Hope is a beautiful, wonderful word

We all need hope to live from day to day,

The kind of hope that comes from God alone

To help us make it through whatever comes our way.

 

Without our hope and faith in God above,

we would be so depressed and sad,

that we would lose our will to live

and that would be very bad.

 

We must never give up on living

No matter what happens each day.

We must keep on moving forward

And trust God to help us in every way.

Eph 4:4 – There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

Debora Robbins

A few days ago, I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop; and a young mother and her little girl came in. The mother ordered some egg bites for the little girl and a drink for herself. They sat at a table right in front of me. When the mother’s drink was ready, she started to get it; but she warned the little girl not to touch the eggs. She warned a second time, “Do not touch.” She walked toward the counter, and the little girl watched her, all the time moving her hand closer to the eggs. Her eyes followed her mother; and when the mother looked down to pick up her drink, the little girl’s fingers moved down to the eggs. She quickly touched them, then removed her hand before her mother could see what she had done. I had to smile at the scene I had just witnessed, and I realized we are so much like that little girl, even as adults.

When Eve ate the fruit forbidden by God, Scripture says that when she saw that the fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and it was desired to make her wise, she ate it (Genesis 3:6). Adam blamed his eating the fruit on Eve, and Eve blamed it on the serpent. God’s answer blamed all three. God told the serpent, “Because you have done this…” To the woman he said, “I will…”, and to the man He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife…” (Genesis 3:14-17). The guilt was placed on all three.

King Saul had the same problem. God told him to “utterly destroy the Amalekites” in First Samuel 15. Saul did defeat them, but he did not utterly destroy them. He saved King Agag and the best of the sheep and the oxen. When Samuel confronted King Saul, his answer was, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal” (First Samuel 15:20-21).

When King David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba, the murder of her husband, and his taking Bathsheba as his wife, God was angry with him. God sent Samuel to confront the king, and his response was different than that of King Saul. He said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” He blamed no one but himself. He did not justify his sin but rather owned it.

When the apostle Paul stood before the people in Jerusalem, he openly confessed that he persecuted the people of the Way (Christians). He said that he bound them and delivered them to prison (Acts 22:1-4). He made no excuses.

In the case of Eve, she believed the lies of the serpent. King Saul deliberately defied the instructions of God to destroy the Amalekites. King David was tempted by what he saw and wanted, but he admitted his sin and took his punishment. The apostle Paul was taught the truth and obeyed it because he realized he was wrong.

The little girl at the beginning of my article escaped both harm and punishment. She escaped because she didn’t get caught. This may encourage her to try it again. She may not be so lucky the next time.

Eve, Saul, and David all suffered the consequences of their mistakes; and Paul had to live with the memories of what he had done as well.

What can we learn from all of these?. First Peter 1 tells us, “Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

I think that verse says it all.

Sandra Oliver

As some of you know, my husband and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary. It was a very special one. Our fiftieth!!! We were so blessed to have almost all of our family members with us, especially our children. We received cards from literally all over the country expressing congratulations and admiration for “sticking it out” that long. I told one friend, “It really doesn’t seem like fifty. The years have flown by!”

I suppose I have had marriage on my mind a lot lately. If one observed a marriage from it’s beginning to old age, you might have noticed that as the years went by, the couple began to look alike. Even though they might deny it, they probably began to think alike, too. Sometimes they even finished each other’s sentences!

It made me contemplate how we, as Christians, are the bride of Christ. Paul wrote, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). In truth, God planned before time began that those who believe and obey Him in penitent baptism would become part of the bride and be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

I question, after many years of being married to Christ, how much do I resemble Him? He is without the stain of sin and blameless, thus holy. Am I holy? Do I think like Jesus? Have I been in the Word so much that I can finish His sentences? If not, I should consider how much time I give Him each day. Do I take every opportunity to soak in the scripture? How often do I immerse myself in prayer?

One thing is sure, the more devoted time I give Him, the greater the chance I will begin to look like Him, think like Him, and talk like Him, which is what He desires of all those who love Him!

Today’s Verses:  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11), and For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29).

by Teresa Hampton

Bible lesson).

Through my recent studies of God’s Word, I’ve come to a fuller understanding of how God views marriage. Unfortunately, I think the church has failed to understand this concept, at least during my lifetime. Churches are filled with divorce, cohabitation and unlawful marriages. Yet, many, including some elderships, believe this is okay. However, does God believe it is okay? “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4 NKJV).

God created marriage in the very beginning. Now, here is what many miss; from the beginning, marriage was a foreshadow of God’s relationship with man. Adam was put to sleep, his side was opened, and he woke up with a bride (Genesis 2:21-25; 3:12). Sound familiar? Maybe not. Think about how Jesus went to sleep, had His side opened up, and then he woke up to obtain a bride – His church.

The world tells us that marriage should be happy and perfect. God tells us marriage should be holy and complete us in our service to Him. People are so concerned with being happy that they honestly believe it is a commandment from God! If this were the case, the church never would have grown. Think about all that Paul endured for the bride of Christ. He was abused to the point of death and was then later put to death. I don’t think I would be “happy” according to worldly standards going through those difficulties. Based on extra-biblical church history, all but one apostle was murdered for Christ’s bride. This is a beautiful and perfect example of the love we need in our marriages.

While Christians have gotten wrapped up in this idea of being happy, we have neglected what makes our marriages holy. This has created unions between believers and unbelievers wherein they frequently are “unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14). This more often than not causes the believer to abandon the faith for a happy marriage. Further, the pseudo, manmade doctrine of happy marriage has also been the catalyst for many unbiblical divorces. We hear, “God wouldn’t want me to remain married because I’m not happy” or “My spouse doesn’t meet my needs.”

The church also faces the plague of cohabitation. Some churches ignore or fail to address couples who shack up while they decide if they would be good fits in marriage. Usually, the only discipline the church does in these cases is not hosting a shower, but plenty of individuals still give lots of gifts and blessings for these individuals who have never repented of their sins. Lastly, we have unlawful remarriages. Some churches don’t expect a confession of sin for unlawful divorces and also have no issue with subsequent new marriages. Nevertheless, the words of Jesus Christ remain. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). Contrary to contentions otherwise, the apostle Paul did not alter or dismiss our Lord’s directive. “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

If the church actually saw marriage as God does, these would not be issues. The problem is, one learns more about how God views marriage primarily through the lens of the Old Testament, but Christians today refuse to learn from these books because “We are not under the old law.” God unites Himself in marriage with those He has called to be His chosen people. God fully understands what it means to be cheated on. His people were constantly committing spiritual adultery against Him by practicing idolatry.

“Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord. Then the Lord said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord. “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:8-14)

This is why many believe God allows the innocent party to remain when a spouse is unfaithful. God knows and understands that feeling.

Our marriages need to mirror what Christ set forward for us. Husbands are to love their wives to the point that they would die for them (Ephesians 5:25). They should be willing to sacrifice for their wives. Wives should be willing to submit to the will of “their own husbands” (Ephesians 5:24). Even when we do not want to submit, just the same as when Jesus submitted to the will of the Father in the Garden, wives need to submit to their husbands (Colossians 3:18). We must deny ourselves and follow the authority of the husbands we chose (Titus 2:5). This is where many argue that we can leave our husbands if they are unfaithful to God or are not Christians. This is contrary to God’s Word. According to Peter, we are to continue to live our lives pleasing to God and in this set the example for our husbands. This is how we bring them to a faithful relationship with Christ (1 Peter 3:1-6).

Elderships need to ensure that husbands, as wells as teenage and adult men generally – who may become husbands in the future – hear in the classroom and from the pulpit the biblical responsibility – what God expects – of husbands. Likewise, wives, as well as teenage and adult women – who may become wives in the future – need to hear in the classroom and from the pulpit the biblical responsibility – what God expects – of wives. If elders become aware of troubled marriages within the local congregation, they ought to express their concern and offer to convey biblical and helpful teachings about marriage openly for all and privately as needed. “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. …Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

We must stop seeing marriage through the eyes of our culture and see it through the eyes of God! Persons in marriages that are not pleasing to God are lost. Anyone failing to repent of sins, including divorces for unbiblical reasons, remain lost in sin. Church, we need to do better! God has called us to do so.

Jenny Choate

(Enjoy this article written by guest author, Nancy Posey. Nancy grew up in such similar circumstances as did I, that reading her recollections of Gospel Meetings took me straight back to my childhood.)

As the oldest child, I probably logged more hours of car rides with my dad than any of my sisters, listening to his stories and engaging in adult conversation as I accompanied him to gospel meetings (what the Baptists call revivals). We rode to churches with such names as Gravel Hill and Sandy Hook, close enough to home to make the drive back and forth on weekdays, while spending all day Sunday for both services.

