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Welcome to Christian Free Bible Lessons
From: www.christianinformation.co.uk
Who we are
Thank you for visiting our web site.
Christian Free Bible Lessons.
There are 9 Bible lessons, taken from the Old and New Testament; focussing upon what we believe God is saying to us through the selected readings.
We believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word and that God’s Holy Spirit inspired everything written in it. Although there are some things that we do not yet fully understand we have been blessed to believe everything that is written in the Bible.
The thrust of the lessons is to encourage those, in this busy world, (or for some…this lonely world) who need help, or need confidence, or need assurance, or are just seeking.
Topics covered in the readings include…
* Why did God instruct his people to make blue tassels on their garments?
* What the Bible says about predestination.
* Why there is only one way to God’s Kingdom and why all our good works will not qualify us before a Holy God?
* The link between sin and hell.
* Have you noticed how fickle the public can be? Did you know that nothing can ever separate YOU from God’s love?
* How important are men and women in this great, massive universe?
* The End Times - Signs prophesied in the Bible
* Born Again! How can it happen? What does it mean?
* Read what the Bible teaches us about love…and then, if you wish, you can take your own Spiritual Health Check.
To read the Christian Bible lessons please scroll down the page.
We have divided them into weekly studies but please print them out if you wish - for your own studies and for use at your Bible Study group.
Week 1
Greetings, and a warm welcome to the first Bible lesson.
A Bible study to help you through the week, (especially if you're feeling blue.)
Have you ever heard a tune that instantly takes your thoughts back in time, reminding you of something that you have actually experienced?
No matter how long ago and no matter whether the occasion was happy or sad, when you hear the tune your brain makes you remember what was happening and just how you were feeling at that time in the past.
More than 1400 years before the birth of Christ, Almighty God did a similar thing, but not with music: He did it with a colour.
Today's reading is from the book of Numbers in the Old Testament section of the Bible.
The time of the reading was after the Jewish nation had safely escaped from Egypt, where they had suffered under the severe yolk of Pharaoh, and were journeying towards the land flowing with milk and honey that God had promised his people. 'The Promised Land.'
They’d been given 10 commandments from God!
But they still kept going their own way, doing what they thought was right, and although they knew full well that God had delivered them from many awful situations; they still found it difficult to trust Him and were often blatantly disobedient to His law.
Therefore God gave the following instructions to their leader, Moses.
Numbers, chapter 1: verses 37-41.
Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
"Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.
"And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined.
"And that you may remember and do all My commandments, holy for your God.
"I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I AM the Lord your God."
The children of Israel were told to make tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue thread in the tassels.
At first sight it might seem strange for Almighty God, the creator of the universe, to involve Himself in such a tiny detail regarding the tassels of their clothing…But He wanted the colour blue to remind the people to: "do all My commandments and be holy for your God."
In other words He wanted the colour blue to remind them of Him.
The blue thread to remind them that the commandments were important, but not only that: It reminded them of God's love for His people and of His desire to save them from the result of their disobedience.
Can you see how this could affect you?
You will see Blue very, very often: The blue sky, blue seas and lakes, a blue car, perhaps a blue advertising hoarding, a blue dress or a blue tie.
In this coming week, whenever you see anything that is blue, just let the colour remind you of Almighty God.
Remember that He wants you to obey His laws, but also that God loves you, just as you are, 'warts and all.'
You are very important to Him.
Jesus told us (Matthew chapter 10 verses 29-31)
"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. – Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows."
God knows every inch of you, right down to the detail of how many hairs are on your head - and Jesus said that you are of great value to the Father. He wants what is best for you. After all, He even gave his only Son to die for you. (Read John chapter 3, verse 16)
Did you know that God has given us another sign that He will remember all of us? And ‘all of us’ includes you!)…
That other sign is the rainbow in the sky!
In Genesis chapter 9 verse 17 He says that the rainbow
"Is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
So now you have another of God's signs to help you and give comfort, even cheer. Even when all around you seems full of gloom and you feel absolutely hopeless to cope.
From today you don't have to cope alone!
Tell your heavenly Father about it!
Because He knows how to give good things to his children.
If you learn God's signs it will be easier to remember that
you are a very loved person. So at any time this week, (or in
the future) whenever you see the colour blue or feel blue: Look up!
Remember that you are a child of the living God and He would be delighted if you made contact with Him!
(Bible references from the New King James Version. Bold type and underlines have been added to the Biblical text.)
Week 2
Have you noticed how fickle the public can be?
A successful football manager seems to have the world at his feet. Sports writers delight in printing his opinions and theories. They hang upon his every word. Fans chant for him: T.V. chat hosts line up to have him on their show. But wait until his team lose a few matches!
The poor manager soon finds that his fair-weather fans detest him. He’s brought into ridicule in the newspapers and dropped like a hot potato by the same T.V. producers who'd been clamouring for him to appear on their programmes.
It's even worse when a politician makes even one error of judgment. A person's entire career can disappear like a wisp of smoke.
Even an ordinary person's seemly secure marriage, can go up in flames when adultery shocks and hurts the other partner.
We can all so very, very easily be separated from people who once loved us, even almost worshiped us.
Now I want you to think about something very personal. Please think carefully about your answer.
Have you ever done, anything wrong?
Done, or said, something about which you are utterly ashamed? Something so bad that you would never confide it to another living soul, something that could perhaps 'ruin you' if it ever came out?
Something that people would try with all their might to hide and to forget.
Have you, like thousands of others, got something in the past, a skeleton in the cupboard that you wish had never happened.
Well now...listen-up! I have something to tell you that will amaze you!
Almighty God already knows everything about your past.
He already knows your strengths, your failings and your weaknesses.
