BIBLE STUDY:

Exercise:         Week # 1 Walking in the Spirit today:

 

What did you do to know you were walking in the Spirit today?

 My life and job is a difficult task, but it is a blessing in disguise to me. I have to constantly keep check on my walk with God through the Fruit of the Spirit, because it's a job that is revolved around people who a Christians and non-Christians. Walking in the Spirit is a must, but sometimes I fail to do so, and when I take inventory I pray and ask God for forgiveness and to help me get back on the right track. Yesterday in my devotion I saw myself and ask God to help me change it, my temper was not lining up with God's Word. I felt it! I knew God was not pleased, and today I feel better because I made some adjustment with the Holy Spirit's help. The Holy Spirit will let us know. I desire to walk in the Spirit daily. I choose Love!

BIBLE STUDY: WALKING IN THE SPIRIT WEEK # 1 ANSWERS

Questions:
1).        What do Psalm 150 means to you?
This is one of the most precious Psalm of all to me; it gives the way we are to worship God and honor Him. Worship Him in spirit and truth; "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. ² Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. ³ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. ⁴ Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. ⁵ Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. ⁶ Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
2).        What do you think worshipping in the Spirit of God means?
To me, it means there is a connection between God and me in spirit and truth. It means honest and acceptance. It means the heart is pure in God's sight. It must be in our hearts!
3).        What is the overall lesson about worshipping the Lord in Spirit and truth?
The overall lesson about worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth is that worship of God is not to be confined to a single geographical location or necessarily regulated by the temporary provisions of Old Testament law. It must be in our hearts!
4).        Just as Deuteronomy 6:4 says, we are to worship God, how?
To worship God in spirit and truth involves loving Him with heart, soul, mind and strength. Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him; as we love, so we worship. Amen.

5).        True worship engaged in what?
True worship must be "in spirit," that is, engaging the whole heart.
6).        How is God glorified in our worship?
The more we know about God, the more we appreciate Him. The more we appreciate, the deeper our worship. The deeper our worship, the more God is glorified.

7).        What lesson did you learn from reading Romans 1-3?
Paul explains a bridge over a chasm. The Gospel is presented to everyone, and justification is needed because of sin in all, and Jesus died for all, so by faith we can live a righteous life through Him the Bridge. I have learned that by faith I am saved. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28) Amen.
8).        What are the two equally important parts of worship?        
The two equally important parts are that we must worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).
9).        Explain what worship requires.
First, we must be born again, because without the Holy Spirit residing within us, we cannot respond to God in worship because we do not know Him, and worshiping in spirit requires a mind centered on God and renewed by Truth, and we can only worship in spirit by having a pure heart, open and repentant.
10).      Worship is an expression of praise from where?
Worship is an expression of praise from the depths of our hearts toward a God who is understood through His Word. If we do not have the truth of the Bible, we do not know God and we cannot be truly worshippers.
11).      What do true worship not include?
It does not a Book of Confessions, Rules of Order, or other manmade books of instructions or guidance. True worship involves only the instructions given in the Bible and nothing else, amen.

12).      Is communion worshipping God?
Yes, it is! The communion supper was observed (Acts 20:7), prayers were offered up (1 Corinthians 14:15-16), songs were sung to the glory of God (Ephesians 5:19), a collection was taken (1 Corinthians 16:2), the Scriptures were read (Colossians 4:16), and the Word of God was proclaimed (Acts 20:7).
13).      Is giving an offering worshipping God?
Yes, our regular giving for the support of the Lord's work is a serious responsibility and is part of true biblical worship. Our giving should be viewed as a thrilling blessing, not as a burdensome matter for grumbling (2 Corinthians 9:7).
14).      Name two major ingredients of true worship.
Preaching and teaching are major ingredients of true worship. Our teaching must be the Scriptures alone, the only means of equipping believers for life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
15).      What is a true Biblical worship service?
Preaching and teaching the Word of God is major components to a true biblical worship service, also giving and singing praises to God.

