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First Page True Stories

Truth really can be stranger than fiction.

First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.

La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.

First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.

Manna Minutes Christian Podcast

Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.

Manna Minutes en español:

Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.

Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:

Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.



The Third Man by Angela Sheffield

Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?

The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!

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Teofila Gottfried book

¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried

Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.


Scripture of The Day - 1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world

Escritura del día - 1 Juan 4,1

Amados, no creáis a todo espíritu, sino probad los espíritus si son de Dios; porque muchos falsos profetas han salido por el mundo.

Bibelstelle des Tages - 1 Johannes 4,1

Geliebte, glaubet nicht jedem Geist, sondern prüfet die Geister, ob sie von Gott sind! Denn es sind viele falsche Propheten hinausgegangen in die Welt.


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Commentary On Matthew 16:4 - Can I Ask God For A Sign To Confirm His Will?

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This commentary on Matthew 16:4 is not only for believers who are questioning whether they can ask God for a sign to confirm what God has spoken to them. It is also directed to those who are erroneously teaching that--according to Matthew 16:4--only an adulterous and wicked generation asks God for a sign.

We read, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..." (Matthew 16:4). One huge mistake so many people make when reading the Bible is failing to get understanding of the context. In this particular case, we can do that simply by looking at the verses just above Matthew 16:4, specifically the very first verse of the chapter, which reads, "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven." (Matthew 16:1).

When Jesus said, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign", to whom was He referring? To people like those particular Pharisees and Sadducees who sought to tempt Him...and to any and everyone with attitudes like theirs. If you don't fit that category, don't automatically consider yourself part of a wicked and adulterous generation.

The Fleece Of Gideon And Other Signs Requested Of God


Usually, the best argument in favor of asking God for a sign is the sign of Gideon's fleece. We read, "Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand...I will put a fleece in the floor. If the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know thou wilt save Israel by mine hand... And it was so. He rose early on the morrow...and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me... I pray thee...let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night. It was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." (Judges 6:36-40).

We see here that Gideon actually asked God for a sign twice. And God granted both requests. Had Gideon been wicked and adulterous, do we really believe God would have granted his requests for a sign, let alone use him as deliverer of Israel?

And there is the time when Abraham's servant asked God for a sign when he went to look for a wife for Isaac. We read of the sign God granted him in the 24th chapter of Genesis.

Yes, But Gideon And Abraham's Servant Lived In Old Testament Times


When those who want to discourage people from asking God for a sign are reminded of the signs of Gideon's fleece and Abraham's servant, they quickly remind that Gideon and Abraham's servant lived during Old Testament times. They remind us that the Holy Spirit has come to be with, and indwell, God's servants who now live under the New Testament. Therefore--according to them--those Old Testament accounts of asking God for a sign no longer apply to our lives.

Please note that asking God for a sign is a serious thing that should never be done lightly. Gideon was being called to deliver Israel. He knew that to attempt to deliver Israel without God meant his death. Abraham's servant was facing a most important decision: He had to find the wife God had chosen for Isaac. In both situations, there was no room for mistakes. Today, people still face situations in which they must be guided by God or they will face tragedy...including the loss of their life. I believe only in life-threatening and other extremely important decisions does the Lord permit us to ask Him for a sign.

But is that what the Bible reveals? Because when it comes to spiritual matters, neither personal opinion nor personalized interpretation of the Scriptures is valid. We need to be sure that what we are teaching is absolutely what is revealed in the Bible. Therefore, let's ask ourselves a question: What New Testament proof do we have that asking God for a sign is permitted?

Here is our proof: Let's read the passage of Matthew 14:24-29, which says, "But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit. And they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."

We have just read in the New Testament of when Peter asked God (Jesus is God) for a sign to confirm what he thought. There was definitely danger there. Not only is there a storm at sea, a figure appears. And that figure is walking toward them. He identifies himself as Jesus, but is it truly their Lord? When Jesus spoke, that was the equivalent of them hearing from God. But Peter wants to be absolutely sure in that dangerous and precarious situation. So, asking to walk on the water was just as much a supernatural sign as was Gideon's fleece.

Some might still argue that this sign was before Pentecost...before the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell God's servants. But this argument is not valid, because we are told why the Spirit was sent. He was sent to give us power (Acts 1:8), NOT to clear away all our perplexity. Do we forget that the Holy Ghost filled apostle Paul said, "...we are PERPLEXED, but not in despair"? (2 Corinthians 4:8).

Peter's being in the very presence of Jesus (God the Son) was no less than our presence with God through the Holy Spirit. God is present in both cases. So, just as Peter asked God for a sign, there are times when God's New Testament saints have...and will continue to ask Him for a sign. I personally know the true testimony of a young man who needed to be sure he was hearing God's call to the mission field in Eritrea, Africa, which is not a very safe place to be a Christian. God granted the exact sign for which he asked.

If you are in doubt in a life-threatening situation, or one in which you must make a decision that will impact the rest of your life in a major way, you might want to consider the possibility of asking God for a sign. God understands our perplexity, our fear, and our willingness to do His will once we know beyond any shadow of a doubt what He has told us to do...or not to do.

The Third Man by Angela Sheffield Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.



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