But although God hates your sin, he does NOT hate YOU!
He loves you – Yes! He loves you…Just as you are right now!
And…Nothing in all creation can ever separate you from God's love in Christ Jesus.
Please read Romans, chapter 8. - Our reading today is part of
that chapter: Romans, chapter 8, verses 31 – 39.
'What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Since God did not spare even His own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?
Will God?
No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.
Who then will condemn us?
Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honour next to God, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?
(Even the scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day: we are being slaughtered like sheep.)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love.
Death can't, and life can't, and the demons can't.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.'
Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our lord.
I don't know about you, but I think that's a fantastic promise. It means that whatever has happened, or might happen…
Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we can say with absolute confidence.
"The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 6.)
Unlike people who rely upon fame and public approval, (things that can easily flee away so quickly.)
You can rely upon the Lord God, who loves you so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save you and, if you ask, will send His Holy Spirit to help you in all that you do.
So whatever situation you're in...You can Look up, Stand up, put your shoulders back and go confidentially into the day.
(Bible references from the New Living Translation)
Week 3
HOW IMPORTANT ARE MERE HUMANS IN THIS MASSIVE UNIVERSE?
Last year in Springtime, we had a three-day trip, with our eldest daughter and our two youngest grandchildren, to see the sights of London.
We enjoyed a sail down the river Thames, the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark, an open top bus tour of City landmarks, until we spent the last half-day at Covent Garden, which was thronged with Spring tourists: wandering around with their cameras, eating in the street cafes, and buying a myriad of items from the market.
The children were fascinated by the goods on offer and particularly by the self-employed street entertainers, who were brilliant and really added to the wonderful holiday atmosphere. Three of the entertainers were face-painted, imitation robots. The children crowded round to touch and to talk to them, while they, dressed in cardboard suits, somehow managed to remain unbelievably still.
As I watched I was reminded of my ‘quiet times’ and how I sometimes sit down to read the Bible, only to be too easily distracted by delivery of the mail, remembering jobs that I would do later in the day, or the telephone ringing.
And I thought that, over 1000 years before the birth of Christ, King David, with all his problems, must have been much more focussed when he wrote psalm 8.
‘O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is your name in all the earth.
You who set your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and infants You have ordained strength,
- Because of Your enemies, that you may silence the enemy and the avenger.
- When I consider Your heavens, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
- What is man that You visit him? And the son of man that You visit him?
- For You have made him a little lower than the angles,
- And You have crowned him with glory and honour.
- You have made him to have dominion over the works of your hands:
- You have put all things under his feet,
- All the sheep and the oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish in the sea: That pass through the paths of the seas.
- O Lord, our Lord,
- How excellent is your name in all the earth.
- The above is from the New King James Bible, but an earlier version reads: “What is man that you are mindful of him?”
When King David thought of the outstanding mighty works of God’s wonderful creation and compared it to human fragility and feebleness, he asked in awe and wonder, “What is man, that you even notice him?”
But God not only notices us, he actually wants us to be close to him, he is interested in everything about us, our families and friends, the work we do, Our recreation time, our health and in our relationship with all the other people he has created – whom he loves just as much as he loves us.
Isn’t it great to realise that we have a place in God’s vast eternal plan!
He wants us to take the place for which he created us: i.e., only a little lower than the angels.
It is only right that we want to give thanks for all the blessings that he has bestowed upon us: such as family, health, houses, jobs, cars, fresh air to breath, food to eat and water to drink. But, in addition, you can also take all your problems to God in prayer. He knows your needs, even before you ask and has promised that he will grant anything you ask of him in the name of Jesus, that is in line with His will.
Be assured that God will always hear your prayer and will answer it in one of three ways.
- Yes.
- Yes, but you will have to wait
- No – Sorry, your request is not in line with my will, or in line with the words I have given to my prophets. Perhaps it will harm others, or not actually be in your own best interest.
- Creation is filled with signs that point to the creator and the more clearly we see God’s sovereignty the less worried we will be, because we will realise that we never have to face anything alone!
Week 4
Today's Bible Lesson is aimed to help you through the day…or right through this week…Or right through your life…Even through Eternity!
Our reading is from the book of Ephesians, in the New Testament.
The time of writing was A.D. 60-61 Paul wrote that salvation can only be attained by God's divine grace and NOT by human works.
Ephesians chapter 1, verses 3- 6: show that we were chosen by God - and the next 4 verses confirm that we are redeemed through his only Son, Jesus Christ.
Verses: 3 - 6
'How we praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
And this gave him great pleasure.
So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.'
Paul writes that, Christians were chosen by God from the very beginning.
People might ask, "Do you mean pre-destination? Because if it's already predestined then whatever I do will make no difference."
Sounds sensible?
Not really…Because God chose the whole of mankind as eligible to be made righteous before Him through the precious blood of his Son.
In Revelation, chapter 3, verse 20, Jesus said,
"Behold I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me."
.
Jesus also said, in Matthew, chapter 18, verse 14.
"Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
(Note that the Bible refers to predestination many times:
For example…Matt. 25, v 32-35: Luke 22 v 22: Rom. 8 v 29-30: Rom. 9, v 15-24: Acts 2 v 22-23: Gal. 3 v 8: 2 Tim. 1 v 9.)
However, remember that God created us with free will. He gave us the freedom to make our own choices:
And the fact that an all powerful and all knowing God knows in advance what those choices will be, does not affect the right he has given us to decide things for ourselves.
Now for verses: 7 - 10
'He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.
He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God's secret plan has now been revealed to us: it is a plan centred on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure.
And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.'
Imagine for a moment that you and a friend wanted to get to Heathrow Airport and you decided to travel from Central London by underground train.
