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.
|
The Ministry of Jesus -- an Overview
|
He preached life-changing sermons, and taught intriguing parables, healed hundreds of incurable diseases, fed thousands miraculously, calmed storms instantly, walked on water unflinchingly, raised people from the dead, and trained just a dozen men, eleven of whom would go on to change the world forever.
|
|
The Ministry of Jesus -- an Overview of the Parables
|
Jesus taught about the great value of the kingdom, for example, the one pearl of great price, worth selling everything to obtain; the character of the king, his integrity and impartiality, described in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, and Jesus taught about the personal character of the king's subjects, such as the good Samaritan, willing to go the extra mile to compassionately care for a stranger.
|
|
The Name of Jesus Christ
|
The name of Jesus Christ represents all of His finished work on the cross. Jesus Christ has given Christians the right and authority to use his name.
|
|
The Pharisee and the Publican - Parables of Jesus
|
The parable of The Pharisee and the Publican is lesson humility. Being inflated with what is really a false sense of worth is foolish and condemned in Scripture. To trust in one self-righteousness is deception. Humility is required to be submissive and obedient. Obedience to God is literally doing God's Word with a heart of love and reverence for Him.
|
|
The Prodigal Son - Parables of Jesus
|
The repentance and restoration of any returning one is reason for rejoicing. To repent, Biblically, means to have a genuine change of heart and life from worse to better. It is vital to have compassion for anyone lost in the wilderness of the world.
|
|
The Renewed Mind
|
Christians are spiritually victorious or defeated moment by moment, and day by day, in proportion to the thoughts they think. What believers feed their minds and dwell on has a tremendous impact on whether they will be victors or victims.
|
|
The Sheep and the Goats - Parables of Jesus
|
Jesus was trying to wake people up to the reality that life is short and death is certain, and what one does in the here and now determines ones eternity. God has made available salvation by grace since Pentecost, but hand in hand with that gift of salvation is a tailor-made destiny complete with a challenging but satisfying job description including good works.
|
|
The Sin of Pride
|
In the book of Proverbs 8:13, it is clear that God severely frowns on pride. "<i>The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate."</i> It was the very thing that rocked the heavenly realm long ago, altering God's original plans and introducing to mankind a surefire way to hell.
|
|
The Sower - Parables of Jesus
|
What believers do with the Word of God they have received is contingent upon many variables. God shows no partiality, so the explanation for one person being more fruitful than another cannot be that God has given more to one person than the other. The emphasis should be to be faithful and as productive as possible according to one's own ability. The parable of the sower describes this truth.
|
|
The Story of Gideon As Found in the Bible
|
Gideon's desire was for the Israelites to turn to God, their true King. For his valiant obedience and heart of humility, Gideon is in the superstar circle, mentioned in the Hall of Fame of Faith.
|
|
The Trials of Job, The Biblical Story of Job
|
God wants prosperity and protection for His people, their families and all they own. God blesses the work of His people's hands and causes increase, not decrease. The DevilÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs purpose is just the opposite of GodÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs.
|
|
The Unforgiving Servant - Parables of Jesus
|
Early in His ministry, Jesus taught forgiveness in the well-known Sermon on the Mount. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
|
|
The Unjust Steward - Parables of Jesus
|
In the parable of The Unjust Steward, Jesus was teaching his disciples to develop an ability to function effectively in the world without taking advantage of anyone and without compromising personal integrity. Develop an eye for advantageous opportunities and useful solutions, and learn to be innovative and resourceful.
|
|
The Unprofitable Servant - Parables of Jesus
|
The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant teaches that it is more honorable to invest your talent than to keep it safe. This means that God expects Christians to use their God-given talents to preach the gospel.
|
|
The Wheat and the Tares - Parables of Jesus
|
The disciples went to Jesus and asked him to explain the parable of the tares of the field. Jesus responded with a straight answer, refusing to make up any ridiculous theological interpretations.
|
|
The Wicked Husbandmen - Parables of Jesus
|
The parable of The Wickedness Husbandmen reveals hardness of heart, unbelief and hypocracy of the Pharisees and chief priests.
|
|
The Wisdom of God Solves Problems -- Trusting God in Hard Times
|
People usually think older people are wise. Not necessarily so. They are only wise to the degree that they have learned to rightly apply knowledge, in various areas of life. The so-called scientific method is essentially trial and error, and often repeated errors. Most people stumble through life and learn by this method. But there is a better way.
|
|
The Wise and Foolish Virgins - Parables of Jesus
|
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish virgins teaches Christians the need to stay awake and watchful spiritually. Be ready for anything.
|
|
Transfiguration of Jesus
|
The transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Peter, James and John is a unique and intriguing event, recorded in three of the four Gospels. It followed Jesus' first announcement to the disciples that he would go to Jerusalem, be killed, but rise from the dead on the third day.
|
|
Two Blind Men - Healings of Jesus
|
Jesus could see that these men were blind, but He knew that they had to specifically articulate their requests in order to focus their faith on exactly what they were believing for. Although God already knows every need and desire of His people, He instructs believers to be specific in their requests.
|
|
Two Men Possessed - Healing Ministry of Jesus
|
Jesus was not intimidated by a man or men acting like animals, because He knew they were victims of a cruel and impersonal evil spiritual influence.
|
|
Ups and Downs of Christian Life -- Trusting God in Hard Times
|
The adversary tries to wear people down, causing erosion to people's dreams and aspirations, just like streams of water running through a valley over the span of thousands of years that cut away the earth. But every day steps can be taken to improve the situation, however small those steps may seem. Add, change, delete, as each problem or challenge requires, but donâ&#;&#;t faint.
|
|
Uzziah, King of Judah
|
Uzziah reigned 52 years and did what was right and good in God's sight. As long as he sought after God, he and the nation prospered. But when Uzziah had become strong, he also became self-righteous, which was the beginning of the end.
|
|
Walking in the Spirit
|
Christians need to be ready, willing and able to carry out whatever it is that God wants done. Christians can learn to walk with God just like the men of God in the Bible times.
|
|
Walking on Water - Miracles of Jesus
|
The disciples had been rowing against hard winds for hours, only to make it halfway across the water. They were exhausted, and frustrated, and when they saw Jesus, they were terrified. But Peter actually believed he could do what he saw the Lord doing, and being emboldened by the thought of doing something supernatural, he, too, literally walked on top of the water.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, A Journey Begins
|
After escaping from Egypt, some of the Israelites said, "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." In the intensity of the moment, Moses likely let this complaint go in one ear and out the other. This was only the first of many grievances Moses would endure.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, an Introduction
|
Moses had his hands full. From their arrival at the Red Sea to Moses' death 40 years later at Mount Nebo, the people of Israel exhibited every kind of despicable behavior possible. One can derive from studying the dozens, perhaps even hundreds of lessons from the wilderness wanderings of Israel, that human nature has changed very little.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, Men Spy out the Land of Canaan
|
After all that God had done, with His continual presence and power performed among the people, the people of Israel had now tested God's patience 10times, and there was no sign that they were ever going to change their ways. Then God pronounced His decision.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, Moses Challenges Korah
|
Korah was cousin to Moses and Aaron. He first won the support of Dathan and Abiram, and impressively, they gained the support of two hundred and fifty of the top leaders of Israel. As a delegation they came to Moses and Aaron, saying, âÃÂÃÂYou take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?âÃÂÃÂ
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, Moses Intercedes for the Israelites
|
Moses came down the mountain with the two tablets, and as he came to the camp, he saw the gold calf and people dancing around naked. Moses was so angry that he threw down the stone tablets and they broke in pieces. He took the calf, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder. He confronted Aaron, who immediately shifted the blame to the people. Moses then demanded a commitment. "Whoever is on the Lord's side, come to me!"
