Bible Study November 13, 2024

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)

“Surely  goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I only included verse six here but I would believe anyone alive has heard the 23^rd Psalm and many can recite it. It is often used at Celebration of Life events held for the deceased.

I read yesterday someone wrote there were six Fridays left until Christmas. How have you spent this year? As we approach the end of the year it is a good time to reflect and see what changes we can make for 2025 if any. I imagine we all can see things differently and changes we will make.

How do you spend your day? What are the most important things you do?

• Do you read a portion of scripture daily?
• Do you spend some time in prayer?
• Did you tell your children you loved them; children did you tell your parents you loved them?
• Did you have opportunity to help someone out, maybe offer a smile?
• Did you get an opportunity to serve someone in a food pantry then pray for them?
• Or do we get caught up in meaningless tasks that consume out time?

This is small list of things we can do, nothing overly involved, nothing costing anything. How will I spend my day today? I am confident if you do some of the things listed above that at the end of the day you can say “Surely  goodness and mercy did shall follow me this day and it will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

“Outside of Christ I am empty; in Christ, I am full.” Watchman Nee.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 12, 2024

Nehemiah 1:1 – 3 (ESV)

“Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

I have been doing some study on the book of Nehemiah and I have learned several things. This is in preparation for my message this Sunday.

Jerusalem had been held captive by the Babylonians for seventy years because of their unfaithfulness to God. Obedience and betrayal had been an ongoing practice of the Jewish people. They would obey for a period of time then fall into idol worship or worship of a false God other than Jehovah.

There are “dry” times for the Christ Follower of 2024 and it not because of God but it is because of something that we have done. He desires perfect fellowship and He is perfect we are the imperfect ones.

Nehemiah found the gates of Jerusalem had been burned and the walls were broken down. He was devastated and goes into a prayer of confession. Nehemiah had not been one to worship gods other than Yahweh but he is confessing for himself and the people of Jerusalem.

As a side note during our Bible study last evening we discussed the Abrahamic covenant one that God did not forget and Nehemiah refers to a covenant in his prayer in verse five of chapter one he says, ““O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,” A God who is a keeper of covenants with His people.

“If we will keep the associated covenants, the sacred priesthood ordinances will change us, sanctify us, and prepare us to enter the presence of the Lord. So we bear one another’s burdens; we strengthen one another.” Carol McKonkie.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 11, 2024

2 Corinthians 5:6 – 8 (Message)

“6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.”

Today is Veteran’s Day remember a veteran.

There are many ideas about our future home in heaven, life after death, what will heaven be like, or maybe how do I live in this corruption until that day comes. Thoughts and worries that we need not be concerned about.

Archaeologists have reported they have discovered the Egyptians have buried their dead with food, with pets, and in some cases boats to navigate their way to the next life. Seems a bit strange for the Christian culture.

World cultures teach us a great deal about how people live and die. To the Christian death is a quick sleep from here to eternity. The scriptures teach that death is nothing more than sleep. Just think the believer falls asleep and wakes up in paradise it cannot get any better than that.

How do we get there? As a believer we put our faith in Jesus when we ask for His forgiveness, we believe that He died for our sin, that He rose again, that He ascended into heaven and today He sits at the right hand of God interceding or pleading our needs to God His and our Father. Upon believing we then need to tell someone because that becomes the confession with our words we speak that He has forgiven us and given the gift of eternal life.

“Is it wise to leave massive questions about life, death, and eternity hanging in the air? John Blanchard.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 8, 2024

Psalm 15:1 – 4 (NASB)

“Lord, who may reside in Your tent? Who may settle on Your holy hill? 2 One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor, Nor bring shame on his friend; 4 A despicable person is despised in his eyes, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change.”

Sometime during the 1960” an Episcopalian Priest came up with the idea of “situational ethics.” I remember studying this in college.  What he proposed was this: the highest law was love and other laws could be disobeyed if and when it was necessary for love. As an example if you had no money but your family was hungry it was acceptable to steal a loaf of bread.

What that led to was “situational character.” It was acceptable to break a law in order for love to win out. In other words what we do is dictated by our circumstances not our morality.

God has spoken on this subject quite clearly. Malachi wrote that God does not change. One of the commandments is :Thou shall not steal.” This approach of the priest seems to eliminate any bad action for the sake of “love” which we should express in all actions. Certainly a false pretext.

What is character? It is how we act when no one is watching. What do we look at on the internet, what do we think, how do we act when alone? This is character. Man may not see but rest assured God has a good idea what we are doing as he has His eye on us at all times,

“A persons’ character is accurately measured by his reaction to life’s inequities.” Unknown.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 6, 2024

Hebrews 13:1 – 2 (NASB)

“Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Today we wake up and see the election results. Fifty-one percent are happy and forty-seven percent are unhappy. Healing time is upon us. The verse above commands us to love the brethren. Along with love we should pray for one another.

A person on Facebook asked me if I would pray for whoever is elected. I was taken back a bit by it since they continually posted cartoon pictures of one of the candidates. I guess my question could have been the same to them. My response was I pray for our leaders and our nation. I encourage everyone to do so.

The second verse says we should show hospitality to strangers I believe that goes for those we know. There is disappointment today over the election and we all have friends who voted and many voted differently than we did but should I allow my one vote to destroy years of friendship? I think not.

When I retired in 2012 a neighbor asked me to join a retired guys golf group, we lived across the street from one another. On Halloween we would all congregate, make food, and pass out candy to the kids who came along. We had lunch together on several occasions I thought we were friends. He always wanted to talk politics and we were on different sides on politics. One day out of the blue he said anyone who voted the way I did was idiot; he ended our friendship although I had quit playing golf a couple of years earlier. I was surprised to say at the least that our friendship ended over a vote.

“Messengers from God brought a greater blessing than they received. Whoever entertained a servant of the Lord entertained the Lord Himself.” Holman New testament Commentary on Hebrews 13:2.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 4, 2024

Matthew 18:1-6, 10

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

Ten states including Missouri has an abortion issue on the ballot. I have said, have always been, and will always be pro-life.

Everyone who has a vote will decide on the life of an unborn child. You can argue the false narrative of it’s a woman’s right but that right is given when conception has occurred. Life has been formed.

You can disagree with me if you want but anyone who supports abortion has the blood of innocent children on their hands. I do not know enough about you or what you think but I know that is one less thing I need to answer to in my final judgement before God.

Let me encourage you if you support abortion to reconsider your decision. If you have had ana abortion ask God to forgive you which He will do. Then become an advocate for pro-life. It is never too late to begin the fight.

I realize one candidate’s platform is abortion that is all they have but think about your decision.

“There is no more precious gift you can give than life. Our forefathers fought and bled to bring about in this land a nation dedicated to the premise that all men are created equal.” — Dr. Pat Robertson, Televangelist and Political Commentator.

God Bless.

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Bible Study November 1, 2024

Mark 10:21 – 22

21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

We have done great things in our world not everything is perfect but we have been blessed by a loving God. Man accomplishes what he does through the guidance and wisdom of God. There have been some failures for certain but let’s look at the positive today.

We build great possessions there is nothing wrong with being rich. In our story above the young man had everything he needed except the willingness to forego it all for an eternal life in heaven. Scripture says he was “saddened” that Jesus asked him to sell it and give to the poor. Once you do that I will give you your mansion in heaven. The cost was too great for him.

Are there any barriers that keep you out of a close relationship with Jesus. What would you have done if asked the same question? Be honest ask yourself what is separating me from a close walk with God? You may be a Christian but is your walk what you want it to be? Do you have the close fellowship with Jesus that you desire/ Check your heart.

If there are barriers tear them down and move forward in a newness of life and a closer walk with our Lord. Give it up for freedom.

“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.” Unknown.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 30, 2024

Nehemiah 3:12, 17 – 18 (NASB)

12 “And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

 17 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” 18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.”

This is the next Old Testament book I am going to study. Nehemiah saw the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem. When he heard what had happened scripture teaches he began to pray, to fast, and seek out God on the next steps.

Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem to see the damage and then without consulting anyone he devised a plan (directed by God) to rebuild the walls of the city. He relied completely on God directing his path and developing the plans.

Once he knew exactly what God had in store for the city he laid out the plan, got people on board, and continued to work to rebuild the wall until it was finished.

Nehemiah had a plan; he had a need. Have you ever found yourself in such a place? Our vision should consider others and their need and not only focus on our situation. Nehemiah saw a need for the city way beyond a personal need.

Has God opened your heart to do something special, maybe serve some group in need? Could you assist The Bridge of Hope with some of your time? What he has placed on your heart to be a Nehemiah and see it through to the end.

“It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.” Helen Keller.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 29, 2024

Revelation 4:8 (NASB)

“And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

Do you ever wonder how limitless God is? He is only limited by our minds. Remember God is a spirit and He operates in that world. He works and deals through our spirit not our minds or our body. If we are to see God move then we need to operate in the world of the Holy Spirit where He operates.

God is omnipotent and He operates with all power. Job 26:7 says, He stretches out the north over the empty space: He hangs the earth on nothing.” We limit Him when we forget His awesome power.

Many people find God unreachable when in fact He reaches down to us. We can see that when He sent His Son to this world for our salvation. He made the Light remove any darkness that existed.

God sees us as righteous because we have accepted His Son as our Savior. He has said He will take the dark sin in our lives and turn us into something beautiful, He can make the black turn white.

Have you had that experience? If not let me offer you this verse from Romans 10. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

God Bless.