Friday, May 31, 2013

Work of the Holy Spirit

To learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the leader and in the life of other believers, here are some passages you might want to read. It would be great to work through some of these as a small group to encourage others to live a life of the Spirit.

The sanctifying ministry of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:11-12

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit

John 16:13

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

1 Corinthians 2:13

His is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

The empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit

Luke 4:14

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:19

By the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.



Provider

Philippians 4:14-18

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Ephesians 4:28

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Ephesians 2:20

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

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 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 1:18

 (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.

John 17:26

I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

John 17:14-15

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.



Bible - How Readest Thou?

Luke 10:16

'Tis one thing now to read the Bible through,

And another thing to read, to learn, and do;

'Tis one thing now to read it with delight,

And quite another thing to read it right.


Some read it with design to learn to read,

But to the subject pay but little heed;

Some read it as their duty once a week,

But no instruction from the Bible seek.


Whil'st others read it without common care,

With no regard to how they read nor where.

Some read it as a history to know

How people lived three thousand years ago.


Some read to bring themselves repute,

By showing others how they can dispute;

Whil'st others read because their neighbors do,

To see how long twill take to read it through.


Some read it for the wonders that are there,

How David killed a lion and a bear:

Whil'st others read--or rather in it look,

Because, perhaps, they have no other book.


Some read the blessed Book--they don't know why,

It somehow happens in the way to lie;

Whil'st others read it with uncommon care,

But all to find some contradictions there.


Some read as though it did not speak to them

But to the people at Jerusalem;

One reads it as a book of mysteries,

And won't believe the very thing he sees.


One reads with father's specs upon his head,

And sees the thing just as his father did;

Another reads through Campbell or through Scott,

And thinks it means exactly what they thought.


Whil'st others read the Book through H. Balou,

And if it cross his track it can't be true!

Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,

Thus understand but little what they read.


For every passage in the Book they bend

To make it suit that all important end.

Some people read as I have often thought

To teach the Book instead of being taught.


And some there are who read it out of spite,

I fear there are but few who read it right,

So many people in these latter days

Have read the Bible in so many ways,

That few can tell which system is the best

For every party contradicts the rest.

--Selected.

Examples of Spirit Being “Upon”

Azariah

2 Chronicles 15:1 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.

Zechariah

2 Chronicles 24:20

Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”

Messiah

Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—

Isaiah 42:1

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,


Matthew 3:16 

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

Luke 4:18

“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,



Thursday, May 30, 2013

What are some good Bible Verses about Family?

Colossians 3:13

Forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Deuteronomy 11:19

And you shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Romans 12:10

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 11:19

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Proverbs 26:20

Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Proverbs 4:1

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

Proverbs 6:20

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Proverbs 13:1

A wise child accepts a parent's discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

1 Timothy 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Genesis 50:17

'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Psalm 133:1

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Romans 13:8

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Proverbs 31: 15-17


She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 

Duties Regarding Word of God

Searched

John 5:39

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

John 7:52

They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

Acts 17:11

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Meditated in day and night

John 1:8

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Psalms 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Evangelism:

“It seems to me that there are but few who really live with a passion for God-especially a passion just to be with Him. Today there is such a noise coming up before the throne of the Most High-the clamor of so-called praise, singing, and joyful shouting.

But I wonder if the same people who love to sing and shout, loudly exclaiming the praises of God, really have such an intense glory in their secret life with the Lord. When the meeting's over and there's no one there to listen except the only One who matters, do you still have that same passionate joy in your spirit, just to be alone with the Living God?”

--Keith Green

Faith Quotes

 “Faith is believing that God is going to take you places before you even get there.” - Matthew Barnett


Evangelism

Evangelism:

Evangelism: Neighbors—Taking the Gospel next door….

Once your neighbor has had his interest piqued by your lifestyle, his thoughts provoked by your questions, and his conscience pricked by God’s law, share with him the only solution—Jesus Christ.               …Josh Malone.

Open Wide

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby”.

It might seem strange to be commanded to earnestly long for something. But unlike hungry birds and babies, we need to be reminded of our need for spiritual nourishment. Even though we may have fed on the Word in the past, we need to realize that our need is ongoing and that without more nourishment we will grow spiritually weak. God is eager to feed His dear children. So, open wide! - Dennis Fisher

Neglecting the Word will famish your soul; meditating on the Word will feed it.

Teachings of Christ

Anxiety

Luke 12:22-31  

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

28  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.




Made us accepted in God

Ephesians 2:14-22

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,

16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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.

1 Corinthians 6:11

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Word of God

Word of God – In believer’s life as:

Source of joy:

Psalms 119:47 

And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

Psalms 119:97 

MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:162 

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Standard of Conduct:

Titus 2:5 

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Sources of New Life:

1 Peter 1:2-3

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Word of God – Honor:

Due to God:

Psalms 29:2 

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.



Pure Things

Heart

Psalms 24:4

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

1 Timothy 1:5

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Peter 1:22

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Men

Proverbs 15:26

The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

Proverbs 21:8

The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Acts 20:26

Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

1 Timothy 5:22

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Wool

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.