Category: Introduction

Ask God daily to put more love in your heart for Him. The world steals your love for Him daily. Also, ask Him to put more thankfulness in your heart.

Be strong in your trust in your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t let the evil up the road make you feel weak. You have prayed and listened. Oh, how He also listened to you too. God knows you want to be close to Him. Also, He knows how this world tries to pull you away. He knows of the struggle you go through to have time to be close to Him. Remember, He sent the Holy Spirit to help you. You will find your way when you learn to listen to Him. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Wisdom. He will enlighten you. Now may the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Be strong in your trust in your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t let the evil up the road make you feel weak. You have prayed and listened. Oh, how He also listened to you too. God knows you want to be close to Him. Also, He knows how this world tries to pull you away. He knows of the struggle you go through to have time to be close to Him. Remember, He sent the Holy Spirit to help you. You will find your way when you learn to listen to Him. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Wisdom. He will enlighten you. “Now may the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV

Several Sundays back I heard a sermon that resonated with me. It was from John 5:1-9. This is the story of the crippled, sick, disabled man. The King James version says a man who was “impotent”, and I urged our pastor NOT to use that description unless he wanted to deal with Jesus and Viagra jokes after the service! Anyway, this is the man who had laid by the pool at Bethesda for THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS, trying to get to the healing waters. Jesus spots him and for unknown reasons picks that man to approach and He asks him what seems to be the most ridiculous question, “Do you want to get well?” I had always breezed over that question and chalked it up to one of the “riddle questions” Jesus made a habit of asking people. I mean, OF COURSE, the man wants to get well! Right?! Or was Jesus maybe probing at something deeper…

The man responded with his list of excuses on why he’d been unable to “get well” yet. Jesus simply responded, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk!”

It says the man instantly got well, picked up his mat, and walked. I guess that means he did want to get well. Is it possible that he could have just refused and continued to make excuses? Yes, I think it is. Why? Because I see it Every. Single. Day.

One of the hardest things I’ve ever learned is that not everyone wants to be made well. Some people enjoy being pitied or dependent on others. Some are reluctant to leave the familiar and explore possibilities for a better life. It is difficult to impose healing on a person who is comfortable with the way things are. Such a person is likely to sabotage efforts to produce change.

I mean, think about it. This guy had gotten used to depending on others for his every need. 38 years is plenty of time for some strong and comfortable habits to develop. If he were to be made well, he would be expected to get up and care for himself. He would probably need to get a job, find a place to live, get his own food, etc. Surly he had “counted the cost” of getting well over the years. Jesus healing him would not just change his circumstances but would ultimately change who this guy was. Was this guy ready for it? I guess so.

How heartbreaking would it have been for Jesus if the man had said, “You know what, I think I’m good where I’m at. This has worked for me for a long time, so I don’t think I REALLY want to get well. I think I like these excuses I have for staying right where I’m at.”

It seems absurd that someone would respond that way, but they do. Maybe not word for word like that, but they make the choice to not get well when the solution to do so is placed squarely in their lap. I don’t know how many nights I’ve cried myself to sleep, beat the steering wheel while I drove, or wanted to curl in the shower while the hot water pelted me because someone chose to throw the “cure for their ailment” I was offering them right into the trash. People who are so attached to their problems that they’d rather use them as excuses for never improving or changing. People who tolerate an issue while claiming to be a victim. Then some are so stuck in their depression, anger, hate, pride, or fear that those are the only emotions they know anymore.

It’s hard, really hard when you see this happen over and over again and keep from becoming angry, bitter, jaded, pessimistic, and cynical. Then, the other day, one of those spam emails came through that I have no idea how I got on the list and I usually mass delete but I stopped on this one and opened it. The paraphrase is, “Hey sister, I see you. You’ve been showing up. You’ve worked hard. You’ve tried your best to follow where He has led you. You didn’t expect it to lead you to where you are now. Your heart is in the right place. You sincerely want to make a difference, but your calling has burned you.

Written by my niece Katrina Robertson.

Throughout time, God reveals Himself to those who want to know Him. Even our world and the universe show that someone with knowledge, a knowledge that is without boundaries, made all things.

Now God did not make the earth, moons, planets, and stars for Himself, for He did not need them. God made everything for us. It was perfect. All things showed His glory. Now, I am not sure how God appears. I assume it reveals a type of Light that we cannot imagine. Maybe, it is a type of luminous light that penetrate all things beyond our comprehension.

