Pete Miller is co-owner of The Writer's Friend, an editing and pre-publication business for authors, business owners and marketing managers. Prior to opening his business, he spent several years in the editing department of a daily newspaper. Pete grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the sixties and has been an avid student of the Bible since 1971. Pete is currently enrolled in Bible college and resides in Southern Oregon with his wife and two children.
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Joy
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Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness can be attained with a newly acquired object, a car, or clothing or appliance, for example. A sunny day can make someone happy, or a bouquet of flowers. Usually happiness is a result of something external. But joy is internal. It is not an emotion, but an inner appreciation and sense of satisfaction due to a spiritual reality.
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Joy as the Fruit of the Spirit
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Joy is the delight expressed when God is victorious over evil, when Godly works are done and when the will of God is accomplished. Jesus taught that when people are rescued from the adversary and brought into the family of God, the angels of heaven have joy.
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Judas Iscariot's Betrayal of Jesus
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Following the arrest of Jesus, guilt and despair were too much for Judas to overcome. Rather than seek forgiveness or reconciliation, Judas committed suicide. His death was a tragedy; he would have had the same opportunity as Peter to turn things around, and he would have been in the Upper Room with the other disciples to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Instead, like Cain, Judas' actions forever dishonored him.
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Justification by Faith - Trusting in God
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For believers today, the reality of Jesus Christ's final words on the cross, "It is finished," means that His redemptive work is perfectly complete, leaving no remaining sacrifice for sin. Christians need to learn and claim their legal rights as sons of God. There are no good works adequate to gain God's favor or access to His presence. But God made the way through His Son, making justification by faith available.
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Kindness as the Fruit of the Spirit
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As believers grow in the knowledge of God'[s Word and walk with the Holy Spirit, these wonderful qualities mature. Listed in fifth place in the Fruit of the Spirit cluster is gentleness, as the King James Version calls it. The New King James identifies it as kindness, defined as having a sweetness of temperament, being considerate and warmhearted.
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King David
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King David unified Israel and built the military, treasury and national dignity to an unparalleled height. He conquered all surrounding enemies and established an empire that was so powerful that his son Solomon never had to fight a war. David was a versatile man who enjoyed and also suffered a multiplicity of life's experiences, but in the end was the most beloved king of all time.
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King Herod
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There were five Herods active in Bible times: Herod the Great, Archelaus, Antipas, Agrippa I and Agrippa II. The lives of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the Apostles and all first-century Christians were affected in some way by these notorious men.
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King Saul
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Saul made dreadful decisions. His armies were disillusioned, his staff was terrified, and even his son, Jonathan, knew that his father was becoming problematic for Israel. With Saul's failure to carry out God's commands, Samuel pronounced God's displeasure and the end of Saul's reign. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he became obsessed with killing David.
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King Solomon
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His wisdom was known worldwide and his wealth exceeded all the kings in the world. Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, wrote 1,005 songs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. He supervised the building of the temple with its interior plated with over 20 tons of gold. Like the temple, Solomon was one of a kind.
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Kings of Israel
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Israel's first king was Saul. Many others followed, each adding to the history of Israel.
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Kings of Israel Part 2
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Far exceeding The Dirty Dozen in sheer wickedness, The Notorious Nineteen kings of Israel consecutively went from bad to worse to unthinkable to unspeakable.
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Kings of Judah, an Introduction
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After Saul, David and Solomon, Israel divided into two kingdoms: 10 northern tribes of Israel was referred to as Israel, with its capital in Samaria, and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with its capital in Jerusalem, referred to as Judah, the tribe from which the Lord Jesus Christ came.
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Kings of the United Kingdom -- the Glory Days of Israel
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The reigns of David and Solomon showcased Israel at its zenith, the glory days of Israel. Those days were fleeting. At the end of Solomon's life, Israel was already spiraling downward, and never recovered.
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Leadership Qualities of Christian Husbands
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The Christian husband is not his wife's boss. In fact, according to the Bible, the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. This articles describes the Biblical definition of leadership in the home.
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Living in Zion
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Zion is a special place in the heart of God, where His people shall ultimately dwell with Him forever. Christian believers lived in unity in the first century, at least for a fleeting period of time, but the principles still work today. It's a taste of the future Zion, the community of the household of faith.
