Bible Study November 29, 2023

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (KJV)

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (NLT)

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (Message)

I am a believer in the power of words. I was given a small book by a really good friend and true Christ Follower by Charles Capps. It contain forty-six pages of positive conviction and truth.

Capps says “What you believe and speak not only affects your body but your immune system as well. Your words become either a blessing or curse to you.

What we speak is vital to what we believe and practice. I anticipate many will not agree with what I write here but I would encourage you to give it a try and develop some new habits of speech.

Begin confessing faith in your life. Thanks God for health, for your spouse, your family, your home, your friends, your faith, your church we begin to see the picture. When we confess these things we no longer can confess the evil or bad. That does not mean we will not face tough times but we can see our way through and praise our way through.

James 3:9-10 says “Beasts, birds, reptiles, and all kinds of sea-creatures can be, and in fact are, tamed by man, but no one can tame the human tongue. It is an evil always liable to break out, and the poison it spreads is deadly. We use the tongue to bless our Father, God, and we use the same tongue to curse our fellowmen, who are all created in God’s likeness. Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth—surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that never ought to happen! Have you ever known a spring to give sweet and bitter water simultaneously? Have you ever seen a fig-tree with a crop of olives, or seen figs growing on a vine? It is just as impossible for a spring to give fresh and salt water at the same time.” (Phillips)

To paraphrase the words of the last verse. “You cannot praise and speak negatively at the same time.

Bible Study November 28, 2023

Matthew 4:23 (NLT)

“Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.”

Matthew summarizes Jesus’ teaching by describing His three primary activities: preaching, teaching, and healing. “Preaching the good news of the kingdom”. This is almost repeated in 9:35 creating a bracket around the teaching in His Galilean ministry. The crowds responded by bringing their sick to Jesus to be healed (4:24) following Him from region to region.

Too often we get complacent in our lives. Right before us is an opportunity but we go through our daily lives so fast we often miss them. We see in reading this verse that Jesus went around everywhere performing miracle after miracle. His miracles are too numerous to list.

Do we think He doesn’t do today what He did in the New Testament times? Have we become complacent that the miracle working God is no longer at work. I hope not. Do we miss opportunities because we move too fast?

God is still performing miracles and He said we will do greater ones than He did. I believe we all may have missed some opportunities to minister to one another in our lives.

As we begin the Advent season in 2023 let us vow it will not happen. Let’s be alert for opportunities to touch a life and give them new life. God is performing miracles and He is looking for those willing to slow down and see them happen or be the instrument of them.

You never know the next miracle may be in your life.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 27, 2023

John 6:35 (NLT)

“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

We often think and read about the need of water in our lives to sustain us. It is often said you cannot go without water for an extended period of time. It sustains the physical body. The same is true for food we need it to sustain life and have a healthy diet.

But what about the spiritual food that John refers to here? We need that even more so. We do not want to neglect the physical, we should not neglect the spiritual either.

As we grow older we understand the seasons of life and how things will fade away, wear out. Or become obsolete. While in the business world I was given many opportunities with the company I worked for through promotions and moves. But I have come to look back and often think I may not have done it again. I cannot change the past. But I can prepare for the future. I must remain spiritually healthy.

I often sought the advice of others as opportunities presented themselves. We faced a particularly difficult decision on our move to California and I sought the advice of a friend and colleague his name was Al. He provided great insight for us.

Our best source of advice however comes from the One who said, “I am the bread of life.” He is the source of our life without Him there is no hope for tomorrow.

Jesus is our spiritual food and drink eat and drink heartily.

God Bless.

Bible Study November 24, 2023

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NLT)

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

We all have had those special people outside our families who have taken an interest in us. Many may have been a pastor, a teacher, or maybe a close friend. I remember a pastor by the name of Ted Ingram when I was in high school. He had a son and daughter around my age. He was a happy man. I even had the opportunity to visit with him in Arkansas after he left Hannibal. He left an everlasting impression on me.

I also remember guys I played sports with in Junior High school that at times were mentors. I have tried to emulate what I saw in several of them. However we should try to emulate Christ. See Him in others.

Many of us avoid trying to be a role model because we understand we are not perfect and fear failure and ruin another’s life with our actions. Things that are shortcomings in our lives should not and do not make us ineligible to help others. We are not perfect but we should still serve as a role model when we can by serving others. God called us to serve knowing we are imperfect in all we do.

Be intentional in all you do to help and guide younger people letting them know you do not claim to be perfect but will do the very best you can to help them along their journey of life.

Step up and be a role model do not wait until you think you are ready.

God Bless.

When I woke up today this song was on my mind. Today I am thankful for so many things but I can say “Thank” for one reason it is because of Jesus.

Enjoy reading the lyrics of this worship song written by Harry Smith in 1978.

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One;

give thanks, because he’s given

Jesus Christ, his Son.

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One;

give thanks, because he’s given

Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,

let the poor say ‘I am rich’,

because of what the Lord has done for us;

and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,

let the poor say ‘I am rich’,

because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks…

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.