Bible Study June 26, 2025

“Excellence After Sin” Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV)

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

No one is perfect we can start with that. David was a man after God’s own heart but he failed but even greater than that he was restored. No one has ventured so far away from God that he cannot return.

In the Bible, King David was a prominent figure, known for his: military prowess, spiritual depth, and role as the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel. He is depicted as a skilled warrior, a psalmist David’s story is recounted in the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel, and he is also mentioned in other scriptures.

David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, a shepherd boy from Bethlehem. He was chosen by God to replace King Saul, who had disobeyed God’s commands.

David’s most famous act was slaying the Philistine giant Goliath, a victory that solidified his reputation and led to his eventual kingship.

David ruled Israel for 40 years, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and bringing the Ark of the Covenant there.

Later in his reign, David’s life was marred by sin, including his affair with Bathsheba and the rebellion of his son Absalom.

God promised David that his dynasty would last forever, and this promise was later fulfilled through David’s descendant, Jesus Christ.

After Saul’s death, David was anointed king by the tribe of Judah, and later, by all the tribes of Israel.

He established Jerusalem as the capital, called the “City of David,”

Despite his successes, David succumbed to temptation and committed adultery with Bathsheba, who became pregnant.

To cover his sin, David arranged for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to be killed in battle.

The prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, and David repented, but the consequences of his actions had a lasting impact on his family and kingdom.

David’s story is a complex one, highlighting both his strengths and weaknesses.

David’s story serves as a reminder that even the most gifted individuals can fall into sin, but that repentance and forgiveness are always possible.

Many people look at David for he did that was wrong – God looked at Davis for what he could do – he sees us the same way.

God knows our faults but when He forgives us He forgets them.

God can use anyone at any time, under any circumstance.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 25, 2025

“Gideon, A Man of Valor”

Judges 6:12 – 13

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

In the Bible, Gideon is a pivotal figure in the Book of Judges, known for his role as a military leader, judge, and prophet. He is famously remembered for something very significant in the Old Testament.

The biblical story of Gideon, found in the Book of Judges, (6 – 8) and centers around his call to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites, despite his initial fear and self-doubt. God empowers Gideon to lead a small army, demonstrating that victory comes: through faith and reliance on God rather than military strength.

 God’s Assurance and Gideon’s Tests: God provides Gideon with signs: including fire consuming meat and a fleece that is wet while the ground is dry, and vice versa. These signs reassure Gideon, but he continues to seek confirmation even as he prepares for battle.

4. Reducing the Army and the Night Attack: Gideon gathers an army of 32,000, but God instructs him to reduce it, first to 10,000 and then to a mere 300 men, emphasizing that victory will be attributed to Him, not to Israel’s strength. Gideon and his small army launch a surprise attack on the Midianite camp at night, using trumpets, torches hidden in jars, and shouts to create confusion and panic, leading to a rout of the Midianites.

Key takeaways from Gideon’s story:

God chooses the unlikely,  God can use anyone, regardless of their perceived limitations.

Faith and obedience are crucial Gideon’s story demonstrates the importance of trusting God’s promises, even when faced with seemingly impossible odds.

God receives the glory reducing the army to a small number emphasizes that victory is a result of God’s power and not human strength.

Why does God choose Gideon?

God chose Gideon because his weakness would give God the greater glory. It is through our weaknesses that people get to see a demonstration of God’s power and strength. But we have to accept His agenda.

God chooses the unlikely to do great things, He knows what He is doing.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 24, 2025

“Feminine Courage”

Esther 4:12 – 14 (ESV)

12 “And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

In a world where men are expected to be strong and have courage Queen Esther stands out as a woman with tremendous courage. A little background to the story of Esther. Esther replaced Queen Vashti when Vasthi refused to be made a spectacle by the king. Esther through a series of events is chosen to replace Vashti but Esther is a Jew who was raised by her uncle Mordecai.

A leader in the king’s court Haman hated the Jews and when the king raised Haman to a leadership role in the kingdom Haman sought to kill all the Jews in the nation because of Mordecai’s actions. Haman convinced the king that everyone should bow to him but Mordecai refused. Upon seeing this Haman sought his revenge on all the Jewish people and convinced the king to decree that all should die.

But as fate has it Mordecai hears of an assassination plan against the king and brings it to his attention. He finds favor with the king once this is known yet the decree still stands because it is ordered by the king. Mordecai tells Esther these familiar words in verse fourteen. It took courage for Esther to approach the king even though she was his wife because without being acknowledged by the king to enter the palace you could have been put to death.

