Bible Study April 9, 2024

Ecclesiastes 1:9 – 11

“That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.”

I read an interesting paragraph on the economy. It referred to the number of depressions we have had since the “Great Depression.” The article stated the worst was 2008. But the writer went on to say there had been twelve recessions since the “Great One” and some economists said there had been forty-seven since the great depression. I must take his word for it.

Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. Depressions, wars, homelessness, poverty, sin all these go to show us man is not smart enough to deal with many things, he is simply incapable to do so on his own.

Mankind needs to look to another One much smarter and wiser than we are to get us through situations such as these, but is he willing to do so? We should no longer be putting our trust in man but we need to look to God to provide the answers we desperately need. He is the only one who can provide stability in our world.

“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I place inn God’s hands, that I still possess.” Martin Luther.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 5, 2024

Acts 13:30 – 36 (NET)

30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors, 33 that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’ 34 But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.’ 35 Therefore he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.’ 36 For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay,”

There is much talk today about the carbon footprint and it’s impact on nature. But  have you ever given any thought to you spiritual footprint? That is the measure we should use to test the change we are making in the world.

What is your impact on the world? For carbon footprints smaller is better but the complete opposite is true for spiritual footprints. The bigger the better, the greater impact we have on the lives of others.

Our spiritual footprints do not die with us they remain in the actions, prayers, and investments we make in our people’s lives. This will become the legacy we leave behind when we join those who die.

Choose to live to impact others, leave this life by planning well and investing in people so our spiritual footprint will live in eternity.

“The use of possessions shows us up for what we actually are.” Chales C. Ryrie.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 4, 2024

1 Corinthians 4:7 (NET)

“7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”

We do many things to protect our homes. We buy homeowners insurance in case of a loss. We buy a warranty in some cases should something go wrong. We put up a fence to keep the dog in or intruders out. We should do what we can to stay safe and protect what God has given us. Many people have concealed carry permits to protect themselves and their families.

But there is something far more important that we need to guard. Paul says we have the Gospel of grace that we should protect. That is what he is writing about in the above verse. Earthen vessels are fragile and easily broken, but there is till a treasure in them. It is the presence and power of God which is deposited in our earthen vessels.

We all have experienced ways that the enemy will attack our vessel and try to crack it or worse break it all together. The devil is out to “seek, kill, and destroy” every vessel he can. But Paul says the vessel is protected so “the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (verse 11).

Always remember under all conditions we are a child of God who is there to protect us from all things that Satan may bring upon us, His treasure is deposited within us.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 3, 2024

Luke 23:40 – 45 (Legacy Standard Bible)

“40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” 44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until [e]the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured. And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two.”

Rarely do we talk about heaven today and I really am uncertain why that is. It should be topic of conversation for us.

However we may be like the little boy in Sunday School class when all the children were asked if they wanted to go to heaven to raise their hand. All but one little guy raised their hands. The teacher asked him if he wanted to go and his response was a cute one. He said, “If you’re getting up a load right now, I can’t go. Momma said to come home right after church for lunch.”

Jesus discussed it with one person – the thief on the cross. Two thieves hung with Jesus but one mocked Him while the other asked for forgiveness. Jesus’ answer was “Today you will be with me in in paradise.” Their physical bodies died but their spirits lived on for another day.

Today is the day of your salvation if you have not placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t make the eternal mistake of waiting too long.

“Death to a saint is nothing but the taking of a sweet flower out of this wilderness, and planting of it in the garden of paradise.” Thomas Brooks.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 2, 2024

Psalm 51:1 – 4 (Legacy Standard Bible)

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak and pure when You judge.”

One of the greatest emotions we face in our lives is that of guilt. It arises from many sources and can keep a person in turmoil. It is a painful and keeps chewing away at us and keeps us from making a life free of worry.

King David wrote Psalm 51 after his affair with Bathsheba and he was truly guilt ridden over all that he had done in the sin and the covering of it up. David like most of us cannot get rid of anything like this on our own.

Sin in most cases hurt not only the one committing the atrocity but also the one harmed but many people do not see the other party in their guilt they are only ashamed because they got caught. In sin our greatest one to harm is God, He sent His Son to cover the sin we commit.

When we deal with the guilt, seek forgiveness from God, and the other party, then it is time to forgive ourselves. We must be reminded that when God forgives it is finished. When we do this we are free from the guilt and condemnation of our actions.

“Biblical forgiveness … is the beginning of restored freedom and renewed health.” Ken Nichols.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 1, 2024

Revelation 22:10 (NASB)

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Yesterday we worshipped the “King” as our risen Savior. Have you thought the first time He came to earth He came very quietly much to the surprise of the world around Him. He left the earth the first time in thunder, the sun going dark, the moon stopping its shining, and the stars falling from heaven. The next time He comes back will be an amazing event. An event the whole world will see and experience.

The Lamb of God coming in riding on a white horse and the whole world will know who has come back. He is the Lord of Judah bringing judgement on the world.

According to some scholars there are 1,845 reference to His second coming with 318 in the new Testament. Only second to faith is this the most talked about topic in the scriptures. Jesus mentioned it twenty one times Himself.

Final victory over sin, death, and the grave is in our future, only God the Father knows the return of His Son. We should live in an expectant hope of heaven, talking about it, sharing it with one another by showing an interest in their futures. What is the hope that we have within us? Are we sharing that hope with others?

God Bless.

Bible Study March 29, 2024

Hebrews 6:17 – 19 (Legacy Standard Bible)

“17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and confirmed and one which enters within the veil.”

Jesus is our only hope for the future world. Many proclaim there are more than one way to go to heaven the scriptures teach is what Jesus said. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That settles it for me. He is it, the only way.

But He is more than our hope for the future He is our hope for today. In all that we face He is there to watch over us. We do not think of heaven enough because we get caught up in the events of the day. Heaven is our future home we should be making plans to go there. I know moving so many times while working it seemed we were moving every two to three years always making plans, looking for anew home.

We worry about children, our parents, our jobs, our safety, all the concerns that can easily overwhelm us but He is the great “I AM” for all situations.

When we hear Jesus calling us we know that great anchor is watching over us. Set your anchor deep in His waters of salvation, seek His forgiveness knowing He is calling and waiting for our response. He is only a word away.

“Fastened to the Rock that cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.” Priscilla Owens.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 28, 2024

Psalm 77:4 – 8

“4 You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! 5 I think of the good old days, long since ended, 6 when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. 7 Has the Lord rejected me forever?     Will he never again be kind to me? 8 Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?”

Victory is one thing as is defeat but neither should be relied upon nor should we rest on them. Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

We fail and sometimes we decide “I’m never going there again” only to find out we are back once again. Even in failure there a benefits to be claimed. Failure is fatal to many people they simply give up. Where would many of us be if we shared our faith with someone and they said “No” and we never shared it again, someone would be lost. Be resilient.

The scriptures teach us we will have both valleys and mountains, we will have ups and downs life is never the same. But that is no reason to give up when we think we have failed we have another opportunity to grow. Giving up is easy going forward and battling back often takes more strength but gives more rewards. Never quit trying.

If you think you haver failed put your concerns in the hands of God.

God Bless.