You carefully made sure that you took money, also a map of the underground, your tickets and passports - and a kindly ticket inspector directed you to the right platform.
So far so good! But once the train was underway you couldn't recognize any of the stations from your map.
You turned it side ways and upside down - but still couldn't find out where you were.
Sick with worry that you could be on the wrong train and would miss your flight, you plucked up courage to hand your map to the stranger sitting near you and ask for her help.
"This is a map of the French Metro, not the London tube," she said, smiling.
"You'll never find your way with this. The map you need is right in front of you, fixed above the seat opposite."
You have to use the correct map!
To get anywhere we have to do things God's way and he has provided a map (a way) for us to gain salvation.
The only way is by believing that:
God has given his only Son: To die, instead of us, for our sins,
(Read John chapter 3, verses 15-18)
Verses 16 & 18:
"For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him, but those that do not trust him have already been judged, for not believing in the Son of God."
This means that the ONLY way we can be acceptable to God is not by our own works, but by believing in Jesus Christ - Admitting that we have fallen well short of God's standards and accepting Jesus as our Saviour.
That is the only way (map) laid down by Almighty God for anyone to obtain salvation.
You're going to love what follows:
This means that no one can earn his or her way to heaven.
*You can give up eating various types of food.
*You can go out every day of the week evangelising.
*You can give all your savings to the church.
*You can let poor people sleep for free at your home.
*You can even sell your house and give your life to working in a leper colony.
*All of these things are very good works, but they will NOT get you into God's kingdom.
The ONLY way to gain entry into GOD'S KINGDOM is through his Son JESUS CHRIST!
You can't earn your way to heaven.
We will repeat that:
You cannot earn your way to heaven! It has to be through Jesus.
There is no other route that will get you there.
So now you know that, if you choose, YOU can do it! You now know the way! Don’t you? You've read God's map for your salvation in John, chapter 3. That's good news isn't it?
In a recent survey in the U. S. A., carried out by the Barna Research Group.
54% of the adult population said that they
thought that: ‘People who are generally good and do enough good things for others will earn a place in heaven.’
That means that more than half of adults in America got it wrong!
Whatever circumstances you find yourself in as you’re reading this Bible lesson:
The biggest decision in your life comes down to: 'What Do I Do About Jesus?'
Read John Chapter14 verse 6:
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: No one comes to the Father, except through Me."
God has already laid out his plan, and now all you have to do is acknowledge that your conduct has fallen far short of being reconciled by a Holy God (i.e. that you are a sinner) and then accept His wonderful offer of Jesus as your saviour.
Yes, that's all you have to do! The great transaction will be done the moment you tell God that you repent your sins, that you’re determined to lead a new life and that you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
Go on...kneel down; close your eyes and Do It Now!
(Bible references from the New Living Translation)
Week 5
The link between
HELL and SIN
It had to come! Just as we were enjoying the Bible lessons and thankful, realising how much God loves all human beings, along comes the bad news…Sin and even worse…Hell.
These days, many, many religious people, say they don’t believe that there is such a place as Hell. They think the Biblical warnings that Sin leads people to spend eternity in Hell are not relevant in today’s world.
No one wants to live a life full of problems.
Therefore…If you asked people to choose between A,) a life that is full of pain, sorrow and bitter regret: called Hell.
Or B,) a life without any problems such as, pain, sorrows and regrets: called Heaven.
Which option do you think they’d choose?
Option B Right? No sorry, the majority are choosing option A.
Why would anyone make such a choice?
The main reasons are that they haven’t read the Bible, or if they have read the Bible, then they have not understood it, or they simply do not believe, or want to believe what God is saying about sin leading to Hell. God has given us free choice and some do not choose to believe, because they don’t choose to change their current behaviour. The Bible says, however that the desire to change and be rid of sin is essential. People who don’t make a choice, by default are choosing option A. For eternity.
Let us therefore first read what the Bible has to say about the reality of Hell.
Matthew Ch.5 verse 22
Jesus said, “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother, without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother’ Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘you fool’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Verse 29: “And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you: for it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
Matthew Ch. 5 Verse 30: + Matthew Ch.18 verse 9. And Ch.23 verses 15. say similar.
Mark Ch. 9 verses 42, to 47 are also similar readings of Jesus’ teachings.
In Matthew Ch.23 verse 33 Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees,, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape from the condemnation of hell?”
Luke Ch. 12 verse 5: “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him, who after He has killed, has power to cast you into hell: Yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
There are many more Biblical references, but the above reveals that Jesus Christ knew that Hell is a real and terrible place. And you don’t want to choose to go there!
Now lets see what the Bible says about sin.
Romans chapter 3 verse 23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Has anyone ever told you that they do not sin?
Don’t believe them! The Bible states that ALL have sinned. (And that means everyone, no exceptions…(except the Lord Jesus Christ, who never sinned)
So what happens to you if you Sin?
Well, sin pays you a wage: Yes, the Bible says that you actually earn wages for sin.
People might wonder, ‘What are the wages then?’
For a clue read Romans chapter 6 verse 21
“What fruit did you have then in the things for which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”
Yes that’s right, only two verses later Romans 6 v23 states,
“For the wages of sin is death,” and goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Are there different kinds of sin?
Yes indeed and we will discuss some, but first please read the 10 commandments, Exodus chapter 20 verses 1 to 17. Sin is not keeping these 10 commandments…And even if a person keeps most of them, that is not good enough, for the Bible says that a person who breaks one of the commandments, is as guilty as though they had broken them all, because they have not kept to God’s law.
I once heard a sermon that Man makes little of sin, but God makes much of it!
Adam only had a bite of an apple, but that was the only law God had given him. In eating the apple Adam broke the whole of God’s law!
Sins of direct disobedience
refer to Romans Ch.5 verse 19:
1 Timothy Ch. 2 verse 14
Ephesians Ch. 2 verses 1 to 6
Sins of omitting to do the right thing
James Ch. 4 verse 17
Hebrews Ch. 9 verse 7
2 Corinthians Ch. 11 verse 3
Sins of attitude
Mathew Ch. 5 verses 21 to 48
James Ch 1 verses 14 to 16 (explains that sin begins in your own thoughts)
God’s plan for sinners: 1 John Ch. 1 verses 8,9
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’.”
We hope the above will convince readers that we ALL have sinned…And even the best Christians occasionally still do. So never think that another human being can point the finger at you – Remember all have done wrong.
There are two consequences of sin
A) Death and Hell
B) Repentance and life: through acknowledging to God that you are a sinner. A sinner who realises that it’s more than just turning over a new leaf: It’s being willing to do that - and then receive a new life. And then asking God to forgive you…through His only Son Jesus.
Please read John Ch. 3 verses 15 to 19 (probably the most important verses in the entire Bible)
We have not written the lesson to depress anyone, but to warn people and then to assure everybody that God loves sinners, so much that he sacrificed his only Son to die in our place for the sins that we’ve all committed. Jesus gave his life for us, not after we had repented, but while we were still sinners.
Jesus died so that we could live! That’s great news for sinners like us, isn’t it?
Readings taken from The New Open Bible, New King James Version
Week 6
Belief in Jesus is the only way for any human being to be acceptable to God!
So does that mean that the things we do (our works) are not important???
Last week we thought about John chapter 3, verses 16 & 18:
'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
"There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him, but those that do not trust him have already been judged, for not believing in the Son of God.'
So we know that we can't earn our way to heaven. We can only get there by repenting (being truly sorry) for whatever is wrong in our lives and believing in Jesus! Believing that He died for our sins. Because only through Jesus will God accept us.
Fine…But now let us read James chapter 2, verses 14-17:
'Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions?
That kind of faith can't save anyone.
Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing: and you say...
"Well, good-by and God bless you: stay warm and eat well" – but then you don't give that person any food or clothing.
What good does that do?
So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless."
Does this mean that James, chapter 2 is contradicting John, chapter 3???
It may seem so at first glance, but actually both are true!
The ONLY way to be acceptable to God is through our faith:
We MUST Believe in Jesus Christ!
When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac: Abraham was acceptable to God because…By faith. He was even ready to kill his son, Isaac. It must have seemed horrible, appalling, crazy…sick!
But Abraham was willing to obey God and completely trusted the result to Him.
So you see: Faith came first and then followed the works, (Abraham was ready to obey God and slay Isaac.) Faith came First! It does, every time.
However, James wrote that faith without works is dead.
What he meant was: If a person has true faith in the Lord, his/her nature will change. Then…Filled with God's Holy Spirit they will WANT to do good for others (works)
In verses 19 & 20 James writes, 'Do you still think it's
enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless.'
So if a person professes to have faith, but does no good works, then it is not real faith that they have!
That is why faith without works is dead. True faith will produce good works, while faith that is a sham is an impostor, no better than a pretence, and that will not be acceptable to God and will not produce good works.
If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, or you're not sure, why don’t you tell Almighty God and ask Him to help you? You can tell Him that you want to believe, and ask Him to help you. God Will hear your prayer and He will answer it.
(Bible readings from the New Living Translation)
Week 7
THE END TIMES
Acts 17 v 31 New King James Version
“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead.”
When Jesus was asked what signs would indicate that the end of the world was approaching, He gave examples of things to watch for, but He stated that nobody knew the time when He would return, or when the end would happen. Only God knows when! Jesus said that even the angels in heaven don’t know!
Although Jesus’ signs are not in dispute with Christian authorities, some things remain a mystery and many learned people have differing views regarding the actual sequence of the happenings.
Students must remember that the events and signs could not happen ‘humanly’ speaking. Some may seem impossible to us: because the value system of this world is based on what is seen, while the eternal value system of Scripture is based upon what is unseen!
We have to bear in mind that this is the fulfillment of God’s master plan: and that nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible to Almighty God!
We are providing readers with Biblical information in the order it appears, but this might not be in strict order of events happening and you may have to pray for further guidance if any points concern you.
To get us in the right frame of mind, it would be helpful to consider the following…
Paul wrote that by the Gospel (Good News) of Christ dying for our sins, Christians are saved – He also stated that over 500 people had actually seen Jesus after he’d been raised from the dead!
So please keep in mind that we will not be talking about what is ‘humanly possible.’ Remember…All things are possible to Almighty God!
Now for a short-term prophesy from Jesus
The following passages are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.
Words of the Bible are in italics and the words of Jesus are typed in red
Shortly before He was to be crucified, Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem and as they were walking past the remarkable temple that king Herod the Great reconstructed, the disciples remarked on the magnificent beauty of the massive building. 15 stories high, decorated with marble and gold, it was fabulously impressive and of incomparable importance to the Jews. - Jesus Christ took this opportunity to speak with divine knowledge about the future.
Matthew chapter 24, v 1 and 2:
‘As Jesus was leaving the temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various temple buildings. Jesus astounded them when he replied, “Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another.”
40 years later Jesus’ prophesy was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed the great temple, ruthlessly throwing down the beautiful stones into the street below.
The Bible prophesies other signs…it says that the Jews would be persecuted and would be scattered among other nations, but eventually they would go back to Israel before the end times.
