Bible Study #746

The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus. These are the birthmarks of the believer. #746 22 Sept 15 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces, of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13 Grateful for . . . . THE WORD OF GOD ! (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) Greetings! Struggle: A term used of hand-to-hand combat, rendered as “wrestle” by some translations. Struggling or wrestling features trickery and deception, like Satan and his hosts when they attack. Coping with deceptive temptation requires truth and righteousness. The 4 designations describe the different strata and rankings of those demons and the evil supernatural empire in which they operate. Satan’s forces of darkness are highly structured for the most destructive purposes. (Col 2:15; 1 Pet 3:22) Not against flesh and blood: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us “ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ “ . Spiritual forces of wickedness: This possibly refers to the most depraved abominations, including such things as extreme sexual perversions, occultism, and Satan worship. In the heavenly places: As in 1:3; 3:10, this refers to the entire realm of spiritual beings. Therefore, take up the full armor of God: Paul again emphasized the necessity of the Christian’s appropriating God’s full spiritual armor by obedience in taking it up, or putting it on (v.11). The first 3 pieces of armor (girdle, breastplate, and shoes/boots, vs. 14, 15) were worn continually on the battlefield; the last 3 (shield, helmet, and sword, vs 16, 17) were kept ready for use when actual fighting began. The evil day: Since the fall of man, every day has been evil, a condition that will persist until the Lord returns and establishes His own righteous kingdom on earth. Having done everything, to stand firm: Standing firm against the enemy without wavering or falling is the goal. More on this subject next week. Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart! ♥ Memory verse for this week: Col. 2:8 This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ] 1. What Question is asked about the grave? 2. To which disciple did Jesus give the keys to Heaven? * * * * * * * * * When you have sinned . . . read Ps 51 * * * * * * * * * BIBLE MEDITATION: Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor 1:9 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: John Calvin was one of the greatest theologians who ever lived. He said, “I gave up all for Christ and what have I found? I have found everything in Christ.” Do you wish you could say that too? You can. Just don’t get confused about what it means to “give up all” to find Christ. So many think that being a disciple means they must get into a movement or go to the mission field or attend seminary. Friend, being a disciple is fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ — knowing Jesus intimately and following Him wherever He leads. Fellowship with Christ comes before service for Christ. We must minister to Jesus before we can minister to anyone else. ACTION POINT: Are you praying about where you fit in the body of Christ as His disciple? Spend some time fellowshipping with Him this week and the answer will come. from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers * * * * * * * * * If discouraged about your work . . . read Ps 126 * * * * * * * * * We have begun another journey and will learn from the book "AGENTS of the APOCALYPSE" written by David Jeremiah. A Riveting Look at the Key Players of the End Times. GBY . . . . AGENTS of the APOCALYPSE . . . . chapter two THE MARTYRS . . Once they were tucked away at a remote table in the local café, Matthew wasted no time. “This is Judas Christopher’s doing. We’ve learned that the is anti-Semitic down to the marrow. He has forced our own gutless premier to get rid of all the Jews in Italy.” “But why--?” “Firing us is just his first step. Jews in other Italian cities are quietly being rounded up and shipped away on trains. We don’t know where they are being taken, but n one has returned. We’ve just learned that Turin is next, and the purge could begin at any moment.” “Who is this we you keep referring to?” “An underground network organized to help Jews in this crisis.” Matthew leaned toward Daniel. “We have set up a secret headquarters in the basement of an abandoned factory building. We call it the Exchange. We’re linked to Exchanges in other cities through a communication network that gathers information to help Jews escape into France. You need to come see us.” Matthew gave Daniel a pointed look. “Come tonight. There may not be much time.” That night, following Matthew’s instructions, Daniel went to the Exchange. He parked his car three blocks away and walked to the old warehouse. Like a burglar about to break into a house, he looked in all directions before entering the alley between the last standing wall of the building and the equally damaged factory adjacent to it. Once inside, he descended the stairwell to the basement and knocked softly on the metal door. He was admitted immediately into a space that had formerly been the warehouse locker room and recreation area. Matthew greeted him with a broad smile. Eighteen or twenty others, both men and women, sat at mismatched desks around the room. Matthew sat Daniel in a chair that looked like a Salvation Army reject, and after introducing him to his associates, he got straight to the point. “As I told you, we collectively run an underground operation to help Jews anywhere flee from Judas Christopher’s purge. We also have another purpose: we are all Messianic Jews, which is another name for Christians who—“ “You? A Christian?” Daniel was incredulous. “But you were always such a staunch Jew!” “The big disappearance forced me to do some serious soul-searching,” he said. “And since my conversion, I have joined these brothers and sisters in devoting ourselves not only to saving our fellow Jews’ lives but also to saving their souls.” “Why would you wasn’t to become a Christian now?” “Well, I didn’t know much about Christianity before. But the fact that only Christians were taken in the Rapture got my attention. I knew that had to mean something. So I got a Christian Bible with a commentary and learned that all this had been predicted. The more I studied, the more I realized that Christianity is actually the fulfillment of Judaism. So I became a believer in the crucified and resurrected Messiah.” “And what about these other people working with you?” Daniel asked, “How were they converted?” “The Rapture opened their minds to Christianity, just as it did for me. Our paths crossed through various circumstances, and we’ve been getting together to share what we’re learning.” Matthew’s face glowed as if lit by some inner fire. “You are really into this,” Daniel said. “Yes. It has been revealed to me that I am one of 144,000 Jewish evangelists throughout the world who have been called to bring people to belief in our Messiah.” Daniel rolled his eyes. “Come on, Matthew. How can you possibly know all this?” Matthew was ready for the question. He took his Bible—only weeks old, but already showing signs of wear—and pointed to passage after passage explaining how Jesus’ coming made sense of hundreds of prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures. He went on to show passages from the New Testament that explained the current disturbing events, and horrors looming on the horizon, and his mission. Matthew closed his Bible and looked gravely at his friend. “Daniel, you can see that the death and resurrection of our Messiah as well as everything we’re experiencing now were prophesied in this book. Now I urge you to do two things.” “I’m listening.” “First, I beg you to turn to our Messiah before it’s too late. Second, you need to get out of Italy immediately.” Daniel was ready on both counts. Matthew took him to an adjacent room, where he opened the book of Romans and explained the gospel to him in greater detail. Daniel committed his life to following Christ, knowing full well that the cost could be steep. But now that he understood the sacrifice Jesus had made on his behalf, he was willing to lay down everything—even his life, if necessary. Matthew explained that first thing in the morning, Daniel was to go to the bank and withdraw all his savings. Soon after he returned home, a FedEx truck would pick him up. He was to take only one suitcase, and he would be driven directly to the sister Exchange in Grenoble, France, along with other Jewish refugees. Yet another shock awaited Daniel at his bank the next day: the government had already confiscated every euro he had. The gravity of the situation was really starting to sink in now. He rushed home, locked the doors, and shuttered all the windows. As he stuffed his suitcase, he heard a furious pounding at the door. Peering through a slit in the blinds, he saw five armed men in Italian military uniforms. The knock came again, loud enough to rattle the windows this time. Daniel grabbed his suit case and headed for the back door. He heard the front window shatter, followed by the stomping of heavy boots. At that moment, shouts and pounding erupted at the back door. He turned and bounded down the basement stairway. Just as his pursuers clambered into the basement, he managed to shatter one of the narrow windows just above ground level and wriggle out, leaving his suitcase behind. Daniel ran down the alley behind the houses in his neighborhood. He could hear the soldiers shouting behind him, but they were too far back to see him. Soon he was gasping for breath, and his knees were buckling. He knew he wouldn’t be able to run much longer. He rounded a corner and almost collided with a garbage can. He crawled inside a pulled the lid over him. Moments later the soldiers rushed by, cursing and bellowing. Trembling with terror, Daniel remained there for more than an hour before he dared to take out his cell phone. He called Matthew and explained what had happened. “Whatever you do, don’t come here.” Matthew’s voice was tense. “They’re onto us, and we’ve scattered. Jews all over the country are being caught and shipped to gas chambers modeled after those in Auschwitz and Dachau. We’re all in grave danger. You must get to France immediately, but not by the highway. You’ll have to walk across the countryside at night.” As soon as dusk fell, Daniel Goldman began his westward trek toward France, creeping through fields and woods under cover of darkness. Obstacle after obstacle slowed him down—barking dogs, fences, creeks, and farms to be skirted. At one point he fell into an unseen ravine, and a farmer nearby must heave hear him, because several shots were fired in his direction. He managed to escape unscathed, but hunger continued to stalk him. He snatched corn from the fields and fruit from wooded areas whenever he could, but it was barely enough to keep him going. Finally, after four long nights, he had covered the thirty-plus miles to the border. He made his way over the Alps through a gap near the highway and reached France just as the sun rose behind him. It was now safe for him to hitchhike, and following his friend’s instructions, Daniel found the sister Exchange the Jews had set up there. The Grenoble Exchange fed and housed Daniel until he secured a position with a local law firm. He worked in relative safety for three years, donating much of his salary to the Exchange and volunteering for them in the evenings. He continued to grow in his faith, meeting with fellow members of the Exchange in the evenings to study Scripture and discuss how to apply it to their lives. next week: . . THE MARTYRS cont. . . * * * * * * * * * If you need assurance . . . read Mark 8:35 * * * * * * * * * PROMISE of HIS RETURN RESTATED, Part 1 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Matt. 16:28 In light of Jesus’ growing opposition by the Jewish leaders and His predictions of impending death, it was surely with some skepticism that the disciples heard their Lord’s promise of one day returning in glory. Understanding the disciples’ bewilderment and weak faith, Jesus repeated the promise, adding that “some of those who are standing here . . . will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” “Taste death” was a common Jewish expression that referred to drinking the cup of death, or in other words, to dying. Jesus assured the Twelve that some of them would see Him “coming in His kingdom” before they died. To understand correctly what Jesus meant, it is first of all helpful to know that the Greek word basileia (kingdom) was often used as a metonym to mean “royal majesty” or “regal splendor”—in much the same way that scepter has been used figuratively to represent royal power and authority. Used in that way, basileia would refer to a manifestation of Jesus’ kingliness rather than His literal earthly reign. His promise could therefore be translated, “until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingly splendor.” That’s exactly what Peter, James, and John saw six days later at His transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8). ASK YOURSELF What do you do with selected statements of Scripture that seem obviously contradictory to each other or to your own experience? In light of this one, which seems on its face to be untrue, what do you gain by beginning with confidence in the truthfulness of His Word? * * * * * * * * * If you need reassurance . . . read Ps 145:18 * * * * * * * * * Q & A With McGee – Q: What are the marks of a false teacher? A. First of all, read 2 Corinthians 11:3-15. Paul labels as a false prophet the man who denies the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have no right to claim to be a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ and then deny the very One that you are preaching. And then, the office of the apostles went out a long time ago, after the death of the original apostles and those who saw the living Christ. After that it’s the written record that they gave to us that we are to turn to. So the minute anyone takes the title of “apostle” you can mark him off your list. Paul says the devil makes himself an angel of light. If you could really see him I think you’d see the most beautiful creature you’ve ever seen, and you can be deceived. There are abroad today many men who are handsome, dignified, never say an unkind word, just lovey-dovey all the way through. But they’re apostle so Satan, you wee. Now that is one group of false teachers, and I think they’re easily detected today. There’s another group, and that is the religious racketeer. I listened to one of them on the radio. Why, he preached the gospel, friends! But Paul says beware of those that in taking you away from the simplicity of Christ. Now I detect one little thing in this man’s teaching: It involves all kinds of little performances and rituals. It takes you pretty far from the Word of God. That is taking you away from the simplicity that’s in Christ. My friend, you and I are lost sinners and we come to Jesus Christ bringing nothing and receiving everything from Him. You can’t do anything for Him without being filled by the Holy Spirit. That’s the real test. You see, it’s so easy to get away from the simplicity that is in Christ. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God's enemy. Jas 4:4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Answers to this week's Trivia's: 1. What Question is asked about the grave? A. Oh grave, where is your victory? Oh, death, where is your sting? 1 Cor. 15:55 2. To which disciple did Jesus give the keys to Heaven? A. Peter Matt 16:18 * * * * * * * * * Answers to Questions about heaven. . . David Jeremiah Will there be churches in heaven? A. John tells us in the book of Revelation: “I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (21:3). Speaking of the holy city, John goes on to say, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. . . They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (21:22; 22:4). It is an interesting and strange thing to fathom, but there really won’t be need for preaching or church buildings or sanctuaries in heaven. The Bible says we will know our Lord even as we are known. We will have a complete grasp of the things of God. And frankly, that’s what makes heaven a reality. It’s not the streets of gold or the gates of pearl or the angels. Heaven is heaven because God the Father is there and Jesus Christ is there. At last, all the barriers will be removed, and we will be able to know God in a way that we cannot possibly comprehend in this life. * * * * * * * * Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God. Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!" God loves you with an everlasting love! Nancy <\\\>< Remember: A man may go to heaven….. Without health, without wealth; Without fame, without a great name; Without learning, without earnings; Without culture, without beauty; Without friends and without ten thousand other things---- But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ. ~ This is a FREE e-mailing ~ This Bible Study is sent to subscribers only according to our strict NO SP*M policy. If you appreciate the information contained in this letter, please forward it to your friends. If you have acquired this letter from a friend and want to subscribe: Send an e-mail with Subscribe on the subject line to: hisfootprints4us@comcast.net If you do not want to receive these Bible Studies, please send an email with 'unsubscribe' on the subject line to hisfootprints4us@comcast.net No hard feelings This week's Quiz: Miracles of Jesus . . . As part of His ministry, Jesus performed miracles. One reason was to prove He was who He said He was—the Son of God. But another reason was to show His love and compassion for His people. What do you about these miracles? 1. After Jesus fed the 5,000, He fed another group of 4,000 with: Matt 15:34-38 a. 5 loaves and 2 fish c. 7 loaves and a few fish b. 6 loaves and 3 fish d. 8 loaves and no fish 2. When the 4,000 were finished eating, how many baskets full were left over? Matt 15:37-38 a. 3 c. 7 b. 5 d. 12 3. When Jesus walked on water, which disciple asked to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus on the water? Matt 14:24-29 a. Peter c. John b. James d. Thomas 4. How long was Lazarus dead before Jesus raised him up again? Jn 11:14, 39 a. a few hours c. 4 days b. 1 day d. 7 days 5. Jesus turned the water to wine at: Jn 2:1-10 a. Passover c. a wedding b. the Last Supper d. both a and c 6. When Jesus healed the ten lepers, how many returned to thank Him? Lk 17:12-16 a. 10 c. 9 b. 5 d. 1 7. When the friends of the paralyzed man couldn’t get their friend to Jesus because of the crowd, they: Mk 4:2-4 a. lowered him down through the roof c. gave up and went away b. pushed their way through the crowd d. stood on the edge of the crowd and shouted 8. When Jesus healed the man who was blind from birth, what did He put on the man’s eyes? Jn 9: 1, 6 a. clay c. a scarf b. His hand d. nothing 9 The crippled man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda was at the pool because: Jn 5:2-9 a. the water were healing c. it was where he lived b. an angel sometimes appeared d. a and b 10. Jesus once caused a tree to wither to prove a point. What kind of tree was it? Mk 11:14, 20 a. olive c. sycamore b. fig d. palm