Bible Study May 3, 2024

James 3:13 – 18

13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Maybe the most devastating thing that occurs in our world is war. War has been going on since the beginning of time and will continue till the end of time. In fact, the book of Revelation comes to an end with the great and final war.

James talks about peace in these verses. In fact,  in this passage, James has been describing the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom encourages us to be selfish and greedy, and to put our own interests before the needs of others. Godly wisdom, on the other hand, leads to peace, mercy, and sincerity.

James concludes his thought from the previous verse with a beautiful word picture. Imagine fields full and ready to harvest. The crop of this field is righteousness, goodness, and everything those who belong to God would hope to see in the world.

How did it get there? The crop was planted by those who make peace. James elevates the role of peacemakers: ones committed to living peacefully in full confidence that God is providing for them. These are believers who know God is meeting every need, giving many good gifts. Such people don’t feel the need to fight against others for what they need. Their peace-loving lifestyles lead to fields of righteous choices.

That’s the result of living by heaven’s wisdom.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 2, 2024

Revelation 3:10 – 13

10 “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

When a country or nation falls to another many of the people left are fearful of the regime that may come in and take control of their lives. Many want to leave their homeland for something they hope will provide better for them.

When we leave this earth we will have no fear for the next if we are Christ Followers and keep His commandments. We can be assured of life in the new land will be glorious as the scriptures relate.

However, not everyone will see this new land because of the choice they have made to not give their life over to Jesus. The earth’s inhabitants will one day beg for mercy if they are not in relationship with Jesus. The church will be raptured (taken out of this world) and then all hell will break out.

The question posed by many is a simple one “If I missed the rapture can I still go to heaven?” The answer is only found in a relationship with Jesus. People will find salvation during the tribulation but life will be difficult. But now is the time to make the decision to follow Jesus then you can assured that you will go when the church goes during the rapture.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 1, 2024

1 Samuel 17:39 40

“And David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.”

This has always been an intriguing story to me for several reasons:

1. Why did David takes five stones – he needed only one?
2. Why did the giant Goliath need a shield bearer?
3. Would Saul not realize his armor would not fit David?
4. David ran toward the giant without any fear.
5. He ended the life of Goliath with Goliath’s sword.

All these are interesting to me. David didn’t need Sail’s armor he had all he needed to defeat the giant. He had a staff, a bag, a sling, and those five “smooth” stones. That was his arsenal and it proved adequate for the day.

David was ready for battle he had it all under control everything he needed was close at hand. Do we keep our ammunition close at hand that being the scriptures soften referred to as “the Sword of the Spirit?”

Let me encourage to memorize a scripture a day. That is keeping the Word in your heart and ready for battle when the need arises as it will. His Word will protect us.

“The one who neglects his Bible is bound is bound to make a failure of the Christian life.” R. A. Torrey.

Bible Study April 30, 2024

2 Timothy 1:8 – 10 (ESV)

8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

There are times when we must take a stand for our convictions. During the summer of 1977 I met with an ordination committee from another denomination concerning being ordained in their church. All was going well (I think) until they asked me a question about my beliefs. I explained my position, they were shocked in fact, one seasoned minister on the committee who had held a revival in the church said, “I didn’t’ know you were that way.”

They gave me the option to recant what I believe or resign and be gone in three weeks. I chose the latter. They were adamant in what they believed and I was not going to change what I believed.

Joshua in his farewell address to the Israelites urged them to stand strong and commit themselves to serving God not a bunch of false idols. Their decision would impact the history of Israel. He told them “For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14).

As a body of believers we must declare where we stand and faint not in our pursuit of righteousness.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 29, 2024

Galatians 6:6 – 10 (ESV)

6 “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

There is so much wrapped up in these verse for today that we could take several different approaches.

Leaders have a responsibility to all they lead, not just to a single person or group. If leading is done correctly it helps everyone become a better person. The leader cannot be in it for himself but for others.

There have been many successful leaders that we read about from high school coaches to professional coaches to church leaders. But we should never forget as parents we are leaders in the home. There are times when we must take a tough stand and make the “tough love” decisions. I remember from my days in the business community that if you wore the white hat enough when you had to put on the black hat it made it more palatable.

Leaders lead with love and appreciation for all they serve. That word “serve” my seem strange but see this:  Jesus also taught about the importance of serving others. Mark 10:45, He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” These words show that Jesus not only believed in servant leadership, but He practiced it Himself.”

“Talent is God given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.” John Wooden.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 26, 2024

Acts 17:5 – 6 (ESV)

“But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”

Every disciple of Jesus died a horrible death except John who as exiled to the island of Patmos by the Emperor Domitian.

Peter was crucified upside down, James was beheaded, Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross, Philip, Jude, and Simon were also crucified, Barthalomew was skinned alive and beheaded, Matthew was stabbed to death, Thomas was speared to death, James was toned, crucified, and beaten, Matthias was stoned and beheaded.

Each faced a horrible death at the hands of non-believers. Jesus had warned them they were to be persecuted because they persecuted Him.

If you remember they were at one time acting cowardly before the death of Jesus but something happened after His death and resurrection. But that all changed after His resurrection.

What might you think occurred to make a difference? 1 Corinthians 15:3 – 8 says, “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

It was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that changed them.

God Bless.

Bible Study April 25, 2024

2 Thessalonians 2:7 – 9 (ESV)

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,”

The practice of counterfeiting currency is as old as money itself. Over the ages many have tried to make a living from this illegal activity with varying degrees of success.

One of the earliest counterfeiters was also one of the luckiest.  Dating back to the 5th century under the rule of Emperor Justinian, the man who would become known as Alexander the Barber was so talented that he was eventually employed by the state to help in their finance department.

Over the ages methods of counterfeiting became increasingly sophisticated.

There is no better counterfeiter in the world than Satan. He can counterfeit with the very best after all they learned their trade form him. He can also counterfeit things that are spiritual. He can produce signs and wonders that appear to be genuine but indeed are false.

Christ Followers must be careful not to be deceived by the fake stuff we see in our daily lives. John told us to “test the spirits to see if they are form God or not.” (1 John 4:1). God Bless

Bible Study April 24, 2024

Matthew 4:1 – 4 (ESV)

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

We must be constantly alert for all the stuff we get hit with from the advertising media. It seems as though everyone wants to sell us something even stuff we do not need or want. That’s the problem with Amazon it is easy, convenient, and effortless to easy to order stuff we do not need.

But what temptation is easy or difficult? Satan tried to tempt Jesus at least three times in the desert. But each time He quoted scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy to overcome the temptation.

We can do the same thing but we need to know scripture. David Jeremiah once said, “When tempted we do not always have the time or opportunity to look the scripture up in the concordance of the Bible.”

We should memorize scripture. Even if you do not think you can give it a try. Everyone knows John 3:16 but do we know verse fifteen or seventeen? By reading it several times daily we will begin to memorize scripture. Write it down, stick in your pocket, pull it out several times a day and before you know it you will begin to memorize scripture and find that it is not that difficult.

“Reading is an immense gift, but only if the words assimilated, taken into he soul-eaten, chewed, gnawed, received in unhurried delight.” Eugene Peterson.

God Bless.