Tag: Belief

Posted in Bible study, Conversations With God, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 1

Be A Woman of the Bible

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Adapted from, She, Volume 1/p75-76

Read: Deuteronomy 17:19; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 2:15

Deuteronomy 17:19

He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

2 Timothy 2:15

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey through the lives of. 12 women in the Bible. Some were very familiar, others not so much. Yet all were beneficial examples of how we are to live our lives as women of faith. As the study guide points out, our names are not printed on the pages of Scripture, but we can still be known as a Woman of the Bible; all we have to do is let the character/qualities of their lives shape how we walk with the Lord.

However, the study guide also comes with a warning and a choice from the book of James, where we read:  But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. 25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out—he will be blessed in what he does. Jame 1-22-25

We can’t just know what the Bible says; we must do what it says. Yes, we must study it, but just as important as knowing God’s Word is living out His Word.

There is a difference between what you know and what you believe. (she, volume 1)

There are many people who know countless facts about Who Jesus is, yet they have not placed their faith and trust in what He did on the cross for them.

She, Volume 1, p76

Friends, the Scriptures and our study guide make it clear that if we want to be a woman of the Bible, it’s not about what we know but how we live that matters. Let’s make it our purpose not only to remember the women we have learned about on this journey, but also to apply what we know about them to our lives. “For, if we do not apply what we know to our life, it simply ends with knowledge.” And that, as James says, is to “deceive ourselves”.

Reflection and Application
  • What do you believe?
  • How are you living that out?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Mary of Bethany, parts 3&4

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adapted from She, Volume 1, p 43 – 46

Read: John 11:1-45

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. …Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:20 and 11:32

Whatever it was that kept her at the house no longer mattered when Martha returned and secretly let her know that Jesus had come, “she got up quickly and went to Him”.

Mary of Bethany serves as an example of how we must not delay in coming to Him.1

As we saw in the previous post, when Martha ran out to meet Jesus, Mary had remained at the house. We do not know the reason; it could have been a number of things. Some commentaries suggest that she didn’t know He had returned or that she was still caught up in her mourning. I tend to think, knowing her previous desire to remain at Jesus’ feet, that she remained behind only because she did not know He had arrived.

Now, when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at His feet and said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.” 

– John 11:33-34

Mary had laid her grief and faith at the feet of Jesus

What Jesus did in response to her sorrowful spirit and faith-filled words – was born out of compassion for her sorrow but also from His agitation that Mary (and the people with her) had something to be sad about – as we read in verse 35, “Jesus wept” … and then commanded: “Take away the stone.” … 43 When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!… and Lazarus came out.”  It was a miracle that not only delighted Mary and her sister, but it brought many people to faith in Jesus.

Mary of Bethany serves as an example of the difference Jesus can make in our lives when we are willing to fall at His feet. 2

Reflection/Application
  • What can you bring to His feet today?
The More We Know

“Can you imagine seeing your Savior cry because He cares for you that much?” When I read this question in today’s study guide, I couldn’t help but think of 1 Peter 5:7. It is one of my favorite go-to verses in all of Scripture, which says, “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.“ I believe what we see Jesus do in response to Mary’s and the other mourners’ sorrow is a beautiful example not only of the truth of Peter’s statement, but also of how deeply Jesus truly cares.

  1. She, Volume 1, p45 ↩︎
  2. She, Volume 1, p46 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

For the One Who Believes

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based on the Love God Greatly Series, The Armor of God, w4d2

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29/SOAP: 24-25

Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 

Mark 9:24-25
The Object of One’s Faith is Critical

In my studies of this passage I found a quote by Gotquestions.org that is helpful if not crucial to understanding the scene with the demon possessed boy and the father’s desire for Jesus to heal him.

The believing one has power only due to the one he believes in.

gotquestions.org

Why do I believe this is so important? Because the healing clearly hinged upon what or who the father placed his belief in. The father’s earlier statement that the disciples had failed to heal his son most likely had affected the man’s belief that Jesus would be able to heal the child; at the very least, it had caused him to doubt. So, Jesus repeats the man’s words – possibly to point out the doubt and emphasize that one must believe in Jesus and His ability to cast out the demon. Whatever the reason for Jesus’ words, the father then proclaims his belief, showing he understood the importance of believing by asking that Jesus would help him past any unbelief – and, at Jesus’ command, the boy was healed, highlighting the truth that the one who believes has power only due to the one he believes in.

Bibleref.com makes this statement concerning the passage: “True faith doesn’t presume that God will do what we want but that God can do what He wants.”

Prayer Response to the Word

Father, help me to continually center my belief on You. It is so easy to get caught up in situations or struggles and cry out with our eyes on the problem rather than on You the only one who can truly answer our requests – be it healing or provision or wisdom. Help me to remember that faith doesn’t mean that You can or will do what I want but that You can do what You want to. In those moments of life when I am desperate, do not allow my desperation to overshadow my belief in You. And, as this father prayed – so pray I – “help my unbelief”. – In Him who I have placed my Trust – Thank You and Amen!

Reflections from our Journey
  • What does the Bible teach about the nature and power of faith in relation to overcoming obstacles and receiving answers to prayer?
  • How can we apply this understanding to cultivate a deepr faith in Jesus Christ?
Going Further

https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-possible-him-who-believes.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/only-come-out-by-prayer-and-fasting.html

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Unwavering Faith

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based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w4d1

Today’s Reading: Romans 4:13-25; SOAP / 20-21

 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.

Romans 4:20-21
The Bigger Picture

Romans chapter 4 is an illustration of justification. I believe it is good to read/review the book of Romans often and particularly this chapter – which was instrumental in my late 20s and early 30s to understanding God’s grace and being able to stand firm in my salvation. It is a beautiful word picture of the TRUTH of our salvation.

So while we are only given verses 20 and 21 to SOAP, I would encourage you to look at the whole passage (13-25). It’s in these verses you will see that the promise of eternal life is not by keeping the law – but – by “the righteousness that comes by faith,” and even this is by God’s grace to all who believe. This may seem redundant information – as our studies touch on this a lot – which is because it is the crux of the Gospel message. Salvation is not by works that we have done or ever can/will do; it is solely by the grace of God, through the blood of His only begotten Son, and our faith in that truth.

For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.

Romans 4:14

Abraham’s life is one unknown after another it seems. He followed God out of his comfort zone into the unknown and was forever waiting for the fulfillment of the promise(s),specifically those mentioned in Genesis 12:1-3. It’s here we read of God calling Abraham to “go from his country to another land.” If he went, God promised to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, to bless those who blessed him and curse those who dishonored him, and to bless all of the families of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3). Some of these He saw answered and rejoiced, others were never realized in His lifetime but according to our SOAP passage today, he did not waiver in unbelief about the promise of God that he would inherit the world, which is apparently Paul’s summation of the promises from Genesis. Because of this, his faith was strengthened and this gave glory to God.

Fully Convinced

How about you? Is your faith full and firm in God’s promise or is it empty and the promise nullified? It is a daunting question for sure but one we would be wise to occasionally examine so that we are not found wavering in our faith in the promises of God that are ours through Christ. Wavering may seem normal with such a promise as the Gospel presents but it is vital that we come to a place that we are fully convinced that what God has promised He is also able to do. As we continue in this belief our faith will grow stronger and God will be glorified.

The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind –

James 1:6 (see also Ephesians chapter 4, specifically v.14)
Response to God’s Word

Father, You are a promise maker and a faithful promise keeper. Your Word is yes and amen in Jesus Christ and we are blessed by You. The world is full of challenges and obstacles and we have an enemy who is the father of lies, so help us to stand firm in our beliefs, unwavering, like Abraham and strengthened in our faith, giving glory to You. Where there is doubt quickly speak Truth over us. Help us to faithfully be in Your Word and let us be fully convinced that what you have promised You have done and are also able to do. For only when we are fully convinced will we live in unwavering belief of the Gospel message … only then will we see the beauty of Your amazing grace, unending mercies, and abounding and abiding love. It is in these truths we will be able to press on in enduring hope through all of life.

Going Deeper

The LGG Blog Post

Romans Chapter 4

Worship through the Song
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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God’s Gift of Love

Read: John 2:23-3:21 and SOAP verses 16 and 17

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How Deep the Father’s Love

These words, from the hymn – How Deep The Father’s Love For Us, by Stuart Townsend, came to mind as I read and began to soap this passage. It’s a perfect description of the love of God. The God who knew what was in the heart of man – yet would send His one and only son into the sin cursed world to rescue everyone who would believe in Him. Surely, there is no greater love than this – a love that would lead Him to turn His face away from His only son … a love that allowed my sin to hold Him on the cross … a love that allowed deep wounds to inflect Him on my behalf … and a love that worked in such a way that left me no room to boast – except in the cross of the One who paid my ransom.

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)

The Gift and Its Benefit

The gift of God’s love was Jesus Christ, His only son and the benefit or blessing of the gift was salvation for all who would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul affirms this in Romans 6:23 where we read that, “The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” and again in Ephesians 2:8-9 where he writes, “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith and this is not form yourselves it is the gift of God through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

While the chief benefit of God’s gift is salvation we must not miss the secondary benefit, the freedom from condemnation of our sin. Paul affirms this benefit as well in Romans 8:1 where we read, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Our Response to a Love Like This

  • Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ so that we can share in the gift (16)
  • Accepting the free gift (16)
  • Living free from the power of sin (Romans 6:1-2, 14)
  • Walking in the freedom of no condemnation (18)
  • Practicing the truth so that others may see, hear, and know God. (21)

What Believers Need to Remember and Unbelievers Need to Know

We have all sinned and fall short of God’s glory, we need a savior. Roman 3:23

Jesus is the only Way to eternal security. John 14:6

He was crucified, dead, buried, and raised to life to be our redeemer. Ephesians 1:7

Believing that – having faith in what Jesus Christ has done for you and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

Hear what God’s Word says – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10

An Invitation

Do you want to know Him as your personal Savior? Consider these truths and believe in Him to be saved. Turn it into a prayer, tell Him you believe you are a sinner and your are coming to Him in faith – trusting Him to save you from your sins. 1 John 1:9 says that when we confess our sins He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Claim the eternal security (John 3:16) and the new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) He has promised to all who believe in Him.

Please let me know if you have chosen to believe in Christ and be saved. I would love to send you a gift to celebrate your new life in Christ. If you have questions just message me I would be happy to connect with you and help you understand this amazing gift of God.

Don’t miss today’s Love God Greatly Blog