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What Was God’s Purpose for Israel in the Old Testament?

March 14, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

What was israel's purpose in the Old Testament — Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 22:17-18

As Christians, it is easy to read the New Testament and understand God’s plan for the world. He wants to save people from sin through Jesus Christ.

Sin has corrupted everything. Not only is the punishment of sin to go to hell, it brings hell into every area of life. You cannot live your purpose of imaging, serving, and glorifying God while under the curse of sin. So it’s no wonder God seeks to reverse the effects of sin and make us into new creations. But as we read the Old Testament, things can get a bit murkier.

The Power of Words

March 11, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

The power of your words Bible — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – John 1:1

Twenty-six letters . . . who would have thought that twenty-six letters could be as powerful as they are?

With twenty-six letters wars have been started, treaties have been made, great cures have been passed on to the next generation, history has been recorded, identities are given, order is made possible, and the ability to connect with another human being is achieved.

How to Detox from Addictive Sin

September 18, 2018March 8, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

bible detoxing christian — Hebrews 10:14

Detoxing is a medical term often associated with cleansing the body from impure substances. You can detox from anything ranging from sugar to relationship or from chocolate to crack cocaine. While detoxing from sin is not a topic directly found in the Bible, there are certainly many similarities.

What Does the Bible Say About Sleep?

March 6, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

What does the Bible say about sleep? This is an important question considering that anywhere from one-third of our life will be spent on earth with our eyes closed, slumbering away in our beds. That’s a lot of time sleeping! So what does God think about sleep? Can we sleep too much, too little, and how can we use sleep the way God intended?

Sleep, like everything else God has made, is good when it’s used right but also has the potential to be greatly misused.

How To Be Saved By Jesus

February 26, 2018March 3, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

The short and very sufficient answer to “How can I be saved?” is this: Put your faith in Jesus Christ. If you remember nothing else, remember that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

What Does the Bible Say About Personal Boundaries?

August 18, 2018March 1, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

what the Bible says about personal boundaries — John 21:21-22

You are not going to find the term “personal boundaries” in the Bible. However, the Bible does talk about personal boundaries in principle.

Why Should We Pray for Others?

January 9, 2019February 25, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

As Christians, most of us have a general awareness that it is a good thing to pray for other people and to have other people praying for you. But perhaps praying for each other is more than “good,” perhaps it is crucial.

So why should we pray for others? What benefits are there to interceding for people? Why is it so important that we pray for each other?

Lay Aside the Weight Of Unforgiveness

February 22, 2017February 22, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

unforgiveness bible freedom — “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” -Isaiah 43:25-26
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” -Colossians 3:13

Why does God forgive us? He can forgive us because of the sacrifice of Jesus. But he chooses to forgive us because he is love and because he loves us.

Why should we forgive others? We can forgive others because of the sacrifice of Jesus. And we should choose to forgive because to be God’s child is to reflect his loving image. If we don’t forgive others their sins, then God will not forgive ours because this proves we have not become his children through grace (Matthew 6:14).

What Does the Bible Say About Personal Responsibility?

February 19, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

So what does the Bible say about personal responsibility?

Throughout the Bible, the real problem was not the Philistines, Egyptians, Syrians, or Romans. It was not the Red Sea, the lack of water, or the absence of food for the people. Nothing could hinder God’s purpose for his people other than the people themselves.

How Does the Holy Spirit Change Us?

February 20, 2019February 15, 2017 by Mark Ballenger

Everyone wants to change in some way or the other. Whether it’s an addiction problem, a chronic rage issue, or a character flaw that is ruining your most significant relationships, there are areas in our lives we want to change but struggle to do so.

And more than this, the Bible makes clear we must change from sinful to holy if we hope to have a true relationship with God. So how can we do this? Certainly we can’t do this in our own power. True change comes only through the power of the gospel of grace. And to be ultra specific, when it comes to actually changing real, tangible things in our lives, the Bible makes clear that only the Holy Spirit can change us.

The Father appoints what he wants done. The Son accomplishes the work of the Father. And the Holy Spirit applies the works of the Son to people. But what specifically does the Holy Spirit change about us? Why should we seek to be filled with the Spirit throughout our whole lives?

Here are seven ways the Holy Spirit changes us.