Bible Study Marc 1, 2024

Romans 8:15 – 17 (ESV)

“15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

So many verses in the Bible talk about fear and ways to avoid it. Peter writes “Cast all your fear on Him who cares for you.” That seems to indicate to me that we are not to worry about the stuff that crosses our path, yet we do.

Paul writing to the Romans tells us we did not receive the spirt of slavery to fall back into fear. We are adopted into the family of God. Do our children worry when mom and dad are around? They find comfort knowing they are close. Should we not feel the same about our heavenly Father, He is close to us.

Satan will attempt to put us into fear and worry that takes away our peace but we should overcome Satan because Jesus has overcome the world where Satan rules with his demons.

Paul uses these verses to help us understand we are now adopted into the family of God therefore we should not fear. It is because of His grace that adoption occurs. When we are adopted we are chosen that means someone saw something special about us and they chose us, that is the picture of Jesus lifting us up.

When we become family members we have rights and privileges of being in the family. Celebrate that accept who you are. We are now part of the heavenly kingdom celebrate it.

“All are equally welcome to Christ, and all have equal need of Him,” Adam Clarke.

Bible Study February 29, 2024

Matthew 22:15 – 22 (ESV)

“15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.”

Happy Leap Year.

I have been reading different articles on Christian Nationalism recently since it seems to be at the forefront these days.

The information I am sharing today comes from Religious News Service. The first thing we must understand is what is Christian Nationalism. The best explanation I can find is Christian Nationalism says our rights come from God. My comments follow – Our rights do not come from the government the government is to protect our rights.

We have privileges as Americans such as the right to vote, that many in other countries do not have.

The following came from RNS. “A new report released Wednesday (Feb. 28) found that roughly 3 in 10 Americans express some sympathy for Christian nationalism, with its greatest popularity concentrated in the Southeast and Upper Midwest.

The findings appear in a study from the Public Religion Research Institute, which probed public support for Christian nationalism as part of a broader survey of more than 22,000 adults. To assess feelings about Christian nationalism, respondents were asked whether they completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with five statements, including “the U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation” and “U.S. laws should be based on Christian values.”

“Mississippi and North Dakota showed the highest levels of support for Christian nationalism, with Adherents and Sympathizers making up 50% of those states. They are followed by Alabama (47%), West Virginia (47%), Louisiana (46%), Tennessee (45%), Kentucky (45%), Nebraska (45%) and Wyoming (45%).

States exhibiting the least support for Christian nationalism were Oregon (17%), Massachusetts (18%), Maryland (19%), New York (19%), New Jersey (20%) and Washington (20%).” I do not believe these statistics would surprise anyone.

“The survey found support for Christian nationalism concentrated in two religious groups: white evangelical Protestants (66%) and Hispanic Protestants (55%). Christians who ascribe to beliefs often associated with Pentecostals and charismatic Christianity, such as modern-day prophecy, spiritual healing and the prosperity gospel, were particularly drawn to the ideology.”

“The survey also offered a potential preview of how Christian nationalism — and the political coalitions associated with it — could end up shaping this year’s presidential election. Asked about immigration and access to guns, about 50% of Adherents said they would only vote for a candidate who shared their views on the issues.”

How does this apply to the scriptures for today? Matthew tells us the Pharisees and the Herodians (followers of Herod) plotted to trap Jesus as they attempted many times. The Herodians were not a religious sect but a political group that supported Herod. They came to Jesus in the context of these verses and paid Him several compliments, yet trying to trap Him. They were attempting to put Him n a no win situation. We see that today many issues come up especially in politics and religion.

Jesus understood he was under Roman rule so he had to pay taxes to Rome. However Jesus wasn’t fazed He knew what they were up to. They didn’t care for His answer they just wanted to destroy Him. Is that not what we are seeing today?

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Bible Study February 28, 2024

John 7: 37 – 39   (ESV)

“37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Man has sought many different ways to find God in their lifetime. There are monks who go into seclusion, some never speak only spend time in prayer and meditation. There are many eastern religions that have practices and beliefs contrary to what the scriptures teach. They may find us much different also.

In our nation many people go on retreats to get away and read, pray, and find a closer relationship with Jesus. Many pastors take a sabbath day and those that do not should do so. These are good times.

But the best way to find the needed relationship with Jesus is to follow His words above “let him come and drink.” This is a practice we should make every day in our lives. I had the privilege of speaking with a young man yesterday who told me he had been given a devotional and he has found great help in reading it daily. I walked away encouraged by what he said.

Jesus invites us to come anytime, any day, any way to seek Him and spend some time with Him. The quality is more important than the quantity. It is what we learn and how we grow from what we read that brings us closer and deeper in our relationship.

I would encourage you to find some time on a daily basis to read, pray, and meditate on what you have read. Make notes, list prayer requests, list the dates those prayers were answered. Just find some time.