In order to get the full impact of her courage you must read the book of Esther. The book of Esther is only ten chapters long and provides a great lesson in restoration. One woman who had courage saved a nation form a holocaust.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 23, 2025

“It Takes Courage to Be Courageous”

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)

Lat week we conducted our Annual Asbury Bible Camp and the theme this year was “Courage” based on Joshus 1:9. Each attendee was asked to memorize this verse as the theme and they were given scriptures to learn on a daily basis. I had the privilege od sharing with them each day about a Bible character who showed courage. On Monday I spoke of Joshua and along with him I mentioned Caleb as two men of great courage.

You will remember Moses sent out twelve spies from the children of Israel to spy out the promised land. Two came back with courage and ten came back as doubters and unbelievers. We all know people from both sides the courageous and weaklings. Joshua and Caleb stood up and said we can take the land while the other ten said they appeared as grasshoppers before the “giants” of the land.

What are the “giants” and the “grasshoppers” in your life? There are those things we know we can stand firm against and there are those that may make us feel as grasshoppers. How do you deal with the “grasshopper feeling?”

Joshua answer s that question in our scripture today he says to “be strong because the Lord is with everywhere.”

Consider praying these verses:

• “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33,
• I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:4-5, 8,
• Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippian 2:3-4, and
• “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:4.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 13, 2025

1 John 1:7 – 10 (ESV)

“Fellowship Through Walking (in Light)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

When I lived in Nashville attended a men’s Bible study one morning a week. I will always remember those times.  I mention that because one day we had a discussion 1 John 1:9. One person who was a new believer had an interesting take on sin. To him seemingly almost everything was a sin.

Genuine Christians walk in light (truth and holiness). If we walk in the Light then we are continually cleansed from sin – where there is light there is no darkness. Walking in the Light indicates true fellowship with the Father.

We see the opposite in verse eight. Non- believers walk in darkness they even go so far to say there was no sin in their lives. When they do that or we do it we are denying the existence of the truth of the Gospel. If a person continues to walk in darkness and never admits there was (or is) sin in their lives they cannot find forgiveness.

Continual confession of sin is an indication of salvation. False teachers will not admit sin but genuine Christ Followers acknowledge their sin, seek forgiveness through repentance and go and sin no more.

Verse ten says that if we say we have not sinned then we make God a liar. Sin is sin some sin affects more than the one in sin. Murder affects many more people than does a sinful thought that does not bring action upon another person but both are equally wrong.

God Bless in you search of the Light.

Bible Study June 12, 2025

1 John 1:5 – 6 (ESV)

“Light Overshadows Darkness”

5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

The message we have heard from Him is a message that came directly from God not from man. We know that because of what is written “God is light.” When  we look at the words “light” and “darkness” we know that “light” represents biblical truth and “darkness” represents sin or doing wrong. One might ask what is considered doing right or wrong. The scripture is clear on what is right and what is wrong. Man may want to add what he wants but the true of right and wrong, good and evil is well laid out in scripture.

If we are to walk in true light then we must recognize the sin in our lives and seek repentance for it. One may ask what is sin and the simple definition is “a thought, word, or action that goes against God’s will or moral law, or a failure to meet God’s perfect standard of holiness. It can be understood as a transgression of divine law or a violation of a divine command. In essence, sin is a deviation from what is considered righteous or good.”

What distinguishes a mistake from a sin is the continual practice of wrong. An example could be a person in a marriage relationship continually committing adultery they know it is wrong yet they continue to commit the act. That is sin willful acts against a known law or God’s will.

Many today walk in darkness (sin as defined above) but think they are walking in light. You cannot sin and be a fully committed Chrsit Follower. Mistakes will be made and when they are we should seek repentance and no longer commit the wrong. Light is defined by scripture not by man.

“Do not practice:” refers to the habitual failure regarding the practice of truth.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 11, 2025

“What Gives Complete Joy?”
1 John 1- 4 (ESV)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

Do you ever ask yourself in times of being at peace and celebrating the joy in your lives why does this happen? John answers that question in verse four of our reading today. “fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

But how do we get there? John uses terms such as made manifest … seen … testify … proclaim. We have not seen Jesus with our eyes but we can see Him through those that followed Him who did see Him. It is through them that we see.

Fellowship is not a social experience but it but a participation in possessing eternal life. John writes to tell of the physical reality of Jesus but he is also talking about personal salvation through Jesus. Once we are in a salvation experience with Jesus then we are in fellowship. John is saying here “fellowship” in Jesus produces eternal life. He uses these two terms interchangeably.

How do we tie each of these verses together? John is writing to show us how to create joy in our lives. The proclamation of the gospel is found in these four verses. The reality of the gospel (1-2) produces fellowship in eternal life (vs. 3) and in turn fellowship in eternal life produces the joy in our lives.

God Bless.