Are You Aware or Unaware?

Many people, just like you and me, like to think that they can trust religious leaders; and rightly so. It's no surprise to most that ministers usually rank high in polls concerning people that you can trust. We will often accept whatever a preacher, priest, or rabbi as truth. However, even Jesus told His disciples to beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15-20).

He said that they might appear like sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Therefore, we need to know how to recognize, or identify false prophets when we encounter them. In our present times, there many things that go counter to good Christian beliefs. Today's great diversity of teachings suggests that many are being lead astray. Are we concerned about false prophets today? We should be! We need to be reminded of the danger, and know how to spot any "wolves" that might come our way.

I'd like to underscore the point that without a doubt, there will be false prophets! Paul was so concerned about this that he warned the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-31), the Church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11: 13-15); and even the young preacher Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-2).

Other New Testament writers issued their own warnings to others, as well. For example, Peter warned of the rise of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3); John called for people to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1); and Jude wrote of some false prophets who had already arrived (Jude 3-4).

Okay, with so many warnings you can see that this subject shouldn't be taken lightly. But how can we spot these "wolves" when they charmingly show up? Thankfully, we can turn to Jesus and the Word of God! He tells us there are couple of ways to identify false prophets.

First, we can identify them by examining the fruit of their life (Matthew 7:16-20). You see, what is truly in their heart will eventually come out (Mark 7:21-23). Both false teachers, and false prophets are often betrayed by: their greediness; their immorality; and their lust for power. In the end, the true character of these false prophets will be exposed by the fruit of their life!

Secondly, false prophets can be identified by the fruit of their teaching. Watch out for those who: work in secrecy (especially finances) rather than openness (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 8:20-21); appeal to covetousness (such as health and wealth) instead of preparing people for what Christians can expect (Acts 14:23; 2 Timothy 3:12); use deceptive words or twisting scripture to support their message ( 2 Timothy 2:14-16; Galatians 1:8-9); teach contrary to the scriptures (Deuteronomy 13:1-4; 1 John 4:1, 6).

Of course, I have only scratched the surface here in regards to identifying false prophets and teachers of the Gospel. I can only hope that I have, in the very least, kindled an awareness of this topic within you. And, that you'll go on to strive to become even more informed.

In the end, it's not necessary to judge the hearts of those who claim to speak for God. One only needs to be wary, alert, and informed in regards to who pervert the scriptures for their purpose. Know what to look for and listen for. Equip yourself to be a "fruit-inspector" by growing strong in the knowledge of God's word (Hosea 4:6)!

Prayer:

Lord, God Almighty, defend us today by your mighty power, so that we may not fall into any sin, and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day,

Chloe

A Relationship You Can Count On

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne

Relationships are as necessary to life as the food that we eat, and each breath that we take. Humans are not just biological creatures. We are also social creatures, the most social on earth. Therefore, the different ways we deal with each other, from personal to international relationships, can have as much an influence on our behavior as our instinctive reactions.

Certainly, the relationships that we have with others play an important part in our lives. But, can we have a relationship with God? All of us have a desire to have meaningful relationships. God made us that way. According to scripture, a relationship with God is the best relationship we could ever have in this life. This is good to know, but how can you or I develop a relationship with Him? Let’s face it. There are many people out there who wonder, ‘how someone is supposed to have a “relationship” with a being they have never met, can’t see, and have not heard?’ You've got to admit, this is a great question.

Lots of well-meaning religious folks might try to explain it by telling you that you can develop a personal relationship with God by “seeing Jesus.” Or, they might also suggest developing a relationship with God in the same way you first developed a relationship with your spouse, for example. They might even wonder how you could possibly see someone who is no longer on Earth, or date the God of the Universe. If you think about this way it does sound a little far-fetched, doesn’t it?

Let’s turn to an authoritative source, the Bible, and see if we can’t clear some of this up. Actually, the Bible provides some pretty clear answers. By the way, in case you were wondering, we trust the Bible because it's the only “spiritual writing” that has been proven to be true. So, the one way to get right with God is based completely on the Bible, not our opinion. Of course, this can easily be checked out by reading the Bible yourself.

Now, one might ask , “Why do I need Jesus?” Most people begin with a wrong view of their condition in relationship to God. If they believe in a life after this life, they think their own way of getting to heaven is “good enough.” Unfortunately, these beliefs measure these people against other people. None of these beliefs really explain those people’s condition when related to God.

The Bible tells us that every person is totally separated from God by a thing called “sin.” (Romans 3:23) Sin is simply disobeying God. Since God is sinless, He can’t stand sin, or people with sin (every one of us). We have to be perfect. The problem is that we can’t be perfect, it is impossible.

This is where Jesus comes in. God knew that there was no possible way that we could ever have any association with Him because of our sin. Knowing that we could not erase even one sin on our own, He loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus into the world. (John 3:16, 17). Since Jesus never sinned, He didn’t have to die. Still, He chose to die on the cross for the sins of all people. He became the “perfect sacrifice” for all our sins, and God accepted His death for our sins as payment in full! Therefore, Jesus became the “bridge” between us and God. It's only through what He did that we can have any association with God. (John 14:6). All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and then live for Him.

Then, how do you accept Jesus? Believe in Jesus and put your faith in Him. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Repent of your sins. (Acts 17:30-31). Confess Jesus as Lord to someone. (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10). Be baptized. (See Acts 2:38-39). Okay, once you've done all the above, how do you stay right with God through Jesus? Many times people think that God is going to forgive their past sins, but after becoming a Christian, they can never sin again or God will reject them. But, this isn't the case at all. 1 John 1:5-2:6 gives the best answer. This passage describes people who are right with God, and explains to them that they will still struggle with and fall into sin at times. Hey, that's you and me!

Jesus paid the price for your sins with His blood, (if you are willing to accept His gift), so He will not stand between you and God—He allows you to stand before God. Look at it this way, the relationship we have with God is as His children—“adopted” through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one relationship that we can count on, for sure!

Prayer: O Lord, teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me when I seek you. For I cannot seek you unless you first teach me, nor find you unless you first reveal yourself to me. Let me seek you in longing, and long for you in seeking. Let me find you in love, and love you in finding. Amen

May God bless you,

Eve

To Obey...Or Not To Obey?

It is right that what is just should be obeyed. It is necessary that what is strongest should be obeyed. – Blaise Pascal

I sincerely believe, without exception, that doing the easy thing can be a dangerous way to live (Hebrews 5:7-8). By dangerous, I mean that we put ourselves in a sort of cruise mood; some might even call it indifference. Besides, we can’t please God if we always do the easy thing, can we?. Obeying God sometimes requires us to do things that are uncomfortable; not easy, or in “danger” of going against what others might think.

There are times when obedience isn’t really obedience. The Bible says that we stand condemned by the whole law when we violate any part of it (James 2:10). I suppose you could say that the test of true faith is whether we obey when it is hard to obey. What do I mean by this?

For most of us, we would say it’s hard to obey…

When we’re not “in the mood.” - If we choose not to do the right thing when we simply don’t feel like it, what kind of commitment to God does that demonstrate? That’s not any kind of commitment at all! If we are not in the mood to obey God, we need to change our mood fast. In reality, not being in the mood to obey God is straight up disobedience and disrespect for God.

When it’s not “convenient.” - Felix, the Roman Procurator of Judaea, is a classic example of someone who put off doing the right thing until “a convenient time” (Acts. 24:25). If we think we’ll delay obedience until it becomes easier, we usually find that it only becomes harder. Also, the cost of discipleship usually rises with time. If we’re not careful we might reveal that our daily schedules, routines, habits, etc. are more important to us than God’s will. Just stop and think about this for a minute. It’s possible to be so obsessed by our usual routine that the Lord has to “make an appointment” if He needs us for anything! Would we like for the Lord to treat us like this?

We can always go to the Lord any time and He will be there for us. You know that, and if not, you should! That’s why we must have an open schedule for the Lord at all times. The real work of the Lord rarely fits into the neat pattern of “convenient” openings in our lives. Considerable involvement in the Lord’s work often involves some kind of disruption in our lives. Obedience to the commands of God is not always convenient.

Here's a short list of examples to share with you; they are as follows: 1) going to worship is not always convenient; 2) home Bible study is not always convenient; 3)unselfish efforts are not always convenient; 4) standing up for truth will not always be convenient. Do some of these sound familiar?

When I do not understand why God has required something. - We may not always understand the “why” of God’s will; or how more good than bad can sometimes come from doing what God wills us to do. But true believers have always trusted God enough to obey Him. Understanding can wait, obedience can’t!

When my preference is otherwise. - Human “wisdom,” “emotion,” etc. often get in the way of genuine obedience. People of true faith have always been willing to concede self-will to God’s will. It’s often difficult to obey God when our preference is to do otherwise.

When it would embarrass me. - We often use the word hypocrite to describe the worldly person who comes to church on Sunday morning and pretends to be a godly individual. But hypocrite can also describe the person who pretends not to be a believer in order to avoid the risk of others’ displeasure. Refusal to obey because of embarrassment is really denial of the Lord. Yet for many, it is sometimes difficult to obey or stand up for God because of the fear of embarrassment.

It can be hard for us to obey. In fact, it can be the hardest thing for us as Christians to do. Paul said that to be consistently obedient he had to discipline himself (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Self discipline is vital in our pleasing God. Jesus, of course, is the supreme example of consistent obedience (Matthew 26:39; Hebrews 12:2).

So, let’s not let anything stand in our way of being obedient to the Lord! He expects us to obey His word (Jn. 14:15, 23, 24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13). As you can see from these verses, obedience to God and His Word is extremely important. In fact, it’s a mandatory part of our Christian lives. If we love God, we will obey His commands. But keep in mind that we must obey not just part of His commands, not just the ones that we like or agree with; we must attempt to obey all of His decrees.

Additional Scripture: Jn. 12:47,48; Gal.1:6-9; 2 Tim. 4:3,4; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 1:16); Dt. 28:1,2; Dt. 28:11; Josh. 1:8; Dt. 4:40; 5:33; Prov. 10:27.

Prayer: Jesus,

Jesus, Teach me the meaning of obedience. My soul burns to comply to Your Will, Striving to charm Your Divinity. While my worldly nature seeks one way, My spiritual nature seeks another. Bless me with the strength to obey, That my soul may overcome both natures, Blending them as a fair aromatic bloom. I always seek favor in Your eyes, To always obey You until my last breath! Amen

May God always bless you!

Misti

Saturday Scripture Gold: John 15:11-12

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that you too will be inspired to do some of your own digging into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: John 15:11-12

Love and joyful peace make up the main message in today's passage. God loves all men, even those in sin (John 3:16; Romans 5). To live in love means to continue in the relationship in such a way that we receive the benefits of love. To do this, we must act in harmony with love. If we don’t obey, then we’re not acting in love and therefore the fellowship of love is broken. We’re not “living in” love; not because God doesn’t extend it, but because we have violated it.

Jesus explained that He spoke these things so we might receive the joy He has to offer and that joy may be full. True joy comes from serving Jesus (cf. 16:24; 17:13). This joy is full joy. Many people seek joy in physical achievements: wealth, pleasure, power, popularity, athletics, physical beauty, etc. But that joy is ultimately empty. The joy that is full is the joy Jesus gives.

This joy is not a constant emotional high. Nor is it the result of pleasant physical surroundings. This is proved by the fact that Jesus says He will give us His joy. What joy did He have on the very night before His betrayal, arrest, trials, and crucifixion? We know that He was deeply distressed and troubled as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was not emotionally thrilled, nor did He face pleasant physical circumstances. Yet, He had joy.

The joy Jesus gives is an inner knowledge that we have God’s blessings; that we are abiding, or living in Him and in His love. This is the joy Jesus had, even as He faced the cross. This joy sustains us, even when our circumstances are not the best and our hearts saddened by those circumstances.

Scripture: Matthew 13:44; 25:21, 23; Luke 6:23; 10:20; Acts 5:41; 8:39; 13:52; 16:34; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 2:17; 3:1; 4:4; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Peter 1:6, 8; 4:13.)

After clarifying how we receive true joy from serving Him, Jesus then returned to the importance of love and repeated the command that we should love one another as He loved us. Then He showed again that love is demonstrated by what we do. And the greatest love is that one would be willing to give his life for his friends.

This not only illustrates love, it defines it. Love is a willingness to give of oneself for the good or well-being of others. This concern for others will cause us to put their welfare ahead of our own. The greatest degree of that love, Jesus said, is that we be willing to give our lives for some-one else. This connects to the love Jesus had for us (v12) because He was about to lay down His life for us. This proves His love and that He was treating us as friends (Romans 5:5-8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 11; Ephesians 2:4-6).

We in turn are to love others as He loved us. We should be willing to give our lives for Him and for one another (cf. Revelation 2:10). We do this, not just in physical death, but by using our lives every day in doing what is good for others (Romans 12:1; Matthew 16:24,25; 10:38,39; John 12:25; 2 Corinthians 8:5).

Thus, love is the power that moves us to keep God’s commands, and Jesus’ example shows us how to express love. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2,31-5:2; Philippians 2:2,3; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9,10; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 3:8,9; 4:8; 1 John 2:7-11; 3:10-18,23; 4:8-5:3.)


Let's Pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 6:15-23

Hi, everyone!

Thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. It's good to be here with you again. I hope your week has been going well. This time, we will be studying Chapter 6 verses 15-23. I know I always say this, but it is my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I strongly feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we learned that...

In chapter five, Paul made the statement "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). Being aware that some readers might misinterpret what he said, Paul quickly pointed out that grace is no excuse to sin since through grace they have died to sin (1-2).

To emphasize this, he reminded them of their baptism into Christ, in which they experienced a burial into the death of Christ and rose to walk in newness of life, having died to sin (3-7). Dead to sin, they were now free to live as instruments of righteousness for God (8-14).

This week...

We will learn that another reason not to continue in sin is explained in terms of servitude. We become slaves to that which we obey, either sin or God (15-16). But Paul is grateful that the Romans had begun to obey God and were free to become His servants (17-18). How important it is that they continue to do so is to be seen in the outcome of serving sin contrasted to serving God. Serving sin earns death, but in serving God one receives the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus (19-23)!

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 6:15-23. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Rewrite the question found in Romans 6:15 in your own words.
2. How does Paul answer that question in Romans 6:15?
3. What is the outcome when you offer yourself to someone to be his slave (Romans 6:16)?
4. Paul gives examples of two kinds of slaves. Please fill in their end result (Romans 6:16). If you give yourself to sin, then you will receive _________.
Give yourself to obedience, then you will receive ______.
5. Every Christian was first a slave of _____________ and then a slave of ___________________(Romans 6:17-18).
6. How did they escape the slavery of sin (Romans 6:17)?
7. Paul is using the analogy of slavery to illustrate this truth. Complete the sentence (Romans 6:19). If I wanted to be a slave of sin, I would______________.
8. How then can we become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:19)? {Key: notice the ‘just as’}.
9. Before we were Christians, we were ______________ from the power of righteousness (Romans 6:20).
10. What good came from the time before we were Christians (Romans 6:21)?
11. What should our attitude be to those sins now (Romans 6:21)?
12. What good comes from being bound to serve God (Romans 6:22)?
13. What is the difference between ‘wages’ and ‘gift’?
14. By noticing the results of not being a Christian or being one, how important is it that one is actually a Christian (Romans 6:23)?
15. List at least two changes you desire to take place in your life because of these verses.

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 6:15-23. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Don't Stop; Keep On Moving!

An elderly lady was once asked by a young man who had grown weary in the fight, whether he ought to give up the struggle. "I am beaten every time," he said dolefully. "I feel I must give up." "Did you ever notice," she replied, smiling into the troubled face before her, "that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing?"

I really feel that one of the key ingredients that should be present in the Christian life-style is persistence. If you take a look some of the ways that the word persistence is used today, you’d find that it can mean: to continue in the cause; to remain; or to endure, to name just a few examples. Yet, we are seeing too many Christians burning out on well-doing, and that are unprepared for the wear and tear of daily Christian living.

So, how can we change this? Fellow believers, we need to develop the ability to keep on going forward even in the middle of disaster. Sometimes we're strong coming out of the gate, but then we fizzle out. In the end, the battle is won by those with the persistence to continue. You can also put it this way. Almost anyone can start something; but not everyone has the faith to see it through!

Let’s start with prayer. One of the hardest places to be persistent is in the topic of prayer. Many times we give our requests to God and when we don’t get an immediate response we feel as if God is ignoring us. Understand that many of our greatest desires demand that we enter into a persistent search. Too many times we have not done this because of our impatience. We say that our prayers go unanswered. But, the truth is that we haven’t given God time to answer. We have lost our persistence in the matter of prayer.

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus calls for persistence in prayer. He responds to persistence on the part of His children. God answers those whose requests are right, sincere, and persistent. He is willing to answer if we are faithful, and we give Him time to respond. Persistence means moving forward even when prayer seems unproductive.

Then, there’s the matter of giving up when the going gets rough. Life isn’t always easy, even for the Christian! Remember when Paul had to encourage his converts to continue in the faith? (Acts 14:22) He urged them to remain in the faith, to stick it out. For those of you who might be in despair, and to those for whom life is tough, God has the power to deliver if you are persistent! God has a message, if you’d listen. He has an answer to your problems. God is telling you, “Don’t stop; keep on moving. Be persistent!”

Finally, another way you can demonstrate persistence is by moving forward when the cause is worthwhile. Persistence is the secret behind many great achievements of life. Some people have the ability for making a great start. Others seem to have an endless reserve of ideas. They might jump into a magnificent project, but they have no persistence. They can’t see things through to the end.

You see, the incentive to start something and the persistence to see it through are two distinct things. What does this mean for the Christian? A Christian needs to learn to see things through to completion. It means that when life gets rough; when we fall; when our prayers seem unanswered; or when we seem to despair, we keep on going and we look up for God’s deliverance. Persistence is what it’s all about.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8; Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 12:1; Romans 2:7; Luke 11:8 Ephesians 6:18; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Colossians 4:2.

Prayer:

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)

Have a blessed day,

Britney

What Are You Afraid Of?

I recently read about some fears that are a part of many peoples lives…maybe even your own! Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people. Aerophobia: fear of drafts. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple. Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people. Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body. Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body. Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights. Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings. Thalassophobia: fear of being seated. Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking. Odontophobia: fear of teeth. Graphophobia: fear of writing in public, etc., etc...

Clearly, there are many different types of fear that can occur in a person’s life. But, what exactly is fear in its purest form? A dictionary describes fear as: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.

According to noted neurologist Antonio R. Damasio, “When we are afraid of something, our hearts begin to race, our mouths become dry, our skin turns pale and our muscles contract. This emotional reaction occurs automatically and unconsciously. Feelings occur after we become aware in our brain of such physical changes; only then do we experience the feeling of fear.” Therefore, from this statement, it would be safe to infer that feelings such as fear are formed by emotions.

Fear exists in all of our lives, in one form or another. Members of a psychology class asked the following question to 500 people: “What are you afraid of?” The response they received was phenomenal. The people that were surveyed listed over 7,000 fears! Amazing, isn’t it? But, it doesn’t have to be this way because Christ came to deliver us from our fears.

The Bible speaks of two kinds of fear: 1) a fear that is commanded; 2) and a fear that is forbidden. What is the difference? A fear that is commanded involves respect, honor, reverence, and even a sense of awe. For example, we are to fear God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Acts 9:31; Hebrews 11:7). This type of fear also leads to: holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1); working out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12); and evangelism (2 Corinthians 5:11). Forbidden fear, on the other hand, is usually synonymous with feelings of dread, alarm, fright, terror, apprehension, anxiety, perplexity (confusion) and distrust. (Psalm 91:5; Luke 12:32)

However, this kind of fear (forbidden) is not to be confused with caution. That is something different altogether. Some examples of this would be: a fear of being run over causes you to look both ways before crossing the street; or, the fear of polio causes you to take the vaccine. But don’t worry; these types of fears are perfectly normal and good.

Whether we like it to admit it or not, fear operates freely in our lives. We see that men: fear failure (Matthew 25:25); fear the unknown; fear responsibility (Deuteronomy 1:22-46); fear old age (Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 16:31); fear insecurity (Matthew 6:24-34); fear what other men will say and think about them, or do to them (Luke 12:4-7; Matthew 26: 69-75); fear death (Hebrews 2:15, 9:27; Philippians 1:21-23).

Unfortunately, fear takes a toll on us if we allow it. Fear makes our life a wretched experience and distorts the personality (1 Samuel 28). It can prevent one from doing the will of God (Exodus 3). Fear can render one useless and even bring on the very thing we fear. And probably the saddest of all; it can cause a person to be lost (Revelation 21:8). All of this must sound pretty dismal so far, I know. So, how can we overcome fear?

Luckily there are some things that we can do to overcome fear. We must remember that fear is strictly prohibited. In fact, it is a characteristic of the wicked (Proverbs 28:1). “Fear not” and “be not afraid” appear over 180 times in the Bible! Enthrone Christ (1 Peter 3:14-15); put your faith and trust in God (Isaiah 26:3); conceive of God as Father; and never lose sight of the fact that you are in the presence of God and that his help is near. In conclusion, never take counsel of your fears, and pray, pray, pray!

