Bible Study August 26, 2024

Galatians 6:12 – 14

12 “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

How far will I go for what I believe about my faith. Many people today are persecuted for their beliefs, people are mocked for taking a stand for Christ. People have been threatened with the loss of their jobs because of their faith.

One thing I have learned that God will never leave us high and dry. We have the security of knowing God will not forsake us when we stand for what we believe is Christian. Do not let discouragement affect you, stay strong in what you believe – God is faithful.

The Greek word for boast is different than the English word. The Greek word is an expression of praise where the English word is interpreted as pride. The world is spiritually dead to Christ but alive unto Satan. The Judaizers were motivated by religious pride and wanted to impress others with their external piety. Correct doctrine did not concern them (vs 12).

“We don’t want to personally or institutionally offensive, but we cannot buffer the offense of the cross.” John MacArthur. God Bless.

Bible Study August 23, 2024

James 1:25 (ESV)

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Are you happy with how you look? Many people get surgeries to change their appearance so they believe they will become “more beautiful.” Many times they continue to be unsatisfied with their appearance. We look into the mirror many times to check our appearance.

Michael Jackson recorded a song called “Man In the Mirror” and here are some of the lyrics:
I’m gonna make a change

For once in my life

It’s gonna feel real good

Gonna make a difference

Gonna make it right

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could’ve been any clearer

If they wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change.

What really changes our appearance? It is being formed in the image of God there is no other way to be reimaged. Let the scriptures reflect who God is in your life.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 21, 2024

Matthew 15:20 – 25

“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Problems happen to us they are seemingly unavoidable. James Dobson wrote a book titles “When Bad Things Happen To Good People.” It rains on all of us even without walking under a ladder. By the way I am not superstitious.

What do we do when we encounter a problem? Do we pray first or last. Sunday on my way to church the engine light came on in my pickup. I found out today I have a problem with the transmission in my truck, that is a problem and could be expensive. I thought praying – then I did. No one is exempt these things sometimes seem to chase us down. I noticed after taking it the transmission guy when I went to back into driveway the light was off – now faith must kick in.

The scriptures teach us we have a very present help in the time of trouble. I know some people say there is no need to pray for things like this but I believe if God can forgive sin, heal cancer, he can fix a transmission.

I am resting on his help in this present need.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 16, 2024

2 Timothy 3:14 – 17  (LSB)

14 “But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

CarShield an auto warranty company will pay a $10 million fine as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC levied the fine after alleging NRRM, LLC, which operates CarShield and American Auto Shield, made deceptive and misleading claims in its advertising and telemarketing of its vehicle service contracts. We see these types of fines from time to time.

People buy these warranties in order to protect their investment and help to cover the cost of repairs. They want a vehicle that performs as it should, we expect that with a warranty.

But do we keep a regular maintenance record on our spiritual condition of our heart? 2 Timothy 3:2-5 lists several things we should avoid and they are within our control just as the maintenance of our vehicle is. If we change the oil we expect the engine to run smoothly. Sometimes we find changes that we need to make.

There are listed some qualities listed in verses ten to twelve that provide guidance for us. Those like changing the oil should be followed. When you did your last spiritual maintence check what did you find?

God Bless.

Bible Study August 15, 2024

Hebrews 11:1 (LSB)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is often referred to as “The Hall of Faith.” This chapter and those mentioned are a testament to living by faith. The writer mentions in the beginning of chapter twelve “the cloud of witnesses.”

The faith described here involves the most solid possible conviction a future of things not seen as of yet. True faith is not based on theory but on divine assurance and is a gift from God.

We must act on faith which is acting on what we cannot see. So many people wait for the “seeing” then act but that is the opposite of faith. Faith acts then sees the results. We pray for people in faith. James uses the phrase “The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick…” It is the prayer that is said in faith.

Read through the remainder of Hebrews eleven and see the faith of those listed. There is even the name of Rahab the prostitute, that saved the spies form capture and she is in the lineage of Jesus. You cannot ever know where something we do will lead us.

“Faith and obedience are inescapably related. There is no saving faith in God apart from obedience to God, and there can be no godly obedience without godly faith.” John Macarthur.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 14, 2024

Colossians 4:9 – 14

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

We have been looking at the book of Acts recently and I am drawn to verse ten in this passage. I added verses before and after to keep all in context. We have been looking at the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the empowerment that comes from His presence in our lives.

Looking at verse ten I have to ask my self “how can we walk in a worthy manner outside being empowered by the Holy Spirit?” There may be ways to do that exact thing but I am not certain how one could do so.

The Spirit is given to us as a Comforter, one who leads us into all understanding. We can do all kinds of good deeds but the question comes “Does that make us any better in God’s eyes?” We do good things for others out of love for Him.

God accepts us as Christ Followers when we yield our lives to Him then the we do good works, there is no other way to salvation you cannot “work” your way into salvation.

If you are a Christian know God sees you and blesses you with favor. God Bless

Bible Study August 13, 2024

Judges 16:18 – 20

“18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.”

This is tragic story of a man called by God and given enormous strength. He was a Nazarite and part of the Nazarite vow he was not to shave his head. He fell into the clutches of Deliah who coerced him into telling her where his strength came from and she sold him out.

I often buy Cindy flowers her favorite flowers are carnations so I get them when I can find them. I never buy the dead looking ones I look for the fresh ones that still show their magnificent colors. Dead flowers had already accomplished their purpose. Samson was man who lived in the accomplishments of his past.

He thought he could live in the past victories while he served God. He had defeated armies, carried gates, killed a lion he still thought he could do the same things once he lost his strength.

We are like that sometimes we think we can live on our past accomplishments but there is always work to do and people to encourage, pray for, share a witness with. Samson got up and tried to break the binding that held him but he could not – “the Lord had left him.”

A lesson learned here start each day out dependent on the Lord to lead you.

“Complacency is a deadly foe of all of all spiritual growth.” A. W. Tozer.

God Bless.