Bible Study September 12, 2023

John 8:12 (ESV)

12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Darkness is something many people fear, the unknown is right up there. I remember visiting a young man who was incarcerated for drug addiction. I met him both in the jail where he was serving and also in a treatment facility to help addicts. The jail was a dismal place we talked via a telephone and even the room I was in was an unpleasant surrounding. Interesting though I will call the one young man Mike to keep his anonymity he told me he was reading his Bible on a daily basis.

If it was that way to me what was it like being there twenty-four hours a day? I also met a second young man who had a similar problem with addiction, two different men but the same problem. I imagine living in addiction is a dark experience. In a jail there is evil all around. I believe it would be difficult to find any element of peace in a facility like that.

The darkness remained for both of these men until a change came into their lives. Both sought treatment and one overcame it Mike did not. One passed away once freed from the confines of the treatment center. The second young man now married with a family is doing well. Darkness can be overcome and it takes only a small amount of light to overcome the darkest of situations.

R. Douglas Weaver, A Cloud of Witnesses wrote this: “Holy Scripture is witness to the light of God that arises in the midst of the deepest darkness to illumine the darkness. Scripture is not witness to the light taking away the darkness or exempting people from confronting the darkness in which they live. John Chrysostom in his sermon on Matthew 4 pointed out that the light springs up on its own accord. No amount of human seeking will summon the light of God’s presence into existence. The light dawns. It bursts forth when we are enveloped in darkness. God seeks us, comes to us, and breaks into our darkness as only God can. We cannot summon the sunrise. We can wait and allow the light to illumine our very being as it dawns.”

God Bless.

Bible Study September 11, 2023

Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

I remember vividly as though it was yesterday I told Matt bedtime stories. I never told them the way they were written I always changed them and when he wanted the same story the next night I had better tell it the way I did the last time. If I didn’t he would correct me. Those were special times for me.

Reading the same story as written would have been regimented to me I like to change it up. Too often we get regimented in our routines and miss the spectacular because of the ordinary. Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with a lady whose daughter has had cancer since she was four in various types. Today she is cancer free after some extensive surgical work and the healing hand of our Lord.

I visited with a man recently who has seen good things happen in his family all of which he gives to prayer and the mighty hand of God. A couple of weeks ago I was talking with someone who when I asked how they were doing said they went back to church for the first time in a long time. They also went on to tell me the message was just for them. These are all significant happenings in our lives that are no less than miraculous. Celebrate the victories.

Take the opportunity to share these experiences with others so they can see the hand of God is moving, tell your story it is a miracle.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 9, 2023

(John 8:32) (ESV)

32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (ESV),

32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NLT).

32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NASB),

32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV),

32 “And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” (AMP)

God is interested in our being honest. We may alter the truth (tell a lie, a sin) to a man but God knows the truth. My parents did not punish us often once we hit twelve or thirteen we just told them the truth. I remember a couple in the first church I pastored who had two children. The dad one day asked me about what to do about his six-year-old daughter lying to him. He would punish her for what she did. I suggested to him if he wanted to punish her (which I do believe in punishment) he should punish the lie she told because for some reason she was afraid to tell him the truth. Maybe her hesitance to tell the truth lies with the dad. Telling the truth should never cause punishment maybe rebuke by a parent.

No matter what we do in life, in business, in the church (even) we must be honest. If we find someone doing wrong we should not condone the wrong activity. Society and the church seem to condone sinful activity as okay – what then becomes of the church’s witness in the world keeping in mind the church is the “corporate body of believers. That is the reason Jesus came to earth to save people from making bad decisions, from acting against His will. Then accepting the sinner in love.

Sin has an interesting idea for many people. There is the idea floating around out there that sin is acceptable if we continually ask God to forgive us. The question becomes what is sin? It is willful, if I continue to do the same thing should I expect God to forgive me for the sin I am committing? Jesus discussed this in Matthew 18:22.

The struggle for Americans is that forgiveness requires admitting God’s control over our lives. We should not take revenge, because vengeance is the lord’s (Deuteronomy 32:35). We should not judge, because ultimately God will judge everyone (John 5:28-29). So, forgiveness demands a posture of humility where we remember we are not masters of our own fates, that we will all be judged in the end (Revelation 20). Since America as a country was founded during an act of rebellion against another power, we have individualism ingrained in our culture. We don’t like admitting we aren’t in control of our lives, that there are higher powers we will all answer to.

Live in the truth of the Gospel.

