Daily Bible Study Tues.Aug.7,2018

Psalms 7– Theme:  A request for justice against those who make slanderous comments. God is the perfect judge and will punish those who persecute the innocent.   instead of striking back, ask God to take your case, bring justice, and restore your reputation.

Prov.7:25-27

 

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. many strong men have been slain by her –

Neh.13:26>  Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.   

Focus Points: Nehemiah used the example of Solomon’s mistakes to teach his people. If one of the greatest kings of Israel fell because of the influence of unbelievers others could too. Nehemiah saw the principle in Solomon’s example. Your gifts and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses. Although Solomon was a great king, his marriages to foreign women brought tragedy to the whole kingdom. A tendency to sin must be recognized and dealt with swiftly; otherwise, it may overpower you and bring you down. One of the strongest reasons for reading the Bible is to learn from the mistakes of God’s people. 

Her house is the way to hell, –

Prov.2:18> Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

I Cor.6:9,10> Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Focus point: I will just say, in a permissive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some immoral behaviors (greed, drunkenness, etc.) while remaining outraged at others (homosexuality, thievery). We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way, nor may we be selective about what we condemn or excuse. Staying away from more “acceptable” forms of sin is difficult, but it is ho harder for us than it was for the Corinthians. God expects his followers in any age to have high standards.

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Heb.13:4> Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Focus point:

Real love for others produces tangible actions: (1) kindness to strangers (2) empathy for those who are in prison and those who have been mistreated (3) respect for your marriage vows and (4)contentment with what you have. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity, and contentment.

Rev.22:15> Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.       

Focus point: 

The emphasis is that nothing evil and no sinner will be in God’s presence to corrupt or harm any of the unfaithful. 

 

 

Daily Promises (June 8th)

(Jeremiah 31:3)

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Ref: (b) Mal.1:2 > “I have always loved you,” says the LORD. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the LORD replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob,

(c) Rom.11:28> Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Focus Points:

Reflection
My Prayer: Thank You so much, Lord, for loving me with an everlasting love. Teach me to love others the way You love me.

Daily Reading: Proverbs 7, June,2018

Verses 6-27

Focus Point: (verse 7:4) To combat temptation, make sure your life is full of God’s Word and Wisdom. Know the strategies of temptation, and run away from them fast.

Focus Points:( verses 7:6- 23 ) Although this advice is directed toward young men, young women shall heed it as well. The person who has no purpose in life is simple-minded. (7:7).

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 

7:7>And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

7:16-18>I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

Focus points;

Without aim or direction an empty life is unstable, vulnerable to many temptations. Even though the young man in this passage doesn’t know where he is going, the adulteress knows where she wants him. Notice he strategies: She invites him over to her place (7:16-18)

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves..

7:19-20>For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

Focus Point: She cunningly answers his every objection.

7:21>  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

Focus points: she persuades him with sooth talk. 

7:23> Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 

Focus points: she traps him

7:25-27>Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Focus points:    There are definite steps you can take to avoid sexual sins. First guard you mind, don’t read books, look at pictures, or encourage fantasies hay stimulate the wrong desires. Second keep away from settings and friends that tempt you to sin. Third don’t think only, of the moment focus on the future. Today’s thrill may lead to tomorrow’s ruin.

 

“A thanksgiving for Victory”

A prayer that carries us from great suffering to great joy. Despite rejection by his friends and God, David believed that God would lead him out of despair, He looked forward to that future day when God would rule over the entire earth.

How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.

verse 21:2 – Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

(a)John 11:42> You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”

verse 21:3 – (NLT) You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.

verse 21:4 –  He asked you to preserve his life,
and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever. (b )2Sam.7:19>And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign LORD?[

verse 21:5  Your victory brings him great honor,
and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.

verse 21:6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings
and given him the joy of your presence.

Focus Point: verses 1-6: David described all that he had as gifts from God: “the desire of his heart,”rich blessings, a crown of pure gold, long life, splendor and majestly, eternal blessings, gladness. We too must look upon all we have – position, family, wealth, talent – as gifts from God. Only then will we use them to give glory back to him.

verse 21:7 For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

Focus Points: a good leader trusts the Lord and depends upon his unfailing love. Too often leaders trust in their own cleverness, popular support, or military power, But God is above all these “gods” If you aspire to leadership, keep the Lord God at the center of your life and depend on him, His wisdom is the best strength you can have. Because David trusted God, God would not let him be shaken (removed from the throne). When we have permanence and stability. We may lose a great deal – families, jobs, material possessions – but we cannot be shaken from God’s favor. He will be our foundation of solid rock. He will never leave or desert us.

(c)Psa. 91:2>This I declare about the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.

verse 21:8 –  You will capture all your enemies.
Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.

verse 21:9 – You will throw them in a flaming furnace
when you appear.The LORD will consume them in his anger;fire will devour them.

(d) Deut.32:22> For my anger blazes forth like fire
and burns to the depths of the grave.
It devours the earth and all its crops
and ignites the foundations of the mountains.

Psa 21:10 – Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

verse 21:11 – For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

Focus point: When you see people succeeding with evil acts remember that they will not succeed forever. Their power is only temporary, and God’s very presence would send them scattering in a moment.

verse 21:12 –   Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

verse 21:13 – Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

(e)Rev.15:3-4>And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

(time to consider running for Pubic Office  –  the State top chair)

 

Proverbs 17: 3,4,6,9. 1/17/2018

verse 3) The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Ps.26:2 – Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

prov.27:1  The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.

it takes intense heat to purity gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified. Through trails, God show us what is in s and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in him. Peter says, “These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire  May be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ  is revealed’ (1Pet.1:7) So when tough times come your way, realize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.

verse 4) A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

verse 6)  Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

verse 9) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.   ( NIV )  Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

NIV..he crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.

Day by Day by Grace 1/7/2018

One More Summary Message of the Law: Be Perfect           (Matthew 5:48)

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

(r)

Gen.7:1>And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Lev.19:2>Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Col.1:28>Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

James 1:4> But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

(s)  Eph.5:1>Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Focus Point: How can we be perfect? (1) In Character. in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible (2) In holiness. Like the Pharisees we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values .  But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own, and we carry his love and mercy into the world.(3) I maturity. we can’t  achieve Christ-like  character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and adult, so God expects different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager,  and an adult, so God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stage of spiritual development. (4) In love. We can seek to love others as completely a God loves us. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level – perfect , yet with much room to grow . Our tendency to sin level — never deter us from striving to be more like Christ. Jesus calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like him. Those who strive to become perfect will one da be perfect, even as Christ is perfect ( 1John 3:2,3).

1John 3:2,3> Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

 

 

 

 

Governments:

Injustice comes from failure to appoint wise leaders:

Deut.16:18_20> Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

On being responsible citizens

Matt.17:24-27>  And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Luke 20:20-26>   And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. ¶
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace. Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Rom.13:1> ¶
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Tit.3:1-2>  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Relationship between government and religious conviction

Rom. 13:1> Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Pray for government

1Tim.2:2> For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Focus:

As Christians, our first allegiance  is to Jesus as Lord, but we must obey our government and its leaders as well. Christians are not above the law. Obeying the civil law is only the beginning of our Christian responsibility; we must do what we can to be good citizens. In a democracy, this means participation and willingness to serve. (Acts 5:29 and Romans 13:1  for more on the Christian’s attitude toward government.)