Jehovah-Nissi, meaning “The Lord is my banner,” is an important name of God found in the Old Testament book of Exodus. This name reveals key truths about who God is and how He fights for His people. Understanding the meaning and significance of Jehovah-Nissi can strengthen our faith and give us confidence that God goes before us into every battle. The name Jehovah-Nissi first appears in Exodus 17, shortly after the Israelites had been freed from slavery in Egypt and were journeying through the wilderness. They came under attack by the Amalekites, who were descendants of Esau and longstanding enemies…
Author: Richard Curi
Sanctification is the process by which believers in Jesus Christ are made holy. The word “sanctify” means to set apart for sacred use or to make holy. Sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus Christ through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Biblical Basis for Sanctification Sanctification has its basis in Scripture. Here are some key verses about sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” This…
Spending time alone with God is vitally important for every Christian. Here are some key reasons why we must make personal time with God a priority. 1. It allows us to build an intimate relationship with God Just like any relationship, our relationship with God requires quality one-on-one time in order to grow. When we spend dedicated time alone with God in prayer, worship, meditation on His Word, and listening for His voice, we get to know Him on a deeper level. As we set aside distractions and focus our attention on Him, our souls are spiritually nourished and we…
The story of Jesus being anointed by a woman with expensive perfume is found in all four Gospels (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:1-8). Here is an approximately 9000 word article explaining the significance of this event: The anointing of Jesus by an unknown woman in Bethany was a significant event that happened during the final week of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion. All four Gospel writers record this incident, indicating its importance, though each account differs slightly in the details. Looking at the differences and similarities between the Gospel accounts helps bring out the full meaning and…
The verse “the righteous shall live by faith” from Habakkuk 2:4 is an important concept in the Bible that has been referenced several times by the apostle Paul in the New Testament. Here is an explanation of what it means and why it is significant. 1. The Original Context of Habakkuk 2:4 The verse comes from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk was a prophet who lived around 600 BC, likely during the reign of King Jehoiakim in Judah. In the first chapter, Habakkuk cried out to God because of the violence and injustice he saw among God’s people…
Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies that were written in the Old Testament hundreds of years before His birth. These prophecies specifically pointed to the coming Messiah and Jesus met every qualification. The fulfillment of so many prophecies is strong evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. Here is a summary of some of the key Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus: Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25) Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-12) Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1-2) Entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-11) Betrayed by a…
The temptations of Jesus are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and affirmed as the Son of God by the voice from heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, Jesus went out into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days. It was during this time of physical weakness that Satan appeared to Jesus and tempted Him in three main areas. The first temptation had to do with turning stones into bread. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus was understandably…
The concept of “spiritual Israel” refers to the people of God who belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is distinct from national, ethnic Israel and includes both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ. Here is an overview of 9000 words on what the Bible teaches about spiritual Israel: 1. God’s promises were originally made to national Israel In the Old Testament, God specifically chose the nation of Israel as His own special people. He made unconditional covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David that included promises of land, blessings, favor, and an everlasting kingdom (Genesis 12:1-3,…
The protoevangelium refers to the first announcement of the gospel or “good news” of salvation in the Bible. The term comes from the Greek words proto meaning “first” and euangelion meaning “good news or gospel”. Though not stated explicitly, many theologians believe the protoevangelium is found in Genesis 3:15 which reads: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This verse comes after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin in the Garden of Eden. God is pronouncing judgement on…
Lectio Divina, Latin for “divine reading,” is an ancient practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer that is intended to promote communion with God and increase knowledge of God’s Word. The focus of Lectio Divina is not academic study or exegesis, but on allowing the Holy Spirit to lead the practice so the Bible passage being read speaks personally and spiritually. The traditional practice of Lectio Divina has four separate steps: Lectio – Reading. A passage of Scripture is read slowly and reflectively several times. Meditatio – Reflection. This is a time to reflect on the Scripture passage, ruminating on…