Click the picture below for a beautiful Bible Reading Plan!
GotQuestions.org
Below I’ve listed the verses. On the website there are links attached where you can read a short commentary with a link for the full commentary. There are other Bible verse links for further study and reference. Of course, in the Got Questions website style, there are also links to common questions you may have.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
God cares about our earnest prayer. Being earnest is more than repetition or how long we pray. It’s our sincerity, concern and honesty in our offering to our Father. This kind of prayer is believing who God is and that He does reward those who seek Him.
Courageous Prayer
Daniel heard the edict signed by the king which said if anyone prayed to any god or man other than king Darius, they would be thrown into the Lion’s Den, and the Bible says he went to his room as always three times a day, knelt towards Jerusalem at his opened window and prayed. Now, that’s courageous prayer (Daniel 6:10). In our world today that grows increasingly secular, where people scoff at the name of God and prayer, we must have the same courage as Daniel. We must walk by faith in God, continue in prayer and be a witness for Him in everything we say and do. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
Spirit Filled Prayer
We want our prayers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Be filled is what Paul tells us. “Be filled” here in this scripture is in the present tense, not a once-for-all experience. We are given power to worship, witness and testify by God’s own Spirit. What could be better than praying each day to be filled with the wonderful working power of God?
Praying in the Spirit
We absolutely need help in our prayer life. Our Lord Jesus told us He would pray to the Father and He would send to us another Helper in John 14:16. Thank you Jesus for sending help that will abide within us forever! Thank you Jesus that your first intercessory prayer for us was a request for help. Because we don’t always know what we should pray as we ought, we can know the Holy Spirit is there (Romans 8:26-28). He will take these prayers and turn them into ones that are “according to God’s will”.
Effective Prayer
Being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ makes you righteous in the sight of God. Therefore, you can go to the Father in confidence of an effectual prayer to the One who hears and will answer. James 5:13-18 says, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. When you continue living in righteousness in Christ by faith and grace, you are offering effective prayers to the Father!
Please copy, paste and share this scripture pic! Thanks for the photo alexeys.
Psalm 43:3-4
Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.
We need God to send His light. As the flowers long to see the sun’s rays each day, we too should long for God to reveal in us the way in which we should go. And oh, how we need to have God send His truths to our heart and mind each day as well. When we speak truth to ourselves and others, we can be assured we are on the right path, headed in the right direction. God will lead us into righteousness by His light and truth. It’s up to us to seek His light, long for His truth and then faithfully follow.
Being led by God will surely take you into a closer communion with Him. Are you struggling in prayer, have you lost your zeal for God? Let Him lead. You only need to follow along depending on His compass. Along the path, He’ll draw up close to you, in fact, closer than you’ve ever felt Him before. With the Father’s leading, the Holy Spirit to light the way and the truth of the Son, Jesus Christ will reveal Heaven to you, the dwelling place of God, His very presence right here on earth.
In His presence, we are at God’s altar, the foot of the cross. It is there where we pour out our hearts and we praise Him for the joy He has given us! With the lyre, our voices, lifted on high with praises to the Father.
If you’ve made it to this web page, and you have decided to read more….my hope is you will open your heart right now. Open it to the spiritual things of God. Leave your troubles and doubts behind. Let these words speak to your heart.
God speaks to all. Over and over again. Through scripture, through people, through situations, even sickness, sorrow and death. He speaks, you say, “I’m not ready.” Will there come a time when it’s too late to answer unto God? The answer is yes. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment Hebrews 9:27. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart Hebrews 3:15.”Can someone be so rebellious in arrogant sin that they pass of point of no return? Again, the answer is yes.
Romans 1 tells us and I am paraphrasing, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God…they became futile…and their heart was darkened…they exchanged the glory of God…therefore God gave them over…for they exchanged the truth of God for a lie…and as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind…
In my heart I truly believe everyone has heard the still small voice of God speaking to them. Don’t let your heart darken. Don’t exchange God’s glory. Don’t listen to the prince of this world (Satan) turn truth into a lie. Acknowledge the Spirit of God speaking and drawing you unto Him. He’s there waiting on you right now. God created you and He loves you so very much. He wants to give you an abundant life now and an eternal life with Him in Heaven. He sent His only son to take your sin debt and mark it “paid in full”. God gives each of us a choice. I am presenting the truth to you now. The mind can be destroyed through delusion 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. When you’re given the truth and you don’t want it, when you’d rather take pleasure in unrighteousness, you’re willfully deceived and God allows that. Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man”. God is infinitely patient. He’s been waiting over 2,000 years. 2 Corinthians 6:2, “…Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” The old saying, “you’ve only got one life, better live it up”, is not true. You will live eternally in one of two places. With God or eternally separated from Him. To be separated is to live in eternal place called Hell. An eternal place of torment, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Matthew 13:42 It is a real place. In His Word, Jesus spoke of Hell more times than of Heaven.
Accept Christ today. I have a prayer here and you can follow it to call on Jesus. If you have questions, you may certainly reach out to me. If I can’t find an answer, I will reach to someone who does. I gave my heart to Jesus just five years ago and I don’t have the words to explain exactly what He means to me and the great change He’s made in my life. But one thing I do, tell others about the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ. If I could come to you and make you accept Him, I surely would! Because I know the difference He can make, but most importantly, understand this…Jesus is soon to return to take His children home to Heaven. We will either meet Him at our physical death or when He steps out on the clouds to receive us to the home He is now preparing. John 14:2 Won’t you meet me there in the air with Him? 1 Thessalonians 4:17
This lesson of Love learned from Pastor Adrian Rogers
As we begin the new year of 2018, let us resolve a closer relationship with Jesus through His renewal in our inward self. This renewal will only come when we meet with our Lord and Savior each and every day. As a new Christian this is especially important. Our fellowship with Jesus on a daily basis is our sustaining victory over the world who does not understand our love of God. Let us resolve to make time for Jesus everyday without exception. This will take great planning on our part. Without a plan, we cannot expect to succeed. We may need to even “fast” sleep. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. I know through my own experience, God will sustain and give you all the rest you need if only you will “Come to Him”. Read Matthew 11:25-30. “Come to me…and I will give you rest…Learn of me…and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. In these verses we can also learn how meek and humble Jesus is. Learning to be humble is truly a lesson in love and one learned only through fellowship with Him.
In your morning time with Jesus, pray and bow before Him asking for His love and He will pour an abundance into your soul. Jesus’ love in your heart will help you to share his love to those who have yet come to know Him. When we were forgiven our sins…when we were accepted into the family of God…when we were filled with His Holy Spirit, this was God’s grace given to us and this grace can only be preserved by daily renewal in fellowship with Him. At the time of our salvation, we were also instilled in our inner self the “want” to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Through precious time with the Father daily in prayer and through the reading and listening to His word, will we be renewed day by day. This is the promise given in 2 Corinthians 4:16. Our daily renewed souls, will allow us to humbly “Preach Jesus”. You see, our faith in Jesus will come under attack daily and we must strive to learn from Him. Going to His word every day without fail. Not allowing the pace of this world to keep us from His word.
His truths will bear witness to all.
Read 2 Corinthians 4. Paul is teaching us….this world will wear you down! Unbelievers and the god of this world will come against you on every side (vs. 8-9). Paul teaches that the world cannot see the Light of Life (John 1:4). The world cannot understand the light of Jesus within you and your favor of God will be envied and ridiculed.
Go to Jesus each day. Learn from Him. Be filled with his love.Be humbled.
As believers, we have a ministry to share the Light of Life, to share Jesus! By the renewal of your inner self, you can share His light. Others must see His love before they can begin to understand. Renew you inner self with His love. Sow the seed of love and God will do the growing. Just as you carry your cross every day, the dying body of Jesus, the life of Jesus — His resurrection, may also be shown in you (vs. 10).
So, as we begin 2018, let us be renewed daily. And not only for our ministry to share the Good News, but to also strengthen our faith. Remembering from God’s word through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, that we are only passing through this world. When trials of life come, when the road gets bumpy, and cumbersome on our soul…we can know there is a better time coming…a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, … for things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal. (vs. 17-18).
9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
We are to praise God for who He is. Being a child of God surely rewards us many benefits, but when our hearts are truly submitted to Him and we walk in His image, praising Him is what we do because we love Him. Hands up! Praise God! Continually praising and thanking Him for everything we have. When Moses’ hands were up – there was VICTORY – and when our hands are down – there is LOSS. Lives today are filled with spiritual warfare. We will have roller coaster days. We will have many challenges, we will begin to feel like Job. But no matter the roller coaster we’re on, we should just PRAISE GOD. You see God is faithful! And keeping our faith in Him, we will be victorious, we will rise against our problems and our challenges will turn into opportunities to praise Him!
In verse 9 of our Scripture, Moses told Joshua (the spiritual leader and the army leader – we need both) to go down to Rephidum and fight against Amalek. The name Rephidum means “bed or place of rest”. The Amalekites were enemies of the Israelites and were the “first of the nations” to make war against Israel (Numbers 24:20). At the time of attack, the Israelites were thirsty, worn out and weary from their journey through the wilderness. You see, the Amalekites had no fear of God and an unrelenting brutality towards God’s people. It was said they were plunderers and harassers, dwellers of the valley, cavemen and war-like.
Our enemy today is the same! Satan wants us down and out in the valley, overwhelmed, beat down and thirsty. As mentioned above, Rephidum was a “place of rest”. Here God miraculously provided water from a rock for the Israelites. And even though they were complaining about this journey in the desert, I believe the people were feeling a bit over confident. After all, they had made it through the Red Sea unharmed and had been provided manna for food. Yes, God tells us to rest physically but never spiritually because the devil will strike us when we’re “at rest”. We’ll be caught off guard and won’t see his subtle attack on our life. He wants to plunder and harass us at every turn and yes, he like the Amalekites is unrelenting against God’s people. We cannot become lackadaisical! Just about the time we think everything is all set and we’re confidently moving forward, Satan will attack!
In verse 9 we see that Moses didn’t stay in the valley. He said, “I’m going up on the mountain”. Here we can see a future glimpse of Calvary! As we seek God, looking to the power of God through the work of Jesus on the cross, we as followers of Christ, should remember His work with our “hands up” in praise and prayer, surrendering our lives to Him and allowing our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us! That is exactly what Aaron and Hur did for Moses during the battle! In verse 11 Aaron and Hur saw that when Moses’ hands were up, the Israelites were winning the battle, and when his hands fell, Amalek started winning. The verse then goes on to say Aaron and Hur found a stone and set Moses upon it, they positioned themselves on either side of him and held his “hands up”!
Psalm 5:11-12
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Jesus is the rock and our brothers and sisters are our help! We need to keep our “hands up”, praising God” and when needed, use our church support group! Just praise the Lord and praise Him continuously. There is a battle going on in each of our lives. We can praise God for WHO He is, what He’s already done, what He’s doing right now and what He’s going to do! Heaven is awaiting!
Joshua and the army were physically fighting. We too must do the same thing every morning, putting on the whole armor of God.
Moses’ burden was heavy for his people. We also carry burdens for our family and church family. We will need to help and be helped along this journey. But with our hands up, praising God, we can know and trust our battles to be VICTORIOUS in the name of Jesus!
“In a world of some discouragement, sorrow and overmuch sin, in times when fear and despair seem to Prevail, when humanity is feverish with no worldly physicians in sight, I too say, TRUST JESUS. Let him still the Tempest and ride upon the storm. Believe that He can lift Mankind from its bed of Affliction, in Time and in Eternity”.
~Jeffery Holland
In John 16:33, Jesus said “in this world you will have trouble”. We turn on our radios and televisions, and all we seem to hear and see are bad things. Some events are so evil I just bow my head, say a prayer and if I linger to long…..the tears will begin to flow.
I write this evening to tell you about a man! His name is Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lord and King of Kings! As Elder Holland states above, “let Him still the tempest and ride the storm”. Jesus said in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.
Through every trial, hurt, anxiety, fear, pain, sorrow, guilt….I could, of course go on and on, where in a world filled with afflictions, sometimes our problems seem never ending. But we can call on Jesus! In Luke 18:38, a blind beggar called on Jesus and by his faith, Jesus restored the man’s eyesight! This scripture is for us all! In the very same way, we too can call on Him for He is our best friend, companion, physician, deliverer and our blessed redeemer!
It is so very hard to live in this world today without thinking about and becoming anxious all of the bad that’s going on around us. But I’m here to tell you today God is in control. Hebrews 12:2 tells us “look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith”. We must continue looking to Him, lifting up His precious Name, trusting and believing….in and on Him. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. We have nothing to fear. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are more than conquerors, we are over-comers.
Last Sunday my Pastor stated he awoke from a dream where he was in a pulpit preaching God’s Word and he remembered the words to the congregation were, “it is written.” Immediately I thought about all the times I have seen these very words in the Bible. I remember hearing, if you see words or phrases over and over again in God’s Word, then it must be important and God wants you to know it. God’s Word will never pass away. We serve a Great and Mighty God who sent His Word, a love letter to each of us, a life manual. When you read and study His Word, you can know any and every thing you need to know. It is all there…right in the infinite pages of the Bible. When things seem to hard to handle, life is just too much to take, I challenge you to open your Bible and pray to the Holy Spirit to help you know His Word. His Living Word. It will guide you, lift you, sustain you and help you through every need you have. Whatever the circumstance, good and/or bad….His Word will help you and it will also help you to help others. Make it a priority to open and read the Word every day. God is the same yesterday, today and forever! Christ Above All by Dr. Charles Stanley, a great piece on worrying less and trusting God more! When you have faith in Jesus you can make it through every day. By loving Him and surrendering your life to Him you will learn how to turn bad news into PRAYERS! God hears the praises and prayers of His children and God also answers the prayers of His children.
