Bible Study November 22, 2023

2 Kings 13:18-19 (NLT)

“Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. 19 But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”

We look for the big things God wants us to do and in doing so we often miss the smaller ones. The grandiose things brings the greatest glory (or so we think).

God’s power does not negate us to act in faith. Elisha told Jehoash to strike the ground to claim the victory on earth God had already been declared in heaven. Elisha had declared victory that had not yet happened. This is a picture of the natural being sanctified by the supernatural. This is what is meant by “call those things which are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17)

When Jehoash had enough faith to follow Elisha’s instructions, the arrow that left his bow was no longer his as Elisha said earlier the Lord’s arrow of victory … over Aram. The ordinary became extraordinary when linked to the spiritual. The battle was now a spiritual one – not a physical one because the weapons of war were sanctified.

Jehoash did not have the faith to trust God for a greater victory. He simple did not trust in God’s supernatural ability to conquer. As a result Israel would only receive a partial victory not a complete one because he failed to use the resources at hand indicating his lack of both faith and commitment.

Complete obedience and engagement are needed for complete victory.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 21, 2023

Luke 18:1-5 (NLT)

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

How do you think the story ends? We are not told. Maybe the ending is not as important as the point Jesus is trying to make that persistence is important in all we do. Persistence in prayer is important because prayer changes us. In her case she got what she wanted from a judge would God not do more for us?

Jesus totally supported the persistent lady in this story. Paul tells in one of his epistles to never stop praying. That is keep an attitude of prayer as you go about your day seeking what God would you do in various situations.

Will God answer our persistent prays to win a game, to be healed, to find help with our finances, to find a home? What prayers will He consider answering? We know the one prayer He does not answer is the one not prayed.

The author of the book of Hebrews admonishes us to come boldly to the throne of grace. That means come to the God of grace. This is where we touch the face of God. We find encouragement, hope, our faith grows and we receive direction for our lives.

He is waiting tor each down His hand to us.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 20, 2023

James 3:4-45 (NASB)

“Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”

No one will deny the power of words. They can alter relationships, change the course of events, and easily be misunderstood. James writes about words being strong enough to change the course of a ship.

What we say and how we communicate are vitally important in our lives. We can create peace or conflict with what we say. They have the ability to inspire a person to new heights or bring them down to a low point in their lives. They provide hope or create despair in one’s life. They encourage, they discourage. It is up to one who delivers the word what it will do.

Our words should be filled with positive encouragement. That is not say when something needs to be corrected to our children as an example we do not do it. But it is to say that when we correct we do it in an encouraging way. Build on what is good and make it a teaching opportunity for positive growth.

We should invest in people’s lives as an encourager.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 17, 2023

Matthew 5:16 (NASB)

“Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Two names came to mind when I read this verse. Phillip K. Wrigley who owned Wrigley’s gum and the Chicago Cubs was said to have donated ninety percent of his income to others and lived on ten percent. Art Rooney Sr. lived on the north side of Pittsburgh he owned the Pittsburg Steelers. The story is told that he knew everyone in the organization from the quarterback to the cleaning staff. The story goes to say that during a sanitation workers strike in Pittsburgh some striking sanitation workers picked up his trash because they respected who he was.

We do not gain respect from what we have, where we live, how much money we have, or the people we associate with. Somewhere along the line respect was considered for those listed above. We missed it.

But true respect is gained from having true integrity, providing for your family, being involved in the community, and working hard. These should be the characteristics that bring respect. Parents are to be respected, same for grandparents. Being good parents has nothing to do with being rich or famous sometimes that is a detriment.

It’s okay to seek respect just do it for the right reasons.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 16, 2023

Galatians 5:22-23 (Message)

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Where do we find our identity? Is it found in success, maybe fame, fortune? Do we wish we were someone else maybe more successful than we were? Is there that elusive butterfly out in front of us that we pursue in order to be known as someone or for something different than we are?

What is our identity? Paul says the fruit of the Spirit is in our internal characteristics that identify who we are. They shape us from within and are expressed outwardly toward others. God’s eyes are on who we are and how we are shaped for the kingdom. Out identity is formed in Jesus which grows and cannot be taken away.

God did not create us to compete with one another but to complement one another. We’re not designed to get ahead of others. We are not defined in the kingdom by what we earn, who we know, how we perform., or how well we impress others.

We are defined by the value He assigns us, as His child and His Spirit shapes us as He sees fit. Our goal should allow the Spirit to shape us and direct us as He sees fit. We should define ourselves in the way God defines us not the way the world looks at it.

The fruit of the Spirit will ripen as we review the fruit in our life.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 15, 2023

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 (NLT)

“I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.”

Many people are single. Many people feel their situation will change but a broken relationship, accompanying pain, or the beginning of a new relationship shows the hope it begins to bring.

Many times in society we feel being single as a burden. We should be married, we aren’t married, why is that? That isn’t God’s attitude toward the matter, however. We must learn to wait on God for real peace to come.

Paul in these verses from 1 Corinthians saw marriage as a distraction from doing the Lord’s work and told the disciples “God helps those who stay unmarried (Matthew 19:11). Jesus was not talking down marriage He was simply saying the unmarried often have a better opportunity for ministry.

There is nothing wrong with being married or single. If single we should take our time and rush into something that is out of the will of God for your life. If single stay focused on God and His plan for your life, if married stay committed to your marriage covenant.

We should be cautious in all we do – do not rush it God has it under control.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 12, 2023

Proverbs 9:8-9 (NLT)

“So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.”

Sunday I closed the message saying a word concerning conflicts. They are in the world, our nation, our homes and even in our churches. That is not what God wants in any of these areas. We see them all around us. We are taught to live in peace with everyone.

I personally am not a fan of conflict; however I realize there are those who like to bully others. Disagreements become personal and too often people call each other names and in some cases such as a recent road rage incident they become deadly.

Conflict can be a positive thing if we see it in the right light. It can help us better understand one another and see that everyone has a right to their opinion. Sharing ideas without letting differences get personal is healthy.

Always maintain a positive attitude understanding others opinions and ides are valuable. We can often learn from one another and in some cases our opinions may change from learning from others. We do not have to agree but we need to be open and understanding.

We should take the opportunity when in a discussion with others to let them understand we value their opinion when it is different from ours. How do we discuss something without getting upset over it, understanding that people are more important than being right or wrong and if we are wrong we need to admit it?

Be open minded and we can see things in a clearer picture.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 13, 2023

Matthew 16:21-22 (NLT)

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus while on earth was surrounded by His disciples upon selecting them we see them throughout the New Testament. He spent time with them talking to them, teaching them, discipling them, and showing them who He was. He wanted them to get to know who He really was and the power He operated under.

As we read the scriptures we see Jesus was a busy man and He kept the disciples busy but he also had the “quiet time” He could spend with them. We need that quiet time in our lies as they did. With all that is going on around us we need to get away from the hustle and the bustle of everyday activity and spend time alone.

Try getting away from the television, sit down with your spouse, your children and find out what is really going on in their lives. This needs to be an intentional time for all of us. It will make us better partners in their lives. Men take the leadership opportunity in your family and spend time alone with those you love.

I think once we do this intentionally we will find valuable time and something that we will remember throughout our lives. It is building memories with those we love.

No better time that today to start.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 11, 2023

Revelation 2:19 (NLT)

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”

Do you believe your actions reflect the state of your heart? John in writing the Revelation seems to indicate that is the case.

Our actions really do indicate the state of our faith. Our words, our actions, our treatment of others re all indicative of our hearts.

What is important here that I see is the second part of the scripture. “Constant improvement” is an area that we all can grow into. Are we better today than yesterday. What bit of my faith has grown more today than yesterday; how can I impact someone today that maybe I missed the opportunity yesterday?

I know I need to grow, to grow my faith, to change my words to words of faith and deeper belief. What I learn today that will help me grow, do I anticipate the opportunity for new challenges in my life? Am I looking for areas where I need help and seek it out?

We must be certain the outside reflects the inside.

God Bless.