Let’s pray...

Heavenly Father, as we kneel before Your throne of grace, we ask a special blessing and benediction upon us, Your people. We particularly pray that You will shield and defend us from the ravages of fear and anxiety. Place Your protective mantle around us and our loved ones that we will be fearful of nothing. Forgive our weakness and shortcomings. Lord, hear our prayer, for we give You praise, honor, glory and thanks.

God's love and peace to all,

Holly

Jesus Is the Real Deal

One of the basic principles of our faith that we hold dear is our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. (Acts 8:37; John 8:24) We can see that the theme of the New Testament teaching and preaching is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

As the apostle John stated his purpose in penning his gospel, he, in reality, was stating the very reasons that all Scripture was revealed; these are: to redeem man and to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the one through whom redemption is possible. (John 20:30-31) Even so, there has always been controversy concerning Jesus’ identity. (John 7:12)

A mistaken view that some people have about Jesus today is that He was not really the Son of God, but He was a very good man. Even during Jesus’ own life on earth many held this view (John 7:12). But, consider this; if Jesus was not the Son of God then He was nothing but a liar. He said that the Father had revealed that He was the Son and the one sent to save the world (John 12:44-50). But, if He was not that one, He lied. And a good man does not lie. What this is saying is that He could not and will not give what He promised to give, eternal life. My friends, it would mean that everything He taught; all of His directives and His promise; were not true. Now I ask you, would a good man do this to anyone?

Certainly not! Personally, I believe that Jesus was much more than simply just a good man. I believe that He is the Son of God, and I believe His promise is true. Why? Because, the testimony supporting His claims and my belief in Him is overwhelming! An impressive amount of evidence can be presented to show that Jesus Christ, as stated in Scripture, is the Son of God.

Allow me to share just a few examples of what I am talking about. First, there is the testimony of men (contemporaries), such as: John the Baptist (Luke 1:17; John 1:29-34); the apostle Peter (Matthew 16:15-17); Nathanael (John 1:43-46; Micah 5:2; John 7:40-42, 52; John 1:47-50); Martha (John11:27); the centurion at His crucifixion (Matthew 27:54). Next, the testimony of the spiritual world, for instance: the angels (Luke 1:26-35; Matthew 1:20-25). The testimony of Jesus’ works (His miracles): (John 11:47-48; John 3:2; John 5:36). The testimony of the Scriptures (prophecy): (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39-40). Finally, the testimony of the Father: (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5).

Now, I can’t answer for everyone; nor would I even try. But with all of the evidence that God has given, would it be unreasonable to say that no one should doubt that Jesus is the Son of God? If any of this has raised questions, or even doubts in your own mind, I implore you to open a Bible and check it out for yourself. Pray to God and ask for an open mind and an open heart before you do this. I can tell you that it will probably take more than just one reading, or two. Let God’s word sink it, mull it over; question it; but whatever you do, be patient. He will answer you.

So, is Jesus the Son of God? Let me leave you with some commentary about the words of Gamaliel, the Pharisee (Acts 5:30-39): If there had been nothing to Jesus, He would have come to nothing. But this not occur because He was, and is, the Son of God!

Let’s pray:

Holy Father in Heaven, I believe that you sent your only Son to earth to save me from sin. I know that without you in my life, I would truly be lost to the world. Your words are comforting to me in my own days of trouble; and replenishing when I feel my spirit growing weary. Holy Father, I have faith in You and know that there is nothing that can change that. I need only read Your scriptures to calm any feeling of doubt or restlessness. Yes, emptiness unfortunately occupies many souls, but I truly believe that your Word fills in any spiritual gaps that one might have. Therefore, I humbly pray for those who haven’t come to know You yet, and thankfully pray for those who have. Thank you Father for showing me what true, unselfish love really is all about. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

Have a blessed day,

Ronnie

Saturday Scripture Gold: Jeremiah 29:11

Hi, all!

Each week, I will take a verse (or scripture) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that you too will be inspired to do some of your own digging into God's scripture!

This week's Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most universally known verses quoted by Christians to encourage others going through difficult times, or trying to perceive what God is doing presently in their own life. One of the tendencies of Christians (and yes, I have done it, too) is to quote a verse that by itself sounds applicable, but if you take the time to study the verse within the context of the Scripture around it, you’ll hopefully see a different meaning intended by God.

I will try my best to walk us through this. But, please keep in mind that I am not an Old Testament theologian by any means. For sure, there are many others that are more biblically trained than I, and I am thankful for them. However, in my heart I truly believe that God lovingly speaks to us, the average-everyday-person, in a way that we can all understand. Trust me. We just need to open our hearts and minds to Him. He will take care of the rest.

In order to get a better understanding of verse 11, we will take a look at Jeremiah 29:1-20. In verses 1-9, we see the people (Israel) were divided geographically, some already in exile and listening to false prophets concerning their return; and those still in Judah listening to false prophets say that they had escaped judgment and nothing further was coming. Yes, they have been physically moved, but they still have to undergo the necessary spiritual shift that would reconcile them spiritually.

God clearly lets it be known that He is the God of the armies above and below, who, in this case, uses the earthly forces of Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His will. It’s a message to Israel of God’s sovereignty over the whole situation no matter where they are physically or spiritually. Regardless of physical conditions, God is in control. That’s it, plain and simple!

Judgment doesn’t actually “end” when the physical acts of judgment are completed, but only when God’s purpose for judgment has been accomplished. He doesn’t want punished people, He wants people who respond to punishment and return in sincere repentance and commitment from the heart. Why?

In verses 10-14, they are going through God’s judgment in order to be refined and changed into the kind of people who will conform (or change) to His plans for their hope and future. He is not simply “erasing” everything and pretending nothing happened. If you learn anything from our discussion today, I hope you learn this: “Becoming what God intends involves a personal commitment of faithfulness and obedience to his words and ways on our part.” That’s it! How simple and basic is that?

In Old Testament times God allowed His disobedient children to be carried off into captivity as well as having them put into slavery for willful sin. Verses 15-20 tells us that false teaching tries to get you to excuse your current circumstances so you can justify continuing to please yourself, and living according to the ways which brought on the circumstances in the first place. Just as the Lord allowed the disobedient Israelites to become servants to the Babylonians, God allows the disobedient to become servants to sin today. The only cure for disobedience is obedience.

Now, you have seen that when studied in context, Jeremiah 29:11 is not a blanket promise of God that covers everything. It’s something God said within a specific context to Israel which certainly applies to us as well, but it’s not a blank check to keep on doing “business as usual”. In reality, it’s part of a call to specific action to ensure that His plans are realized for our best hope and future.

Let's Pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 6:1-14

Hi, everyone!

It's good to be here with you again. Thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. This week, we will be studying Chapter 6 verses 1-14. I know I always say this, but it is my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I strongly feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we learned that...

In order to explain further the way in which salvation is made possible, Paul compared Christ to Adam. Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered the world, and the consequences have led to the death of many. In a similar way, through one man, Christ, many may now become righteous. Through Jesus' death on the cross, justification is made possible for many.

