EXPLORING GOD’S WORD[80]

TOPIC: Proper use of our tongue!

I am sitting here giving some thought about little things that are powerful indeed; the tongue comes to mind. The Bible talks about the tongue a lot and the trouble it causes when misused.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TONGUE?

*James 3:⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  [ small but important]

*James 5:⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  [ untameable ]

*Proverbs 21:²³ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. [an uncontrolled tongue can cause many troubles]

*Psalms 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. [a tongue misused can lead us to sin.]

*Psalms 139:⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.  [God knows every word in our mouth before we speak it out.][ so be careful little tongue what you say!]

HOW SHOULD WE CONTROL THIS LITTLE MEMBER OF OUR BODY?

*Psalms 35:²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.   [ to speak of God’s goodness and righteousness ]

*Psalms 37:³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  [ we are to speak wisely!]

*Psalms 119:¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

*Psalms 47:⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. Psalms 126:² Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.  [ We are to sing praises to the Lord!]

*Proverbs 31:²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  [ We are to choose our words wisely and use them with kindness!]

*Philippians 2:¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [ We confess Christ as our redeemer!]

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 78[CON’T]

• The first preaching of the gospel confirmed by: Acts 14:3 ; Hebrews 2:4 [KJV]

• Acts 14:³ Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

  Hebrews 2:⁴ God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

• GIVEN TO SAINTS:
• On believing
  Acts 15:8 ; 1 John 5:10  Let’s turn in our Bibles to the before mentioned verses.

  Acts 15:8  (KJV)

  ⁸ And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  1 John 5:¹⁰ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

• To testify to them of Christ
  John 15: ²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. [ When Jesus went to Heaven to be with the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to us to teach us the truth and to guide our foot steps.]
• As an evidence of adoption
  Romans 8:¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,   
• As an evidence of Christ in them
  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. verse ²⁴ And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
• As an evidence of God in them
  1 John 4:¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
• Borne against all unbelievers
  Nehemiah 9: ³⁰ Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. ; Acts 28:²⁵ And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, ²⁶ saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: ²⁷ for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

[ I TRUST YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS BRIEF STUDY!][ prepared by Winston Staples]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 75

Today’s Word:  FAITH

Quote: Faith is like radar that sees through the fog. ~Corrie Ten Boom

Bible Verses for today: 1 Peter 1: ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

⁷ That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

⁸ Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Quote: Reason is our souls left hand, faith her left. ~John Donne

[ prepared by Winston Staples ]

 

 

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 71 LESSON 6

Topic: Rewards of the Saints continued!

• The Saint enters into the joy of the Lord!  Matthew 25:²¹ His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.   Hebrews 12:² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
•  The Saint enters rest!  Hebrews 4:⁹ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  Rev.14:¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
• Receive a prize in the high calling of God in Christ!  Phil.3:¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  
• Matthew 19:²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.   Luke 12:³³ Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.  The Saint has treasure in Heaven!
• The Saint inherits an eternal weight of glory!  2 Cor.4:¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
• The reward is full! 2 John 1:⁸ Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward.  [ESV.]
• The reward is sure!  Proverbs 11:¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
      but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. 
• The reward satisfies!    Psalms 17:¹⁵ As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
      when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.  [ESV.]
• Rewards cause rejoicing!   Romans 5:² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, [and we rejoice] in hope of the glory of God.
• { to be continued}

EXPLORING GOD’s word71[lesson 2]

TOPIC: Rewards of the Saints.

*Rewards also prepared by Christ—- John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

*We are rewarded for our service for Christ—-Col.3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

*We are not rewarded for our merit!—–Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

*OUR REWARDS ARE DESCRIBED AS:

*Being with Christ.—–Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [ Col.3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.][ Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.].

*Beholding the Face of God—–Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. [Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.][Rev.22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.].

[ to be continued ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 70[lesson seven ]

This lesson concludes the series on who can be blessed by God; I trust you have enjoyed the Bible readings!

*Saints at the Judgement day will receive a blessing as stated in Matt.25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

*They shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God! Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Here are a few more verses I want share with you all my friends!

*John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

*Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

*James 1:2 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

*Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

*Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

*Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.  

• This concludes this study on blessings from God!

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 70 [ Lesson six ]

Today we are looking at more Scripture verses about who receives blessing from God: The first verse we turn in our Bibles too is: *Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. [Yes, God tells us that a faithful person will be blessed!]

*On the Sermon on the mount Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 3/ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

*We read in Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

*Those who show mercy shall be blessed! Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

*Likewise those who mourn will be blessed as seen in Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. and Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

*Blessed are those who make peace! Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

*Blessed are the bountiful! Psalms 41:Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.  Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

[ to be continued ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 70 [ lesson 5 ]

On this twentieth day of August  we  are going to look at more Scripture  verses about who God blesses!

*Those who die in the Lord —- Rev.14:¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (KJV)

*Those who have part in the resurrection —- Rev.20:⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

*Those who favor and love the Saints  —-Gen.12:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  Ruth 2:¹⁰ Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

*Those who are undefiled  —- Psalms 119:Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

*Those who are the pure in heart —- Matthew 5: ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (KJV)

*The generation of the upright —- Psalm 112:² His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

[ to be continued ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 70 [ lesson 4 ]

TOPIC: Who receives blessings from God?  Today we are looking at Scriptures on who receives God’s blessings. Open your Bible to the following verse and read the wonderful words. I am using the King James Version.

1/Isaiah 30 :18 tells us that those who wait for the Lord will be blessed! Isaiah 30:¹⁸ And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

2/ God blesses those who find strength in the Lord!   Psalms 84:⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

3/ The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:6 that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be blessed.   Matthew 5:⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

4/ Psalms 65:4—- ⁴ Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.  Psalms 84:⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. These verses tell us those who visit the house of God and seek His presence will receive a blessing!

5/ Blessed are they who avoid the wicked!  Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

6/ Blessed are they that endure temptation! —-James 1:¹² Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

7/ We read in Revelation 16:¹⁵ Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

8/ Blessed are they that watch for the Lord! —- Luke 12:³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

[ to be con’t ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 70 [ lesson 3 ]

Today is lesson three about who God blesses. We are looking at Bible verses that speak about this topic so let’s continue on:

God blesses those who trust Him!—- Psalm 2:¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.   34:⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.    40:⁴ Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  84:¹² O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

God blesses who fear Him!—- Psalms 112: 1/Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 128: 1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.  

God blesses read and follow His word!—- Psalms 119:² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  James 1:²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  Luke 11: ²⁸ But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Rev.1:³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 22:⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. ¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

[ to be continued ]  [ prepared by Winston Staples ]