Bible Study June 7, 2024

Luke 12:35 – 40

““Gird up your loins, and keep your lamps lit. 36 And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find awake when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the [m]third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

We have seen earthquakes, natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars all throughout the world. Scripture teaches us these things will happen before the return of  Jesus. We have been and are warned to be vigilant while awaiting His return.

Today we marvel at the state of the world. Conditions in many countries are brought them down to, Famines, wars are being seen more frequently than in the past. As we see these things materialize we should not worry we have security in Jesus and His promises to those who believe.

Watch, prepare, wait, believe for His return. We have read of many false prophets dating His return and they were all wrong. Many have claimed to be the Messiah and they too were wrong. No man knows the time nor will man ever know until He makes his grand return – Be ready,

“The world is in trouble, but Jesus came to rescue us from the consequences.” Erwin Lutzer.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 6, 2024

Mark 13:22 – 23 (LSB)

“For false christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But as for you, see! I have told you everything in advance.”

Turmoil is present in much of the world today. We are seeing it in Ukraine and in the Middle East especially. The Old Testament is a book about the nation of Israel it’s impact on the world and how it will impact history.

We have no idea what will come from the war in Ukraine but we can rest assured Israel will not be defeated by any adversary. But we can also be assured that in the midst of conflict the Gospel will move forward. In fact, many times when things get difficult the Holy Spirit moved and amazing things began to happen.

We can take the position that all things will ultimately work out as they will but I am firm believer that things do not “just happen.” God has His plan in place and He will not alter or change it, we can rest on His Word.

We can outline our assertions of what will take place but they will take a backseat to the message of our creator. History shows us much about the future and history is the story of God and His plan for the future including His return.

We can and should in complete assurance that no matter how things look to the human eye God has it all under control.

“When things look the darkest to the world, they look the brightest to the Christian. Our King is coming back.” Vance Havener.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 5, 2024

John 15:1 – 4 (Legacy Standard Bible)

15 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they did not know the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you [a]may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

Jesus said he would be our resource to help us on all we do.

First, the relationship of abiding means that we cannot “go it alone” in our spiritual lives, what Parker Palmer once described as a “free floating spirituality.” Jesus notes the impossible cannot happen: “the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless you abide in me”

Jesus talked about how grapes grow and compared it to how we should grow. In the story, Jesus is like the vine that gives the branches food, water and everything it needs to grow fruit. We are like the branches that grow out of the vine. When we’re connected to Jesus, we’ll produce fruit, too. The question becomes how deeply we are connected to the roots.

Without connection the vine dies, the branches die and nothing continues to exist. The branch is entirely dependent on the vine. The branch gets its life from the vine. In the same way, we are entirely dependent upon Christ. We get life from Jesus. Jesus gives us his life, and it’s through the life of Jesus, as we depend on him, that we are able to bear fruit.

“The branch … rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the fruit found on it.” Hudson Taylor.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 4, 2024

2 Peter 3:14 (LSB)

14 “Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.”

There is so much going on around us it is difficult to find peace in our daily activities and all we do. There are times the world seems to turning upside down or at least our world.

Sickness comes, death comes, decisions need to be made, a child goes astray or missing and when these come upon us what do we do. The scriptures teach us that God gives us peace because He has overcome the same troubles we face.

Through these difficult times we need to lean into Jesus as our comfort. One day soon our trouble will pass, the issues we face will be resolved and when the next one comes we should remember how He led us out of the previous one and find solace there.

Ultimately the rains in our lives will pass and we will see Jesus in all His glory and then we can rest assured that no more will anything come to cause us angst. But until that moment in our futures let’s keep in mind that above all things as Paul wrote to the Colossians “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Look forward to Jesus’ return and we will find comfort knowing that our difficult times will come to an end and eternity will be free of the pain, decision, sickness, and death.

“Beyond the bounds of time and space, look forward to that happy place.” Charles Wesley.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 3, 2024

Psalm 1:1 – 3 (NASB)

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

This is another promise of God for those who are His followers. We cannot look to someone else for our salvation we must seek it on our own. A parent cannot stand in to save their child, but they can pray for their salvation.

We are concerned that our children are not walking the path they should (I’m in that boat at this time). Their final chapter is not yet written at this time. Never give up hope that they will come to faith.

We should model our faith and lifestyle that they will see Jesus in and through us. In fact, many who are not family members will find faith through our lives by watching and seeing our lives as their example.

A child may be caught in an addiction maybe something the parents did in the past. That cycle can be broken, no one must continue to live in the past of their parents. If we see a child doing what we have done in the past and God has forgiven us then pray that the cycle will be broken, talk to them about what it did to you, show them the new you.

Martin Luther said, “Never mind the scribes, what saith the scriptures?”

God Bless.

Bible Study May 31, 2024

Ephesians 6:18 – 19 (ESV)

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”

Prayer is spoken about many times and references in the scriptures. Prayer is a powerful communication means with our Father.

Paul uses the term “all” three times in these two verses. Pray at all times, what is he saying here? He is saying stay in an attitude of prayer. He is not saying pray twenty-four hours a day but he is saying we should be ever mindful of the needs of others and pray for them in an attitude of prayer.

“With all prayer and supplication” again what is he saying here? Paul is describing prayer that is prayer that is relentlessly persistent, clear-minded, Kingdom focused, and Spirit-filled. I believe this is what is meant in the scriptures when we are certain how to pray that the Spirit prays for us. I also believe that the prayer language referred to in the scriptures refers to praying in the Spirit.

Then he writes “For all the saints.” When we pray to the saints, our faith is in Jesus! We believe that the power of the Resurrection means that those who have gone through the portal of death are alive and united to Jesus. We will be in paradise until His second coming.

“Communion is the basis of all prayer. It is the essential breath of the true Christian.” S. D. Gordon.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 30, 2024

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

11 “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We face spiritual battles and will continue to do so until we die. So how do we overcome what befalls us on a daily basis?

First, we find a scripture that addresses the problem we have. As an example we might have a short temper or as some say, “a short fuse.” Colossians 3:8 says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Anger is a result of emotions.

Read the verse daily, memorize the verse that will get you delivered from the issue at hand, make a decision that you are going to free from it, pray about it, follow the direction that we receive both through prayer and studying the scriptures. This counsel will prove infallible in your quest for freedom.

Remember when Jesus was tempted He used scripture to defeat His enemy the devil and we face the same enemy. There is no better example than Jesus as we face the situations in  life that “so easily beset us.”

The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold on me.” Martin Luther.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 29, 2024

1 Peter 4:8 – 10 (ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

If we want to offer something different to the world we must start by being different. True love produces a desire, a choice to live differently. If we forgive we grow spiritually and if we refuse to love one another then we limit our opportunity for growth.

Love does not mean we are walked all over. There are times when in love we make tough decisions that may go against the grain. People cannot be allowed to walk all over a person because they believe we are to love everyone.

We set boundaries but we set them in love. We all have responsibilities to do right with our fellow man. The scriptures teach is how to do that. If  someone is in need you can help them out but there comes a time when they must accept the responsibility to do what is right. Because we hold someone accountable for their actions means we love them and pray they avoid the traps that come to them.

We have all heard the term “tough love.” It means we “love or affectionate concern expressed in a stern or unsentimental manner (as through discipline) especially to promote responsible behavior.” This is according to Merriam – Webster.

“Tough love does not mean to be mean. It’s called tough love because accepting the impossibility of changing someone else’s behavior is tough to do” – Unknown

“Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem” – Jonathan Mead

God Bless.

Bible Study May 28, 2024

Colossians 4:1-6

1 “Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

How much scripture do you know, how much have you memorized? Does scripture saturate your thoughts, consume your thinking at times? I know with the recent events going on around the world my mind is drawn to the end time scriptures. I saw a question posed this past week asking “Who do you think will be the Antichrist? There were a myriad of answers posted. How do we answer such a question without some knowledge of scripture?

Memorizing scripture allows us to have a verse to hit back at Satan when he comes against us. We can use the scriptures just as Jesus our example did when he was confronted by Satan in the desert.

Salt used wisely brings out the best taste in food but you can use too much or too little, we need the proper amount. Test your words before you speak that God may help us salt our conversation before we harm someone.

“Broadly speaking short words are best and old words when short, best of all.” Winston Churchill.

God Bless.