Bible Study March 4, 2025

“Life well Lived”

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, (NIV).

Today I prepare for the Celebration of Life for my father-in-law. Celebration of Life services are hard for me because I see the loss in people’s eyes. It is especially true for those who have no hope beyond the earthly grave.

American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes had a friend who asked him why he had taken up the study of Greek at the age of ninety-four. Holmes replied, “Well, my good sir, it’s now or never.”

When J. C. Penney was 95 years old, he affirmed, “My eyesight may be getting weaker, but my vision is increasing.”

Growing old can be dangerous. The trail is treacherous, and the pitfalls are many. One is wise to be prepared. You know it is coming. It is not like God kept the process a secret. It is not like you are blazing a trail as you grow older. It is not as if no one has ever done it before. Look around you. You have many opportunities to prepare and ample case studies to consider. If growing old catches you by surprise, do not blame God. He gave you plenty of warning. He also gave you plenty of advice.

Scripture teaches us a great deal about life and how to prepare for our future. Sometimes the scripture seem confusing like Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” But finding life on earth (eternal Life ) will find it in eternity.

“There are two ways to view life,” Jesus is saying, “as something to protect or something to pursue. The wisest people are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but the most life in their years.”

There is something challenging to life. Ewe are admonished to pursue it, even chase it down, enjoy it. Give all you have to get it. Do not listen to the complainers who accept second best when they could have the best. Our desire should be to live life to its fullest.

Time will pass away from minutes to hours to days to weeks and to years. Time will  fade away before our very eyes. Life will come to an end. And what we came to do must be done while there is time.

When we travel we know where we are going in this life do we know where we are going in the next?

Know your destination. God Bless.

Bible Study March 3, 2025

“Live Against the Grain”

Galatians 2:20 – 21 (TLB)

20 “I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats Christ’s death as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping Jewish laws, then there was no need for Christ to die.”

Sunday afternoon I was sitting in the recliner after church channel surfing before I fell asleep. On Channel two was the NASCAR race and I saw a sponsor on one of the cars. The slogan on the car was the title of this article “Live Against the Grain.” I thought that is exactly how we as Christ Followers are to live. We should not be going with the flow but we should be living our lives as we are led by the Spirit.

I did a quick search about living life against the grain and found several articles the following is one I found excellent I thought I would share today. Living against the grain means:

Daily commitment:

Living for Jesus is a daily decision to prioritize Him above all else, including taking up your cross and following His teachings.

Transformation through Christ:

By dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us, our lives are transformed to reflect His character.

Obedience to His word:

Following Jesus involves actively listening to and obeying His commands.

Serving others:

Living for Jesus means using your life to serve others with love and compassion, just as He did.

We are called to live in grace in a world that lives in ungrace. We are called to serve in a world that wants to be served. We are called to give when in our world people are taking. Jesus was radical and our lives should be radically different than what we see being lived around us.

Of each of these the one that caught my mind was “Transformation through Christ.” Without the transformation all else is of no lasting value. Our lives must change as we are crucified with Christ. That comes from asking for His forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed, they living out what the daily commitment suggest for us.

God Bless.

Bible Study February 28, 2025

“You Can Pray Anywhere”

This is not a political post it is a post about prayer. I am including the prayer that was prayed before a recent Cabinet meeting. The pastor who prayed has an extensive background for certain. I urge you to read the prayer and consider how it impacts you personally.

Texas megachurch pastor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner opened the first cabinet meeting of President Donald Trump’s second term on Wednesday by invoking God’s blessing and expressing gratitude in Jesus’ name.

“Father, we thank you for this awesome privilege to be in your presence,” said the 53-year-old, who also serves as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.

“Thank you that you’ve allowed us to see this day; the Bible says that your mercies are new every morning,” he continued..

“Father God, we give you the glory and the honor. Thank you, God, for President Trump; for appointing us, Father God, thank you for anointing us to do this job.”

Turner invoked God’s wisdom for the president, vice president and for everyone in the cabinet.

“Lord God, we pray that we would lead with a righteous clarity. As we serve the people of this country in every prospective agency, every job that we have, Father, we would humble ourselves before You, and we would lead in a manner that You’ve called us to lead and to serve.”

“Father, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ But Father, we today honor You and in your rightful place,” Turner continued. “Father, thank You for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America. Lord God, today in our meeting, we pray that You will be glorified in our conversation, in Jesus’ name.”

We are wise to pray for our national, state, and local leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us to pray for those in these positions. “”I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”.

Why do we pray for our leaders? The answer is found in the latter part of the verse – “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
God Bless.

Bible Study February 27, 2025

“It’s As Clear As You Make it …”

As I woke up this morning there was a thought that entered my mind as I contemplated getting up or going back to bed. We have been doing a series on “Heaven” at church and this thought entered my mind. Who is going to be there because our eternal home is decided by how we live on earth.

I looked at several different translations as I often do concerning the scriptures as I did with 1 Corinthians 6:9. Here is how the New English Translation puts it “ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals.”

Our society today is willing in many cases if not all to accept anything and everything into it beliefs. Let’s face it we live in a “If it feels good society it is okay. “Paul, along with others like John writing in Revelation outlines who will enter the gates of heaven. It is not up to us to interpret the scriptures to say what we want them to say.

I know alcoholics who have recovered and live a life free of alcohol, I know addicts who have beat the drug scene and live free from the demons that possessed them. I know addicts who were addicted to pain killing drugs who have been delivered. But many seem to okay with accepting sexual sin as acceptable while condemning others Just yesterday I read an article where 7.6 percent of people believe they are transgender.

I recently had a friend ask me if there was a degree of sin, in other words was certain sins worse than others. My response was that all sin is wrong they are on equal grounds. But some sin affects more than one person. Jesus said all sin is wrong. My example to my friend was this. The sin of lust affects the one who has lust in his heart or the desire. The actual consummation of the lust affects another person. The same is true of murder you may conceive it your heart but to carry it affects others deeply.

Why do we accept certain sin as acceptable and others that are not. Most likely it is because we are committing what we feel is acceptable. I am not saying by any means I am perfect but when my spirit is checked by the Holy Spirit I make it right. Then we ask ourselves what is sin? A simple explanation is “it is a willful transgression against a known law of God.” If we sin and repent (turn 180 degrees) and commit to doing it no linger then we are free from the bondage. But if we continue to commit the same actions (sins) over and over there is no repentance.

Remember Jesus came to save the world not condemn it. “17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (Legacy Standard Bible).

Do not loosely interpret the scripture your life is being held in the balance. It is as clear as you make it.

God Bless.

After completing thsi I read this by Allen Jackson today and wanted to include it. “2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV®)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I am dismayed by how so many people have stepped away from the authority of God’s Word. They see it as a collection of stories that are ancient and irrelevant. Or they flip through it, trying to find something they agree with. Their attitude is, “Oh, I don’t like that part. That goes against my preferences and my lifestyle. But I like this part. It affirms the attitudes I already have. Do I believe the Bible? Sure, some parts of it.” What do you suppose would happen if we really took God’s Word personally and seriously? What would happen if, instead of searching for the parts we agree with, we treated all of it as God intended: to teach us, to correct us, to rebuke us when necessary, and to train us in righteousness? Paul knew if we really want to be equipped by God to do His work in the world, we must take Scripture seriously—all of it.

THINK ABOUT IT
Dedicated and consistent time with God’s Word brings new life, wisdom, peace, and humility.

