Bible Study 12-30-13

I was reading through Mark chapter 10 this morning and I came upon the story of when blind Bartimaeus is healed.  It's in verses 46-52.  

He's crying out to Jesus to have mercy on him, the multitude is telling him to be quiet, but he cried out even louder.  So Jesus stops, calls him over, and asks what he needs.  He tells Him he wants his sight.  Here is what happens in verse 52:

"Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."  And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." (Mark 10:52, NKJV).

There are two things that need to be recognized here.  The first is how the blind man is healed.  Jesus didn't make a mud mixture or touch his eyes as done previously.  What was going to heal this guy was faith alone to which he had because he received his sight immediately.  That begs the question, when we bring things before The Lord do we have the faith that He can fulfill our requests before we ask Him or do we just ask and wait and see what happens?

The second thing that needs to be recognized is what the blind man does next.  Jesus tells him to, "go your way", so after the blind man was healed he followed Jesus.  The blind man had an encounter with Christ.  The only way he had to go now was wherever Christ was leading.  Isn't that truth?  When we are saved, when we have that encounter with Christ and recognize that He is the only one that offers salvation the only way to go is wherever He is leading.  

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Bible Study 12-21-13

I was reading in Mark chapter 5 verses 1-20 this morning and was amazed by some things. If you're not familiar with the story, it's where Jesus casts the demon into swine.

The first thing that caught my attention was the actions of Legion, we find out that's his name in verse 9 because he is not occupied by one demon but many (the number my be around 2000 according to verse 13).

It says in verse 3-5, he "3had his dwelling in the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.  And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.  5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones." (NKJV). 

What happens next is what blew my mind and caught my attention the most.  Verse 6 of Mark says this, "But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him." (NKJV).  

This guy, Legion, has all this chaos going on inside of him and around him.  The one thing that brings a peace to him is the sight of Jesus to which he responds in worship.  What an application!  It says in Philippians 4:7, "and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (NKJV).  Our peace comes through Christ.  Next time your world seems like it is chaotic, distorted, unconquerable remember the One who brings peace, Jesus.

Bible Study - 12-1-13

It's important how we treat and serve others.  I’ve been reading through Matthew and seeing just how much of a servant Jesus actually was.  Nothing would prevent Him from serving someone (in terms of their need, not necessary their wants) even if He had to go out of His way to do it.  I was blown away in Matthew 19 and 20 by how important it is for us to follow that example.  

In Matthew 19 Jesus comes across a rich young ruler.  The ruler asks Christ how to inherit eternal life.  Jesus responds in Matthew 19:17, "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (NKJV).  The young ruler then replies, "which ones?" Here is where I was blown away by the importance of serving others.  Jesus gives him this response in Matthew 19:18-19.  "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, 19Honor your father and your mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself".  That right there is 6 out of the 10 commandments.  

The 10 commandments are broken up into two parts.  The first four tell us how to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength.  The last six tell is how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Christ stresses the importance of serving others by telling the rich young ruler that if he wants eternal life, Christ is going to look at how he treated and served others while here on Earth.  

Obviously our decision to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior ultimately decides where our eternity is spent, but in that decision to follow Him there should be a shift in thinking and actions that drives us to serve others as He Himself served others.  If it hasn,t then take it to the Lord in prayer and seek out why.

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Bible Study 11/16/13

Matthew chapter 10 starts out with Jesus getting ready to send out His disciples to serve the multitudes and  cities of Israel.  Before He sends them out He instructs them in how to handle themselves. 

One of those instructions caught my attention this morning.  Jesus says in verse 16 of Matthew chapter 10, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise serpents and harmless as doves". 

In my service to Christ through my community I need to be wise about my surroundings and the intentions of those I'm serving and serving with.  However, in that, there has to be a spirit of gentleness and a heart that displays grace.  This doesn't mean I let someone walk all over me.  In fact, I think it means quite the opposite.  If someone has bad agenda I need to be able to recognize that and then in the spirit of grace and gentleness tell them to step away.

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Bible Study - 4/22/13

55I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit, 56You have heard my voice; Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help. 57You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, "Do not fear!" 58O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life. (Lamentations 3:55-58, NKJV)

What great confindence we can have in our Lord to answer when we call on Him. From a subtle sigh to a screaming cry. He hears it all. He knows our hearts and what we need, to which He replies "Do not fear!" We can have confidence in that. We can also have confidence in our redemption. He's pleaded our case and redeemed our lives. Why? We called on His name. He answered.

Bible Study 4/15/13

It's been a while since I've posted.  I've been extremely busy.  The new website is up.  Go check out http://www.the119project.com.  It's an online magazine of sorts.  It will be discussing the variety of topics contained in Psalm 119.  The first issue, The Introduction, is ready to be read.  The second issue on Obedience to God's Word is coming soon.  Be sure to check it out.

In ay event, my daily devotions have brought me to the book of Lamentations.  I came across the following verse this morning:

20See, O LORD, that I am in distress; My soul is troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very rebellious...(Lamentations 1:20, NKJV)

When bringing our sin to the Lord, this is how our heart should feel and our spirit should feel when confession is taking place.  Our insides should be so troubled and feel so out of place that we recognize our rebellious nature and confess it to God.  This type of attitude most certainly lays the foundation for repentance, which if you don't know means laying your sin down and not returning to it.  Wow.  Such an applicable verse for tax day.  (Just kidding!)  Such an applicable verse for our prayer lives and our walk with Christ!  

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