I ate my fill at dinners on the ground, learning to stand near Daddy who was always called on to ask the blessing then placed in the front of the line. I knew there would be plenty of fried chicken and potato salad, fresh-sliced homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers, but I didn’t want to risk missing out on the fried okra or homemade peach or apple pies.

I loved the singings that followed the meals. Even though we all declared we were too full to sing, we sang. Loud. We sang all those old standards: “Send the Light” and “Old Rugged Cross.” Mama had taught me to sing alto one afternoon in the kitchen, choosing “Angry Words,” an easy song for harmonizing. I also learned to love those foot-stomping Stamps-Baxter hymns that let the basses or the altos show out a little—“Salvation Has Been Brought Down” or “Paradise Valley.”

I loved eating dinner the rest of the week in the homes of church folks who competed for the honors of hosting the preacher. We thought nothing of eating outdoors with the family’s six dogs beneath the table hoping someone would drop a scrap or two. If I was lucky, those who welcomed us might have kids my age who sometimes became instant best friends—and then I saw them the next summer and the one after that or I never saw them again.

At those summer gospel meetings, I loved the certainty of responses to the invitation song: “Almost Persuaded” and “Oh, Why Not Tonight?” sung, as the preacher always said to mark the end of the sermon, “while we stand and while we sing.” Weeping penitents filled the front pew, and many young folks or long holdouts among the adults chose these occasions to “come forward” to be baptized. In fact, one song often led to another—“just one more verse.” Many of these little churches didn’t have their own baptisteries (or indoor plumbing, for that matter), necessitating a trip to the nearest creek bank. The churches that had added a baptistery usually had a painted mural in the background that showed a tree-lined river with blue sky and white clouds.

As I got older, I don’t remember going to as many of those little churches as I do the gospel meetings at our home congregation. Nowadays it’s almost laughable to imagine expecting church folks to show up every night for a week to hear preaching meant to pack those front pews when the invitation was offered. Some consider Wednesday night Bible study onerous. Now that we’ve experienced the limits of the current pandemic, I wonder if dinners on the grounds will go the way of the dodo bird. I hope not.
Maybe what we need now, though, is a real revival, a time to be “pricked in our hearts” like that first audience on the Day of Pentecost, when Peter spoke, led by the Spirit, without worrying about stepping on toes. I know Daddy could still stir hearts from the pulpit, and I’d be sure to stand beside him for the blessing at dinner so I could get to the front of the food line.

 

 

 

 

Special guest study.

2 Samuel 1:12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

AFFLICTIONS

Psalms 35:13-16

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Daniel 6:18-20

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

PRIVATE AFFLICTIONS

2 Samuel 12:16-17

16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

APPROACHING DANGER

Esther 4:13-17

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

ORDINATION OF MINISTERS

Acts 13:1-3

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:22-23

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

ACCOMPANIED BY PRAYER

Daniel 9:3-5

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Daniel 9:3-7

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

CONFESSION OF SIN

1 Samuel 7:6

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

Nehemiah 9:1-2

9 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

HUMILIATION

FOR 40 DAYS

MOSES

Deuteronomy 9:9

9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

Deuteronomy 9:18-19

18 And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also.

JESUS

Matthew 4:1-2

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mark 1:12-13

12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke 4:1-2

4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

HABITUAL

BY JOHN’S DISCIPLES

Matthew 9:14-15

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

BY ANNA

Luke 2:36-37

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

BY PHARISEES

Matthew 9:14-15

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Mark 2:18-20

18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Luke 18:10-14

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

BY CORNELIUS

Acts 10:30-31

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

BY PAUL

2 Corinthians 6:4-5

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

2 Corinthians 11:27

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

IN TIMES OF BEREAVEMENT

OF THE PEOPLE OF JABESH-GILEAD, FOR SAUL AND HIS SONS

1 Samuel 31:13

13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

1 Chronicles 10:12-14

12 They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;

14 And inquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

OF DAVID, AT THE TIME OF SAUL’S DEATH

2 Samuel 1:12

2 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

OF ABNER’S DEATH

2 Samuel 3:35-38

35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

PROLONGED

FOR THREE WEEKS BY DANIEL

Daniel 10:2-3

2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

FOR FORTY DAYS BY MOSES

Exodus 24:18

18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 34:28

28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Deuteronomy 9:9

9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

Deuteronomy 9:18-20

18 And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also.

20 And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

ELIJAH

1 Kings 19:5-8

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

JESUS

Matthew 4:2-4

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Beth Johnson

Chennai Teacher Training School

Women’s Studies

Muliebral Viewpoint

Articles and Books by Beth Johnson

It’s finally time to roll this out! This is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in a while for congregational or family Bible study. 