Give life’s trials to Jesus. Pray for others. Listen to God’s Word. Use the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within you. TRUST Jesus.
If you are reading these words and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, if you are overcome with worry, guilt, sorrow and pain…I urge you to heed Jesus’ call. He is waiting on you with open arms. The only thing between you and Him is your willingness to step out in faith and call on Him. Let Him transform you from the inside out. Jesus did it for me and He wants to do it for you too! Accepting Jesus is only a prayer away. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, believe He died and rose again for you, repent and receive Him into your heart! I am praying for you and there is a crowd in Heaven waiting to rejoice!
*Sermon notes taken from my Pastor and Shepherd, Brother Bobby Gilley of The South Gastonia Church Of God. Pastor Gilley truly deserves the credit for this lesson and I know he would agree with me in thanking God for this message and that we both continually give all the Glory to God for His precious Word.
Psalm 20:1-5
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice.
Selah
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
A Spiritual Parallel
Have you declared independence from what you were born into? Being born into sin, Jesus tells us we must be “born again”.John 3 -This lesson parallels the United States Declaration of Independence with our Spiritual lives through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Independence Day – July 4, 1776 – the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress.
There are several parts to the Declaration of Independence and this lesson will give some “spiritual” parallels to the declaration.
1. Preamble – An opening statement to the Constitution of the United States. This paragraph stated facts of what the United States will have, once independent from England.
Spiritual Preamble – John 3:16 – This verse explains what we will have, if we believe.
John 3:16 tells us we can be forgiven of ALL our sins through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom God our Father sent. Once we confess our sins, repent (turn away) from these sins and then believe on Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection, He comes to live in our hearts and He sets us free from the bondage of sin. Of course this is only the beginning of a brand new abundant, joyous and peaceful life for us while we are here living on earth. Along with our Salvation through Jesus, John 3:16 tells us of an eternal life in Heaven! Praise God, through our Savior we can live eternally! What a revelation!
2. Declaration of Rights – The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. This list of rights tell us as citizens of the United States, there are certain rights that cannot be taken away from us.
Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want anyone in this world to perish. He wants His children to live eternally with Him. This is His reason for creating each and every one of us!
John 3:16– For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes would not perish, but have everlasting life.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
God loves you! I can’t explain His love! I just can’t do it. But one thing I know, you can experience this most wonderful love. Romans 10:13 says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God demonstrated this love by sending his son Jesus to die on a cross. Jesus bore all our sins upon himself. His death and resurrection paid a debt we can never pay ourselves. By asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus into our hearts we become a child of God. Jesus’ shed blood on Calvary cleanses us and gives us new and eternal life. Once we give our lives to God, no longer is there a need to fear this life, because it will pass. When we leave this world we can have an assurance that the next face we’ll see will be Jesus! This is how much God loves you!
Psalm 108:11As high as the sky is above the earth,so great is his love for those who honor him.
What an awesome promise from our Heavenly Father. I don’t know about you, but I can’t begin to tell you how high the sky is from the earth. That’s a lot of love! When stating God is Love, you should understand this is His very nature! His love is not really an attribute. For us humans we think of love as an emotion. More times than not, we expect something in return for love we give. But the unconditional love of God is so much more than that. God’s love is free, it’s not “caused”. He loves us in spite of our sinful selves. Our tiny minds cannot understand the concept of God’s love for us. It is an eternal love whereas God said in Jeremiah 31:3 – I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. He loved us before the foundations of the world were set – Ephesians 1:4-5. To God be the Glory! How blessed are the children of God? We love Him because He first loved us – 1 John 4:19.
He loves you! He loves you! He loves you!
God’s love is a life-giving love. A happy, fulfilling and peaceful life.
An eternal life with Jesus when you accept him into your heart!
The old English expression for the word Good meant Holy. Holy Friday. Good Friday. A very dark day for Jesus Christ. A day that had to be. Without the death of Jesus there could be no resurrection. There would be no joyful celebration on Easter Sunday. There would be no fulfillment of God’s eternal plan for the whole world. There would be no John 3:16. Continue reading Crucified, Resurrected and Coming Again→
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