Bible Study February 26, 2025

“Honor Those You Find Difficult to Honor”

The scriptures teach us to honor those in leadership. This means those in authority in the home, in the workplace, in the community, in our state and national government. I do not know how many of you reading this have ever served in government, I can say I have served as a city councilman so I can speak with some authority. The following verses give us scriptural insight to this very subject.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all human beings, 2 including kings and all in positions of prominence; so that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives, being godly and upright in everything. 3 This is what God, our Deliverer, regards as good; this is what meets his approval. 4 He wants all humanity to be delivered and come to full knowledge of the truth.” Instructs people to pray for all people in authority, including kings, encourages people to pray for peaceful and quiet lives, and teaches people to pray for those in high positions.

Psalm 45:4 “Go and succeed in your grandeur! Ride out on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness! Let your strong hand perform awesome deeds.” Encourages people to pray for political leaders to lead with meekness and for the cause of truth, asks God to humble the hearts and minds of leaders.

Philippians 2:3 “Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.” Encourages people to pray for leaders to serve, not lead selfishly or for personal ambition, and asks God to raise up servant leaders.

Why do I pick such a topic today? In case you have not seen the news lately (over the past forty years) there has been complaining by some on those in leadership at all levels of the government. It makes a vast difference how we pray for those in leadership. You may not like the person but we are called to pray them anyway. I know it sounds difficult to put your personal feelings aside but that we must do.

Does it mean we cannot speak against what we believe is wrong? Absolutely not, we have a voice. There is a vast difference between speaking a policy and speaking against the man. But let me make a simple warning here: you may dislike the person. you may dislike their policies, but that does not give you a right to curse them. Blessing and cursing cannot come out of the mouth at the same time.

Sometimes we are called to do the very thing we dislike the most but when we are obedient the blessings of God will chase you down and overcome you.

Seek what the kingdom directs you to do.

Bible Study February 25, 2025

“End Times Religious Falling Away”

1 And now, what about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to meet him? Please don’t be upset and excited, dear brothers, by the rumor that this day of the Lord has already begun. If you hear of people having visions and special messages from God about this, or letters that are supposed to have come from me, don’t believe them. 3 Don’t be carried away and deceived regardless of what they say. For that day will not come until two things happen: first, there will be a time of great rebellion against God, and then the man of rebellion will come—the son of hell” (Living Bible)

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (The Living Bible)

3 “For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. 4 They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.”

I read an interesting article by a man by the name of Jason Smedley. He called his article “Why Have So Many Church Leaders Fallen?” I thought I would share and ask you from a pastor to pray for us as we lead congregations across the world that we are strong and resist the temptations that come our way. Yes, pastors too face temptation. Following is the article.

““Are all the leaders in the American church corrupt?!,” is a question I ask myself on an almost daily basis. News seem to come out weekly about yet another major ministry figure in the church being involved in some form of scandal. The findings released about Mike Bickle have left the entire charismatic world swirling.

The pain, confusion, and disillusionment that many are feeling in light of these revelations have formed an entirely new branch of quasi–Christianity I call the “antichurch” movement, who pride themselves on their ability to “deconstruct” — which seems to always lead them towards the political left in the end or at least hobnobbing with it. While to some extent this is an understandable reaction to betrayal, I would like to propose to you a different way.

In order to discuss where we should go, first we must look at where we’ve been. With so many victims coming forward as witnesses to abhorrent sins in leaders’ lives, we have to ask ourselves: How did we get here?

To figure that out, we need to look at where the current leaders of the church came from, namely, the Hippie Movement.  Prior to the Hippies, America was a fairly conservative nation.  But a counterculture began that encouraged rebellion against the values of the previous generation and instead pursued “sex, drugs & rock ‘n roll”. Like all sin, this seemed to start out great for them, but in the end, it left them feeling hopeless, empty, and broken.

Then came the “Jesus People.” God began to call many in their lost and broken generation to Himself, and a revival started that produced most of the leaders of the Charismatic church today.  While God can deliver anyone from the chains of their past, the devil is patient and tries to wear us down over time.  Having leaders with pasts filled with prolific sexual sin didn’t help the situation we find ourselves in.