Early in the 1940s Hitler tried to eliminate the Jewish nation, gassing six million men women and children as part of his ‘final solution.’ Arabs occupied Palestine, armed and ready to repel any new settlers, and the British army was doing nothing overt to help, possibly for fear of upsetting the Arab people who were living there. They withdrew leaving the poorly armed Jews, who’d very recently lost six million people and had no state of their own, to defend themselves against the heavily armed Arabs.
It seemed incredible to think that the Jews would ever be able to get Israel back…And yet the prophesy was fulfilled in 1948 - when the United Nations agreed that they should go back to their God-given homeland, sharing Palestine with the Arab settlers and yet, against overwhelming odds, the Jewish people did go back.
From this point the blue typing refers to questions you should be asking yourself.
Signs that Jesus said will occur prior to the end of the world
Jesus’ teachings read like a horror story, as He describes famines, natural disasters, spiritual deceptions, wars and deaths on a massive scale.
Right, let us now read what Jesus said to his disciples and to every future generation, about the signs that would precede the end of the world! And then we’ll have a platform to consider them in more depth. (The Lord Jesus explained the signs in Matthew 24, verses 1–51: Mark, chapter 13, verses 1–37: and in Luke, chapter 21 verses 5-36.)
The passages from Matthew are typed in full below and the notes we will refer to later are indicated. You may find it helpful to also read the accounts in Mark and Luke from your own Bible as you proceed with your study.
Matthew chapter 24, verses 3-51
“Later Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, “When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?”
Jesus told them: Note 1) “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately.
Note 2) The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.
Note 3) “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved.
And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it: and then, finally, the end will come.
Note 4) “The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object* that causes desecration, standing in the Holy Place” – reader, pay attention! (* See Daniel ch: 9 v 27, - ch: 11 v 31, - ch: 12 v 11.)
“Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person outside the house must not go inside to pack. A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For that will be a time of even greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire Human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.
Note 5) “Then if anyone tells you, ‘look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘there he is,’ don’t pay any attention. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. See, I have warned you.
“So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! For as lightening lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.
“Immediately after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
“And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation* (or this age, or this nation.) will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and Earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.
Note 6) “However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realise what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes…(Known as the Rapture)
Note 7) “Two men will be working in the field: one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill: one will be taken, the other left. So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
“Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You also must be ready for the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected.
“Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk – well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected.
“He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
Probable Event schedule
Rapture, Tribulation, Antichrist, The Beast, 666, Armageddon, Jesus Triumphant
Refer to Note 1) Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in Jesus’ name claiming to be the Messiah, they will lead many astray.
See also Mark 13 v 5: and Luke 21 v 8
There will be an increased interest in the occult, in sects. Many of the churches will be offering people the religion they demand, trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, instead of preaching the Gospel. (The Lord says to the church in Laodicea, in Revelation 3 v 15-16 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water I will spit you out of my mouth!”
God is saying that many of the churches make him sick, because they follow, rather than lead, the people.
Ask yourself…can you see these signs happening in the churches now? Are they watering down God’s Word to avoid upsetting people with secular ideas? Is the process now in place for the churches to be ‘luke-warm’?
Refer to note 2) The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes See also Mark 13 v 7: also Luke 21 v 10 and 20
What’s the situation regarding Famines, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Global Warming? Are there Wars and rumours of wars?
Luke 21 v20 reads, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.”
Are earthquakes, famines and other natural disasters on the increase? Global warming and climate change are now accepted threats. How about wars? Atomic weapons that could bring about massive losses of life are already in place.
Refer to note 3) Jesus told us that when these things begin to happen, watch out. Jews and Christians will be persecuted and killed. They will be hated all over the world and many false prophets will appear and lead many astray. Sin will be rampant, but those who endure to the end will be saved.
See also Mark 13 v 8,9: also Luke 21 v 12-19
Please also see Timothy 3 v 1-4
Is sin on the increase? Is lawlessness more rampant? Are people uncaring of any moral considerations, with governments unable to prevent crime’s growth? Is your country turning away from religion and religious based laws, that have served us so well for centuries - and looking, instead, to secular means of solving problems and to secular politicians and leaders?
Refer to note 4) Eventually you will see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy place. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. (The beginning of the 7 years of Tribulation.) A time of unimaginable horror that gets even worse during the second three and a half years.
See also Mark 13 v 14-21: also Luke 21 v 20-24.
It seems that the focal point of the end times will centre around Jerusalem. The sacrilegious object (Or ‘abomination of desolation’) could refer to a large statue of the Beast. The Holy place referred to is almost certainly the temple that was destroyed by the Romans some 1900 years ago, only the Wailing Wall is standing. A large mosque now occupies the site of the old temple and this could mean that the old temple will have to be rebuilt.
Refer to note 5) Then if anyone tells you they have seen Christ, or that Jesus has come back to earth and is in a certain place. – Do not believe them! These false prophets will have the ability to perform great miraculous signs, so accomplished that they would deceive even God’s elect, if that were possible. But you do not believe them! Because Jesus says, “For as lightening lights up the entire sky, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.”
When Jesus returns YOU WILL KNOW! You won’t need anyone to tell you. Everyone will know! But it will take everyone by surprise and it will be too late to repent then.
See also Mark 13 v 22-26: also Luke 21 v 25-27
Refer to note 6) No one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will come back. People won’t realise…they’ll be busy at work, or enjoying themselves at a party, when, suddenly - Jesus will return.
See also Luke 21 v 34-3
Refer to note 7) “Be prepared, because you don’t know the day your Lord is coming.”
The Bible says that NOW! Is the accepted hour (to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your saviour and to turn to God) don’t wait a moment longer, do it now!
SIGNS WRITTEN IN REVELATION
The Book of Revelation is a vision given by God to John. In it God’s programme of redemption is brought to fruition and the Holy name of God is vindicated. Revelation is told in the form of visions and symbols of the resurrected Jesus Christ, who alone has been given the authority to judge the earth, to remake it and then to judge the earth in righteousness. Jesus is likened to a Lion and to a Lamb.
In Chapter 5 v5 ‘Look the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll.
Verse 12 reads, ‘and they (thousands and millions of Angels) sang in a mighty chorus, “The Lamb is worthy…”
Rev 6 v 15,16
Refer to Note 8) ‘Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power and every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains
And they cried to the rocks, “fall down on us from the face of one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.”
Rev 13 v 1
Refer to Note 9) “And now in my vision I saw a beast rising up out of the sea.”
Verse 2 ends… ‘And the dragon (Satan) ‘gave him his own power and throne and great authority.’
Verse 3,4 7 and 8: “I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery – but the fatal wound was healed! All marvelled at this miracle and followed the beast in awe. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast.
And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s Holy people and to overcome them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.”
It seems that the beast must somehow get the Jews and Arabs to agree a peace treaty that probably includes the Mosque in Jerusalem being replaced by the Jewish Temple.
Refer to Note 10) “And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life, which belongs to the Lamb who was killed before the world was
made.”
Note 11) “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand must drink the wine of God’s wrath.”
(Rev 14-v 9,10) (Obviously God doesn’t want you to accept the mark of the beast.)
Rev 13-mid v 14 and 15
Note 12) ‘He ordered the people of the world to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue commanded that everyone refusing to worship it must die.’
Verse 16,17,18
Note 13) ‘He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free- to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.
And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding
Note 14) solve the number of the beast for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.’
Summary
You may think that the stage is getting set. Some of the signs have started to happen and it looks as though many of the others are about to begin, certainly world events are moving into place to facilitate all the signs happening.
Scholars disagree about minor orders of events, i.e. some think that the Rapture will be before the Tribulation; others think the Tribulation will happen first, while another school of thought says that these things are purely spiritual.
But whatever the order of events, the main thing is that YOU ‘get right with God.’ Please read John 3 v 16 and 1 Peter 1 v 3-5
The Rapture: Notes 6 & 7: Believers suddenly disappear as they go to meet Jesus in the air.
Tribulation: Notes: 4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14. The beast gets a peace agreement, but after three and a half years he turns his back on peace, installs his statue in the Holy Temple and makes everyone worship it. (The ultimate blasphemy) He also makes people have his mark on their skin (possibly a computer chip) on their forehead or hand. Without this ‘mark of the beast’ it will not be possible to buy or sell anything, you probably won’t be able to receive your salaries or pensions either. The beast could use the excuse of security and credit card fraud as reasons for introducing the mark. But it’s obvious from the Biblical text that God does not want us to accept this mark of the beast
Antichrist: Satan or the dragon.
The Beast: Works for and gets his power from Satan: Notes 4,5,9,10,11,12,13. The beast suffers a mortal wound, but is miraculously healed, he shows great signs and seems to achieve some of the miracles that Jesus performed. He is so convincing that the Bible says that “Even God’s Elect will be deceived, if that were possible.”
666: Note 14 (We haven’t yet been able to work out what the number 666 means, but we’re not worried because we believe that Jesus Christ has died for our sins!)
Armageddon: The location of a gigantic battle. Men will be so frightened that Jesus said they will hide away in caves. He said that when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies flee to the hills.
Then the ultimate battle: God v Satan, as the Antichrist attacks Jerusalem: - Objective - to eliminate the Jews. At about this time the river Euphrates will dry up and the biggest army that the world has ever seen will march across it to join in battle. The Bible says this army will come from the East – and it is generally thought to be from China.
Initially the Jews will take enormous casualties, as they are defeated. Those who escaped to the hills will survive and the Antichrist will send his massive army after them to complete the annihilation.
And then, finally, under the sure expectation of certain death: The terrified Jews will cry out to Almighty God for help and will at last recognise the Lord Jesus as the their Messiah and the Saviour of the world. And….
Jesus will speak the word! And that will be sufficient to defeat the armies of the Antichrist. How? We don’t know!
But the same God who created the heavens and the earth with His Word – God who opened the waters of the mighty Red Sea, will speak again - and that Word alone will be enough to defeat Satan and his followers!
At last some good news!
Is there any other good news in all this
YES! YES! YES!
YES! Jesus said in Luke 21 v 28
“So when all these things begin, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near!
YES! Christian, you have no need to worry! It’s far more important that you accept Christ as you saviour now, than to know God’s exact timetable for the end times!
- YES! Jesus will hold a great party: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us be glad and honour him.”
‘Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd, or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns Let us be glad and rejoice and honour him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen” (Fine white linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)’
Rev 19-v 6,7,8
YES! Jesus said, “See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”
YES! Jesus will be triumphant.
The Bible says He will reign in full control for 1000 years, until Satan is freed for a brief time before being cast forever into the lake of fire.
Those who believe in Jesus will be in Heaven where there will no more death.
YES! Christ’s empty tomb Guarantees salvation for Christian believers!
1 Peter v 3-5: also John 3 v16
Week 8
Born Again.
It's a fascinating subject, and many people ask…
"What is being Born Again?"
"How is it possible?"
"Is this something that happy-clappy Christians have
added?"
"Why did Jesus say that we must be Born Again?"
"How can I know if I've been Born Again?"
There's an interesting account of the subject in John, chapter
3: verses 1 –12.
After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to speak with Jesus."
"Teacher," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to
teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you."
Jesus replied, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you
can never see the kingdom of God."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old
man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of
God without being born of water and the spirit. Humans can
reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life
from heaven.
So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born
again. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it
comes from, or where it is going, so you can't explain how
people are born of the spirit."
"What do you mean?" Nicodemus asked.
Jesus replied, "You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet
you don't understand these things? I assure you, I am telling
you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe.
But if you don't even believe me when I tell you about things
that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell
you what is going on in heaven?"
Let us have a closer look at the above passage.
Nicodemus was a highly respected student of God's word.- With experience he had become a well-known leader in Jewish religion.
The Bible tells us that one evening he approached Jesus after
dark.
There is no indication why Nicodemus came after dark.
Perhaps he was a busy man, who'd been working hard all day and this was his first opportunity, or perhaps he was frightened of being seen with Jesus and it being reported to Caiaphas, the High Priest, or there might have been some other reason…
Whatever…Nicodemus, unlike the majority of religious leaders,
obviously believed that God had sent Jesus and stated the same to open the conversation.
"Teacher," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you."
You might think that Jesus would have been flattered.
I believe that Jesus would have wanted to help this man, and that is why he went directly to the area where Nicodemus needed help the most.
The Jewish leader must have been amazed...that instead of thanking him for his kind comments, or giving even a nod of approval and Instead of showing deference to his visitor's high position, Jesus told him, 'Unless you are Born Again, Nicodemus - you can never see the Kingdom of God.'
A shocked Nicodemus asked, "What do you mean? How can you go back into your mother's womb and then be reborn?"
Jesus told the learned man that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.
He explained:
Although humans can only give birth to other humans (water). It is the Holy Spirit that gives new life from heaven.
He continued, "So don't be surprised at my statement that YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
Nicodemus must have looked blank or something, because Jesus went on to give the example of the wind blowing wherever it listeth.
"What do you mean?" Said Nicodemus in astonishment. "How can these things be?"
Jesus said something like, "What! You are a respected Jewish teacher…you're a Master of Religion…a Doctor of Divinity… and yet you don't understand these things!"
He went on to say to Nicodemus
"If you don't even believe me when I tell you about things that happen here on earth –
How can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven?"
Now, none of us like being told that we must do anything.
We've been told it at school, we've been told it as a teenager, we've been told it at work, we've even been told it as an old age pensioner...and we're just about fed up of being told what we must do!
But when the Divine Son of God says that we MUST BE BORN AGAIN.
We MUST!
O.K. Lets have a look at the questions we considered when we started out on this subject.
The first was…
What is being born again?
It is when we are truly sorry for the sinful things we have done and earnestly desire to live a better life. A life that is more pleasing to God.
We can approach God in a prayer, admitting our failures and asking God to forgive us: Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God's Holy Spirit will quicken our spiritual nature, which has been lying dormant in us, a miracle takes place and we can begin to understand spiritual things.
We now have different desires, because our sinful lives have been replaced by a God-given spiritual life.
How is this possible?
All things are possible to Almighty God!
He has graciously laid down the way that we sinners can become acceptable to a Holy God; He did it by giving Jesus to die for our sins, instead of us having to bear the punishment. (John 3: 16 -17)
Thus Jesus has already accepted the punishment that we should receive and the requirements of the law are met by His sacrifice.
Isn’t this something that the happy-clappy brigade have added?
No, not at all: Being born again is scriptural. It is God's plan to save us.
Why did Jesus say that we must be born again?
Jesus said it because WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
How do I know if I've been born again?
Although God loves us and nothing can separate us from his love:
God is Holy and therefore our sinful nature separates us from
him. As Billy Graham used to say, "We need to 'get right' with God."
So if you are born again you will probably have gone through something very like the answer to question (1) above…It is when we are truly sorry for the sinful things we have done and earnestly desire to live a better life that is more pleasing to God.
We can approach God in prayer, admitting our failures and asking Him to forgive us: Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God's Holy Spirit will then quicken our spiritual nature, which has been lying dormant in us. A miracle takes place and we can begin to understand spiritual things. We will now begin to have different values and different desires, because our sinful lives have been replaced, by God's spiritual life.
If you are thinking, “What on earth is this all about?” Then there is a chance that you have not yet been born again.
But don't despair! God wants you to be! And if you genuinely want to be, then you only have to ask Him.
However...please don't think that you're not born again because you still continue to sin from time to time.
None of us is perfect…yet!
Even Paul, one of the greatest apostles in the New Testament, said that, although he tried his very best, he was not perfect: He admitted that the things he didn’t want to do, he found himself doing – and the things he wanted to do, he didn’t do them.
And he was a great evangelist…so you're in good company and the fact that you've read this far is a worthwhile indication of your true intentions.
You could pray to God right now!
(Bible readings from the New Living Translation)
Week 9
The Bible reading is about Love.
Paul is writing in 1: Corinthians, chapter 13.
"If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth, but didn't love others, I would be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging symbol.
If I had the gift of prophesy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be?
And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a
mountain and make it move, - without love I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little!
But when the end comes these special gifts will all disappear.
It is like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does.
But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
Now we see things imperfectly as in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
There are three things that will endure – Faith, hope and love
And the greatest of these is love."
Hope you enjoyed today's Bible reading about God's view of LOVE: It certainly makes us think every time we read it.
Spiritual Health Check
We have come to the last of this weekly series and the time seems to have flown by.
Many of us put off visiting the doctor for a health check, but we hope you will not mind taking a spiritual health check, because it is, of course, completely confidential: no one will ever see it, unless you decide to show it to them.
O.K. Are you ready?
Your Spiritual Health Check
Part one
1) EYES:
Jesus said that the lamp of the body is the eye.
And therefore what we look at is conditioned by our true feelings.
Question 1
Are you keeping your eyes on wholesome things...and on the Bible's teaching?
2) HEART:
Are you protecting your heart - your wants, your real desires...From evil?
Question 2
Do you desire anything that is bad for others, or causes you to break any of God's 10 commandments? Or do you set your objectives/desires upon things that are good and wholesome?
3) TONGUE:
Do you misrepresent or speak badly about others, (because we all have to remember that God loves them as much as he loves us -
Didn't He give His only Son to be their saviour too?)
Question 3
Poke out your tongue – Are you keeping it clean and pure?
4) FEET:
Mark out a straight path and stay safe.
Question 4
Are you walking in the direction that God would want you to go?
This is the end of part one: The answers will indicate the genuineness of a Christian's faith (Answers at the end of the test)
Part two.
Are you experiencing Spiritual Growth?
The Bible?
The Lord has provided us with the Holy Bible.
Just think...The maker of heaven and earth has given us a blueprint, which contains knowledge and wisdom that far exceeds anything else that has ever been written since the world was first created!
Questions 5 and 6
5) Do you make daily time to read God's Word in the Bible, even though your life is so very busy? (As little as 10 minutes a day would be a great start.)
6) Are you eager to read what God is saying to YOU?
7) Prayer
You don't need an appointment to talk to God! He's always available to hear you. You can even choose the time, the place and the subject.
Question 7
Do you talk to God in prayer daily, giving Him thanks for all He’s done for you and asking forgiveness for your trespasses? Do you ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and give direction in your daily life?
Please remember that if you approach your boss at work to say something important, or to ask a question.
The boss may be not be immediately available for many reasons.
Perhaps attending a meeting, speaking on the phone, having a long lunch, working on budgets, interviewing a new member of staff or meeting an important client...And you would have to wait until it was convenient to state your case. You might even have to make an appointment before your busy boss would see you.
Suppose you wanted to speak to the Mayor at six in the morning. Unless you were the Mayor's favourite relation, you'd have to wait until it was convenient for the Mayor.
You'd need an appointment before you could speak to an important surgeon.
Now suppose you wanted to talk to a member of the Government, (unless you waited until the M.P.s local surgery) you would certainly need an appointment.
If you wished to talk with the Queen of England! No chance...You'd never even get an appointment.
And yet...Almighty God, Who made heaven and earth, is never too busy to hear your prayers, never too busy to listen to you, never too busy to help you!
8 and 9) Spiritual Gifts
God has provided us with an abundance of gifts
such as: Health, family, friends, home, food & water, clothes, cars, TVs.
He's given Spiritual gifts too: To preach, talk in public, perhaps a good singing voice, the desire to read the Bible, to serve Him, to speak or interpret tongues, to rely on Him and to believe that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ went to a cruel death on the cross for us. He died so that we could live!
Questions 8 and 9
8) What fruit of the Spirit is apparent in your life? Are you using your spiritual gifts?
9) Do you have a generous and giving spirit with both your money and your time?
10) Growing & Knowing God and Jesus Christ.
Questions 10 and 11
10) Do you know God better today than you did this time last year?
11) Are you able to talk about Jesus with people who don't know Him?
12, 13 and 14) Deciding your personal priorities
Question 12
What is the most important?
- Reading the Bible every day
- Knowing the Books of the Bible by sequence
- Learning the Psalms by heart.
- Repenting your sins and believing that God gave Jesus Christ to be your Saviour
- Becoming a church sidesman and going to church at least twice a week.
- Question 13
What is the most important?
- Being on the membership roll of your church
- Having your name put on the membership roll of every church in your nearest city
- Repenting your sins and believing that God gave Jesus Christ to be your Saviour
- Visiting sick and/or lonely people
- Giving 10% of your income to the church
- Question 14
Which is the most important?
a) Becoming an Elder, helping your Pastor and doing good work around the church
b) Repenting your sins and believing that God gave Jesus Christ to be your Saviour
c) Giving up your home and working in Africa helping the poor and sick people
d) Singing in the choir
e) Giving the elderly lifts to church in your car
How did you do?
Would you like to work out your own score for questions 1 to 4 from the Bible?
Please read Proverbs, chapter 4 Verses 20 – 27 and then refer to the following verses to read the definitions King Solomon wrote.
Question 1) Verses 21 & 25
Question 2) verse 23
Question 3) verse 24
Question 4) verse 26
Please now turn to 2 Corinthians, chapter 13 verse 5:
'Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine.
Test yourself: Did you pass part one? Great!
Part two: questions 5 - 11
The answers 5 - 11 provide an indication of a Christian's Spiritual gifts and growth.
Q5 Yes
Q6 Yes
Q7 Yes
Q8 Personal to you
Q9 Yes
Q10 Yes
Q11 Yes
The answers to questions 12, 13 and 14 indicate whether you’ve got the right priorities.
Q12: d
Q13: c
Q14: b
How did you score?
If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is in you, it means you might, for the time being, have failed part one of the test.'
But if you're not sure, or if you think you failed…Please don't give up seeking and please do not worry, because if you have read this far you are certainly seeking.
Some people have an instant conversion, but more come to the Lord gradually over a period of time. Whatever your results please be encouraged:
Jesus said that, "All who seek will find"
Remember, Jesus also said,
"Ask and the door will be opened unto you. Seek and you will find."
To Bible Lesson participants who are not yet members of a Christian church and would like to learn more about God's Holy Word:
We urge you to join a church nearby your home, (or near your work if you work away.) There are several websites to help you find a church on the right hand column on the Home page of www.christianinformation.co.uk (U.K. readers only)
(Bible references from the New Living Translation)
We hope that you will continue to visit us at
www.christianinformation.co.uk We have new items coming on board all the time, as
we build towards becoming a truly one-stop Christian Website.
With Love and good wishes
Brian and Norma
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