A miracle is a surprising and welcome event that is not explained by natural or scientific laws and therefore attributed to the work of a divine agency, a work of God. After His resurrection, Christ commanded His disciples to stay in Jerusalem âuntil you are clothed with power from on highâ (Luke 24:49 ESV). Interestingly, several miracles "from power on high" took place on that Day of Pentecost. The first miracle was a sound like a âmighty rushing windâ (Acts 2:1-2). It was startling. … [Read more...] about When Pentecost Arrived
Feasts of God
Self-Examination: Are We in the Faith
We are subjected to all kinds of tests throughout our lifetime. Some are routine, but others are unavoidable, deeply personal tests: peer pressure, emotional suffering, financial upheaval, and temptation. With a fear of failure, we usually donât consider these as positive experiences. However, with good preparation we can face self-examination confidently. âTest yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is … [Read more...] about Self-Examination: Are We in the Faith
The Memorial Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets gets its name from the ordained blowing of trumpets which were blown as âa memorial of blowing of trumpetsâ (Leviticus 23:24). The Hebrew word for âmemorialâ is zikkÄrĂ´n. Which â according to the Dictionary of Biblical Languages (DBL) â means âto commemorateâ or âcall to remembrance.â The Feast of Trumpets symbolizes a future event. How can we memorialize something that has not happened yet? ZikkÄrĂ´n also means memorializing our right or claim to an inheritance based on … [Read more...] about The Memorial Trumpets
Our Job
We all have a job. At some stage in life, day after day, we work. Yet sometimes the daily repetition can turn into a blur of years in or outside the home. For 18 long years, I sat in the basement of a hospital, all alone, and programmed a computer to run the air conditioning. I wondered, how did my repetitious work fit into our calling? "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of … [Read more...] about Our Job
The Impact of the Passover
We can know from careful Bible study the actual Passover is an annual event, not weekly. Itâs a much more serious occasion. It is the beginning of Godâs plan. Without it, we could go no further. For ancient Israel, the Passover made possible their release from bondage. Later, when God delivered the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai, after a tremendous audio-visual show, He reminded Israel that it was He who brought them out of Egypt (Exodus 19:17-19, 20:1-2). This event was just a physical … [Read more...] about The Impact of the Passover
God Values Small Things
It had been some years since Cyrus, King of Persia, granted right-of-return to the original Jewish refugees. Zerubbabel had laid the foundation and built the altar, but the work rebuilding the Holy Temple in Jerusalem had stalled. Finally, King Darius initiated new momentum. Zechariah was sent with a special message to inspire renewed efforts. And that message has special meaning for the Church: âMoreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: âThe hands of Zerubbabel have laid the … [Read more...] about God Values Small Things
Sabbath Sanctity
Most of the 10 commandments are reasonably accepted as part of a civil society and the concepts have been built into the rule of law of Western society. But the Sabbath is a law that gets in the way. The prophet Amos brings that attitude to our attention. âSaying: when will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat?â (Amos 8:5). The Sabbath got in the way of their all-important personal activities. The seventh day needs to be important to Godâs … [Read more...] about Sabbath Sanctity