BIBLE STUDY: WALKING IN THE SPIRIT WEEK # 1

Date:   10/9/15

 

Prayer:

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  Lord, bless us as we study Your Word.  We will bless the Lord at all times, His praises shall continuously be in our mouth. As we study, Lord, help us to gain closeness to You and Your Holy Spirit. Bless us to walk in the spirit of truth daily. Help us to sing worship songs in our hearts to You, even as we lay down and rise up in the morning. AMEN.

 

Let's Walk…………………………..

 

Scripture Reading:     (John 4:24) (Psalm 150)

 

Study 1            Worshipping in the Spirit:

 

The idea of worshipping the Lord "in spirit and truth" comes from Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well in John 4:6-30. In the conversation, the woman was discussing places of worship with Jesus, saying that the Jews worshipped at Jerusalem, while the Samaritans worshipped at Mount Gerizim. Jesus had just revealed that He knew about her many husbands, as well as the fact that the current man she lived with was not her husband. This made her uncomfortable, so she attempted to divert His attention from her personal life to matters of religion. Jesus refused to be distracted from His lesson on true worship and got to the heart of the matter: "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him (John 4:23).

The overall lesson about worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth is that worship of God is not to be confined to a single geographical location or necessarily regulated by the temporary provisions of Old Testament law. With the coming of Christ, the separation between Jew and Gentile was no longer relevant, nor was the centrality of the temple in worship. With the coming of Christ, all of God's children gained equal access to God through Him. Worship became a matter of the heart, not external actions, and directed by truth rather than ceremony.

In Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses sets down for the Israelites how they are to love their God: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him; as we love, so we worship. Because the idea of "might" in Hebrew indicates totality, Jesus expanded this expression to "mind" and "strength" (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). To worship God in spirit and truth necessarily involves loving Him with heart, soul, mind and strength.

True worship must be "in spirit," that is, engaging the whole heart. Unless there's a real passion for God, there is no worship in spirit. At the same time, worship must be "in truth," that is, properly informed. Unless we have knowledge of the God we worship, there is no worship in truth. Both are necessary for satisfying and God-honoring worship.  As soon as the emotion is over, when the fervor cools, so does the worship. Truth without spirit can result in a dry, passionless encounter that can easily lead to a form of joyless legalism. The best combination of both aspects of worship results in a joyous appreciation of God informed by Scripture. The more we know about God, the more we appreciate Him. The more we appreciate, the deeper our worship. The deeper our worship, the more God is glorified.

This melding of spirit and truth in worship is best summed up by Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century American pastor and theologian. He said, "I should think myself in the way of my duty to raise the affections [emotions] of my hearers as high as possibly I can, provided that they are affected with nothing but truth." Edwards recognized that truth and only truth can properly influence the emotions in a way that brings honor to God. The truth of God, being of infinite value, is worthy of infinite passion.

 

 

The meaning of the New Testament Greek word most often translated "worship" (proskuneo) is "to fall down before" or "bow down before." Worship is a state (an attitude) of spirit. Since it's an internal, individual action, it could/should be done most of the time (or all the time) in our lives, regardless of place or situation (John 4:21). Therefore, Christians worship all the time, seven days a week. When Christians formally gather together in worship, still the emphasis should be on individually worshiping the Lord. Even in a congregation, participants need to be aware that they are worshiping God fully on an individual basis.

The nature of Christian worship is from the inside out and has two equally important parts. We must worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). Worshiping in the spirit has nothing to do with our physical posture. It has to do with our innermost being and requires several things. First, we must be born again. Without the Holy Spirit residing within us, we cannot respond to God in worship because we do not know Him. "No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit within us is the one who energizes worship because He is in essence glorifying Himself, and all true worship glorifies God.

Second, worshiping in spirit requires a mind centered on God and renewed by Truth. Paul exhorts us to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:1, 2). Only when our minds are changed from being centered on worldly things to being centered on God can we worship in spirit. Distractions of many kinds can flood our minds as we try to praise and glorify God, hindering our true worship.

