JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

September 18, 2020·Nicole Leão

Learning about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 Today we will start a series here on the blog, where we will delve into what is written in the Bible about each of results of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, mentioned in the book of Galatians. The series “Learning about the fruit of the Holy Spirit” will feature 9 devotionals, which will be released every Monday here on the Bible Offline blog. Love My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 Love is the first mentioned and to understand it a little better, let us draw on the passage in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8, when the apostle Paul was teaching in a church about true love and said that even that he spoke all the languages that are spoken on earth and in heaven, if he had no love, people would not understand anything. Paul goes on to say that he could have the gift of announcing messages from God, have all the knowledge of the world, understand all the secrets that exist […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

September 16, 2020·Nicole Leão

A study about Ruth

Ruth’s story is so important that it is recorded in the Bible in a book that bears its own name. She was a Moabite woman who lived during the era of Israel’s judges – a period of great spiritual degradation for the nation – and although the Moabites were Israel’s enemies, she was married to a Jew named Mahlon, who moved from Bethlehem to Moab with your family during a time of famine. By marrying a Jew, Ruth joined not only her husband, but also the God of Israel. Mahlon’s death Soon the story of this woman of faith became a sad drama, because in addition to not having children, she soon lost her husband who died at the same time as her brother. As her father-in-law had passed away, the women of the family were left alone. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, decided that she would return to her community in Israel and encouraged her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to remarry in Moab. But while Orpah reluctantly agreed, Ruth decided to go with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem and remain faithful to God (Ruth 1: 16,17). Naomi and Ruth As widows, her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had to take care of themselves. So […]

bible biblical-study

September 14, 2020·Nicole Leão

I forgive my brother!

The sacred scriptures show us the importance of forgiveness, as it brings peace to our hearts and communion between brothers. Not to forgive is to be disobedient to the word of God (Matthew 18: 21,22), and this can have serious consequences even for our health. So, today I invite you to say: I forgive my brother! Remembering that you do not need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, as each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. Prayer Dear God, I thank you for healing your only son and for the price Jesus paid for my sins on the Cross, so that I may have eternal life. Today I want to ask forgiveness for my sins, words, thoughts and attitudes that displease You. And thanks for forgiving me, even though I’m a weakling. I also recognize that, just as the Lord forgives me, I must release forgiveness to those who somehow hurt me. So, I declare: I forgive my brother. Cleanse my heart of all bitterness, so that there is only […]

uncategorized-en

September 11, 2020·Nicole Leão

5 teachings of Jesus Christ on prayer

Prayer is fundamental to our intimacy and relationship with God, but it is not difficult to hear someone say that they are ashamed to pray in public or that they do not know how to pray, perhaps you will try it yourself. Fortunately, we find passages in the Bible where our Master instructs us on how to pray. So, check out 5 teachings of Jesus Christ on prayer! 1. Reserve a place and time to pray And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6 It is very important that we have a time of intimacy with our Father, where in secret we try to hear His voice. In addition to creating a place not to appear or “make it beautiful” just for the satisfaction of our own ego, when we enter our room or […]

prayer

September 10, 2020·Nicole Leão

A study about Gideon

The account of Gideon’s life is in the book of Judges and begins with the devastation of the Israelites by the Midianites, as a result of disobedience to God. For seven years, they faced invasions from Midianites, Amalekites and Orientals who ruined their crops and destroyed their flocks. Although they were unfaithful to God, they cried out to the Lord for His help without realizing why this was happening to them, and then God sent the prophet Gideon to remind them who the one God was, who cared for them in the past and yet they abandoned quickly (Judges 6: 8-10). The summons of gideon God hears the people’s cry and graciously intervenes by sending an angel to Gideon to call him to service. Gideon, whose name means “lumberjack”, was the son of Joás and belonged to the least important clan of his tribe, but by the greeting of the angel – who called him “brave man” – we can assume that Gideon had already proven himself to be a powerful warrior (Judges 6:12). Although Gideon was a servant of God, he needed to be sure that it was, in fact, the Lord who was calling him to this service. […]

bible biblical-study

September 07, 2020·Nicole Leão

Wearing the armor of God

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the celestial kingdoms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) As soldiers of God, we need to be ready for battle every day and that is why it is very important to put on spiritual armor, because as it is written in Ephesians 6:12 our struggle is not against the flesh, but against principalities and powers , then our spirit must be strengthened. I invite you to pray with me and to wear the protection that comes from our Lord! Remembering that you do not need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, as each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. Beloved God, I ask you for spiritual protection, for me and my family so that we can stand firm against the enemy’s traps.I pray that you put on all your armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of justice, shoes with the readiness […]

