Magic and things supernatural are real, and they can have a lasting effect on the unsaved and unsuspecting of any age. The world would have us believe that there can be no residual effects of being taken in by these things; and because the world is under the sway of Satan himself, they are of course wrong. But what does the Bible say about magic and things supernatural?

Our lives will be negatively or positively influenced by the company we keep. We need good fellowship to spur us on to good works.

Have you ever noticed some of the things people do while they wait? For instance, when waiting on an elevator, we keep pressing the button. It doesn’t help. Or if we are stuck in a traffic jam, we honk the horn. It won’t help. When waiting on line, we try going from line to line. Stay put. And when we’re put on hold for a long period of time, we hang up and try again. Another bad move.

There are yet other more mindless things we do while we are waiting: we suck our teeth, we sigh, we tap our feet, we pace back and forth, and we even hum and whistle. All of these things are done in an effort to be patient. But what they truly reveal is just how inpatient we really are! Almost to a person, we want what we want when we want it; and that’s usually right now or yesterday.

Waiting happens to be an unavoidable part of life. It’s one of those things that we all have to do whether we want to or not. Some would go so far as to call it a necessary evil. Necessary? Actually, yes. Evil? No, even though it seems that way at times.

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Because the church was unequipped, those with harmful intentions were able to find a place among the people of God and introduce doctrines of demons. Every child of God needs to guard against the threat of false teaching by executing a battle plan that includes the consistent and diligent study of God’s Word.

As a young Christian, I had no real understanding of what the Sabbath was or why it mattered. In fact, I mistakenly thought that “Sabbath” simply meant “seventh,” tying it to the seventh day of the week. How wrong I was! The word “Sabbath” actually means “to rest” or “to cease.” Over time, I realized that the Sabbath is about far more than just a day—it’s about setting aside time to honor God and embrace His gift of rest.

The question of which day is the true Sabbath has sparked discussion, debate, and even division for centuries. Is it Saturday, as observed in Jewish tradition and rooted in the Old Testament commands given to Israel? For the Israelites, the Sabbath was established by God Himself as part of the Ten Commandments, a holy day to rest from work and reflect on His creation and covenant relationship with His people (Exodus 20:8-11). It was a sign between God and Israel, symbolizing His provision, holiness, and the rest He desires for His people.

Or is it Sunday, as many Christians believe, tied to New Testament practices and the resurrection of Christ? While the Old Testament focuses heavily on the Sabbath as part of God’s covenant with Israel, the New Testament provides new perspectives on how Jesus fulfilled the Law, shifting the focus from strict observance to the heart of worship and rest.

While this article won’t settle the debate once and for all, we will explore what Scripture says about the Sabbath in both the Old and New Testaments, the role it played for Israel, and how its purpose continues to shape our lives today.

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As we pray, we should not expect the Lord to humbly submit to our every whim and desire. God is not a genie or a magic lamp that we can run to when we want something. Here is where we must be able to differentiate a need from a desire.

These three things Christ prayed are what He desires, because they are what we need. But simply due to selfishness and carnality on our part, these things have a difficult time settling in our lives. It’s not that we don’t have them at all; we just don’t have them enough.

How do we deal with the death of a loved one? In spite of death’s inevitability, you would think we would be prepared for it; but this is not always the case. The loss of a loved one can be a harrowing experience. And while this is a most difficult question to answer, through the grieving process, there are three things which are divinely contained within it. They are: provisions, promises, and preparation.

Have you ever experienced a lapse in your faith? A time when your faith was put to the test, and you found yourself on the bottom looking and reaching up? This is common plight to many of God’s people. The reasons vary as to why or how we come to this place. It may be because, as in Peter’s case, Satan has desired us, and wants to sift us as wheat. Or it may be because of some sinful action on our part that brings us to this place. Whatever the case may be, God will allow hardship, even heartache, in order for us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Himself.

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Have you ever heard of an unsaved Christian? While it is a misnomer, because such a thing cannot truly be, it nevertheless is a phrase that aptly applies to certain members of every local church that preaches the gospel.

Properly defined, an unsaved Christian is an individual who in their heart of hearts, believes—better, who knows that they are saved; they attend church, they pray, they read their Bible, and they are involved in ministry. Some preach, some teach, some are in the choir, or play an instrument. Some are ushers, some are even prophets and evangelists. Unsaved Christians can be found in every level of our local churches. Yet there is one thing that is lacking in each individual mentioned here. None of them have a relationship with the Lord; they are not born again.

I don’t pretend to know who these people actually are—that’s God’s business, but to be sure, they do exist, and they are alive and well, and may be active, at a church near you (if not in your own church)!

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In the past year, we have witnessed and experienced changes in this world that have been unprecedented in our lifetime. These widespread changes have affected many of us in many different ways.

With many local churches forced to close their doors for a period of time, many of these chose to go virtual in order to keep in touch with their congregants. Doing so has made the gospel’s online presence more visible than ever before. And while many restrictions have slowly been lifted, and churches in some places have begun to return to a more normal seating capacity, many of these churches, which were not streaming online prior to COVID-19, have opted to maintain an online presence. Once again, for the sake of the gospel, this is a good thing — if it is the gospel that is being preached.

But there are yet those who may have been, prior to this crisis, in the midst of deciding whether their current church was the church for them. For these individuals, much time has been spent during these months in prayer. And as churches re-open, they are faced with a choice: do they continue in the church where they are currently, or do they move on?

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In Proverbs 18:10, we read of this security: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe.”  One of the greatest defenses that we have in this world to help us fight against the devices of Satan, is the name of the Lord. Once we begin to gain an understanding of this important aspect of the Christian life, we will then begin to grasp the absolute security that we have in Him.

Let’s take a closer look into this verse in order to unlock the pure power contained in it.

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The book of Acts is an epic and fascinating historical record of the early church. Much of the New Testament was written by Paul the apostle during these times; although the book of Acts itself was written by Luke, and other books have different authors. Acts covers a period of approximately thirty years, and is both thrilling and dramatic. Throughout its pages we are witnesses to the raw emotions of this most turbulent time; the anger, the hatred, the joy, and the boldness of those caught up in the events that would shape the world in which we now live. 

The early church endured pain and relentless persecution, but they were a people who had a divine directive, coupled with a promise that they never forgot:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

It would be the Holy Spirit who would empower these very ordinary people, people just like us, to do the miraculous. The book of Acts is in essence, the acts of the Holy Spirit, guiding and using men and women surrendered to the will of God. His power would transform them in ways they never thought possible.

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This world system is opposed to everything that is God and is under the dominion of Satan. Even we sometimes think that we can live godly lives, and yet hold on to a piece of this world for ourselves. This is the spirit of the world trying to deceive us..