Third, we can only worship in spirit by having a pure heart, open and repentant. When King David's heart was filled with guilt over his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), he found it impossible to worship. He felt that God was far from him, and he "groaned all day long" feeling God's hand heavy upon him (Psalm 32:3,4). But when he confessed, fellowship with God was restored and worship and praise poured forth from him. He understood that "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart" (Psalm 51:17). Praise and worship toward God cannot come from hearts filled with unconfessed sin.

The second part of true worship is worship "in truth." All worship is a response to truth, and that which is truth is contained in the Word of God. Jesus said to His Father, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Psalm 119 says, "Thy law is truth" (v. 142b) and "Thy word is true" (v. 160a). To truly worship God, we must understand who He is and what He has done, and the only place He has fully revealed Himself is in the Bible. Worship is an expression of praise from the depths of our hearts toward a God who is understood through His Word. If we do not have the truth of the Bible, we do not know God and we cannot be truly worshiping.

Since external actions are unimportant in Christian worship, there is no rule regarding whether we should sit, stand, fall down, be quiet, or sing praises loudly while in corporate worship. These things should be decided based on the nature of the congregation. The most important thing is that we worship God in spirit (in our hearts) and in truth (in our minds.)

Christ commanded that true worshipers worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The apostle Paul explained that we worship by the Spirit of God (Philippians 3:3), meaning that true worship comes only from those who have been saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit living in their hearts. Worshiping in spirit also means with the proper heart attitude, not simply adhering to rites and rituals. To worship in truth means worshiping according to what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture. In order for our worship to truly be biblical, it must not go beyond that which is authorized by the Bible (Leviticus 10:1; 1 Corinthians 4:6), abiding within the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9; see also Deuteronomy 4:12, 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19). True worship involves only the instructions given in the Bible and nothing else—not a Book of Confessions, Rules of Order, or other manmade books of instructions or guidance.

The first-century church engaged in several devotional acts in their worship services, from which we can determine what makes up a truly biblical worship service. The communion supper was observed (Acts 20:7), prayers were offered up (1 Corinthians 14:15-16), songs were sung to the glory of God (Ephesians 5:19), a collection was taken (1 Corinthians 16:2), the Scriptures were read (Colossians 4:16), and the Word of God was proclaimed (Acts 20:7).

First, the communion supper commemorates Jesus' death during our worship as we memorialize His resurrection until He returns again (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). As with the Lord's Supper, prayer must also conform to the divine pattern taught in the Scriptures. Second, our prayers should be directed only to God (Nehemiah 4:9; Matthew 6:9), never to any dead person as in the practice of Catholicism. We are not authorized to use devices such as rosary beads or Buddhist "prayer wheels" that supposedly send written requests into the far regions of the universe. Most importantly, our prayers must be in harmony with the will of God. 

Third, we are authorized to sing. The apostle Paul commands us to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-20). Singing to the Lord and to one another conveys truth set to music as a form of teaching (Colossians 3:16), singing with both the spirit and the mind in order to produce understanding on the part of those involved (1 Corinthians 14:15-16). 

Part of true biblical worship is giving of our offering, as Paul instructed the Corinthian church: "Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made" (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Our regular giving for the support of the Lord's work is a serious responsibility and is part of true biblical worship. Our giving should be viewed as a thrilling blessing, not as a burdensome matter for grumbling (2 Corinthians 9:7). Additionally, it must be stressed that giving is the only authorized method for financing the work of the church of Jesus Christ. We are not authorized to operate businesses, conduct bingo parties, hold pay-at-the-door concerts, etc. The church of Christ is not meant to be a commercial enterprise (Matthew 21:12-13).

Finally, preaching and teaching are major ingredients of true worship. Our teaching must be the Scriptures alone, the only means of equipping believers for life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The godly preacher or teacher will teach only from the Word and rely on the Spirit of God do His work in the minds and hearts of his listeners. As Paul reminded Timothy, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). A church gathering that does not include the Word of God as a major component is not a true biblical worship service.

Without question, God, in His divine wisdom, has provided the perfect model of true biblical worship so that we can worship in a manner pleasing to Him. As we follow the course of true worship, let us worship God with great passion. We must not convey to the world the impression that the worship of our God is a boring, lifeless ritual. We have been redeemed from sin. Let us therefore praise our Creator as His children who are grateful for His bountiful blessings. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28-29).

 

Questions:

 

1).        What do Psalm 150 means to you?

2).        What do you think worshipping in the Spirit of God means?

3).        What is the overall lesson about worshipping the Lord in Spirit and truth?

4).        Just as Deuteronomy 6:4 says, we are to worship God, how?

5).        True worship engaged in what?

6).        How is God glorified in our worship?

7).        What lesson did you learn from reading Romans 1-3?

8).        What are the two equally important parts of worship?        

9).        Explain what worship requires.

10).      Worship is an expression of praise from where?

11).      What does true worship not include?

12).      Is communion worshipping God?

13).      Is giving an offering worshipping God?

14).      Name two major ingredients of true worship.

15).      What is a true Biblical worship service?

 

Exercise:         Week # 1 Walking in the Spirit today:

What did you do to know you were walking in the Spirit today?

 

Extra: Love

I choose Love. . . No occasion justified hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

 

Personal Prayer:

Father God, I thank You for giving me another study, and the time to study Your Word.  Bless us to apply this study to our lives daily.  Your love has kept me, and I trust Your love will grow in me and all the prayer warriors today.  Your Word says, You loved the world so much that You gave your only Son to die for us, so that we would not have to perish. That love is what we need today in our lives.  Father, I ask You to fill me with a deep love for You (Romans 5:5). Grant that my love for You be passionate and not lukewarm.  Please fill me with Your powerful love for things that further Your Kingdom. Endue me with a love for souls and a passion to grow our church. Fill me with a burning love for serving You.  Baptize me with a selfless, compassionate love for our families, and for those I meet each day.  God, by the power of Your Spirit, please fill my hearts with Your powerful love. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

 

Weekly Reading:        Week # 1         (Romans 1-7) Monday through Sunday

Bible Study: (Walking In the Spirit) Galatians 5:16-23

Introduction:

 

The apostle Paul discusses the subject of "holy living" in Romans chapters six, seven and eight.  In chapter 6 he addresses the believer's relationship to sin; though he is no longer a slave to sin because of the work of Christ's on the cross, neither is he free to just go on sinning as he pleases. In chapter 7 he makes the case that living a holy life does not come by keeping the law; because the law does not provide the power that is necessary to overcome the believer's sin disposition. And in chapter 8 Paul stresses the importance of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer; it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer can overcome his sin disposition and live a life of holiness.  In this study we will learn to walk in the Holy Spirit of God.  Our ultimate goal in this study is to be led by God's Spirit, and commune with the Holy Spirit as a person in the Holy Trinity. We must fellowship with Him, and trust Him to lead us in the path of righteousness. We must trust Him to teach us the ways and the Word of God, (Psalm 16:11). We should know Him as the divine Teacher of God's Word. We were not just baptized in the Spirit, but we also walk, worship/pray, work, war, witness, watch, and love in God's Holy Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is a divine calling to God's people. Our lives must be controlled by God's Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person in the Trinity, and desire to be our friend and teacher. Being led by the Holy Spirit is a blessing to all born-again Christian.

 

Please pay close attention to the following as we read the book of Romans . . .

Walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:2-4).

Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8).

Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Romans 8:13).

Be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14).

Know the Fatherhood of God by the Spirit (Romans 8:15-17).

Hope in the Spirit (Romans 8:23-25).

Pray in the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).  In other passages Paul mentions —

Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Serve in the Spirit (Romans 7:6; 15:16).

Love by the Spirit (Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossian 1:8).

 

Spirit I Come, not knowing what to say
Spirit I come, and needing help to pray
Spirit I come, but my weaknesses are getting in the way
Spirit I come.

Help me as I pray
Search my heart, Lord, know my mind
In my weakness join to help me
Wordless groanings
Spirit intercede for me
Help me as I pray (Berding, p. 110)

 

Prayer:

Father God, we come to You through the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, we need You to help us follow your leading daily. As we study this lesson help us to rightly divide the Word of God in our thoughts, hearts, minds, and ways. We desire to walk by Your guidance, to seek God more by your leadership, and to walk daily as you led us. We pray for divine revelation knowledge of walking in Your Holy Spirit, God. We know that walking in the Spirit pleases God, so we desire to walk by His Holy Spirit always. Amen.

 

 

Contents: "Walking in the Spirit"

 

Week # 1          Worshipping in the Spirit

Week # 2          Working in the Spirit

Week # 3          Warring in the Spirit

Week # 4          Walking in the Spirit

Week # 5          Witnessing in the Spirit

Week # 6          Watching in the Spirit

Week # 7          Loving in the Spirit

Week # 8          Conclusion

 

Weekly Reading:  Book of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, and II Thessalonians. Monday through Sunday:

BIBLE STUDY START 10/16/15

"Walking in the Spirit." In this study we will learn to walk in the Holy Spirit of God.  Our ultimate goal in this study is to be led by God's Spirit, and commune with the Holy Spirit as a person in the Holy Trinity. Also learning more on walking in the Spirit of God with an eagerness to obey God through His Holy Spirit.  The more we learn of the Holy Spirit leading, the more we can follow Him.

BIBLE STUDY: DANIEL, EZEKIEL, and REVELATION CONCLUSION

The last invitation in the Bible:

"Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17).

After reading, searching, and studying this lesson I have truly searched my heart once again. It was not a good feeling in going into deep study concerning the end times, but it was needed to refocus on my life. Dr. David Jeremiah made this statement, in his study book "Agents of the Apocalypse," which I think is a very good conclusion; "As we conclude this study of the movers and shakers in the book of Revelation, only one question remains. Where do you fit into the story?  Have you accepted the living water God offers in the person of Christ? If so, you can be assured that no matter what you may encounter in the day ahead, your earthly life and your eternity are in His hands. As a result, you are an overcomer. Let the book of Revelation be a glorious confirmation of the fact that you will never thirst again.  If you have not taken a drink of that water, I encourage you to do so today. The Bible says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13, emphasis added). Call upon Him and quench your thirst, both now and forever.  As I read these books by Dr. David Jeremiah, I was so intrigue by the knowledge God gave to this man concerning the prophecy of the end time.  There are so much to learn, but I couldn't cover it all in this study. Things such as, the anticipation of the Kingdom, the coronation of the King, the incarceration of Satan, the administration of David, the participation of the Saints, the elimination of war, the realization of prosperity, the integration of Holiness, the prolongation of life, the celebration of joy, and the continuation of the Kingdom of God. So what talk about, to learn, and to get and keep deep in our heart.  That was about our King. What about the Judge of Revelation 20:11-15?  In this lesson he talked about the judgment awaiting those who have not responded to God's Gospel of grace. That will be a horrible time, especially for those who didn't accept Jesus as their Savior. The place of the Great White Throne, the Person on the Great White Throne, the People before the Great White Throne; There will be many books open during this time, such as the book of law, the book of works, the book of secrets, the book of words, the book of conscience, and, last, but not least, the book of the Lamb Book of Life. The book everyone should want their name written in, amen. But if their names not found there, then the punishment at the Great White Throne is awaiting them.  The book of Revelation is like all prophecy; it is an accurate foretelling of future events to provide an opportunity to prepare for and respond to that which will unfold. Those who hear and believe God's Word will not "come into judgment, but [will pass] from death into life" (John 5:24).

One more thing to share, quoted by the author of "Agents of the Apocalypse," "The old saying, "You can't tell the players without a program," originated in the early days of stadium sports before players' names appeared on the back of their uniforms. But programs are still important in many areas of life-including the study of the end times.

A varied cast of "players" will populate the playing fields of the coming seven-year Tribulation and the thousand-year Millennium. Keeping the cast of characters straight in the dramatic and graphic book of Revelation can be a challenge apart from in-depth study and correlation with the rest of Scripture.  "Agents of the Apocalypse," will identify and explain the roles of the most important characters soon to come upon the world stage.   Ten agents, one of whom is John, the author of Revelation, are identified; the Christian martyrs of the Tribulation, the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, God's two witnesses in Jerusalem, Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Jesus Christ-Victor, King, and Judge.  We must set our hearts and minds on the Coming of Christ. AMEN.

I have enjoyed reading this material! God bless every one of us.

PRAYER:

Father God, we are so honored and elated to know You and all that has been revealed to us through this study. We ask that You bless the author, and those who hear Your Word. We also ask that You blessed those who have not made Jesus their Savior. Help the effort to share Your  Word with other so they can know Jesus. Help us to keep this study in our hearts today and always. Lord, through this study we can see that the prophecies of Daniel show us what time it is; the hand on the prophetic clock are moving toward midnight. The warning has been sounded, so Lord, please help us to take heed to it in Jesus' name.  Father, as we can see things are getting worse. Thank You for the restraining influence that is holding back the evil and the darkness of this world. You have the power to restrain Satan, only You, Lord. We thank You for keeping us and for the protection You have given to us. Thank You for the third person of the Trinity Who draws the line today and keeps the ocean of evil at bay. We give You praises and honor always.  God, Your time clock is wound up and spinning. We are being swept along the path of history by a swift wind at our backs. Our individual ability to weather the storm will come from understanding Your Word. We need only heed what has echoed through the centuries: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:22). Bless those who do not have an ear to receive an ear to hear the Spirit in these last days. And bless more to open the of their door of the hearts as You knock on it (Revelation 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  As Apostle John said, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. ²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen; (Revelation 22:20-21).

Knowing the Bible is one thing, but knowing the Author is another!!!

Sharing Point:

The Kings of Judah and Israel:

In the period that preceded the monarchy, Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit (Judges 21:25). God raised up Samuel to lead the people (1 Samuel 3:4). All of Israel knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord (1 Samuel 3:20). Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and when he was old he made his sons judges over Israel (1 Samuel 8:1). Israel rejected the sons, refused to obey Samuel and demanded a king (1 Samuel 8:19–20). When Samuel reported their request to God, the Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king" (1 Samuel 8:22).     Why?

Saul was the first king. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, which, in the days of the judges, had almost been annihilated. Tall, handsome and humble, Saul began his reign with a brilliant victory over the Ammonites. Any misgivings about the new "kingdom" disappeared. But success rapidly went to his head, and humility gave place to pride. He offered sacrifice, which was the exclusive function of priests, showing his presumed self-importance. He deliberately disobeyed God, causing God to tell Samuel, "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions" (1 Samuel 15:10). Saul reigned unsuccessfully from 1049 BC to 1009 BC, then he "took his own sword and fell on it" (1 Samuel 31:4).

David, although anointed as king when just a boy, did not "take the throne" until after Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:4). David was short of stature, ruddy, of beautiful countenance, handsome, of immense physical strength and great personal attractiveness. He was a man of war, prudent in speech, very brave, very musical and very religious. His most recognized "claim to fame" was God's promise that David's family should reign forever. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse [David's father] and from his roots a Branch [Jesus] will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1). After Saul's death, David was made king over Judah, and seven years later he was made king over all Israel. He was 30 years old when he became king and reigned from 1009 BC to 969 BC.

Solomon became king in 971 BC, possibly two years before his father David died, and reigned until 931 BC Solomon was born of Bathsheba, and, though not in line for the succession, he was chosen by David and approved by God to be David's successor (1 Chronicles 23:1). Solomon had inherited the throne of the most powerful kingdom then existing. It was an era of peace and prosperity with vast business enterprises and literary attainments. God told Solomon to ask what he would, and Solomon asked for wisdom to govern his people. That pleased God, who richly rewarded him with wealth, wisdom, power and the important task of building the temple (1 Chronicles 28:2–6).

After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided. Ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom, called Israel; Judah and Benjamin formed the Southern Kingdom, called Judah. The date of the division of the kingdom is approximately 931 BC. The following dates are approximate, due to overlapping reigns, associated sovereignty, intervals of anarchy and parts of years referred to as full years. Some of the reigns were, in part, concurrent. All the kings of Israel practiced idolatry; the worst served Baal. Many of the kings of Judah served idols; few served Jehovah faithfully. Some bad kings were partly good; some good kings partly bad. The kings, the approximate dates of their reigns and their dispositions are listed below:

KINGS OF ISRAEL: Jeroboam I, bad, 930—909 BC
Nadab, bad, 909—908 BC
Baasha, bad, 908—886 BC
Elah, bad, 886—885 BC
Zimri, bad, 885 BC
Tibni, bad, 885—880 BC
Omri (overlap), extra bad, 885—874 BC
Ahab, the worst, 874—853 BC
Ahaziah, bad, 853—852 BC
Joram/Jehoram, bad mostly, 852—841 BC
Jehu, not good but better than the rest, 841—814 BC
Jehoahaz, bad, 814—798 BC
Joash, bad, 798—782 BC
Jeroboam II (overlap), bad, 793—753 BC
Zechariah, bad, 753 BC
Shallum, bad, 752 BC
Menahem, bad, 752—742 BC
Pekahiah, bad, 742—740 BC
Pekah (overlap), bad, 752—732 BC
Hoshea, bad, 732—722 BC ………Went into exile to Assyrians

KINGS OF JUDAH:
Rehoboam, bad mostly, 933—916 BC
Abijah, bad mostly, 915—913 BC
Asa, GOOD, 912—872 BC
Jehoshaphat (overlap), GOOD, 874—850 BC
Jehoram/Joram, bad, 850—843 BC
Ahaziah, bad, 843 BC
Athaliah (queen), devilish, 843—837 BC
Joash/Jehoash, good mostly, 843—803 BC
Amaziah, good mostly, 803—775 BC
Uzziah/Azariah (overlap), GOOD mostly, 787—735 BC
Jotham (overlap), GOOD, 749—734 BC
Ahaz, wicked, 741—726 BC
Hezekiah, THE BEST, 726—697 BC
Manasseh, the worst, 697—642 BC
Amon, the worst, 641—640 BC
Josiah, THE BEST, 639—608 BC
Jehoahaz, bad, 608 BC…..Went into exile to Babylon
Jehoiakim, wicked, 608—597 BC
Jehoiachin, bad, 597 BC
Zedekiah, bad, 597—586 BC

BIBLE STUDY UPDATES:

Next Bible Study Coming Soon:

It is a blessing to study God's Word. God's Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119: 105).  I can remember when it was confusing to me, my life didn't mean anything, but now God blesses me through my study, God guide me through my study, and His Holy Spirit is my teacher. The study of "Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation" was an eye opening experience once again. I desire to go deep in depth of the book of Revelation concerning the "Seven" churches, seven angels, seven stars, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven heads of the beast, seven last plagues, seven golden candlesticks, and seven lamps. It may be more and I will found them and study them too.  But, for now, the next Bible study will be "Walking in the Spirit." In this study we will learn to walk in the Holy Spirit of God.  Our ultimate goal in this study is to be led by God's Spirit, and commune with the Holy Spirit as a person in the Holy Trinity.