prayer uncategorized-en

September 06, 2020·Nicole Leão

5 Lessons from the book of Acts for the Christian walk

Today we will learn 5 lessons from the book of Acts, which was written by Lucas in the form of a letter to his friend Teófilo. In it the author deals with themes such as the beginning of the church, the story of perseverance of our first brothers in the faith – among them the missionaries Paul and Peter stand out – amid persecution and the care of God with his servants. In Acts we see the action of the Holy Spirit, guarding His people which has resulted in the salvation of many lives. 1. Pray before making important decisions Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen, to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs”. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1: 24-26 In this chapter, Peter who assumes the apostolic leadership of this new moment in the church, presents the need for the appointment of a new apostle to the place of Judas Iscariot and then, after praying and asking for God’s direction , Matias is appointed. This passage teaches […]

bible biblical-study

September 03, 2020·Nicole Leão

Why “me”?

We often go through delicate situations in the most diverse areas of our life and then we ask ourselves: “Why me?”, And today I would like to reflect with you on this topic. We are experiencing many adversities because we are in a world fallen by sin and even certain diseases exist due to the misrepresentation of the human being, but I would also like to remind you that we have gone through some difficulties for the glory of God to manifest. The blind “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9: 3 (NIV) In John 9, the story is told of when Jesus gives physical and spiritual light to a blind man, and in this passage his disciples ask if his parents or that man – who was blind from birth – would have sinned for him to be born with that disability, but Christ soon corrects them, stating that neither the parents nor the son had sinned, but that young man had that condition for the works of God to be manifested in him. Soon after, Jesus performs the miracle, mixing […]

word-of-god

September 01, 2020·Nicole Leão

Praying for physical and emotional healing

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16: 17-18 (KJV) God has the power to heal, whether it be your physical or mental pain, and just as the Lord can heal you, he can use you to bless and intercede for others. Of course, we do not like to feel pain and we do not want those we love to go through afflictions, but many diseases come to us so that the glory of God may be manifested. So I invite you to pray with me for healing. Remembering that you do not need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each one of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. Dear God, I want to thank You for Your grace and fidelity, I know that I am […]

prayer word-of-god

August 28, 2020·Nicole Leão

What is your purpose?

I would like to start this text by emphasizing that there is purpose in everything that God does and from the moment you accept Jesus as your only savior, you are already fulfilling one of the Lord’s greatest purposes for your life, because now He can use you for His work. The word purpose has its origin in Latin and is the intention to do or not do something, being synonymous with design, purpose, intention, objective and prudence. In general, we use it to define the meaning of our existence. But, after all, do you know what the Bible says about purpose and what is God’s plan for your life? I invite you to reflect with me and to understand a little better what the scriptures say on this subject. What does the Bible say about purpose? For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 Throughout Holy Scripture it is revealed that it all comes down to God’s plan! The Father created everything through and for Him, as written in the above […]

devotional word-of-god

August 27, 2020·Nicole Leão

Good News is better when we don’t expect it!

Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25 We are all thirsty for good news, especially when we await the result of a medical exam, a test, or a decision to hire a new job, but all of this is expected good news! In Proverbs 25, Solomon tells us about the effect of unexpected news, which arrives without warning and surprises us positively. The unexpected news is usually negative, but what is written is that the positive news shivers the soul, like cold water for those who are thirsty. And it is interesting to note that the effect (quenching thirst with ice water) is fully expected. Whoever takes a sip in the water expects to feel this relief. Which leads us to think that, deep down, we all hope to receive good news, even without knowing why or when. We always hope that next year will be better, that things will work out in the future, that everything will work out in the end. We simply don’t know why, but the Bible says that our souls are thirsty for God (Psalm 63: 1) and that, like the doe that craves water, our […]

happiness uncategorized-en word-of-god

August 24, 2020·Nicole Leão

God, teach me to take care of my finances!

