Weekend Message: What's Holding You Back? | Life Unhindered - Part 3 of 3 | Beth Moore (Conclusion)

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

This weekend, we present the third and final installment of this series featuring Bible teacher and author, Beth Moore. 

Jesus does not promise that life will always be fun, but he does promise that it can always be fruitful. Unhindered life full, infused, and fruitful forever; those are promised to you. 

As she concludes her teaching, Beth helps us identify different hindrances we can experience; specifically, by helping to identify roadblocks that could help us move freely into a life unhindered. 

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Key Verses: Isaiah 54, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20; Acts 16:6-10, Acts 28:30-31

I hope that these video lessons have been both, an inspiration, and an intellectually-stimulating learning experience for you, and am looking forward to our next opportunity together. 

Thank you for joining me and always remember, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:4

May God richly bless you,

~Eve

Let Me Walk with Thee

"If I walk with the world, I can't walk with God."  - Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

Like many, I enjoy going for a walk, at the end of a long and busy day. It helps me decompress and unwind. And while I sometimes bike and run; I find that by taking a peaceful walk I can easily commune with God.

The concept of “walking with God” is not a new one. Scripture provides many different examples of individuals who also walked with God, albeit, not exactly as I described above. Nevertheless, the implication is there.

As an added bonus, walking with God can be utilized in different ways. It can be a talk-therapeutic session or an introspective self-examination. I briefly described how I apply the former, now we’ll check out the latter.

Without question, as believers in Jesus Christ we should aspire to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. This includes bringing our actions, thoughts, and intentions into line with Scriptural precepts.

Thus, “walking with God” implies a continuous process of introspection, contriteness (repentance), and maturation in holiness. As alluded to, the idea of self-evaluating is firmly rooted in Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

This verse emphasizes why self-examination is necessary if we are to verify the authenticity and vitality of our faith. We may even find, thanks to some introspection, that a little re-direction, or realigning of our faith is needed (Lamentations 3:40).

How can we apply this self-evaluating walk with God? Surprisingly, you may already be using some of these practical actions in your life!

• The use of regular prayer cannot be stressed enough as a method of seeking God's will (Psalm 139:23-24).
• Soak up as much of the Word of God as you can through Bible study and/or reading (Hebrews 4:12).
• Seek the guidance and help of other believers; as they can be an excellent source of encouragement and harmonizing your priorities (Proverbs 27:17).
• Own up to and confess your sins; and ask God for forgiveness and the resolve to change (1 John 1:9)

A self-evaluating walk with God can be demanding because we naturally lean toward pride and false-belief (Jeremiah 17:9). But we can be heartened by the promise of His grace and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 1:6).

Only be reassessing and correcting ourselves with biblical truths can we increase in faith, sanctity, and love; thereby exhibiting the characteristics of God in our daily lives and toward others (Ephesians 5:2).

One final thought, though no one ever said this was going to be easy, self-checking, or evaluating our walk with God is vital if we're to grow spiritually and form an intimate relationship with Him. 

"I am weak but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee."  -  from "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," traditional gospel song 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:6; Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:16; Colossians 1:10; 1 John 2:6

Prayer: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight, Amen"  - Proverbs 3:5-6

May God be with you,

Sophie

Whistle-Stop Scripture Study: 2 John

"It is the nature of all hypocrites and false prophets to create a conscience where there is none, and to cause conscience to disappear where it does exist."   - Martin Luther (1483-1546)

I'm so happy to have you join me for a new study! Having finished our study of The First Epistle of John, we now move on to The Second Epistle, or letter, of John. This book has the distinction of being the shortest book in the Bible; just one chapter.

Although it is compact in size, we should not be fooled by its brevity. Thinking back to 1 John, the main focus there was on our fellowship with God. Here in this letter, 2 John, the focus is on two main topics. They are:

• to encourage brotherly love, and committing to the commandments of God.
• to caution against supporting and/or promoting false teachers.

Traditionally, the author of this book is thought to be the apostle John. The audience of 2 John is presumed to be one or more churches in Asia Minor, or what is modern-day Turkey. 

John's name is not specifically mentioned, but rather the moniker "the elder" is used in reference to him instead (2 John 1:1); "elder" being a New Testament word for a pastoral role. 

Allow me to bring us up to speed as to the reason for this letter. It appears that John is delighted that some of the believers are not deviating from the truth, but the implication here is that not everyone is on board with this.

He worries about the strong influence that is arising from false teachers, and lets them (the believers) know in no uncertain terms how he feels about this. You'll also notice the mention of "the elect lady and her children" or "the lady chosen by God" in 2 John1:1.

Most likely, this letter may have been intended for either a particular woman in the church, or a local church and its members who were welcoming false teachers there. Thus, the apostle felt an urgency to share his displeasure with this action (2 John 1:10).

It will become apparent to all why John wrote this personal letter. He was motivated to stress the significance of walking in love and truth, while at the same time, being ever watchful of hypocrites and imposters.

As we usually do, let's briefly revisit the questions given at the end of 1 John 5. The answers provided are not meant to be regarded as exact, nor as the final word. They have been provided as a comparison and self-evaluation tool only!

Compare your answers below*:

Reading Questions:

1. What are the main points of 1 John 5?

• Our faith, love and obedience as the children of God. 
• The assurance of God's testimony.
• Confidence and kindness in prayer.
• Concluding remarks.

2. To be born of God, what are we to do? 

• We must believe that Jesus is the Christ

3. How can we know that we the love the children of God? 

• When we love God and keep His commandments. 

4. How can someone defeat (overcome) the world? 

• By being born of God and believing that Jesus is the Son of God.

5. What three things gave evidence toward Jesus Christ?  

• Water (as in Jesus' baptism?), blood (as in Jesus' death?), and the Holy Spirit.

6. What does one receive in return for their belief in the Son of God? 

• The testimony in himself.

7. What has God given us? Who has this? 

• He has given us eternal life; whoever has the Son

8. Why did John mention these things in his epistle? 

• So that we might know that we have eternal life, and continue to believe

9. What confidence do we have in prayer? 

• That if we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us.

10. What is described as the true God and eternal life? 

• That we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.

*see verses for the questions in the previous lesson.

In 2 John, "The Elder" welcomes the "elect lady and her children" (vv. 1-3), being elated upon hearing her children were walking in truth, with a request to love one another (vv. 4-6).  He then forewarns of deceivers (antichrists) who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, telling her not to welcome those who do not share the doctrine of Christ into her home (vv. 7-11). With the hope of seeing her soon, he closes with greetings from the children of her elect sister (vv. 12-13). 

Objectives of this lesson: 

After completing this lesson (including reading the selection), you should be familiar with:

• the importance of walking in truth and love, and abiding in the doctrine of Christ. 
• how to identify deceivers or antichrists; thus refusing to support any false teachers.

Before we start, let us pray: "Dear Lord, send the grace of your Holy Spirit to strengthen me that I may learn well the subject I am about to study. Amen."

The questions provided below are to help you get the most out of the chapter study. The numbers enclosed in parentheses are the verse numbers relating to that particular question. 

I encourage you to first read the chapter thoroughly as many times as needed. Then take your time answering the questions, making sure you understand each one before moving on. 

Reading Questions:

1. What are the main points of 2 John? - (vv. 1-3, 4-6, 7-11, 12-13 )
2. What four phrases related to truth does John use in his greeting? - (vv. 1-3) 
3. What caused John to rejoice? What did he ask? - (v. 4) 
4. How is love defined by John? - (v. 6) 
5. Who does John describe as "a deceiver and an antichrist?" - (v. 7) 
6. Why did John advise we self-examine ourselves? - (v. 8) 
7. What happens if one sins and does not keep to the doctrine of Christ? - (v. 9) 
8. What phrase challenges the Oneness doctrine of the Godhead? - (v. 9) 
9. How should you respond to someone who does not follow the teaching of Christ? - (v.10)

This now concludes our study of 2 John. I've purposely created these studies to be concise in order to accommodate most busy daily schedules. Even so, they contain enough content to promote actual learning.

