Bible Study - Matthew 9

Read Matthew 9

I want to pull out a few points that really spoke to me in this chapter.

•  In verse 4 Jesus asks "why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?" I believe that this also parallels to verse 29 where Jesus says “According to your faith let it be done to you” for me this shows that you have to believe for God to work in and through you. If you don't have faith then you can't let go of what is holding you back. You will only keep second guessing yourself and never be able to fully commit to anything but fear. 

• Verses 9-13 Jesus  tells us that He came to help those who need help, not the ones who don't. His disciples were not well to do with faith in God, they were (probably foul-mouthed and perverted) fisher men who could care less about having a faith. But God chose them. I don't know who you are or what your profession is, or what makes you tic. But I do know that God doesn't make mistakes, and He created you to be a light to those in the dark.

• 'Don't spoil a good thing' that is what Jesus is saying in verses 14-16. I love this point. Just let good things happen, and enjoy them while you can. If God is in your life, don't act like He's not. Bask in His presence and enjoy it!

 

•  Acknowledging God and surrenduring -to Him, in faith, is all we have to do to receive His grace and all healing love. Everyone in verses 18-38 knew this nad saught the Lord with all thye had believing and accepting His grace.

Bible Study - Matthew 8

Read Matthew 8

I have been learning a lot about the power of having my own relationship with God, and not just basing my spiritual walk by the words of those around me. As important as it is to take council in others, it is more important that we take the time to grow our personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. 

I am encouraging you today, take some time to meditate on this passage and see what God would have you see.

Notes Sunday, June 1st

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

• The more you know the Bible, the more you know God. The better you know God. Trying to live without the Bible is like trying to paint with a screwdriver. 

Romans 10:17 

• Since the Bible is the word of Christ, who is God, then it is through the Bible that we know God. If we know God we can listen to Him, and know what He has promised us in life. 
• If you know the promises of God, you can stand on them. 
• If you don't know God you will make assumptions and have no promises to stand on.

Romans 7:24-29

• When God gives us primises we can stand on them like the wise mans house on the rock.

1 Peter 1:22-24

• Everything changes, but God's will will never change. It abides forever.

Psalms 18:2

Hebrews 6:19-20

• Gods word is our stronghold, our anchor. 
• God is likened to a rock at least 59 times in the Bible. 

If your life is dependant on never having trouble, you will be miserable.

The world needs people who can weather through the storm. 

People who god without God fall apart in every storm.

Your life has to be founded on the Word, not listening to your pastor. Yes, it is good to listen and learn from others, but your faith has to be your own, not someone elses.

Your faith has to be in Christ. The word Christian means Little Christ so as we go through our lives we are to be Christ to those around us. The way we learn who Christ was, is by reading the Bible. 

Reading the Bible is also one way that God talks to us. Just give Him a chance.

 

Bible Study - Acts 28

Read Acts 28

When storms come, and you feel like God is no where to be seen, just remember that He has a master plan and you are one of the pieces to the puzzle. He has places for you to go, things for you to do and people for you to meet. Things, places, and people that you can never imagine seeing. If you would listen to God in obedience, you would see these things.
Because Paul listened to God, and had faith in Him, many people were healed.
as I look back on Acts I see the love of God, and that even when I am unaware, He is with me. He is working on something so much bigger than I can ever imagine, and I love it!

Do Something - Trust in The LORD

It can be very difficult sometimes to trust that God is with us, and that He is going to help us through our situation. Recently I lost a friend, not to death but to mere circumstance, and by no fault of my own. Even though I can't help but blame myself and feel like I have let them down. While part of me has been living in a world of uncertainty other bits have followed the example. Instead of only being uncertain of my training time-frame, I am now uncertain in my relationships as well. Uncertain how to help the ones I love and trust dearly. As difficult as this has been for me, it has been more difficult to just give it up to God. There has been a pressure on my of late that I have been unable to give into for fear that I will lose control of the situation. But as I give into it, and give it up to God, I realize that I never had control of the situation in the first place. Nothing in my power could have, or will, changed anything. God is the only one who I can trust to help me through this, and I am trusting Him to do just that.

God can handle your inability to handle what is going on.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalms 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 41

My pastor has preached much on this very subject lately, but when this all happened, I felt completely lost. So my advice to you is; Don't just listen to what others have to say, listen to them and meditate on it, spend time with God over it. Being a Christian is not about being religious and showing up to church, or reading your Bible. It's about being with God, and having a relationship with Him.

Do Something: After you read this, listen to this song and meditate on what God has promised you. Just be with Him, have a relationship with Him.

Bible Study - Acts 14

Read Acts 14

Here we see Paul and Barnabas completing their journey that the Holy Spirit sent them on in chapter 13. Many are healed, the lame walk, and more are saved. While in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas were put to a test of their faith when the citizens believed the apostles were gods. But Paul and Barnabas held strong in what they knew was true.

In everything you do, give all the glory to God; remember that without Him, you would have nothing.

Bible Study - Acts 11

We can be so single minded that we demand explanation for why someone went to eat with the non Christian people. But in reality, we need to do more of that. Don't get me wrong, it is good to spend good quality time with other Christians. But we are called to share the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ, not sit in our own secluded circle. Jesus spent His time here loving on the sinners, why should we do any different!?

Do Something - I challenge you, next time you see someone sitting by themselves, go over and talk to them, pray for them. If they reject you, go away knowing that you tried! All it takes is a little bit of faith!

Bible Study - Acts 5

Ananias and his wife would not give wholly to God. We still do this today, whether we are scared of God, or do not trust Him.
Most of us have some part of our lives that we try to keep from God. But this ends up hurting us, for we are not putting our full trust in the LORD, out God, and King. Simply stated, if we fall to the enemy's will, we will surely die. As was the case for Ananias and his wife.

So great were the works of God through these men that people crowded the streets with the hope that Peter's shadow would fall crossed them.
We need to walk with such an expectance of God, that we are set apart from everyone around us. People should be able to walk by us and feel the presence of God just pouring out of our lives. This happens when we abandon ourselves completely to God, holding nothing back.

The Apostles were taken prisoners, in an act of jealousy, because of God's good works through them. However, an angel of the LORD came to the apostles, and released them of the shackles, telling them to keep teaching at the temple in Jesus' name. And so they did. When again they were taken to the high priest, he was determined to put the men to death. But it would not be so for a Pharisee, Gamaliel, spoke that Peter and the other disciples may live. For he said, "if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God."
I could speak at lengths about this, but I will keep it brief. nothing you seek to do yourself will work, it will fall apart, but if you are dependent on God, and His plan for your life, you will have success beyond imagination. It all comes back to trusting God, and giving Him your all.

This also relates to being the Bride of Christ, when you marry someone, you are giving them your entire life, trusting them to provide for you and keep you safe. How much more shall we put our trust in He who formed us in the womb?