2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thysekf approved unto God…”

You are cordially invited to join our weekly bible study forum

Zebulon Community Center

301 Arendell Ave., Zebulon, NC 27597

Thursdays 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Come grow with us as we study the Word of God together.

Hope to see you there.

Be blessed

Psalms 84:11-12

“11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. ”

God is ready to give you every good thing. Are you prepared to do what it takes to receive? The requirement is your faith, your obedience, and to use every gift God gave you to his glory.

Put your trust in God, he is faithful to keep you. Allow him to lead you where you need to go.

Be bold, be strong for the Lord thy God is with thee. Receive every good thing God desires to give you.

Have a great day.

2 Timothy 1:12

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ”

This is one of my favorite scriptures. It reminds me that I serve a God who is able. I can serve him without worry. I know that he is able to keep that which is committed to him – me, and my life.

I do not have to fear. Why? Because I know whom I have believed. God, I know him. He is so vast and unfathomable, that I learn more about him everyday as we walk together. I know him to be the keeper of my secrets. He is so great that even as he knows them, he works on me to help me to be better than I was day by day. I don’t have to be ashamed.

Be fearless and commit things/people/yourself, etc to God. He is able to keep them. Then don’t worry, don’t fret. Walk in peace, knowing that God has your back, and everything else which concerns you (protected and covered). You can move forward in faith, accomplishing all he has called you to do. Why? Because you have committed them all to him. This is true freedom.

Have a blessed day.

2 Timothy 1:1

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, ”

There is something about a promise that keeps us going, moving, achiving, and striving. In this case it is the promise of life in Christ Jesus.

This promise pushes us to love our neighbor, to walk in obedience, to please God, etc. Not under duress, but with joy in our hearts. Why? So we can gain the reward promised to use by God.

The awesomeness of this promise is as we do these things God gives us sort of a deposit on the promise in advance. He allows us to have small glimpses and experiences that work to keep us going, moving, pushing. It is enough that even when we fail, we get back up. When we are knocked down, we get back up. When we are done wrong, lied on, or cussed out, we keep moving. Why? Because of that great promise of God.

That promise is worth fighting the good fight of faith for. Hold on to God’s promise, keep it in your heart. Keep striving, achieving, and excelling. It is so worth it.

Have a blessed day.

Judges 16: 16-20

Sampson’s mother was obedient to the word of God and raised him accordingly. Sampson saw Deliah of the Philistines and fell in love and sought to marry her.

However, Deliah’s heart was always with her people, not her husband. She asked Sampson the secret of his strength so she can tell her people. At first Sampson would not tell her the truth, would make up stores. Time and time again, she would tell the Philistines and they would use the information against Sampson. Deliah turn the heat up on Sampson, until he got tired of per pestering, that he finally told her the truth. As she did at other times, she told the Phillistine’s, and again they use it to attack Sampson. This time it worked.

Be careful who you tell your secrets to. The words that God speaks to you are precious and not everyone can hear (believe or receive) them as you do. It is not for them. These secrets are between you and God. God is working behind the scenes to bring the vision to pass.

People will attack you for your strength (anointing). They will mock you and plot against you to prevent the plan of God from coming to pass. You have to trust God enough to trust he will do what he said, and not need validation from others. God does not need the approval of others to bless you.

Hebrews 12:14-15

“14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

…It costs too much to hold on to bitterness, anger, pain, hurt, betrayal, etc.

There is peace and freedom that can only be found in forgivenes.

There is a direct relation between peace and forgiveness. Bitterness automatically accompanies unforgiveness, we just do not recognize it all the time. Forgiveness allows us to move on with our lives, to always walk in peace, and to grow and be free. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness, which keeps us forever tied to hurtful (harmful) situations.

We have heard it many times before, and it is true, to forgive is for your benefit, not for the person who caused your hurt. God expects us to follow peace with all men. Not just with the people who are nice to us. True ministry also involves the ability to show the love of God to all. We cannot do this if we do not walk in forgiveness. We must be willing to forgive other as freely was we are forgiven by God. Walking in forgiveness paves the way for us to walk in peace.
Philippians 4:7

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

We are now able to minister to the one(s) who caused our hurt. How? Because that root of bitterness has been cut off (through forgiveness) and is not able to spring up in our lives later to cause trouble. The love of God is now better able to shine through us.

We can have peace in the midst of hurtful or embarrassing situations. Even in those instances when outsiders have witnessed our hurt, walking in forgiveness–>peace, will bring glory to God. It will show the true power of God.

Keep in mind that sometimes hurtful situations arise in our lives so God has the opportunity to show us just how much room for growth (maturing in Christ) we still have.

The ability to forgive is going to require pray and walking by faith, and it will take practice. But understand, you can do it, you will succeed.

Psalms 103:1-2

“1. Bless the Lord, O my soul:and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2. Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits: ”

This morning I woke up with a praise on my lips and a determination in my heart to do the will of the Lord. I found myself remembering what God has called me to and an urgency to fulfill and accomplish in his name.

It is such a blessing to know God, and to willingly serve him.

I am thankful, grateful, and determined…

Have a blessed day.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I am so glad that there is nothing that can happen in my life that I cannot handle.

Be encouraged. You can make it. If your in it, its only because you are ordained to win it.

Have a excellent day.

1 Peter 2: 9-10

“9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

It’s important to remember who we are and whose we are at all time. We cannot allow people to make us act out of our nature, or to sink to a lower level. We are a chosen generation, a holy nation, we are set apart from the rest because we represent God. We are called to carry his banner at all times.

Many times we glory in who or what we used to be. But when God saved us he cleansed us from the old man and his sinful ways. We are to die to the old us and embrace the new. I would even go so far as to say, we should be embarrassed about that old sinful life, but grateful and thankful to God for bringing us out of it.

Now we are clean, now we are whole. Now we know God, his love, his mercy, his goodness. Now we can share this others and help bring them into the light as well. We now have a gift we can share with all. We no longer have to hide.

Because of this we can go through anything, we can face anyone, anything. We have all of heaven supporting us. God has our back. We don’t have to fight dirty, or use the same deceitful weapons of the world. We don’t react without hope. We work to give hope to others. We walk in peace, and we take it wherever we go. But now, But God. To him be all glory, honor and praise.

Don’t allow what is happening in the world distract you from this truth. See past it all and find Jesus. Walk in faith and do what God has called you to. Know (understand) who you are in him, and act accordingly.

Have a blessed day.

John 9:8-9

“8. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9. Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. ”

God is about to do something so great in you and for you that people will not be sure they recognize you.

We serve a God who is a miracle worker. He’s does wonders great and small everyday. Some times we fail to recognize his wonders and miss (or miss identify) when God is at work. But God is preparing something so great that people will take notice, and for which you will know that is was him and him alone. You are going have to confirm for the people that it is indeed you. Then give the glory to God.

In this scripture in John 9, it is the story of how God healed the blind man. The man who sat begging for so long that everyone knew him. Now they see him with sight, and walking without assistance.

Just as this blind man, you may have been in your situation so long, and many saw you in your struggle. But God is going to deliver you publically. Everyone who knew your struggle is also going to see your triumphant victory. It is our duty to point the glory back to God. He is the giver of the miracle. We just received by faith.

But be warned. People are going to try to get you to deny the origin of your miracle. They will want you to give credit to this or that for your victory. Don’t give in to them. Be like the blind man, “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. …If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. ”

To God be the glory for the things that he has done. Have a blessed day.