I’m not sure if every leader that’s being exposed right now started out with nefarious intentions or not, but I do believe there are several factors contributing to this issue of abusers finding safe haven in the Church.  For one, they seem very sincere when they preach. This might seem like a minor point to make, but if you’ve sat under a leader who preaches about holiness and prayer with emotional passion, it can be difficult to imagine that they are living a double life. “If they were faking it, they wouldn’t be able to have so much emotion about it,” is the subconscious thought process most believers have — and that’s absolutely true because they aren’t faking it!

I’m fully convinced that most of these leaders started out with a sincere devotion to Christ. At some point in their journey, temptation came, and instead of resisting it, they gave in and the results of their sin are now being displayed for all to see. While it’s easy to condemn the atrocious acts these people committed (and they are atrocious and should be condemned), I think it’s important to realize that the moment a leader arises with a legitimate anointing on their life, all of Hell puts a target on them and gives a green light for their minions to attack. The devil will surround a genuine servant of God with those he’s enslaved to Hell, and initiate strategies to get them to slip and lose their footing. Once they fall, they become trapped and in many cases, they are most likely blackmailed and told to do what the devil wants “or else.”

Should a leader who’s been exposed of abuse be restored to leadership after years of systematic predatory patterns are uncovered? Almost never. However, I doubt many people understand the level of pressure and demonic harassment these leaders endured for years and even decades before they gave in. Would you or I do any better? I hope so.  People often medicate their pain with sin. Recent church history is replete with examples of leaders who weren’t abusive but were involved in affairs or other kinds of sin. Surely the Christian walk is a marathon and not a sprint, with many eager to catch a leader in failure so that their own promotion can come.

Is God purifying the church right now and removing predatory leaders? Absolutely. Is the devil sitting outside with a net, waiting for the hurting and abused to run out so he can snatch them up? You bet he is.

Times like this require incredible discernment to navigate because on the one hand, there are horrific things being revealed about how the Church has protected abusers and oppressed victims.  On the other hand, the devil will not miss an opportunity to bring sweeping judgments toward the entire Church, accusations that are empowered by legitimate offenses caused by the sins of church leaders.

Reformation is needed, the Church must change or it will not survive what’s coming. Praise God that it’s His plan that we’re following & not the plans of any man with broken hands.

Pray for your pastor.

Bible Study February 24, 2025

Matthew 10:37 – 40 (Common English Bible)

37 “Those who love father or mother more than me aren’t worthy of me. Those who love son or daughter more than me aren’t worthy of me. 38 Those who don’t pick up their crosses and follow me aren’t worthy of me. 39 Those who find their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives because of me will find them. 40 “Those who receive you are also receiving me, and those who receive me are receiving the one who sent me.”

A person has really two choices to make as we live our lives. Someone once said, “The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their life, but the ones with the most life in their years.” This person further commented, “There are two paths a man can take: He can try to protect it, or he can try to pursue it.”

I read this earlier today that was posted by a friend (thanks Robert) that says. If we hang on to today the “devil wants you distracted. He loves to fill your mind with schedule and noise. Remember, God often speaks in a still small voice, so if you want to hear him, you’ll need to remove the clutter.”

Those are true words. I know I can get distracted by doing things that are good. As an example, doing these Bible studies can be a distraction from time alone reading, praying, and studying. I have to keep my life, mind, and body in perspective or miss out on private personal time.

Do not settle for second best as someone once said second place is the first loser. Seek the best, then you will find the best. Seek second hand then you get second hand.

We must stay prepared, be patient, for God is getting us ready to do battle. The fight, the battle is for eternity. God tells us to  “Go” same as He did Joshua to take the Promised Land (Joshua 1:2). Do not allow time to slip by while failing to understand that we are “more than conquerors” with the responsibility to go out and fulfill God’s will for our lives.

God Bless.