I believe that when God made the first man and woman, they had the glory of God surrounding them. I believe, that when they disobeyed God, His glory left them and the universe. They were clothed in God’s glory, and then they were not clothed. Then they knew they were naked. Sin entered humans. From that time on, man has spiraled downward.

God is all-knowing. He knew before He started making the word that we would not have pure thoughts and actions. God knew we would enjoy loving Him and have immeasurable joy if we could be together. He knew, He would have to do something so He could look upon us. He is Holy. We are not holy.

He had a plan. He would come to earth as a baby through a virgin girl. Now the baby had God’s Spirit. God did leave some of His attributes in heaven. We call that part left in heaven, Father and/or God. His earthly part we call, Jesus. Jesus lived on earth without sin, although Satan tried His best to cause Jesus to sin. He lived without sin, even when the people of the Earth killed him by hanging him on a cross.

On the third day, He rose up from the grave alive with His body and Spirit. MANY, many people saw Him. They talked to Him. They felt the scars on His hands and feet. After 40 days, He returned to heaven. He told them that He would return one day for His children.

If you believe that Jesus did these things without a doubt, you can become a child of God. Then when God looks at you, He will see Jesus’s blood. He will not see all the unholy and bad things you have done. Then you can live in peace and happiness beyond measure in heaven.

You must believe:

1. ” Jesus is the only one that can bring you into heaven. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ” (I Timothy 2:5). “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
2. Believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.
3. Tell Jesus Christ (Pray) that you want to turn from your sins. Confess them to Jesus and that you are sorry. Ask Jesus for help in not continuing sinful acts and thoughts.
4. You need to tell others that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. “If thou shall confess with thou mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).
5. Believe that Jesus will return.

When you do these things and believe in your heart, you will receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is sent to help you.

The Holy Bible is God’s Word. He tells of His relationship with people. It tells us the truth. The Bible gives us examples of the good things people did. It tells of the bad things people did. Also, it tells about how God responded to these things. In the New Testament of the Bible, it tells of Jesus’s life on earth and His teachings written by people who are called disciples and apostles who knew Jesus. It tells of Jesus’s teachings.

The book of John in the New Testament is a good place to start.

As humans, we struggle to understand the width and breadth of God’s all-encompassing nature. The unity of purpose that exists and operates within the three-persons of God is usually beautiful and mysterious. In John 7, Jesus revealed that He spoke on behalf of His Father. He promised the indwelling Holy Spirit as the source of living water to satisfy the soul-thirst of all who believe in Him. The union among God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit continues to humble and baffle us.

The Bible clearly upholds the union of the three persons of the Godhead. Though distinct, all three are fully God and work harmoniously with one another to accomplish God’s plan. As God reveals His truth to us, we increasingly come to appreciate the majesty of the triune God we worship. God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save sinners. God the Holy Spirit sparks new life within believers, seals them as God’s children, and provides ongoing, indwelling power to live for God. The past, present, and future aspects of salvation involve all three persons of God.

Anyone who fails to appreciate the beautiful cooperation and community among the three persons of God misses an awesome glimpse of God Himself. Though human limitations do not allow us to grasp the totality of wonder surrounding Go, whatever we understand is more than enough to humble us before His greatness. Many attempt the impossible to confine God to the boundaries of their intellect or personal approval. In Jesus’s day and ours, most people reject truth they cannot understand.

Jesus came representing His Father’s heart, accomplishing His Father’s will, and demonstrating His Father’s authority. The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ and gives us the power to surrender with obedience to the Father. Believers can rejoice in the boundlessness of God that exceeds the confines of their own minds. The simple unity, complex diversity, and amazing cooperation within the three persons of God should lead us to worship a God who surpasses us in every way. If you are a believer, will you marvel at all God has done to save you? If you have not yielded to God, in all His infinite wisdom and wonder, will you do so today?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. God’s higher ways: Isaiah 55:8-9

2. The Father sent the Son: 1 John 4:14

3. The Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30

4. Three persons: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:30-36; Ephesians 1:3-10; :1-4

Bible Study Fellowship, c1973, 1978, 1984, 2011-2023, Bibleca, Inc., The Truth, John’s Gospel, Page 161

Why God Answers Prayer:

God answers prayer to prove He is God.

God answers prayer to build your faith.

God answers prayer so that your joy may be full.

So that you depend on Him.

KEYS:

Pray in the spirit (I Corinthians 14:2)

Allow the Holy Spirit to pray with you and/or for you.

Pray in the early hours. God will seal their instruction and direction in the night hours (Genesis 33:15-18). God wants to warn you of danger and keep His people from pershing. 3 to 6 am is the night watch. The Jews believed that this is when God visits the earth and if you are awake when God visits, you may have visions and dreams and hear God’s voice.

These leadings and God’s voice is not limited to the early hours of the day. God has awakened me at this time and burdened me to pray. But His leadership and voice can happen at any time. The Holy Spirit within you is there for every second of your life. He is perfect at nudging you at the right time. Remember, all of this happens because of prayer. You must be obeying God and love Him. Now in times of mercy, He may still lead you in the right direction.

The Spirit of God will give you feelings of impending danger. Start praying immediately.

You may become heavy with burden. This is when your spirit becomes very, very heavy. Now the soul and spirit are two different things, but they work together. The soul houses our emotions. The spirit is that which was made in the image of God. Again, it is best to start praying immediately.

It is through prayer that you can feel the Holy Spirit telling you of impending dangers. It is through prayer that the Holy Spirit can tell you the intent of other people. In this age, we need help with knowing the intent of people. For example, an opportunist or someone who wants to harm us.

It is through prayer and obedience that helps to unclog our ears and eyes. We want to see and hear the spiritual.

1. He knows you by name. Isaiah 43:1
2. He will fight for you. Exodus 14:14
3. He thinks about you. Psalms 139:17
4. He has plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11
5. He is your refuge. Psalms 62:6-8
6. He is always with you. Matthew 28:20

GOD’S LOVE

If you have children, you love them unconditionally. You want to be near them. When they come to visit, you do not tell them to go away. When they hurt, your heart hurts with them.

This is how Jesus feels toward each of us. Since Jesus’s love is perfect and He comes from heaven, His love is magnified beyond any love we have toward our children. He grieves when we are hurt and live a life that will bring us pain. Since Jesus loves us more than we can imagine, He also grieves more than we can imagine.

That is why Jesus died for us. It took His death (His sacrifice) to bring us to God. If we accept Jesus’s sacrifice for us, we can be with Him after our death. Or when He calls us to join Him in heaven one day. You can sense His presence within you to help you live according to what the Bible says is right.

The Bible is God’s Word left for us to show us what is right and good for us. The Bible gives examples of other people in the past and their relationship with God. It is good for us to know how God moved in other people’s lives and how it points to Jesus before He was born. This history of man’s relationship with God is found in the section of the Bible that is called the Old Testament. The section called the New Testament tells about Jesus’ birth, His life, and His death. After Jesus’ death, it tells about those who knew Jesus and what He shared with them. Some people saw Jesus die and then 3 days later they saw Him alive. I am so thankful they shared their experiences.

“Jesus exposed evil. He taught what was right. Jesus works through the ordinary moments of life to reveal His extraordinary power and authority. Because of Jesus, we enjoy a renewed relationship with God Himself. Jesus longs to cleanse you from anything that dishonors God. Jesus offers transforming power to the lives of those who follow, love, and worship Him.

How have you responded to Jesus’ offer? What excuses hold you back from trusting Jesus? Will you ask God to help you see and believe all He has revealed to you through His Word (the Holy Bible)? What keeps you from the Savior (Jesus) who loves you and longs for a relationship with you.”(1)

1, John Gospel, Page 52, BSF

I lift my head toward the stars above to worship my Lord Jesus. My tears fall to the ground where His blood once fell. My LORD, I want to feel Your presence. I want to behold the presence I love. Emmanuel, the Holy One, the Light of my life. My Guide and Counselor come to me.

Oh, my Lord Jesus Christ, I feel your presence. Lord, I bow before you in tears to worship You. My worthy King, I enter Your gates with thanksgiving. I am unworthy of such lovingkindness. I enter Your courts with praise for I love you. Give me Your song that is praising You forever. I give thanks to You and bless your name. Your faithfulness to me is a wonder, but You are a forgiving God.

I now feel that I am standing at the curtain that separated You and me some time ago. Jesus Christ, I cry out to You, for my God will not look upon evil, no matter how small. But my LORD JESUS moves the curtain and takes my heart to God and stands between God and me.

Your Words are cherished by me. Your thoughts of me are so precious. My heart stands in awe of Thy Word. Teach me Your ways, Oh Lord, so I may please You. Be gracious to me, so I may glorify Your name. So I may walk in Your truth. So I may seek refuge under Your wings, for there is terror throughout the night and day.

But Your glory lets me know that You are faithful to me. I know You will deliver me. For I will be with You, my God, and I will behold my Salvation.

(Genesis 100:4 How I should pray everyday.)