I invite you to join me for our next study of 3 John. Until then, I hope this "whistle-stop" for Scripture study will become an established point of departure as you set out on your journey with Jesus Christ!

Thank you again for joining me, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:20; Matthew 7:15; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 4:3; Revelation 19:20

 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that You provide me with the wisdom to recognize false teachers and their teachings, and that they repent and come to saving faith in You. Amen

May God richly bless you always,

Leia

God Will Faithfully Provide!

“God’s heart, not mine, is the measure of His giving; not my capacity to receive, but His capacity to give.”  - Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

A key subject constantly extending throughout the Bible is the distinct impression of God’s faithfulness and provision; thus demonstrating God’s unshakable commitment to attend to both His creation and people.

What this means for us as God’s children is that He reliably (faithfully) provides everything we need, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This idea of provision is grounded in the principle of God as Jehovah Jireh in the Old Testament (Genesis 22:14).

Considering the tumultuous times we live in today, the thought of God’s faithful provision can provide reassurance and encouragement for the fretful. In light of this, it might be beneficial to present some examples of His trustworthiness and dependability.

Beginning with the Old Testament, God’s provision is evident from the outset as seen in Genesis 1:29. This verse from the creation story emphasizes His sustainment of life for mankind and all living organisms of the earth 

One of the best known examples comes from the following book, Exodus. Here is given the account of the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings. Notwithstanding their rebelliousness and skepticism, God miraculously provides food (manna) and water for forty years (Exodus 16:4).

Jesus provides teachings that stress God's faithfulness in provision in the New Testament. Matthew 6:25-26 should hearten all believers of His provision and care in addressing their needs. Thus, verifying God truly is Our Father in Heaven.

Jesus' miraculous and monumental feeding of the five thousand is so important that it is mentioned in all four Gospels! His divine power is on full display demonstrating his kindness and compassion for the physical necessities of the gathering (John 6:11).

As observed, God's faithfulness in provision is more than simply satisfying our physical needs. It also involves spiritual maintenance and advancement. When it comes to the ultimate example of God's faithfulness, we need look no further than Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

His offer of eternal life and acceptance by God necessitates that we, as believers, place our trust in God's divine timing and plan; this, even if the situation appears despairing. Let us all respond to His faithfulness in provision with thankfulness, conviction, and respect!

Scripture: Psalm 22:26; Psalm 81:10; Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Titus 3:14

Prayer: Dear Lord, by Your riches in glory You provide all my needs. I praise you for the blessings I have received and commit to taking care of all that You have entrusted to me, Amen.  

Have a blessed day!

Colleen

Weekend Message: What's Promised to You | Life Unhindered - Part 2 of 3 | Beth Moore

Welcome to the Weekend Message! 

As always, it's my pleasure to bring you quality presentations from some of the best Christian teachers in the world! Each video presentation can vary, but whatever the topic, you can be certain that it will be informative and Bible-based.

In this second of three video presentations of this series by Bible teacher and author, Beth Moore, she explains what happens when we let go of hindrance and pursue Christ wholeheartedly.

As food for thought Beth asks the following questions, "What can we expect life to look like as a Jesus follower?" and "What are we actually promised according to the Scriptures?"

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Key Verses: Acts 28:17-20, 21, 22-24, 25-28, 30-31

We learn here in this lesson that the apostle Paul has already gotten to live by his unhindering. So the question remains for us, "What does Scripture have to say about an unhindered life for us? What does that even look like?"

Get comfortable, and spend a few minutes being enlightened by her inspirational message. Beth Moore always provides us with a good Word!

May God richly bless you,

~Eve

God Hates Injustice!

"Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail." - Proverbs 22:8 (ESV)

Whenever the subject of injustice is brought up, it is sure to cause anger and aggravation among some because of it's divisive and contentious nature. Even so, it is something that can't be ignored because it so conspicuous. 

Unfortunately, due to that fact that it presents itself in such a multitude of ways there is no single solution to injustice. The Christian, being a recipient of injustices throughout history, can always refer to the Bible for encouragement.