“That We May Have HOPE,” authored by Caleb and Rebekah Colley and illustrated by Julia Tesh, is a tried and true method of synchronizing your congregation’s Bible study with your own family Bible times at home. I know your congregation could benefit from this year-long study. But I am most excited about the knowledge and faith it can put in the hearts of the children in your little family at home.

But it’s both. It’s for churches and families! In fact, it’s even a great year-long homeschool curriculum for all preschool and  elementary ages.

It’s a book!…that will carry you through 52 character studies of the Scriptures. At the end of the year your family will be able to tell the stories of major Bible heroes and villains and how to emulate the positive and eliminate the negative spiritual characteristics of each person. This material is sound, practical and convicting. If you’re using the book at home, there’s a flexible schedule for incorporating the material into your Bible time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. In a year, your children will know the stories of 52 important Bible characters and four important facts to remember about each of them. The book is spiral bound, sturdy, and chock-full of the Word. Caleb Colley authored the study book.

But it’s also a memorization flash card system that will allow even the youngest of Bible learners to know the accounts of these 52 characters. The cards come on a binder ring that makes them easy for kids of all ages to carry. This also facilitates easily flipping though the characters at Bible time each night. The cards are both sturdy and beautiful. These memorization cards are authored by Rebekah Colley and illustrated by Julia Tesh.

Finally, it’s also a timeline. This is my favorite part. Each of the 52 Bible characters is placed on a sturdy hang-able timeline (that also lays flat on your table or desk), so that your children can easily see exactly where these heroes and villains fit into the Bible’s chronology and how their lives coincide with well-known Biblical events. Assembled by Rebekah and illustrated by Julia, this tool will help your children see the “big picture” of how each person fits into the story of redemption that is the centerpiece and purpose of divine revelation.

You can complete the study using the book only. But using  all three resources together is something that I cannot wait to do at our house. (I’m thinking, we may have a black cape that we wear when we’re studying a villain and a white one when we’re studying the heroes.)  I just think our grandchildren will be able to conceptualize these accounts more deeply as they use the tools of story-telling, memorization and chronological placement all at once. I can’t wait!

Here’s what Caleb says about how the idea is used in the local church:

“Here is how I have administered the Bible learning initiative: On the first Sunday of every year, I announce to the congregation the theme of the new year’s study. On one occasion I introduced the Bible Characters Study with a sermon on the value of studying Bible characters. Material is distributed to the congregation.

Then, I periodically preach on topics related to the particular week’s study. For example, on the week when the congregation was studying “Cain,” I preached about Cain and Abel. At the end of the year, every family or member has reviewed a 52 week study of Bible characters and has a handbook. I anticipate publishing other studies we have done, including a chronological study of the life of Christ, a study of the biblical doctrine of prayer, etc. I have found that many members of the church welcome the structure of the study and appreciate having the completed book at the end of the year. While this book is just a springboard to one’s own pursuit of Biblical knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-9; 3:18), nonetheless, it is a tool to prompt and deepen that pursuit.”

I hope there are elders who decide to feed the flock using this material. These churches will be blessed. But, even if you are just using it in your own home, exclusively, the growing faith in your home will be well worth your family’s efforts. Nothing is more important than planting the Word in tender hearts!

That We May Have Hope Book

That We May Have Hope Memorization Cards

That We May Have Hope Timeline

That We May Have Hope Discount Bundle

Cindy Colley

The theme for our Vacation Bible School this year was “The Power of Jesus.” One night, the minister’s class covered the power and the authority of Jesus. He gave the class one of the definitions of authority from Vine’s Dictionary, which is the right to act.

I was employed as a secretary by the Health and Human Services Agency for the County of San Diego, California for a number of years. One of my bosses instructed me on how to interact with community leaders when I would call asking for certain information. If that information was not forthcoming, she would tell me to ask to speak with someone in a position of authority. This always resulted in my getting the information, or the person would speak directly to my boss.

The Bible tells us God has the ultimate authority in all things and over all creation because He spoke everything into existence. Genesis 1:1-31 reveals that God spoke eight times and created all which exists – including humanity. Genesis 2:1 states, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished” (NKJV). The Bible also reveals that God is Sovereign over His creation. God has the right to rule, and His rule is always right. King David declared God’s sovereignty in 1 Chronicles 29:11. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all.” God is unlimited in His authority, power and sovereignty. Psalm 46:10 begins, “Be still, and know that I am God…” The remainder of the verse tells us why. “…I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The book of Job contains numerous discourses of opinions from Job’s three friends regarding why he was suffering to the brink of human endurance physically, materially and spiritually. Finally in Chapter 32, the young man Elihu began his discourse. Verse 4 reads, “Now because they were older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.” Verse 5 states, “When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.” Elihu proceeded to verbally tear these three men apart with his opinion on numerous subjects. In addition, he presented a barrage of questions. In Job 34:12, Elihu said, “Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.” Then, he made a profound declaration in verses 14-15. “If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.” How is that from the lips of an uninspired man? Elihu bowed in submission and humility, as it were, to the complete authority, power and sovereignty of Jehovah God!

Shortly before Jesus returned to Heaven, the eleven disciples went away into Galilee to the mountain which He had appointed for them (Matthew 28:16). Verses 18-20 read, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Who gave this authority to Jesus the Christ? He is our everything. He is our Lord, our Savior, our Advocate, our Kinsman Redeemer and our Great High Priest, just to name a few titles. Yet, Jesus declared without hesitation or reservation that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. In our feeble, vain attempts to enter the realm of divine doctrinal authority, we are all nobody! Jesus is the One and the only One Who possesses authority.

God spoke of Himself and a future action He would take in His choice of a pagan king who would execute His counsel from a far country. In Isaiah 46:11, God said, “…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” In the plainest language possible, God announced that His authority, power and sovereignty are His to use as He pleases. In case some are still wondering, Psalm 115:3 confirms it for all His faithful children. “But our God is in heaven; and He does whatever He pleases.” Ultimate authority is God’s dominion to give to whomever He pleases. Speaking to the Jews in John 8:29, Jesus said, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” God has given this authority to Jesus Christ, His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. We are to hear Him (Matthew 17:5).

Marilyn LaStrape

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ESV

Have you ever been right in the middle of all things normal and suddenly you feel the spirit of God calling you to an unwelcomed destination? In those instances, I must admit I rarely default to immediate compliance. On the contrary, I usually default to reluctance, smothered in excuses.

Then I remember Moses’ calling.

Moses was living a quiet shepherd’s life when right in the middle of his normal, he came into the presence of God. It was the absolute last thing Moses expected and as he stood before a bush aflame with Jehovah God, Moses quickly ran out of excuses. Moses felt unworthy, unprepared, and unqualified for what God intended him to do. Yet all of Moses’ reluctance was met by God with one constant response: I AM and I will do the impossible through you.

Moses needed a refresher course on the Great I AM that burned within the bush, so God spoke into Moses’ fear.

• I AM was the God of Moses’ past – Exodus 3:6.   He was the God who had led and protected his forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• I AM was the God of Moses’ present – Exodus 3:14. He was the God in the presence of Moses aflame with power and calling Moses to be a leader.
• I Am was the God of Moses’ future – Exodus 3:12. He would guide, empower, and mightily equip Moses for the journey ahead.

The rest of Moses’ life would be defined by the Great I AM burning mightily within him. From leader of sheep to opposer of the mighty powers of Egypt, God equipped Moses.

Have you ever been in the middle of your own normal when God placed before you a challenge beyond anything you had ever considered? Did you, too, feel unworthy, unprepared, and unqualified for God’s calling? Perhaps you have been asked to teach a Bible class or help with a church event. Maybe you were called to care for an elderly parent or write Bible study curriculum. And, maybe, like Moses, excuses flowed in hopes God would move on to someone else. But Moses’ story stands as our proof that God will equip us for whatever calling He places in our lives.

Our great God can see what we cannot see nor even imagine. It was the Great I AM, not Moses, who saw a mighty leader hidden deep within this wilderness shepherd. And likewise, it is the Great I AM who sees and prepares for the potential within us. So, sisters, enjoy your normal while you have it because this same Great I AM God is likely to turn your normal upside down in order to reveal your potential.

Father God, open our eyes to the potential you see within us. Help us never doubt the way you equip us.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane