Friends,
Our Bible study group recently began the Revelation. It is a surprising and amazing opportunity to see what the Lord has revealed. After all, it is the Revelation of Christ Jesus.
You can subscribe to the podcast by clicking on this link: Subscribe.
Or you can listen to the studies by visiting Bible Study Audio.
We hope these studies bless you.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
When the time comes for the Lord to bring judgment against the world, everyone will be affected ... even the Believers. He will pour out His wrath over the entire earth, and no one will be exempt from its effects.
Revelation 16:1 [NKJV]
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels,
“Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”
All will interpret the events that represent God's wrath. Some will interpret them through the eyes of ignorance, unable to fathom what good is being done. Others will interpret these events through eyes filled with rage, deception and envy. They will accuse God of being less than perfect.
We, who are followers of Christ, have His promise as a guide. We can see what is happening through the filter of Jesus' faithfulness, justice and wisdom. Fear will not rule our hearts. Courage, Love and Joy will reign, even in the darkest of days.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
In the book of Proverbs, we see the many characteristics of Christ Jesus. And as we are to imitate Him ... to be holy as He is holy ... we see the admonitions that our good and perfect Father has for us.
Proverbs 31:8-9 [NKJV]
Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
This is a command, brothers and sisters. We are to pray for those who cannot - and will not - pray. We are to intercede. We are to truthfully discern what is contrary to God's will, and describe it accurately as sin.
This is not for the faint of heart. It is a battle, meant only for the courageous.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
We have all seen relationships fall apart. At times, we're dumbfounded, because the relationship seemed rock-solid - a godly man and a godly woman, seemingly devoted to one another, enduring through hardships. But even in those circumstances, we may be disappointed. But the LORD does not disappoint.
Isaiah 46:4 [NKJV]
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
It is easy to be carried away by the emotions of a moment. Our challenge, brothers and sisters, is to remain focused, to purposefully remember that our God is faithful and everlasting. And His love and faithfulness is never-ending.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
We can stand strong in the face of attack, for we can cry out to the victorious LORD of Hosts.
Psalm 22:11 [NKJV]
Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
Truly, there is no one else that can fight for us. Our worldly "friends" will abandon us when we are persecuted for believing on Christ. We already see how governments will be an instrument of affliction. And our own courage simply cannot outlast the relentless assault of doubt, envy, and fear.
But the LORD has won greater battles. He will come through and bring us through. Stay faithful, brothers and sisters. Stay strong.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
The day is coming. It is a day when the the Lord will judge. Be assured ... Every man is subject to His perfect justice.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 [NKJV]
I said in my heart,
“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
Notice a subtlety here. The righteous are listed first. The LORD will judge all men, but He starts with His own people first. He holds us all to the same standard of holiness, and therefore cannot exempt the believers from justice.
Of course, the believer's sins are judged, and the sentence has been carried out by Christ. But that does not give us license to ignore the laws of God. So, we must live lives of holiness, proving our love of Jesus.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Please remember to visit Bible Study Audio to download the latest lessons from the book of Proverbs. This book not only gives us God's teachings for living a good, prosperous and moral life, but they reveal the character of Christ in a unique way.
Be encouraged, Jose
