12 Dec (1, 2 & 3 John)

The Apostle John wrote three letters to the Church to encourage them in their faith. Gnosticism was abundant, and God had John exhort and encourage the Church to stick to the Word of God.

1 John 1

(v.9) The blood of Christ washes away our sins...the Levites could only cover up our sins. It took the blood of God Himself to wash them away so they would be remembered no more.

1 John 2

(v.1) This is the only case of nepotism that we should embrace! Satan is accusing us daily of sins and disobeying God. But we have the Son, going to His Father, and saying, "Daddy, that one is mine for he/she knows Me." The Father will then judge us innocent, for the blood of the Most Innocent washes us clean in the eyes of the Father!

(v.15) Think about what you love in this world...material things, fame, people liking you. All those things will burn in judgment. But the love of heaven and Jesus will endure forever!

(v.22) The spirit of the antichrist has been alive since God declared He would save mankind. Satan has tried to thwart God's plan of redemption for man, and he has used evil men to do his evil work. Look at any religion or cult, and they all have one thing in common...they deny the deity of Jesus! This goes back to the work of Satan.

1 John 3

(v.1) If you spend time around other believers, we can talk about the things of God, and know what the other is talking about. If we talk about those things with unbelievers, they will be lost and not understand us. It take the work of the Holy Spirit to open up their eyes.

(v.2) I love this verse! When we are in heaven, we will see the glory and power of Christ! Unlike the disciples after Jesus was resurrected, we will understand His appearance, and even see the scars from His love on the cross for us! Rev 5:6

(v.13) The world hates us because they don't understand us, and most of all, they don't understand God!

1 John 4

(v.1) Whenever you are taught from Scripture, or experience something that feels like God is speaking to you, immediately check it with Scripture. If it doesn't contradict God's Word, then you can know that God is speaking to you.

(v.4) We all need to remember this verse when faced with seemingly insurmountable trials...if we are on God's side, what do we really have to fear?

(v.9) The more we think about what God did for us, the more we should worship Him! John 3:16

(v.15) We are not to keep silent about the love of God...we are to witness and share what God is doing in our lives!

1 John 5

(v.7) Remember this verse about the Trinity, and the deity of Jesus!

(v.14) We need to pray with our thoughts on God, not asking Him to think like us. We should spend some time of prayer just listening, and He will put thoughts and ideas in our heads that we can act upon.

2 John

We don't know for sure who the "elect lady" is whom John is addressing, but we do know that she had a big influence on many people's lives. My personal opinion, is that this may be addressed to Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus.

First of all, when Jesus was on the cross, He told John to take care of her, and for him to treat her as his own mother. John 19:27

Secondly, John warns this lady to be watchful for false prophets and people who wish to affect her. What greater thing could an unbeliever do, than have the mother of the Christ deny Him or accept doctrines that aren't Scriptural?

No matter who John is speaking to, he really is speaking to us as well...we need to hold onto the Truth, and be watchful for people sent by Satan to discourage us.

3 John

(v.11) People will know that Christ is in us if we stop doing the worldly things we did before we were saved. Try to spend time with other believers, who will be far less likely to try to get you to sin than your old "friends."

3 Dec (James 3-5)

James 3

(v.8) It is so important to teach our kids not to gossip, and to think before they speak. We all can think of things that people have said to us that still hurt...words can't be taken back.

I like to remind my kids that God gave us TWO ears and only ONE mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak!

(v.13) Let others see our faith by our actions...by love and service to others.

James 4

(v.3) Jesus told us to ask in His name, and we will receive it. This is often misunderstood. We need to ask for things that we need, not just what we want. God doesn't care about keeping up the the neighbors as far as toys and clothes...He cares about our souls. We should be praying for wisdom, like Solomon did, and tools for loving and serving others.

(v.10) It's good to pray at all times during the day, but we also should spend some time each day on our knees...humbling ourselves to Him, and giving Him the respect He deserves.

(v.17) This is important for our kids to know...of course when we do something stupid or selfish, we are sinning. But James points out that we can sin by doing nothing as well. If we know what we should do, and we don't do it, that is a sin.

James 5

(v.7) James uses a great illustration here...the farmer who toiled to prepare and plant the crops, must wait patiently to see the fruit come from it. God does that with us, so we should be that way with God, and let Him bless us on His timeline!