Additionally, upon comparing Christ with Adam, Paul briefly mentioned that with the entering in of law sin ocurred in abundance. But the increase of sin has been adequately answered by the grace offered in Jesus Christ.

This week...

At the end of chapter five, Paul made the statement "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). Aware that some readers might misunderstand what he said, Paul quickly points out that grace is no excuse to sin since through grace they have died to sin (Romans 6:1-2). To emphasize this, he reminds them of their baptism into Christ, in which they experienced a burial into the death of Christ and rose to walk in newness of life, having died to sin (Romans 6:3-7). Dead to sin, they are now free to live as instruments of righteousness for God (Romans 6:8-14).

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 6:1-14. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Rephrase Romans 6:1 into your own words. Have you ever heard anyone ask this before?
2. Examine Romans 5:20-21. Note any possible connection these verses have with Romans 6:1.
3. What answer does Paul give to the question he raises in Romans 6:1 (see verse 2)? 4. What does Paul assume that all Christians should know (see Romans 6:3)?
5. For what reason have we been buried with Christ through baptism into death (Romans 6:4)?
6. If we have been united with him like this in ______, we will certainly also be united with him in his ______“ (Romans 6:5).
7. List two or three ways Paul describes us before we were Christians (Romans 6:6).
8. What happened to that “old” person (Romans 6:6, 8)?
9. Death used to be our master. Who is our master now (Romans 6:8-10)?
10. Write down and memorize Romans 6:11.
11. What is the practical outworking of this spiritual experience and exchange of masters (Romans 6:12)?
12. “Do not offer __________________________ to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer __________ to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer ___________________________ to him as instruments of righteousness.” (Finish from Romans 6:13).
13. Why does he say that sin shall not be master over us (Romans 6:14)?

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 6:1-14. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

I Forgive...Do You?

Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising honesty in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, "What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me."

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25

Have you every found it difficult to forgive someone for something? I know that forgiveness can be hard. But, it is one of the most important things we need to learn in life; not only for us as Christians, but as human beings. This is not an option. You could say that it is a requirement for our own well being that we forgive others. After all, the Bible tells us that we must forgive.

Scripture shows us that forgiving others was very important to Jesus. He states quite clearly in Mark 11:25 that if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. We see evidence of this time and time again. For instance:
- In the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:7; 6:12-15
- In response to Peter’s question - Matthew 18:21-22
- In the parable of the unforgiving servant - Matthew 18:23-25
- In the sermon on the plain - Luke 6:37
- In teaching the disciples how to pray - Luke 11:4
- In teaching His disciples to forgive - Luke 17:3-4

We can also find examples where both Jesus and His followers demonstrated the forgiving spirit. I direct you to:
- Jesus on the cross - Luke 23:34
- Stephen as he was being stoned - Acts 7:59-60
- Paul when he was abandoned – 2 Timothy 4:16

Friends, I am here to tell you that we must develop the forgiving spirit. How? We can start by: focusing on God’s love for us (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10-11); remembering Christ’s willingness to die and forgive (1 John 3:16; Luke 23:34); and meditating on the passages above about the importance of forgiving others. Forgiving others helps us to understand what Jesus must have felt when he when through his trial and crucifixion for us. It also helps us receive the forgiveness that God held out to us.

What I have just shared with you is not rocket science. Unless we forgive, God will not forgive, and God does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:12). Think of forgiveness as a process. It doesn’t happen instantly. We have to be willing to take the first steps to forgiving others in our lives. Where we must confess an unforgiving spirit, let us pray that grace will create in us a new heart! Such grace comes through responding to the gospel of the grace of God. (Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7)

Scripture: Romans 12:20; Luke 17:3-4; Acts 7:59-60; John 8:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Proverbs 19:11; Genesis 50:20-21.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are holy and righteous. You are perfect in justice. I confess that I have not forgiven as You have commanded me to. Through Jesus Christ, I now forgive these people: _______________ (names of these people, and what they did to you). I confess my pride and judgment of those people. Please forgive me Lord and cleanse me from my sin. Please help me thoroughly trust these people and the wrongs they caused me in your hands. I pray that your will be done in my life and in their lives. Please help me to no longer think of those wrongs, but instead to focus my thoughts on you. I invite you Lord, into any painful memories I have concerning what was done. Please heal any wounds I received and help me to have perspective on what happened. Thank you Father! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

May God bless you,

Halie

Choose Eternal Life!

Thinking of the fullness and duration of this wonderful life, W. B. Hinson, a great preacher of a past generation, spoke from his own experience just before he died. He said, "I remember a year ago when a doctor told me, 'You have an illness from which you won't recover.' I walked out to where I live 5 miles from Portland, Oregon, and I looked across at that mountain that I love. I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul.

Then in the evening I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting His lamps, and I said, ' I may not see you many more times, but Mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and River, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down pulling of the material universe!' "

Eternal life is a major theme in the gospel of Christ. It tells us that: Jesus was crucified in order to offer eternal life (John 3:14-16); and eternal life in Christ Jesus is the gift of God (Romans 6:23). But what exactly is eternal life? Is it simply a future blessing, pertaining to life after death? Or is it a present possession; something to enjoy in this life?

To try and get a better understanding of these questions let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about eternal life. In His "High Priestly Prayer" (John 17), Jesus mentions eternal life. In his prayer to his Heavenly Father, Jesus gives thanks for being given the authority "give eternal life to as many as you have given him." (John 17:2) He also says this about himself, "And this is eternal life..." (John 17:3)

I suppose that one could think about eternal life in two ways: present or future. First off, it wouldn’t be too difficult to find scripture that discusses eternal life as a future blessing. Many scriptures refer to eternal life as a “future blessing.” Jesus spoke of it in this way (Matthew 25:46; Mark 10:28-30); and Paul wrote of it in this way (Titus1:2; 3:7; Romans: 6:22).Therefore, many of us think of eternal life in this way, as well.

We consider it as: a future blessing; an everlasting existence in the presence of God, free from death, sorrow and pain (Revelation 21:1-7); and that it is available in this life as a hope. Clearly, it is certainly scriptural to conceive of eternal life as hope for the future.

If we look for evidence of eternal life as a “present possession,” we see that John often writes of eternal life as a present possession; as that which endures in one (or not) (1 John 3:14-15). It can be said that God has given us eternal life, that we have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).

In his writings, I feel that John chooses to use the phrase "eternal life" in a special sense. He describes a quality of life (and not just quantity of life) which comes by knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ. John recounts it in the manner in which Jesus uses it in His "High Priestly Prayer" (John 17:3). In his prayer, Jesus says "This is eternal life..." Defining it as "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ..."

Let’s pause here for a minute. Before we move on, I want you to remember these following points:

1) When we come to 'know' God and Jesus, we experience a quality of life that surpasses what the world has to offer;
2) As a present possession, this quality of life is only a glimpse of the future blessing we shall experience with God;
3) As a promise of things to come, this quality of life can rightly be called eternal life;
4) And finally, isn't our life with God now really the beginning of eternity with God?

