23 Nov (Eph 5-6)

Ephesians 5

(v.1) Those of us who have children, we see that they imitate us. Whether it be acting like they're on the phone, talking in a certain way (hopefully not badly) or any other imitation. They are watching us, and we need to remember that. Paul here is using that model to have us imitate Christ.

(v.3) Paul lists many sins that we have done over our lifetimes, and the purpose is for us to not be in a habit of these things. We will always be sinners on this earth, but we will sin less with the Holy Spirit working in us. If He is working in us, sinning won't be as fun or as enticing.

(v.7) We as parents need to keep track of who our kids play and hang out with. The ideal is for our kids to be friends with other believing children.

(v.8) I always like to use this illustration of what Paul is saying here, by telling my kids that the sun is the light source, and the moon reflects that light in the darkness. God is the sun, and we are the moon...reflecting God's light in the darkness!

(v.11) So many people say, Don't judge me! This is a self-preservation ploy to take the light off their sin. We are to rebuke our family and friends of their sins, but only God judges. But as Paul says here, we are free to identify and expose bad actions and words for what they are...bad. God wants us to be discerning and act accordingly.

(v.16) Redeeming the time...this is like Carpe Diem, the Latin into English, means Seize the day!

We are here at this time in history for a purpose. We have to make the most of what God puts in our paths. That may be just loving and serving our family and friends, or all the way to doing missionary work abroad. Figure out what God has for us to do, and do it!

(v.17) The more we pray and read the Bible, the more we will know what God's will for us is.

(v.22) This is always a sore subject with women, but if they really understand what God is saying here, it makes sense. Jesus is the Groom, and we are the Bride of Christ. We submit to Him, so God has made that template here in marriage. The wives are vital and equal partners in the marriage, but they are to submit to the authority of the husband...like the Church does with Christ.

(v.25) In order for wives to submit, they need to have a husband who is godly. A godly husband will give up his self interests, and love and serve his wife like Christ did for His Bride.

So what we have here, is a reciprocating order, where the Husband gives His life for the Bride, and the Bride loves and submits to the Husband...both are being loved and served at the same time!

(v.32) Back in the Old Testament times, the Church was not seen by the prophets. They wrote of these things, not knowing fully what it meant. God was laying down the Word to show us that He planned to save the whole world...not just the Jews...from sin.

Ephesians 6

(v.1) My kids laugh and smile when I read this to them! They know that they are to obey their parents, but like us parents, we don't always obey our Heavenly Father either! The key is to keep trying and focusing on obedience. When we are walking with God, we have freedom that we never believed was possible!

(v.4) An abusive or domineering father is evil. We are to be firm with our kids, but loving at the same time. Our kids need to see both sides of us.

(v.11) We are at war...the instruments being fought for by God and the devil. In order for us to stay in step with God, we need to do the following:

Gird your waste with truth ~ Know what the Truth is and focus on it

Put on the breastplate of righteousness ~ We have righteousness in our faith in Christ

Shod your feet with the Gospel ~ We are to witness to others the Good News of Christ's work
Take the shield of faith ~ Our faith wards off the devil's attempts to take us away

Take the helmet of salvation ~ We are saved, and we protect ourselves in Christ's work

The Sword of the Spirit ~ The Word of God is a double edged sword, convicting the soul

Praying always ~ It's near impossible to sin when we are praying

If we are going into battle, we need to do these things daily, BEFORE we enter the battle!

15 Nov (Rom 15-16)

Romans 15

(v.2) Our sinful nature impels us to look out for #1...ourselves! But what Christ showed us, and what Paul is stressing here, is that when we are born again, we look to help and serve others' interests before our own. If we have a heart and desire to do that, we know the Spirit is working in us.

(v.3) Of course, not everything Jesus did while on the earth is documented. In fact, most of what He did is not documented...only the things the Spirit wants us to read and learn from. So if we look at the Gospels, we don't see that Jesus spent a day at the spa, or took in a bubble bath! No, He was on a mission, and it was His desire to have His time spent saving souls. We should seek to do the same, by witnessing and praying without ceasing!

(v.4) First of all, what is in the Bible actually happened...ALL OF IT!!! It is there to teach us right and wrong, and to better understand God's character and desires for us. That is why no teaching beats your own time reading the Word, and hearing what God is speaking to you that day.

(v.7) The Hebrew word here in English is like taking someone in...letting them have dinner or staying at your home. We are to offer our home and food to believers...especially if they are traveling or need some help.

Romans 16

(v.4) It wasn't trendy to be a Christian back then, and one day, it will be just as dangerous all around the world. God is preparing us for that time, for we need to be deeply grounded in the Word, and have our faith as strong as possible.

(v.5) The Church started out in homes, and I believe, will end up in homes. One day in our lifetimes (I believe), it will be against the law to perform public displays of worship for the LORD. The Church will have to meet in homes in order to worship, pray and read the Word.

(v.17) We need to stay clear from people who teach a different Gospel, and more importantly, a different Jesus. If a church or person teaches that Jesus is not God, part of the Holy Trinity, then they are preaching a different Gospel. If they think that Jesus was just a good man, then they are denying the deity of Christ, and ignoring His own words.

(v.18) Unfortunately, much of the church is teaching "feel good" sermons, and not confronting sin and death without Christ. There are plenty of teachings that give us comfort, but only because we realize what Christ is giving us comfort from...hell. Teach your kids that there is a real Satan, and a real hell. The only way to avoid those things is to accept Christ as your LORD and Savior.

12 Nov (Rom 8-10)

Romans 8

(v.1) This is one of the most reassuring verses in the Bible...if we are truly saved, then we will always be saved! This is true because we didn't save ourselves...Jesus saved us. So if Jesus saved us, then He can't lose us!

(v.2) That is why Jesus said He was making a new covenant with mankind...not of Law, but by faith. Luke 22:20

(v.3) Because we are sinful and can't keep the Law, God had to perform the act of propitiation, and take our place! Thank you Jesus!

(v.8) We can only please God if we are acting in His Spirit...if we are acting as the world does, then we are not pleasing God.

(v.14) In the Old Testament, the phrase, sons of God, is referring to angels. That is because they are direct creations of God. Adam was also a direct creation of God. From Eve, to their descendants, we have been reproductions of the creation (Adam).

So what is Paul saying here? He is saying, that by our rebirth in spirit, we are again direct creations of God! Not only that, but as sons (and daughters) of God, we are given His inheritance...heaven!

(v.15) So when we are born again, we are once again direct creations of God and sons and daughters of God. We can call Him Daddy, which is the equivalent to Abba! We are adopted back into His family!

(v.19) All of creation was in harmony before Adam and Eve sinned...it is waiting for everything to be restored in the Millennium.

(v.25) We know that heaven will be wonderful, but for now, we need to work and serve for God, and we will live for eternity with Him.

(v.26) Have you ever been so sad or distressed that words just wouldn't come out? The Holy Spirit knows what you're thinking and feeling, and He prays to the Father for us! That is really cool that God prays for us!

(v.28) This is a verse that all of us need to know when times become hard...He is always with us, and He will work on us so that we are stronger and better off from the trials.

(v.31) If God is for us, who can be against us? I love this verse, since it gives me complete comfort, knowing that God is on my side. Or rather, I'm on His side!

(v.34) Not only do we have the Holy Spirit making intercession for us, but we have the Son...talk about a sure way for the Father to hear our prayers!

(v.38) Nothing can come between us and Christ if we are saved. We can't be unsaved, and He will always be with us!

Romans 9

(v.8) The Promise is the one that God made to Abraham...who is the Father of the Faithful. Not only the Jews, but all who believe in Christ are the seed of Abraham.

(v.15) Notice that God says He will have mercy and compassion on whomever He wishes...those are good things! We should never be jealous of other people's blessings. We should praise God and work to serve God and see what He does with us!

(v.32) The Jews became fixated on the Law, and forgot the righteousness of Abraham by his faith. We have that knowledge, but it's easy to forget.

Romans 10

(v.2) Paul, like Moses before him, offers up his own salvation if God would save the nation of Israel from their religiosity. That is admirable, but everyone must stand before God individually. Our relationship with God is personal...no one can do anything for us, we need to seek God ourselves.

(v.9) Some people say that their faith is "personal" and not to be shared with others. This is against Scripture. If we realize what Christ did for us, then we should be so grateful, that we want others to be saved as well. That can't happen unless we witness and share with others the Gospel.

We can't be ashamed or scared of being a Christian...we will probably be made fun of and perhaps persecuted, but that's a small price to pay for eternity!

11 Nov (Rom 5-7)

Romans 5

(v.3) Do we look forward to problems in our lives? Of course not, but when they come, we should look at them as opportunities to be used by God. We have the honor to be be molded by Him to be more like Christ. And if we look back at our problems we had, and when we let God use us and guide us through them, we are better for it! James 1:2

(v.7) Is there someone you would die for? Probably your kids, your family, and some friends you know. Would you die for a person you just met? Or even someone you never met?

Jesus died for all mankind...that is love! He died for all, but in the end, it will be only the ones who understood that and were grateful for that love, that will it benefit. When we are His, He calls us His friends. John 15:15

Jesus died for His friends...John 15:13

(v.19) This verse summarizes the Bible completely...Since Adam and Eve sinned, mankind was born with a sinful nature. We were doomed to hell in our sins, since none could be holy enough to abide with God in heaven. But that's the reason that God had to provide us the way back to Him...and He did it with Himself...the person named Jesus. By His act of obedience to the Law and the holiness of God, He died sinless, and took on our sin for us. Therefore, we who believe and live in faith with that, are deemed sinless as well by the cleansing blood of His Son.

Romans 6

(v.3) Water baptism does not save us. Baptizing a baby is only a ceremony...it doesn't save that child. All children are saved until they reach an age of accountability...roughly in their early teens. So when we do water baptism, it is a public display of our death to sin, and rebirth in Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit is what counts...and that can only happen when we are older and can readily accept what it means.

(v.7) We who have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, have died to sin. We no longer are controlled by sin. Because we have God's Spirit in us, we are able to overcome sin and temptation.

(v.12) Men have the hardest time with this one...we are attracted to things with our eyes. For the most part, women love a man who can communicate and tell them his love and share his life with them in discussion.

(v.14) By the grace of God, we have His Spirit working in us, and we can overcome sin!

(v.18) This is why Paul talked so directly in the first chapter of this book...homosexuals live a lifestyle and life of sin. We all sin, but homosexuals live under the power of sin. Of course, heterosexuals do as well, if we let money or fame have control over us. Any lifestyle or passion that is put above the love for God is sin.

(v.23) Repeat this verse to yourself and your kids...it summarizes this whole chapter!

Romans 7

(v.7) We don't know good unless we know bad first. We can't know if something tastes good, unless we are used to eating bad things. That is why God allowed evil to enter the world...to show us what we don't want, and for us to go to Him to have good.

(v.23) Our flesh keeps fighting our spirit that is trying to be more Christ-like. It is a constant battle that will endure until we are with Jesus in heaven. After we are justified to the Father by the faith in His Son, we go through the rest of our lives being sanctified, or molded, to be more like Christ. This process is an ebb and flow, but it must be a constant one-way journey. If we are born again, then we won't take time out and sin like we did for a season. Sure, we will slip and fall on occasion, but our path must be forward. Matt 7:13-14

5 Nov (2 Cor 1-2)

2 Corinthians 1

(v.1) Again, saints are living believers...not dead ones that have been immortalized by any church! I say this, because we who are living in faith are His saints...that is because we are holy in the Father's eyes by the blood of His Son.

(v.4) God the Father is a comforter...God the Son is a comforter...and the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. This is why God allows evil and suffering in the world...to draw us to Him when we finally realize we need His love and comfort. God didn't create evil, but it happened because God allowed free choice. Once Satan, Adam and Eve, and we realized that we can make decisions for ourselves, we can choose against God, or with Him.

(v.7) Our trials are tests on our faith and character...the better we go through it and keep on moving ahead with God, we will see blessings on earth, and even more abundantly in heaven!

(v.22) Once saved, always saved. If we are truly born again, we will have the Holy Spirit working on our lives. Sin will seem less fun, and holiness will be more desirable. That is how we know the Spirit is working in us. For if we still enjoy our fleshly lusts more than the things of God, then we aren't truly born again. Now, to be clear, saved and born again people are still sinners. We will slip and fall from grace, but it's how we react that's illuminating. If we feel bad and hate the sin we experienced, then we are repenting and getting back in tune with God. We can't live a lifestyle of sin if we are born again.

2 Corinthians 2

(v.7) People hurt us, and yes, Christians do as well. Often, being hurt by other believers hurts more. When this happens, we need to lovingly and honestly approach that person, and share with them why we are hurt. We don't go to unbelievers to solve our problems...we go to the person who wronged us. Read Matt 1815-20

(v.14) If we are seeking His wisdom, He will give us some to see what we do with it. If we are faithful servants, then He will bless us with more.

(v.15) Since Christ is a part of God, then those that are washed with the blood of Christ are holy and fragrant to the Father. We are sweet to Him who redeemed us!

3 Nov (1 Cor 13-14)

1 Corinthians 13

In verses 1-3, Paul shows us that works are no good without love. If we do works without love, they are attempts to please man, not God. Works will never save us, but we do them because of our love and gratitude to Christ. Because we are grateful, we love and serve others to reflect His love.

Verses 4-7 are often read at weddings...they are good reminders for us to keep our marriage strong and loving. What I like to do with my kids, is put the name of Jesus in every spot where the word love is...it fits even better, and shows us what true love really is.

(v.11) Now that we are saved and walking with Christ, we need to grow. We can only do that by consistently studying His Word, daily prayer, and loving others the way Christ wants us to.

(v.13) Paul reiterates this concept of love by stressing it over faith and hope. All things go back to love, which in reality, we wouldn't have faith and hope without the love that Christ showed the world on the cross!

1 Corinthians 14

(v.2) The gift of tongues is both controversial and confusing. Speaking in tongues is not meant for others, so there is no need to do it in public. The Holy Spirit does this for us many times when we can't utter the right words to the Father. Rom 8:26

Prophecy helps the whole Body of Christ. The more we understand what God has shown us will happen, the more we are at peace and can act accordingly.

(v.22) Paul summarizes what the importance of prophecy is...speaking in tongues is for unbelievers and speaking with God. Prophecy is for believers and encouraging them to stay the course!

(v.26) Let all things be done for edification...if we pray, prophesy, speak in tongues, teach, etc, we should be doing it for the growth of the Church as a whole, and for each individual. If that is not the result of one of these gifts, then it's not from God.

(v.33) Some churches have speaking in tongues sessions, and the whole congregation starts yelling, crying, dancing in convulsions...this is not from God. If you witness this, get out of that church! The Holy Spirit does not have us act irrationally or without order.

(v.40) Paul confirms this by saying that all things must be done in order, and with purpose. Barking like dogs, or acting crazy is not of the Holy Spirit, but from another spirit that temporarily rules this world...Satan.

2 Nov (1 Cor 11-12)

1 Corinthians 11

(v.3) My girls give me a funny look when I read this verse, and I understand why. First of all, the Jewish culture was much different than what we know in America today. Like many cultures, the man was the head of the household, and the object of wealth and strength.

This is still true, but we must look at what God is saying here...He's painting us a picture:

The Father is the head of the Son (but we know they are one) John 10:30

The husband is the head of the wife (but we know they are one) Gen 2:24

The husband is the head of the house. The Groom is the head of the Bride. Jesus is the Groom, and all of us believers are His Bride. When we are joined in heaven, we are one. But until that day, we submit and follow the Groom.

Women came from man, but man is born from woman. We are intertwined, but again, the man is the head of the household. That is why I rededicated my life to Christ...so I can teach my kids His Word, and do my duty to God and my family.

(v.27) When we give thanks before eating, we need to pray and confess our sins. We need to be ready for God's grace. If we just go through the motions, we are dishonoring what Christ did for us on the cross.

1 Corinthians 12

(v.4) Spiritual gifts are sometimes hotly debated things. What I believe Paul is trying to stress here is twofold:

1. All of us are given gifts from God. We are to find out what those are, and use them for God's purposes.

2. We are not to try to do gifts that aren't given to us. We may want to be a pastor and teach, but if God hasn't gifted us in that, then we should do what He has gifted us to do...like help, or pray, or be an administrator/organizer.

Together, we all make the Church function and perform His plans. If we try to be what we are not, then we are only bringing the whole Body of Christ down.

(v.11) The Holy Spirit moves in each of us for the purpose of God's will. We need to listen to Him and let Him work in our lives. Not only are we strengthening the Church, but we live more joyful and purposeful lives.

23 Oct (Gal 5-6)

Galatians 5

(v.1) We are bound by the Law...to sin and death. However, becoming a Christian is viewed as a downer by the younger ones, for they believe that following Christ is no fun. As a man, who at the age of 18 accepted Christ as his LORD and Savior, the only real fun I've had has been with other believers. Sure, I've laughed and had good times in the flesh, but they don't last. The times I've had with my friends in Christ stay with me.

With Jesus in our lives, we are free from sin, and can live more powerful lives!

(v.13) For us who are saved, we are free to live, love and serve others for Christ!

(v.16) I've found it impossible to sin and think bad things when I'm praying or reading the Word...God has us focus on Him when we do those things.

(v.21) We will sin and do some of these things occasionally, even if we're walking with God. However, we are not walking with God if we habitually do these things...there is a big difference!

One thing I point out to my kids, is that when I sin, and I'm already saved, I feel bad about it. In my life, before I was saved, I wouldn't have felt bad about that. That is the Holy Spirit working in us! We find that earthly sins don't satisfy like they once did, and spiritual love and joy gets sweeter the more we are walking with God!