(v.16) This is one of the most important aspects of Church...to have fellowship. We need to be with other believers, to pray for each other, to support each other, and to confess our sins so others can help us since they have experienced the same sins.

(v.20) Bringing someone back to God is an act that God loves! There are times for rebuke, but what works most of the time is loving support. Encourage your friend to seek the LORD, and be there for them to walk back to God.

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?

15 Sep (John 13:31-35)

The Gospels: Jesus' New Commandment

John 13:31-35

(v.34) Jesus is showing us that we are to treat other believers as we would Christ Himself! We are to love, comfort and support one another. We witness to the lost, but we serve the faithful.

(v.35) There is a fine line between calling out heresy, and bringing on division. We must pray and practice prudence when choosing what to do when we are dealing with someone else in God's Church.

If we love Christ, then we will love and serve His own.

27 Aug (Matt 14 & John 6)

The Gospels: Feeding 5,000 & Walking on the Sea

Matthew 14

(v.13) I suspect, that when Jesus went to be alone, He was going to pray about John the Baptist, and ask the Father for guidance.

(v.19) Jesus shows us that God will provide for us, even when it seems impossible. Chuck Smith points out in his commentary, that God has us provide for the Brethren when we are blessed by Him...this is what fellowship and servant hood are all about!

(v.23) Jesus sent the disciples onto the boat, and went to the mountain to pray. There is an important lesson here...Jesus allows us to have storms and troubles in our lives, but He is there, praying and protecting us! Rom 8:34

(v.26) The disciples go from fear to adulation in a moment...much like us. It's our nature to have fear, but once we have Christ, we have peace.

(v.29) Peter was a man who acted impulsively, and didn't always think before he spoke or acted. Here, he does it again, but he is doing it in faith. Jesus allows it, and Peter actually walks on the water!

(v.30) Once Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink into the water...this is true with us, when we stop focusing on Christ, we fall away from Him.

Peter says the shortest and most effective prayer: LORD, save me!

We need to remember that storms are important in our lives...we need to be willing to be in a storm in God's will, then out of the storm, but out of God's will for us!

24 May (Amos 1-4)

Amos was from the Southern Kingdom, Judah, but was called by God to prophesy in the Northern Kingdom at the same time as Micah and Isaiah.

Amos was a farm boy, who had no formal ministry training...he had good farm boy common sense, and a love for God. This is encouraging to us, since most of us feel quite ordinary, yet, God uses the ordinary for big purposes!

Like all other prophets, Amos is speaking harshly to those who are doing evil things. We don't like to hear that we're not acting godly, and especially those who are in power, don't like to hear others criticize or rebuke them...it goes back to pride.

Amos 1

(v.1) Amos was a shepherd, and as we know, God loves to use shepherds in His Word. The type is useful, since like sheep, we are lost, and the shepherd devotes himself to caring and protecting his sheep. This is like our Good Shepherd, who dies for His sheep. John 10:11

(v.11) Edom is the place where Esau resided after he and Jacob split. The descendants of Esau have always been at war against the sons of Jacob. I believe this constant is because Satan has used these people to torment and persecute the Jews. Not until the Prince of Peace returns, will the descendants of these two warring brothers be stopped.

Amos 2

This chapter seems like God is keeping score...and He is! God is righteous and just, He is the arbiter of our lives. If we want to live without Christ, then we are subject to this measure of our deeds compared to the Law. However, if we are in Christ, then we are free from the penalty of breaking the Law...we are saved by grace through our faith! Eph 2:8

Amos 3

(v.3) The imagery here is important...if we walk with Christ, we are walking side-by-side with Him. We are not to be trailing behind or out in front...we are to be in agreement with His will for us, and walking right with Him. I remind my kids that we don't walk out ahead or fall behind when we're walking with our friends...we walk with them...it's the same with God.

(v.7) To most people, God doesn't exist to them since they don't know Him. They figure that if He doesn't part the Red Sea for them, then He must not be real. This is so sad, since if they actually sought out God, they would see His presence all around them! He keeps revealing Himself in His Word, and in our daily lives if we have our eyes open!

Amos 4

(v.1) This verse strikes me, since I love Psalm 22, and the Bulls of Bashan are mentioned there. Bashan is always linked to Satan in the Bible, and it's interesting to do a study on this. Many scholars believe that the ancient monuments in that area are satanic and still inhabit demonic entities today.

(v.6) Yet you have not returned to Me.

We see this five times in this chapter...do you think God is trying to tell us something? God demands repentance from our sins. He wants us to rely upon Him, and show gratitude for His provision of salvation for us. I remind my kids that God came into His own creation, and willingly suffered torture, humiliation, extreme pain and shame, in order to provide the way to redeem us to Him. One is not saved unless he or she realizes this, and has a grateful heart. If we have gratitude, we are energized and wish to worship Him and share Him with others!

(v.12) Prepare to meet your God.

Our lives should be centered on this...we are only here for a short while on earth, so our minds should be focused on serving Him, and returning to Him in heaven!

Apr 20 (Prov 25-27)

Proverbs 25

(v.2) In Jewish tradition, the king was to personally copy the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible by Moses) with his own hand. For anyone who's had to copy a chapter or book, this is a great way to learn what you're writing. That was the idea...to have the kings who ruled over Israel to know the Word of God. I wish our Founders required that our Presidents had to do this!

God has all kinds of wonderful messages and typology in His Word, and for those of us who study and seek His wisdom, He delights to show us His "hidden" treasures! I have been blessed to find some, and I have been taught by those who have found many more!

(v.11) I teach my kids, that when a friend is hurting or confused, it's best to listen and provide a word of love instead of criticism. Love conquers all, so share it, and encourage your friends.

(v.14) When we give to the LORD with our tithes and offerings, we shouldn't make a point to make sure others see us. It's not about us, it's about God, so give cheerfully and in private. He will reward us in His timing. Jesus condemns false boasting Matt 6:4 and sometimes very harshly Acts 5

Proverbs 26

(vv.4-5) This seems like a contradiction, but it really isn't. These two verses tell us not to respond to a foolish question with a foolish reply. And secondly, don't let a fool think his words against the LORD are accurate...retort with Scripture to correct him. Otherwise, other fools will think he's correct, and they won't know the Truth.

Proverbs 27

(v.1) It is good to plan and think about the future, but we don't know what tomorrow will bring us, let alone next month or next year! Think of the people who went into the planes on September 11, 2001 who thought they were going to see their loved ones, or do some business.

God has our days numbered, and we need to make the most out of every day He gives us! Psa 90:12

(v.5) It is better for all of us, if a friend tells us the truth instead of what we want to hear.

(v.17) When believers talk together about the LORD, they are strengthened and enlightened. God speaks to us through other believers, and we need to have as much fellowship as we can to be prepared and uplifted by others for things to come.

Apr 15 (Prov 14-15)

Proverbs 14

(v.6) Those who mock us for believing in Christ, seek wisdom, but all they get is worldly knowledge. But we believers get knowledge because we understand our God, and see His work in our lives and in the world!

(v.12) Those that wish to be their own god, will find their folly in the end. We need to pray for the lost, and plant the seeds of the Gospel to them, and let the Holy Spirit convict them of their sins. Only then, can they repent and be saved!

(v.15) It's ok to live a simple life, but not to be a simpleton! We need to test the spirit 1 John 4:1 of what we hear and meditate upon what is taught to us. Satan likes to mislead us, and have us stray from God, so we will not be effective ambassadors of Christ. When we are taught the Word, we need to search the Scriptures to see if it is true. Acts 17:11

(v.26) Those of us who love the LORD, have a great sense of joy and boldness. We are on God's side, so what do we have to fear? Rom 8:31

We know where we're going, and who empowers us, so be bold, but with love!

Proverbs 15

(v.1) A soft word of love can extinguish a fight like nothing else. Love conquers all. If we are to be Christ's ambassadors, then we should be peacemakers. Matt 5:9

(v.3) I remind my kids that God knows what the evil are doing just as much as He knows what His children are doing. The wicked will get their rewards in God's timing...not ours. It is not good for us to obsess or wish to see evil come upon our enemies. We must let it go and let God take care of our troubles.

(v.29) Even though God knows what the wicked are doing, it doesn't mean He is close to them. He is close to us believers, and He loves to hear us pray and cry out to Him. The whole reason for our lives is to come to know Him, and to have fellowship with Him, through His Son. He loves us so much, He willingly died and suffered for us, just so we can have fellowship with Him forever!