Since Jesus spoke of eternal life in both ways, it is both a future blessing and present possession. So, as we come to 'know' God and Jesus, we begin to experience the blessings of eternal life. If you take anything away from our discussion today, I hope you understand that eternal life is more than just a hope regarding a future blessing. It is also a present possession, an unparalleled quality of life available in this life. Eternal life is a blessing that comes from 'knowing' God and Jesus in a personal and progressive way. And, it is enjoyed only by keeping the commandments of God and Jesus!

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1; Romans 2:7, 10; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Matthew 19:17; 1 Peter 1:10-11.

Prayer:

Lord, pour out on us the spirit of understanding, truth and peace, help us to strive with all our hearts to know what is pleasing to you, and when we know your will, make us determined to do it. Amen

God's love and peace to all,

Holly

Baptism, and Beyond!

My good friend and colleague Eve shared with me that she wanted to address the subject of salvation with our ministry blog readers. Since all of us here like to bounce our ideas off of each other before we put them out there for all to read, she let me critique her article. I really loved what she had to say about salvation and asked her if she wouldn’t mind if I could piggy-back on her idea.

Excitedly, I told her that I would love to talk a little bit more about baptism, which is an integral part of being saved. Of course, Eve, being the total sweetheart that she is, gave me her blessing. So, my blog contribution revolves around this question, “Okay, I’m baptized, now what?”

Dear readers, I am here to tell you that wonderful blessings come to those who respond to the gospel of Christ in baptism! What kind of blessings? How about these, for example: They receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38-39) And, they also experience a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-7). One could look at it as being saved by God’s grace.

In addition, they are saved from their past sins (Mark 16:16). Their sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16; Ephesians 1:7). They have become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7). This all pretty comforting, for sure. But, even though they "are saved", in another sense they are still "to be saved." Confused? Being baptized is definitely an awesome achievement; but it’s what you do afterward that will ensure remaining faithful to the Lord. (Revelation 2:10)

Let me share some things that I hope will keep you strong in your faith. Remember that...

-You are now a new creature by virtue of being in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and having been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). God has given you new potential for living.
-You are a babe in Christ. We Christians all begin our new life as babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). But, God allows you time to grow! (Hebrews 5:12-14)
-You are in a critical period. Satan often strikes hardest at the beginning of our service (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan would love to see you fail! (1 Peter 5:8)
-You face the possibility of falling, especially when you think you are strong (1 Corinthians 10:12) But, God can be trusted to help us through temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 2:1-2)
-You are to be a good example of those who believe in both deed and word. Others should be able to look to you as to how to live for Christ. (1Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7)

Here are some other helpful things you can do, as well. Be passionate in prayer (Colossians 4:2). In other words, pray like you really mean it! Be diligent in gathering together. Consistency is the key to avoiding spiritual stagnation (Acts 2:42; 20:7). Help save others. The Lord wants His disciples to make more disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20)

I know that I have just given you a lot of information to process. And to be honest, there is still so much more that we could discuss. But for now, I hope that you will take away what you need from all of this and absorb it into your hearts and minds.

Please take your time and go back over all of this material at your own pace. I have no doubt you will find it is time well spent. Thank you for letting me share my passion for God with all of you today!

Let's Pray:

Merciful Lord, you are never weary of speaking to my poor heart. Grant me grace that, if today I hear your voice, my heart may not be hardened. Amen.

May God bless you,

Adele

Got Salvation?

Hi, all!

It's been a while since we've specifically discussed the topic of salvation here on our blog. We get asked more about salvation than almost any other subject, and rightly so. People who are interested in learning more about Christ find this subject very intriguing. I am also aware that for some of us, salvation is one of those things that gets stored somewhere in the back of our minds. Right?

Certainly, there are many pressing "earthly" matters that dominate our daily lives. But, I would like like to submit to you that salvation is something that cannot be put until some other more convenient time. None of us knows when we will draw our last breath on Earth. Our days are not guaranteed, but our death is (James 4:14). That being said, let me submit something for you to consider. Your eternal life depends on it.

Now, I am going to ask you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, you must realize you are a sinner (Romans 3:23). And, because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell (Hebrews 9:27). But the news isn't all doom and gloom. God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place (2 Corinthians 5:21).

You see, Jesus had to shed His blood and die for us (Lev. 17:11; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:8). Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It's true. God cannot lie. So what does this mean? Simply believe in Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior. Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith.

Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no association, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it! God’s simple plan of salvation is ths: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe in Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Oh sure, it can't be that simple.” But I say "Yes, it is that simple!" It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. Believe in Jesus and receive Him as Savior today. But in addition, you can't just sit there. Don't trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

Pray -- you talk to God.
Read your Bible -- God talks to you.
Witness -- you talk for God.
You should also be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay (2 Timothy 1:8).

Say this Prayer with me:

"Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

If you've prayed this prayer of salvation with true conviction and heart, you are now a follower of Jesus. This is a fact, whether or not you feel any different. Religious systems may have led you to believe that you should feel something - a warm glow, a tingle, or some other mystical experience. The fact is, you may, or you may not. If you have prayed the prayer of salvation and meant it, you are now a follower of Jesus. The Bible tells us that your eternal salvation is secure! (Romans 10:9)

Welcome to the family of God! I encourage you now to find a local church where you can be baptized and grow in the knowledge of God through His Word, the Bible. Hopefully, I helped answer some of your questions, or at the very least, encouraged some of you to give this topic further attention. Thank you for visiting with us. I wish you all a blessed day!

May God bless you,

Eve

Saturday Scripture Gold: James 1:12

Hello, friends!

Each week, I will take a verse (or two) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that you too will be inspired to do some of your own digging into God's scripture!
- Rochelle

This week's Bible verse: James 1:12

As I slowly read this verse over and over to myself, a picture begins to appear like a vague figure slowly emerging through a misty fog. Gradually, it becomes quite apparent that James is writing to people who are struggling. People like you and I; your everyday, average person. And even though they are united now to Christ and learning to trust Him, their lives are full of difficulties. How then should they go through their trials as Christians? This is the question James seeks to answer for them and for us as well.

In the section just before this one, James deals with the rich and the poor. Our perception is that the rich, by definition, are immune from trials. James points out, however, that riches will fade away; they offer no real healing or solution to our trials. We can’t look to wealth as the answer to the trials that we face, although we are tempted to.

Most of us would agree that we certainly don’t feel blessed amid trials. In fact, we may wonder if we are cursed. We may also wonder in the middle of a trial if it is ever going to end; if there is any real hope that is going to turn out okay. In v. 12, as earlier, James reminds his readers that there is an end to this time that will be far more glorious than we can imagine in our present circumstances.

To endure (persevere) is not something that we do by sheer will power. To endure is to continue to turn to God as our only source of life. It is to count on Him to give us His presence and His peace throughout whatever we are facing. It is to live as if He is working His transforming and redeeming will through this current suffering. It is to wait on Him to give us wisdom and light when all we seem to have to offer Him is our darkness. What a reassuring feeling this is as we go through whatever troubles life may throw at us.

