Bible

Living with the certainty of the resurrection of the dead

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In Alexandria Troas, Paul bids farewell to the congregation in the evening. Then a man named “The Lucky One” (Eutychus) falls out of a third-story window.

Paul touches the young man, as Elijah once touched the widow’s child, and the dead man comes back to life.

They then celebrate the Lord’s Supper. In doing so, they remember that Jesus, through the cross and the resurrection, has overcome death. The listeners have just experienced this power before.

Those who walk with God are not spared all suffering and difficulties, but God glorifies himself again and again in our lives by intervening.

We experience God in times of need when he takes away our burdens or gives us the strength to bear them.

more from Acts: https://jesus-news-israel.net/tag/acts/

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Israel 2025

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25.6.25

White House responds to CNN report: Assessment that Iranian nuclear sites were not destroyed is “completely wrong”

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, recently announced on Iranian state television that Iran has begun building a new uranium enrichment facility, in a secure and secret location. He said the facility is expected to begin operating in the near future.

Continue reading Israel 2025 →

Bible

Shavuot and Pentecost

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The Bible reports that on Shavuot, the day on which the Jewish people remember the receiving of the Torah, the followers of Jesus received the Holy Spirit. What does this mean?

On the fiftieth day (Pentecost), the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, is to be celebrated. The number 50 stands for union. According to rabbinical tradition, on the 50th day after the first Passover, Israel received the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai. They promised to do everything that the Lord had commanded them (Exodus 19:8). They were to be a people of priests for the living God (Exodus 19:6).

Just as God appeared to the people of Israel in fire when he gave them the law (Exodus 19:18), God’s new law (Jeremiah 31:31-33 / Ezekiel 36:26-27 / Romans 8:2) was made visible on Shavuot in Jerusalem through tongues of fire.

Peter explained to the astonished spectators that the prophecy of Joel 3:1-2, 5 was being fulfilled, in that all could receive God’s Spirit.

This enabled them to live a holy, Spirit-led life and to be His witnesses.

God’s Spirit gives us a new perspective on God and our fellow human beings. We are in a constant process of change.

God is not distant, but works in and through us.

Jesus’ disciples now understood God’s work and told of God’s great deeds (Acts 2:11).

Bible

The business with the Queen of Heaven

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A revival had just taken place in Ephesus.

Ephesus was a place of pilgrimage for the goddess Artemis. The belief in a Queen of Heaven is very old.

In Ephesus, silversmiths sold small temples and other sacred objects to which divine powers were attributed (Acts 19:23-40). Paul spoke out against the effectiveness of such man-made images (verse 26). However, he did not blaspheme against the goddess herself (verse 37).

Since many had turned to faith in Jesus, the business of faith seemed to be in danger (verse 27).

Sometimes it is better to remain silent, especially when emotions are involved.

It is also interesting that Paul never spoke negatively about the faith of others. In any case, he and his fellow believers could not be accused of blaspheming against the goddess (verse 37). It was important to him to show people that faith places its trust in Jesus and not in objects to which divine powers are attributed.

Bible

Ascension Day with high expectation

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Ten days before the Jewish feast of Pentecost, Jesus met with his disciples on a normal Thursday. The disciples had high expectations that Jesus would now establish the kingdom.

But Jesus did not want to set a time for this and promised them divine power through the Holy Spirit, who would lead them into the whole world (Acts 1:6-8).

As Jesus ascended to heaven before their eyes on the Mount of Olives and disappeared from their sight through a cloud, Jesus opened a new chapter. God’s presence is experienced new through the Holy Spirit.

Suddenly, two angels appeared and explained that Jesus was now in heaven and would one day return to earth from there.

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Kingdom of God versus magic

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As Paul had promised, he returned to Ephesus. Like Jesus, he preached about the kingdom of God and not about optimising life (Acts 19:8-22). Extraordinary miracles took place through Paul.

After the failed attempt by the seven sons of Skeva to drive out spirits with the name of Jesus, it became clear that Jesus would not allow himself to be instrumentalised. Complete submission to his rule (kingdom of God) is necessary. It is therefore important that Jesus is accepted as Lord.

In magic, people try to utilise spiritual powers for personal advantage. In doing so, they become dependent on people and spirits.

Hidden sins are revealed in the presence of God. This is the reason spiritual books were publicly burnt in Ephesus.

The kingdom of God cannot be instrumentalised for our purposes. We must recognise Jesus as Lord and King.

Bible

The Bible – myths and facts

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The Bible describes how people experienced God and what he showed them. It does not philosophise about what God might be like.

Faith without biblical history becomes philosophy instead of theology.

The different perspectives make the picture more complete and therefore more credible.

Peter puts it in a nutshell in 2 Peter 1:16: ‘We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.’

Paul writes to Timothy: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16).

Bible

Spirit-led faith

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Apollos believes in Jesus, but he lacks the immerse in the work of the Holy Spirit that enables him to live an empowered life in Christ (Acts 18:25).

It is the difference between an intellectual faith and a Spirit-led faith with a living relationship with the heavenly Father.

Apollos is willing to listen to uneducated believers. Priscilla and Aquila share their experiences of faith and widen Apollos’ understanding of the way with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit guides and inspires people to follow Christ.

This experience makes him a newly blessed instrument in the hand of God in the region of Achaia, where Corinth is also located.

more from Acts: https://jesus-news-israel.net/tag/acts/

Bible, Jesus

The Son of David

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The crowds shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21:9)

God promised in Isaiah 11:1 that a son of David would ascend the eternal throne.

Jesus’ case before Pilate was about the question of kingship.

God is the King of the Jews, whom the people now reject for the second time in John 19:15. ‘We have no king but Caesar.’

Some gladly accept Jesus as Saviour and helper in times of need. Jesus wants to be more. He wants to be our King.

The question is whether we give Jesus authority or deny it to him. Who we give power to in our lives – what or who rules us.

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