R U Humble??? or Prideful?

Here is a joke for you..

(friend)is better at math than me, (friend) is better at basketball than me, (friend) is better looking than me, (friend) has more wisdom than me, (friend) has a better family than I. BUT Thanks be to God, NO ONE is more humble than ME.

It’s a parody that many people consider themselves the most humble person they know. Unfortunately we as humans cannot always stay humble, we either boast about this or that and simply cannot be know to acknowledge that someone else is better. Actually, no one is better. Because… We can do all things through God who gives me strength.

Ex 10:3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

The main reason that God sent down all these plagues upon Egypt is that Egypt was the World power at that time. Pharaoh was totally so not humble, would you be??

Pr 6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. {and make…: or, so shalt thou prevail with thy friend}

Here in proverbs we see that David (or Solomon) is telling his son that the best way to show that you are truly repentant is to humble yourself to the person that you may have wronged, Even if it is not your fault, as Christians we should be the first to apologize.

Pr 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

One of Gods most ardent commands, besides the 10, is that we should be humble. Have you ever considered whether you would be lowly and humble, or would you rather be the most prideful president ever? If you knew the consequences of being high and mighty, with ought God’s choosing of course, you would not be so eager to be famous.

Isa 28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet

Da 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him(of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Persia)

So you see? God punishes the proud and mighty in his own time and then he will uplift the humble.

Pr 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Mt 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Of course it is not wrong to have a feeling of accomplishment when you finish a hard task but it is important that you remember that everything is done under God’s will and that is God had not willed it, nothing would happen. So… live your life happily and make sure to give God the glory.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

~ubomb321 on behalf of mk12~

~May both your spiritual and physical swords stay sharp~

Acts 10

I recently attended a Bible Study and found something I want share with you guys.

     First, read Acts 10. In verses 9-16, we see that Peter watches as a blanket filled with ‘unclean’beasts and birds descends from heaven. The Lord told him to kill the animals and eat. Peter, being raised in the Jewish faith, was shocked. He refused to eat the ‘unclean beasts’ that God told Isreal not to eat. The Lord then said “Do not call unclean what I have made clean.” This happened three times.
     Peter ponders on this for a while, until the servants Cornelius sent came to his door. Peter received them and they became his guests for the night.Two days later, we find Peter and Cornelius’ serants in the town of Caesarea. They meet Cornelius and got his entire household assembled. Peter then preached to them.
     So what is the meaning of this passage? Well, by the old Jewish law, Jews should not eat certain ‘unclean’ animals. I discovered that the blanket full of unclean animals stood for the many Gentiles (non-Jews). Since Gentiles are considered unclean, they match perfectly. The Lord then said that he(Peter) should not call unclean what He(God) has made clean. That means Peter should not call Gentiles unclean, for man is made in the image of God. Peter didn’t understand at first, but when Gentiles-Cornelius’ servants came, Peter let them in as his guests!! Then Peter preached to Cornelius’ household, who were also Gentiles!!

The meaning in summary: Peter learned that what God has made clean, he should not call unclean. It also has the fact that ‘unclean’ animals are like the Gentiles, considered unclean by the Jews. Thanks for reading!

Seven Benefits from Reading Your Bible

Bible reading is more than a pleasant pastime. It can become a daily habit that will change your life.

God’s Word holds out the promise of rich benefits for those who spend time reading it and taking its truths to heart. Here are just seven of the many ways your life can be better as you make the Bible your daily reading companion. All seven come from Psalm 119-a magnificent song of praise for God’s Word.

1. The Bible will help keep you from sin. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (verse 11).

2. The Bible will lift up your burdens.”My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word” (verse 28).

3. The Bible will guide your steps. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (verse 105).

4. The Bible will bring you joy. “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart” (verse 111).

5. The Bible will lead you to wisdom.”The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (verse130).

6. The Bible will give you peace. ”Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (verse 165).

7. The Bible will bring you back to God. “I have strayed like a sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands” (verse 176).

From The Daily Walk Bible by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries

Romans 6

     Romans 6 informs us about our being dead in sin, but alive in Christ. I  believe that this means because of our being held in sin, we are ‘dead’ in sin; that is, gone and farther apart from God. However, because we believe in Christ, we are ‘alive’ in Him, which means we are triumphant over our sins and can now be close to Christ! This is amazing and assuring, and I would enjoy reading about this if I were a new believer. The reason for that is because it tells of my forgiveness and assures me of my salvation.

How to Study the Bible and Understand It

Have you ever had trouble digging into God’s word? What about getting your thoughts together regarding proper Bible study? Are you unfocused because you have no direction on how to begin? Listed below are 12 ways that may just help you regain that zeal and direction for your study:

1. Set aside a regular time for study - schedule study time in advance or other things will interfere. Bible study should be something you look forward to daily, so that you can show yourself approved to God (II Tim.2:15).
2. Pray for understanding - study the Bible in a prayerful attitude, asking God to lead you by His Spirit, and to reveal His will to you. True understanding comes from God. You cannot reason it out for yourself. If God teaches us, we will retain our understanding, but we have to desire it (Ps.119:33-40), trusting with all our heart and acknowledging all His ways (Prov.3:5-8). In that sense, even those who think they are not capable, will be given divine guidance (I Cor.1:25-29, Jer.9: 23-24).
3. Seek correction and instruction - the word of God cuts deep, like a two edged sword. It judges our innermost thoughts and reveals every character flaw. We must approach this study with a humble, correctable attitude (Jer.10:23-24, Is.66:1-2, 5). Without the Spirit of God guiding us, we cannot understand the word of God (Rom.8:6-9) to become perfect. Only then are we ready to understand that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim.3:16), giving us spiritual light (Prov.6:23) and helping us to become perfect (Matt.5:48).
4. Realize the Bible is inspired - the entire Bible - both Old and New Testament - is the inspired word of God. When studying it, bear in mind that God is speaking to you. Reverence His word and let it inspire and motivate you to grow in His likeness. The Bible is from the very mind of Christ (Phil.2:5) and is of a spiritual nature; bringing eternal life (John 6:63).
5. Let the Bible interpret the Bible - keep in mind that although some passages may seem confusing at first, there are no contradictions in the Bible - none! Examine the content (scriptures before and after a relevant verse), and gather all scriptures on a given subject or doctrine. The clear passages will clarify and shed light on those that are difficult to understand. None of the Bible is of any private interpretation (II Pet.1:20) and the scriptures are true forever (John 10:35, GNB).
6. Keep an open mind - because there is so much religious confusion, it is necessary to prove the truth and distinguish it from error. In so doing, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and keep an open mind. Be thankful and appreciative as new knowledge is revealed. Be willing to change, even if it means you must unlearn wrong ideas and teachings. We can’t stay conformed to this world, but have to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God (Rom.12:2). Examine yourself, whether you are in the faith (II Cor.13:5).
7. Prove God’s way is right - put the Bible to the test. Begin to practice the things you learn, and note how much more you get out of Bible study, and the changes taking place in your life. If we continue in God’s word, then only are we disciples of Christ, having proven God’s truth (John 8:31-32) and looking for understanding (I John 3:22), to experience life more abundantly (John 10:10).
8. Study by subject - in addition to reading the Bible through, concentrate at times on one book, doctrine or subject and get into it thoroughly. This systematic approach will help you grow in depth and understanding. But you have to search scriptures and subjects out, and that takes work because they are precept on precept; line on line, here a little, there a little (Is.28:10). In the end, your effort is well worth it because God’s word is the only truth we have (John 17:17).
9. Mark key verses and passages - a marking system will save time in locating scriptures and provide a quick recall of subject matter. We are to mark those who walk in God’s way (Php. 3:17) and those who walk contrary to God’s way (II Thess.3:14), so that we can take note of each example. In the same way, we are to note passages and mark our Bible to remember what we come across, developing a system that works best for us. For example: use one colour or symbol for doctrine, another for personal correction and another for story flow.
10. Meditate and review - stop and think about what you are learning and the real meaning of the scriptures you are studying. Then reflect on the different ways it can be applied in your daily life. God really blesses our focus on Him (Ps.1:1-3), on His law and way of life (Ps.119:97-99), and His very thoughts (Ps.139:17-18).
11. Read the Bible through - read the Bible from cover to cover as a separate project, in addition to other study. This will ensure no sections are missed and it will broaden your perspective as to story flow. It is for reading all the days of your life, so that you may be trained in the fear of the Lord your God to keep and do all the words of this teaching and laws (Deut.17:9).
12. Be familiar with study aids - study aids are useful for providing historical background and time settings on the books of the Bible. A good Bible handbook will provide helpful background information, while a concordance will locate all passages on a given subject. Bible maps will provide topographical, geographical and historical information, and commentaries can be helpful also, but exercise care as they contain a great deal of uninspired opinion.

From http://yearegods.wordpress.com

Romans 5

      Romans 5 is a very interesting passage. Its main message is about the peace and joy Christ brought when He died for us. He died at the time when we were weak sinners; when we were completely helpless and unsure. The passage also says God poured out His love for us through the Holy Spirit whom He had given us. I can never describe how wonderful it feels to know that Christ brought peace and joy when He came and fulfilled the prophecy. God works in the most powerful ways imaginable. Sometimes we forget that Jesus is there to help us, and proof of that is the fact that He died for us; He has already shown his love for us by taking our place.

Questions To Ask As You Study the Bible

•  1. What does this passage say?
•  2. What does this passage mean?
•  3. How does this apply to me?
•  4. What is God telling me?
•  5. How am I encouraged and strengthened?
•  6. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
•  7. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
•  8. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
•  9. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
• 10.What can I model and teach?
• 11.What does God want me to share with someone?

Constructed by hissheep