The Bible distinguishes injustice as the act of treating others unfairly or without equity, and involves the denial of God's moral law and character. Condemned in Scripture, injustice is contrary to His character and divine order.

Injustice is addressed in both the Old and New Testaments. Let's briefly examine a few helpful examples. The O.T. often calls our attention to God's concern for justice and His objection to injustice. 

In Israel's Law, God directs His people to act justly and tend to the defenseless (Leviticus 19:15). This edict emphasizes the importance of being impartial and fair in legal matters. 

Isaiah 1:17 demonstrates how the prophets often opposed the injustices in their day. This call to action clarifies how God's people are to diligently labor for justice, and defend those most vulnerable to ill-treatment and the forsaken.

Jesus Christ manifests and teaches fairness and equity in the N.T. Often times, His ministry challenges the social and religious unfairness and bias, as in Matthew 23:23. This verse illustrates that obedience to God's law involves dedication to justice and mercy.

Scripture also depicts God as the ultimate judge who will make right all problems (Psalms 9:7-8). This promise of divine justice gives hope to those suffering under human injustices. Additionally, we as believers are urged to demonstrate justice in our own lives (Micah 6:8).

In closing, the Bible reveals injustice as a heinous misconduct that goes against God's nature and His plans for all of us. Scripture demands that believers pursue justice, stand up for the oppressed, and live in such a way as to show God's mercy and righteousness to the world.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:19; Psalm 82:2; Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 31:8-9; Lamentations 3:34-36 

Prayer: Dear Lord, may You help me to right wrongs and vindicate those who are treated unjustly in the world. Amen

In grace and peace always, 

Kenzie

Who's In Charge Here? - God's Sovereignty

"Most Christians salute the sovereignty of God but believe in the sovereignty of man."  - R. C. Sproul (1939-2017)

When I was child, I can recall one of my favorite go-to retorts toward someone who I thought was being abrasively bossy was, "You can't tell me what to do. You're not the boss of me!" As an 8-year old, this was my way of refusing to be bullied.

My childhood aside, throughout the history of mankind we've had problems related to authority. This doesn't mean that "authority" is a bad thing. It's just that there are some who are better at wielding it than others.

And there lies the problem. You never know what you're going to get with someone who is in a position of authority. We've all had positive and negative experiences in our work and personal lives that we can identify with.

There is One, however, whose authority and supreme power over ALL creation is beyond our comprehension. In fact, it is one of the central themes in Christian theology; better known as: the Sovereignty of God.

According to this doctrine, or teaching, God is the universal Creator and Sustainer Who generously employs his boundless will as He sees fit. The idea of divine sovereignty is embedded in Scripture, attesting to God's supreme authority over everything.

This is disclosed in Genesis 1:1. You'll find the same point impressed upon us in Psalm:115:3. The prophet Isaiah was also well aware of the Sovereignty of God, as he proclaims in Isaiah 46:9-10. 

Isaiah's passage draws attention to God's extraordinary ability to proclaim and carry out His purposes, establishing His control over world events and human progress. Let’s now examine God’s sovereignty as illustrated in the New Testament, as well.

Needless to say, the doctrine of God's sovereignty is notably evident in its connection to salvation (Ephesians 1:4-5). This verse underscores God's sovereign choice in regards to our salvation, while stressing His free choice and design in the redemptive process.

We see this concept also demonstrated for us in Romans 9:15-16. The apostle Paul calls to our attention that the concept of salvation is, in the end, a product of God's sovereign mercy, and not due to any effort on our part. i

As I mentioned, man has always had a problem with authority; unfortunately this includes our relationship towards God, too. And though this dilemma has been the subject of theological discussion for centuries, there is no viable answer. 

Perhaps the best thing we can do is stop resisting God's authority, and try working with, instead of against Him. The key here is to foster a cooperative relationship with God between our own endeavors and His divine plan.

Scripture: Exodus 18:11; Deuteronomy 4:39; Joshua 2:11; Acts 17:24-26; Romans 4:11

Prayer: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." - Revelation 4:11

Blessings always,

Vaunda