or an abstract concept, but a living and present God who wants to connect with individuals on a personal level. This connection can only be achieved through faith and surrender to Jesus, not through external religious practices or traditions. In essence, they argue that Christianity is not a rigid and legalistic religion but a vibrant and life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

  Get the Basics Down For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (Ephesians 6:15 NLT) It’s amazing how many Christians think that good works will get them to Heaven. They believe that God has some kind of point system, and if they do enough good things, it will outweigh the bad things they’ve done. But nothing like that is taught in the Bible. The problem is that many Christians don’t understand the basic message of the gospel. They point to their own works as to why they will go to Heaven. And some people who claim to be Christians think that Jesus Christ isn’t necessarily the only way to God. They think that all roads lead to God, as long as people are sincere in their hearts. However, Jesus made radical and exclusive claims. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). Any examination of the basic message of the gospel will quickly reveal that Jesus Christ is ...

Why are there no female deacons? The passages that describe the qualifications and duties of elders/overseers do not open the door for women to serve as elders. In fact, the consistent use of male pronouns and terminology argues strongly for the office of elder/overseer being restricted to men only. As with other issues in this debate, the question of women serving as elders is not a matter of chauvinism. In no sense is this a matter of men being superior to women. Rather, God restricts the office of elder to men only because that is how He has structured the church to function. Godly men are to serve as leadership, with women serving in the crucially important supporting roles. As you move through the 10th, 11th, 12th centuries, no one who is not eligible to become a priest is ordained a deacon. So there was no more permanent diaconate. In 1976, a [church] document said women can't be priests because Jesus chose male apostles, and secondly, women can't image Christ. W...

Psalm 63:5-6 New American Standard Bible 1995 5 : My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 6  : When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Psalms 139:18 last sentence: When I awake I am still with thee. ("Socrates used to say, "Philosophers can be happy without music;" and Christians can be happier than philosophers when all outward causes of rejoicing are withdrawn. In thee, my God, my heart shall triumph, come what may of ills without! By thy power, O blessed Spirit, my heart shall be exceeding glad, though all things should fail me here below.")

You know the song "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", this is like that you don't mess around with Satan or you will get bit. Satan knows the apostles, Satan knows the Bible word for word he knows what is coming and he is wanting to take you with him, you don't need to watch a movie to explain what Satan do or his demons can do to you. So you have to be on your "A" game as they say, you want to fight they are able and willing. So don't be like this Acts 19:15 "look this up" https://biblehub.com/acts/19-15.htm . C. S. Lewis made this observation in the preface to The Screwtape Letters: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy interest in them.” We do need to understand our adversary and how to prevail against his power and temptations. However, we don’t want to go overboard in this area. We must recognize th...

“Judge Not!” is the battle cry of those who use it as a smoke screen to secretly, safely, and surely retreat from the truth. Truth is seen as “unloving” by those who reject it and refuse to repent. It is a fact that right is right, even if nobody believes it and wrong is wrong, even if everybody affirms it. During the time when almost everyone (except knowledgeable Christians) “knew” the world was flat, the fact is it was not flat. Even the experts were wrong. It is better to stand for truth and be alone than stand for error with the crowd.   "It was common in past years for people of all persuasions to defend their beliefs when challenged by an opponent. But now it is considered to be contentious, confrontational, and crass to contend that you are right and others are wrong. We have been brainwashed into thinking there are many points of view but there is no “right” view or a “wrong” view. Usually, a Bible believing Christian’s view is not considered valuable, viable, or virtuous...