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, the Israelites Continue Complaining
|
The tribes of Israel were now well organized, ready to move forward after several months at Mount Horeb. There had been some hard lessons, but now they had specific written laws and the presence of God was continually with them. They left Mount Horeb, but three days into the journey, the complaining began again.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, the Journey Remembered
|
Forty years, 42 journeys, and the wilderness years had finally come to an end, most of which are a silent void. But the lessons to be learned from the chapters God chose to have recorded are poignant. And no matter what criticism or disgust is thrown at the feet of the notorious children of Israel, the fact is, human nature hasnÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt changed a bit.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, the Murmuring and the Manna
|
In just a few hours, the entire congregation of Israel was disgruntled and murmuring against Moses began. Moses heard it, and the Lord heard it, too. This was now the sixth time the people had uttered their blatant unbelief in God's ability to provide and Moses inability to lead, and the worst was yet to come.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, the Rebellion of Aaron and Miriam
|
Aaron and his sons were in charge of the priesthood, and Moses had his 70 elders to assist him in oversight. Perhaps Miriam was feeling left out, jealous, angry, bitter. But the mental direction she was moving in was dangerous ground, an attitude that had already brought the wrath of God on thousands of her fellow Israelites.
|
|
Wandering the Wilderness, Water from the Rock
|
It was the first month of the 40th year, more than 37 years from the time the 12 spies had explored the land. The wanderings listed in Numbers 33:18-36 have all taken place, the only record of these 37 years. The silence and lack of details speaks loudly. The intercessory prayers and loving obedience of Moses would rescue the people of Israel again and again.
|
|
Water Turns to Wine - Miracles of Jesus
|
Jesus quietly and divinely provided 120 to 180 gallons of the finest wine, in super abundance, restoring joy to the people, and saving the people from disgrace. Like the multiplying of the loaves and fishes, feeding thousands with seemingly insufficient amounts, Jesus’ miraculous provision proved again His oneness with God.
|
|
Week of Prayer -- Daily Devotions
|
God is all knowing, all powerful, and everywhere-present. God is in business 24 hoursa day, seven days a week, always attending to His people, all around the world. If ever there was a need for daily prayer to the Almighty God, now is the time.
|
|
Week of Prayer - The Power of Prayer
|
The Almighty God, Who has foreknowledge and already knows every scenario, every thought, and every need, requires His people to pray to Him. He is poised to perform mighty and miraculous things. Unified Christian prayer is powerful far beyond human comprehension. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity provides opportunities for miracles within the Body of Christ.
|
|
Week of Prayer - Unity in the Body of Christ
|
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an extension of God's desire for Christians to work diligently together, paying close attention to maintaining spiritual unity, bound together without strife. Paul writes about the one Body of Christ, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and the one God and Father. Clearly, Godâ&#&#&#;;;&#&#&#;;;s Word is emphasizing unity.
|
|
Week of Prayer to Intercede
|
Daniel is a good example of how to approach God during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Daniel approached God with humility and worshipfulness. He wasn't praying for his personal needs, but was confessing the sins of his people and interceding and supplicating for restoration and unity for all of God's people. God can hear and answer prayers just as powerfully today as He did for His people in the Bible times.
|
|
When Compromise Becomes a Sin
|
Being a Christian is a full-time job. Spending time with people in counseling or comforting, teaching and discipling is part of Christian love and duty. Compromise is trying to lead a double life.
|
|
Wise Men of the Nativity, an Introduction
|
Tradition has advanced the thought of three men, or three kings visiting the infant Jesus, because there are only three gifts mentioned. But the Bible doesn'tt support the traditions that have taken precedence over the accuracy of God's Word.
|
|
Wise Men of the Nativity, Sent to Bethlehem by Herod
|
Only a few wise men recognized the heavenly announcement of His birth, and traveled far to see with their own eyes the one who would be the King of kings.
|
|
Wise Men of the Nativity, the Star in the East
|
Herod didn't know about it, and neither did anyone else, but the men from the east were convinced and assembled their caravan. They acquired their gifts to make the long journey to come to the land of Judea to worship the King of the Jews.
|
|
Woman with Bleeding - Healings of Jesus
|
It had been twelve years. She was desperate, and very lonely. She couldn’t touch anyone, nor could anyone touch her. She would have been shunned by everyone, including her family. She was not welcome in the synagogue or in any public place. Her life was wretched, but she had one last hope.
|