Galatians 6

(v.2) Have your kids memorize this verse...it encapsulates what we are to do as Christians:

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(v.5) We all answer to God...make sure we all look at our lives and compare it with what God wants for us.

(v.6) Even though God anoints teachers of His Word, they are not any better than the people he teaches. We all have our place in this world, and in the Church. All of the gifts of the Spirit are important and worthy of hard work.

(v.8) If we focus on being light to the lost, and encouraging the Brethren, then we are reaping in the Spirit.

17 Oct (Acts 11)

Acts 11

(v.17) We can see Peter as a changed man...no longer brash and impulsive. He has the Holy Spirit in him, and he thinks and speaks with authority. We have that same ability if we let the Spirit work in us!

(v.18) God has given all who wish to repent, eternal life by faith in what He did for us...His Son! This is not just a New Testament idea...God told us this in Isaiah 49:6

(v.26) The name for the early followers of Christ were called The Way. By now, they were given the name Christians by those who identified them with whom they followed...Christ.

12 Oct (Acts 3-4)

Acts 3

(v.6) This coincides with the verse Jesus said in Matt 6:20 regarding treasures and riches. Our riches on earth stay here and are burned. But the power of God is everlasting, and it changes lives on earth and in heaven!

(v.16) God heals those with Faith...we need to put our complete trust and faith in God, and let Him work in our lives, instead of trying to do it for Him!

(v.18) I can't help but think of Isaiah 53 when I read this! Prophecy is important, not only to validate God's Word, but to see that the whole Bible is one long love letter from God!

Acts 4

(v.4) We see throughout this book, that the more the Jews and Satan persecute the Church, the greater and faster it grows!

(v.12) In case you or someone you're talking with thinks all religions lead to salvation, read this carefully and think about it. This verse and many others, like John 14:6 should renew our faith and make us more eager to love and serve Christ.

(v.13) Even the uneducated and untrained speak with authority when they have the Holy Spirit working in them!

(v.18) This verse makes me think of the times we are living in now...the name of Jesus is shunned and denied to be spoken in our government, in graduation speeches, and even in some churches!

(v.29) What a prayer this is! They knew that they would be persecuted and even killed for defying the Pharisees, but they couldn't help but proclaim the LORD to all who would hear! We all need to be more like this...time is running out!

(v.32) The Bible doesn't say that in order to be a follower of Christ, you need to give up your home, your life savings, and all your possessions. The early church did this, in order to organize and be prepared for the coming persecution. What we need to do today, is build strong friendships with other believers, and make ourselves as debt-free as possible, so we can use our possessions for the betterment of the Brethren.

11 Oct (Acts 2)

Acts 2

(v.4) God had the disciples speak in different languages because Jews from all over the globe were in Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost. In order for the Church to be born, the people needed to be in one place, and hear the Word of God in the language they understand.

(v.16) Here we see one of the many workings of the Holy Spirit...Peter goes from a man who acts and speaks before he thinks, to a man who is wise and knows Scripture like a Pharisee! From this point on, Peter speaks with authority, as all the disciples do, because they have God's Spirit working in them. This same power is available to us, if we read His Word and speak out to the lost.

(v.42) A church that is powerful for the LORD has these four things:

Doctrine ~ We need to be reading the Word, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book in order to get the whole counsel of God...not just soundbites.

Fellowship ~ We need to lift up and encourage one another. It's not easy being a Christian. We need to be around other believers so we can learn from and strengthen one another. I have learned a very important lesson about church...I am not to go so I get something out of it, rather, I am to go to love and serve my fellow Brethren.

Communion ~ This is touchy with many denominations. Some insist on doing communion every Sunday, and others do it once a month. I feel it is important to have communion with other believers, but we need to be free of hate and anger when we do it, and we need to know WHY we do it.

Some faiths say that the bread and wine actually turn into the flesh and blood of Jesus during communion. This would be cannibalism. Jesus chose bread and wine since in those days, those were staples of every dinner. He wants us to pray and remember Him when we sit down to eat at least once a day.

Prayer ~ We need to pray privately, but also with other believers. Jesus said in Matt 18:20 that He is amongst those that pray together. He loves it when we gather and worship Him in song and prayer!

(v.47) These early Christians were good citizens, and they were looked upon by the Romans as nice and orderly people. It wasn't until the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders persecuted them, that uprisings and riots occurred. Only then did the Romans come to hate the Christians since the Jews blamed them for all the troubles.

Getting back to the point of this verse...we are to be good people, who follow the laws of the land, and show love and service to our fellow man. We need to act out the Gospel instead of just proclaiming it by mouth.

Think and pray about the church you attend...is it doing ALL these things?

10 Oct (Acts 1)

Acts 1

The book of the Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, and is considered the fifth gospel by many Bible scholars. Even though Jesus is only alive in the first chapter, His Holy Spirit is given to His Church in this book.

(v.5) Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples

(v.6) This is a telling verse...even the disciples thought that Jesus was going to kick the Romans out and restore Israel to it's glory. Most, if not all, the Jews wanted God to do this, and that is the main reason they crucified Jesus...He wasn't going to be their King. He is their King, but He had to die for their sins before He brings judgment upon the world. If they knew their Scriptures, and didn't let their emotions get in the way, more would have seen this and accepted Jesus then.

(v.11) Jesus will come from the clouds to the earth, just as He left. We read about this later in Rev 1:7

(v.18) We see the confirmation of the Potter's Field Matt 27:3-10 and the gory details of the death of Judas.

(v.26) Casting lots was common in that time, and it is similar to rolling dice. They must have assigned one number or group of numbers to each option, and rolled the dice to see who would be chosen. I personally have a tough time with this action by the disciples, for instead of praying and asking God to tell them who should succeed Judas, they rolled dice!

21 Sep (John 16:1-15)

The Gospels: The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:1-15

(v.2) As is the case with Islam, there are groups out there that believe it's their duty to kill unbelievers. That is not from God, rather, it is from the Father of Lies himself...Satan.

Jesus said we should be willing to die for our friends, not to kill for them. There is a big difference.

(v.7) This is important for our kids to understand...unless Jesus went to heaven to be with the Father, He couldn't indwell our hearts by His Spirit! Jesus showed us how to live. His Spirit moves in us to keep us on course and to prepare us for heaven. And finally, we will be with our Heavenly Father in His glory!

(v.8) It is the Holy Spirit who makes us feel rotten when we sin. Not in a mean way, but now that we are saved, we have a clearer picture of sin and what it does to us. When we sin, it doesn't satisfy like it once did before we were saved. The Spirit is sanctifying us to be more like Christ. We grow to hate sin and seek righteousness more and more!

(v.13) The Holy Spirit moves us to be more like Christ...to the glory of the Father. We have His peace, and we have His power when we are allowing Him to work in us!

20 Sep (John 15)

The Gospels: Joy in Christ

John 15

(v.2) Jesus uses an illustration to make His point...He is the root and the trunk, and we are His branches. If we are connected to Him, we will bear fruit by loving and serving others. The more we do this, the more God will empower us and bless us so we can do more.

(v.7) Like before, when we pray, we should pray for what we know to be in His will, and He will answer our prayers.

(v.8) Jesus came to glorify the Father, so if we are loving and serving others, we are giving glory to the Father!

(v.11) Have you been around people, who even in dark moments, seem to have an inner joy that won't let them get depressed or discouraged? That is the joy that Jesus is speaking of here. After all, the Apostle Paul said it best in Rom 8:31

If God is for us, who can be against us?

(v.13) Jesus loved us so much, that while we were filthy sinners, He died for us! This is also illustrated by our soldiers in wars...where they give up their lives for their friends to live. That is love, when we don't care about our own lives, but instead, deeply care about others.

(v.16) If the President of the United States called you and asked you to do a task for him, don't you think you would do it, and with gusto? Then we should do the same and more for God...He chose us to represent Him on earth, and He has plans for us!

(v.18) When we witness to the lost, sometimes they say hurtful and mean things to us...but we must try to remember that if we're only saying what is in God's Word, then they are mad at God, not us. We need to share God's Word, and let the Holy Spirit convict their souls to repentance.

(v.26) The Holy Spirit's job is to point us to Christ. Jesus pointed the Jews to the Father, and He does today, but the Spirit is in us, and reminds us of Christ. The Holy Trinity works as One.

19 Sep (John 14:19-31)

The Gospels: The Gift of God's Peace

John 14:19-31

(v.19) We who are saved see God in all that we do during the day...it may be something that God has another say to us...it may be the way someone serves us...or it may be the better understanding of His creation and the appreciation of it.

Sadly, those that don't know God, may love the environment, but they come to worship the creation instead of the Creator!

(v.21) We who are His will love the faithful, minister to the lost and be salt and light. God doesn't want His players to sit on the sideline...He wants us to get into the game!

(v.23) I take notice to my kids that Jesus says We will come to him and make Our home with him...this is the Holy Spirit...which enables us to have a direct connection with God in heaven.

(v.26) One of the things the Holy Spirit does in us, is help us remember and live God's Word. I'm sure we all have had times when we needed a verse to comfort us, and out of the blue, one comes to our mind...that's the Holy Spirit at work!