In recent times many people have lost their jobs and the world is going through a major financial crisis with the coronavirus. I know this is not an easy time, but I also know that our Lord is faithful to the righteous. God is so good to us, that he even left precious teachings in the Bible about the care we should take with our finances, a passage that I really like is Luke 14:28, where it is written: “Which one of you, if you want to build a tower, do not sit down first and calculate the price, to see if you have enough money to complete it? ”. Planning is very important and I know that in times of unemployment or financial hardship it can be a challenge, so I would like to invite you to pray with me for your personal finances and the homes of our nation. Remembering that you don’t need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. […]

prayer prosperity word-of-god

August 21, 2020·Nicole Leão

The joy that comes from God

God is happy with your joy. Many times when we think of the Lord, we immediately think of the words of seriousness, fear and justice, in fact all this represents Him, but joy too! Being in the presence of God means being happy. Think with me, have you ever been sad when praising the Lord and meditating on His word? We may even be saddened by the situations we are experiencing, but in that precious moment our heart finds comfort. Where do you look for joy? Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7 We live a decade where at all times we are bombarded, whether on television, on our smartphones or computers. Everywhere somebody is trying to sell us something: a product, an idea and even a lifestyle. These things are presented to us as if they were the solution to our […]

happiness love-of-god

August 20, 2020·Nicole Leão

Your thoughts matter

It is in your thoughts that the greatest battles take place. It is in your mind that you have your greatest anxieties, fears and afflictions, it is also in it that you have control over your attitudes, choose to obey, love and even choose to have thoughts of happiness or sadness. So I would like to start today’s message by asking you a few questions: Where has your mind been wandering? Is she calm or agitated? Have you been able to hear God’s voice? These are important questions that can reveal a lot about how we view life and about our relationship with God. So, I would like to invite you to reflect a little on your thoughts. Where has your mind wandered? What I fear, and want to avoid, is that just as the serpent has deceived Eve so cunningly, your mind will be corrupted and deviate from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11: 3 The mind of someone who has accepted Christ and is a new creature, must not be wandering, on the contrary, must be centered and focused, because that is where the enemy works, trying to take control of his thoughts. very […]

devotional love-of-god

August 17, 2020·Nicole Leão

God, break my heart!

Having a broken heart is fundamental and it means recognizing our own limitations so that God can work in us. In 2 Corinthians 12: 9 it is written: “And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will be happy to glory in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me ”. It is through brokenness that our lives are transformed and we are shaped according to God’s plans. Praying for a broken heart may not be such an easy task, but the Lord is with us to go through everything we need, as it is written in Psalm 34:18, that God is close to those with a broken heart, so I invite you to do this prayer of surrender with me. Remembering that you do not need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, as each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. Beloved Father, I want to be closer to You, to Your infinite love […]

love-of-god prayer

August 14, 2020·Nicole Leão

What the Bible says about love

In the dictionary, love receives the following meaning: “A feeling that leads one to wish the good of the other, deep affection for someone or something, intense inclination of affective character, sympathy, friendship, zeal and care”. However, I would like to start today’s text by stating that love is not just a feeling, but a decision and a command from God for us. Love as a commandment ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31 Love is the second commandment of God for His people and the greatest left by Him, and why? Well, our father, with all his sovereignty and understanding, knew that we have an easier time loving those who are similar to us, but that is not what he expects of you and me. Likewise, in Matthew 22:39, Jesus leaves it as a command that we love our neighbors as ourselves. The “neighbor” of this passage is not only the people who are close to us, but all those we live with, including those we have some difficulty in dealing with. Decide to love every day Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is […]

love-of-god

August 12, 2020·Nicole Leão

Where is your expectation?

Expectation is the condition of those who expect something to happen at a given time and it is common for many to put their desires in situations or people. However, such an attitude may not be healthy since the other does not have the power to transform a situation in the way we imagine, which can generate frustration and insecurity. At some point in life, we have all been frustrated in our relationships, whether with family, spouse, friends or even leaders and authorities on the Christian walk. In general, this is because we feel that the other is not meeting our expectations, which shows how important it is to be anchored in the One who has the power to do more than we imagine, the One whose plans are better than ours: God ! Expectation is a good thing as long as it is in God That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 The Bible teaches us to expect, as written in the […]

word-of-god

August 10, 2020·Nicole Leão

I will praise God every day!

