Question of the Day

Brother Copeland is on a mission to live a full life of 120 years! In Psalm 91, God promises His children long life, which He told us in Genesis 6:3 is 120 years.  He is using his faith to get there. He has impressed many with his 50+ pushups on stage at Victory Campaigns, running up and down stairs at age 85, and holding a three-minute plank! Plus, his mind is as sharp as a tack! So, what is his secret?

Parents often feel a great deal of pressure to ensure their children achieve good grades in school. It is understandable to want to see your children succeed in life! God wants that, too. His desire is that they be the head, and not the tail, in all things. The opportunity to achieve an education is a great one, but as you pray for your children, do so in faith, not out of a pressure to achieve a certain GPA. Encourage your children to do their very best, but understand it may not always translate into all A’s.

There are countless scriptures in the Bible that warn us of the power of our words to dictate the direction of our lives. Even in the secular world, it doesn’t take much to see that those who speak positively seem to a have a life that follows, and the same is true for those who always speak negatively. You’ll notice those who say, “I get the flu every year,” do in fact get the flu every year! It’s no coincidence.

Some people assume that a person who commits suicide is doomed to eternal damnation in hell. But that’s not what Scripture teaches. Scripture says that the only sin that will send a person to hell is the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:9). We should also remember that God does not want anyone going to hell but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:9).

God has given us access to His wisdom in a number of ways. First, we have His Word. Even if the answer to our specific situation is not clearly outlined in the Bible, He will illuminate certain scriptures to give us a rhema (personalized) word about our own circumstances (Psalm 119:18, 104). He will also give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5). 

Your desire to hear from God is a righteous one! God is talking to you all the time, and it is His will that you hear Him and feel confident in doing so. That’s why, in the New Testament, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” 15 different times. When Christians are new at hearing from God, there can often be uncertainty as to whether they are hearing from God, themselves or even the devil. But it is much simpler than you may think!

Our God, who is Love, doesn’t want anyone to die in their sin. Yet since the beginning of time, man has chosen to follow his own way instead of the way of life in God. Because of man’s tendency toward evil, God established a fair system of justice for our protection very early in time—a system that included a sentence of death for some crimes and immoral behaviors. Ezekiel 33 reflects this:

It has become increasingly difficult to protect children from unwholesome media, but it is not impossible! God has charged us as parents to raise our children “with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) and to train them up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). As a parent, your involvement in the types of media your children consume is of the utmost importance.  You can help guard their hearts and minds in the following ways:

As born-again believers, we believe in the only, one true God—our Creator, our Redeemer, Father, Comforter, Teacher and Guide. He is Almighty God (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Bible tells us that God is a three part being (Trinity): Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is not something that can be totally comprehended with the natural mind, but must be received by faith (1 John 5:7). We worship one God who is manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The answer can be found in Mark 4. There Jesus said that after God’s Word is sown in the heart, Satan immediately comes to take it away. He does this through afflictions, persecutions, cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things. Whenever you sow the Word, Satan is going to send some of those things your way in an attempt to pry you loose from the Word of God, because he knows that Word will give you victory over him. 

There is great power in agreement and a spirit of unity. That’s why the devil tries to bring strife into the homes of believers. But you don’t have to tolerate it! You can keep your home strife-free and filled with victory when you do these things.

Almost! Proverbs 4:22 says the Word of God is “life to those who find [it] and health to all their body.” But laughter is also mentioned in the Word! Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” Dr. Avery Jackson, renowned neurosurgeon, shared the following benefits of laughter:

Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,   the fruit of the womb a reward” (ESV). Deuteronomy 28:11 also tells of the blessing of children for those who obey God. In other words, one of God’s promises to you is the blessing of children. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy; and often, we have to fight the good fight of faith to receive every promise. You can pray and stand in faith for children! As you do, listen to the Holy Spirit for instruction and correction. He will lead and guide you into all truth. 

First John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits whether they are from God. We are to prove all things and hold on to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

If you’ve struggled to lose weight and keep it off, you know it isn’t just as simple as trying the latest diet. Being fit and healthy is God’s will for you. So, don’t give up! Here are some tips from Dr. Don Colbert to help you lose weight God’s way. 

You can have peace in your mind and body. You don’t have to endure panic attacks, feelings of depression or sadness, mental and physical exhaustion, or worrisome thoughts. You can have peace, regardless of what is going on around you. Consider these steps for implementing God’s peace in your life.

Unanswered prayer is not the result of God’s unwillingness to use His power, but because of hindrances we allow to overcome us. The Bible says His eyes look to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).  So, is there anything that can block prayers? 1. Praying Amiss (James 4:3). That means praying with the wrong motivation and praying outside the will of God. You can find the will of God in His Word, so be sure your prayers line up with what He says.

Like it or hate it, believe it or not—your words matter. Words set spiritual laws in motion. God designed it this way. Words fuel results one way or the other. That’s spiritual law. See the following:  Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death. Mark 11:22-24: You will have whatever you say. Proverbs 13:3: He who guards his lips guards his life. And that’s just a small sample. The Bible is full of warnings against speaking wrong words because God knows they have POWER.

Our military today is the most outstanding United States military in the history of this nation. There’s never been another corps like them anywhere, anytime. They’re tough, and they’re committed. More importantly, they need our support.

To understand what constitutes civil disobedience that is biblically backed, we first must examine what biblical civil disobedience is not—a loophole for policies which you find inconvenient or undesirable. For example, though most of us do not care for tax increases, the Bible is clear—“render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17, ESV). In paying taxes, we are not breaking God’s law or compromising our beliefs. In other words, simply disagreeing with a law is not grounds to willfully disobey.