Bible Study September 24, 2024

2 Chronicles 30:20 – 22 (LSB)

20 “So Yahweh heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day after day with loud instruments to Yahweh. 22 Then Hezekiah spoke to the hearts of all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of Yahweh. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.”

Israel followed God then departed from His guidance. Then they would go back and serve Him for a while then fall away again. This was the pattern of Israel for many years. God always remained faithful, more than we can say for His children. Are we like that today?

Revival would come to the Israelites based on what the prophets like Jeremiah, Jonah, and other said. The people came back then fell away. The revivals of those days did not rely on the teachings they had. It is the same for today. There have even been great revivals but people have fallen away. Why? Because they do not follow  daily routine of study and prayer.

Even though we may not be able to sit in a revival we can have revival in our own hearts. We can find it the scriptures. Open you Bible and expect revival to come and it will.

“God has promised to respond with revival fire for any person who will hear, love, trust, and obey Him.” Bill Bright.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 23, 2024

Luke 7:47 – 50 (LSB)

47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

I have watched some of the “Strong Man” competitions on television occasionally. It is amazing what the men can do but what they do came from years of training and building up their bodies to maximum strength.

We are in a race to the end but it also involves a strong man competition. There is an adversary lurking at us trying to overcome us with his deception and presenting things that look good to us. Resist is the word. However we have an inner strength that is far more powerful than the adversary He is the Holy Spirit. He fights the battle for us all we have to do is say “No.”

As these strong men may have resisted the opportunity to take the day off from training they could not do that and remain disciplined in their goals. The same is true for the believer there are no days off.

We run our race free of the sin that used to get us down we can now live in the freedom of the Spirit.

“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it lying on Christ, the Lamb of God… Now choose what you want.” Martin Luther.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 20, 2024

Luke 12:13 – 15 (LSB)

“13 And someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

We have all heard the phrase “who has the most toys wins.” Is that really true or some misnomer? There is nothing wrong with having wealth if it does not become your God.

Our lives should be fulfilled not just filled with stuff. When we receive a gift it is appreciated but what is more important a kind word or a gift? Maybe a meal shared together is far more valuable than a gift card to a restaurant.

Jesus said in John that He came to give us life but not just life but to give abundant life. Are we enjoying the abundant life He gave to us? Or maybe it is just life. Try giving something of yourself away without expectant return see if that makes a difference.

Our life will become more satisfying when we devote our time to serving God. We will find the stuff in life will become less important to us as we serve others.

What brings you satisfaction?

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” John Peper.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 19, 2024

Romans 12:9 – 12

9 Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, 10 being devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.”

The “Jesus Movement” of the 1970” sparked a revival in America. I have a devotional book titled “Jesus Freaks”  which is stories of those who stood for Jesus. I will share of them beginning tomorrow.

What was the Jesus movement of the 1970s? Here is a description from – Wikipedia.

The term Jesus People is used to describe the group of originally outcasts, drug-obsessed, and all-around anti-religious who during the 1960s and 1970s turned towards the Christian faith and Jesus. They took the Bible and Jesus and began to understand it in their own lives and reformed their lifestyles for the better.

I remember this well as a twenty-two year old in 1970. They were criticized for their stance but I would challenge anyone to question a person’s conversion to Jesus.

Do these words sound familiar? “What will people think when they find that I’m a Jesus freak? What will people do (Freakshow) when they find that it’s true? Ho, ho.” These are words from the song “Jesus Freak” by Toby Mac.

Are you a Jesus Freak? Are you willing to put Jesus first above and beyond all else in your life?

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” John Piper.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 18, 2024

1 Peter 1:13 – 16  (LSB)

13 Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Grace is mentioned 128 times in the New Testament (NKJV). Grace is mentioned 23 times in the Old Testament (NKJV).

Grace is the basis for the Christian faith. We believe we are saved by faith through grace. God’s grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. We count on God’s grace and the bridge he built in our relationship with him.

John Wesley identifies three essential means of grace that Christians throughout time have always observed: prayer, scripture and the sacrament of communion. In prayer, we turn to God for help, strength and/or forgiveness while opening ourselves up to God’s guidance.

Wesley also taught there are three types of grace: prevenient grace, which is God’s active presence in people’s lives before they even sense the divine at work in their lives; justifying grace, through which all sins are forgiven by God; and sanctifying grace, which allows people to grow in their ability to live like Jesus.

“God dispenses his goodness not with an eyedropper but a fire hydrant. Your heart is a Dixie cup, and his grace is the Mediterranean Sea. You simply can’t contain it all. So let it bubble over. Spill out. Pour forth”. Max Lucado.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 17, 2024

Luke 16:24 – 26 (LSB)

24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things. But now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you are not able, and none may cross over from there to us.’

I have heard and most likely you have people say that those in paradise can see what we are doing on earth. According to Luke that cannot happen.

In this case the rich man was suffering and knew his family and how they lived. He did not want them to suffer  as he is suffering so as he desired a drop of water he implored for someone to speak to them.. When that was  not feasible he asked someone go to his brothers and tell them about the torment he was facing.

That was not possible because of the separation of paradise and Hades. We try to reach mankind through human efforts but Jesus bridged the gap between heaven and hell for us. It was God’s initiative that salvation to man. When we turn to Jesus we will find God and that is our access to the Father.

“If there were no hell, the loss of heaven would be hell.” Charles Spurgeon.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 16, 2024

Isaiah 40:7 -8 (LSB)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of Yahweh blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Sometimes when we speak we are misunderstood. Not everyone understands where we come from when we speak. Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ That is easy to understand.

We can stand assured of what God has said will withstand time forever more. He is unchanging in all He does and all He says. Throughout the scriptures God spoke and His Word is unchanging. What He promised in the Old Testament is still true and relevant today.

What would be your impression of God if He were untrustworthy, went back on His word” What if He did not mean what He said about our salvation, about heaven, about eternal life? Where would we be?

We can rest assured that He will not change, His Word is good, it will remain beyond time.

“Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” Corrie Ten Boom.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 11, 2024

Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” is a Bible verse from Proverbs 14:34. It’s a proverb that succinctly expresses the idea that a nation’s success or failure is determined by righteousness or sin. The verse is part of a series of proverbs that contrast positive and negative traits, such as work ethic, self-control, and wisdom.

The word righteousness in this passage is not referring to an individual’s right standing with God but to a nation that adheres to God’s righteous standards as found in His moral law.

We all remember September 11, 2001, and where we were when the murderous thugs struck New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Our nation came together in a time of mourning, searching for some answers as to why it happened. Church attendance increased and people sought a new relationship with God and family.

But time passes on, things change, a new generation is born and they know nothing of this tragedy that so many remember. Our prayers must be that our nation remains strong and we remain strong. How do we do that? We find our strength in the Word of God and remaining righteous in the face of trial and trouble. WE pray for our nation, we pray for our leaders, we learn to encourage one another to do the same.

If “righteousness exalts a nation then we must remain strong and committed in our faith, hope, and most of all in God.

God Bless.