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.

Memorial Day – Remembering Always

According to Statista we have lost the following number of soldiers:

Civil War – 620,000

World War II – 405,399

World War I – 116,516

Vietnam – 58,209

Korean War – 36,516

War of 1812 – 20,000

Too many lives lost but we celebrate today for what they gave their lives for. Their lives for ours we must never forget the price they paid, the price their families have suffered with their death.

Memorial day began to originally honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. There is nothing “civil” in war. This remembrance inspired the Confederate army to do like wise and honor those lives. After Worl War I is was extended to ll who died.

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American soldier.

One died for your soul; the other died for your freedom.”

Take a moment to thank them both.

Bible Study May 24, 2024

Acts 6:8 – 10, 15 (ESV)

8 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

15 “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

We could learn a valuable lesson from Stephen. When he was dragged before the court for his beliefs he never wavered and he never lost his poise. He remained calm in the midst of the storm before him.

We all face trials in this life. My worst was the death of my son but through it all I knew God knew what He was doing and I understand better each day what His plans are. We may not like everything that befalls us but we can rest assured God has it all under His control. Not our control but His control.

In the midst of all of life’s conflicts our greatest secret can be our devotion to the One who watches over us and loves beyond anything we can imagine. The world has no answer for Christ.

Frederick Whitfield said, “Oh how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.”

God Bless.