The Coffee Table - Grow in the Word

Why We Should Not Use “SANA” in Prayer 🙏 As a Christians we should  avoid the word “sana” (meaning “hopefully” or “I wish”) in prayer because prayer in the Bible is often encouraged to be offered with faith and confidence , not uncertainty. However, it is important to understand that this is more about the attitude of faith than the specific word itself . 🙏 1. Prayer Should Be Offered in Faith The Bible teaches that when we pray, we should believe that God hears and can answer. 📖 James 1:6 – “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt…” Using “sana” sometimes sounds like doubt or uncertainty , as if we are not sure God can or will answer. Example: ❌ “Panginoon, sana po gumaling si Nanay.” ✅ “Panginoon, hinihiling namin ang kagalingan ni Nanay ayon sa Iyong kalooban.” The second expresses trust rather than uncertainty . 2. Jesus Taught Us to Pray with Trust in God When Jesus Christ taught about prayer, He emphasized faith. 📖 Mark 11:24 – “Whatev...

Let’s go deeper into the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10–18—not just what each piece is , but how it works spiritually, how the enemy attacks it, and how you actively live it out . This is where spiritual warfare becomes practical . The Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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 heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all t...

 How to discern spiritual attacks vs normal struggles Not everything difficult is a spiritual attack, but not everything is purely natural either. The goal is discernment, not fear or over-spiritualizing . Let’s walk through it in a grounded, biblical way. ⚖️ First: A Balanced Truth The Bible teaches both: We face real spiritual opposition ( Ephesians 6:12) We also deal with human weakness, emotions, and consequences 👉 Mature discernment means asking: “Is this spiritual influence, natural cause, or both?” 🔍 Signs It May Be a Spiritual Attack These don’t prove it 100%, but patterns matter. 1. Sudden, Intense, and Targeted You were doing well spiritually, then suddenly: Heavy doubt Strong temptation Unusual discouragement 👉 Especially after: Prayer Growth Obedience Example pattern seen in Matthew 4 — Jesus was tempted right after a spiritual high moment. 2. Pushes You Away From God Ask: Does this make me avoid prayer? Lose desir...

🌌 What is the Spiritual Realm? The spiritual realm is the unseen dimension of reality where spiritual beings exist and where God’s authority is fully present. It is not imaginary—it’s simply not visible to our physical eyes . The Bible makes this clear in Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” So while we live in the physical world , there is a real, active spiritual dimension influencing it. 🧭 Are There “Layers” in the Spiritual Realm? The Bible doesn’t give a neat “map,” but it does suggest levels of authority and structure . For example, in Ephesians 6:12, Paul lists: Principalities Powers Rulers of darkness Spiritual forces of evil This implies a kind of hierarchy or ranking , not necessarily “layers” like floors, but levels of influence and authority . Also, in Daniel 10, we see spiritual conflict affecting earthly events (an angel delayed by a “prince” over a ...

Image from Google 🐾 Do Pets “Come Back” in Another Body? From a biblical perspective, the answer is NO—this is not reincarnation . The idea that a past pet has returned in a new body comes from the same belief system as human reincarnation (karma, rebirth cycles), which—as mentioned earlier—comes from traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism , not from Scripture. 📖 1. God Created Animals as Distinct Beings The Bible shows that animals are part of God’s creation and are loved by Him: Genesis 1:25 – God created animals according to their kinds Psalm 36:6 – “You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.” Animals are: Created by God Valuable and cared for But not described as having an eternal soul in the same way humans do 🧭 2. Reincarnation (Even for Animals) Isn’t a Biblical Teaching The same principle still applies: Hebrews 9:27 “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” While this verse refers to humans, it reinforces the broader...

Image from Google 🌿Why Christians Should Not Believe in Reincarnation🌿   📖 1. The Bible Teaches One Life, Then Judgment The clearest contradiction to reincarnation is found in Scripture: Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” This verse directly teaches: You live once You die once Then comes judgment , not another life Reincarnation, which teaches repeated cycles of life, death, and rebirth, contradicts this foundational truth. ✝️ 2. Salvation Is Through Christ—Not Multiple Lives Christianity teaches that eternal life is not earned over many lifetimes, but given through faith in Jesus Christ . John 3:16 “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works…” Reincarnation is rooted in the idea of: Karma Self-purification across many lives But the Bible teaches: Grace, not karma Faith, not ...

Image from Google Reincarnation🌿: What It Is and Why Christians Should Not Believe It 📌 What Is Reincarnation? Reincarnation is the belief that after death, a person’s soul is reborn into another body —human, animal, or another form—over and over again. It is often tied to: Karma (your actions determine your next life) A cycle of rebirth (life → death → rebirth) The goal in these systems is to eventually escape this cycle through self-effort or enlightenment. 🧭 Where Did Reincarnation Come From? Reincarnation did not originate from the Bible . It comes from ancient religious and philosophical systems such as: Hinduism (as early as 1500 BC) Teaches samsara —the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth Buddhism (around 5th century BC) Teaches rebirth influenced by karma Ancient Greek philosophy (e.g., Plato) Some philosophers also believed in the soul’s repeated return These belief systems share a cyclical view of life , unlike the Bible’s linear view of lif...