The Spirit and the Flesh Don't Mix!

"May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God's presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love."    -Andrew Murray

As Christians, we enjoy wonderful freedom in Christ. For instance, there is freedom from sin (John 8:31-34). There is freedom from the law of Moses (Romans 7:6). There is freedom from the traditions of men  (Galatians 4:9).

It is truly the desire of Christ that we be free (cf. Galatians 5:1). But we must not allow freedom to become "license" (i.e., freedom without any restraint). If we are not careful, desires of the flesh can wreak self destruction (Galatians 5:13-15).

To prevent this, the apostle Paul commands us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). If we do so, we will not succumb to the desires of the flesh. And whatever dangers there might be in fulfilling the lust of the flesh are thereby diminished. To encourage us to walk in the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh, I highly encourage you to read Galatians 5:16-26.

Maybe a good place to begin is by asking these questions: Why make any effort to walk in the Spirit? Why not just succumb to the desires of the flesh? There are at least five reasons that are given in Galatians 5:16-26, and the first one we shall consider is this...

1) The Spirit and the Flesh are contrary to one another (Galatians 5:17). Consider them as two opponents, fighting for our soul. They are in opposition against each other (Galatians 5:17a). Is "the Spirit" referring to the Holy Spirit, or the human spirit? I believe it has reference to the Holy Spirit. The context of the epistle certainly suggests this to be the case.

Through "the Spirit" we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5:5). Paul's argument "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" would not make sense if the human spirit is meant (Galatians 5:25). Reaping everlasting life "of the Spirit" must refer to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 6:8). So while the flesh pulls us in one direction, the Spirit of God would have us go in another!

Therefore, a Christian must serve one, or the other. If you follow the lusts of the flesh, you can not do the will of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17b). Like the dilemma described in Romans 7:14-23, following the flesh will enslave. But with the help of Spirit, the flesh can be overcome! (cf. Romans 8:12-14). So we must choose who will be our master: the lusts of the flesh, or the Spirit of God; we cannot serve both!

2) If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:18). What does it mean to be "under the law?" In the context, "the law" has primary reference to the "Law of Moses" (cf. Galatians 4:21). The purpose of the law was primarily two-fold:

a. To reveal sin (cf. Galatians 3:19a; Romans 3:20);
b. To condemn the sinner as guilty (cf. Romans 3:19)

So, to be "under the Law", then, is to be under a state of condemnation! Because the law does not provide forgiveness. It only provides condemnation! Those walking in the Spirit are not under the condemnations of the law. Why? Because obedience to the gospel revealed by the Spirit results in freedom. That is:

a. Freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1);
b. Freedom from the law of sin of death (Romans 8:2; 6:17-18).

This was made possible through the sacrifice of Christ! (Romans 8:3-4) Because those walking according to the Spirit (cf. Romans 8:4) do things against which there is no law to condemn them! (cf. Galatians 5:22-23).  If we desire to be free from the condemnation of sin under the law of God, then we must "walk in the Spirit."

3) Fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and you will not inherit the kingdom of God (Job 5:19-21). This is a reference to the heavenly kingdom, which was:

a) Spoken of by Christ (Mathew 25:34);
b) Looked forward to by Paul (2 Timothy 4:18);
c) Referred to by Peter (2 Peter 1:10-11)

So, which shall it be? Walk in the Spirit, or fulfill the lusts of the flesh? The choice should be clear: one offers freedom from condemnation, and the other offers no hope of the heavenly kingdom! But Paul gives us two more reasons to make the right choice.

4) Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh (Galatians 5:24). In baptism, we died to sin, having been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:1-6: Romans 6:7-10). Additionally, as Christians, we are to continue to "crucify self." (Colossians 3:5-7; Colossians 3:8-11; cf. Romans 8:13).

Putting off the works of the flesh, therefore, is fundamental to the Christian life.We started the process when we were baptized into Christ, and we are to continue the process as we grow in the Lord.

We are not alone in this effort. As Paul indicated in Romans 8:13, it is by the Spirit we are able to put to death the deeds of the body. That leads back to a fifth and final reason we ought to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

5) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). After all, we owe our spiritual lives to the Holy Spirit! It was the Holy Spirit who made the Gospel known to mankind as Jesus said He would (John 16:7-13). Even the apostles attributed the gospel message to the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13). When one responds to the gospel of God's grace, they are renewed by the Holy Spirit (cf. Titus 3:5). It is the Spirit in us who gives us new life! (Romans 8:11-13)

Since we live in the Spirit, shouldn't we also walk in the Spirit? It is by the Holy Spirit that God has made our new life possible. It is only proper that we should live out our new life...

a. Being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18; cf. Romans 8:14)
b. Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25; cf. Romans 8:1-2)

In conclusion, we have these five reasons why we should walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh:

a. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another;
b. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law;
c. Fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and you will not inherit the kingdom of God;
d. Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh;
e. Since we live in the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit.

But, in case anyone remains unconvinced, consider another point made by Paul, "We reap what we sow!" (Galatians 6:7-8). And the type of corruption reaped by those who give into the works of the flesh varies. It is physical, mental, social and spiritual. Look around you and you can see the truthfulness of this; only the foolish do not see it.

But also seen is the type of life which is enjoyed both now and in heaven by those who follow the Spirit (as suggested in 1 Timothy 4:8). The question we each face is this: The flesh or the Spirit, which shall we serve?

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:15-16; Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 5:2

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for thy guidance and save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance; and from every evil way. Drive from among us all bitterness and racial prejudice, fill our hearts with the spirit of brotherhood and make us a united people faithful to do Thy Will, through Christ Thy Son, Our Lord. Amen

God bless you all!

Heather

Can Dead, Dry Bones Live?

"Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities."  -Robert Murray McCheyne

God had called His people, the Jews, out of captivity in Egypt. For over 100 years, they had been in Egyptian captivity. God brought them into the Promised Land, and gave them a land and a King, and made them a nation. But … they turned against God, and God allowed them to go into captivity once again.

Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army invaded Israel. They had reduced Solomon’s Temple to ashes, and had taken many of the Jewish people back to Babylon as captives. This is the condition that Ezekiel is in. The nation of Israel is dead. But … God has a vision for Ezekiel. Let's turn to Ezekiel 37 in your Bible.

Ezekiel 37:1-2 – Ezekiel is carried to a valley full of very dry bones. Try to imagine this scene with me. These bones are scattered everywhere … very white …very dry. Bones all over the place … scattered by the wild animals so that there is nothing but miscellaneous bones as far as the eye can see.

For Ezekiel, this is a vision of the nation of Israel … 37:11. There was no way that Israel could get themselves out of Babylonian captivity. They were like these dead, dry bones … in a graveyard … dead … in a hopeless situation.

Does this describes some of you today? You look around, and it seems hopeless. Everything seems to have gone wrong. Your life is a mess … or … at least it’s not what you want it to be. You see yourself in a valley of dead, dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:3a – Look at the question. Ezekiel is looking at millions of dead, dry bones … scattered about 100’s of square miles … and … God asks him, “Can these bones live?” How would you answer that question?

When you look at your situation … and … all you see is a valley of dead, dry bones … you don’t see much hope, do you? It’s hard to imagine those dead, dry bones having life. It’s hard to imagine your situation ever getting better. It’s hard to imagine life, beyond our present circumstances.

Israel has been taken captive by Babylon … Ezekiel can’t see much hope for his people. But … he answers God’s question … Ezekiel 37:3.

“Can these bones live?” “I don’t see how … if they do, it will be up to You, Lord!”

Ezekiel is telling God that God is in charge … in control. God can do whatever He wants to do. With God, nothing is impossible. If God wants these dead, dry bones to live, they’ll live!

Can dead, dry bones live? With God, nothing is impossible. Sometimes we look around us, and all we see is a valley of dry, dead bones. It looks pretty hopeless … it looks pretty devastating … it looks pretty grim.

But … God’s got a plan. Get into His Word, and He’ll speak to you. Yield to the Holy Spirit, and He will give you a new life.

Again, can dead, dry bones live? With God, nothing is impossible. If you have never trusted Jesus to save you, you are still living in the graveyard of dead, dry bones. God has a plan. Believe His Word, when it says that Jesus paid your sin-debt on the cross. Trust Him to save you, and the Holy Spirit will give you a new life.

One last time, can dead, dry bones live? That’s up to you. God has a plan to make dead, dry bones live. Are you willing to trust Him to give you life?

Scripture: Matthew 6:34; Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 17:11; John 5:39; Matthew 24:24; Isaiah 49:1

Prayer: The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  (Exodus 15:2)

God bless you, 

Regina  

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: Making the Most of Your Walk with God

He `walked with God!' Could grander words be written?
Not much of what he thought or said is told:
Not where or what he wrought is even mentioned;
He `walked with God'—brief words of fade-less gold!
How many souls were succored on his journey—
Helped by his words, or prayers, we may not know;
Still, this we read—words of excelling grandeur,
He walked with God while yet he walked below.
And, after years, long years, of such blest walking,
One day he walked, then was not, God said `Come!
Come from the scene of weary sin-stained sadness!
Come to the fuller fellowship of Home!'
Such be the tribute of thy pilgrim journey
When life's last mile thy feet have bravely trod—
When thou hast gone to all that there awaits thee,
This simple epitaph—‘He walked with God'.   -J. Danson Smith

Time is precious. We really aren't here on this earth for very long. We're like when you go to turn the light switch on, and find that the bulb is burned out. One day it will eventually happen. So, how can we make the most of the time we have?

We can make the most of the time we have left on earth by making the most of our walk with God. Many people live carelessly not giving much thought about their relationship with God. One day we will all have to stand before the Creator. The question that demands an answer is this: Will this God be your Heavenly Father who will receive you as a forgiven child? Or will this God be your Judge who will expel you to an eternal punishment?

To make the most of your walk with God, it is essential that you know Christ as your Lord and Savior. Apart from Christ there is no walk with God. Apart from Christ there is no saving relationship with God. To the person who is outside of God’s saving grace, I urge you to go to Jesus. He is ready to receive you. I pray you will find Jesus to be your Savior this very day.

To the child of God I urge you to make the most of your walk with the Lord! Don’t be a careless Christian who lives day by day with no thought of a deeper walk with Christ. Don’t settle for a “I know-nothing; I feel-nothing; I want-nothing; I desire-nothing”.

I would seriously question whether I was a believer if I did not want to know more of Christ. I would seriously question my salvation if I did not feel and sense God’s presence from time to time. It’s not that our faith is based on feelings, but I should have some sense of God at work in my life. I would seriously question my salvation if I did not want anything at all from the Lord. I would seriously question where I stand with God if I did not desire anything of the Lord.

In Psalm 1:1-16 we have a plea for a deeper, more solid, more productive walk with God. The person who has a close walk with God is called Blessed! So, how can we make the most of our walk with God? How can it become a blessed Walk?

To make the most of our walk with God, we will need to look carefully in three directions and answer three important questions:

1. Look Around. How are you being influenced? (Psalm 1:1-2) There are only two possible ways we can be influenced. Either we are influenced with godly influence, or with ungodly influence. We need to look around and ask ourselves the question: How are we being influenced? We are surrounded by all kinds of influence. What are we allowing to influence us? To shape us? To mold us?

2. Look Inside. What are you becoming? (Psalm 1:3-4) How we are influenced will reflect in what we become in character.Look Inside your heart. Look inside where you really live. Ask yourself, “what kind of person am I becoming?” The person who delights in God’s Word, and He, or She meditates on God’s Word will become like a tree planted by the rivers of water. You have found the source of true happiness. You are refreshed and nourished. It shows.

3. Look Ahead. How will you be judged? (Psalm 1:5-6) There is a destiny we will all be a part of. Up ahead….judgment day is coming! Will you be judged among the ungodly? The ungodly will not be able to stand on judgment day.The ungodly shall not stand They will not have a leg to stand on. They will not have an excuse to stand on. They've made all kinds of excuses why they can’t come to church; why they can’t be saved today; Excuses…Excuses…but on that day they will not be able to stand on any excuse. They won’t be able to stand on their own self-righteousness. They won’t be able to stand and look God in the eye.

Jesus knows the way of the righteous. He knows His own. He knows their ways. It is the way of the cross. It is the way of repentance and faith in Christ. It is the ONLY way! The ungodly has their own way. The way of their own. The way of do as you please. The way of the world. The way of self-righteousness. The way of works. The way of man-made religion. Look ahead….how will you be judged?

Keep this in mind. The spiritual walk of which the Bible speaks Is a dynamic exercise of faith, and the successful completion of this walk Is dependent not upon one’s natural or physical resources but upon the strength, leadership, and controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.

In closing, to make the most of your walk with God….it begins by godly influences. Godly influence will result in what you become on the inside…godly character. Godly character is what God is looking for…He’s looking for His own. Ungodly ways will not stand on judgment day!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Deuteronomy 5:33; Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 119:133; Zechariah 3:7  

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

Bible Study Snacks, Acts 20:1-12

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome back to another presentation of Bible Study Snacks! I hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, I would like to continue our study of the Book of Acts, with Chapter Twenty, Verses 1-12.

I have designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

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

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

 1) Review Paul's travels in Macedonia and Greece, during the 3rd journey.

2) Note Paul's preaching until midnight and then talking until daybreak, after Eutychus falls out of the third floor window

For your convenience, here is a summary of Acts 20:1-12...  

After the uproar in Ephesus had ceased, Paul gathers the disciples and exhorts them; he then departs for Macedonia.  [During this period, 2 Corinthians may have been written.] Paul provides much exhortation throughout the region. He then arrives in Greece and remains some three months. [Romans may have been written at this time.] As Paul plans to sail to Syria, the Jews plot against him. He decides to return through Macedonia. The seven brethren traveling with Paul travel on to Troas, while Paul goes to Philippi.  Luke joins Paul, and they meet the seven brethren in Troas.  (1-6)

The traveling group remains in Troas for seven days. Paul preaches on Sunday until midnight, for they had gathered to "break bread." Paul plans to depart on the next day. A young man, Eutychus, is sitting in the window. He is overcome with sleep, and falls from the third floor window. He is taken up dead. Paul went down and "fell on him." Eutychus was made alive. Paul breaks bread with them, and continues talking with them until daybreak. They are greatly comforted that Eutychus is alive. (7-12)

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) When the uproar had ceased in Ephesus, who did Paul call for? (Acts 20:1)
2) Paul departed Ephesus and went where?  And, where next? (Acts 20:1-2)
3) As Paul planned to sail to Syria, what did the Jews do? How did he change his plans? (Acts 20:3)
4) How many companions were traveling with Paul? Where did they go ahead before Paul? (Acts 20:4-5)
5) What can be noted by the use of the pronouns, "we" and "us" in this passage? (Acts 20:5-6)
6) Upon which day of the week and for what purpose had they gathered together? (Acts 20:7)
7) How long did Paul prolong his message? (Acts 20:7)
8) Where was Eutychus and what happened to him? (Acts 20:9-12)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible 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

Video - Susie Larson: You Love Me

In this message, author Susie Larson emphasizes the fact that while we should love God, we must understand how much God loves us.  ~Eve

Seek God's Direction!

The Sunflower is probably the most amazing flowers God created. They literally follow the sun. I don’t know about you, but one the most amazing things I have seen is a field of sunflowers. Watching one follow the sun through is cute. Watching hundreds in absolute unison follow the sun is actually quite incredible. Something I found out recently, is that sunflowers continue tracking the suns direction long after sun set. Through 360 degree’s they ensure that they are always oriented in the direction of the sun. Their unity is totally dependent on one thing. Their relationship to the sun.

When we go through life without seeking God’s direction and His plan for our lives, our efforts become powerless and fruitless. But when we seek God’s direction, follow His plan and let Him reveal His power, nothing can stop us. In this message to you, I want to look at a wonderful example of how seeking and following God can and will bring victory into your life. When problems arise seek God’s direction. Problems are just part of being alive.

If you read 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 in your Bible, the problem that David was facing was very real and very old. The Philistines chose to attack Israel just after David had been anointed as king of Israel. They came when David may not have had the complete strength of the country at his disposal. The goal of the Philistines was to find David and to defeat him. David had shamed the Philistines in battle and now they were determined to attack him.

David did not sit and wait for the problem to just go away. He took quick action to deal with the situation. David approached the crisis with courage, confidence and clarity. He knew what needed to be done and how he would get it done.

We all face great difficulties at one time or another. Since we are a spiritual people we will always face spiritual attacks because the one thing that Satan fears most is a Christian who is effective for the Kingdom of God. Life can just get to us from time to time as we face the grind of daily living. Daily living can be enough to rob us of spiritual strength and effectiveness

We need to face down our problems. The difficulties we have will not just simply vanish. We need to identify the problems we have and take positive action to find powerful solutions. As we face our difficulties, we need to have courage, confidence and clarity. All of these things are provided for us by the Holy Spirit.

Problems require us to seek God’s direction. David understood that he needed God’s direction before he went into battle. David had won his fair share of battles including his great victory over Goliath. David could have easily relied on his own personal military experience, confidence and skill as a warrior to handle the situation

Before David attacked the Philistines he stopped and asked for God’s direction and was seeking guidance in two critical areas:

· Shall I attack?
· Will you hand them to me?

David waited for God’s answer before he attacked. David depended on God so greatly that when the Philistines attacked a second time, he sought God again before he attacked. We need to continually seek God’s direction.

We have just as many reasons to be confident like David. We have seen God work in mighty ways. We have experienced His presence in ways that we may not be able to describe. We have been saved by the grace of Jesus. Just because we have experienced God’s power, grace and presence in the past does not guarantee that we will continue to experience it in the future.

The only way to experience God’s power in fresh ways is to seek Him and the only way to know His direction is to ask for it. We should approach life the same way that David approached that battle and we need to be asking similar questions.

· Should we take this course of action?
· Will you be with me in a powerful way if I obey?

I think that far too often we just do what we think is right and what we think is best without really seeking the direction of God. One of the greatest problems in the lives of Christians today is that we fail to seek God’s guidance and wait for His direction. When God gives His direction, follow it.

The simple truth is that where God leads He is also present, so if we follow His leading we will always be in His presence. It is important to notice that David was concerned about two key areas: God’s direction and God’s presence. Why were these two things so important?

a) David did not want to step out of God’s will and so he needed God’s direction because without direction from God it becomes far too easy to choose our own path and go the wrong way.

b) David understood how vitally important it was for God’s presence to be with him in battle because without God’s presence there would be no assurance of God’s protection, provision or power.

Don’t you think that we need to be deeply concerned with these areas as well? When we go out and try to serve God without His direction we will never be as successful or effective as we can be following His plan and His direction. Without God’s direction we are merely going through the motions.

There is no experience on earth that can ever compare to personally experiencing the divine presence of God. When God is not present; His power, provision, peace and protection are absent

When God directs, the plan never fails. David had been successful during the first attack with his battle plan and God’s power. However, God made a change with the second attack and gave David specific instructions on how he should attack the Philistines

Perhaps God may ask you to change directions. With any type of change there is always a cost. It could be giving more of your time or more of your money. It could be doing something that you have never done before. It could be giving up some of the traditions that you've always had.

Could your current circumstances be a direct result of not seeking or not following God’s direction in the past? If we are faced with the choice of changing direction or being out of step with God; we must always choose to change direction. There will be times when God calls us to totally change the direction we are going in to be in step with Him.

When God’s power breaks out we gain victory. David saw God’s power break out. David gives a vivid description of the events that day. When the Philistines are defeated, he says: As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.”

David is describing the natural power of flooding. When waters break out of their banks great power is displayed and he describes the power of God in a similar way because when God unleashed His power there was nothing that could stop it. David revealed his deep reliance on God and his need for God to unleash his power on his behalf.

David testifies that the power of God won the day and gave him the victory that he so desperately needed. These same principles can work today in your life as well because life really hasn't changed that much from then until now and God has never changed.

If you’re honest with yourself, you have some deep needs in your life today. I don’t know what they are but you do and so does God.

· You have a child who has strayed from the Lord;
· You have a spouse that wants nothing to do with church;
· You a marriage that is coming apart at the seams;
· You have a problem that seems impossible to solve;
· You have an illness that is stronger than your ability to cope;
· You have an addiction that you cannot break.

I know that all of the self help, self-improvement and self sufficient plans that this world has to offer will never be enough. If you want to see God’s power flow into your life, you need to follow David’s foolproof plan for victory.

1. When a problem comes up seek God first;
2. When God gives you definite direction, follow it;
3. When God breaks out give Him credit.

What about you today?  What areas of your life do you need God to unleash His power into? How much different would your life be if God unleashed His power on your behalf?

Scripture: Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 16:13; John 14:26; James 1:5-6; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 37:23-24

Prayer: Lord, you promised that when I seek You with all our heart, I will find You. I seek only after You. Still my troubled heart; Still my wayward mind. I seek only after You. I'm never going to be able to figure this situation out on my own, And right now I'm leaning heavily on You. I seek only after You. I give you all the anxieties and fears I feel about this situation. I release them all to You. I open my life up so that it becomes like an open book before You. May You write in it Your words of guidance, inspiration and direction. I await Your voice. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Shelby

We May Be Helpless, But Never Hopeless!

"Listen, my friend Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness."  -Anonymous

I'd like to ask you something. Have you heard the following phrase before? " It usually goes something like this, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Because so many Christians quote this phrase, we sometimes think the phrase comes from the Bible. Well, it doesn't. This phrase is really a non-biblical cliché. It doesn't come from the Bible, but the practice is seen in the Bible and in Christian work.

There is another phrase that Christians and non-Christians believe is in the Bible, and the phrase is, "God helps those who help themselves." This phrase isn't found in the Bible either; and this phrase is not consistent with what the Bible teaches.

All of us have been in situations where we are powerless or unmotivated to help ourselves. If God only helps those who help themselves, all of us would be in deep trouble and without hope of God’s help. Helplessness is endemic to the human existence.

The feeling of helplessness can also come from professional or financial setbacks due to company layoff or the stock market crash. The feeling of helplessness can come from sudden or chronic illness. The feeling of helplessness can come from the attack by a burglar or by someone you love. The feeling of helplessness began at birth and usually precedes our death.

Everyone, given enough time, knows the feeling of helplessness. But not everyone knows how to recover from times of helplessness. Maybe we can learn how to make it through our times of helplessness by looking at Job, chapter 3. I would like to present two observations from Job today.

The first observation is that suffering is not always the result of sin. 

In chapters 1 and 2, we read that Job was blessed with great wealth and many children. And if we were not given revelation about what went on in heaven, the test God placed on Job incited by Satan, we might guess the wealth and children were taken from Job, because Job disobeyed or displeased God. The opposite was true. Job was faithful to God.

Yet, attackers carried off Job’s wealth. Raiders killed many of his servants and stole his livestock. Fire from Heaven burned his sheep and more servants. A tornado killed his children. And Job became afflicted with painful sores from head to toe. And we read in chapter 1, verse 22, "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Suffering is not always the result of sin.

Let's take a closer look at this concept. When your company lays you off work, your mind darts to your besetting sin. When you become seriously ill, you confess every sin from first grade through the present.

If God were to punish us today for the sins we've committed, all of us would be in the hospital or in the grave. We need to thank God for His patience and mercy, rather than believe our sins deserve only physical and mental anguish. The truth is, suffering is not always the result of your sins.

The second observation is that when God doesn't answer our questions, we already know enough for the test.

We’ve all taken tests in school, and we’ve all tried to ask the teacher for the answer in some way, especially when we were in elementary or middle school. But as we get into high school and college, we realize that the teacher will not give the answer because he already gave us enough before the test.

God doesn't answer our questions, we already know enough for the test. In chapter 3, Job is asking God why such a hard test? Job asked, "Why did God allow me to be born? Why didn't I die at birth? Why can’t I die to escape this anguish?"

When we are in the midst of life’s test, we often ask, "Why me? Why do I have to have cancer?" "What is the purpose of this test? Can’t I learn the lesson some other way?" "Why can’t it end now? I can’t handle this any longer."

When no answer is given, many respond by cursing God and longing to die. Others ignore the reality of God and try to face the test alone. They are consequently destroyed by the test because they leave the only One Who can help them pass the test.

Job did not curse God. Job did not leave God. We read his reply in Job 2:10, "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job knew enough about God’s goodness to answer his own heart’s questions.

Many of us are still in the middle of the test. The test can be an illness, a frustrating marriage, horrible work situation or hurtful in-laws. We have our questions. And God hasn't answered them. Have we looked at what God has already said in His Word, the Bible?

Do we know enough of God’s ways and goodness to answer our own heart’s questions? God gives open book tests and group tests. When God doesn't answer our questions, we already know enough for the test. We can use the Bible and seek counsel from other believers.

Knowing enough for the test does not mean that we will apply what we know to the test. Sometimes, applying what we know to the test requires recall, willingness, emotional stability and confidence. During a test, most of us draw blanks and forget what we know.

Job forgot the specific ways God was good to him. Life’s tests have a way of blurring God’s goodness. Job was in such anguish that he wanted to die. He lost everything that gives us meaning, his possessions and his family. The one who remained, his wife, encouraged him to take his life.

But why didn't Job take his life? Why didn't he commit suicide? I believe Job didn't give up, because Job knew God’s character didn't change in the midst of life’s test. Let me suggest that Job’s lament and questions reflected his helplessness but not his hopelessness.

Helplessness is the feeling or the fact of powerlessness to help oneself. Our wealth, our friends, our support systems and even our will to live can be taken from us. At that moment, we are helpless and only hope in God will enable us to recover.

We do not know the future and cannot see our situation in light of the whole picture. Our moment of helplessness may turn out to be the foundation for our triumph.

Yes, Job was helpless, but he was not hopeless. Job did not curse God or take his own life in times of helplessness, because he put his hope in the fact that God will always do what is right with his life. And that was enough for Job. God’s righteousness is enough for us.

In a materialistic and instant society, it is hard to hope in the unseen and to hope in the future. But if we want to have courage, strength and perseverance to move through helpless times, we must have hope in God’s future redemption.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; 1 John 2:2; John 17:5; Matthew 24:35

Prayer: Father, Have mercy on me and redeem me from my helpless situation. Enable me to be free from all the clutches of darkness and praise You with all my heart, soul and mind. Let there be peace in my mind. I surrender all my weaknesses at Your feet and beg Lord, please strengthen me with Your righteousness. I praise You and thank You for hearing all my supplications. In Jesus' name I pray.Amen.

May God be with you,

Madison

Let His Life Flow Through You!

"Our life in Christ can be compared to an aqueduct, the stone waterways that brought water from nearby mountains into parched cities in Italy and Spain, and that are still used in some countries today.

The objective foundation of our spiritual lives, the Word of God, is like the huge stone aqueduct itself. The subjective elements, our daily experience of Christ, is like the fresh water flowing through it. Some Christians neglect the Word and seek only the subjective experience. But without the solid Word of God to contain and channel that experience, the experience itself drains away into error and is lost.

Other Christians boast well-engineered aqueducts based on extensive knowledge of the Bible, but they are bone dry. They bring no refreshment. Strong spiritual lives require both a strong knowledge of the Word of God and an intimate daily relationship with Christ."   -John H. Morgan

What are the problems of using human strength to overcome our weaknesses? People who do, tend to live more in the flesh than by the Spirit. The flesh profits nothing. The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6-8)

You ask, "Why is it true that when we are weak, then we are strong in Christ?"  Humility like darkness, tends to reveal more of the Spirit’s light. The Spirit of God has a way of taking our individual weaknesses and making us strong through these points of vulnerability. When we are weak then He, the Spirit of truth, love and comfort, becomes strong in us. Let His life flow through you as you surrender your will, way and work to His overflowing power.

When we are willing to admit our need to depend on the Spirit, He works overtime in interceding on our behalf to the almighty Father. The Holy Spirit knows exactly the best things to pray for about. He knows our frame and is mindful that we are but dust. He knows how to cheer, guide and enable us to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that He works mightily within us. Allow the Spirit of God to do a great work through you as you abide in Him and ask Him for everything in His name.

As hope for something better sustains us in times of trials, so the Spirit helps us see the light at the end of every tunnel. Praise God that the Holy Spirit fills us with hope, optimism and a prospect of better things to come. Even though our outward man decays, yet the Spirit renews, recharges and reinvigorates us day by day and moment by moment with an infusion of His mighty power, purpose and perspective. 

The Spirit is the Master translator of our thoughts, desires, and needs into language that the Father completely understands. The Spirit is not dependent on our vocabulary, our diction, or our theological understanding to present our heart felt needs before the throne of grace. Praise God that we can come boldly to the throne of grace so that we might find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. 

Don't think you have made spiritual progress until you have grown in humility. God walks with the humble. The Spirit can only instruct the humble. He gives understanding to the meek. He shows deep insights to the teachable. But, He hides His grace from the proud and self-sufficient. Be willing to confess your sin of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency or self-authority. Let the Spirit of God mold and make you more into the image of Jesus Christ. 

Let the word of God fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you can walk in a manner that is worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, so that you can bear fruit in every good work while increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-11)

Only the Spirit of God has the ability to turn an extreme weakness into a great strength. Only the Spirit of God knows the way to sustain you through the long hours of struggle. For those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will run and not be wearing and walk and not faint. (Isaiah 41:10) 

Whatever your weakness, ask the Father for strength. His Spirit can turn our frailness into empowerment. "His power is made perfect in our weakness. for His grace is sufficient for whatever weakness, hurt or disappointment you may be experiencing." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The Spirit of God will give you the capacity to turn any defeat, tragedy or adversity into a triumph. God is in the business of turning losers into winners. He saves the lost and makes them new creatures in Christ. He revives, leads and empowers us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth with His mighty power. Let's praise and thank Him consistently in advance for the great things He will do through us this week. 

Scripture: Romans 11:33; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 4:18; Luke 18:1; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 3:23

Prayer: May the peace of God, the Father, and the love of Christ, His Son, guide us in the days ahead and strengthen us each one. Amen

God bless you,

Sondra

Prayer Can Change You

"If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word - prayer. Live and die without prayer, and you will pray long enough when you get to hell."     - Charles H. Spurgeon

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”  -Luke 11:1

In immediate response to the disciples' request, Jesus gave them the instruction contained in Luke 11:2-13. However, as you read through the New Testament you will find that he taught them much more about prayer. I don't purport to give an exhaustive treatment of all that Jesus taught about prayer; rather I simply want to enumerate some of the things he taught about prayer, especially those things related to unselfishness in prayer.

First, Jesus pointed out that there are times when we need to get alone with God to pray for our need that we might serve God and others better (Matthew 6:6: Matthew 14:22-23). Was it selfish for Jesus to get away from the multitude and pray alone? No! He needed to recover from spiritual exhaustion, gain new insight into God's plans, and gain renewed physical and spiritual strength for the task ahead. Without times like these we become shallow in our service, superficial in our influence, and ultimately beaten down, discouraged, and frustrated.

Secondly, Jesus encouraged praying for the needs of others. Luke 11:5-8 is an example of importunate prayer. The one who asked, asked not that his needs be met, but that his friend's needs be met. The need of another has made him feel the poverty of his own life. Jesus taught that even when we pray alone,  we pray "our" Father, "our" daily bread, "our" debtors. We must see ourselves not simply as a separate thread, but as an inseparable element in the closely woven fabric of human life. We have common needs, common perils, and common tasks--so much so that when we pray we say "our."

Thirdly, Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom of God."Thy kingdom come." Surely we need to intercede daily for the whole lost world. We need to pray for those involved in mission strategy, for missionaries and pastors, for the strength of the churches, and for the power of God and the ethical teachings of the Bible to be let loose through those who govern.

Additionally, Jesus indicated that there are times when we should pray together for others (Matthew 18:18-19). We often quote the reference "two or three" as a contrast between the few and the many, while Jesus was contrasting solitary praying to group praying. He was emphasizing that he is especially present  in a praying group. Praying groups should be established in offices, factories, businesses, college dormitories, and homes.

Finally, Jesus set the example in praying:

1) For children (Matthew 19:13);
2) For the sick Mark 7:34);
3) For his disciples (Luke 22:31-32);
4) For his enemies (Luke 23:34);
5) For laborers in the harvest (Luke 10:2);
6) For all his followers unto the end of time (John 17:20)

C. S. Lewis is quoted as having said, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.”

No Christian is greater than his, or her prayer life. The church has many organizers, but few agonizers (Colossians  4:12); many who pay, but few who pray; many resters, but few wrestlers; many who are enterprising, but few who are interceding. People who are not praying are playing. The secret of praying is praying in secret (Matthew 6:5-8).

A worldly Christian will stop praying and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. People who do not come apart a while (Mark 6:31) will soon come apart. Tithes may build a church, but tears will give it life (Acts 20:19,31). This is the difference between today's church and the early church. When they prayed the place was shaken (Acts 4:31).

To put this all into perspective, based on the model prayer Jesus gave us in Matthew 6, to pray effectively we should acknowledge who God is and what His position is with us. He is the one in power, in control, and we are His children whom He loves.

We should submit to His will and realize He has the right idea about things. When we live our lives like He wants us to live them, He turns our ordinary moments into extraordinary holiness. Pray that God helps you get perspective on how close He is to you, that He shares space with you, that He is involved in the kind of things you do every day and is available at any moment to you; how can we respond any differently than by being available every moment to Him?

Let us rely on God for our needs. As we relay our needs to Him, we must allow Him to help us understand the difference between needs and wants. Before long, we will find ourselves praying for the things on God's heart in our lives. As we become aware of Him, acknowledge Him, and align our will with His, nothing will be too small or too large to bring to the throne of grace.

Remember, With prayer, God has the power to strengthen you. With prayer, you will feel the Holy Spirit changing your heart, making Jesus more real to you, satisfying your soul, strengthening your faith.

Scripture: John 15:7; Mark 11:24; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 6:7; Romans 8:26; Luke 11:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:6; Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 2:8; Jeremiah 29:12

Prayer: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Carrie Lynn

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: Moving From Grief to Recovery

"My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me. I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily. Oft times he weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle ceases to fly shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why."   -Source Unknown

Because the horrific tragedy of this past week in Boston, Massachusetts is not a common experience for Americans, many people are not able to cope with such acts of violence and death. In fact, this week's message can apply to any tragic situation or event in our lives. I would like to offer words of truth and comfort from the God of truth and comfort. Rest assured that you will not hear a rehashing or an interpretation of this week’s news.

My dear readers, if your hearts are open, it is my hope that this message from God’s Word will penetrate and bring healing to your soul. Also, I would like to share some emotional, spiritual and practical help from the wisdom that comes from God’s Word, the Bible.

If you have your Bible handy, turn to Nehemiah 1:1-2:8. The name "Nehemiah" means "the comfort of Yahweh" or "God has comforted." If you want to move from grief to recovery, you need to respond to pain, to God, and to opportunities. These are the three steps to ensure that you do not get stuck in the grief but move toward recovery.

First, we move from grief to recovery by responding to our pain. We read this in Nehemiah 1:4. Folks who do not respond to the pain, but try to stuff their emotions will find that the emotions will erupt like a volcano during the most unexpected times. If you've been more irritable this past week than usual, you've not had the needed time to deal with your pain. Only those who have responded to the pain can move ahead. And you can only respond to the pain when you know what you are feeling.

Second, we move from grief to recovery by responding to God. We read this in Nehemiah 1:5-11. This is the prayer of Nehemiah, the conversation Nehemiah had with God. When the king asked why Nehemiah was sad, Nehemiah didn't hide his sadness but yielded to the opportunity. Nehemiah risked execution and told the king the reason for his sadness.

As a result of Nehemiah’s yielding to God’s opportunity for him, he secured the help of the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Realize that praise, repentance, asking and yielding are a state of the heart, not a one-time prayer.

Third, we move from grief to recovery by responding to opportunities. We read this in Nehemiah 2:1-8. Chapter one opens in the month of Kislev, which is November to December in that calendar, and by the time we get to chapter two, we are in the month of Nisan, which is March to April.

Four months have passed before God opened up the opportunity for Nehemiah to take action. More importantly, we see that Nehemiah had been preparing in those four months for the opportunities. He knew exactly what was needed to rebuild the walls when the opportunity came. To move from grief to recovery, we need to be ready to respond to opportunities.

After we have responded to our pain and responded to God, we need to prepare for the opportunities God will bring in answer to our prayer. Responding to opportunities helps us not get stuck inwardly on the road to recovery.

In closing, the Bible tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)."  You want to move from grief to recovery? Respond to the opportunity to love others during unstable times. Love those who are in fear and love those whom you fear. God’s Word promises that love will drive out all fear.

Scripture: Revelation 21:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; John 14:1; John 14:27; Philippians 3:13-14; Joshua 1:9 

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi 

Bible Study Snacks, Acts 19:21-41

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome back to another presentation of Bible Study Snacks! I hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, I would like to continue our study of the Book of Acts, with Chapter Nineteen, Verses 21-41.

I have designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

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

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine the uprising caused by Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Acts 19:21-41...  

Paul purposes in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome. He sends Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he remains in Asia. [1 Corinthians may have been written at this time.] A great commotion occurred about the Way. Demetrius, a silversmith, calls together those of similar occupations. Recognizing they prosper greatly from the trade of making idols, he warns that Paul is preaching that the idols are "not gods which are made with hands." He proclaims that their trade is in danger, and even the temple of the goddess Diana is in danger. He claims this preaching is happening throughout Ephesus, and across most of Asia.

The people are stirred up, become angry, and cry out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" They seize Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions. Paul wants to go into the crowd, but the disciples do not allow it. The crowd is in great confusion. The Jews put Alexander forward to speak, but when the crowd realizes he is a Jew, they cry out for about two hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" The city clerk calms the crowd.  He tells Demetrius and his fellow craftsman to take their cases to the open courts, and that any other inquiries should be made in a lawful assembly. The assembly is a disorderly gathering, and they are in danger of being called in question. He then dismisses the assembly. (21-41)

REVIEW QUESTIONS:  

1) Where did Paul purpose in the Spirit to go? (Acts 19:21)
2) Where did Paul send Timothy and Erastus? (Acts 19:22)
3) What did Demetrius tell his fellow silversmiths that Paul had persuaded almost all Asia? (Acts 19:26)
4) What did Demetrius say could happen as a result? (Acts 19:27)
5) When the crowd rose up, what did they cry? (Acts 19:28)
6) When the crowd rushed into the theater, what did Paul want to do? Was he allowed?  By whom? (Acts 19:30)
7) Who finally quieted the crowd? (Acts 19:35)
8) How did the city clerk say the image came to be in Ephesus? (Acts 19:35)
9) Where did the city clerk tell Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths to take their cases? What if there were other inquiries?  (Acts 19:38-39)
10) What was this assembly in danger of? (Acts 19:40)
11) What did the city clerk then do? (Acts 19:41)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible 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

Knowing God's Will

When God bolts the door, don't try to get in through the window. The will of God never will lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.   -Source Unknown

Knowing God’s will for our lives is one of the toughest questions that we could possibly ask. Perhaps you're wondering what God’s will is for your career path. Should you change jobs, should you quit your old job, or should you retire? Perhaps you want to know God’s will for relationships that you may be in. Or, maybe you're just wondering what God’s will is for some other aspect of your life.

We all are faced with decisions every single day. And, for the most part, these decisions are not the kind of that you would sweat over too much. Nor are they things that you probably would decide on by prayer and fasting. The truth is, there are bigger questions that we have to answer at certain times in our lives; times when we want to know God’s will for our lives. Sometimes we may even wonder, does God really care about the decisions that we are making?

When we're considering moving, changing jobs, or anything else in life, we may want to know if God really cares what we do; and has a will for our lives. I want to know God’s purpose for my life, and I want to know if God does have a plan and a purpose for my life. But how can I figure out and learn what plans God has for me?.

Let me assure you that God does care about all decisions that we make in this life; and has a plan for our lives. God’s primary will for our life is for us to be totally and completely surrendered to him and not conformed to the pattern of this world.

If we want to know what God wants us to do, then we must first strive to live a life of conformity to Him. For me the will of God is a very tough thing to grasp. In most decisions we should be willing to ask what is God’s will in this or that situation. The Scriptures teach that God has a moral will; or a will for each and every one of us.

I really think that God is more concerned about our character and how we live our lives for Christ, than what specific choices we make in other aspects of life. Whenever we read of a statement in Scripture about what the will of God is for us, it is always more general than specific. It is usually saying that a certain character trait, or action is the will of God. With certain moral decisions you do not have to look any further than the Word of God to determine the Will of God.

For example, it is never God’s will that you sin. It is never God’s will that you lie, steal, hurt another person, etc. I think that before we can expect to know and be in the will of God, regarding decisions we are making in life, we need to strive to be in God’s moral will for us. Many people want answers and direction to every aspect of their lives, but my suggestion is that if you remain in the moral will of God other answers will be more clear.

Remember, that God’s will is more about our character and about following Jesus, than particular decisions we may make in life. If we say we want to be in the will of God it begins by living in the will of God. Certainly, God has given us free will to make decisions on our own. Sometimes he may point us in the right direction, but in the end the decision is ours to make.

It will never be the will of God for you to violate a command, no matter what the circumstances. If you are contemplating a decision that involves sin you are wasting your time because God’s will has been revealed on that issue. It will never be the will of God for you to do something that is going to hurt you spiritually. God’s will is for you to grow in godliness and to become more like Christ.

In closing, God will never will you to do something that will cause you to stumble or to digress in your faith. On anything you consider the will of God, you should be able with a good conscience to pray God’s blessing upon it. God gives a peace that transcends all understanding. If you cannot pray God’s blessing upon it, then it is unlikely that it is the will of God that you should be doing it.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 12:2; Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ephesians 5:17; Psalm 138:8; Romans 12:1; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4

Prayer: Lord, what is Your will that I do? I am completely open to Your plan for me. I desire to live only in You and to be guided by You forever. Grant that Your holy will may be carried out perfectly in me. Amen

-St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

Have a blessed day,

Juliette

Trouble Comes to All People!

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Along with these promises, God has given us peace with Himself through Jesus Christ, peace with others through His instructions, and peace of mind through confidence in Him. When we have no peace, we have no joy. But when we know peace, we know joy.    -Annie Johnson Flint 

Trouble comes to all people! The fact that we are saved  members of the family of God does not mean that trouble will never come our way. Allow me to present a case in point. for two years, Paul was held in custody in Caesarea, a large city on the shores of the Mediterranean in Israel. If you recall,  when he was arrested in the Temple in Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar which was his right as a Roman citizen by birth.

After learning the charges against him brought by the Jewish religious leaders, King Agrippa stated to the Roman Governor Festus: "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar" (Acts 26:32). Soon after arrangements were made to transport Paul, the prisoner, to Rome. He was handed over to a Roman centurion, Julius, to guard him and get him to Rome. The centurion was kind to Paul and allowed him to visit friends in Sidon so they might provide for his needs before they set out on their journey by sea (Acts 27:3).

The year was 59 A.D. The month was October, a very marginal time to travel. Actually, sailing was doubtful even in September due to overcast weather which prevented them from following the stars in their navigation.  By November it was impossible to travel.

When Paul realized the plans to leave the safe harbor at Fair Havens, he warned them it was a questionable decision. However, the captain and the ship owner did not want to winter there. The decision was made to set out on the trip. At first the winds and the weather were favorable--a south wind blew softly and sailing was fine.

Then a contrary wind came.  It was a northeastern called Euroclydon or Euroquillo.  Typhonic force winds swept down from Crete's great mountain range (more than 7,000 feet high) to drive ships into the open sea toward North Africa. Luke's accuracy in describing the details of the voyage is one of the best descriptions of ancient seafaring we have.

The storm came in gigantic proportion and continued fourteen days during which they saw neither sun nor stars. The violent battering from the storm culminated in their losing control of their boat as they were driven along. The ship was caught up into the storm. Measures were taken to strengthen the ship including passing ropes under the ship to hold it together. Finally, Luke said, "we gave up all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20). Trouble had come!

There is no way to know when or where trouble may come. It may come in the church or in the home, or in your own life as an individual before the day is over. It may come in the form of death to someone dearly loved, or it may come when health is lost, a telephone call/a visit, or dreams do not come true.

The Scriptures plainly teach that every child of God will be called upon to suffer for the cause of Christ. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29). Paul expressed a deep longing to "know Him in the fellowship of His suffering"  (Philippians 3:10).

Remember, trouble will come and you can be prepared for it! Now, what shall we do when trouble comes?  Shall we be defeated by it, or shall we overcome it by the power and grace of Christ and make it a stepping stone to loftier spiritual heights? How often in His word, the Lord tells us that He will always be with us!

Whatever we do, when trouble comes we must wait upon the Lord, or we shall faint and fall. We shall fail. When the storm arose and the tempestuous winds blew--When trouble came--Paul got alone and sought the face of God and came out with an answer from Heaven.Where can I go, but to the Lord? It is then that we come with no mask or hidden motive.

How much it must have meant to Paul during this great storm, when the angel of the Lord appeared to Him in the night, and told him not to be afraid. When trouble comes, if the child of God will only remember that the Lord will be with him and that he can reckon on His presence, he will be sustained.

There are many Christians today who have surrendered to problems which could be conquered by getting alone with God. Someone has said believers should praise God for anything that brings us to our knees--to keep us depending on the Lord.

God is our source of power, and we receive His help by keeping in touch with Him.With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from Him. Let's learn to rely on God daily. Unload all excess baggage which is against the will of God.

I'd like to close today's message by leaving you with a few good reminders. Believers have the resources to face trouble with grace. When all hope is gone (Acts 27:20), have faith in God (Acts 27:22-25). Don't give up the ship (Acts 27:30-31), and take care of yourself (Acts 27:33-36).

Scripture: John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; 1 John 2:16; Romans 8:28; Psalm 40:17; Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 5:8; Genesis 3:5;

Prayer: Almighty God, the Refuge of all that are distressed, grant unto us that, in all trouble of this our mortal life, we may flee to the knowledge of Thy loving-kindness and tender mercy; that so, sheltering ourselves therein, the storms of life may pass over us, and not shake the peace of God that is within us. Whatsoever this life may bring us, grant that it may never take from us the full faith that Thou art our Father. Grant us Thy light, that we may have life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

May God bless you always,

Joanne

God Loves Us, and Grieves With Us

Dear readers, like so many of you, I have experienced a wide variety of emotions after learning about the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts. I've been in shock, disbelief, horror, anger, and outrage. Needless to say that I've been ambushed by a flood of tears on several occasions as I try to imagine the grief that the victims of this incident are experiencing right now.

It’s normal, natural and necessary to allow our emotions to come out. Jesus said in Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Instead of the usual illustration, I think that it would be appropriate to begin today's message with a prayer for all who were affected by this most horrific occurrence.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you that you are touched with the feelings of our tragedy and loss, and that you understand our pain and care deeply. Please help all those affected by this most tragic event in Boston and to grieve their losses; and in so doing experience your loving presence and learn afresh what it is to be blessed by you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen.

"Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" This question is probably as old as religion itself. It is a stumbling block for some of us, and for many more at given moments of tragedy. There are as many answers to this question as there are people who care to engage in theological dialogue. One understanding is that yes, God allows "bad" things to happen; God does not cause them to happen.

Most "bad" things which happen do so because God gives a radical freedom to God's people; we are free people, not puppets on a string. But God, as I mentioned above, does not cause "bad" things to happen. God loves us and grieves with us in our pain when "bad things" happen.

God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Why should human beings (not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways? The book of Job deals with this issue. God had allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him. What was Job’s reaction? “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well.

Why do bad things happen to good people? The biblical answer is there are no “good” people. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that all of us are tainted by and infected with sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). Romans 3:10-18 could not be clearer about the non-existence of “good” people: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Every human being on this planet deserves to be thrown into hell at this very moment. Every second we spend alive is only by the grace and mercy of God. Even the most terrible misery we could experience on this planet is merciful compared to what we deserve, eternal hell in the lake of fire.

A better question would be “Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite the evil, wicked, sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. He loved us enough to die to take the penalty for our sins (Romans 6:23). If we receive Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9), we will be forgiven and promised an eternal home in heaven (Romans 8:1). What we deserve is hell. What we are given is eternal life in heaven if we come to Christ in faith.

Yes, sometimes bad things happen to people who seem undeserving of them. But God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them. Above all, however, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. ”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

So when you ask about specific individual events and want to know why this particular thing happened, we won’t get the full answer in this world. Someday we’ll see with clarity, but for now things are foggy. We can’t understand everything from our finite perspective. However, rest assured that God knows and sympathizes with you in your troubles.

In closing, allow me to reiterate that God does not will "bad" things to happen in life. Rather, "bad" things happen in the freedom that comes with the gift of life. When "bad" things happen to any of God's children, God is grieved and suffers with us, experienced most vividly in the hurt and suffering of Jesus the Christ for all humanity. Any "bad" thing which happens is never the last word. Rather, God is the deepest and last word, and that word is love and eternal life with God.

So, when tragedy strikes, as it will; when suffering comes, as it will; when you’re wrestling with pain, as you will – and when you make the choice to run into His arms, here’s what you’re going to discover: you’ll find peace to deal with the present, you’ll find courage to deal with your future, and you’ll find the incredible promise of eternal life in heaven.

Scripture: John 16:33; Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 4:5;  Matthew 24:35;  Isaiah 45:7;  Jeremiah 32:42; Lamentations 3:38; Romans 8:28 Lamentations 3:40-41; 1 Peter 3:15

From all of us here at the Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, we send out our sincerest condolences and prayers to the families and all those affected by the Boston tragedy.

May God bless you,

~Eve

God Wants Our Devotion

The way to be master is to be servant;
The way to get up is to get down;
The way to receive is to give;
The way to be rich is to be poor;
The way to be wise is to be a fool;
The way to be exalted is to abase yourself;
The way to live is to die.    -Sunday School Times

It seems that most people have a problem moving from the relaxation of the weekend back to work on a Monday. Researchers have found that stress levels are always higher on a Monday. You’re more likely to have a heart attack on a Monday than on any other day of the week, your blood pressure will be higher on a Monday, your stomach acidity is higher, so you’re more likely to develop an ulcer and the probability of suicide is higher. Sounds like a good reason to have tomorrow off doesn't it? Except that that just puts the problem back to Tuesday.

But if you’re a Christian the problem is even worse. How? You've been to Church on Sunday, you've been thinking about the Christian life, being encouraged to follow Christ, to think about how you might be a faithful disciple of Christ, and then Monday comes and you’re back in the old grind again. And it seems so far removed from what you were thinking about on Sunday. I mean you look at the workaday world and it seems to bears little relationship to a world in which Jesus is King. Few people have jobs where there’s never an ethical dilemma or a compromise required. Let's face it, we struggle to think about what it means to live as a Christian in a world like this.

I guess Jesus knew that we’d struggle with this sort of thing, because he told a parable to prepare us for just this situation. In Luke 19 we find Jesus nearing Jerusalem. His disciples are no doubt getting a bit excited. They've been listening to him talking about the Kingdom of God for the past 3 years or so, and they know that his entry to Jerusalem will be the final act in what he’s come to do. They think the kingdom of God will be brought in immediately.

But their expectation and the reality of the situation are poles apart. Jesus can see where their thoughts are going and he wants to clarify the situation and prepare them for what life is going to be like before long. Just as in John’s gospel he tells them that it won’t be long and he’ll no longer be with them, so here he tells them a parable that talks about the time to come when he will have gone to the Father and they’ll be waiting for him to return.

The setting of the story is a large empire, where a nobleman is about to receive royal power from the Emperor. Now it may be that Jesus is drawing on recent history here in telling this story. Apparently after the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus went to Rome to ask Caesar to make him king over Judea. But Herod hadn't been too popular among the Jews, so they sent a delegation of 50 men to oppose his appointment. So there’s a ring of truth about the story.

Well, here is this nobleman going on a long journey. He’s going to be away for some time, and when he gets back he expects to be king. So, what does he do? He calls his servants in and gives each of them a sum of money and tells them to put it to work until he comes back. (Luke 19:11-19:27)

Now notice that they each receive the same amount of money. About 3 to 4 months wages. This is different to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where different people received different amounts. Here they’re all entrusted with the same amount and given the task of trading with it until the king returns. Then the nobleman leaves, and the servants are left behind. (This is clearly a picture of the situation the disciples are about to find themselves in; and that we are, as well). Left on their own, wondering what life is all about if there’s no king to give them instructions.

In fact, this parable hinges around 2 questions that arise in Jesus’ absence. The first is "What’s the point of life if Jesus isn't here to share it with us?"

Jesus knew that when he left them they’d be like sheep without a shepherd again. They wouldn't be clear on what they should be doing. Do you remember in John 21, when the disciples were waiting for Jesus to appear again? Peter got sick of hanging around, not knowing what to do, so he said "I’m going fishing." It was the best he could come up with at the time. But Jesus wants them to be more prepared than that. He wants them to understand why they should go fishing if that’s what they’re going to do.

The second question is perhaps more difficult. "Why does God allow people to oppose him? What’s he going to do about them?" Jesus warns them elsewhere of the dangers that face them from his enemies. They’ll face the same sort of opposition that he faced and they need to be prepared for it. But it isn't enough simply to be resigned to facing opposition and persecution. We need to be reassured that in the end, it’ll be worth persevering.

So this parable is an answer to both those questions: "What’s the point of life if Jesus isn't here to share it with us?" And "What’s God going to do about those who oppose his reign?"

Very briefly, what we find as we read through the parable is that those left behind divide themselves into 3 categories. There are the rebels who refuse to accept the nobleman’s lordship. There are the productive servants, the trustworthy ones, who use the money wisely. And there are the wicked servants who do nothing with what they’re given. 

There are countless passages we could think about that connect the way we live, the things we say and think, with our spiritual growth and with the glory of God and the welfare of his kingdom. These are the sorts of things that I think Jesus is referring to when he talks about the good servants using their resources well. Please don’t be put off by the money metaphor! The money simply refers to all the resources that Jesus has left us with. And the point of the parable is that those resources are given to us to use for God’s profit, for God’s glory. 

What this all means is that God wants our devotion. He wants us to serve his kingdom in everything we do, whether it’s in a secular job, leading a bible study, speaking to someone after church, etc. He wants us to devote all we have to him. God wants our devotion even in the little things of life!

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Luke 16:13; James 1:19-20; Hebrews 13:5; Acts 20:35; Matthew 6:1; Philippians 2:2; Galatians 6:7-8; Luke 16:10-12

Prayer: God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

God bless you,

Kirsten

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: What Makes Us Christians?

"It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians."   -Source Unknown

We are asked many questions here at CHBM (Coffeehouse Bible Ministry) in regards to God, Jesus, scripture, church, etc. But one of the most frequently asked questions is this very basic one ,"What is a Christian?" I'd like to begin this week's message by attempting to provide as simple an answer as I can.  A Christian is a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a person that believes that Jesus is God!

Now, with this in mind, let's continue on and see what else might we might discover to help us put this into perspective. (Dear Reader: Please keep in mind that this topic is much more extensive than we can delve into here, but you are certainly invited to pursue it in more depth as you wish!)

All of the religions of the world focus on what man can do to make amends for his own shortcomings. This is called work. This is man's effort to reach God. Christianity is the opposite of religion. It is a relationship with God. In Christianity, God, because of His love for us, came to us in the virgin birth of Jesus.

In the beginning of the Bible we are told how God created the world, how He created mankind in His own image. This is the image/ability of mankind to think, reason, understand, and have emotions. Yes, the world is created by God. It is impossible for something to come from nothing and it is even more impossible for life to come from non-life. The Bible tells us that mankind was created for fellowship with God, to have a relationship with God in the Image that God created us.

As we all know, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned. Sin separated now sinful mankind from the Holy God. The Earth is a fallen place where sin is being lived out in disobedience, sickness and death, all at the displeasure of God. Heaven is where God's will is being obeyed and Heaven is out of the presence of disobedience, sickness, sin and death. 

This is where Jesus comes in. Jesus being God, He created us, yet man's sin has separated us from God. In time, God took on the form of a man (became a physical man). In His body Jesus/God gave Himself and died on the cross, dying in the physical so we can now have a Spiritual relationship with God. Three days later Jesus rose from death (showed Himself to be alive). Jesus is now alive and in a spiritual body. The Bible tells us that our physical eyes cannot see the spirit/heavenly realm, just as we cannot see microwaves though they exist.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36 Jesus is referring to His kingdom where man is reunited with God in the Holy Spirit. A Christian is a person who acknowledges their own human sinful nature and accepts the Love of God to die on a cross for us. Being God, He then resurrected from death and currently is reuniting us into a living, spiritual life with Himself/God.

I recall a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hands and knees in great terror. He thought he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, totally exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly sitting on a sled loaded with iron ingots.

How like some Christians! Headed for Heaven, they tremble at every step for fear that the divine promises might break under their feet. By resting completely upon Him and taking His promises at face value, we can drive out the paralyzing fear that hinders our effectiveness in serving Christ.

Scripture: 1 John 2:6;1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21; John 14:15; Ephesians 5:1-2; Romans 8:29; Galatians 3:27; Philippians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 2:14

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi