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28th January 2010, 03:32 PM
|  | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64       
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood 
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | |  God Is Truthful
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Jan 28, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust
God Is Truthful
Have you ever been lied to? Who hasn't? Each time someone lies to us, we trust that person less and less. It complicates relationships when you're never sure whether or not you're hearing the truth. You don't have to worry about that with God. He is always truthful.
What Does God Say?
Why is God always truthful? Well, He cannot lie. In Titus 1:1-2, the apostle Paul drops in this amazing fact: "Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" (NASB, emphasis added).
Notice it doesn't say He will not lie but that He cannot. It's completely impossible for the perfectly holy God to ever even try to lie. He defines and embodies truth because He is the "LORD God of truth" (Psalm 31:15 , NKJV). God always speaks total truth: no lies, no exaggerations, no half-truths, innuendos or embellishments. He doesn't "spin it" to make it sound better.
"I the LORD speak the truth;
I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19, ESV).
What's true of God the Father is also true of God the Son. John 1:14 describes Jesus as "the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" ( ESV). And Jesus told us about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" ( ESV).
Lies and half-truths come from the devil. In John 8:44, Jesus points out that Satan "has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" ( ESV). Satan is a master of the slippery stuff and the lies that look good, and he loves to lie about God--as you see in Genesis 3.
My Thoughts
What's made you question God's truthfulness? Where did it come from? Remember, Satan loves to lie about God or to get you to believe God isn't truthful or can't be trusted. Read through Genesis 3 and jot down the lies he told. Review Genesis 2 and see what God really said.
Since God is truthful with us, He expects us, His children, to be the same. Read Ephesians 4:17-32 and describe what kind of person you were, and what kind of person you are becoming with the help of Christ.
* What role does truth have in that?
* What do you do with lies and other unfit speech?
My Part
Take some time to evaluate truth in your life.
* What kind of lies do you slip into telling? Half-truths, spins? "Little white lies"? Do you like to exaggerate or embellish the truth?
* What usually prompts you to lie? Secret habits, failures, mistakes, a desire for power or popularity?
* Do people trust you to tell the truth? Has lying wrecked some of your relationships?
* What needs to change? Your view of God's truthfulness or how you speak truth?
Being truthful with yourself about lying or believing lies about God is not easy. However, the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13, ESV). The Spirit shows you how to understand and trust God with the truth and how to deal with lies and a lack of truthfulness in your own life. Ask for His help today.
Good News! -- The Holy Bible is the WORD OF GOD! -- God The Father, God The Son, God The Holy Spirit - The Creator Of All Things! -- "GOD'S GRACE" and "OUR WORKS" -- Thanksgiving Proclamations ( 1623 to 1863 ) -- Thanksgiving Proclamations ( 1961 to 2001 ) -- JESUS CHRIST - VERY GOD - LORD - SAVIOUR - MESSIAH - KING
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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30th January 2010, 02:35 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | Called to be Different
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Jan 29, 2010
Topic: Holiness
Called to be Different
What comes to your mind when you hear the word holy? Do you picture a huge cathedral with tall, stained glass windows? Maybe you see a choir singing hymns while dressed in long, white robes. Our idea of holiness can be a little intimidating, so it's no wonder that when we're told to be holy we get a little nervous. What does it mean to be holy? And more importantly, how are we to live holy lives when we are imperfect people? Let's see what God's Word has to say.
What Does God Say?
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2, NLT).
"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes" (Ephesians 1:4, NLT).
"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus"(2 Timothy 1:9, NLT).
"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy'" ( 1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT).
* What kind of life has God called us to?
* Why does God tell us we should be holy?
* How does being holy set us apart from the world?
My Thoughts
When we see the word holiness in the Bible, it means "to be set apart--distinct." It doesn't mean that we're to be perfect or sinless because only God can be those things. God wants us to be holy in that we are separate from the world. We desire to be like Him and not those around us. Ask yourself these questions:
* When others see me, do they see someone who has been transformed by God?
* Do my actions show that I desire to be like God and not the world?
* Am I living the holy life that God has called me to?
My Part
If you are a Christian, then you have been called to live a holy life, to be set apart by God as belonging to Him. We have to take a good look at our lives and hearts to see if we are truly living holy lives.
If there are things in your life that you need to change, now is the time to do it.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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1st February 2010, 12:47 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | The Promise Keeper
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 1, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God, God's Love
The Promise Keeper
God keeps His promises. Is that hard for you to believe? I hope not because the Bible is full of the evidence. Open it up and take a look.
What Does God Say?
Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (ESV).
* That "He" is God. He made the promises, and He's faithful to keep them. You can live in complete confidence that God will do what He promises to do. First Thessalonians 5:24 boldly states: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (ESV).
God's faithfulness, reliability and truthfulness make it impossible for Him to break a promise. Over and over, we find God making--and keeping--His promises. Read the Scriptures below and write out 1) the promises God made and 2) how He kept them.
To Abraham:
1) Genesis 17:15-19
2) Genesis21:1-7
1) Genesis 17:3-8
2) Joshua 24:2-18
To Jacob:
1) Genesis 46:1-7
2) Genesis 50:1-3, 12-14; Psalm 105
To Hannah:
1) 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 10-18
2) 1 Samuel 1:20-28
To David:
1) 2 Samuel 7:5-16
2) 2 Chronicles 6:3-11 and Luke 1:26-33
To Zechariah and Elizabeth:
1) Luke 1:5-25
2) Luke 1:57-66
My Thoughts
If you're thinking God made promises only to a special few and none of His promises apply to you, look up these promises God makes to every believer.
Psalm 23
Psalm 67:6-7
Hebrews 13:5-6
John 14:15-31
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
1 John 2:25
1 John 5:11
1 John 5:14-15
* Which promises do you need today?
* What helps you now to trust God to keep His promises?
Of course, God's greatest promise is summarized in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (ESV).
God promised that Jesus, His Son, will be our Savior and Messiah and that He will redeem us from sin and give us eternal life. You can find the threads of that promise throughout the Old Testament. Then you can see it fulfilled in the New Testament--as well as whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ.
My Part
Knowing God as our Promise Keeper means two things. The first is a matter of trust: You can trust God to keep His promises to you and to be faithful as you wait for that fulfillment. Go back to the promises we've touched on that have you concerned; take them to God in prayer, asking Him to help you trust Him as He keeps that promise.
Second, as our Heavenly Father, He models promise-keeping to us. So, we should be faithful in keeping our promises and following through on the commitments we've made. What promises have you made that require you to be faithful? What can you do today to keep those promises? Take the opportunity to be faithful to all your promises.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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2nd February 2010, 05:56 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | Our Dependable God
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 2, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust
Our Dependable God
Some years back, a poll was conducted to determine "The Ten Most Obnoxious Personality Traits." Number ten (the worst) was Lack of Dependability.
You probably would agree that the person who doesn't show up on time for appointments or doesn't do what he or she has promised to do is more than simply an irritation. In fact, that person is unworthy of your confidence.
However, God's trustworthiness is never to be compared to men's. His character is pure; His ability is boundless; His Word cannot fail and His strength and power are far beyond your comprehension. Because you can absolutely trust Him, you can have the peace that He has promised to all who know Him personally. Let's look at some things that God says about His dependability and why you need to set your hope on Him alone.
What Does God Say?
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) is one of the greatest statements in the Bible about the trustworthiness of God. It says:
"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock"
As you meditate on those verses, write down your answers to the following questions:
* In verse 3, what is the fruit or result of trusting God?
* In verse 4, what do you believe the comparison of God to an "everlasting rock" means for the person who trusts in Him?
My Thoughts
Your trust is only as good as what you are trusting. Sadly, as sinful human beings, we are prone to trust in all kinds of things other than God. The Bible mentions some specific objects that can be the focus of your faith but cannot possibly meet any of your eternal needs. Look up these verses and write down what they warn you against.
* Psalm 49:6
o What are some ways people trust this today?
* Psalm 44:6 with Psalm 20:7
o What would be modern equivalents of these things?
* Psalm 118:9
o What does this tell you about depending on political promises?
* Isaiah 42:17
o What does this tell you about trusting religion instead of God?
God promises benefits to the person who trusts in Him. You will see some of the benefits in the following Bible verses. Name them.
* Jeremiah 17:7
* Psalm 33:21
* Psalm 37:5-6
* Psalm 56:11
* Psalm 119:42
* Isaiah 12:2
My Part
There is no question that God is wholly trustworthy. It is His nature, and He will never go back on His promises. He will always be there for you.
If you have been following the Bible Minute studies, you know by now that godliness or God-like-ness is a trait that every Christian should model. Today, you have looked at the trustworthiness of God, so that means a godly person is also to be trustworthy in the way that his or her heavenly Father is trustworthy. First Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV) says: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."
Take stock and see if there are any areas in your own life that come short of the trustworthiness God calls upon you to possess.
A Scripture passage with a promise from God is Proverbs 3:5-6. Commit it to memory!
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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3rd February 2010, 09:12 AM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | God Is Truthful
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 3, 2010
Topic: God
God Is Truthful
If the force of gravity ever wavered, life on earth would not be possible. If the North Star rotated as do the other stars, navigation principles would have been vastly more difficult to learn. And if God was ever untruthful, we could throw the Bible out the window and give up any hope of ever knowing who God is and what He wants. But the Bible assures us otherwise.
What Does God Say?
The truthfulness of God is so important that Paul reminded Titus of it before he finished greeting the young pastor: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:1-2, ESV, italics added).
* Read those verses again and list some of the things that would be impossible if God did lie.
* How would this affect the confidence we have in our salvation?
God's truthfulness means that we, too, can know the truth. God's truth in our lives means we can know right and wrong and know that right is right for everyone and wrong is always wrong.
God's truthfulness gives us hope of eternal life. God is a God who makes promises and keeps all of them. When Jesus promised that He will return and usher us into heaven (John 14:3), we can count on it.
In the next section we'll look more at what God's truthfulness means for us.
My Thoughts
As you read Titus 1:1-2, think about the following questions:
* How would life be different if God weren't always truthful?
* How would life be different if you could be as truthful as God?
My Part
Titus isn't a long book (46 verses in three chapters), so take the next ten or fifteen minutes to read it. Look for the ways the truth should impact our lives. Look for how Paul describes the people who are opposed to God and His truth.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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5th February 2010, 03:46 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | Be Holy
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 4, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Be Holy
The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.
So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.
What Does God Say?
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).
* According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
* As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
* What should we avoid?
* What is our motivation for holiness?
My Thoughts
We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.
Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.
My Part
This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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5th February 2010, 03:47 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | Pure Holiness
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 5, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Pure Holiness
In the 1850s, cleanliness in the United States, north and south, rural and urban stood at Third World levels. Sanitation was not unknown, but the great majority felt no urgency to clean up. After all, dirt brought food, crops, survival. Dirt was good.
But when it was discovered that dirt--and specifically the lack of proper sanitation that often came along with it--also brought germs, disease, suffering and death, America came clean on a scale unequaled in world history.
What dirt does to the body, sin does to the soul. When we are saved, it is not so we can continue to suffer the disease that infected us before we knew Christ. Instead Christ purifies us and puts within us a hope that motivates us to continue to be pure. Let's see what the Bible says about this.
What Does God Say?
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).
* As redeemed people, how should we live?
* What future event will motivate us toward holy living?
* What two things did Jesus do for us?
My Thoughts
God's grace doesn't stop with just redemption; it goes on to purify our lives so that we might be His special people, not only in heaven but also right here on earth. By grace we are saved (See Ephesians 2:8-9) and by grace we are set apart (the literal meaning of "holy") to live pure and holy lives full of good deeds (Titus 2:14).
My Part
Is there some impurity in your life that is hindering your walk with the Lord? Confess it today and receive God's cleansing by grace (1 John 1:9).
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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9th February 2010, 03:50 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | The Faithfulness of God
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 8, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God's Love
The Faithfulness of God
What sort of characteristics do you look for in friends or employees? You probably want people who are honest, hardworking and loyal. What about faithful? Faithfulness is one quality that doesn't seem to be too important in the 21st century. It's hard to find someone who is truly faithful these days. It seems there is a lack of faithfulness in our workplaces and even in our marriages. Fortunately for us, we serve a God who is completely faithful.
What Does God Say?
"Your faithfulness extends to all generations,
You established the earth, and it abides" (Psalm 119:90, NLT).
"Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands "(Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT).
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure" (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT).
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9, NLT).
In what areas is God faithful?
How long does God's faithfulness endure?
How has God shown you His faithfulness?
My Thoughts
God is consistently faithful to us; therefore, we should strive to be consistently faithful to Him. As Christians, we are to have a relationship with God. Think of the close relationships you have with people in your life: your spouse, your children or your parents. Do you talk to them every once in awhile? More than likely, you are in contact with them every day. Your relationship with God is your most important relationship, yet many times we spend the least amount of time with Him. Consider these questions:
God has proved faithful to me; am I proving myself faithful to Him?
What do I need to do to maintain a consistent relationship with Him?
My Part
First John 1:9 said that God is faithful to forgive our sins. He can only forgive us when we ask Him. Take a moment today to pray and ask God to reveal any sin in your life. When you become aware of the sin in your life, admit it to God and ask for His forgiveness. Make confession and asking God's forgiveness part of your daily prayer life.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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9th February 2010, 03:52 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | When Is God Faithful? - 1
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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 9, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust
When Is God Faithful? - 1
Sometimes we better understand a question if we frame it in the negative: Instead of asking, "When is God faithful?" we could ask, "When is God not faithful?" The Bible teaches us there is no such time.
What Does God Say?
"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB).
When are we most likely to question the faithfulness of God? It often happens when we have been unfaithful, or when we have sinned or given in to temptation. The Bible assures us that even then, not only is God faithful, but He provides help and strength to deal with those situations.
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The key to understanding faithfulness is to know that God is always God. His faithfulness originates from His character, so it does not depend on us or what we do or don't do. If the faithfulness of God does not depend on our situation--it depends on His character--then God will always be faithful to us.
My Thoughts
Are there times when you've doubted the faithfulness of God? Describe the situation that created the doubt.
Are you able to look back and see now that God was faithful even though it may not have been apparent to you at the time? How has the situation changed?
Do you believe that there is a limit to God's faithfulness? Read Romans 8:32 and write it out in your own words.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the assurance that God will faithfully and generously be there for us and provide for us.
My Part
Is the faithfulness of God an encouragement to you?
Does it bring a sense of relief and peace?
How does His faithfulness encourage you to be more faithful?
Take a few moments right now to verbally or in written form praise God for His faithfulness, to ask His help in learning to trust His character in every situation and to commit yourself to being faithful to Him as best you can.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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10th February 2010, 03:51 PM
| | AKA: Tom - Saved By Grace
64
| | Join Date: 21st March 2003 Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 12,477
Blessings: 9,038,195 My Mood
Reps: 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (power: 9,223,372,036,854,800) | | When Is God Faithful? - 2
___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll
Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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Daily Bible Study
Date: Feb 10, 2010
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness
When Is God Faithful? - 2
The story is told of a king who had suffered greatly from his rebellious subjects. One day they surrendered their arms, threw themselves down at his feet and begged for mercy. He pardoned them all. One of his friends asked, "Didn't you say every rebel should die?"
The King replied, "Yes, but I see no rebels here."
That's what God wants to do for us: pardon our rebellion. Let's see what it takes to receive His forgiveness and stop our disobedience.
What Does God Say?
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, ESV).
* What must we do to be forgiven?
* According to this verse, what is the basis for God's forgiveness?
* What is the difference between being forgiven and being cleansed?
My Thoughts
The word confess means to "agree with." As long as we are not willing to admit to God that we have sinned, God is not able to forgive us. We remain, instead, in a state of rebelliousness. On the other hand, if we're willing to agree with God that we have sinned, He is able through Jesus Christ to not only forgive us but to remove even the stain of sin. God says in Isaiah 1:18,
"'Come now, and let us reason together,'
Says the LORD,
'Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.'"
My Part
While confessing our sins to others may be a good way to stay accountable, it is not required in order to be forgiven. Take a piece of paper and write down the sins you need to confess to God. Read them out loud to God; then shred or burn the paper. If you are struggling with a sin that you can't seem to overcome, find a trustworthy friend to be your accountability partner.
__________________ Love In Christ,
Tom
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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