Bible Study October 17, 2024

Psalm 114:12 – 16

12 “Blessed Lord, teach me your rules. 13 I have recited your laws 14 and rejoiced in them more than in riches. 15 I will meditate upon them and give them my full respect. 16 I will delight in them and not forget them.”

I know several people who have read the Bible through several times. Prior to my retirement I did a great deal of traveling and I picked up a copy of the Bible with The Message  translation and listened to it all the time. I am not bragging it was just a good way to hear the Word and process what was being read.

Do you know there is no reference anywhere in the Bible that it is called the Bible. However the scriptures are infallible telling us we are fallible. The scriptures are filled with incidents relating to peoples falling away from God and His teachings.

One writer said, “though timeless, it is timely.” Written years ago by prophets inspired by God and both the Old and New Testaments. If we were to look at the events of today we would see history repeating itself. Sin and evil abound as it did in the days of Noah.

The Bible is a remarkable book written to provide guidance to mankind. However, it is of no value if it is not read. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Take it off the shelf and begin to read it daily. Quantity is not nearly as important as a quality. Read a passage maybe from John fourteen until you have a good understanding then move to another section of scripture and get it into your spirit.

“Christ and the Bible are two impregnable forces upon which Christianity stands or fails.” Robert P. Lightner.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 15, 2024

1 Corinthians 13:8 – 13 (ESV)

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Do you ever wonder why things happen?  When bad things come to us we either trust God or go on trying to figure out what is going on and why. We do not always know why things happen and that is a good thing.

God knows far more than we and maybe when we get to heaven we can ask the why but I imagine at that time it will not make any difference. Our problems, our health issues, our financial issues will all be of no concern when we see Jesus. No longer will the past have any significance in our past life. We are now living eternally with never any more cares.

All we need to know is the words of the popular Mahayla Jackson song “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”

“I take Him ay His word; indeed, “Christ died for sinners” – this I read; for in my heart I find a need of Him to be my savior.” Dorothy Greenwell.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 10, 2024

2 Timothy 1:8 – 10,

“8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to[a] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

What is a deposit? We trust a bank that when we deposit our money into it is safe. These banks failed in 2023:

Silicon Valley Bank: Failed on March 10, 2023, after a bank run triggered by a large loss on its Treasury bond portfolio

Signature Bank: Failed on March 12, 2023, and was significantly exposed to cryptocurrency

First Republic Bank: Failed on May 1, 2023

Heartland Tri-State: Failed in Elkhart, Kansas, in July 2023

Almena State Bank: Failed in Almena in October 2020

When we deposit into the bank of heaven by good works once we are saved through faith they are there for safe keeping. But there is another deposit we may not have thought about. We are a bank the Lord has deposited His Son and Holy Spirit into. We must guard what He has deposited into our account. You are protected by His FDIC “Faithful Deposit in Christ.”

Guard your heart to keep it safe from any advances Satan would take to enter into your bank and steal what the Lord has deposited.

“When you deposit your life with God, you have nothing to fear; for He is able to keep you.” Warren Wiersbe.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 8, 2024

Nahum 1:2 – 3

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”

Recently Hurricane Helene went through Florida, into eastern Tennessee, and on to North Carolina. Families suffered great losses and will continue to dig through the remains for months. Now we hear of a new hurricane that is expected to hit the area in a day or two. Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida with 155 mph winds as it tracks eastward off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

We just received some saddening news on Monday, news you neve expect to hear. It turns your life upside down and you wonder why things happen and how I can deal with it. To us it is whirlwind we never wanted to hear.

Sometimes our lives feel like a whirlwind but we can have hope in the future because God rides above the storm. Many people in Florida are people of faith and they will survive as are the people in Asheville I shared about Sunday. The Gentry’s in the story I shared Sunday are such people. If you missed it you can find it on our Facebook page from our service on Sunday.

God is God of judgment but He is also our God of compassion and love. Pray for those who suffer.

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms.” Elisha A. Hoffman.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 7, 2024

Hebrews 11:1 – 2 (ESV)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Can we prove anything? “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence” is how The American Heritage Dictionary describes faith. Is Christianity logical or is the evidence by our faith?

The disciples walked with Jeus we did not, they saw the open tomb we did not, there were over five hundred witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. Here is evidence of His life, death, and resurrection. We believe what they said and what they wrote.

Our life as Christ Followers is based on faith it is based on what we cannot see – yet. But it is based on what we have hope in.

God can do exceedingly above all that we believe. He is the all powerful One who we put that faith in that cannot see the future but we can live in expectation. We need to keep in His Word, remain in communion with Him while all the time maintaining our familiarity with His promises and by doing so our faith will be strengthened.

“You never test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible.” F. B. Meyer.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 3, 2024

John 7:24 (ESV)

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” When see a person do we really know them? What about an action they may do does that affect how you see them?

John  Wesley in his early years appeared to do everything he thought a Christian should do. He memorized the Greek New Testament; he even took the message of salvation to American Indians hoping to find salvation. He did things outwardly hoping to find God accepting him inwardly. It didn’t work for Wesley.

No matter how much we do in the name of God we will fall short without asking for the inward peace that comes from being forgiven of the sin our lives. It is simply asking God to forgive us. We can look good outwardly but it is the inner man that makes the real difference.

Seek Him while He may be found. Church participation is important but it will not get you heaven, knowing the scriptures will not get you to heaven (it will help you find Jesus), knowing the words to all the hymns will have little to no impact on your heavenly journey. All of these are good but relationship with God through His Son Jesus is the only way.

Check your heart and see the spiritual condition of where you stand, I check mine.

“Beware you be not swallowed up in books! Ano ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.” John Wesley.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 2, 2024

Psalm 34:16 – 19 (LSB)

“The face of Yahweh is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 Yahweh is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the evils against the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all.”

Kris Kristofferson wrote the song “Why Me, Lord?” Surprising to some, his song “Why Me” (also known as “Why Me, Lord”) was a humble and introspective treatment of a gospel subject. Kristofferson was inspired to write the song after attending a worship service at Evangel Temple, a Nashville church frequented by many of country music’s top stars.

Many times we ask the Lord why things happen in our lives. I know I have on several occasions and in some of those cases I never received an answer. We do it when we get a bad medical report, when we lose a child, when bad things happen to us.

We plan our days, weeks, months out I advance on many occasions and then something comes along and changes or alters the plan and we ask “Why?” Our minds wander to all kinds of thoughts as to the “Why” of a change or a roadblock coming up. Know God knows what is best for us.

“God is in control, and therefore in everything I can give thanks – not because oft eh situation but because the One who directs and rules over it.” Kay Arthur.

God Bless.

Bible Study October 1, 2024

Genesis 1:1  (LSB)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

It all begins with Genesis 1:1 – God. He is our source, our rock, our Counselor, Guide, but most of all He is our Savior.

There is nothing that is supreme over God, nothing ever will be. I saw an interview with a young man who ascribed himself to being an Agnostic. An agnostic is one who “who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.” I have often wondered as I see a sunrise or sunset as I did Saturday evening that a universe so amazing and beautiful – did not just happen.

Man has attempted to become God but that will always be a futile attempt. Humanity has a will that can be exercised but only within certain limits.

We live a world that is changing daily from wars to rumors of war to worldwide unrest. We see the attack against Israel and wonder if it is the beginning of the end. These things have been with us and will remain. When we get concerned, discouraged, worried remember these words “In the beginning God…”

“Biblical patience is not rooted in fatalism that says everything is out of control, it is rooted in faith that says everything in in God’s control.” John Blanchard.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 25, 2024

Ephesians 6:17 – 18 (LSB)

“Receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times]with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

Paul takes about putting on the protective gear to avoid the attacks of Satan. We are designed to meet Satan head on not run away. When you look at the armor of God there is nothing to cover your back we are meant to “stand, then stand firm.” No retreating.

The battle is won we need to live in the victory of Jesus over sin and death which is what Satan offers. The armor is for protection but there is an offensive weapon that we may overlook. The offensive weapon is God’s Word the “Sord of the Spirit.”

We can rebut anything Satan throws at us with the Word of God. There is everything contained in it to overcome the temptations of the devil. Memorize some verses that are victory verses for you and they will be available the very moment we need them.

We have weapons but they are useless if we do not use them for their intended purpose. The Sword of the Spirt is intended to fight off Satan – let’s use it effectively.

“The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons.” Thomas Gutherie.

God Bless.