Today I want to say a prayer of praise to the Lord with you! Faithful and just is the God we serve and is with us at all times! Remembering that you do not need to repeat this prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. So if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, but feel free to speak your way. I praise you Lord for who You are. You show me Your fidelity in the simplest of everyday situations, even when there seems to be no solution. Wonderful is your name, for the undeserved grace that You pour on me. As I am happy to adore You, your presence satisfies me and my desire is to be closer and closer to You. All your promises have been fulfilled in my life, because You are a God of your word and perfect in everything you do. You move mountains and make the impossible possible. My beloved father, you took care of me and protected me. I praise You because You gave Your only child to die on a cross and today […]

blessings

August 07, 2020·Nicole Leão

The importance of Identity

Do you recognize your identity? Or rather, do you know your identity in Christ? These are certainly difficult but important questions. Your identity determines who you are, which involves many aspects of your life, such as how you act and your personal tastes. So, being sure of it is essential to not lose focus during a walk. You are a child of God Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Certainly, much of who we are on earth is determined by nationality, upbringing and family, but by accepting Jesus as our only savior, we became part of a heavenly family, we became God’s beloved children. Bearing in mind that the creator of all things is your father, is the first step in knowing your identity. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so as it is written in 1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20, we do not belong to ourselves, as we were bought at a high price and with that we must honor God, through it, which begins in our identity. Know Christ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, […]

follow-jesus obedience word-of-god

August 06, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Be faithful when no one sees

Only you and God know your secret. Choosing to do the right thing, regardless of who is around or if no one is around, is about our integrity. Have we been whole and faithful to the principles of the Kingdom of God in all circumstances? That is what I would like to talk about in this text. And for that, I separated my favorite examples on this subject. Joseph was a faithful servant and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”, But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Genesis 39: 7-10 In this passage, Joseph was a servant in the home of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Everything Joseph […]

faith kingdom-of-god word-of-god

August 04, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Teach me to depend on You, Lord

We need to learn to depend on God, on His amazing grace. It is this grace that enables us to go through the most difficult situations in life without losing sleep, faith and hope. So I would like to say a prayer on this topic. Say this powerful prayer with me! Lord, teach me to depend on You, only You. In so many situations I place my dependence on people, resources, my work or my own understanding of life. May I remember Your sovereignty every day. That You are the One who has all knowledge, understanding and power over any circumstance. In this prayer, I want to exalt You and recognize that You Lord is greater than everything. Bigger than any health crisis, bigger than any financial crisis, bigger than the economy, bigger than any illness. There is no one like You. There is no one greater than You. May I always remember all the great things that the Lord has done, the greatest miracle that was the life we received through Jesus and all the miracles that the Lord has already done in my life and in my family. So many times I depend on things that are fleeting, […]

grace prayer

August 01, 2020·Léo

It was never about a feeling!

Have we based our relationship with God on feeling? Do we understand that we should not seek only the feeling? Today, I would like us to talk a little about this topic so much talked about in the Christian world. Have we sought the Lord’s presence just to feel Him? Shall we talk about? A rational search “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17: 9 I don’t know if you have been through this situation, but for a good part of my spiritual walk, I carried a heavy burden on my heart because I was deceiving myself. I thought that I would only be having a total surrender to the Lord and would only be living a sincere relationship with Him, if I felt His presence in all services and at all times. It hurt me for a long time and even demotivated me. I went to conferences, services, had my moments with God, but I didn’t feel His presence. Many times I was stressed with the Lord, I was angry and sad, because I did not understand why all this was happening. It didn’t make sense to me. I was looking, […]

follow-jesus love-of-god miracles obedience

July 30, 2020·Marcel Rocco

Be the carrier of the Good News

Andrew was working with his brother when a stranger came up to him and said: I have a good job offer for you. In the segment where you already work, but earning more, much more! Paul was lost on the road driving, when out of nowhere a “car” appeared with the light in his face saying: you are on the wrong road. I will guide you on how to get to your destination! An IRS inspector was on the street in his hometown, when he was approached by a celebrity in the whole country, who was passing by and who told him that he would be a guest at his home. You may have already realized of whom I’m talking about … In these 3 situations, people were in their daily lives, when they were surprised with a Good News that literally saved their lives! Jesus changed the life of Andrew, Peter, Paul, Zacchaeus… and continues to change the life of anyone He approaches. Always with Good News: The good news of the gospel! You have been called to be a carrier of good news And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 28, 2020·Léo

Help not to look back!

I would like to say a prayer with you to ask for the help of the Lord for us to be consistent and look forward! We constantly need to remember that it is not good to look back and desire what we used to do before we truly met God! Remembering that you don’t need to repeat this prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. So if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, but feel free to speak your way. Jesus, first of all I want to thank you for Your love for me and for Your mercy! Even though I don’t deserve it, You pour all that I need into my life. I confess that I have had some difficulties in relation to my past! The desire to look at back and do the same things again has increased! So I ask you to give me strength and make me see with my spiritual eyes, instead of seeing with carnal eyes. Help me to see the beauty in the journey and in the processes! As a sinner, I have […]

heart love-of-god