JUST THINKING!

The year is Twenty- Twenty,

many thought and said,

a year of plenty,

prosperity is a head.

Then a silent enemy,

a virus causing despair,

came on our airplanes,

polluting our air.

So many old folk,

in our old folk homes,

lay and died,

while they waited,

for proper supplies,

because they were caught,

yes, caught unaware

by foreign lack of facts

and some outright lies.

The governments,

opened up their treasuries,

closed everyone’s doors;

they locked millions inside,

only the essentials,

are allowed to move.

So take care, stay safe,

and pray that God,

the Creator of Good,

will purify our air!

~Winston Gerald Staples

 

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 91

Wint68

Topic: The Affliction of Saints

As followers of Christ there is great affliction! What does the Bible say about affliction of the Saints? In the next little while we are going to see just what the Bible says as I share some Bible Verses with you.

Psalms 46:5,7; Isaiah 43:2,3– God is with us in our affliction!
Psalms 27:5,6; Isaiah 25:4; Nahum 1:7– God is our refuge and strength in our trouble!
Nahum 1:7
King James Version (KJV)
7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalms 34:19,20–God preserves us in our afflictions!
“Affliction comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise.”
Henry Ward Beecher quotes

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A FAVORITE PROVERB!

Wint68

Proverbs 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰ So shall thy…

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LOVE OF CHRIST

His love towards  the Saints is:
* unquenchable — Solomon 8: 6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
*constraining — 2 Cor. 5 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
*unchangeable — John 13: Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
*indissoluble — Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

*obedient saints abide in His love.— John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
*saints obtain victory through the love of Christ.—Romans 8: 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
*Christ’s love is the banner over the saints.—Solomon 2:
2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
*His love is the ground for our love toward Him.—Luke 7: 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

LOVE OF CHRIST

THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Manifested by:

a/ His coming to seek the lost.— Luke 19:¹⁰ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

b/ His praying for the enemy.— Luke 23:³² And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

³³ And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

c/ His giving himself for us.— Galatians 2:¹⁸ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Notes:

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a/ His love passes knowledge.— Ephesians 3:¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

b/ As His followers we are to imitate His love.— John 13:³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one anoth

^{John 15:12} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Ephesians 5:² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

1 John 3:¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

[ prepared b Winston Staples ]

A FAVORITE PROVERB!

Proverbs 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

HOPE [3]

Hope: The only true hope we have is found in Christ!                                                  Romans 15:13 (New King James Version)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our hope should be running over and abounding by the Spirit of God living in our hearts.
Titus 2:13—As Saints we should be looking all the time for the appearing of our hope who is our Lord Jesus the Christ!
Psalm 119:116 (New King James Version)
116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. As Saints we should not be ashamed of the hope we have in Christ! Hebrews 3:6— But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
We should crab on to and never let go of the hope we have in Christ!  Col.1:23— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. As Saints we should let nothing rob us of our Hope in Christ!
Psalm 71:14,15; 1 Peter 1:13– As Saints we should hold fast to and walk each step we take with Jesus because of the hope we have in Him.
1 Cor.13:13–And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Our hope must go hand in hand with faith and love, grounded firm and deep in our Saviors love!  OBJECTS OF OUR HOPE: 1 Thess.5:8— But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. Saints have the hope of salvation!
Gal.5:5—For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. We have our hope of complete and perfect righteousness!
Titus 2:13– looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, We have the hope of Christ’s glorious appearing! “Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land
tomorrow.” ~ D. L. Moody

 

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

HOPE! [2]

 

   Hope continued:

Romans 5:1,2—- We have hope through our faith in Christ and our justification because of Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for our sins.

 

Hebrews 6:18-19 (King James Version)

 ¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;   Our hope is sure and steadfast and a secure anchor for our soul.

  Romans 4: 16-18—- Hope triumphs over difficulties. Example Abraham.

The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. Proverbs 10:28.  One day we will have perfect gladness and our hope will come true because of what Jesus did for me and you!

1 Peter 1:3—³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,—– Our hope is a living hope in a living Savior!

  Titus 2:13— Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Our hope is a blessed hope!

  Eph.4: ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

As Saints we have the one and same hope of our calling. That same hope is in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:2; 12:12—- Saints are to rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

[PREPARED BY WINSTON STAPLES]

HOPE! [ 1 ]

 

Hope—- A looking forward to with expectation.
Psalm 39:7 (King James Version)
7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
1 Peter 1:21 (King James Version)
21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. According to these two Scripture verses our Hope is in God.
Acts 26:6,7; 1 Timothy 1:1— We have Hope in the Promises of God.
Psalm 33:18–Behold the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. We have Hope because of the mercy of God.
Galatians 5:5—- For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. In this verse we see two things that provide hope for the believers of Christ. Hope through the Holy Spirit and Hope by our faith.
Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. ~Author Unknown 2 Thess.2:16— Now the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. The Bible tells us they we have hope because of God’s marvellous grace!
Psalm 119:81—- Our hope is obtained through the Word of God!
Romans 15:4—
4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. We get hope from the comfort and patience we find as we read the scriptures. I have a lot of pain and have had chronic pain for more than 40 years and I have always found strength in reading God’s word!
Colossians 1:5,23—-We obtain hope through the gospel! [ John 3:16 ]

“When life has been well spent; when there is a conscience without reproach; when there is faith in the Saviour; when there is a well-founded hope of heaven, there can be nothing that should disquiet us.”  Author: Albert Barnes

[prepared by Winston Staples]