Video - Beth Moore: Dominion Sin

Bible teacher Beth Moore explains how freedom doesn't mean the absence of sin, but the breaking of sin's dominating power of you. It's not about perfection, but rather, not letting sin take control of our lives. Strong message!  ~Eve

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted...

"Every tear of sorrow sown by the righteous springs up a pearl."  - Matthew Henry

When a person decides to come to Christ, it should be considered a very serious endeavor. It is unlike anything that one can do in their life. We may aspire to climb mountains, participate in various competitive events, achieve career success, find love and happiness, etc. But following Jesus Christ is quite unique.

Some may be under the impression that once this personal transformation takes place all will be blue skies and sunshine. It will lead to some positive changes, that, I won't deny. However, the devoted Christian will not be exempt from the ills of this sinful world. Anyone committing to Christ, and not understanding this, is setting themselves up for disappointment.

For a powerful example, I refer you to 1 Peter 4:12-14. The apostle Peter had personally experienced persecution. He had also witnessed other fellow Christians suffer and die because of their faith. As a result of this oppression against the church, many had scattered. He wanted to offer them hope, comfort, and to encourage their faithfulness to Christ.

When the going is good, or easy, our confidence and morale is usually high and upbeat. Everything falls into place and the road ahead is clearly visible. But what happens when this scenario is turned upside down? Or, the bottom falls out, storm clouds move in, and the waters become choppy?

The Christian knows this goes with the territory. He is well aware that suffering may be lurking somewhere right around the next corner. He is not surprised by this. Why? Because he knows that he is not given a free pass around troubles just because of his faith and devotion. Persecution and suffering are no strangers to the believer in Christ (2 Timothy 3:12).

Believers walk through this painful world not as strangers in an unfamiliar environment, but as partakers of Christ's sufferings. This might sound bizarre or unusual to others, but Christians gladly participate in these sorrows, trials, and unpleasantries in order to receive their reward. We are not alone as we endure them. The Spirit of God is with us (Luke 6:22).

As a believer in Christ, don't let suffering shock you. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Don't let persecution throw you off the track. At first it may catch you off guard or surprise you. But keep this in mind, persecution and suffering are not products of good men. Only the evil revel in this.

Additionally, and historically speaking, the sorrows caused by persecution have been consistent. The morally impure despise the pure, the mockers dislike the real, the false teachers are annoyed and infuriated by those who teach the truth, and the wicked hate the virtuous.

A strong and virile faith can be compared to the burning bush of Moses. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-6). Thus is the faith of the potent Christian. The faithful believer truly understands that the experience of trials is necessary for Christian growth and maturity.

If you glean only one thing from this message, I hope that it will be the knowledge that through the midst of all of the sufferings you may encounter in life, you may find as a partaker in Christ's sufferings a reason for great joy. Keep these words close to your heart at all times: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 21:4; 1 John 3:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Mark 13:13

Prayer: Dear Lord,  provide me with the strength that I need to endure whatever trials I may encounter in my life. Amen

May the Lord bless you always!

Katherine

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  -Jesus Christ

Famous British writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, said: "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."  He was correct in that respect. There's probably nothing more difficult to talk about than the "truth."

Our belief as Christians is based on the "Truth" (John 16:13). There are two camps when it comes to Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Christ (the Truth), and those who don't believe. Yes, there are some who proclaim they are on the fence, but either you believe, or you don't. Fence-sitters can't have it both ways.

Belief in the truth can be tricky because it goes against what our physical minds perceive. We want proof. Some say, "Show me the truth." In other words, I want to see it and be able to touch it (John 20:29). Sadly, we have even been hurt by the truth at one time or another. Truth is neither always easy, nor is it always pleasant.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we believe in what he did for us, and why. In this case, we believe in the Truth, we believe in Him. Unbelievers, too, are presented the same information as believers. They just make the choice not to believe. Taking this basic, and I stress basic, information let's expand on it a little further.

We all will have to face God for judgement at some point; both the believer and unbeliever, alike. Surely, a life of unbelief will not go down very well in front of the Almighty Father. What can you say as an unbeliever other than, "I didn't believe in You."

At that time, however, it will be too late to do anything about your belief. Once this life is over, there can be no changing of the mind, give-zees-back-zees; or do-overs. This is the chance that the unbeliever takes. Is there eternal life, or not?

If the unbeliever is right, and there is none, then we all suffer the same fate. On the other hand, the believer, having placed his faith in Christ, will have a shot at eternal life with God in His heavenly home (1 John 2:20-25). For the unbeliever, not so much.

The decision to believe in the Truth can only be made here and now. After we die, that option dies with us. Death is final. Thus, no amount of praying, wishing or hoping will help a person gain the salvation he rejected in life (Revelation 20:14-15). Now, who has more to lose?

God said that He was the God of the living and not the dead (Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:27; Luke 20:38). Those who live in Him and with Him are assured eternal life (Psalm 6:5; Isaiah 38:18; Psalm 115:17). For those who are spiritually dead, or indifferent there will be no such reward.

All living things die at some point; including ourselves. While we live in the physical sense, we are able to make some adjustments that can affect our future. Once we pass on, this comes to an abrupt end. It is no longer an option, or possibility. An eternity is a long time to contemplate the wrong choice.

Scripture: John 14:6; Ephesians 6:14; John 1:17; John 1:14; Colossians 1:5-6

Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me in your truth and enlighten me, You are the God of my salvation, and  all that is good, right, and true. Help me to always live and love in acts of kindness and truth. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Bible Study Snacks - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! If this is your first time with us, I welcome you! If you're a regular follower of this blog, then it's great to have you back again! Either way, I thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we will begin our study of The First Epistle To The Thessalonians, or 1 Thessalonians. First Thessalonians is regarded as one of Paul's earliest epistles, if not the first. It seems that Paul wrote this letter shortly after arriving in Corinth on his second journey. This would date it somewhere around 52 A.D.

The general theme of 1 Thessalonians is unique in that every chapter ends with a reference to the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23). In his writing, Paul places an emphasis on steadfastness and holy living.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us 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 some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  how the virtues of faith, hope, and love should express themselves.
*  the potential a new congregation has for spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ, and being a positive example to all believers.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10:

Joined by Silvanus and Timothy, who had been with him when the gospel was first preached in Thessalonica, Paul offers his salutation along with a petition for grace and peace. He follows with an expression of thanksgiving for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, knowing their election by God (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4).

His assurance of their election is reinforced by the way in which they received the gospel. It had come to them not only in word, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance. Having imitated Paul and the Lord by receiving the word in much affliction and joy, they in turn had become examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

From them the word had traveled to many places; and the news of their own faith toward God had so spread that Paul did not need to tell others about them. In fact, others were telling Paul of the Thessalonians' conversion from idols to serve the true God, and how they were waiting for the resurrected Jesus to return from heaven who would deliver them from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Who joined Paul in the salutation of this epistle? (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
2) How did Paul address the church? (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
3) What three things was Paul especially thankful for regarding the Thessalonians? (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
4) What did Paul know concerning the Thessalonians? (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
5) How had the gospel come to the Thessalonians? (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
6) How had they become followers of Paul and the Lord? (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
7) For whom had they became examples? (1 Thessalonians 1:7)
8) What two things had sounded forth, or gone out, from the Thessalonians? (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
9) What two things describe the manner in which they received Paul? (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

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 our next Bible study...

God bless you!

Sheri

Don't Let Anxiety Weigh You Down!

"Historians will probably call our era "the age of anxiety." Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us."  -Billy Graham

Syndromes attributed to anxiety are among the most widespread of all psychiatric disorders. In 2004, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), estimated the cost of care for anxious patients at $400 million.

Studies have shown that some of us are genetically susceptible to develop feelings of anxiety, while for others, environmental conditions can determine whether a disorder of anxiety will develop at some future date.

Anxiety is indeed universal, occurring in all cultures throughout the world. We even encounter a few cases of anxiety within the pages of Scripture. For instance, we can read in Genesis 32 about the anxious reunion between Jacob and his brother Esau, whose birthright was stolen by his brother.

In his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6), Jesus issues a warning against being anxious about the varietal cares of this world. He tells us that the child of God should not worry about things such as food and clothing. God knows our needs and cares about them. Putting God first in all matters is a remedy for anxiety (Matthew 6:33).

In cases of sin-caused anxiety, the best treatment is to take direct action against it; confessing and asking for forgiveness of sin (Psalm 32:1-5). Maybe it's a broken relationship that troubles you? These require an attempt at peaceful resolution (2 Corinthians 13:11).

For some, stepping out of their comfort zone is difficult. If this is you, then try handing your situation over to an omniscient and omnipotent God (Psalm 68:20). Feeling overwhelmed by your predicament? It's time to dig deep into your faith (Matthew 8:23-27).

Naturally, there are other common sense approaches one can take to help reduce or cure anxiety, as well. Other options could be: getting more rest, doing relaxing activities, talking to someone you trust, taking a break to have some fun, stop procrastinating, getting exercise, and by all means seeking professional help if it is needed.

The bottom line here today, is that we can depend on our Lord to take care of what we need (James 1:2-4). He will protect us from worldly corruptness, be our guiding light, and by his mercy and grace, keep our souls eternally safe and secure (Isaiah 41:10).

Anxiety can pop up and disrupt our lives at time. Due to circumstances and individual experiences, we might not always be able to help from caving in when it attacks. But we have a powerful protector on our side; One who is always ready to help us. Commit your anxieties to God (Philippians 4:6, 7).

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:34; Psalm 94:19; Psalm 34:18

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, when the cares of the world seem to much to bear; in faith, I turn to You, who removes the troubles from my heart, and brings me peace. Amen

God bless you!

Bree

Video - Beth Moore: Relentless

The Devil can knock you down, but he can't keep you down! This week, Bible teacher Beth Moore illustrates how freedom in Christ makes us unstoppable. As always, a good word from her!  ~Eve

No Shortcut to a Strong Faith!

"When we pray for the Spirit's help ... we will simply fall down at the Lord's feet in our weakness. There we will find the victory and power that comes from His love."  - Andrew Murray

Everyone takes a shortcut now and then. They usually don't harm anyone, and may even be beneficial. For example, we might find a new route to work that shaves off a few minutes from our commute. Or, a friend might suggest a slight modification to a recipe that saves a little time.

Shortcuts such as these, are welcome in our busy lives because they save us time. Who doesn't like cutting a corner or two if, in the end, it results in the added bonus of more time to spend with families and friends, or in relaxation. Very few of us would argue against such time savers.

There is, however, one very important area in our lives where shortcuts can be detrimental or outright dangerous. I am talking about our faith. A portion of faith; a kinda-sorta faith; or a more-or-less faith is really not faith at all. You can't just dip your toe in faith. You have to jump in all the way!

Satan is always lurking around, poking away at our faith to find any weakness. Even the smallest crack or opening is enough to let him slip into our lives. Though he may be the unseen enemy, you can rest assured that evidence of his powers of destruction and control are quite visible.

In Luke 22:31-34, we see a dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter on this exact topic. Granted, even though Satan has no power over Christ, and has been weakened quite a bit, his attempts at temptation and manipulation are boundless. At times, he may be permitted to rattle us, as a test of our faith.

What this means to us, is that our faith must be strong to withstand Satan's attacks. We needn't fear Satan since our Lord Christ has already defeated him (Hebrews 2:14-15). Nonetheless, he is a crafty foe who stops at nothing to overcome the weak and mushy in faith. (2 Timothy 1:7 )

"But what if I stumble?" Then pick yourself up and get back in the fight. Christ has your back, but you need to do your part in the battle, too. You may have been weakened, but you are not defeated. Passivity in faith is not allowed. You must be an active participant! (2 Corinthians 12:10 )

We all will suffer a collapse or breakdown in faith at one time or another. This is not a reflection of Christ, but on our own faith. Taking some hits is part of the process. How in the world is our faith ever going to  become stronger if it is never tested? (James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7)

Failures in faith are not the end of the world. If anything, they serve to make our faith ever stronger and more resilient. They also leave us better equipped to assist others in their time of weakness, and point the way to Him who saves by our own humbling experiences (1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 3:23).

The best means by which to strengthen a feeble faith are through the Word of God (the Bible), prayer and fellowship with other believers (John 20:29). But remember, a faith not put into action, is not a  robust faith. Don't just sit on it, use it!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:13

Prayer: Holy Father, strengthen me when I am weak; lift me up when I fall; so that by your eternal grace and mercy, I may summon a faith that is more restored and tempered than before. Amen

May God bless you always!

Brandi