Bible Study June 28, 2024

Proverbs 26:6   (Legacy Standard Bible)

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

There are no perfect people in the world despite the words of Mac Davis in his song “It’s Hard to Be Humble.” There is a line that says “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble. When you’re perfect in every way.” That simply is not the truth.

One of two things is true about our lives. We have either received guidance from someone or we are perfect and never need direction. Since we know there are no perfect we can see which of these are true.

Proverbs tells us that we are fortunate if we have someone in our lives that guide us and help us along. That is what true friends are for: nurture and direction. No friend or in fact no one should ever allow us to make a mistake if they knew they could help us avoid it.

If we see someone and we fail to guide them then we will derail their own spiritual growth. We do not want to do anything that will take them or us off our spiritual journey. We need guidance and when we receive it we should accept it graciously.

In the same manner when we give advice it should be given in the way we receive it. Do you need guidance or know someone who does? If so God will gift you for that time accept His direction and His words.

“Men give advice, God gives guidance.” Leonard Ravenhill.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 27, 2024

Matthew 25:31, 33 – 34 (Legacy Standard Bible)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.’

33 ‘And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

There is a day coming when Jesus will return to judge the nations. When He does he will separate the sheep (believers) from the goats (non-believers). To some He will invite them into the kingdom “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” To the others the goats He will say “Depart from Me I never knew you.”

We are saved by grace there is no other way to be saved and there is only one way to heaven and that is through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Do not believe the lies that there are multiple ways to heaven – there is only one way. We are not saved by all the good stuff we do we are saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ who died on a cross, was resurrected three days later and rose to sit at the right hand of God our Father.

Fill your days with blessing everyone you find. Show them kindness, give someone a “God pocket” if you have one, if not we have extras. Share with them the way to heaven by being a sheep so they too my inherit eternal life.

“The seeming peace a sinner has, is not from the knowledge of his happiness, but from the ignorance of his danger.” Thomas Watson.

God Bless.

Bible Study 6/26/2024

Deuteronomy 31:7 – 8 (Legacy Standard Bible)

7 “Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8 And Yahweh is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

One of the many things we are taught from the scriptures is to not fear, yet we do. Before we say more I want to say that fear and faith are polar opposites. Moses gave the message of faith to Joshua but not only to Joshua but to all the nation “in the sight of all Israel.”

We all need encouragement from time to time and Moses was assuring Joshua that “all of the sight of Israel” was with him. They may not all had faith of Joshua but the admonishment was there for them and their leader.

This Sunday my message is from Mark chapter four on the crossing of the Sea of Galilee. Moses told them the land was theirs all they had to do was go was to take possession of it. Faith says I’m pushing ahead, God is going before me, and I will not be stopped by any force of Satan.

When God is with us we will not fail in fact we cannot fail because he has already won the battle for us. But because the battle is won does not mean we will not need to do anything. We need to take the land that is before us. We need to move the mountain that is standing in our way. We need to act.

“The presence of God in the flood is better than a ferryboat.” Charles Spurgeon.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 25, 2024

1 Corinthians 4:1 – 2 (Legacy Standard Bible)

“Let a man consider us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful.”

Accountability, we all want it from our school systems, our government at all levels, our business leaders, in fact we all want accountability. We have a right to expect it from those in leadership and in government. For those in government we hear so much about how money is spent, do they represent the majority or special interest groups? We hear about insider trading that occurs when indeed it should not.

As Christ Followers we are accountable to God and what He has given us. The parable of the three people given talents two of them doubled their talents while the third buried his and each received their reward for what they did. They were held accountable.

We belong to Christ if we have accepted His forgiveness. We are therefore accountable to Him. One day we will be judged on our faithfulness to Him.

When we see Christ we will show Him what we have done with what we have been given. All that we have will seem to be meager to what He has done for us but He will accept our offerings. He will bless what we offer because of our faithfulness to Him. We will be so happy to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

“Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal, King of our lives, by Thy great grace we will be.” Frances Havergal.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 21, 2024

James 1:19 – 21 (Legacy Standard Bible)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

This popped up today and just this week I saw  a posting on this same topic from my friend Greg. Years ago I heard an evangelist say we should listen twice as much as we talk since God gave us two ears and one mouth. I have a hard time doing that and I am certain some reading this may be in the same boat.

Washington Irving said, “The tongue is the only thing that gets sharper with use.” He couldn’t have been correct. It is so true.

