Category: Bible Study

A FRESH ANOINTING

“There – anoint him, for this is he!” –1 Samuel 16:12 Some of us are grieving. We are disappointed and listless. The Lord’s word to us is: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way” (1 Sm 16:1). Although we may be grieving, let’s not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Rather, let’s say with Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore He has anointed me” (Lk 4:18). Let us receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit and anoint others with the power of the Spirit. Are you disappointed with your spouse, job, parish,...

PROUD OF YOUR SELF-HATRED?

“Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” –1 Samuel 15:16 Saul “erected a trophy in his own honor” (1 Sm 15:12), though he was little in his own esteem (1 Sm 15:17). People who are proud of themselves often hate themselves. Proud people act like gods, and of course they do a very poor imitation of God. So they hate themselves for failing. If they don’t repent, they lie to themselves and others about failing. Then they hate themselves for being phonies. Proud people try to compensate for their failures by doing more of...

WHY PRAY?

“For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.” –Isaiah 62:1 At the wedding of Cana, Mary told Jesus: “They have no more wine” (Jn 2:3). Jesus seemed to respond that He wasn’t going to do anything about it because His hour had not yet come (Jn 2:4). Then Jesus changed the water into wine (Jn 2:9). Did Jesus change His mind? Did Mary talk or pray Jesus into changing His mind? Can our prayers get God to...

AS I AM, BUT NOT AS I WILL BE

“People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous.” –Mark 2:17, our transl. Saul, the first king of Israel, was outwitted by some asses shortly before he was anointed king (1 Sm 9:4). Then Saul asked Samuel, the seer, where the seer was. Samuel responded that Saul could see the seer right before his eyes, because Samuel was the seer (1 Sm 9:18-19). Saul seemed to have trouble doing anything right. Saul tried to get out of being made king by “hiding among the baggage” (1 Sm 10:22)....

SIN-CERE?

“Who can forgive sins except God alone?” –Mark 2:7 When Jesus saw a paralyzed man being lowered on a stretcher through a hole in the roof, He said: “My son, your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5). Jesus miraculously and instantaneously healed the paralytic to show that He “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mk 2:10). When Jesus was criticized for eating with Levi and his friends, Jesus stated: “I have come to call sinners” (Mk 2:17). John the Baptizer introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). Paul exclaimed: “You...