Hope's Harbor Podcast - Gritty Bible Devotions

Key verse Romans 1:4 - '...And (Jesus was)  declared to be the Son of GOD with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.' The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is just as crucial to our salvation as His death on the cross for our sins. For if Jesus didn't rise from the dead it means His sacrifice was not sufficient payment for the sins of the hu...

Jesus was only taken down off the cross after a Roman soldier ensured Jesus was dead by thrusting a spear into His heart. It is crucial that Jesus was dead because without Him dead there could be no resurrection from death. Without a ressurection the Christian system of belief is empty, as in fake. The Apostle Paul said that those of us who believe Jesus was raised from the dead if in fact He did...

When Pilate, the Roman governor, asked the religious leaders clamoring to have Jesus put to to death  , he asked them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But the mob didn't answer him except to cry out all the more, "Let Him be crucified!" John 19:7 gives more information as to the reason the leaders in Jerusalem wanted Jesus dead. They said because Jesus "made himself the...

When Jesus was at the cross where He would die, human history reached a crossroads. Treachery brought him here. Hatred kept Him there. A Roman death sentence by the demands of His own people ensured Jesus would die on the cross. The thing is... He was innocent. Being the Son of GOD as He was, why didn't GOD rescue His Son? Why did GOD allow His Son to die at the hands of ruthless men? John 10...

When we lose a portion of our lives due to some disaster or tragedy or violence, etc., what do we do afterward? Is there a way to redeem the pain and loss? This series on the life of Joseph found in the book of Genesis in the Bible gives an amazing example of how a young man, wrongfully accused and sent to prison, redeemed the time taken by pain and loss. We too can find restoration, even if the l...

Joseph was faithful to GOD throughout his time in prison. And listen, this was undoubtedly a filthy dungeon, and he spent years wrongfully imprisoned. And still he remained a faithful child of GOD. His work ethic and attitude gained him favor, but did not earn his release. GOD had to bring that about, which He did, in His perfect timing. What about us? Are we waiting faithfully? Or constantly comp...

What does it look like for a Christian in bondage. Is it even possible. This episode compares Joseph's prison experience with that of Christians in a prison of bondage to numerous poor choices. Some choices we make in ignorance of the consequences of those choices. Other times we ignore the consequences to our peril. Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Confinement in prison - it is meant for those who don't follow society's rules and laws. Therefore, prison is a means of punishment as an attempt to teach lawless people to obey the law, even if they don't want to. But in Josdeph's case, he was innocent And we, even if innocent, have a mortal enemy called Satan who will bind anyone he can into a prison of sorts, a kind of bonda...

Did you know it can be hazardous as a follower of Jesus? In what way? Here are the words of Jesus concerning the hazard: John 15:18 - "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."  In civilized nations, the hazard is likely to come from standing for truth and being honest in business and work situations. Problems may come from standing firm with your integrity...

Friendship with Jesus is easy enough to think about. But consider this: what is it like to have a friendship with the Son of GOD? You know, the One who created all there is. Yes, that's in the Bible: Colossians 1:15 - ' He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:16 - 'For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth...

A deeper look at John 15:2 reveals a tender promise from GOD. That of a loving Father who lifts up a fallen child and takes the steps necessary to restore His beloved child to wholeness. But what about our part in the restoration process? If you have fallen into a low condition of stress and depression, etc. what can you do to help yourself within GOD's power and promises? Listen in and let m...

During the night before Jesus was arrested, He spent hours teaching His followers several things dear to His heart. Abiding with Him spiritually was one of the lessons He wanted them to remember. He used an analogy of a branch abiding in the vine, without which a branch will wither and not produce that for which it is intended. We are those branches. Jesus is the vine. Almighty GOD tends to both....

The foundation for living the Christian life is, I believe, obedience to the commands of Jesus. There are truths in the Bible by which to test our faith and whether we are who we say we are. That is... when we say we belong to GOD.  The bottom line question is this: is our name written in the Book of Life? The truths I refer to help us determine if we were sincere when we gave our lives to GOD and...

Every system of religious belief must have a solid foundation upon which to base its claims. If viewed the same as constructing a highrise building, if the foundation doesn't hold up, the system, like a building, will fail those who inhabit it. Christianity makes the claim of eternal forgiveness of sin, restoration of the lost connection with GOD, power to live each day in faith (belief), and...

Have you ever thought about the influence people have in your life? How about in the past? Many things influence us, especially during our childhood, whether physical or spiritual. Let this episode bring consideration to the influence you're having in someone's life right now. We all influence others; how will they remember us in years to come? Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Have you ever seen the bumper stickers that read 'CoExist,' and then usually followed by a row of major religious emblems? Coexistence is one thing. All religions being the way to GOD in their own way is quite another. Do you know what Jesus had to say about the way to GOD? By the statement He made concerning this issue, He excluded His claim to divinity and His teachings from considerat...

You may have heard of the love of GOD, but how does GOD's love help us today? What can I know and understand about GOD's love so that it becomes real to me? Well, GOD's nature is love and everything about Him stems from His nature. All of His attributes, those characteristics that help identify GOD to us, are all tied to His love and His love to all His other attributes. This episod...

GOD's goodness ensures He carries out justice. His justice is tempered by mercy. Do you want or need GOD's mercy? In goodness He gives mercy. But what about justice? It was justice that sent Jesus, the Son of GOD to the cross to die. However, the mercy of GOD moved Him to substitute His Son in our place of death. You see, justice demands the death penalty for sinning against GOD. And if...

These attributes of GOD explain something of the mind of GOD. Is there comfort in knowing GOD never changes? Would you trust your life, and your future to GOD regardless of the cost if you believe He knows all there is to know? And what if GOD holds all knowledge? Doesn't He need to know how to apply His will to our lives with wisdom? It's easy to say we believe these attributes are true...

How is it known GOD is trustworthy? Well, over the last several thousand years people of those ages and even today test GOD's promises in the Bible. How is this done? By praying. And how to pray... that is a whole other subject! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:10 - 'whom we trust...' And he meant GOD. I was skeptical about GOD when I was younger, and whether the Bible is true. Then I...

How trustworthy are GOD's attributes? Of course, we may say we know we can trust GOD, but how far does that belief go? Will we step out without knowing every aspect of something GOD calls us to do? It comes down to the question of who is in charge. Us or GOD.  If you want to go further in your experience with knowing GOD, then learning how to trust GOD's nature is how to begin. Show note...

What is it that makes GOD great? Is it His power? His majesty? His nature? While all of these characteristics contribute to GOD's greatness, what makes you revere Him, if at all? This series will examine GOD's attributes, which are something true about GOD. And behind all studies of GOD, one truth stands out above all others. Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

The missing effect I neglected to mention is the most important part of re-establishing a relationship with GOD. Even if you've never had a relationship, you may even be an atheist, the Bible describes how the human race turned its back on GOD and walked away from a relationship with Him. The things we see changing in our world today are a negative effect of that lost relationship. Want to se...

When looking at the causes and effects of salvation, of course, the best is being born again with a new spirit. This spirit comes from GOD. Even then a new birth, becoming a child of GOD, is but an entrance into a life lived with GOD.  This new life is lived by faith, or belief, in the fact the Bible is true. Sometimes we don't feel any different than before we were reborn and this is where f...

What did GOD do to cause, or make possible, salvation for the human soul? Is redemption all that important, and if so, how much so? This episode examines redemption, and the call of GOD, and then looks at the part regeneration plays. John 3:16 reads : "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. &quot...