Mark Ballenger

ApplyGodsWord.com is the writing ministry of Mark Ballenger. To reach Mark, send him an email anytime: markballenger@applygodsword.com

What Does the Bible Say About Enduring Pain

by
what does the bible say about enduring pain

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10

Whether it’s the common cold or a deadly cancer, physical pain is something every human will deal with. We all will be sick and we all will know people with a sickness. Sadly, enduring pain is just a part of living on this planet. Thankfully the Bible gives us specific counsel on how to endure seasons of pain and sickness.

The Bible explains that the only way to endure pain well is through Jesus Christ. Perfect health is not an option for ourselves or for those we love. Therefore, we must seek our satisfaction in Christ to get through physical sickness and pains of all sorts.

Read more

Should Christians Watch TV? Is Watching TV Sinful?

by
Should Christians Watch TV?
Bible Verses: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23)

Should a Christian watch TV, R rated movies, PG-13 rated movies, “Game of Thrones,” the “Big Bang Theory,” or soap operas? Should Christians watch anything on TV other than low budget, cheesy Christian movies that play too much slow, epic music throughout every scene of inner turmoil the main character goes through? To most of us, it seems “Christian entertainment” forgot the “entertainment” part.

So what’s a Christian to do who enjoys watching TV? Chuck the TV out the window? Suck it up and just watch “Fireproof” and other Kirk Cameron specials until reading through the genealogies and ceremonial lists found in the Old Testament begin to look like a better source of fun? Perhaps there’s a better way.

Read more

Part 3: How To Be Spiritually Healed By Jesus (Mark 5)

by

3[1]Bible Verses:

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. – Mark 5:19-20

But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” – Mark 5:33-34

And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. – Mark 5:42-43

Part 3: Live A Healed Life

The demon possessed man use to live alone among the tombs, but once he was healed he then was sent by Jesus to proclaim Christ in the city. He used to live among dead bodies because he was filled with dead spirits, but now he was proclaiming Jesus among the living because the Spirit of Life had healed him. But what would have happened if the demon possessed man went back to the cemetery because he wasn’t sure if the demons would come back?

Read more

Part 2: How To Be Spiritually Healed By Jesus (Mark 5)

by

2[2]Bible Verses:

And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. – Mark 5:3-4

…and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” – Mark 5:23

[The woman who had a discharge of blood] had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.” – Mark 5:26

Part 2: Stop Asking Other Sources

It’s pointless to go to other sources for spiritual healing because as Mark 5:4 states of the demon possessed man, “No one had the strength to subdue him.” Likewise, no one but Christ has the strength to subdue our sin.

Read more

Part 1: How To Be Spiritually Healed By Jesus (Mark 5)

by

1[2]Bible Verses:

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. – Mark 5: 1-2

Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet. – Mark 5:22

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. – Mark 5:30-32

Part 1: Ask Jesus Personally

Notice in all of the above verses about people being healed, they each left a crowd and became an individual to Jesus.

Read more

Grace and Sanctification

by
Bible Verses: 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 5:12-14, 2 Peter 1:3-7
Bible Verses: 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 5:12-14, 2 Peter 1:3-7

Just because the gifts of God are free does not mean following Christ isn’t going to cost you. Our works and efforts can never earn us the salvation and regeneration that Jesus acquired for us through his death and resurrection, but this does not mean you are not going to have to work. God gives us everything that we need for life and godliness, but this doesn’t mean we will not have to put forth effort in the sanctification process.

Read more