by Ray Viola | Aug 23, 2024 | Devotionals
Acts 14.19-22 And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the...
by Pastor Ray Viola | Apr 28, 2023 | Contemporary Christianity, Contemporary Issues
Persecution is not a popular or pleasant subject to talk about. Nevertheless, Scripture speaks of the inevitable fact of persecution for any and all who choose to live godly in Christ Jesus. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about persecution this way:...
by Pastor Ray Viola | Jul 23, 2022 | Devotionals
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Joshua 10 is an...
by Ray Viola | Jan 30, 2022 | Contemporary Christianity
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Jesus gave this go mandate to the 12 apostles. They would be given authority to heal the sick, cast out demons and proclaim the gospel with...
by Ray Viola | Nov 4, 2021 | Devotionals
We read in Hebrews 11:27 that Moses endured because he “saw” Him who is invisible. When this same writer is encouraging the saints to press on, he tells them to look unto Jesus and His example of enduring. Endurance is the God-given ability every child of God receives...