I have heard it said that, 'it is easier to be saved then to be lost', and I believe they are right, whoever 'they' are. The reason being that we do not have the power to do anything right without Christ, so if we allow Him to work in us 'to will and to do of His good pleasure' wouldn't it just be easier to let Him do the saving and we just cooperate with Him. That seems sensible to me.
"How is it that man will repent? Is it anything of himself? No; because the natural heart is at enmity with God. Romans 3:7. Then how can the natural heart stir itself up to repentance when it has no power to do so? What is it that brings man to repentance? It is Jesus Christ. How does He bring man to repentance? There are a thousand ways that He may do this." F&W 64
"The God of heaven is working upon human minds all the time. An invitation is given in the Word of God, and it is not only given there, but it is given by all those who believe on Jesus Christ and are revealing Christ in their characters. They may not preach a discourse; they may not come directly to a person and speak to him in regard to his condition of impenitence, yet such a one sees when brought into connection with any of the disciples of Jesus Christ that there is something there that he does not have. The Pharisees saw that there was something in the disciples that they could not interpret. They saw something wonderful and were settled in their minds that the disciples had been listening to Jesus and they had learned their lessons from Him." F&W 64 & 65.
"There are impressions that are going forth al the time. There is an atmosphere that surrounds the human soul and that atmosphere is a heavenly atmosphere or a hellish atmosphere. There are two distinct lines. Either we are on Christ's side of the question or on the enemy's side. And if we are continually drawing rays of divine light from glory, angels of God are around about us and there is an atmosphere that surrounds the human soul. Our very attitude, our very words, witness influence. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.'" Revelation 22:17. F&W 65.
"Now that we are branches of the Living Vine we will be nourished by the sap that flows from the Vine. It flows all the time to every branch, and every branch will bear fruit to the glory of God. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. F&W 65.
Can you see that it might be easier to be saved than to be lost? When you study your Bible you can cross reference your texts and come up with lots of encouraging texts to give you faith and hope in Christ. I pray that you have been blessed. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
What Must I Do To Be Saved? -14-
"If there is nothing more in all the Scriptures which point out definitely the way to heaven, we have it here in these words. They tell us what conversion is. They tell us what we must do in order to be saved. And, my friends, I want to tell you that this strikes directly at the root of the surface work in the religious world. It strikes directly against the idea that you can become a child of God without any particular change. There is a decided change wrought in us if the truth of God has found a place in our hearts, for it has a sanctifying power upon life and upon character. When we see the fruits of righteousness in those who claim to have advanced truth, as we claim to have it then there will b a course of action which testifies that we have learned of Christ." F&W 63 See the following verses:
John 3:1-16 "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.' And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"When Christ the hope of Israel, was hung upon the cross and was lifted up as He told Nicodemus He would be, the disciples' hope died with Jesus. They could not explain the matter. They could not understand all that Christ had told them about it beforehand." F&W 63
But after the Resurrection, their hopes and faith were resurrected, and they went forth proclaiming Christ and Him crucified. They told how by wicked hands the Lord of life and glory had been taken and crucified, but He had risen from the dead. And thus with great boldness, they spoke the words of life at which the people were much astonished."F&W 63
"The Pharisees and those who heard the disciples boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah interpreted it that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him. They talked just as Jesus talked. This settled it in their minds that they had learned of Jesus. How has it been with His disciples in all ages of the world? Why they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Savior, on Christ, our righteousness." F&W 64
"There seems to be a cloudy atmosphere that has gathered about the soul of man and that has shut in the mind. It is next to impossible to break through this atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. It is next to impossible to arouse his vital interests so that he may understand what he must do to be saved." F&W 64
To me, this has been a great lesson. I hope that all of you who read these lessons will look and live, and by looking at the cross where our Savior hung in agony, will turn your lives over to Him and be saved by His grace that He through His death has supplied for all. Grandma Joan
John 3:1-16 "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.' And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"When Christ the hope of Israel, was hung upon the cross and was lifted up as He told Nicodemus He would be, the disciples' hope died with Jesus. They could not explain the matter. They could not understand all that Christ had told them about it beforehand." F&W 63
But after the Resurrection, their hopes and faith were resurrected, and they went forth proclaiming Christ and Him crucified. They told how by wicked hands the Lord of life and glory had been taken and crucified, but He had risen from the dead. And thus with great boldness, they spoke the words of life at which the people were much astonished."F&W 63
"The Pharisees and those who heard the disciples boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah interpreted it that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him. They talked just as Jesus talked. This settled it in their minds that they had learned of Jesus. How has it been with His disciples in all ages of the world? Why they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Savior, on Christ, our righteousness." F&W 64
"There seems to be a cloudy atmosphere that has gathered about the soul of man and that has shut in the mind. It is next to impossible to break through this atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. It is next to impossible to arouse his vital interests so that he may understand what he must do to be saved." F&W 64
To me, this has been a great lesson. I hope that all of you who read these lessons will look and live, and by looking at the cross where our Savior hung in agony, will turn your lives over to Him and be saved by His grace that He through His death has supplied for all. Grandma Joan
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Truth and Righteousness - 13 -
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Notice it doesn't say that they may see your good works, and glorify you but to glorify your Father in heaven. Our works are not to bring glory to us, all credit and glory go to God, always.
"Truth and righteousness must be presented with the love of God as it was manifested in Jesus. What purity will then be seen! What a cleansing of every moral defilement will be shown to be necessary! Then when this is done, the stubbornness of the will which has kept so many away from the light, as they behold the preciousness of the Redeemer, His mercy, and pity, will all be melted away from their souls." F&W 60
Some questions to ask ourselves: "Will there be one who will retain their stubbornness? Will there be one who will cling to his self-righteousness? Will there be one who will not catch sight of the preciousness of Christ? Is there a heart that will not be subdued by the love of Jesus? Will any retain one particle of self-esteem? Why is it that our hearts have been so insensible to the love of God? Why have we had so hard a judgment of our heavenly Father? We need to come still closer to God." F&W 60
"Then we have talked of the darkness that the evil one has cast upon us, and we have bemoaned our condition: and in so doing, we have only spread the shadow over other souls, and that which has injured us was an injury to them. As we have uttered our words of unbelief, others have been enshrouded in darkness and doubt." F&W 60
"We cannot afford to do this work. We thus put our kind heavenly Father in a false light. All this must change. We must gather up the rays of divine truth and let our light shine upon the darkened pathway of others. Heaven's light shines for those who will follow Christ, the light of the world. He says: 'He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
F&W 60
"We need to drink deeper and deeper of the fountain of life. I hope that not a soul will be satisfied without making thorough work for eternity, and from this time on may it be seen, both by precept and example, that you are representatives of Christ. You may have a living testimony to bear: 'Hear what the Lord has done for my soul.' The Lord is ready to impart still greater blessings." F&W 61
This study has hit me square in the head, I'm serious. I've sort of been down and depressed because of pain and being handicapped and not able to get out much and I don't want to spread a shadow over anyone else's life, so have something to repent of, more than that too. What about you? Did this help you in any way. I sure hope so. I never want to cast any false interpretation upon what kind of character God has. I am so sorry. May God bless you with truth and the strength to follow the light. Grandma Joan
Notice it doesn't say that they may see your good works, and glorify you but to glorify your Father in heaven. Our works are not to bring glory to us, all credit and glory go to God, always.
"Truth and righteousness must be presented with the love of God as it was manifested in Jesus. What purity will then be seen! What a cleansing of every moral defilement will be shown to be necessary! Then when this is done, the stubbornness of the will which has kept so many away from the light, as they behold the preciousness of the Redeemer, His mercy, and pity, will all be melted away from their souls." F&W 60
Some questions to ask ourselves: "Will there be one who will retain their stubbornness? Will there be one who will cling to his self-righteousness? Will there be one who will not catch sight of the preciousness of Christ? Is there a heart that will not be subdued by the love of Jesus? Will any retain one particle of self-esteem? Why is it that our hearts have been so insensible to the love of God? Why have we had so hard a judgment of our heavenly Father? We need to come still closer to God." F&W 60
"Then we have talked of the darkness that the evil one has cast upon us, and we have bemoaned our condition: and in so doing, we have only spread the shadow over other souls, and that which has injured us was an injury to them. As we have uttered our words of unbelief, others have been enshrouded in darkness and doubt." F&W 60
"We cannot afford to do this work. We thus put our kind heavenly Father in a false light. All this must change. We must gather up the rays of divine truth and let our light shine upon the darkened pathway of others. Heaven's light shines for those who will follow Christ, the light of the world. He says: 'He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
F&W 60
"We need to drink deeper and deeper of the fountain of life. I hope that not a soul will be satisfied without making thorough work for eternity, and from this time on may it be seen, both by precept and example, that you are representatives of Christ. You may have a living testimony to bear: 'Hear what the Lord has done for my soul.' The Lord is ready to impart still greater blessings." F&W 61
This study has hit me square in the head, I'm serious. I've sort of been down and depressed because of pain and being handicapped and not able to get out much and I don't want to spread a shadow over anyone else's life, so have something to repent of, more than that too. What about you? Did this help you in any way. I sure hope so. I never want to cast any false interpretation upon what kind of character God has. I am so sorry. May God bless you with truth and the strength to follow the light. Grandma Joan
Monday, August 28, 2017
How To Tell If God Is Leading - 12 -
Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." F&W 55
This is how you tell if the doctrine you are hearing is truth or error. A very simple way to check up on what you are hearing or what you are reading or what is being acted out in front of you. If it is not according to the word of God, it is because there is no light in them.
"If it stirs up the enmity of the human heart when the Lord, the great Jehovah, is mentioned, you may know the person has no connection with God.....Now when Christ shall call forth the dead, it depends wholly upon your course of action whether you have a resurrection to life eternal or a resurrection to damnation. Thus they get these truths all mixed with error, and they cannot tell what is truth; and if asked to sit down and search the Scriptures with you to see what saith the Lord. I never knew a case but the answer was that they had no need to search the Scriptures, for the Lord told them what to do."
F&W55
"The voice of God is speaking to us through His Word, and there are many voices that we will hear but Christ has said we should beware of them who will say, 'Here is Christ or there is Christ.' Then how shall we know that they have not the truth unless we bring everything to the Scriptures? Christ has warned us to beware of false prophets who will come to us in His name, saying that they are Christ. Now if you should take the position that it is not important for you to understand the Scriptures for yourselves, you will be in danger of being led away with their doctrines. Christ has said that there will be a company who in the day of retributive judgment will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' But Christ will say, 'Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity'. Matthew 7:22,23 F&W 55
"The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hidden treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the word of God, the Bible, before your heavenly Father, and say, 'Enlighten me; teach me what is truth." F&W 56
"And when His Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts, to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let go easily. You have gained such an experience in searching the Scriptures that every point is established. And it is important that you continually search the Scriptures. You should store the mind with the Word of God; for you may be separated and placed where you will not have the privilege of meeting with the children of God. Then you will want the treasures of God's Word hidden in your hearts, and when opposition comes around you, you will need to bring everything to the Scriptures." F&W 57
This is what I gained from this study. There are many voices out there and many strange doctrines that are false, but we don't have to fear because we can test everything 'to the law and to the testimony and if they don't speak according to this Word, there is no light in them. Also if we search the Scriptures daily and try to memorize as much as we are capable we will know what we believe and be able to stand up for God and His Word. Very enlightening. Grandma Joan
This is how you tell if the doctrine you are hearing is truth or error. A very simple way to check up on what you are hearing or what you are reading or what is being acted out in front of you. If it is not according to the word of God, it is because there is no light in them.
"If it stirs up the enmity of the human heart when the Lord, the great Jehovah, is mentioned, you may know the person has no connection with God.....Now when Christ shall call forth the dead, it depends wholly upon your course of action whether you have a resurrection to life eternal or a resurrection to damnation. Thus they get these truths all mixed with error, and they cannot tell what is truth; and if asked to sit down and search the Scriptures with you to see what saith the Lord. I never knew a case but the answer was that they had no need to search the Scriptures, for the Lord told them what to do."
F&W55
"The voice of God is speaking to us through His Word, and there are many voices that we will hear but Christ has said we should beware of them who will say, 'Here is Christ or there is Christ.' Then how shall we know that they have not the truth unless we bring everything to the Scriptures? Christ has warned us to beware of false prophets who will come to us in His name, saying that they are Christ. Now if you should take the position that it is not important for you to understand the Scriptures for yourselves, you will be in danger of being led away with their doctrines. Christ has said that there will be a company who in the day of retributive judgment will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' But Christ will say, 'Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity'. Matthew 7:22,23 F&W 55
"The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hidden treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the word of God, the Bible, before your heavenly Father, and say, 'Enlighten me; teach me what is truth." F&W 56
"And when His Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts, to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let go easily. You have gained such an experience in searching the Scriptures that every point is established. And it is important that you continually search the Scriptures. You should store the mind with the Word of God; for you may be separated and placed where you will not have the privilege of meeting with the children of God. Then you will want the treasures of God's Word hidden in your hearts, and when opposition comes around you, you will need to bring everything to the Scriptures." F&W 57
This is what I gained from this study. There are many voices out there and many strange doctrines that are false, but we don't have to fear because we can test everything 'to the law and to the testimony and if they don't speak according to this Word, there is no light in them. Also if we search the Scriptures daily and try to memorize as much as we are capable we will know what we believe and be able to stand up for God and His Word. Very enlightening. Grandma Joan
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Counterfeit Sanctification-11 -
"Counterfeit sanctification has its origin in will-worship rather in submission to the will of God. The error is fast flooding the world. This error is fast flooding the world, and as God's witnesses, we shall be called to bear a decided testimony against it. It is one of the veriest delusions of the last days and will prove a temptation to all who believe the present truth. Those who have not their faith firmly established upon the Word of God will be misled. And the saddest part of it all is that so few who are deceived by this error ever find their way to the light again." F&W51
"The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification. Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and He says, 'Thy Word is the truth, John 17:17.
while the Psalmist says, 'Thy law is the truth', Psalm 119:142. All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard. The Bible will be to them 'Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works', 2 Timothy 3:16. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:16." F&W 51
"We need no other evidence in order to judge of men's sanctification; if they are fearful lest they shall not obey the whole will of God, if they are listening diligently to His voice, trusting His wisdom, and making His Word the man of their counsel, then, while they make no boasts of superior goodness, we may be sure that they are seeking to attain to perfection of Christian character. But if the claimants of holiness even intimate that they are no longer required to search the Scriptures, we need not hesitate to pronounce their sanctification spurious. They are leaning to their own understanding instead of conforming to the will of God." F&W 51,52
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
"Spurious sanctification leads directly away from the Bible. Religion is reduced to a fable. Feelings and impressions are made the criterion. While they profess to be sinless and boast of their righteousness, the claimants of sanctification teach that men are at liberty to transgress the law of God and that those who obey its precepts have fallen from grace. A presentation of its claims arouses their opposition and excites anger and contempt. Thus their character is shown, for 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. F&W 53
I want to comment on 'will worship' which is mentioned in the first paragraph. I often wondered what was meant by 'will worship' and I think I finally understand it. Instead of worshiping God and doing His will, we do our own will and worship our will. Does that sound right? That's what I get out of it.
"The true follower of Christ will make no boastful claims to holiness. It is by the law of God that the sinner is convicted. He sees his own sinfulness in contrast with the perfect righteousness which it enjoins, and this leads him to humility and repentance. He becomes reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and as he continues to walk with Him he will be gaining a clearer sense of the holiness of God's character and the far-reaching nature of His requirements. He will see more clearly his own defects and will feel the need of continual repentance and faith in the blood of Christ." F&W
53,54
Here's how we succeed!
"He who bears with him a continual sense of the presence of Christ cannot indulge self-confidence or self-righteousness. None of the prophets or apostles made proud boasts of holiness. The nearer they came to perfection of character, the less worthy and righteous they viewed themselves." F&W 54
I read another quote somewhere, I believe it was in 'Christ's Object Lessons' that we can tell when we are drawing close to Jesus because the nearer to Him we become, the worse we look to ourselves. Thats because we become humble and teachable in His presence. Let us all draw near to Him and let Him teach us His path that He wants us to walk in. Grandma Joan
"The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification. Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and He says, 'Thy Word is the truth, John 17:17.
while the Psalmist says, 'Thy law is the truth', Psalm 119:142. All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard. The Bible will be to them 'Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works', 2 Timothy 3:16. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:16." F&W 51
"We need no other evidence in order to judge of men's sanctification; if they are fearful lest they shall not obey the whole will of God, if they are listening diligently to His voice, trusting His wisdom, and making His Word the man of their counsel, then, while they make no boasts of superior goodness, we may be sure that they are seeking to attain to perfection of Christian character. But if the claimants of holiness even intimate that they are no longer required to search the Scriptures, we need not hesitate to pronounce their sanctification spurious. They are leaning to their own understanding instead of conforming to the will of God." F&W 51,52
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
"Spurious sanctification leads directly away from the Bible. Religion is reduced to a fable. Feelings and impressions are made the criterion. While they profess to be sinless and boast of their righteousness, the claimants of sanctification teach that men are at liberty to transgress the law of God and that those who obey its precepts have fallen from grace. A presentation of its claims arouses their opposition and excites anger and contempt. Thus their character is shown, for 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. F&W 53
I want to comment on 'will worship' which is mentioned in the first paragraph. I often wondered what was meant by 'will worship' and I think I finally understand it. Instead of worshiping God and doing His will, we do our own will and worship our will. Does that sound right? That's what I get out of it.
"The true follower of Christ will make no boastful claims to holiness. It is by the law of God that the sinner is convicted. He sees his own sinfulness in contrast with the perfect righteousness which it enjoins, and this leads him to humility and repentance. He becomes reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and as he continues to walk with Him he will be gaining a clearer sense of the holiness of God's character and the far-reaching nature of His requirements. He will see more clearly his own defects and will feel the need of continual repentance and faith in the blood of Christ." F&W
53,54
Here's how we succeed!
"He who bears with him a continual sense of the presence of Christ cannot indulge self-confidence or self-righteousness. None of the prophets or apostles made proud boasts of holiness. The nearer they came to perfection of character, the less worthy and righteous they viewed themselves." F&W 54
I read another quote somewhere, I believe it was in 'Christ's Object Lessons' that we can tell when we are drawing close to Jesus because the nearer to Him we become, the worse we look to ourselves. Thats because we become humble and teachable in His presence. Let us all draw near to Him and let Him teach us His path that He wants us to walk in. Grandma Joan
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Faith & Works - 10 -
Hebrews 11:6 "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."
"There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith; works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone. Many refuse to obey God's commandments, yet they make a great deal of faith. But faith must have a foundation." F&W 47
"God's promises are all made upon conditions. If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. While we earnestly endeavor to be obedient. God will hear our petitions, but He will not bless us in disobedience. If we choose to disobey His commandments, we may cry, 'Faith, faith, only have faith,' and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, 'Faith without works is dead' James 2:20. Such faith will only be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. In order to have the benefits of God's grace, we must do our part; we must faithfully work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance." F&W 47
We are not to sit around and do nothing. Our work is to do the things that lie in front of us, even the little things. If Christ is living in us we will know what He has for us to do. In order for Him to live within us we must confess our sins daily if you don't know what they are, ask Him to show you and after we confess them we are to repent of them in sorrow that we have hurt the One who can save us. He will live within us and direct our paths every day if we choose to let Him. We must surrender our lives to Him, everything we are, every thing we do and even our thoughts. It is not an easy thing to do because we are set in our worldly ways it is hard to give them up, our temper, our pride anything that dishonors God. He cannot live in a temple that harbors sin and our bodies are His temple. He has promised to forgive us when we confess them and repent of them. Keep striving to do this so that He can abide in you and direct your lives to His paths and you will have happiness just knowing that you are letting Him live within you.
"Faith and works will keep us evenly balanced and make us successful in the work of perfecting Christian character. Jesus says, 'Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.' Speaking of temporal food, the apostle said, 'For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat'. The same rule applies to our spiritual nourishment; if any would have the bread of eternal life, let him make efforts to obtain it." F&W 49
"There is no excuse for sin or for indolence. Jesus has led the way, and He wishes us to follow in His steps. He has suffered, He has sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed into His likeness." F&W 49,50
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion." F&W 50
Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Denying self could be a heavy cross that we must take up to follow Jesus. While there are other crosses, the heaviest will probably be the one of denying self, selfish pride.
Micah 6:8 "He has shown you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Grandma Joan
"There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith; works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone. Many refuse to obey God's commandments, yet they make a great deal of faith. But faith must have a foundation." F&W 47
"God's promises are all made upon conditions. If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. While we earnestly endeavor to be obedient. God will hear our petitions, but He will not bless us in disobedience. If we choose to disobey His commandments, we may cry, 'Faith, faith, only have faith,' and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, 'Faith without works is dead' James 2:20. Such faith will only be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. In order to have the benefits of God's grace, we must do our part; we must faithfully work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance." F&W 47
We are not to sit around and do nothing. Our work is to do the things that lie in front of us, even the little things. If Christ is living in us we will know what He has for us to do. In order for Him to live within us we must confess our sins daily if you don't know what they are, ask Him to show you and after we confess them we are to repent of them in sorrow that we have hurt the One who can save us. He will live within us and direct our paths every day if we choose to let Him. We must surrender our lives to Him, everything we are, every thing we do and even our thoughts. It is not an easy thing to do because we are set in our worldly ways it is hard to give them up, our temper, our pride anything that dishonors God. He cannot live in a temple that harbors sin and our bodies are His temple. He has promised to forgive us when we confess them and repent of them. Keep striving to do this so that He can abide in you and direct your lives to His paths and you will have happiness just knowing that you are letting Him live within you.
"Faith and works will keep us evenly balanced and make us successful in the work of perfecting Christian character. Jesus says, 'Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.' Speaking of temporal food, the apostle said, 'For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat'. The same rule applies to our spiritual nourishment; if any would have the bread of eternal life, let him make efforts to obtain it." F&W 49
"There is no excuse for sin or for indolence. Jesus has led the way, and He wishes us to follow in His steps. He has suffered, He has sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed into His likeness." F&W 49,50
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion." F&W 50
Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Denying self could be a heavy cross that we must take up to follow Jesus. While there are other crosses, the heaviest will probably be the one of denying self, selfish pride.
Micah 6:8 "He has shown you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Grandma Joan
If There Ever Was A Time - 9 -
If there ever was a time in history that we need faith and enlightenment, it is now. Times are not looking very good for the world and even our wonderful America. We need to be thinking about our spiritual destiny and what happens to us. We already studied about two classes of people and their destiny, which class do we want to be in. Please, please study it out for yourselves and take the time to draw close to your maker and repent of your past and spend time in prayer so you will be in the right class of people when Christ returns to take all of us home. Please be ready!!