God Bless

Bible Study September 8, 2023

Acts 1:9 (ESV)

8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

There are many times in our lives as Christ Followers we do things on our own. It is never wrong to be kind, show grace, to care for those in need, to help who you can help. But oftentimes we are called to do things out of the ordinary and these cannot be done unless we have received and do them in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God has so many things in mind and plans for us but we will not know them and accomplish them outside the power of the Spirit guiding us in our daily lives. How do we share the faith we have been given the Bibles says we all are given a measure of faith, has mine grown and been developed to move the kingdom forward?

Jesus left the earth in His ascension and empowered the disciples with the Holy Spirit to go into all areas of need. Most of will never be missionaries in a foreign land but our mission field will be close to home, our neighborhoods, our friends, and our families. Being a witness is sharing your God story about all He has done for you and offer that freedom to another person.

Seek the power of the Holy Spirit in your and move with Him.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 9, 2023

Luke 12:33-34 (ESV)

33 “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Is money what life is all about? Football season opens tonight with the Chiefs playing possibly without one player who is holding out for more money. He wants to be one of the highest paid players at his position. San Francisco 49ers just signed a player at the same position for a “record” amount of money.

For many people money is a motivator for some recognition is more important. I remember fitting into the second category while working in the business world. I was confident that if I did good work I would be compensated for it and I was. I remember one conversation with my Sales Manager when he presented my salary increase in his El Camino as we were driving back to a hotel after dinner. It was one of those conversations that the memories are forever.

Luke wrote about where we place our treasures. No one leaves this world with anything other than what they came into with. Work is a worthy endeavor while providing for your family. We should all make it a priority to pay our bills, provide for our families, and support the church financially. Check out 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Dave Ramsey has said to young people, save ten percent, give ten percent and you still have eighty percent to spend that will get most of us by.

We need to look at what is important, what is the big picture e see when we look ahead? What is our vision for our lives, what is most important?

Where is your (my) treasure being laid up?

God Bless.

Bible Study September 8, 2023

John 10:10 (ESV)

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

This has always been a verse that I may look differently at the latter part of the verse than some people look at it. We all know Satan will anything he can to destroy a life. He will bring alcohol, drugs, illicit sex, pornography, or anything else into a person’s life to destroy them. The above list could include more things but we see the picture Satan is a killer and destroyer. He wants us in hell with him but he has no eternal rewards for those who follow him.

Looking at the second part of the verse is interesting to me. “I came that you may have life and hit it abundantly.” The intriguing word here for me is “abundantly.” As I read it I get the impression that we can live life and it can be a ho hum lifestyle offered by the pleasures of this world. I am not saying you cannot enjoy the things of this life but if we want an abundant life it must be found in Christ. He then can give us the abundant life John is referring to here.

The legalistic church I grew up in allowed for little pleasure the rules were overbearing. The life Christ offers is indeed abundant. You can live in this world but you can also live abundantly in this world.

If you are not living abundantly seek the Lord ask Him to give you the abundant life John is talking about. If you’re not sure how to achieve the abundant life get in contact with me through an IM we can talk.

God Bless.

Bible Study September 5, 2023

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I have a book I have read portions of overt the years. It is titled “Christian Excellence An Alternative to Success.” Way to often we put too much emphasis on being successful rather than committing to being excellent in what we do.

The scriptures teach to find a more excellent way not to be just successful. For some it might be a matter of semantics but the excellent way is the right way. We consider a major league baseball hitter to be good if he hits at a certain average whatever that may be for that player. But is he doing it seeking to excel in his skill?

Paul is telling us in these scriptures to focus on being excellent, strive for the best in life, make right decisions based on the facts. Do what is right in the sight of God not in the sight of man to look good.

Do what is more admirable, honorable, pure, commendable that will bring excellence. It is living, breathing, the scriptures seeking what God wants from us.

You may how can we do that? Start with a positive outlook on life, find in the scriptures the answer to your questions they way that is excellent. After a few times it will become more and more clear to you.

Paul said, “think on these things.”

God Bless.

Bible Study September 4, 2023

Ephesians 5:21-25

21 “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
If a wife is to submit to her husband the husband must love his wife and be willing to die for her. Look at it this way Chrsit died for the church He expects the same for the husband.

Similarly, if a husband is expected to give up his life for his wife she must be devoted to him there are mutual responsibilities they share, The fit together so their differences complement each other.

Cindy and I are different as any two people. We have different likes; dislikes and we do not agree on everything but we make it work. God brings people together for His purpose we must never forget that point. He has a purpose in all He does.

However, without equal love and respect for each other it will not work.

God Bless, happy Labor Day.