Also, sometimes when we're witnessing, we say things that we normally would never have said...and it was so wise! That is the Holy Spirit at work in us!

(v.27) The Aramaic word here for peace doesn't mean a life without strife...that is not promised to us. However, with the Holy Spirit in us, we have that sense of peace and comfort with Him. No matter what happens in our lives, we who are saved, we have the comfort of knowing who is working in us, and where we are ultimately going!

(v.29) Don't let anyone tell you that prophesy is not important...it is one of the most effective tools by God to show us that He wrote and inspired the men who wrote the books of the Bible! The prophesies He had them write are living proof that God is outside our time constraints, because they are all 100% accurate and detailed!

18 Sep (John 14:15-18)

The Gospels: The Promise of the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-18

(v.15) We can't just say we are saved, we must show that by truly following Christ and what He teaches. If we are His, then others should see that difference in us.

(v.16) Once we are born again, we are connected with God. We have the Spirit of God in us, and that will last for eternity!

(v.17) Those that aren't saved don't understand that God is with us that follow Him. As Paul says in 1 Cor 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(v.18) God will never forsake us Heb 13:5 and He will come for us before He judges the world!

25 Aug (Matt 12 & Mark 2-3)

The Gospels: Jesus is Our Sabbath

Matthew 12

(v.6) As we see in John 2:12-21 Jesus is our Sabbath, and when He speaks of the temple being raised in three days, He means His body in the resurrection.

(v.8) The Law was given to convince all mankind, that we are imperfect sinners, and we need a Savior. We would not know how far we fall short of God's holiness, unless we had something to measure it by. Likewise, the Sabbath was consecrated for us to become closer to God. The Jews were instructed to spend that day in worship...getting closer to the Father.

We get closer to the Father, by our faith in His Son. Jesus is the LORD of the Sabbath, for in Him, we worship the Father, and we have peace with the Father. Mark 2:27

(v.12) The Pharisees were so focused on trying to follow the Law, that they forgot what it was for! God did not expect mankind to follow the Law perfectly. In fact, He had James tell us so, and remind us that if we failed at one moment in life on one commandment, we were guilty of all. James 2:10

(v.32) Speaking against the Holy Spirit is the Unpardonable Sin. What this means, is since it's the job of the Spirit to bring souls to the Son, when people reject the Son, they are rejecting the work of the Spirit. The rejection of what God did for us is what seals the fate of the unbeliever...it doesn't matter how "good" a person they were...it's all about Christ in the end.

(v.40) If you look on my study on Jonah a few months back, you'll see that Jonah was a failure at predicting the doom of Nineveh. So why does Jesus call Jonah a prophet? Because Jonah lived the prophesy of Christ, by dying and being brought back to life in three days, and saving souls! Jonah didn't want the people of Nineveh to be saved, but his actions got the same result. The "story" of Jonah is true, for Christ deems it so Himself!

(v.43) Here is an interesting point about this verse...demons seek dry places...why? If we go back to Genesis, the Nephilim were killed in the Flood of Noah, but their souls lived on. This is what we call a demon. They seek embodiment, and since they got in their state from the Flood, it seems understandable that they fear water!

13 Aug (Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

The Gospels: Satan Tempts Jesus

Luke 4

(v.1) We see that Jesus was led by the Spirit...He was subservient to the Father and the Spirit while on earth...just as we are supposed to be. Jesus showed us how to live...not a life with no problems, but a life that has meaning and purpose.

(v.4) When we are faced with temptation, Jesus shows us the way to overcome temptation...the Word of God! If we know verses in the Bible that speak about particular temptations, and if when faced with those temptations, we recite them out loud or in our heads, we are far less likely to fall to temptation.

(v.6) This is an important teaching moment for our kids...notice that Jesus doesn't refute Satan's claim to be in charge of all the kingdoms of the earth. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion and authority over all the creation. But when they sinned, they lost that authority...it was relinquished to Satan. The devil is the god of this world...he has immense power over the world.

BUT...God is the LORD over all creation, so He allows Satan to work in the world, and God uses the evil in the world to work for good. Rom 8:28

(v.12) When we are His, we are under His protection and guidance. However, we are not to live recklessly and put ourselves in situations that put God's love and protection to the test. We need to let Him put us in situations...for He is in charge of those situations, and puts us in them to refine and strengthen us!

(v.34) Skeptics often say that Jesus never said He was God...well, there are many instances where He did say that, but we also have verses like this that show us that even the demons knew who He is!

(v.38) For my Catholic friends...this is a verse that we all need to think about and understand. Peter was married...we know this because of this verse, for he had a mother-in-law. Now, if Peter is the first pope, then why did the Roman Catholic Church demand that popes be celibate?

Also, there is much evidence that Peter was not the first pope...for he wasn't even in charge of the early Church! In Acts 15, at the Council of Jerusalem, James is the leader! James is the half brother of Jesus, and came to faith after the Resurrection. James was anointed to be the pastor/leader of the Church in Jerusalem...not Peter. James gave the orders...not Peter.

With all that in mind, my wife grew up Catholic, and was saved by her faith in Jesus, not in Mary or the pope. For those of you Catholic friends who read this blog...all I ask is that you compare the teachings of the RCC to the teachings in the Bible, and come to your own conclusions. The Bible is inspired by God and His Spirit...any church is run by men...fallen and imperfect.

11 Aug (Luke 2)

Luke 2

(v.4) I teach my kids that all things in life happen for a reason. Some of them are obvious, and others we see as a chain of events that lead to an understanding of their importance.

Joseph had to go back to the place where his family was from...the Tribe of Judah...which was in Bethlehem. This fulfilled Micah 5:2 and set the stage for God to become flesh and die for our sins.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... John 1:1, 14

(v.11) Again, God loves shepherds, and gives them the honor of being the first to see the LORD of all Creation, and the Savior of the world!

(v.21) Like John the Baptist before Him, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day, where the prothrombin is at its peak to keep the young boys from bleeding too much. This is the first instance where we see Jesus following the Law...He had to follow the Law FOR us, since none of us can do it perfectly. Only God Himself can be sinless and perfect in the Law. Luke 24:44

(v.25) We see again that the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon...the Holy Spirit helps us see the workings of God. John 14:26

(v.34) This one Man...Jesus...is the reason for the rise or fall of every human. All who believe and trust in Him will live eternally with Him...all those who reject Him will live eternally in torment knowing their foolishness and separation from Him.

Jesus is the one thing in all history that everything can be pointed to...He is the most important person and event in all of history!

(v.49) Here is another clue to Mary that Jesus is God...He spoke about His Father's business, but it definitely wasn't Joseph's business. Jesus is God...the physical form of God in the flesh. John 1:1, 14

10 Aug (Luke 1)

Luke 1

The Gospel according to Luke is the only gospel that was written by a Gentile. Luke never met Jesus, but was a close friend of the Apostle Paul and Peter. Since Luke was believed to be a physician, he was meticulous in detail, and the Holy Spirit saw it fit to have the humanity of Jesus be documented by him.

(v.3) God had given Luke complete understanding of the life of Jesus...we as believers, as we learn and grow in Christ, acquire the same wisdom.

(v.6) John the Baptist was from the tribe of Levi, since his father was a priest. It was a priest's duty to bring the people closer to the LORD...John did just that! We see that this was another situation where the LORD had a barren woman have a child to defy nature.

(v.15) The Holy Spirit was with John the Baptist from the womb...we will see evidence of this when Mary meets Elizabeth later.

(v.17) This is what most of the Jews missed...John the Baptist made the way for the LORD by preaching repentance...they believed that Elijah would be resurrected, but his spirit was with John the Baptist!

(v.31) The name, Jesus, is important. We must teach our kids that it's not an ordinary name like John or Steve. Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name, Joshua. We would pronounce the name as Yeshua, which in Hebrew, means Yahweh Saves.

This is why He was named Jesus...His name defined His mission on earth!

(v.33) It's hard to imagine what Mary must have thought when Gabriel told her that her child would reign over Israel forever...not 40 years, but FOREVER!

This was the first of many clues given to Mary that the Son of God was in her womb.

(v.41) The Holy Spirit was in John the Baptist when he was in the womb, and he leaped when his cousin was in the womb. But this wasn't any ordinary cousin...this was the Creator of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega...the Son of God...God in the flesh!

(v.59) Most of us skip over this without seeing another amazing work of God...the eighth day of a young boy's life is the BEST day to perform circumcision. There is a clotting agent in the blood that is called prothrombin, and it is produced to a level above 100% on the eighth day, then drops down on the ninth day. Science didn't discover this until the 20th century!

Here is a link for more information: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2204

God instructed Abraham to do this to all newborn Jewish sons in Genesis 17.

(v.69) Remember that the use of a horn in Scripture represents authority...we will see a lot more of the use of horns in Revelation, as we saw quite a bit of them in Daniel as well.

(v.76) John the Baptist's mission was to get the people to repent, and ready for the salvation of the LORD!