NEW LIVING IN CHRIST

February 6, 2020

The Scripture Reading For Today: Psalm 116, Proverbs 23, and 1 Peter 2

Psalm 116 : 6 – 7 “The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” I feel like God is saying meditate on this when depressed because (God) is the one who saves and gives rest. Unload on Me and find peace. Cry out to Me and find comfort. Turn to Me and find answers. Meditate on My Word and Who I Am and find rest. Joshua 1 : 5 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”

1 Peter 2 : 1 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” What do these words truly mean?

Malice – Wickedness

Deceit – To decoy or trick

Hypocrisy – Condemnation

Envy – Ill will, jealousy

Slander – Defamation, back biting, evil speaking

1 Peter 2 : 2 – 5 “Like newborn babies (young converts to the faith), crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted (experience) that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone (Jesus) – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones (disciples), are being built into a spiritual house (God’s Family the temple of the Spirit) to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” What are these spiritual sacrifices? 1. Abstaining from sin (1 John 1 : 9) 2. Abstaining from fleshly desires (Galatians 5 : 16) 3. Presenting ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12 : 1) 4. Offering up Sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13 : 15).

1 Peter 2 : 7 “Now to you who believe, this stone (Jesus) is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected (Jesus rejected on the cross) has become the cornerstone…” At that time the Jew were all about following the commandments, their own laws and sacrifices; Jesus came and changed all that. God was putting him at the cornerstone of their faith, making Him the Chosen One.

1 Peter 2 : 8 “and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. ” God’s chosen people, awaiting a savior. Yet they disobeyed the message or didn’t want to believe Jesus was there to fulfill it. A whole group of people stumbling over the concept and failing to grasp it. Isaiah 8 : 14 “He (Jesus) will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

What stands out about todays scriptures? Obey God, Accept Jesus, Live as Jesus did; as a living sacrifice. Unload on Him and find peace. Cry out to Him and find comfort. Turn to Him and find answers. Meditate on His Word and Who He is and find rest.

Psalm 116 : 1 – 19

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord—in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.”

Proverbs 23

Saying 7

“When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what Or who is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Saying 9

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. Or for as he thinks within himself, so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, so he is “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

Saying 11

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.

Saying 12

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.

Saying 14

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

Saying 15

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 16

Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

Saying 18

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

1 Peter 2 : 1 – 25

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in himwill never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumbleand a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Well I’ve tried to make this a bible study that anyone can pull up and read. My hope is that you will read the scripture and find new meaning in the verses placed in front of you. I also pray that you would be brave and bold enough to share them with myself and the rest of the world here on my page. Just drop a comment down below, with the scripture reference and what the Holy Spirit is speaking into your heart. Because God speaks to each and every one of us through His Word and there is a lot we can learn from one another. ———>Walking in Grace, Teresa.

#biblestudy #depression #jesus #newlife

Who Is Sin Free?

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111, Proverbs 18, Philippians 2

Blessed to be sitting here doing my bible study with one of my step children asking questions about how we study the Word and how he can do so also 🙂

Psalm 111: 1 – 10

“Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heartin the council of the upright and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the Lord;they are pondered by all who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works,giving them the lands of other nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are established for ever and ever,enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

Psalm 111:7 “The works of His hands are faithful and just; (even when I may not think so) all His precepts are trustworthy.”

Proverbs 18 1: -4

” An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. 3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. 4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. 5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. 8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. 10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower ;the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. 12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 13 To answer before listening—that is folly and shame. 14 The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. 16 A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. 17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. 18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. 19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. 20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. 23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:9 “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” Do everything to the best of your ability don’t do things half heartedly especially serving the Lord.

Proverbs 18:15 “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Keep reading, seeking and learning about God and His mission for us.

Philippians 2

Imitating Christ’s Humility

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Phillipians 2: 3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Lately I have been struggling with the question am I prideful? I catch myself saying “well I prayed for this or that” as if my prayers are what healed someone or something happened because I prayed. But this thinking is flawed as it was not me that produced the miracle or answered the prayer but God. Yet I know God desires for us to come to Him in prayer and ask for things as an act of faith-growing and obedience. I think God is highlighting examples of how Christ lived. Showing me how to live humbly like Christ. God wants us to be servants of Christ; to walk out our faith as He did even to the point of death if need be. Jesus wasn’t about taking credit for the things God did through Him, He was always pointing to His Heavenly Father and encouraging us to as well.

Philippians 2: 7-8 “rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness….he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death…”

Philippians 2: 11″ every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:12-16 “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (Keep your faith fresh; always pursuing that feeling of being on fire for Christ, because we don’t know when we will be called to Heaven) for it is God who works in you to will and act in order to fulfill His good purpose(the closer we are to Christ, the easier it is to fulfill your God Given purpose. We must be vigilant in listening to His direction and seeking His will not our own in order to fulfill His purpose in our lives.) Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure.…Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Life.”

(We are constantly being watched by non-believers, even when we don’t know it. They are always watching to see if our faith is genuine or if we are walking with integrity. Philippians 2: 21 “For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” I can attest to this as well, before I was saved I was always watching to see if Christians were living life the way I thought God wanted them to live. I didn’t know the awesomeness of Gods love and forgiveness. I had no idea that we are all sinners, our entire lives. I thought Christians were expected to be perfect and the “real” ones were perfect, never sinning once they were saved. I didn’t realize that God looked at out heart and mind as well as our actions; that He considered even thinking about commiting a sin, a sin. Matthew 5: 27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ” Just thinking about it is sin. Who then is sin free and able to enter into Heaven? The answer is no one, that is until Jesus was sent to be the ultimate cover-all sacrifice for us. Now if we believe in Jesus and His sacrifice and ask Him to cover our sins for us we are in. Does that mean we are perfect forever. NO. We try and live a life worthy of His sacrifice. We try and not sin; and when we fall short which we will, everyone does, His forgiveness and sacrifice are right there to keep us in line to Heaven. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” BUT 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.)

Well I’ve tried to make this a bible study that anyone can pull up and read. My hope is that you will read the scripture and find new meaning in the verses placed in front of you. I also pray that you would be brave and bold enough to share them with myself and the rest of the world here on my page. Just drop a comment down below, with the scripture reference and what the Holy Spirit is speaking into your heart. Because God speaks to each and every one of us through His Word and there is a lot we can learn from one another. ———>Walking in Grace, Teresa.

#biblestudy #forgiveness #jesus #pride