Bible Study March 14, 2024

Psalm 17:1 – 3 (NLT)

“O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. 2 Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right. 3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.”

There are many roads we end up on in our journey to heaven involving wrong turns, U turns, stopping and turning around. GPS is a great thing unless you have a 2015 model (which I have) that needs upgrading. Nothing is worse than being lost and unsure of the next turn. When we are on the right road there is only one way and that is the road to Jesus and through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

There are times on the road when we face isolation, loneliness, sometimes a loss of sleep as we wonder what lies ahead. David experienced those nights of lying awake crying out to God for both relief and answers. We experience the same things in our lives.

Some scriptures to think about in those times: Psalm 22:2 “Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.” (A Psalm of David). Psalm 42:8 “But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,    and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.” Then we are reminded of Psalm 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

We see from these scriptures that answers come and peace will flow through our lives again but there will be the valleys that make us appreciate the mountains. If you are going through a tough time think on Psalm 30: Joy will come.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 13, 2024

1 Timothy 4:3 – 5 (NLT)

“3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”

Have you ever found new technology that just didn’t fit your lifestyle or maybe it did? Cell phones are something many people cannot get away from. We have a neighbor that drives down our cul-de-sac looking at his phone every time he passes, he does the same thing when he walks their dog. He is engrossed in it.

I remember computers being introduced into the company I worked for and we had people quit because they did not want to learn the new technology. At least they didn’t complain they just left. Many inventions fall into the category of being new some accepted, some not so much.

Suffering is one of those things we do not like (me included). Our physical bodies get hurt, our emotions become damaged, our egos (if we have one) become hurt because we do get our way. We suffer through it until we “get over it.”

Paul told Timothy not to be afraid of suffering for the Lord. We see some persecution of the church today but it will get worse as we close I on the end of time for this earth. Many will face great persecution but we are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb. Paul says tell others of the Good News and “fully” carry out the ministry that has been laid before us.

“We all face a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Chuck Swindoll.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 12, 2024

Romans 8:31 – 34 (NLT)

“31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

I enjoy watching March Madness college basketball games. It is exciting to see the teams, their tenacity in the game, the fans getting excited while wearing their team colors and oh yes the cheering that goes on.

Who would you answer is your greatest fan? Would it be your children, maybe someone in your career that helped you along or maybe they are your hero or greatest fan for their encouragement.

Let me offer as our greatest fan none other than Jesus Christ. After all the scriptures tell us He is sitting on the right hand of the Father advocating for us and interceding for our needs.

God is greater than anyone, anything on the earth or in the earth. He is our friend, confidant, our source for all our needs. No one else can offer that to us. If God be for us, who can be against us? How can that answer be anything different than?

“Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves?” Martin Luther.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 11, 2024

Romans 8:29 – 31 (NLT)

“29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

I remember when Matt’s mom and I found out that we were having a child how excited we were but yet apprehensive if we could raise him or her right. We were Christians but were still concerned we did everything right. There was no gender reveal at that time and we just wanted a healthy child and we got one.

Nothing he could have ever done would have made us love him any less than we did. He had the best we could provide for him. Keeping that thought in mind just think how God looks upon us.

He wants nothing but the best for His children, we cannot do enough wrong that he will ever love us. God knew us intimately before we were born, He did not need gender reveal to know who we were or how we were going to turn out. He loves us unconditionally.

Then to add to that love He added “who can ever be against us” if He is for us. The victory is the believers for reaching out and accepting it. His desire for us is found in verse twenty nine. He chose us to become like His Son that is we can be transformed into the image of God by just asking for His forgiveness.

“You know what you ought to do. Then do it, not halfway, but out and out.” Emma Moody.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 8, 2024

Romans 8:28 – 29 (NLT)

“28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Bad things happen to good people and the converse is also true. I have said it for years and I believe it remains the same today. You cannot take a verse out of context to make it say what you want it to say. Romans 8:28 is the perfect example.

Many people take this verse out of context. Can you tell me if cancer is good, is a  stroke good that leaves a person incapacitated? Is the death of a child or spouse good for anyone? I lose my job because the business closed is that good? The answer for the believer as well as the non-believer is a resounding “NO!”

So, how do we interpret verse twenty eight? It must be seen in light of verse twenty nine. Verse twenty eight is only good if it further transforms us into the image of God. Difficult times come and we should be prepared for them. We have a wonderful friend who just lost his wife, how can he say verse twenty eight is good unless he sees his wife transformed into the image of God and he testifies to his equally looking forward to his complete transformation?

God will work in our lives for His glory and it is our privilege to give Him the glory for all He does. God is good and He is working in your life to bring good that good is our transformation. He is working toward our salvation.

“Like a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him depends on the stuff he is made of.” Josh Billings.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 7, 2024

John 14:27 – 29

“27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”

There are many things Jesus left us as gifts when He ascended to be with His Father. He left us with a hope for the future, the promise of a heavenly home if we accept His forgiveness, the peace that comes only from Him. He left us with victory over sin and defeat at the hands of Satan. We have the promise that as we walk through the “valley of death” he will be with us and this is a very short list of what he promised.

We hear a great deal about peace and the scriptures make many references to the peace that He left us with. But do we have peace in all we do, in all we think, in how we act? Verse twenty seven says He is leaving us the “gift” of peace. A gift can never be fully appreciated until it is opened and used for the purpose it is given no matter what the gift. Open the gift of peace.

We search for peace in many different areas and look for it around every corner but it can allude us if we fail to use it. Simply said it is found in Jesus and the comfort He provides us. But how do we find His peace?

Let me offer you four ideas that might help:

1. Seek Him –  Jesus wants you to be happy—He’s always there to offer support during hard times. Just ask in simple terms it does not have to “church” language.
2. The Holy Spirit will speak to you – Sometimes the Holy Spirit can arrive as a warm feeling or a reassuring voice in your head.  Many times we get a thought that made us feel peaceful – that is the Holt Spirit.
3. Study the scriptures – This is the best way to learn about His peace and as you read and study your peace will be reassured.
4. Friends – When you need to talk find a confidant that you can trust and share your concerns with them.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 6, 2024

Romans 8:26 – 28 (NASB)

“26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

There are times in our lives we are so surprised to hear something that we cannot respond. Then there are those times when we hear a word we respond when we should keep silent. It seems to work that way.

We see the first comment occur when we pray that we are without words to say. We then repeat things we have said in the past and maybe they become habitual. One thing I have been saying recently that we should pray the scriptures. In fact, last Sunday in our message notes I added five scriptures that were good to pray. They were: Psalm 143:8, Psalm 84:1, Psalm 3:6, Isaiah 30:21, and Proverbs 16:3.

Then there are times we just cannot think of the words we want to say that is where verse twenty six comes to mind. The Spirit will find the right words we need to speak. To the charismatic praying in a prayer language helps them pray.

When words evade us our heart will be translated into words that the Holy Spirit will speak to our Heavenly Father to bring us peace. I believe praying in the Spirit is a special blessing God gives to His followers.

“The Spirit-filled, prayerful Christian actually possesses the mind of Christ, so that his reactions to the external world are the same a Christ’s.” A. W. Tozer.

God Bless.

Bible Study March 5, 2024

Romans 5:20 – 21 (ESV)

“20 The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Paul talked a much about sin and grace even writing in Romans 6: 1 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” So, shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound? Paul replies with a resounding “God forbid” (Romans 6:2). To desire to continue in sin shows a misunderstanding of this abundant grace and a contempt for Jesus’ sacrifice. Either we believe what God says is true or we don’t.

Satan is roaming about telling us God is a liar and cannot be trusted. And unfortunately many people believe his lies. It’s time we stake a stand against Satan and what he tells us. What Jesus is telling us is that His grace is sufficient for all things in all situations.

Paul Bunyan was imprisoned for preaching without a license by the Anglican Church. This occurred in 1660 and he was told he could be released if he chose not to preach at private gatherings. He spent twelve years in prison but refused to stop preaching. During his time in prison he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress and his autobiography.

Bunyan would say that his conversion was a “a miracle of precious grace” as most of us would say the same thing. Bunyan truly experienced God’s grace in his life. He wrote “His whole gospel is a gospel of grace, words of peace, and salvation.”
God Bless.

Bible Study March 4, 2024

Exodus 14:21 – 25 (NASB)

“21 Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

How many of the millions of Israelites stood at the Red Sea before crossing of the Red Sea thought God would deliver them? Maybe a one-third, one half, how many do you believe saw deliverance? After all they had been in captivity and freedom must have seemed something in the far future to them.

They were on the banks the Egyptian army was getting closer and there was no way out for them. Life and death hung in the balance. The only way out was to trust in God that he would bring their deliverance. The water created impending doom for them with it before them and the Egyptians coming up behind them.

Their only choice was to believe they would be spared and that took a great amount of faith with what stood before them. What if the waters parted would the land be dry so they could walk across the riverbed, what if the river flowed back together once again before they all crossed? The big what if?

By faith they marched.

“It’s always to early to quit.” Norman Vincent Peale.