EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [23]

Today let’s look at a few verses from God’s word about Christian right living as we travel along life’s road. All aboard my friends!

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [23]
1 Timothy 4:6-9King James Version (KJV)

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Titus 3:6-9King James Version (KJV)
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Colossians 2:5-8King James Version (KJV)

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 3:1-3King James Version (KJV)

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [22]

Joy is the word we are looking into a few Scripture verses to see what is said about it.

Neh. 8:¹⁰ Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. [The joy of the Lord is your strength ]

Psalms 94:¹⁹ In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.[HIS COMFORTS BRING JOY TO MY SOUL.]

Proverbs 10:^{28 {}The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:} but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Isaiah 35:¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Habakkak 3:¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

John 15:¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that [your joy might be full.]

1 Thess. 1:⁶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,[ with joy of the Holy Ghost.]

{ prepared by Winston Staples }

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [21]

Sad to say there are many false teachers out there in the world we have be to be aware of as we journey this road. False teachers are deceivers taking people astray. Let’s look at some things the Bible tells us about false teachers.

Deut.13: 1/If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,² And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;³ Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.⁴ Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Matthew 7:¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 24:¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Mark 13:²¹ And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:²² For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

2 Cor.11:³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

1 John 1:⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Timothy 4:Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

I trust these words will help you recognize false teachers as we walk this sod.

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [20b]

Today let’s look at more Scripture verses from the New Testament about the work of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

2  Corinthians 1:²¹ Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;²² Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1: ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Hebrews 10:²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [20]

Today let’s look at several Bible verses about the work of the Holy Spirit beginning in the book of John.

John 14:¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

[ to be continued ]

 

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [19]

The words my sheep are special words referring to God’s chosen people. Let’s look at a few verses in the book of John which speak about the sheep and their relationship with CHRIST.

John 10:¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and [know my sheep], and am known of mine.

^John 10:26 But ye [believe not, because ye are not of my sheep], as I said unto you.

^{27 [}My sheep hear my voice], and I know them, and they follow me:     note:[His sheep follow Him]

John 21:¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. [He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.]¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.[ Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [18]

Another word that comforts me in the times of stormy life is refuge ; this word is used several times in the book of PSALMS. I am sharing some of these verses now from the King James Version.

1/ Psalms 9:⁹ The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

2/ Psalms 14:⁶ Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.

3/ Psalms 46: 1.God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [7]The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

4/ Psalms 48:³ God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is there for His people on the streets and in the palaces!

5/ Psalms 59:¹⁶ But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

6/ Psalms 62: ⁷ In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

7/ Psalms 91:² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. ⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8/ Psalms 142:⁵ I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Yes, God is my refuge and I trust He is yours also my friend!

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [17]

The word strength is used 70 times in Psalms and in this writing I am sharing ten of my favorite verses from Psalms.

a/ Psalm 18:2 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

b/ Psalms 21:1 The king shall rejoice in Thy strength, O Lord; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

c/ Psalms 28:⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him.

d/ Psalms 37:³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is in the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble.

e/ Psalms 59:¹⁷ Unto Thee, O my Strength, will I sing; for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

f/ Psalms 62:⁷ In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God.

g/ Psalms 73:²⁶ My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

h/ Psalms 105:⁴ Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore.

i/ Psalms 118:^{14 [}The Lord is my strength and song], and has become [my salvation.]

j/ Psalms 140:⁷ O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD [16]

God as POTTER:   Isaiah 64:⁸ But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

God’s people as THE CLAY:  2 Cor.4: ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

God’s LOVE AND OTHERS: 1 John 4: ¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD — Selfishness!
a/ Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife, but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall prosper.
b/ Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow Me.”
c/ Mark 8:26 And He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.”
27 And Jesus went out with His disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, “Who do men say that I am?”
d/ Luke 12:15 And He said unto them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
16 And He spoke a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room to store my fruits?’
18 And he said, ‘This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’
20 But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
[ also read Luke 16:19-31 ]
e/ Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself.