Read Bible for Yourself

THE PROVABLE, THE PROBABLE AND FAITH  What science calls truth  Is in the limited space Of the immediately PROVABLE,  Yet science always goes On a spending spree  On the basis of the PROBABLE   Science invites men of faith  To drink themselves senseless  Where it awards itself  medals For deciphering an INCH Of the workings of the universe  And GUESSING a million miles more Faith claims TRUTH  And calmly waits its unfolding So, faith smiles at science Like an expert smiles at an upstart While science lectures from discoveries As if it was their CREATOR #notsonew  #divinerhymes

In Acts 1:5, 6, we encounter the disciples who were convinced that the resurrected Jesus Christ was about to restore Israel as a kingdom. Some 500 years before this, the armies of Nebuchadnezzar had effectively ended the nearly 500 years old reign of kings in Israel, and exiled the Israelites. Although they returned to rebuild the destroyed temple about half a century later, they never had a legitimate king again. During the time of Jesus, even the Herods who ruled in Jerusalem were considered despots shored up by Rome rather than legitimate sovereigns. The Jews therefore always looked forward to a legitimate ruler described their Scriptures to deliver them.  Jesus indeed is the said deliverer but He was about a kingdom far wider and beyond what was then left of the Promised Land Joshua took. At age 33, He was not about to depose Herod or defeat Rome with His 12 disciples and about 100 or so other followers. Such restoration is clearly what the disciples thought of when Jesus said ...

 OR  DIVIDED BY UNEQUAL EMPHASES The Gospel message is so rich and promising that some adherents tend to be mesmerized into sheltering in sections, which they emphasize, creating denominations. Emphases then turn to creeds. There's still nothing wrong with this until creeds demonize other equally essential aspects of the Gospel. James captures this tendency, citing the OT Law, for example: "For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law."(James 2:11 NKJV) Why look down on aspects of the Law, if you live by the Law? Indeed, why look down on aspects of the Gospel, if you live by the Gospel? And indeed, why wilfully transgress the Law or the Gospel, if you believe both to proceed from God? Jesus said: "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; b...

BIBLE IN HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY - The Case of King Hezekiah of Judah Extra-biblical sources specify Hezekiah by name, along with his reign and influence. "Historiographically, his reign is noteworthy for the convergence of a variety of biblical sources and diverse extrabiblical evidence often bearing on the same events. Significant data concerning Hezekiah appear in the Deuteronomistic History, the Chronicler, Isaiah, Assyrian annals and reliefs, Israelite epigraphy, and, increasingly, stratigraphy". Archaeologist Amihai Mazar calls the tensions between Assyria and Judah "one of the best-documented events of the Iron Age". Hezekiah's story is one of the best to cross-reference with the rest of the Mid Eastern world's historical documents. Archaeological record A cuneiform inscription mentioning in detail the tribute sent by Hezekiah, king of Judah, to Sennacherib is in the British Museum. A seal impression dating back to 727–698 BCE, reading "לחזקיהו...

  THE BIBLE IS BOLD 1. There is GOD who created all things. 2. We HUMANS are created in God's image. 3. We have suffering on Earth because we SIN. 4. The wages of sin is death, so each person needs a sinless SAVIOR. 5. The nation of ISRAEL is God's pioneer missionary group to the world. 6. Out of Israel was born JESUS CHRIST, the only Savior of the world. 7. Some people will imitate or MOCK Christ's work of salvation. 8. This world will end with a JUDGMENT DAY for all who ever lived on Earth. 9. There will be a RESURRECTION to either everlasting life or everlasting contempt. 10. Those who can be saved are those who give up sin and sincerely strive for CHRISTLIKE righteousness. #BibleBriefs365

  HE IS LORD! Jesus According to all the Writers of the New Testament JESUS: You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. John 13:13 NIV David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”' Mark 12:36 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 NIV You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31‭-‬33 NIV PETER: Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. Acts 2:36 NIV PAUL: and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11 NIV JAMES: My b...

  Marriage is: Home making Companionship Living for others Improving temper Personality building Discovering durability Community leadership Clan and nation building Sharing hopes and fears Good legacy preservation Raising responsible people Forging formidable alliances Trimming unhealthy excesses Unearthing productive capacity Maximizing resource usefulness You can lose all these Usually in revenge Without respect When you just Divorce #DivineRhymes

  WHEN LANDLORD COMES KNOCKING Imagine your landlord calling, "I stand at your door and knock. If you open, I'll come in and dine with you, and you with me." Do not be surprised that some respond to the effect that, "Landlord, mind your business. I have no food here to share with you, and I beg don't interfere with my life. Do I owe rent or what? I beg, don't come and look for my trouble." A gentle landlord will walk away, but you better be sure you won't need to renew your tenancy! A rude landlord will hit back in ways that may even cut your current tenancy short. But, have you thought about why your landlord may want to dine with you, especially if he is known to be very well to do, generous and influential? Would your reaction be as described above? Apparently, nine of ten people would react respectfully to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is why they are following Him, many of them genuinely. Are you among the outstanding one out of ten that ...

  I decided on the certain path to victory Trusting Jesus as in God Almighty Reading Scripture and praying daily I know that I will make it home safely #NewSongBrewing #DivineRhymes

  WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM IN APPEARANCE, BUT WE ARE ALREADY LIKE HIM IN CHARACTER Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 NIV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because AS [CHRIST] IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. I John 4:17 NKJV #Luke2447

  HOW DAVID OVERCAME SEVEN OBSTACLES TO DOING GOD'S WILL 1. EXCLUDED from the battle, David made most of his errand to the camp. 2. DEMEANED by his eldest brother Eliab, David focused only on the necessity at hand. 3. OVER-EQUIPPED in the king's armour, David took it off in exchange for the modest sling and stones that need God's help to function. 4. DOUBTED by Saul as incapable, David assured him with testimonies of how God gave him victories in similar situations. 5. DESPISED by Goliath as no match, David announced God as his strength. 6. CURSED in the name of other gods, David pointed out the Philistine's guilt of defying the Living God. 7. THREATENED by the approaching giant, David ran to meet the challenge with a well prepared initiative. #Luke2447 in 1Samuel 17

  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD? First, let us exclude those who believe in supposed beings they have dreamed up in place of God. By God here, therefore, we mean the one disclosed in the Bible alone as the CREATOR of all things, who retains a redemptive interest in humanity the fallen crown of His creation on Earth. What is wrong with those who believe in Him? 1. They believe that each person is made in God's image and must therefore live up to this dignity and be treated as such. 2. They believe that God has disclosed conformity to His image as eternal safety for humanity, and prescribed warnings of doom for those who deviate. 3. They make all effort to be God's instruments of affirmation or warning, to preserve humans from perishing. 4. They believe that the Earth is endowed by God for humanity's sustenance, and so they make confident effort at its exploration and preservation. Is there anything particularly wrong with believing in God? Do those who claim to...

  HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH The law spelt out what is wrong with sin and prescribed punishment or atonement, but hardly showed example of people overcoming sin. People were therefore becoming convinced that no one having flesh could fully meet the requirement of the law. They therefore blamed their flesh for what wrong they did, and sought to excuse themselves. Jesus came having same flesh as everyone else and met the full requirements of the law. By this, he demonstrated that the flesh is not an excuse or a reason for living in sin. "For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:3‭-‬4 NIV "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so ...

  IS GOD IMAGINED? Because we must ALL live together, there cannot be true human FREEDOM unless it is regulated by a UNIVERSAL law and enforcer above us all - GOD. It is for the above reason that some people guess that the ancients imagined God into existence. The guess however fails to stand because of the clear interventions of God in what would otherwise have been our life based on chance. Here are three of His interventions: 1. THE BIBLE. God gave His Word and laws to Israel, a nation that has persisted till today. The compilation of his interaction with them up to AD 100 makes up the book called the Bible. It is the only authoritative reference for the mind of God, and it describes origins and how things work in a way that that ultimately refutes all alternative views. 2. JESUS CHRIST. Over 2,000 years ago, He came down as fully human, lived perfectly, died, resurrected, and ascended. Global date refers to His times, and no one exceeds Him in perfection of conduct. All man-mad...

  AT WHAT LEVEL OF DISCIPLESHIP ARE YOU? 1. FOCUSED ON JUST THE MIRACLES From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:66 NIV 2. FOCUSED ON MAKING MONEY FROM BEING A CHRISTIAN [Judas] asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:15‭-‬16 NIV 3. FOCUSED ON GETTING A POSITION OR RECOGNITION “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Matthew 20:21 NIV 4. FOCUSED ON AVOIDING SUFFERING FOR CHRIST When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. Mark 14:67‭-‬68 NIV 5. FOCUSED ON EARNING A LIVING BEFORE SERVING CHRI...

  RELEVANCE OF GOD The RELEVANCE of the EXISTENCE of GOD to the world is the MORAL COMPASS He is through us. It is virtually impossible to conclude your PROOF of God without the element of your blameless life. When they taste HIS GOODNESS in you, they will agree with you that HE IS. "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God ... " "For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk ... " 1 Peter 2:12‭, ‬15 NIV GOD is GOOD. #biblebriefs

VISITATION IN THE LOCAL CHURCH FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT An Adaptation of a Script by Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day ... the Lord God called ..., “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9) You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.  (Acts 20:20) THE HOUR OF VISITATION – GOD IS A “VISITOR” His is an abiding presence, but He visits to set an example for us finite humans, to visit.  God visited them in the Garden - He came with CARE, INSTRUCTION, REBUKE & HOPE - Makes the visited decisive. The Omniscient God does not rely on hearsay: He visited Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Israel, etc. “The habitation of God is among Humans” is the “Immanuel” that thrives in the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. (Rev. 21:3, Eze. 37:27, Isa. 7:14, Mat. 28:20) Jesus, in addition, visited Lazarus, Mary, Mart...

 PAUL OUTLINES HIS STRATEGIES FOR MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE LOCAL CHURCH AS A LEADER "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." (I Thess 2:19‭-‬20 NKJV) Main Reading: Acts 20:17-38 1. HE LED BY EXAMPLE: He himself found being in the church a thing to treasure, so he joyfully sacrificed his all to remain and work in the church.  2. HE LIVED AMONG THEM 3. HE SERVED AS UNTO THE LORD, with humility. 4. HE FACED TRIALS COURAGEOUSLY, and with tears (as in prayer for those persecuting him), not vengeance. 5. HE TAUGHT THEM CONSISTENTLY and carefully, and at places they could be found. He was not always just waiting for them at church. He visited them at home, etc. 6. HE PREACHED TO ALL MANNER OF PEOPLE, focusing the people on the Church's prime business of winning all nations for Christ. 7. HE DEMONSTRATED HARDWORK AND INTEGRITY: He worked to feed himself and other...

 FOR BETTER FOR WORSE FOR GOOD Your spouse isn't in your life simply to give you blissful days. He or she is in also to improve your character by stretching it to limits no one else can.  Just like change of lesson at school, couples regularly give each other bad days without even intending to. Those are all providential too. That is why every marriage looks nicer from the outside, at least soon as the honeymoon is over. Over time, after you've learnt to trust better and let some things go, you'll understand that you've been forged for greater things.  During the 'difficult lesson' periods, consider first which aspects of your own character is being dealt with, and try and make amends, otherwise, you'll have to do remedials several times over.  You focus also on God's overall goodness to you, and make room to thank Him. Don't let your grumbling steal His honor and praise. He is the one refining us, and though He passes us through fire, He is with us ...

MARRIAGE EXPANDS YOUR CAPACITY TO BE GOOD Marriage improves our capacity, and each marriage has its unique way of getting this done.  One of the greatest lessons you learn of marriage is when you learn not to engage for conflict. Your spouse is your own professed number one love and favorite person on Earth. You're not in the marriage for war. You're in it to prove your capacity to carry your spouse and family as on eagles' wings. Your spouse also made a declaration of love and lifelong commitment. Believe it or not, they feel the greatest pressure to prove this even to themselves.  Whoever initiates a conflict is therefore already guilty, and they know it. Feign surprise, and just refuse to engage. The onus to resolve then weighs heavier on them, and just a little beckoning soon brings them back around.  If you engage for conflict, you fuel it, and begin to carry some of the guilt burden.  When you've indicated something don't like that they do, the indication alo...