Bible Study May 23, 2024

Genesis 2:15 – 18 (ESV)

15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

This verse asks me some questions. Why would God say you can eat from any tree but this one, why the tree in the center of the garden? Why not a tree that was in obscure location? Did man need someone to support him from being tempted of the fruit? What kind of tree was it, it must have been the best looking tree with the best looking fruit?

Then God created woman to be with the man, the original two genders created in the image of God. I believe He gave woman to man and man to woman for companionship and fellowship in order to develop them. Relationships are important to God He takes priority in them.

Families have two working adults today. The economy is a factor but I think there is a much deeper reason. We want stuff and it takes money to buy stuff. If we have more stuff the quality of our lives will improve but the plan God has is that relationships are more important than stuff. Relationships enhance the quality of our lives that stuff does not. Just think if we worked for relationships rather than stuff how much better the world would be.

Make people your number one priority, give others attention, give them some of your energy today.

“The Most High rules the children of men.” George Fox.

Bible Study May 22, 2024

Psalm 121: 1 – 3 (ESV)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved;     he who keeps you will not slumber.”

“America Runs on Dunkin”, Lay’s: Betcha Can’t Eat Just One, Bounty: The Quicker Picker Upper. Then there is FEDEX –  FedEx – “When There Is No Tomorrow”

“When there is no tomorrow”- this is the promise that the brand made. The slogan communicates that your courier will be processed the very same day because tomorrow will be too late. The slogan perfectly communicates the company’s vision and mission.”

When we are struggling with something in our lives we need help right now. FedEx says there is “no tomorrow.” The scriptures teach us, Jesus proclaimed it, and the church is to communicate that there is indeed a tomorrow.

We will all die once a physical death we all accept that. However I heard a Bible teacher say the other day “we will live forever we need to know where we will live.” We will live a glorious life in heaven or a cursed and damned life in hell. The choice is ours.

Choose life, choose Jesus He is the way to salvation the hope that lies within us. He says to call upon Him He is waiting to accept your invitation for new life in Christ. If you’re not sure how to find it please respond to this study and we will show you how. Tomorrow will be too late.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 21, 2024

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness>

In our struggle to do good and sin not we have a battle on our hands and in our hearts. One of the weapons of warfare is the breastplate of righteousness.

• The breastplate will protect areas like the heart, emotions, conscience, desires and will.
• The breastplate refers to the righteousness of Christ it refers to justification by faith and sanctification.
• The breastplate will  protects us from the devil’s accusations as we pray. Look at Romans 5:1-2.
• The breastplate further protects us from the devil’s accusations when we sin.
• The breastplate protects us from the devil’s accusations as we die.

The breastplate provides us with a security that will never depart from it.

We must be on guard that Satan does not turn the tables on us and lead us astray.

“Lay hold on the Bible until the Bible lays hold on you.” Will H. Houghton.

Bible Study May 20, 2024

3 John 1:5 10

“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”

One quality that some have difficulty with is that of humility. Mac Davis may have summed it up in his song “It’s Hard To Be Humble” with these words:

“… Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble

When you’re perfect in every way

I can’t wait to look in the mirror

Cause I get better looking each day

Paul writes a scathing note to a man named Diotrephes who seemed quite about himself. He was more interested in himself than in the church. He rejected the authority that Paul in and in the letter that he wrote. He refused to accept those sent and even ejected them from the church.

It would serve us all well to be more humble and accepting of everyone. We may not agree with their beliefs (we are not required to do so), lifestyles, friends, or some other issue but we should accept them.

God Bless.

Bible Study Nay 17, 2024

Acts 8:26 – 31

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This passage provides a simple message for us today. No matter where we are we have a story to tell. I’m certain Phillip had no plans to meet this Ethiopian this day but he did and something wonderful came from the meeting.

Two people with different plans for the day happen to meet and one who’s life changed previously shares his story to one who finds new life that moment. Phillip went from the crowds in Samaria to a lonely road where they met.

This story represents how much God loves us as individuals. He has our heart in mind all the time. As He searches out one sheep in the wilderness think how much He is interested in us.

Ask God to lead you to one who needs Him today.

“The essence of faith is “being satisfied with all that God has for us.” John Piper.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 16, 2024

Matthew 4:7 – 11 (ESV)

7 “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. “

Jesus faced a terrible time of temptation while in the desert after His baptism. He was tempted three times to give into Satan. As I look at this third temptation Satan is offering Jesus something He already has – the world He created it.

There are several things that we see in these verses on temptation. First we see Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit, He did not go it alone. The Holy Spirit was leading Him at every juncture during this time.

Secondly, He was fasting during this difficult time as we know He went without food for forty days. Verse two in this chapter tells us of His fasting.

Verse eleven tells us that He outlasted the temptation and most likely exhausted angels came and ministered to Him. Jesus also used scripture to defeat the temptations of Satan. That gives us an excellent example to follow as Satan cannot deal with scripture.

Put on the armor of God, seek the Holy Spirit, pray and we will defeat Satan at every temptation.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 15. 2024

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

Paul has given us a description of the weapons of warfare we have to both fight with and further resist the devil. But they are only useful if we appropriate them and use them for the purpose they are designed for.

We are to “gird” our waist with the weapon of truth. One thing Satan cannot tolerate is the truth. In fact, he will flee from the truth. Many people believe the truth is whatever they want it to be whether right or wrong it has become what they want.

The scriptures teach us the truth and that should be our source for all things right. His truth is absolute and that may be the reason people today refuse to listen to it because they want the truth to be what they want.

It’s the truth that holds the remainder of the armor together and enables us to fight. We must believe the scriptures are true, keep our minds focused on right, keeping the armor properly worn and when that happens victory is ours.

“Wear the truth, say it, sing it, and you will be amazed how the difficulty will be subdued; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” John Henry Jowett.

God Bless.