A New Creature. . . an Apostolic Pentecostal blog

First time doing a study on the word idol] in the Bible.  I was surprised to learn that there are 16 Hebrew words and 6 Greek words translated as such, which I believe is an indication that ‘idols’ are not easily defined.  They resist being put into a neat pigeon hole.  This may serve as a warning to us that idols can arise in unexpected places. I did a search for words in the KJV for words containing: idol], abomin], image].  These are the most common English words translated from the Hebrew, and Greek words for “idols”. There are 401 verses in the Bible and 484 instances where those words are found.  What greatly surprised me was that the book of Ezekiel contains 82 verses, and 98 matches of that total. Ezekiel = 1 of the 66 books of the Bible = 1.5% Ezekiel = 82 of the 401 Bible verses on idols, etc. =  20% I’ve read the Bible quite a number of times, but reading the Bible is very different from studying the Bible.  I never associated Ezekiel with i...

I've never done a study on hope until today. I was recently asked how to help someone have hope.   That question forced me to look into what hope means.  I found a key to be in this passage: Ephesians 2:11-12 NLT  Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.  12  In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. This verse presents the idea that there is a strong correlation between the covenant promises of God and hope.  The promises of God raise our expectations.  The promises of God fill us with hope.  No matter our present circumstance, the promises of God birth in us with joy and hope. Romans 15:13 ...

  According to Google, depending on how you count them, there are between 783,137 to 789,629 words in the KJV Bible, and not a single one of them is "LUCK or LUCKY". These are not words found in the Bible. . . I catch myself sometimes saying, "that sure was lucky', before coming to God I would say that quite often. After coming to God, and seeing how He works, I'm not sure that pure luck exists. . . One of my favorite passages of the Bible: Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him. . . and He shall direct thy paths. Give Him credit. Don't give credit to random luck, when it is really the hand of God. . . "LUCK or LUCKY" are not words found in the Bible. . . Maybe they should also disappear from my vocabulary. . . I love You my Lord. . . For so long I was blind to the work of Your hands. ....

  I was listening to my audio Bible as I walked this afternoon, and I heard the passage in 1 Kings of the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  This is one of the great miracles in the Bible.  If you’re not familiar with it, it’s an exciting read. 1 Kings 18:38-40 KJV  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.  40  And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Elijah and the prophets of Baal have a contest to show which God is real.  Elijah/God wins, and Elijah has the prophets of Baal killed. The queen of the land Jezebel, a believer of Baal, is humiliated and furio...

  Yesterday I ordered a very nice Bible.  The nicest I've ever had.  It brought back a memory from years ago. . .  I had purchased another really nice Bible.  I was ministering as a chaplain in the local jail.  The first day of owning my new Bible, I went to the Wednesday evening meetings. We had to be out of the jail before lockdown/headcount at 10 p.m.  A few minutes before 10, the last meeting had ended, the inmates were going back to their cells, and I was approached by an inmate, who was being sent downstate to the Indiana dept. of corrections, very soon. . . maybe even that night, if my memory serves me correctly. He asked me for a Bible, as he didn't have one.  In those days an inmate could take their personal Bible with them down to DOC.  There wasn't time for me to go to the chaplain's office to get a Bible for him. . . I clearly heard God say to me, "Give him your Bible." . . . Lord. . . my brand new beautiful Bible?  It was li...

  Lord of Glory I’m continuing to make my list of names of Jesus.  This morning I’m in 1 Corinthians, where I ran across this verse: 1 Corinthians 2:8 KJV  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Lord of glory.  I didn’t remember this name for Jesus.  A mirror of an Old Testament passage: Psalms 24:7-10 KJV  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  9  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  10  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Several of my beloved compound names of Jehovah found here: Lord strong and mighty - Jehovah-'Izoa Hakaboth Lord mighty in battle - Jehovah-Gador Milchamah Lord...