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Longsuffering as the Fruit of the Spirit
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Longsuffering is not tolerance, nor is the word tolerance ever used in the Bible. Tolerance is used today to mean acceptance, open-mindedness, a lenient and non-judgmental position toward differing opinions and practices. This is not the position of GodÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Word. Sinful behavior is not to be tolerated.
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Love as the Fruit of the Spirit
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The Bible teaches that all of the believers are to be rooted and grounded in love, to walk in love, as Christ loved, genuinely giving of themselves in service. As children of God, Christians are instructed to imitate Him. Love is what everyone wants and needs, and can never get enough of. Love heals, transforms and unites. Love always works. Love never fails.
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Man Born Blind - Healings of Jesus
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Jesus applied the clay to the man’s eyes, and told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. He went and washed the clay from his eyes, and was perfectly healed. When Jesus heard that he had been cast out of the synagogue, He went looking for him and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The man replied, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
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Man with Dropsy - Healings of Jesus
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Surrounded by the religious echelon, Jesus asked them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” The answer required a knowledge and understanding of God’s compassionate and merciful heart. Jesus knew the answer but was challenging the calloused legalistic thinking of the religious leaders. They didn’t say a word. Jesus took the man and healed him.
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Man with Leprosy - Healings of Jesus
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The Lord had given Moses were laws concerning people with leprosy. The lives of the men and women affected with leprosy were lonely lives, and it must have been heart-melting to be touched by anyone, especially by the Lord. This story shows the mercy of God and the healing power of Jesus
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Man with Palsy - Healings of Jesus
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The four men carrying the paralyzed man were all proactive in their resolve to connect with Jesus. They weren’t going to let the circumstances hinder them from their purpose. If they couldn’t get in through the front door, they would go through the roof. This demonstration still speaks loudly today to those with ears to hear.
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Manasseh, King of Judah
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Manasseh reigned 55 years in Jerusalem. But his life and leadership was far different than his beloved father, Hezekiah. Manasseh was out of control. He eradicated anyone who disagreed with him or displeased him. He murdered so many of his own people that he filled Jerusalem from one end to another with innocent blood.
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Martin Luther King Jr. -- His Last Sermon
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I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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On the morning of August 28, 1963, only 50 people were on the Lincoln monument grounds. The Washington police force was 2,900 officers strong, anticipating trouble. Another 1,000 police officers from neighboring cities were also poised. By the end of the day, the crowd was estimated between 200,000 and 300,000 people. The police were never needed.
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Mattaniah, King of Judah
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Like many of his predecessors, Zedekiah was oblivious to truth and righteousness. Even God's Word spoken by the prophets fell on deaf ears, including Jeremiah's prophecy of the final destruction of the city. The kingdom of Judah was doomed.
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Meditating on the Word - Trusting God in Hard Times
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When Christians don't read the Bible and meditate on the words of the Master. They become easily distracted and start to worry about all the insane and evil things going on all around the world. But God's Word instructs believers what to do to trust God in hard times.
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Miracles of Jesus - The List
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Jesus Christ was not the first to do miracles. There were many miracles of God in the Old Testament. But Jesus’ miracles were distinctive. They were signs and mighty works which authenticated His divinity and His mission.
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Moses, the Servant of the Lord
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Among the lesser-known events in the life of Moses and Israel's early history is the counsel given to Moses by his father-in-law, Jethro. It was not as dramatic as the pillar of fire, or other spectacular miracles, but Jethro's advice to Moses was powerfully effective, changing the way God's people governed themselves.
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Noah Builds the Ark and Preaches on Righteousness
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Noah was uniquely honorable, and believed God's revealed Word at one of the most perilous times in the history of humanity. Noah obeyed God and built an Ark in the midst of exceeding hatred and riotous rejection. As a result, Noah's son, Shem continued the lineage which ultimately produced the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Noblemans Son at Capernaum - Miracles of Jesus
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John 4:46-54 records a healing miracle, or sign as it is referred to, which is the second sign of eight revealed in the Gospel of John. These signs authenticated Jesus and His mission as the Christ of God. “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.”
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Offerings to Help Build the Christian Church
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God has never been into mandatory offerings. He wants His people to have willing hearts, and to bring freewill offerings for the various work of the church. Therefore Christians with a heart to please God and to build the Kingdom tend to offer financial sacrifices.
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Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
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There was great anticipation and excitement as Jesus began to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Many wondered what Jesus was going to do next. But not all of the people were excited about Jesus arriving in the city for the Passover. The scribes, chief priests, Pharisees and Sadducees and other religious leaders were afraid of Him, and wanted to stop His influence.