James tells us here that trouble is a test. It's a test and verse 12 says, "If you persevere through that test you'll be blessed and you'll receive a crown of life." Please note that since salvation is a free gift based on faith alone in Christ alone, (Eph 2:8-9, Ro 3:23-24) - no works permitted; the "crown of life" cannot be speaking of salvation to eternal life since such a crown is received as a result of persevering, or enduring under trial. The "crown of life", therefore, is clearly a reward and not a gift in repayment for continual works of service for the Lord by the already saved believer.

Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation," it just goes with life here. So we need to expect it. Any human, even Christ Himself here on earth, goes through it, trouble from family, trouble from friends, trouble on the job, in school, economic trouble, criticism, persecution, physical illness, disease, finally death and separation.

Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. Our sense of satisfaction comes from the source of God. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God shall have its trials in this world fully made right in that world above, where love is made perfect.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:36; 1 Corinthians 13:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Romans 5:3-4; Galatians 6:9; Revelation 2:13; James 1:2-3; 1 Timothy 4:16; James 5:11.

Let's Pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 5:12-21

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me once again as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. This week, we will be studying Chapter 5, verses 12-21. It is my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Before we move on with our study let's briefly review the scripture that we covered during our last meeting together. I strongly feel that reviewing what we previously touched on helps prepare us for our current study.

In review...

Having validated his belief of "justification by faith" with evidence from the Old Testament, Paul discussed the blessings of such justification. First, there is peace with God (1). Second, we have access to grace in which we stand (2). Third, there is cause for rejoicing in hope, so that we can glory even in tribulations (2-4). Fourth, there is God's love which He first demonstrated with the gift of His Son (5-8). Lastly, there is salvation from God's wrath (9). All of this is made possible when we are reconciled to God through the death of His Son and should be the basis for endless rejoicing (10-11).

This week...

To explain further the way in which salvation is made possible, Paul compares Christ to Adam. Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered the world, and the consequences have led to the death of many. In a similar way, through one man, Christ, many may now become righteous. Through Jesus' death on the cross, justification is made possible for many (12-19). Upon comparing Christ with Adam, Paul briefly mentions that with the entering in of law sin abounded. But the increase of sin has been adequately answered by the grace offered in Jesus Christ (20-21).

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 5:12-21. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Who is responsible for bringing sin into the world (Romans 5:12)? Note: See also Genesis chapters 2 and 3.
2. What sign or evidence is there that everyone has sinned (Romans 5:12)?
3. Was there sin before the Old Testament Law was given by Moses around 2000 B.C. (Romans 5:13)?
4. How do we know this (Romans 5:14)?
5. Who is Adam said to be a type for (Romans 5:14)?
6. How is the gift of God different than the result of the one man’s sin (Romans 5:16)?
7. Please finish the corresponding sentences below (Romans 5:18).
-Through one trespass there resulted ________________ to all men, in the same way one act of _______________ resulted in _______________ that brings life to all men.
8. From Romans 5:19 write down the effect one man has had (Adam & Jesus) upon the world.
-19a. Through the disobedience of the one man __________.
-19b. Through the obedience of the one man ___________ .
9. If we know sin is all around us by the presence of death, what then is the mark or sign of God’s grace in a Christian’s life (Romans 5:21)?
10. How many times is the phrase ‘the many’ used in Romans 5:12-21?
11. What is the significance of this? Please refer to Isaiah 53:1-12 (especially 10-12).
12. List at least three changes you desire to take place in your life because of these verses.

Finally, after answering the study questions, read Romans 5:12-21 again. Pause and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we go along in our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Let's Persevere In Our Hope

G.K. Chesterton described hope this way: "Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all...As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength." In other words, hope really doesn't mean anything until it is all you have left; there is nothing else but hope.

Elpis, the Greek word for 'hope' means "a confident desire and expectation." It is closely aligned with the word 'faith'(He 11:1). In 1 Timothy 1:1, Paul refers to Jesus as "our hope". This is a very unique title given to Jesus. In fact, nowhere else is Jesus described this way except in Colossians 1:27.

Even so, it came to be a precious title used by some in the early church. For example, "Be of good cheer in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our common hope" - The Epistle of Ignatius to The Ephesians, Chapter 21; "Let us therefore persevere in our hope and the earnest of our righteousness, who is Jesus Christ." - The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp and the Ephesians, Chapter 8.

One might ask, "In what way is Jesus 'our hope', our basis for 'confident expectation'? One could answer, "Jesus is 'our hope'...

-For forgiveness of sins. You see, man has a problem with sin. All have sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8,10). The consequences of sin are grave (Romans 6:23). People deal with this guilt of sin differently. Some try to ignore it; others seek to compensate for it by doing good works and; many look to different 'saviors' or teachers (the Law, Buddha, Mohamed, Mary), to name just a few.

-For reconciliation with God. Man has a longing for fellowship with God. It is something put in man by His Creator (Acts 17:26-28). Many seek to fulfill this longing with the wrong things, such as trying to satisfy it with material things. But such things only leave an emptiness (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Many seek to fulfill this longing in the wrong way; such as on their own or through some man or man-made religion. In the end, they are once again left feeling unfulfilled.

-For provision in daily living. People often worry about the necessities of of life, and rightly so. They worry about their food and clothing. They desire basic contentment, with true joy and peace. Jesus acknowledged this common concern among men (Mattew 6:31-32). The Bible reassures us that Jesus is our only 'Hope'. His Father knows our needs (Mt 6:32). Jesus provides the secret to God's care (Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30). He also is the source to true joy and peace (Philippians 4:4,6-7). In Him there is contentment, knowing that God will supply our needs (Philippians 4:11-12,19).

Lastly, Jesus is our hope for victory over death. Let's face it, the fear of death is common to all mankind. People try to avoid it, or delay it; some try to ignore it, even refusing to speak of the dead. But we can't escape it; no matter what we try to do. My dear friends, JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE! He came to deliver us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He did this by His own resurrection, and continues to do through the promise of His coming again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Hopefully, you have seen that Jesus is many things to those who love Him; let's make sure that He is 'our hope'! Why not let Jesus become your 'hope' today?

Scripture: Romans 5:5; 1 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 7:19; Ephesians 4:4; Titus 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 1:5; Job 17:15; Romans 15:13.

Let's Pray:

O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.

May God bless you,

Janet

Are You Everything the Lord Saved You to Be?

While studying Romans Chapter 12, I was deeply touched by the words that Paul had laid out for his readers . He begins with a plea to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they can demonstrate in themselves that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect (1-2). He then encourages them to fulfill their proper place in the Body of Christ with proper humility and zeal (3-8).

Additionally, there's a list of commands to govern the Christian's life and attitude towards love, good and evil, brethren in the Lord, service to God, and response to persecution (9-21).

Taking a closer look at his words, we see that he is asking them to offer themselves (as a living sacrifice) in order to please God. (Romans 12:1) He also issues this warning: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world."; be transformed, not conformed to this world by the renewing of your mind to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2)

Paul stresses that they should serve God together as members of one body. To serve with humility, and not think that they are above all of this. After all, what we are ultimately comes from God. And since they are such a diverse group with many different gifts and talents, they should appreciate and welcome each member for bringing these blessings into the fold. (Romans 12:3-8)

This, in itself, is pretty heady stuff. But then it gets even better! Paul discusses love; Christian love. He tells us right a the start that, "Love must be sincere." (Romans 12:9) What an awesome statement! It describes love in its purest, most basic sense. After all, love must be sincere in order to be real.

In verses 9-21, Paul proceeds to list what we as Christians need to do in order to live together as a God-honoring family. Well, how do you look when you are laid alongside the word of God in this chapter? Is there room for improvement in your walk with your fellow believer? If so, there is no better time than no to make the necessary adjustments in your life so that you will be everything the Lord saved you to be.

Personally, I don't think there is anything in the world harder than living with other people. They never do just like you want them to! But, since I can't control them, I am left with nothing to do but to control myself. Let us be honest about our own lives this day. If there are matters that need to be adjusted, come to the Father and He will see that they get straightened out for you!

Scripture: John 14:24; John 15:12; Luke 10:27; Mark 12:30; Matthew 5:44; Matthew 5:43; 1 Corinthians 13:4; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:2

Prayer:

God, my Father, may I love You in all things and above all things. May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven. Nothing is good that is against Your Will, and all that is good comes from Your Hand. Place in my heart a desire to please You and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love, so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May God bless you,

Elizabeth

Our Treasure Lies In Heaven

Recently, a man in Austria was turning dirt in his backyard when he stumbled onto buried treasure — hundreds of pieces of centuries-old jewelry and other precious objects that Austrian authorities described as a fairy-tale find.

Austria’s department in charge of national antiquities said the trove consists of more than 200 rings, brooches, ornate belt buckles, gold-plated silver plates and other pieces or fragments, many encrusted with pearls, fossilized coral and other ornaments. It says the objects are about 650 years old and are being evaluated for their provenance and worth.

While not assigning a monetary value to the buried bling, the enthusiastic language from the normally staid Federal Office for Memorials reflected the significance it attached to the discovery.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus commands us to lay up treasure not on earth, but in heaven. Not that it is wrong to have earthly treasures per se, but our focus should be on laying up treasure in heaven. Some may find this hard to do, but there are some good reasons.

For example, in Ec. 5:10-16 Solomon described the problem with earthly treasures: money and abundance do not truly satisfy; the abundance of the rich prevent good sleep, and often hurts the owner and; riches perish through misfortune, and cannot be taken with us when we die.

Still having a hard time accepting reasons to lay up treasure in heaven and why treasure on earth is insecure? The Bible tells us:
1. Moth and rust destroy (material things are perishable)
2. Thieves break in and steal (material things are subject to theft)
3. There is also loss due to inflation, stock devaluation, bankruptcies, faulty investments, etc.

God assures us that treasure in heaven is secure. He tells us: "Neither moth nor rust destroys (our treasures are imperishable) -cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4; Thieves can not break in and steal (our treasures are securely guarded) - cf. 1 Peter 3:4-5. What earthly bank, or federal institution can guarantee that with 100% certainty?

Okay...so how do we begin to lay up treasure in heaven? Let me suggest starting with giving to the poor. Jesus connected giving to the poor with laying up treasure on two occasions. First, to His disciples (Luke 12:32-33). Then, to a rich ruler (Luke 18:18-27). Paul also connected sharing one's wealth with laying up treasure in heaven (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Always keep in mind that "eternal" life cannot be purchased. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Titus 3:5). We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). And, as children of God we are joint-heirs with Christ; recipients of every spiritual blessing in Christ (Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 1:3).

Have you given much thought as to how you can be rich in good works,ready to give, willing to share? Store up a good foundation for the time to come, and lay hold on eternal life...!

Scripture: Isaiah 33:6; Luke 12:34; Matthew 19:21; John 14:3; Matthew 6:31-33; Colossians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Let's Pray:

I pray for the poor, hungry and homeless people around the world. I can't even imagine what that would be like, for I am blessed with more than enough. Thank-you. May we be directed to those in need to help them in anyway we can. Help us to love like you do and spread your Words so that one day the whole world will know the truth and give you all the honor and glory that you deserve. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

May God bless you always,

Charlene

Serve With Total Commitment

We've all heard stories about those incredibly brave U.S. Navy SEALS, but have you heard about their daring helpers—their fearless four-legged recruits?

Canines often play a significant role in military operations as they can crawl into small spaces, find enemy soldiers and report back unnoticed with TV footage from a camera attached to their heads. Their primary functions "are finding explosives and conducting searches and patrols," Maj. Wes Ticer, a spokesman for the United States Special Operations Command, told the New York Times, but Ticer said that many times dogs save "the lives of the Special Operations Forces with whom they operate."

The NYT reports that according to Gen. David H. Petraus, commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, that dogs are useful because “the capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine.”

The thing about these wonderful servants (dogs) is they seldom receive praise (except for maybe some extra biscuits), but you'll never hear them complain.

Do you complain about your service for the Lord?

Serving God requires total commitment. The Lord God has worked in each of us a desire to serve Him, right? Wasn't that what we said when we declared our faith last year, five years ago, ten years ago, thirty years ago? Isn't what we keep saying when we profess the faith of the church each Sunday morning? Aren't we all collectively, and each personally, saying that we are bound and determined to serve the Lord, and to fear Him on account of His saving work in Jesus Christ - a work that reaches up till today?

Yes, we want to serve this God who has done so much for us, but how does one serve Him? As Josua said to Israel: "serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth." First, to serve God "in sincerity" means that there may be no swaying between two gods, no wavering, no hesitating between serving God and another - whoever that other might be. This means that there must be a whole-hearted, 100% dedication to God.

Secondly, the term Joshua uses, translated for us as "truth", denotes the idea of being immovable, unshakable. Here is the concept of standing solid in the face of pressures. So it describes the person who can be counted on to remain resolute in his service to God despite temptations from the devil, the world and even one's own flesh. This is the person who has the courage to serve God sincerely through thick and thin.

Both terms together, imply a service that doesn't care what others say; no matter the changing circumstances there remains that single-minded, whole-hearted devotion to God with all one's heart. What Joshua commands here is what Jesus later said in response to the question as to which commandment was the greatest. Jesus said:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Mt 22:37).

But wait, that's not all! God wouldn't have us despair in the face of our brokenness. God has granted to us a man who could serve God with that needed sincerity and truth. In His infinite grace to the unworthy, the Lord has caused His only Son to become man, and this true man has served the Lord with perfect obedience, never transgressing a single one of God's commands, never sinning in any way, shape or form.

Yes, even when this holy and jealous God poured onto Him His terrible wrath against our sins, even when this God deserted His Son and handed Him over to the powers of hell, Jesus Christ did not sin; Instead, He continued to "fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth." The blessed result is that the Lord God in heaven accepted the sacrifice of His Son, and in Christ He sees us as righteous, and innocent!

Verses: Matthew 4:10; Matthew 6:24; Luke 1:75; Luke 4:8; Luke 16:13; John 12:26; Acts 27:23; Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 6:8; Colossians 3:24.

Prayer:

Lord, you call us to your service and continue your saving work among us. May your love never abandon us. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

-thanks to Rev. C. Bouwman

Bless you always,

Sandee