"Those who are watching unto prayer and are searching the Scriptures daily with an earnest desire to know and do the will of God will not be led astray by any of the deceptions of Satan. They alone will discern the pretext which cunning men adopt to beguile and ensnare. So much time and attention are bestowed upon the world, upon dress and eating and drinking, that no time is left for prayer and the study of the Scriptures." F&W 45
"We want the truth on every point, and we must search for it as for hid treasures. Dishes of fables are presented to us on every hand, and men choose to believe error rather than truth because the acceptance of the truth involves a cross. Self must be denied; self must be crucified. Therefore Satan presents to them an easier way by making void the law of God. When God lets man have his own way, it is the darkest hour of his life.....But Satan has his agents who are too proud to repent and who are constantly at work to tear down the cause of Jehovah and trample it under their feet. What a day of sorrow and despair when these meet their work with all its burden of results! Christ died for them that they might have life. He opened before them the way whereby they might, through His merits, keep the law of God. Christ says, 'I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.' Revelation 3:8. How hard men work to close that door; but they are not able, John's testimony is, 'And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament' Revelation 11:19. Beneath the mercy seat, within the ark, were the two tables of stone, containing the law of Jehovah. God's faithful ones saw the light shone forth to them from the law, to be given to the world. And now Satan's intense activity is to close that door of light; but Jesus says that no man can shut it Men will turn from the light denounce it and despise it, but it still shines forth in clear, distinct rays to cheer and bless all who will see it." F&W 45,46
I am sure that everyone who is studying these lessons wants to be on Christ's side, I know I do and I know that times might be tough for us but the reward is greater than any of us can imagine, so let's hang on to truth and share with as many as will listen and help them prepare for heaven too. A lot of people think we are going to sit on a cloud and play a harp but Christ has told us that He went back to heaven and is preparing mansions for us and it describes all this in Revelation. Look it up and read it, it is something you will not want to miss out on. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Just Two Classes - 8 -
It's really important that we understand scripture, for the salvation of our own souls. Please follow these texts in Matthew carefully and pay close attention to the two classes.
Matthew 25:34-46 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine even the least of them you did it to Me.'
Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you give me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." F&W
Is that two classes of people and right straight from the scriptures? Read it over several times and let it sink in. I am sure that some of you already knew that scripture but sure someone reading never thought of it this way. Jesus died on the cross for all the sins of the world, but there are always rebellious ones that have their own way of thinking and are listening to the wrong voice to follow their own inclinations, but the Scriptures are true and we need to follow them closely. Grandma Joan
Matthew 25:34-46 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine even the least of them you did it to Me.'
Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you give me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." F&W
Is that two classes of people and right straight from the scriptures? Read it over several times and let it sink in. I am sure that some of you already knew that scripture but sure someone reading never thought of it this way. Jesus died on the cross for all the sins of the world, but there are always rebellious ones that have their own way of thinking and are listening to the wrong voice to follow their own inclinations, but the Scriptures are true and we need to follow them closely. Grandma Joan
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Another Deception
Are you ready to learn what another deception is? I am sharing these to make sure you are aware of what you are believing. It is a matter of life and death and I know there are those who do not believe this but I am telling you so you will know. You must know the truth to be saved! I have the love of Jesus in my heart like never before and I love people and I would never lead you astray and cause you to lose heaven. Heaven is in my heart and I hope it will be in your heart if it isn't already, which I hope with all my heart it is.
"One of Satan's most successful deceptions is to lead men to claim to be sanctified, while at the same time they are living in disobedience to God's commandments. These are described by Jesus as those who will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' Yes, those who claim to be sanctified have a great deal to say about being saved by the blood of Jesus, but their sanctification is not through the truth as it is in Jesus. While claiming to believe in Him, and apparently doing wonderful works in His name, they ignore His Father's law and serve as agents of the great adversary of souls to carry forward the work which he began in Eden, that of making plausible excuses for not obeying God implicitly. Their work is leading men to dishonor God by ignoring His law will one day be unfolded before them with its true results." F&W
"The conditions of eternal life are made so plain in God's Word that none need err unless they choose error rather than truth because their unsanctified souls love the darkness rather than the light."
I know this is really hard for some of you but please don't close your mind to truth, I can't explain how sorry you will be some day. It breaks my heart to have anyone turn away from Bible truth.
Luke 18:18 & Matthew 19:16 & Mark 10:17 "'Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'
But Jesus laid the burden back upon the lawyer, 'What is written in the law? How readest thou? and he said 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." Christ answered and said, 'this do and thou shalt live. Luke 10:25-28. These words meet the individual cases of all. Are we willing to comply with the conditions? Will we obey God and keep His commandments? Will we be doers of the word and not hearers only? God's law is immutable and unchangeable as His character. Whatever men may say or do to make it void does not change its claims or release them from their obligation to obey." F&W
Psalm 119:18 David prayed, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law".
And verse 126 still a prayer of David, "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law".
"None who have had the light of truth will enter the city of God as commandment breakers. His law lies at the foundation of His government in earth and in heaven. If they have knowingly trampled upon and despised His law on earth, they will not be taken to heaven to do the same work there; there is no change of character when Christ comes." F&W
Revelation22:14 "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."
I hope this has been a true blessing to each of you and you will dig into your Bible and discover more truths to go along with these. You will find many if you really search. Revelation is an eye opener.
Please do your own study of the texts that I have shared and do some cross references, I don't mind if you check up on me, it's great! Grandma Joan
"One of Satan's most successful deceptions is to lead men to claim to be sanctified, while at the same time they are living in disobedience to God's commandments. These are described by Jesus as those who will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' Yes, those who claim to be sanctified have a great deal to say about being saved by the blood of Jesus, but their sanctification is not through the truth as it is in Jesus. While claiming to believe in Him, and apparently doing wonderful works in His name, they ignore His Father's law and serve as agents of the great adversary of souls to carry forward the work which he began in Eden, that of making plausible excuses for not obeying God implicitly. Their work is leading men to dishonor God by ignoring His law will one day be unfolded before them with its true results." F&W
"The conditions of eternal life are made so plain in God's Word that none need err unless they choose error rather than truth because their unsanctified souls love the darkness rather than the light."
I know this is really hard for some of you but please don't close your mind to truth, I can't explain how sorry you will be some day. It breaks my heart to have anyone turn away from Bible truth.
Luke 18:18 & Matthew 19:16 & Mark 10:17 "'Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'
But Jesus laid the burden back upon the lawyer, 'What is written in the law? How readest thou? and he said 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." Christ answered and said, 'this do and thou shalt live. Luke 10:25-28. These words meet the individual cases of all. Are we willing to comply with the conditions? Will we obey God and keep His commandments? Will we be doers of the word and not hearers only? God's law is immutable and unchangeable as His character. Whatever men may say or do to make it void does not change its claims or release them from their obligation to obey." F&W
Psalm 119:18 David prayed, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law".
And verse 126 still a prayer of David, "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law".
"None who have had the light of truth will enter the city of God as commandment breakers. His law lies at the foundation of His government in earth and in heaven. If they have knowingly trampled upon and despised His law on earth, they will not be taken to heaven to do the same work there; there is no change of character when Christ comes." F&W
Revelation22:14 "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."
I hope this has been a true blessing to each of you and you will dig into your Bible and discover more truths to go along with these. You will find many if you really search. Revelation is an eye opener.
Please do your own study of the texts that I have shared and do some cross references, I don't mind if you check up on me, it's great! Grandma Joan
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Christ Is Our Righteousness
How many believe this? This is a wonderful study and I'm sure you will benefit from it, just hang in there.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
"God requires that we confess our sins and humble our hearts before Him; but at the same time, we should have confidence in Him as a tender Father, who will not forsake those who put their trust in Him. Many of us walk by sight and not by faith. We believe the things that are seen but do not appreciate the precious promises given us in God's Word, and yet we cannot dishonor God more decidedly than by showing that we distrust what He says and question whether the Lord is in earnest with us or is deceiving us." F&W
"God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes and grieve His Spirit, but when we repent and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will not turn us away. There are hindrances to be removed. Wrong feelings have been cherished, and there have been pride, self-sufficiency, impatience, and murmurings. All these separate us from God. Sins must be confessed; there must be a deeper work of grace in the heart." F&W
We must learn in the school of Christ. Nothing but His righteousness can entitle us to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. We have long desired and tried to obtain these blessings but have not received them because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worthy of them. We have not looked away from ourselves, believing that Jesus is a living Savior. We must not think that our own grace and merits will save us; the grace of Christ is our only hope of salvation. Through His prophet, the Lord promises, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon"Isaiah 55:7. We must believe the naked promise, and not accept feeling for faith. When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Savior, we shall receive all the help that we can desire." F&W
Just like the paragraph above says, we must trust him. We must walk by faith and not by sight. I understand it is hard to believe in things that we cannot see, but we need to pray for trust and faith to believe. All of our sins separate us from God, we must confess them if we hope to have a close relationship with Him, We must draw close to God and He will draw close to us. We must lean on Christ as our only hope of salvation.
"We look to self, as though we had power to save ourselves; but Jesus died for us because we are helpless to do this. In Him is our hope, our justification, our righteousness....At this very time He is carrying on His work in our behalf, inviting us to come to Him in our helplessness and be saved. We dishonor Him by our unbelief." F&W
When Moses was leading the Israelites in the wilderness, God allowed poisonous serpents to sting them because of their rebellion. He told Moses to make a serpent on a pole and tell them to 'look and live', many of them didn't believe God and suffered and died because of their unbelief.
John 3:14,15 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," even so was "the Son of man . . was lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" If you are conscious of your sins, do not devote all your powers to mourning over them, but look and live. Jesus is our only Savior; and although millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His merits will be left to perish. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we must not be discouraged; we must rely upon a crucified and risen Savior. Poor, sin-sick, discouraged soul, look and live. Jesus has pledged His word; He will save all who come unto Him."
"There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God and partly to themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptation and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus." F&W
"There is need of constant watchfulness and of earnest, loving devotion, but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves or to our good works; but when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may find rest in His love. God will accept every- one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Savior. Love springs up in the heart. There may not be ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ in iin the light." F&W
This is beautiful, I cannot add or subtract anything from it. All I can say is cast your burdens on Jesus and let Him carry them for you, all your sins, confess them and He will forgive and life will not be a burden any longer. Grandma Joan
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
"God requires that we confess our sins and humble our hearts before Him; but at the same time, we should have confidence in Him as a tender Father, who will not forsake those who put their trust in Him. Many of us walk by sight and not by faith. We believe the things that are seen but do not appreciate the precious promises given us in God's Word, and yet we cannot dishonor God more decidedly than by showing that we distrust what He says and question whether the Lord is in earnest with us or is deceiving us." F&W
"God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes and grieve His Spirit, but when we repent and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will not turn us away. There are hindrances to be removed. Wrong feelings have been cherished, and there have been pride, self-sufficiency, impatience, and murmurings. All these separate us from God. Sins must be confessed; there must be a deeper work of grace in the heart." F&W
We must learn in the school of Christ. Nothing but His righteousness can entitle us to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. We have long desired and tried to obtain these blessings but have not received them because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worthy of them. We have not looked away from ourselves, believing that Jesus is a living Savior. We must not think that our own grace and merits will save us; the grace of Christ is our only hope of salvation. Through His prophet, the Lord promises, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon"Isaiah 55:7. We must believe the naked promise, and not accept feeling for faith. When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Savior, we shall receive all the help that we can desire." F&W
Just like the paragraph above says, we must trust him. We must walk by faith and not by sight. I understand it is hard to believe in things that we cannot see, but we need to pray for trust and faith to believe. All of our sins separate us from God, we must confess them if we hope to have a close relationship with Him, We must draw close to God and He will draw close to us. We must lean on Christ as our only hope of salvation.
"We look to self, as though we had power to save ourselves; but Jesus died for us because we are helpless to do this. In Him is our hope, our justification, our righteousness....At this very time He is carrying on His work in our behalf, inviting us to come to Him in our helplessness and be saved. We dishonor Him by our unbelief." F&W
When Moses was leading the Israelites in the wilderness, God allowed poisonous serpents to sting them because of their rebellion. He told Moses to make a serpent on a pole and tell them to 'look and live', many of them didn't believe God and suffered and died because of their unbelief.
John 3:14,15 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," even so was "the Son of man . . was lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" If you are conscious of your sins, do not devote all your powers to mourning over them, but look and live. Jesus is our only Savior; and although millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His merits will be left to perish. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we must not be discouraged; we must rely upon a crucified and risen Savior. Poor, sin-sick, discouraged soul, look and live. Jesus has pledged His word; He will save all who come unto Him."
"There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God and partly to themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptation and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus." F&W
"There is need of constant watchfulness and of earnest, loving devotion, but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves or to our good works; but when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may find rest in His love. God will accept every- one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Savior. Love springs up in the heart. There may not be ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ in iin the light." F&W
This is beautiful, I cannot add or subtract anything from it. All I can say is cast your burdens on Jesus and let Him carry them for you, all your sins, confess them and He will forgive and life will not be a burden any longer. Grandma Joan
Monday, August 21, 2017
Poison
Did you know that you can be poisoned spiritually? Yes, you can. By adopting strange doctrines that are not Biblical and there are a lot of them we will touch on at least one today, maybe more.
One of them is that there is the belief that the death of Christ brought in grace to replace the law of God. The precious blood that Christ shed establishes the law of God, not do away with it. I didn't really know that some believe this but they do. I have heard people say that 'I am saved', regardless of what kind of life they live they believe that they will be saved. Here is a verse to verify this. His mercy and truth go hand in hand.
Psalm 85:10 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
"Jesus, our Substitute, consented to bear for man the penalty of the law transgressed. He clothed His divinity with humanity and thus became the Son of man, a Savior, and Redeemer. The very fact of the death of God's dear Son to redeem man shows the immutability of the divine law. How easily, from the transgressor's standpoint, could God have abolished His law, thus providing a way whereby men could be saved and Christ remain in heaven! The doctrine which teaches freedom, through grace, to break the law is a fatal delusion. Every transgressor of God's law is a sinner, and none can be sanctified while living in known sin." F&W
"The condescension and agony of God's dear Son were not endured to purchase for man liberty to transgress the Father's law and yet sit down with Christ in His throne. It was that through His merits and the exercise of repentance and faith the most guilty sinner might receive pardon and obtain strength to live a life of obedience. The sinner is not saved in his sins, but from his sins." F&W
"What is sin? 1John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
"When the commandment came home to Saul's conscience sin revived, and he died. He saw himself condemned by the law of God. The sinner cannot be convinced of his guilt unless he understands what constitutes sin. It is impossible for an individual to experience Bible sanctification while he holds that if he believes in Christ is immaterial whether he obeys God's law or disobeys it." Romans 7:7. F&W
In Revelation God's word declares that the professed commandment keeper whose life contradicts his faith is blind, wretched, poor, and naked. Revelation 3:17.
"Many are led to think that they are on the road to heaven because they profess to believe in Christ, while they reject the law of God. But they will find at last that they were on the way to perdition instead of heaven. Spiritual poison is sugarcoated with the doctrine of sanctification and administered to the people. Thousands eagerly swallow it, feeling that if they are only honest in their belief they will be safe. But sincerity will not convert error to truth. A man may swallow poison, thinking it is food; but his sincerity will not save him from the effects of the dose." F&W
God has given us His word as our guide.
John 5:39 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."
Acts 26:9 Paul says: "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."
His belief did not make his course right, did it? When he received the gospel of Jesus Christ, it made him a new creation. He was transformed. He was not daunted by opposition or suffering. Men may make all kinds of excuses for not keeping God's law but no excuse for the rejection of God's law will be accepted in the day of judgment. We must very soon meet the Great Law Giver over His broken law. What will we say in that day? We will miss out on heaven and I don't want to be classed in that position, do you? I hope not.
These lessons are to help us in our life's journey, not discourage us. Please follow me day by day in them and you will see that it is not a hard thing to follow the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. I want you to be blessed and that is my goal. Everything will be Biblical and has been so stay with me. Grandma Joan
One of them is that there is the belief that the death of Christ brought in grace to replace the law of God. The precious blood that Christ shed establishes the law of God, not do away with it. I didn't really know that some believe this but they do. I have heard people say that 'I am saved', regardless of what kind of life they live they believe that they will be saved. Here is a verse to verify this. His mercy and truth go hand in hand.
Psalm 85:10 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
"Jesus, our Substitute, consented to bear for man the penalty of the law transgressed. He clothed His divinity with humanity and thus became the Son of man, a Savior, and Redeemer. The very fact of the death of God's dear Son to redeem man shows the immutability of the divine law. How easily, from the transgressor's standpoint, could God have abolished His law, thus providing a way whereby men could be saved and Christ remain in heaven! The doctrine which teaches freedom, through grace, to break the law is a fatal delusion. Every transgressor of God's law is a sinner, and none can be sanctified while living in known sin." F&W
"The condescension and agony of God's dear Son were not endured to purchase for man liberty to transgress the Father's law and yet sit down with Christ in His throne. It was that through His merits and the exercise of repentance and faith the most guilty sinner might receive pardon and obtain strength to live a life of obedience. The sinner is not saved in his sins, but from his sins." F&W
"What is sin? 1John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
"When the commandment came home to Saul's conscience sin revived, and he died. He saw himself condemned by the law of God. The sinner cannot be convinced of his guilt unless he understands what constitutes sin. It is impossible for an individual to experience Bible sanctification while he holds that if he believes in Christ is immaterial whether he obeys God's law or disobeys it." Romans 7:7. F&W
In Revelation God's word declares that the professed commandment keeper whose life contradicts his faith is blind, wretched, poor, and naked. Revelation 3:17.
"Many are led to think that they are on the road to heaven because they profess to believe in Christ, while they reject the law of God. But they will find at last that they were on the way to perdition instead of heaven. Spiritual poison is sugarcoated with the doctrine of sanctification and administered to the people. Thousands eagerly swallow it, feeling that if they are only honest in their belief they will be safe. But sincerity will not convert error to truth. A man may swallow poison, thinking it is food; but his sincerity will not save him from the effects of the dose." F&W
God has given us His word as our guide.
John 5:39 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth."
Acts 26:9 Paul says: "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."
His belief did not make his course right, did it? When he received the gospel of Jesus Christ, it made him a new creation. He was transformed. He was not daunted by opposition or suffering. Men may make all kinds of excuses for not keeping God's law but no excuse for the rejection of God's law will be accepted in the day of judgment. We must very soon meet the Great Law Giver over His broken law. What will we say in that day? We will miss out on heaven and I don't want to be classed in that position, do you? I hope not.
These lessons are to help us in our life's journey, not discourage us. Please follow me day by day in them and you will see that it is not a hard thing to follow the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. I want you to be blessed and that is my goal. Everything will be Biblical and has been so stay with me. Grandma Joan
Sunday, August 20, 2017
True Sanctification
This subject has always been in my heart and mind but not in my actions. I want to help those who have been where I have been to understand the phrase, 'True Sanctification'. It is a very misunderstood subject by many, and I hope that this will help us understand what exactly it means and how we may obtain it.
"Sanctification is obtained only in obedience to the will of God. Many who are willfully trampling upon the law of Jehovah claim holiness of heart and sanctification of life. But they have not a saving knowledge of God or of His law. They are standing in the ranks of the great rebel. He is at war with the law of God, which is the foundation of the divine government in heaven and the earth. These men are doing the same work as their master has done in seeking to make of none effect of God's holy law. No commandment-breaker can be permitted to enter heaven; for he who was once a pure and exalted covering cherub was thrust out for rebelling against the government of God." F&W
1 John 2:1-7 "My little children these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
This kind of spells it out pretty plain, doesn't it? We are prompted not to sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ who is our intercessor to stand in our place with the Father.
Jesus paid the price for our sins and not ours only but everyone in the world if they would repent of their sins and let Him live out His life in them. We also learned that when we say we know Him and don't keep His commandments, He says we are liars and the truth is not in us. We know that we are in Him when we walk as He walked.
When we repent of our sins and surrender our all to Christ, we are considered dead to sin, and Christ is invited to dwell in our hearts and abide there. If He is abiding in our hearts by faith, and we know by faith that His death on the cross paid for our sins, then we should know how very much that He loves us and if we know that He loves us and is abiding in our hearts we should know that we will not sin because He didn't sin and how much it will hurt Him if we do sin. I want to learn to love Him as He loves me. It may not be possible, but He can give me as much love for others that He wants me to have and I'll pray for that.
By daily abiding with Him and living for Him, we can be sanctified day by day and be truly sanctified when He comes for us in the clouds of heaven. That is my goal, is it yours? Grandma Joan
"Sanctification is obtained only in obedience to the will of God. Many who are willfully trampling upon the law of Jehovah claim holiness of heart and sanctification of life. But they have not a saving knowledge of God or of His law. They are standing in the ranks of the great rebel. He is at war with the law of God, which is the foundation of the divine government in heaven and the earth. These men are doing the same work as their master has done in seeking to make of none effect of God's holy law. No commandment-breaker can be permitted to enter heaven; for he who was once a pure and exalted covering cherub was thrust out for rebelling against the government of God." F&W
1 John 2:1-7 "My little children these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
This kind of spells it out pretty plain, doesn't it? We are prompted not to sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ who is our intercessor to stand in our place with the Father.
Jesus paid the price for our sins and not ours only but everyone in the world if they would repent of their sins and let Him live out His life in them. We also learned that when we say we know Him and don't keep His commandments, He says we are liars and the truth is not in us. We know that we are in Him when we walk as He walked.
When we repent of our sins and surrender our all to Christ, we are considered dead to sin, and Christ is invited to dwell in our hearts and abide there. If He is abiding in our hearts by faith, and we know by faith that His death on the cross paid for our sins, then we should know how very much that He loves us and if we know that He loves us and is abiding in our hearts we should know that we will not sin because He didn't sin and how much it will hurt Him if we do sin. I want to learn to love Him as He loves me. It may not be possible, but He can give me as much love for others that He wants me to have and I'll pray for that.
By daily abiding with Him and living for Him, we can be sanctified day by day and be truly sanctified when He comes for us in the clouds of heaven. That is my goal, is it yours? Grandma Joan
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Can We Earn Our Salvation?
All my life I have tried to please God by working for Him in one way or another. That is why I started this blog, that is why I have held all kinds of offices in the church because I believed that I was earning my salvation by the things I was doing 'for Him'. I have learned in just the last month or so that I cannot earn anything with God. All the time I didn't know that I was misrepresenting the truth as it is in Jesus. I am 86 years old now and if any of you are younger than that please listen up, older folks too. It's never too late to learn. The older you get the harder it is to comprehend these great truths, it takes much longer. It is utterly useless to try and earn eternal life. I have been in a fog of bewilderment and didn't know it.
"We need the divine love of God which is represented by gold tried in the fire; we need the white raiment of Christ's pure character; we need the heavenly eye salve that we might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life." F&W
Listen to this explanation: "The Lord Jesus imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for us to grasp by living faith--which is also the gift of God. .....Standing in the presence of their Creator and looking upon the unsurpassed glory which enshrouds His person, we are looking upon the Lamb of God given from the foundation of the world to a life of humiliation, to be rejected of sinful men, to be despised, to be crucified. Who can measure the infinity of the sacrifice!" F&W
Not me, I cannot even begin to imagine what Christ went through for me. Lord, in my hand no price I bring, simply to Your cross, I cling.
"When we learn that we cannot earn righteousness by our own merit of works, and we look with firm and entire reliance upon Jesus Christ as our only hope, there will not be so much of self and so little of Jesus....We need to see by faith the righteousness of Christ as our only hope for time and for eternity." F&W
"The soul temple is to be sacred, holy, pure, and undefiled. There must be a copartnership in which all the power is of God and all the glory belongs to God. The responsibility rests with us. We must receive in thoughts and in feelings, to give in expression. The law of the human and the divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with divinity, work the works of God. Humanity touches humanity. Divine power and the human agency combined will be a complete success, for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F&W
Did you get that? If we accept Christ's righteousness as our righteousness, we can work the works of God. But the responsibility lies with us to surrender to Christ and accept His righteousness as our righteousness 'for it is God who is working in you to will and to do of His good pleasure' Philippians 2:13.
"The reason so many fail to be successful laborers is that they act as though God depended on them, and they are to suggest to God what He chooses to do with them, in the place of their depending on God. They lay aside supernatural power and fail to do the supernatural work." F&W
Ephesians 2:8 "By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
"Here is truth that will unfold the subject to your mind if you do not close it to the rays of light. Eternal life is an infinite gift. This places it outside the possibility of you earning it because it is infinite. It must necessarily be a gift. As a gift, it must be received by faith, and gratitude and praise be offered to God. Solid faith will not lead anyone away into fanaticism or into acting the slothful servant. It is the bewitching power of Satan that leads men to look to themselves in the place of looking to Jesus." F&W
What I have learned from this lesson is that I can do nothing to earn my salvation. I must trust in the merits of Christ's sacrifice for me for my salvation. This is a tough lesson to comprehend, but please read it over and over if you have to. It is all scriptural as you will see as the lessons go on. It is not made up. I am still learning because I want to make sure I have it down pat for my own salvation as well as yours. You will have to use your reasoning powers and don't let your doubts creep in. Please study these lessons and get them down in your heart and mind. It will make you free in Christ and you will happy and joyful that you came across them. Love to share with you and hope you are being blessed. Grandma Joan
"We need the divine love of God which is represented by gold tried in the fire; we need the white raiment of Christ's pure character; we need the heavenly eye salve that we might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life." F&W
Listen to this explanation: "The Lord Jesus imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for us to grasp by living faith--which is also the gift of God. .....Standing in the presence of their Creator and looking upon the unsurpassed glory which enshrouds His person, we are looking upon the Lamb of God given from the foundation of the world to a life of humiliation, to be rejected of sinful men, to be despised, to be crucified. Who can measure the infinity of the sacrifice!" F&W
Not me, I cannot even begin to imagine what Christ went through for me. Lord, in my hand no price I bring, simply to Your cross, I cling.
"When we learn that we cannot earn righteousness by our own merit of works, and we look with firm and entire reliance upon Jesus Christ as our only hope, there will not be so much of self and so little of Jesus....We need to see by faith the righteousness of Christ as our only hope for time and for eternity." F&W
"The soul temple is to be sacred, holy, pure, and undefiled. There must be a copartnership in which all the power is of God and all the glory belongs to God. The responsibility rests with us. We must receive in thoughts and in feelings, to give in expression. The law of the human and the divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with divinity, work the works of God. Humanity touches humanity. Divine power and the human agency combined will be a complete success, for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F&W
Did you get that? If we accept Christ's righteousness as our righteousness, we can work the works of God. But the responsibility lies with us to surrender to Christ and accept His righteousness as our righteousness 'for it is God who is working in you to will and to do of His good pleasure' Philippians 2:13.
"The reason so many fail to be successful laborers is that they act as though God depended on them, and they are to suggest to God what He chooses to do with them, in the place of their depending on God. They lay aside supernatural power and fail to do the supernatural work." F&W
Ephesians 2:8 "By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
"Here is truth that will unfold the subject to your mind if you do not close it to the rays of light. Eternal life is an infinite gift. This places it outside the possibility of you earning it because it is infinite. It must necessarily be a gift. As a gift, it must be received by faith, and gratitude and praise be offered to God. Solid faith will not lead anyone away into fanaticism or into acting the slothful servant. It is the bewitching power of Satan that leads men to look to themselves in the place of looking to Jesus." F&W
What I have learned from this lesson is that I can do nothing to earn my salvation. I must trust in the merits of Christ's sacrifice for me for my salvation. This is a tough lesson to comprehend, but please read it over and over if you have to. It is all scriptural as you will see as the lessons go on. It is not made up. I am still learning because I want to make sure I have it down pat for my own salvation as well as yours. You will have to use your reasoning powers and don't let your doubts creep in. Please study these lessons and get them down in your heart and mind. It will make you free in Christ and you will happy and joyful that you came across them. Love to share with you and hope you are being blessed. Grandma Joan
Friday, August 18, 2017
Belief and Unbelief
"How much do we believe from the heart? The unbelief which is cherished in the soul has a bewitching power. The seeds of doubt that they have been sowing will produce their harvest but they must continue to dig up every root of unbelief. When these poisonous plants are pulled up, they cease to grow for want of nourishment in word and action. The soul must have the precious plants of faith and love put in the soil of the heart and enthroned there." F&W
"Can we not understand that the most costly thing in this world is sin? It is at the expense of purity of conscience, at the cost of losing the favor of God and separating the soul from Him, and at last losing heaven. The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit of God and walking contrary to Him has cost many a one the loss of his soul." F&W
Can you imagine what it will be like to lose the favor of God and separating our souls from Him and losing out on heaven? I don't want to imagine it, it will be a sorrow that we cannot explain and filled with horror. To think that we let this world be first in our life, when right now we can change all of this and look forward to seeing Him and rejoicing.
"By rebellion and apostasy man forfeited the favor of God; not his rights, for he could have no value except as it was invested in God's dear Son. This point must be understood. He forfeited those privileges which God in His mercy presented him as a free gift, a treasure in trust to be used to advance His cause and His glory, to benefit the beings He had made. The moment the workmanship of God refused obedience to the laws of God's kingdom, that moment he became disloyal to the government of God and he made himself entirely unworthy of all the blessings wherewith God had favored him. This was the position of the human race after man divorced himself from God by transgression. Then he was no longer entitled to a breath of air, a ray of sunshine, or a particle of food. And the reason why man was not annihilated was because God so loved him that He made the gift of His dear Son that He should suffer the penalty of man's transgression. Christ proposed to become man's surety and substitute, that man, through matchless grace, should have another trial--a second probation--having the experience of Adam and Eve as a warning not to transgress God's law as they did." F&W
Think about this verse. "All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." 1 Chronicles 29:14. God gives us everything we have, yes, we work for it but Who gives us the strength to work and sometimes it's taken away in a flash. We do need to be thankful, and not be afraid to give what is already God's, back to Him in thanksgiving. He will bless your endeavor. Let's return to God our lives and be thankful for all His gifts that He gives to us daily and in return give Him glory and honor and gifts to further His work of saving souls for His kingdom. Grandma Joan
"Can we not understand that the most costly thing in this world is sin? It is at the expense of purity of conscience, at the cost of losing the favor of God and separating the soul from Him, and at last losing heaven. The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit of God and walking contrary to Him has cost many a one the loss of his soul." F&W
Can you imagine what it will be like to lose the favor of God and separating our souls from Him and losing out on heaven? I don't want to imagine it, it will be a sorrow that we cannot explain and filled with horror. To think that we let this world be first in our life, when right now we can change all of this and look forward to seeing Him and rejoicing.
"By rebellion and apostasy man forfeited the favor of God; not his rights, for he could have no value except as it was invested in God's dear Son. This point must be understood. He forfeited those privileges which God in His mercy presented him as a free gift, a treasure in trust to be used to advance His cause and His glory, to benefit the beings He had made. The moment the workmanship of God refused obedience to the laws of God's kingdom, that moment he became disloyal to the government of God and he made himself entirely unworthy of all the blessings wherewith God had favored him. This was the position of the human race after man divorced himself from God by transgression. Then he was no longer entitled to a breath of air, a ray of sunshine, or a particle of food. And the reason why man was not annihilated was because God so loved him that He made the gift of His dear Son that He should suffer the penalty of man's transgression. Christ proposed to become man's surety and substitute, that man, through matchless grace, should have another trial--a second probation--having the experience of Adam and Eve as a warning not to transgress God's law as they did." F&W
Think about this verse. "All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." 1 Chronicles 29:14. God gives us everything we have, yes, we work for it but Who gives us the strength to work and sometimes it's taken away in a flash. We do need to be thankful, and not be afraid to give what is already God's, back to Him in thanksgiving. He will bless your endeavor. Let's return to God our lives and be thankful for all His gifts that He gives to us daily and in return give Him glory and honor and gifts to further His work of saving souls for His kingdom. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Two classes of Christians
The lessons I am going to present are probably new to most of you but all in the Scriptures and will probably cause you to wonder for a little while but stick with me, you will find all the worries about your beliefs can be over, all your stresses, whether you will be saved will be over but it is going to take several lessons for you to comprehend it. It has taken me several weeks to get the real meaning to some phrases I've heard most of my life, but it is there so hang in with me and enjoy the freedom you will find in Christ. I've been studying these lessons out for weeks and I will present them as I feel that I can as I feel secure in my learning. Please bear with me, you will not be disappointed. Some thoughts are taken from the little book, 'Faith and Works'. I have been totally blessed by studying this and pray that you too will be blessed by my sharing some of the thoughts. I will put them in quotes and put 'F&W after the quote.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul the apostle speaking, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ....And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
When we come to Christ sincerely wanting to follow Him, that is when we are washed, sanctified, and justified in His name and by His Spirit. Sometimes we have led what we call it, a wicked life and do not feel like we can come to Him and be forgiven but when He washes us in baptism and sanctifies us by His blood on Calvary, and justifies us in His name and by His Spirit we are forgiven. We have been washed clean from all sin. Come to Jesus just as you are. We must trust Him that He does this.
"The first class of Christians perverts the doctrine of justification by faith and neglect to comply with the conditions laid down in the Word of God - "If you love Me, keep My commandments" John 14:15. The second class there is fully as great an error on the part of those who claim to believe and obey the commandments of God but who place themselves in opposition to the precious rays of light--new to them--reflected from the cross of Calvary. The first class do not see the wondrous things in the law of God for all who are doers of His Word. The others cavil over trivialities and neglect the weightier matters, mercy and the love of God." F&W
1John 1:12 "Your sins are forgiven for His name's sake". We must believe Him that He does forgive us even though we know we don't deserve it, He deserves it because He died for you.
John 1:12 "As many as received Him to them gave He the power to become the sons of God."
In this lesson, I want to learn the lesson of coming to God sincerely and surrender my life to Him completely and when we do that we must believe what He says in forgiving us. We must learn to trust Him completely. This is so hard to do, but the verse James 4:7 says; 'Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee...' if the devil flees, then God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Then we can freely love God and trust every word that He says to us. So this lesson is one of trusting in God and believing that we are forgiven when we repent of our past sins. You are free to trust Him, completely free. Stay close to Him in the attitude of prayer so you can call on Him for any and all emergencies. Grandma Joan
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul the apostle speaking, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ....And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
When we come to Christ sincerely wanting to follow Him, that is when we are washed, sanctified, and justified in His name and by His Spirit. Sometimes we have led what we call it, a wicked life and do not feel like we can come to Him and be forgiven but when He washes us in baptism and sanctifies us by His blood on Calvary, and justifies us in His name and by His Spirit we are forgiven. We have been washed clean from all sin. Come to Jesus just as you are. We must trust Him that He does this.
"The first class of Christians perverts the doctrine of justification by faith and neglect to comply with the conditions laid down in the Word of God - "If you love Me, keep My commandments" John 14:15. The second class there is fully as great an error on the part of those who claim to believe and obey the commandments of God but who place themselves in opposition to the precious rays of light--new to them--reflected from the cross of Calvary. The first class do not see the wondrous things in the law of God for all who are doers of His Word. The others cavil over trivialities and neglect the weightier matters, mercy and the love of God." F&W
1John 1:12 "Your sins are forgiven for His name's sake". We must believe Him that He does forgive us even though we know we don't deserve it, He deserves it because He died for you.