“You made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.” Augustine.

God Bless.

Bible Study February 27, 2024

Psalm 55:16 – 19 (ESV)

“But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon     I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah. because they do not change and do not fear God.”

Looking at verse nineteen my thoughts took me to 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” We are being transformed into a different image. Hopefully it is the image of God.

We all change I know I am different this year than last year. I feel different, my hair is grayer, but most of all my image has changed as I live day to day. I have no problem with any of that as long as I stay steady toward the image of Jesus.

We must be certain that as we change in our personalities, hearts, habits, thoughts, and with those we are in relationship with that we are heading in the right direction. I recently saw a commercial for some insurance company with two birds one asking the other which way is north and he points up thinking it is north. We cannot allow ourselves to not know where we are headed or we lose our pathway.

Allow Christ to guide your path and you will remain in the right direction.

“I’ll go anywhere as long as it’s forward.” David Livingstone.

God Bless.

Bible Study February 26, 2024

2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18 (ESV)

“16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

This is late today been dealing with computer issues today but thankfully the Geek Squad resolved my issues.

I remember my first pastorate right out of collage in a small town in central Illinois. It was a rural community where farming was very popular. One family that attended the church were very supportive of everything that we did. Glen always had great crops when others had failed, he got rain at the right time, harvest season was always dry for him but others around him did not enjoy the same success.

Steve Jobs when fired from Apple said it was the best thing that happened to him when he was brought back to lead the company. He saw failure as a back door to success. He found his calling.

Christians can also believe that in the midst of some type of failure that recovery and success will come. God is at work reshaping our circumstances and finding good in them for us. To the addict who comes clean He has a new plan for them the same is true for all of us He has a plan.

If things are not going right in your life thank  God for what He is doing behind the scenes to change your circumstances. Better days will come.

“The Christian message is for those who have done their best and failed.” Unknown.

God Bless.

Bible Study February 23, 2024

John 8: 31 – 33          (ESV)

“31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

When you forgive someone does it change the circumstances? Does it eliminate the harm done? The answers to those questions is it does not change it. But who does it change? That’s right the one forgiving. Learning to forgive helps both the forgiven and the forgiver.

There are multiple stories in the scriptures about forgiveness. There are two Old Testament words for forgive in the Bible. The first and more common one is means “to practice forbearance, pardon, or forgive.” It is never used of a man forgiving another human, but only of God forgiving man. The other Old Testament word for forgive means to lift up, take away, bear up, or carry. It offers a beautiful visual for what God does with our sin and guilt.

The New Testament word used for forgive means to release from legal or moral obligation or consequence, to cancel, remit, or pardon. It can also mean “to go away or send away, to disregard, to let be.”

For some references to look at you might consider the following. Jacob and Esau – Genesis 33, Joseph and his brothers, God’s continuing forgiveness for Israel, David’s forgiveness after and adultery and murder are some samples of forgiveness.

Paul J. Meyer authored several books on self-help. In one he said, “Forgiveness does not mean we have to allow ourselves to be mistreated … [it] does mean that we allow God to work in our lives ad it the lives of the people against whom we hold bitterness.”

God Bless.

Bible Study February 22, 2024

John 20:19 – 23

“19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Have you ever been around or been the one who had a question but thought it might be a “stupid” question and did not ask it? I imagine we all have. There really no such questions.

That was a concern of Thomas who is often referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” I prefer to call him “Believing Thomas.” After all he did believe.  He at least had the courage speak up when he needed to. Maybe others questioned if it was Jesus but he said something.

Thomas had doubts maybe others did also but he spoke up. That takes courage in the midst of other believers. We all face doubts about many things, do you believe God is concerned about what we doubt? He understands us better than we understand ourselves. There is noting wrong with questioning whether it brings about the desired results and we grow stronger in our faith.

“Turn your doubts to questions; turn your questions to prayers; turn your prayers to God.” Mark Littleton.

God Bless.

Bible Study February 21, 2024

Romans 8:35 – 38

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No Christian should ever fear or suffer anxiety from being separated from God. He has promised us He will never leave us. The scriptures teach us of His faithfulness to His followers.

In our series on spiritual warfare we know Satan will lie to us to make something look good. We further know he will deceive us as he did Adam and Eve. He said to Eve “You shall surely not die.” She fell for his trap. That is what Satan does he traps us into believing one of his lies. He may say God will not protect you, forgive you, or supply all your needs. That is a lie.

God’s love is both pure and permanent. He loves even the worst sinner and wants to offer His forgiveness to them yet Satan tells them something much different. Why does a person listen to Satan over the voice of God? Maybe they are enjoying the sin they are living in, maybe they do not understand the concept of faith that we believe without seeing.

“The true measure of God’s love it that He loves without measure.” Unknown.

God Bless.