Tag: Matthew 07

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Do my actions really matter to God? What the Bible says about sin, sacrifice and change (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 7; John 9)

Oil palette knife–style digital painting created by ChatGPT. At the center stands a small golden altar of incense, richly textured in gold tones, with thick, glowing smoke rising upward. The incense transforms into radiant streams of light that form small, compassionate scenes: one figure feeding a poor person and another comforting an elderly man, symbolizing acts of mercy. The upper portion of the image opens into a brilliant, holy light, rendered in luminous golds and whites. Below, in deep shadow, lie broken and dim symbols representing sin. The composition uses dramatic chiaroscuro with deep purples and golds throughout. Overlaid text reads: “Do my actions really matter to God? What the Bible says about sin, sacrifice and change (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 7; John 9).” A Hallel.info watermark is visible on the image.

Many believers quietly wonder, “If Jesus paid for my sins, do my daily choices still matter?” This study walks through Leviticus 4, Ezekiel 18, the Gospels, and apostle John’s first letter to show how God weighs our actions, why some prayers go unheard, and why the end of our stories matters more than the past. Discover the biblical difference between intentional and unintentional sin, why “lawlessness” is so serious, and how real repentance changes both your life and your relationship with God.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot

Spiritual viticulture: What Pentecost teaches us about thriving in God’s vineyard

Adobe Firefly digital painting depicting a vibrant, colorful scene of spiritual viticulture. A hand reaches out to hold a bunch of richly detailed grapes in shades of purple, yellow, and orange, surrounded by lush green leaves and golden hues. The background features an abstract, textured blend of blues, greens, and yellows, evoking a vineyard. Bold white text overlays the image, reading "Spiritual viticulture" at the top, and "What Pentecost teaches us about thriving in God's vineyard" below. The Hallel.info logo is visible at right.

Shavuot (Pentecost) isn’t just a harvest festival. This study explores its profound spiritual lessons about harvest and growth. Just like Wine Country grapevines need careful tending, so too our spiritual life requires intentional connection with God. This Festival of First Fruits remind us that everything is a gift, not our own achievement. Through challenges and Heaven’s empowerment by the Word (Yeshua, or Jesus) and the Spirit, we’re transformed from disconnected branches to fruitful participants in God’s redemptive work. It’s about gratitude, resilience and being part of something much larger than ourselves — Heaven’s harvest of the Earth.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

What strong, selfless leadership looks like (Numbers 16–17; Matthew 12; Luke 6)

What strong, selfless leadership looks like (Numbers 16–17; Matthew 12; Luke 6)

How did Moses, Aaron, Samuel and Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) responded to those who rejected their leadership and betrayed them in the most heartbreaking and cruel ways? They responded to insult and betrayal with dignity and humility, asking God to judge those who slandered and betrayed them, not seeking their own vengeance.

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh, covering the infamous Korah rebellion in Numbers 16-18, and companion passages from 1Samuel and the Gospels show us how the Golden Rule is a key to transforming leaders and individuals to look out for the needs of others to ensure the survival of us all.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Jethro vs. Amalek: Humility vs. arrogance before God (Exodus 18–19)

Jethro (Yitro) vs. Amalek: Humility vs. arrogance before God (Exodus 18-19)

God gave Moshe (Moses) a very wise and discerning father-in-law. Yitro (Jethro) was a blessing to Moshe all the days of his life. The Torah reading יתרו Yitro (Exodus 18:1–20:23) shows us how he saved Moshe from burnout. 

Yitro’s humble advice to Moshe resonates with all of us as he encourages us to not take more work than we can handle and to be willing ask for help from those in our lives who have been blessed by God with discernment and mercy.

Just as Moshe delegated the spirit of discernment on the elders of Israel, how much more would Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) delegate the Spirit of God to His students and those who do His work on Earth.