John 1:12 "As many as received Him to them gave He the power to become the sons of God."
In this lesson, I want to learn the lesson of coming to God sincerely and surrender my life to Him completely and when we do that we must believe what He says in forgiving us. We must learn to trust Him completely. This is so hard to do, but the verse James 4:7 says; 'Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee...' if the devil flees, then God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Then we can freely love God and trust every word that He says to us. So this lesson is one of trusting in God and believing that we are forgiven when we repent of our past sins. You are free to trust Him, completely free. Stay close to Him in the attitude of prayer so you can call on Him for any and all emergencies. Grandma Joan
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Enduring Hardships and Persevering Until the End
One thing I am pretty sure of and that is, that we have all endured hardships of some kind or another. But there may come worse hardships before Jesus comes. We need to be strengthened to be able to endure anything that might come upon us, regardless of what it is. We also need to be strong in His might to be able to Persevere until the End. So let's strengthen our mind so we may be able to endure anything that comes our way. Most of the trials we face will probably be spiritual trials to strengthen our faith, of course there will be physical trials too. All trials are given to strengthen our faith and prepare us for Christ's soon coming. Let's dig in.
Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for My names sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved." I am sure we have all be hated at one time or another, maybe not but if we stand up for Christ there is a good chance that will happen. I have been disliked because I stood up for what I believe and especially if I saw someone being hurt by another person.
Hebrews 12:7 "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chastens not? Have you been punished for something even if you didn't do it? We know we are guilty if God punishes us and usually it is to make us a better person. I'm not sure if God has punished me or not. I'm thinking I probably brought it upon myself but of course he allows things to help us be a better person and learn a lesson.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." This is wonderful promise for those of us who endure temptation. It's very important for us to endure so that we can receive that crown of life.
James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Remember how Job endured and his patience and how the Lord blessed him with twice as much as he had before his trials. This story always encourages me, I want to endure like Job, don't you?
1 Peter 2:19 "For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." We can be grateful when we endure grief or suffering for Christ's sake knowing that we will be stronger and stronger for enduring.
Job 17:9 "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
John 15:9 "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." If we continue in His love we will be able to have the strength to endure to the end.
Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Let's not get weary and faint along the way because there is a crown of life waiting for us.
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."We do have sins that seem to get hold of us at times, don't we? Let's lay them aside and be patient and run the Christian race that is set before us.
1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end of the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" We must wrap up the thoughts in our minds and be sober and have the hope that the revelation of Jesus Christ brings us.
Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." He is coming quickly, make sure we are holding on to what He has given us that someone else doesn't take our crowns. That would be a sad day if someone else slipped in and took our crown and we lost out. I can't think of anything worse. I can't wait to cast my crown at the feet of Jesus and praise Him for saving me from all my unworthiness. That will be a wonderful day, won't it? I hope you will be there and rejoice with me and we shall meet there for the first time. Grandma Joan
Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for My names sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved." I am sure we have all be hated at one time or another, maybe not but if we stand up for Christ there is a good chance that will happen. I have been disliked because I stood up for what I believe and especially if I saw someone being hurt by another person.
Hebrews 12:7 "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chastens not? Have you been punished for something even if you didn't do it? We know we are guilty if God punishes us and usually it is to make us a better person. I'm not sure if God has punished me or not. I'm thinking I probably brought it upon myself but of course he allows things to help us be a better person and learn a lesson.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." This is wonderful promise for those of us who endure temptation. It's very important for us to endure so that we can receive that crown of life.
James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Remember how Job endured and his patience and how the Lord blessed him with twice as much as he had before his trials. This story always encourages me, I want to endure like Job, don't you?
1 Peter 2:19 "For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." We can be grateful when we endure grief or suffering for Christ's sake knowing that we will be stronger and stronger for enduring.
Job 17:9 "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
John 15:9 "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." If we continue in His love we will be able to have the strength to endure to the end.
Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Let's not get weary and faint along the way because there is a crown of life waiting for us.
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."We do have sins that seem to get hold of us at times, don't we? Let's lay them aside and be patient and run the Christian race that is set before us.
1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end of the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" We must wrap up the thoughts in our minds and be sober and have the hope that the revelation of Jesus Christ brings us.
Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." He is coming quickly, make sure we are holding on to what He has given us that someone else doesn't take our crowns. That would be a sad day if someone else slipped in and took our crown and we lost out. I can't think of anything worse. I can't wait to cast my crown at the feet of Jesus and praise Him for saving me from all my unworthiness. That will be a wonderful day, won't it? I hope you will be there and rejoice with me and we shall meet there for the first time. Grandma Joan
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Promises from the Book of Ezekiel - Study 1
There are some wonderful promises in Ezekiel, read them carefully and take them to heart and they will bless you abundantly.
Ezekiel 11:17-20 "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God; I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have bee scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel, and they will go there and they will take away all it's detestable things and all it's abominations from there. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God."
Ezekiel 20:12 "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them."
Ezekiel 20:19,20 "I am the Lord your God: walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God."
Ezekiel 36:25-28 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the Land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God."
I hope you have been blessed by these wonderful promises, you may have to go over them again and again and cross reference them and if you do you will understand what a blessing they are and will be in your life. Please be blessed. Grandma Joan
Ezekiel 11:17-20 "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God; I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have bee scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel, and they will go there and they will take away all it's detestable things and all it's abominations from there. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God."
Ezekiel 20:12 "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them."
Ezekiel 20:19,20 "I am the Lord your God: walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God."
Ezekiel 36:25-28 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the Land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God."
I hope you have been blessed by these wonderful promises, you may have to go over them again and again and cross reference them and if you do you will understand what a blessing they are and will be in your life. Please be blessed. Grandma Joan
Monday, August 14, 2017
Promises from the Book of Jeremiah Study -1
The promises from Jeremiah are just as good as the others, just worded a little different but very excellent promises. They fill my heart with hope as do the others. May you be blessed by these.
Jeremiah 24:7 "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart."
God is patient and He has given us a heart to know Him, that He is Lord. We will return to Him with our whole heart when we realize that we are His people. May we realize that very soon.
Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health to you, and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord."
I am looking forward to God to restore health to me. Right now I have broken bones in my rib cage and in my chest an back and am in a lot of pain. He has promises to heal us of our wounds, and I have been wounded.
Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying, 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you."
God has loved us with an everlasting love and is drawing us to Himself with His loving kindness.
Jeremiah 31:16 "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own borders."
Another verse promising that our children will come back to their own borders.
Jeremiah 31:33 "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Jeremiah 32:38-40 "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; But I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me."
PS. Could I just add Lamentations with these, there are only two and they are very good promises?
Lamentations 3:31,32 "For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."
God is compassionate according to the multitude of His mercies and He is a very merciful God.
Lamentations 3:33 "For He does not afflict willingly, not grieve the children of men."
These verses were very encouraging to me, all of them, I just need to be patient in waiting on His timing and not mine. Patience is another virtue that could capitalize on. God has a lot of work to do in my life and He is working with me to make me a better person and to trust Him with all my life. I am so thankful. Grandma Joan
Jeremiah 24:7 "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart."
God is patient and He has given us a heart to know Him, that He is Lord. We will return to Him with our whole heart when we realize that we are His people. May we realize that very soon.
Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health to you, and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord."
I am looking forward to God to restore health to me. Right now I have broken bones in my rib cage and in my chest an back and am in a lot of pain. He has promises to heal us of our wounds, and I have been wounded.
Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying, 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you."
God has loved us with an everlasting love and is drawing us to Himself with His loving kindness.
Jeremiah 31:16 "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own borders."
Another verse promising that our children will come back to their own borders.
Jeremiah 31:33 "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Jeremiah 32:38-40 "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; But I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me."
PS. Could I just add Lamentations with these, there are only two and they are very good promises?
Lamentations 3:31,32 "For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."
God is compassionate according to the multitude of His mercies and He is a very merciful God.
Lamentations 3:33 "For He does not afflict willingly, not grieve the children of men."
These verses were very encouraging to me, all of them, I just need to be patient in waiting on His timing and not mine. Patience is another virtue that could capitalize on. God has a lot of work to do in my life and He is working with me to make me a better person and to trust Him with all my life. I am so thankful. Grandma Joan
Sunday, August 13, 2017
More promises from Isaiah - Study -4
This is the last study from Isaiah and if you have children it is one of the best promises except for Isaiah 49:25 this one is next or equal. I love this one and I trust God to fulfill them both. Thanks for reading.
Isaiah 60:1-5 "arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you."
Isaiah 61:10,11 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bride room decks himself with ornaments, for as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."
Isaiah 65:24 "It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking I will hear."
Isaiah 43:1-3 "Fear not for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name; Thou art mine. When thou pass through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers, they will not overflow thee; when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall flames kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior."
Isaiah had some beautiful promises in it, didn't it? Very meaningful!! Because of some of these verses I trust God to save my children, even though I've made mistakes through their life which I am so sorry for, I still believe He loves them as much as I do and will save them, and I thank Him for these promises, they keep me going. Grandma Joan
Isaiah 60:1-5 "arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you."
Isaiah 61:10,11 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bride room decks himself with ornaments, for as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."
Isaiah 65:24 "It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking I will hear."
Isaiah 43:1-3 "Fear not for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name; Thou art mine. When thou pass through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers, they will not overflow thee; when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall flames kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior."
Isaiah had some beautiful promises in it, didn't it? Very meaningful!! Because of some of these verses I trust God to save my children, even though I've made mistakes through their life which I am so sorry for, I still believe He loves them as much as I do and will save them, and I thank Him for these promises, they keep me going. Grandma Joan
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Promises from the Books of Hosea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah & Malachi.
I call these books written by the little prophets because their books are so small and I don't know how well read they are but they have some good promises in them and we would do well to go over them.
Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth."
Hosea 14:4-7 "I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon."
Joel 2:28,29 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
Micah 6:8 "He has shown thee, O man, What is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 7:18-20 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, you will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old."
Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
Habakkuk 1:5 "I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you."
Habakkuk 2:4 "The just shall live by his faith."
Habakkuk 2:20 "The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him."
Habakkuk 3:18,19 "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deers feet, and He will make me walk on my high hill."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Malachi 3:10,11 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts."
Malachi 4:2 "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, and you shall go out and grow fat like stall fed calves."
These promises like some of the others are easy to understand but need to be gone over and over to be able to comprehend the depth of them and be able to put them into practice. Remember all the promises in the Bible are on condition of love and obedience to our loving Savior. We cannot expect to receive all the things He has promised us if we don't love Him, repent of our sins and obey His commandments. That wouldn't be fair at all. Jesus expects us to repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Him and then He will fulfill His promises to us. Let us make sure our motives are right too, and we are not trying to obey the law so we can receive from Him. We need to obey because we love Him and want to serve Him with all our heart. When we surrender to Him our all in all, He has promised to come and live in us and do the work in us that is required of us. I know this is hard to understand and we will be covering some of this in our next studies. These are the last promises that I have found in the Bible. I hope you have been blessed by them and will continue to read the studies that I post to help you understand how easy it is to let Christ do the work in you. I am anxious to get to the core of this because it has bugged me for many years and I think I am beginning to understand it better now and will make sure I have it all right before I share it with you. There is a lot of love drawn up in these studies and I hope that you can sense it when you read. I love people and want to see a lot of people saved in God's kingdom, as many as I can help, so bear with me and we will work on it together to that end. Grandma Joan
Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth."
Hosea 14:4-7 "I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon."
Joel 2:28,29 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
Micah 6:8 "He has shown thee, O man, What is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 7:18-20 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, you will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old."
Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
Habakkuk 1:5 "I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you."
Habakkuk 2:4 "The just shall live by his faith."
Habakkuk 2:20 "The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him."
Habakkuk 3:18,19 "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deers feet, and He will make me walk on my high hill."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Malachi 3:10,11 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts."
Malachi 4:2 "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, and you shall go out and grow fat like stall fed calves."
These promises like some of the others are easy to understand but need to be gone over and over to be able to comprehend the depth of them and be able to put them into practice. Remember all the promises in the Bible are on condition of love and obedience to our loving Savior. We cannot expect to receive all the things He has promised us if we don't love Him, repent of our sins and obey His commandments. That wouldn't be fair at all. Jesus expects us to repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Him and then He will fulfill His promises to us. Let us make sure our motives are right too, and we are not trying to obey the law so we can receive from Him. We need to obey because we love Him and want to serve Him with all our heart. When we surrender to Him our all in all, He has promised to come and live in us and do the work in us that is required of us. I know this is hard to understand and we will be covering some of this in our next studies. These are the last promises that I have found in the Bible. I hope you have been blessed by them and will continue to read the studies that I post to help you understand how easy it is to let Christ do the work in you. I am anxious to get to the core of this because it has bugged me for many years and I think I am beginning to understand it better now and will make sure I have it all right before I share it with you. There is a lot of love drawn up in these studies and I hope that you can sense it when you read. I love people and want to see a lot of people saved in God's kingdom, as many as I can help, so bear with me and we will work on it together to that end. Grandma Joan
Friday, August 11, 2017
Promises from the book of Isaiah - Study 3
So sorry I got the Isaiah studies turned around but it doesn't change the meaning so I guess it will be OK this time. Remember to take God at His word and believe His promises.
Isaiah 55:7 last part. "Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
Isaiah 55:11,12 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, an all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
These verses are speaking of the new earth. It will be so wonderful to behold, nothing will be like it is here. Nothing at all. The beauty will be unspeakable. Can't even imagine.
Isaiah 57:15 "For thus says the High and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite (repentant) and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isaiah 57:19,20 "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, says the Lord, and I will heal him.' But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
I'm sure that most of us know what a troubled sea looks like, it's rough and stormy and it seems not to be able to rest, the waves are high and boistrous and scary too if you are out on it. We want to have peace like the verse says and not be like a troubled sea, don't we?
If you have the time and want to know what your duty as a Christian is, please read Isaiah 58. It is very eye opening.
Isaiah 59:1,2 "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear."
This verse tells us why our prayers have not been answered, doesn't it? I use to wonder why God didn't answer my prayers for my children or for better health or many other requests that I have prayed. Now I know. He wants to wash us clean in His cleansing blood and clothe us in His perfect righteousness and in return He expects us to be His obedient children. Do you think that is asking too much from us. After all He has done for us, I think it is the fair thing to require of us. I hope you do too. Grandma Joan
Isaiah 55:7 last part. "Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
Isaiah 55:11,12 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, an all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
These verses are speaking of the new earth. It will be so wonderful to behold, nothing will be like it is here. Nothing at all. The beauty will be unspeakable. Can't even imagine.
Isaiah 57:15 "For thus says the High and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite (repentant) and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isaiah 57:19,20 "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, says the Lord, and I will heal him.' But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
I'm sure that most of us know what a troubled sea looks like, it's rough and stormy and it seems not to be able to rest, the waves are high and boistrous and scary too if you are out on it. We want to have peace like the verse says and not be like a troubled sea, don't we?
If you have the time and want to know what your duty as a Christian is, please read Isaiah 58. It is very eye opening.
Isaiah 59:1,2 "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear."
This verse tells us why our prayers have not been answered, doesn't it? I use to wonder why God didn't answer my prayers for my children or for better health or many other requests that I have prayed. Now I know. He wants to wash us clean in His cleansing blood and clothe us in His perfect righteousness and in return He expects us to be His obedient children. Do you think that is asking too much from us. After all He has done for us, I think it is the fair thing to require of us. I hope you do too. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Promises from the book of Isaiah - Study - 1
Some of my favorite promises in the Bible are in Isaiah. I hope you get as much out of them as I have.
Isaiah 26:3,4 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord is everlasting strength."
I think we can all use all the peace we can get in this turbulent world we are in and wish things were getting better, but not sure if they are but we are promised peace if our mind is stayed on Christ.
Isaiah 26:12 "Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us."
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
I like it when it says 'In quietness and confidence shall be our strength. I live such a quiet life that noise is very disturbing to me.
Isaiah 30:19 "For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it He will answer you."
When He hears your cry, He will answer you.
Isaiah 30:21 "Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, 'whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."
This verse is a promise for guidance wherever we go, we are to have a sure guide.
Isaiah 32:17,18 "The work of the righteous will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
A wonderful promise for those who are stressed out! He has quiet resting places for us.
Isaiah 33:16 "He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, his water will be sure."
In times of trouble, we have the promise of Christ's place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, our bread will be given us and our water will be sure.
Don't you love these promises, I do. God is always ready to help us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. I am so thankful I have a Father in heaven to watch over me in all that I do or wherever I go. Such wonderful promises. Grandma Joan
Isaiah 26:3,4 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord is everlasting strength."
I think we can all use all the peace we can get in this turbulent world we are in and wish things were getting better, but not sure if they are but we are promised peace if our mind is stayed on Christ.
Isaiah 26:12 "Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us."
Isaiah 30:15 "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
I like it when it says 'In quietness and confidence shall be our strength. I live such a quiet life that noise is very disturbing to me.
Isaiah 30:19 "For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it He will answer you."
When He hears your cry, He will answer you.
Isaiah 30:21 "Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, 'whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."
This verse is a promise for guidance wherever we go, we are to have a sure guide.
Isaiah 32:17,18 "The work of the righteous will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
A wonderful promise for those who are stressed out! He has quiet resting places for us.
Isaiah 33:16 "He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, his water will be sure."
In times of trouble, we have the promise of Christ's place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, our bread will be given us and our water will be sure.
Don't you love these promises, I do. God is always ready to help us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. I am so thankful I have a Father in heaven to watch over me in all that I do or wherever I go. Such wonderful promises. Grandma Joan
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Promises from the book of Isaiah - Study 2
Just in case you are getting tired of the promises I have been sharing, I want to tell you why. This is what I found in the little book, 'Faith and works', it points out the reason why God's promises are so important. "As the sinner ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word, relief and peace come to his soul." Do you want relief and peace in your life and in your soul? Then take God at His word through His promises. We have discussed the condition to being a recipient of His promises which is obedience to His word. So as you are reading these promises, please take them to heart and claim then as yours and you will find relief and peace in your life and soul.
Isaiah 35:10 "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." This is a wonderful promise for me, I love to be happy and will be glad when sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Normally I am a happy Christian but I have had my sorrows too.
Isaiah 40:11 "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." I believe His sheep are His people, this describes what a loving shepherd is like, whether it is sheep or people, it's a wonderful picture of Jesus as the gentle Shepherd.
Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." This is worth remembering when we are weak and need strength. I am going to claim this promise every day because I am so weak at times, I don't accomplish much and I have always been on fire all my life on the run. This verse means a lot to me.
Isaiah 41:9,10 "You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, you are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Another great promise of what He will do for us, who are weak and need strengthening.
Isaiah 49:15,16 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before me."
Isaiah 49:25 "Thus says the Lord; 'even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away; and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children." This is the promise that I have claimed for my children for years and God is answering one at a time. I love Him so much and thank Him for all He is doing to save them.
Isaiah 54:13 "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." I have seen this happen and am so happy for this promise too.
Isaiah 55:7 last part. "Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God and He will abundantly pardon."
Are you thankful for an abundantly pardoning Savior, I am, I don't know what I would do without Him. Grandma Joan
Isaiah 35:10 "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." This is a wonderful promise for me, I love to be happy and will be glad when sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Normally I am a happy Christian but I have had my sorrows too.
Isaiah 40:11 "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." I believe His sheep are His people, this describes what a loving shepherd is like, whether it is sheep or people, it's a wonderful picture of Jesus as the gentle Shepherd.
Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." This is worth remembering when we are weak and need strength. I am going to claim this promise every day because I am so weak at times, I don't accomplish much and I have always been on fire all my life on the run. This verse means a lot to me.
Isaiah 41:9,10 "You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, you are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Another great promise of what He will do for us, who are weak and need strengthening.
Isaiah 49:15,16 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before me."
Isaiah 49:25 "Thus says the Lord; 'even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away; and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children." This is the promise that I have claimed for my children for years and God is answering one at a time. I love Him so much and thank Him for all He is doing to save them.
Isaiah 54:13 "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." I have seen this happen and am so happy for this promise too.
Isaiah 55:7 last part. "Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God and He will abundantly pardon."
Are you thankful for an abundantly pardoning Savior, I am, I don't know what I would do without Him. Grandma Joan
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs - Study - 6
This is the last study on Proverbs, I hope it has been rewarding to you, check out this one too.
Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart does good like a medicine."
I have found that this proverb is very true. I'm sure they all are but it is so important to be happy in whatever situation we are in. It just makes life so much easier and when we have Jesus in our life it is really an outcome for sure of happiness or a merry heart.
Proverbs 19:11 "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression."
It is a wonderful thing to be able to have the discretion and be slow to anger and have the glory to overlook the sin in others.
Proverbs 21:3 "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."
Proverbs 25:21,22 "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you."
Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man who is always reverent." And so pleasant to be around too.
Proverbs 28:25 "He who trust in the Lord will be prospered."
We should trust in the Lord with our lives and everyday duties and He will prosper us.
Proverbs 28:26 "Whoever walks wisely will be delivered."
Also if we are wise in our walk with the Lord, it says we will be delivered.
Proverbs 30:5,6 "Every word of God is pure, He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar."
We know that every word of God is pure and we should know that to add to His words we will be rebuked and be found a liar if we change any of them. That is really dangerous. I hope you have enjoyed the book of Proverbs. I love it, so much instruction in it and promises. Grandma Joan
PS I have to add a verse from Ecclesiastes because I found only one promise so will add it here.
Ecclesiastes 7:9,10 "Do not haste to be angry in your spirit, for anger rests in the bosom of fools."
I guess it really isn't a promise but good instruction along with all the others.
Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart does good like a medicine."
I have found that this proverb is very true. I'm sure they all are but it is so important to be happy in whatever situation we are in. It just makes life so much easier and when we have Jesus in our life it is really an outcome for sure of happiness or a merry heart.
Proverbs 19:11 "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression."
It is a wonderful thing to be able to have the discretion and be slow to anger and have the glory to overlook the sin in others.
Proverbs 21:3 "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."
Proverbs 25:21,22 "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you."
Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man who is always reverent." And so pleasant to be around too.
Proverbs 28:25 "He who trust in the Lord will be prospered."
We should trust in the Lord with our lives and everyday duties and He will prosper us.
Proverbs 28:26 "Whoever walks wisely will be delivered."
Also if we are wise in our walk with the Lord, it says we will be delivered.
Proverbs 30:5,6 "Every word of God is pure, He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar."
We know that every word of God is pure and we should know that to add to His words we will be rebuked and be found a liar if we change any of them. That is really dangerous. I hope you have enjoyed the book of Proverbs. I love it, so much instruction in it and promises. Grandma Joan
PS I have to add a verse from Ecclesiastes because I found only one promise so will add it here.
Ecclesiastes 7:9,10 "Do not haste to be angry in your spirit, for anger rests in the bosom of fools."
I guess it really isn't a promise but good instruction along with all the others.
Monday, August 7, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs -Study - 5
Proverbs 14:21 "He who has mercy on the poor, happy is he."
Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge."
Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death."
Proverbs 14:29 "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding."
Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart is life to the body."
Proverbs 15:4 "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life."
Proverbs 15:6 "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure."
Proverbs 15:7 "The lips of the wise disperse knowledge."
Proverbs 15:13 "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."
Proverbs 15:15 "He who has a merry heart has a continual feast."
Proverbs 15:18 "He who is slow to anger allays contention."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."
Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him."
Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
Proverbs 16:31 "The silver haired head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness."
Proverbs 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
I know there is a lot of instruction in these verses as well as promises. So much involved in Proverbs. But so timely for those of us who are preparing for Christ's kingdom. If we lived according to the instructions, we would have a good life with the promises that go with them. I think what I'm going to do is group all these promises under the subject that its talking about. Put them in a note book so I can reference them when ever I need them. That way I can find them very easy. It will take time which I have a lot of right now. I'll try to let you know when I'm done with this idea. As long as it's in the Bible it will be well worth while. Have a great study! Grandma Joan
Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge."
Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death."
Proverbs 14:29 "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding."
Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart is life to the body."
Proverbs 15:4 "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life."
Proverbs 15:6 "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure."
Proverbs 15:7 "The lips of the wise disperse knowledge."
Proverbs 15:13 "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."
Proverbs 15:15 "He who has a merry heart has a continual feast."
Proverbs 15:18 "He who is slow to anger allays contention."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."
Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him."
Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
Proverbs 16:31 "The silver haired head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness."
Proverbs 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
I know there is a lot of instruction in these verses as well as promises. So much involved in Proverbs. But so timely for those of us who are preparing for Christ's kingdom. If we lived according to the instructions, we would have a good life with the promises that go with them. I think what I'm going to do is group all these promises under the subject that its talking about. Put them in a note book so I can reference them when ever I need them. That way I can find them very easy. It will take time which I have a lot of right now. I'll try to let you know when I'm done with this idea. As long as it's in the Bible it will be well worth while. Have a great study! Grandma Joan
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs - Study - 4
More promises from Proverbs: Remember the word 'fear' usually means 'reverence'.
Proverbs 13:3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life."
Isn't it true that if we don't guard our tongue, we can get in a lot of trouble, most usually more than we bargain for.
Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the diligent shall be made rich."
I believe this is talking about Spiritual riches, and if we are diligent we will be made Spiritually rich.
Proverbs 13:6 "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless."
Righteousness is our body guard if we are walking in God's way.
Proverbs 13:11 "He who gathers by labor will increase."
It's true isn't it that a lazy person is always poor.
Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."
Have you ever looked forward to something exciting and it was put off indefinitely and then when the event happened it was so exciting, it was like a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:13 "He who fears the commandment will be rewarded."
If we reverence God's commandments, we will be rewarded with eternal life.
Proverbs 13:14 "The law of the wise is a fountain of life."
Proverbs 13:16 "Every prudent man acts with knowledge."
Proverbs 13:17 "A faithful ambassador brings health."
Proverbs 13:18 "He who regards a rebuke will be honored."
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with wise men will be wise."
Proverbs 13:21 "To the righteous, good shall be repaid."
The last six are easy to understand. The only reason I try to elaborate on some of them is because my readers are so diverse from all over the world and I just do it to help understand the meanings of some of the verses. It even helps me at times when I try to explain them. I am not above needing help. Not at all. I just want my blogs to be easily understood. I pray that they are. Grandma Joan
Proverbs 13:3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life."
Isn't it true that if we don't guard our tongue, we can get in a lot of trouble, most usually more than we bargain for.
Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the diligent shall be made rich."
I believe this is talking about Spiritual riches, and if we are diligent we will be made Spiritually rich.
Proverbs 13:6 "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless."
Righteousness is our body guard if we are walking in God's way.
Proverbs 13:11 "He who gathers by labor will increase."
It's true isn't it that a lazy person is always poor.
Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."
Have you ever looked forward to something exciting and it was put off indefinitely and then when the event happened it was so exciting, it was like a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:13 "He who fears the commandment will be rewarded."
If we reverence God's commandments, we will be rewarded with eternal life.
Proverbs 13:14 "The law of the wise is a fountain of life."
Proverbs 13:16 "Every prudent man acts with knowledge."
Proverbs 13:17 "A faithful ambassador brings health."
Proverbs 13:18 "He who regards a rebuke will be honored."
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with wise men will be wise."
Proverbs 13:21 "To the righteous, good shall be repaid."
The last six are easy to understand. The only reason I try to elaborate on some of them is because my readers are so diverse from all over the world and I just do it to help understand the meanings of some of the verses. It even helps me at times when I try to explain them. I am not above needing help. Not at all. I just want my blogs to be easily understood. I pray that they are. Grandma Joan
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs - Study 3
We will continue with chapter 12 today. There is so much to cover because there are so many in Proverbs. I don't want to miss any so bear with me as we search them out.
Proverbs 12:2 "A good man obtains favor from the Lord."
Proverbs 12:3 "The root of the righteous cannot be moved."
Proverbs 12:4 "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband."
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man regards the life of his animal." (Our pets or those that work for us)
Proverbs 12:15 "He who heeds counsel is wise."
Proverbs 12:16 "A prudent man covers shame."
Proverbs 12:19 "The truthful lip shall be established forever."
Proverbs 12:20 "Counselors of peace have joy."
Proverbs 12:21 "No grave trouble will overtake the righteous."
Proverbs 12:22 "Those who deal truthfully are His delight."
Proverbs 12:23 "A prudent man conceals knowledge."
Proverbs 12:24 "The hand of the diligent will rule."
Proverbs 12:27 "Diligence is a man's precious possession."
Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness is life."
There are lots of instruction in these texts and lots of promises for us to contemplate, that go along with the instructions. You will have a whole book of promises when these posts are done. You could make a list of them so that you could go over and over them and get them ingrained in your mind.
The time is coming when we will need them all, or at least many of them to keep us on the right track. Grandma Joan
Proverbs 12:2 "A good man obtains favor from the Lord."
Proverbs 12:3 "The root of the righteous cannot be moved."
Proverbs 12:4 "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband."
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man regards the life of his animal." (Our pets or those that work for us)
Proverbs 12:15 "He who heeds counsel is wise."
Proverbs 12:16 "A prudent man covers shame."
Proverbs 12:19 "The truthful lip shall be established forever."
Proverbs 12:20 "Counselors of peace have joy."
Proverbs 12:21 "No grave trouble will overtake the righteous."
Proverbs 12:22 "Those who deal truthfully are His delight."
Proverbs 12:23 "A prudent man conceals knowledge."
Proverbs 12:24 "The hand of the diligent will rule."
Proverbs 12:27 "Diligence is a man's precious possession."
Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness is life."
There are lots of instruction in these texts and lots of promises for us to contemplate, that go along with the instructions. You will have a whole book of promises when these posts are done. You could make a list of them so that you could go over and over them and get them ingrained in your mind.
The time is coming when we will need them all, or at least many of them to keep us on the right track. Grandma Joan
Friday, August 4, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs - study-2
More from the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."
Proverbs 8:32 "Blessed are those who keep My ways.
Proverbs 9:10,11 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you."
Proverbs 10:31 "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom."
Proverbs 10:32 "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable."
Proverbs 11:2 "With the humble is wisdom."
Proverbs 11:12 "A man of understanding holds his peace."
Proverbs 11:16 "A gracious woman retains honor."
Proverbs 11:18 "He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward."
Proverbs 11:19 "Righteousness leads to life."
Proverbs 11:20 "The blameless in their ways are His delight."
Proverbs 11:21 "The posterity of the righteous will be delivered."
Proverbs 11:27 "He who earnestly seeks good finds favor."
Proverbs 11:28 "The righteous will flourish like foliage."
Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
I think all these texts explain themselves and are full of promises for every day life and also instruction for everyday life. I am learning to really trust God's promises. He has blessed me so many times with personal needs, there should never be a doubt in my mind as to whether to trust Him or not. I am ashamed to say there are times that I get discouraged with pain and wonder why I am suffering so but I know that I must trust Him through it and I am trying, it's just a hard path to walk in. I saw some proverbs in the list above that surely apply to me. Did you find any? I pray that you all were blessed. Grandma Joan
Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."
Proverbs 8:32 "Blessed are those who keep My ways.
Proverbs 9:10,11 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you."
Proverbs 10:31 "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom."
Proverbs 10:32 "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable."
Proverbs 11:2 "With the humble is wisdom."
Proverbs 11:12 "A man of understanding holds his peace."
Proverbs 11:16 "A gracious woman retains honor."
Proverbs 11:18 "He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward."
Proverbs 11:19 "Righteousness leads to life."
Proverbs 11:20 "The blameless in their ways are His delight."
Proverbs 11:21 "The posterity of the righteous will be delivered."
Proverbs 11:27 "He who earnestly seeks good finds favor."
Proverbs 11:28 "The righteous will flourish like foliage."
Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
I think all these texts explain themselves and are full of promises for every day life and also instruction for everyday life. I am learning to really trust God's promises. He has blessed me so many times with personal needs, there should never be a doubt in my mind as to whether to trust Him or not. I am ashamed to say there are times that I get discouraged with pain and wonder why I am suffering so but I know that I must trust Him through it and I am trying, it's just a hard path to walk in. I saw some proverbs in the list above that surely apply to me. Did you find any? I pray that you all were blessed. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Promises from the book of Proverbs -Study 1
Once upon a time I was going to write a book about the Proverbs, but was a busy person at the time and didn't seem to get to it. But I still love the book of Proverbs, and there are lots of instruction in it and plenty of promises too. To start with, we will just begin in chapter 1.
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
If we reverence God, He will bless us with wisdom. I am sure all of us could use wisdom for just about anything in life.
Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Don't try to lean on your own understanding, things will fail us if we do. We must acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths. Our understanding will seem so feeble compared to His.
Proverbs 37,8 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."
If we want health and strong bones, we must reverence God and depart from evil, and not try to be wise ourselves, our wisdom comes from God when we reverence Him.
Proverbs 3:9,10 "Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."
Do you want to have plenty? The way is to honor the Lord with our possessions and with the first fruits of all our increase and we will have plenty for ourselves and others.
Proverbs 3:21-24 "Keep sound wisdom and discretion; For they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet."
Get your sound wisdom and discretion from God and they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck, I think it means it will give grace to your being and we can walk safely and will not stumble. Our sleep will be sweet and we will be refreshed.
Proverbs 3:33,34 "He blesses the home of the just. He gives grace to the humble."
We want our homes to be blessed, don't we? And He gives grace to the humble when He blesses us, that is part of His blessing. I love Proverbs, so much to learn from this book. Grandma Joan
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
If we reverence God, He will bless us with wisdom. I am sure all of us could use wisdom for just about anything in life.
Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Don't try to lean on your own understanding, things will fail us if we do. We must acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths. Our understanding will seem so feeble compared to His.
Proverbs 37,8 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."
If we want health and strong bones, we must reverence God and depart from evil, and not try to be wise ourselves, our wisdom comes from God when we reverence Him.
Proverbs 3:9,10 "Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."
Do you want to have plenty? The way is to honor the Lord with our possessions and with the first fruits of all our increase and we will have plenty for ourselves and others.
Proverbs 3:21-24 "Keep sound wisdom and discretion; For they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet."
Get your sound wisdom and discretion from God and they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck, I think it means it will give grace to your being and we can walk safely and will not stumble. Our sleep will be sweet and we will be refreshed.
Proverbs 3:33,34 "He blesses the home of the just. He gives grace to the humble."
We want our homes to be blessed, don't we? And He gives grace to the humble when He blesses us, that is part of His blessing. I love Proverbs, so much to learn from this book. Grandma Joan
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