God’s Verse for God’s people

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

His beautiful excellence draws us near and grants us many promises that we may be fashioned into His superior character and likeness. As believers of Christ, we have been washed of our transgressions and set apart from the ever-present evil world. Through our knowledge of the everlasting Father, we are granted these most precious promises!

Devine Resources

By Late Rev. Elisha James

We are the partakers of:

The fullness of grace - our resource

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

The fullness of the blessing - our privilege

Romans 15:29

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

The fullness of joy - our portion

Romans 15:11

And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”

The fullness of power - our strength

Acts 6:8

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

The fullness of God - our highest hope

Ephesians 3:19

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

God’s Verse for God’s People

Revelation 2:7

He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Life and life eternal! That is the promise of God to all His people. The redeemed will conquer and their reward is to eat of the tree of life forever! Their heavenly rest is won, enjoyed, and assured. No more fear. No more anxiety. No more suffering. They eat of the fruit of God and are comforted!

Ways to Walk.

Worthy of God

1 Thessalonians 2:12 

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

To please God.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Honestly toward outsiders.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

As He walked.

1 John 2:6 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

By the same rule.

Philippians 3:16 

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, and let us mind the same thing.

Worthy of the Lord.

Colossians 1:10 

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

God’s Verse for God’s people

Galatians 6:8-9  

8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

If we sow the things of the flesh (that is, the things of sin), then we will reap eternal punishment; but if we sow the things of the Spirit (that is, the things of God), then we will reap eternal happiness and joy! As we sow the things of God and cultivate them we must keep pressing on. It may seem that our work is worthless, but in the end, we will reap eternal life with God. For what better harvest could we hope?

All to Jesus, I surrender;

All to Jesus, I surrender;   

                             

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;

Now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain

God’s Verse for God’s People

Faith Proven by How We Live

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

James 2:18

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Psalms 34:2

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Obeying God and surrendering to Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 6:13 

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Romans 1:26 

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

Revelation 21:8 

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

1 Peter 2:11 

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

James 4:1 

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

Hebrews 13:4 

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Hebrews 12:16 

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

1 Thessalonians 4:5 

Not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

God’s Verse for God’s people

Our Lord is Powerful

Psalms 16:8

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Strong is our Lord and powerful the force of His mighty arm! You shall never need fear any power of earth or heaven for naught can shake you from His unbreakable grasp. His hands of power and might are hands of safety and protection for His own—and hands of wrath and destruction for His enemies. Rejoice, O believer, that you are His child!

Isaiah 43:1 

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

We are so precious to the Lord that He calls us His children. It is amazing to know that the Lord calls each one of us by name!

Stony Heart

God is able to change a hardened heart

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

He does it by His Spirit

Zechariah 12:10

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Ability to meet the needs of others through effective ministry

Mark 1:35-39

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,

37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Ability to avoid the share of public acclamation

John 6:15

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

God’s Verse for God’s People

Names and attributes of God

He is my Fortress

Psalms 18:2 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

He is shade from the Heat

Isaiah 25:4  

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.

God’s Promises Encourages Us.

Emotional healing and freedom.

Luke 4:18-19  

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Cleansing from sin. 

Isaiah 1:18  

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

The good gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13  

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Joy of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Deliverance from the enemy.

Psalms 91:3  

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

 Spiritual fruitfulness. 

John 15:16  

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Renewed fellowship with God.

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Bible Reading.

Reading plan for the month of October.

(This reading plan gives you a structured pattern for reading the entire Bible in one year).

October 1        Malachi 1-4                             October 16      Mark 8-9

 October 2       Matthew 1-4                           October 17      Mark 10-11

October 3        Matthew 5-6                           October 18      Mark 12-13

October 4       Matthew 7-9                           October 19      Mark 14

October 5        Matthew 10-11                       October 20      Mark 15-16

October 6        Matthew 12-13                       October 21      Luke 1-2

October 7        Matthew 14-17                       October 22      Luke 3-4

October 8        Matthew 18-20                       October 23      Luke 5-6

October 9        Matthew 21-22                       October 24      Luke 7-8

October 10      Matthew 23-24                       October 25      Luke 9-10

October 11      Matthew 25-26                       October 26      Luke 11-12

October 12      Matthew 27-28                       October 27      Luke 13-15

October 13      Mark   1-3                               October 28      Luke 16-18

October 14      Mark 4-5                                 October 29      Luke 19-20

October 15      Mark 6-7                                 October 30      Luke 21-22

October 16      Mark 8-9                                 October 31      Luke 23-24

Surrender

Surrender

John 14:1  

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

John 8:28  

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

John 7:29  

But I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

Romans 8:34  

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Acts 4:12  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

John 17:1  

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

What does it mean to be saved?

Psalms 25:12

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

Ephesians 2:9 

Not by works, so that no one can boast.

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 21:27

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Sin

Cleanse me from my sin, Lord,

Put Thy power within, Lord,

Take me as I am, Lord,

And make me all Thine own.

Keep me day by day, Lord,

Underneath Thy sway, Lord;

Make my heart Thy palace

And Thy royal throne.

Amazed at Jesus

 “When the Lord Jesus comes . . . all the people who have believed will be amazed at Jesus.”

Amazed at Jesus . . . Paul doesn’t measure the joy of encouraging the apostles or embracing our loved ones. If we will be amazed at these, which we certainly will, he does not say. What he does say is that we will be amazed at Jesus.

What we have only seen in our thoughts, we will see with our eyes . . . What we’ve seen in a glimpse, we will then see in full view. And . . . we will be amazed. - Max Lucado

God’s Verse for God’s people

Romans 5:3-5

3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

We are promised that our sufferings will bear a fruit greater than the power of the suffering: we are promised genuine hope that does not disappoint! What glorious fruit! So then is suffering counted by Paul a reason for rejoicing!

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Never are you alone, O Christian, for the Lord of heaven promises His presence in all times. No matter the state of your heart, He is there. His love for His children is forever and He will never forsake the child for whom He has given all! He is longsuffering and His love persistent. Embrace your loving Father and go your way in righteousness.

Book of Jeremiah

Author:

Jeremiah chapter 1, verse 1 identifies the Prophet Jeremiah as the author of the Book of Jeremiah.

Date of Writing:

The Book of Jeremiah was written between 630 and 580 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:

The Book of Jeremiah records the final prophecies to Judah, warning of oncoming destruction if the nation does not repent. Jeremiah calls out for the nation to turn back to God. At the same time, Jeremiah recognizes the inevitability of Judah’s destruction due to its unrepentant idolatry and immorality.

Key Verses:

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Jeremiah 29:10-11; “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 52:12-13; “On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.”

Righteousness

Psalms 119:164  

Seven times a day

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

Psalms 132:9  

May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy.”

Psalms 143:1  

O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

Psalms 143:10  

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Psalms 143:11  

For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

Psalms 145:7  

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Proverbs 1:3  

For acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;

Proverbs 2:9  

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

Proverbs 2:13  

Who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

Proverbs 8:8  

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

Proverbs 8:15  

By me king’s reign and rulers make laws that are just;

He Forgets

 “He forgives your sins—every one.”  Psalm 103:3 The Message

It’s against God’s nature to remember forgiven sins . . .

He who is perfect love cannot hold grudges. If he does, then he isn’t perfect love. And if he isn’t perfect love, you might as well put this book down and go fishing, because both of us are chasing fairy tales.

But I believe in his loving forgetfulness. And I believe he has a graciously terrible memory. - Max Lucado