It is said on one occasion a young man came to Socrates to learn to be an orator.  In his first meeting with his teacher, he talked without stopping. When the great philosopher Socrates could get a word in he said to the young man: “Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee.” “A double fee? Why is that? To which Socrates responded “I will have to teach you two sciences. First how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it.”

Socrates gives us some good advice along with the idea of thinking before we speak, is my offering valuable, should I reconsider how or what to say before I venture into a comment I wish I should have not said?
God Bless.

Bible Study June 20, 2024

Matthew 25:1 – 6

“Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”

This parable is about the ten virgins who were to light the way for the bridegroom and accompany him on his way to the wedding. They were to be illuminators. They did not know the time of arrival but were to be ready for his arrival.

One half of them were prepared. their lamps were trimmed, the had oil and they were waiting with anticipation for his arrival. The other five were sitting around waiting for something to happen that they were completely unprepared for. They were consumed with the happening of what was surrounding them they did not realize the need to prepare. We could ascertain from the parable they were all told about what was to happen.

When the time came for the arrival one half were not ready, they were left outside the house and the door was even locked so they could not enter. Verse twelve and thirteen of Matthew twenty-five says, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Paul warned the church in Corinth to examine themselves and we have that same admonishment today, examine, prepare because we do not know the date or time of Jesus arrival for His bride.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 18, 2024

Matthew 24:37 (Legacy Standard Bible)

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark.”

As I was reading today I was reviewing my comments for Cindy’s mom’s graveside service which I will conduct this morning.

Jesus is returning but we have no idea when. But He came for Cindy’s mom on May 31^st of this year. Thankfully she was a believer and now she is in paradise.

But that is not true for all who die. Scripture teaches us we all will die (unless Jesus comes back before we die). What does the future hold for each one of us? There are many theories floating around that our God of love would send no one into eternity lost.

That is partially true but a false teaching. We send ourselves into eternity by what we believe we either accept or deny Jesus. It is the hope of our creator that all find their peace through Jesus but unfortunately not all will seek it. Thankfully mom did. Our theology may not have been the same but Jesus was the same.

Someone once said we all die once but aa Christ Follower only dies once while an unbeliever will die both a physical and spiritual death. I believe that but I also believe we all spend eternity somewhere in that case we live somewhere forever.

The choice is ours to make – where do I want to spend my eternity. Jesus told His followers He is the way, the truth, and the life and the then immediately goes on to tell them He was going away to prepare a pale for them and for us.

Today let me encourage to find Jesus who is looking for you.

“O Christian … wait for the coming of your Lord, nut let it be with your lamps trimmed and your lights burning.” Charles Spurgeon.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 18, 2025

John 12:20 – 23 (Legacy Standard Bible)

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

 Jesus gives us healthy vision. Many people today are looking at life through rose colored glasses. They cannot accept what they see so they make all things what they want them to be.

In order to see our future clearly we must look through the spiritual eyes that God has gifted us with. We see our future through what the inspired Word of God has given us.

According to the scriptures, the god of this age has blinded the eyes and minds of those outside of a faith relationship with Jesus. As Christians we have the scriptures implanted in our vision to give us sight.

We can look at the headlines through the scriptures of God’s Word. We understand that Christ is returning according to the scripture. Though the times are perilous we have the peace of saying “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels—Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9 LSB).

“Turn you eyes upon Jesus; look full into His wonderful face.” Helen Lemmel.

God Bless.

Bible Study June 17, 2024

Hebrews 11:1 – 5  (Legacy Standard Bible)

“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. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was approved as being righteous—God approving his gifts—and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for prior to being taken up, he was approved as being pleasing to God.”

Yesterday I mentioned in my message about the legacy the father of the prodigal son wanted for his children and the fact he wanted them to leave a legacy also. Many people plan their celebration of life ending without ever considering what might be said concerning their legacy.

I will be doing my mother in laws internment this Wednesday morning and I met with her husband to plan the graveside service, they have both preplanned their services. Art and I talked about some things and we shared some stories of their lives together. This was the second marriage for both of them who lost their first wife and husband to illness.

One thing that came out in our discussion was something that Art said. “It was a partnership.” In other words they were in it together for better or worse. He share some stories that I did not know and I may use one or two of them Wednesday. Mom’s legacy will be one that is remembered.

Enoch transferred from earth to his presence into God’s presence in an instant, it wasn’t like that for mom but I am confident beyond any doubt she too is in His presence. They are both there because of “faith” which pleases God.

God Bless.