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Peace as the Fruit of the Spirit
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Jesus could sleep through a storm, totally trusting in God. Peace is a calm state of mind, resting in God's care, not upset by the chaos of the world. Jesus acknowledged that the world offers no real peace because it is ruled by the god of this world, Satan. Only an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ can bring real peace.
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Pearl of Great Price
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The Pearl of Great Price speaks of realizing something in life that is worth more than everything else. The men in these parables discovered one thing more valuable than anything, and invested all that they had in that alone. Jesus was teaching about one thing in which one could safely invest all. It was a call to total commitment.
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Perseverance
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Perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties or discouragement. Determination, tenacity and patience also are closely related qualities.
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Preeminence of Christ
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Preeminent means superiority in excellence. Jesus Christ earned this exalted status. On and within Jesus was the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, and the Spirit of knowledge. Jesus mirrored God's character perfectly. Jesus Christ surpassed everyone who had preceded Him.
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Rehoboam, King of Judah
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Rehoboam became strong, and for three years walked in the right ways of David and Solomon. But as soon as the kingdom was established, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and built idolatrous alters, ignoring GodâÂÂs commands. In the end, Rehoboam had failed, because he had not followed the Lord with all of his heart.
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Resurrection: The Witnesses
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Of the many people that witnessed Jesus Christ in His resurrected body, only a handful of specific people are named. Each appearance was purposeful, even though some incidents are recorded without details. For the events that are recorded, the Scriptures reveal specifics that are both intriguing and inspiring. When each Gospel narrative is read carefully, and all the details are put together, the big picture becomes quite clear.
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Roman Centurion Servant - Healings of Jesus
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Jesus was not concerned that this man was a Roman soldier. Jesus recognized that this man was selflessly concerned about the well-being of those for which he was responsible. The centurion believed without a shred of doubt that the words of the Lord were powerful and authoritative.
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Samson
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That God would so endow a man with fantastic physical ability shows yet another side of the awesome God of Strength. Although skeptics may dismiss the Biblical account of Samson as myth, God's Word is truth.
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Self-Control as the Fruit of the Spirit
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Self-control is positioned last on the bunch of fruit. It is possible that it is the last of the fruit because self-control is the most desirable quality attainable and the most challenging for humans. It is self-mastery, the opposite of impulsive and reckless behavior, and the opposite of self-indulgence.
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Sowing and Reaping - Trusting God in Hard Times
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It is valuable to take a personal assessment. If one is unhappy with the crop they are reaping in their life, they need to look at what kind of seeds they are sowing. What one gives out comes back in some way, shape or form. The reason it's true is because God established the law of seedtime and harvest, or sowing and reaping.
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Spiritual Blessing of a Message
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Christians have the God-given right to share the message of Jesus Christ, the God-given responsibility to hold forth the Word of life.
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Spiritual Blessing of Access
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When Jesus died on the cross, three of the Gospels state that the veil separating the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn in two. This was symbolic, indicating that direct access to the presence of God was now available for all believers.
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Spiritual Blessing of an Inheritance
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The believer's inheritance is guaranteed, waiting to be presented for faithfulness and obedience to the Word of God. Having been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ, the future of Christians is assured. The proof of that is the reality of the current presence of the Holy Spirit..
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Spiritual Blessing of Being Equipped for Warfare
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For some Christians, the concept of warfare is unpleasant. Usually, the Christian message is about love, forgiveness, salvation by grace, telling people about the victorious life Jesus came to bring. All of these are important elements of Christianity, but there is something critical for Christians to understand -- there can be no victory without a fight.
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Spiritual Blessing of Comfort
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Genuine Godly comfort always strengthens by inspiring with hope and restores a confident outlook based on truth.
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Spiritual Blessing of Deliverance
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God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love had a master plan to rescue His enslaved people. He just needed a qualified volunteer to overthrow Satan's kingdom, retrieve the keys and set the captives free. And Jesus was the only One qualified.
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Spiritual Blessing of Eternal Life
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The spiritual blessing of eternal life is too big for finite minds to grasp, but the Word of God has given intriguing clues and morsels to chew on and savor.
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Spiritual Blessing of Food Through the Word
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To eat of the bread of life is to feast on all Jesus Christ accomplished for humanity on the cross, through His death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Word of Life, the Word of God.
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