We have scheduled another bible study, which will be coming soon. I would like to do for Passion Week a study on Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. This will only be for ten days during Passion Week. Then a regular bible study on Ezra and Nehemiah "Building God's Temple".This study reveals the heavy prophetic flavor contained within the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. I just want to add to this study some background history before the rebuilding of the Temple. And to say, that we will look at this naturally and spiritually. I pray that everyone have a blessed Passion Week.
May The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. AMEN.
My conclusion will be to answer this question "Why does God love us?" This short question is among the most profound questions ever asked. And no human would ever be able to answer it sufficiently. One thing is certain, however. God does not love us because we are lovable or because we deserve His love. If anything, the opposite is true. The state of mankind since the fall is one of rebellion and disobedience.Jeremiah 17:9describes man's inner condition: "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" Our innermost beings are so corrupted by sin that even we don't realize the extent to which sin has tainted us. In our natural state, we do not seek God; we do not love God; we do not desire God.Romans 3:10-12clearly presents the state of the natural, unregenerate person: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." How then is it possible for a holy, righteous, and perfect God to love such creatures? To understand this we must understand something of the nature and character of God.
First John 4:8and16tell us that "God is love." Never was a more important declaration made than this—God is love. This is a profound statement. God doesn't just love; He is love. His nature and essence are love. Love permeates His very being and infuses all His other attributes, even His wrath and anger. Because God's very nature is love, He must demonstrate love, just as He must demonstrate all His attributes because doing so glorifies Him. Glorifying God is the highest, the best, and the most noble of all acts, so, naturally, glorifying Himself is what He must do, because He is the highest and the best, and He deserves all glory.
Since it is God's essential nature to love, He demonstrates His love by lavishing it on undeserving people who are in rebellion against Him. God's love is not a sappy, sentimental, romantic feeling. Rather, it is agape love, the love of self-sacrifice. He demonstrates this sacrificial love by sending His Son to the cross to pay the pen alty for our sin (1 John 4:10), by drawing us to Himself (John 6:44), by forgiving us of our rebellion against Him, and by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, thereby enabling us to love as He loves. He did this in spite of the fact that we did not deserve it. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
God's love is personal. He knows each of us individually and loves us personally. His is a mighty love that has no beginning and no end. It is this experiencing of God's love that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. Why does God love us? It is because of who He is; "God is love."
I have really enjoyed this study. I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit to show more love toward God and whosoever. I am so glad that the Mighty God, Creator of all mankind loves me. And, I am so glad that God has revealed this too me, and I can respond back to Him in love, and to others as He commanded. Remember God loves you no matter what. See you in the next study!
Please join us in our next study, which will be a short study on Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Then we will study "Ezra and Nehemiah Building God's Temple" by Gerald Flurry and Dennis Leap.
If you have time, remember to do the self-study in Week # 8.
Give a brief statement of who Saul was before he became Apostle Paul.
Before his conversion,Paul, then known as Saul, was a "zealous" Pharisee who "intensely persecuted" the followers of Jesus. Paul's post-conversion correspondence to various churches reveal even more about his background. In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul describes himself as a Hebrew, an Israelite, and a descendant of Abraham (2 Corinthians 11:22). In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul says he was aPhariseeof the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).
Why did God called each one of us?
I believe God called us to share His love with all, and teach all to love as Jesus loved us. He called us to come to Him so we can have eternal life too.
Can you actually say God is with you no matter what?
I love it when it gets personal! Yes, I can. He has proven to me that He loves me and as Jeremiah says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith theLord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Quiz:
True or False?
Jesus taught that we must forgive those persons who have sinned against us, or else our own sins will not be forgiven by God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8- Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity (Love) envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 16:14- Let all your things be done with charity (Love).
John 13:34-35- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1 John 4:8- He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Colossians 3:14- And above all these things [put on] charity (Love), which is the bond of perfectness.
John 15:13- Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
1 John 4:7- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:19- We love him, because he first loved us.
1 Peter 4:8- And above all things have fervent charity (Love) among yourselves: for charity (Love) shall cover the multitude of sins.
John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (Love), I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 John 4:18- There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Mark 12:31- And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Luke 6:35- But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.
Ephesians 5:25- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
How could you express love in the following situations? a. At home b. At school c. At work d. At church e. At a sporting event
Why is it important to love yourself? How do you do this? What often keeps a person from loving himself? How does this affect his love for others?
How and why is love powerful enough to overcome prejudice, hatred, rebellion, anger, fear, or jealousy?
Why do you feel love? (See Romans 5:5)
How can you claim God's love? Why is faith important in love?
What resources can you cling to when you find it difficult to love someone? a. 1 Peter 5:7 b. Philippians 4:13 c. Colossians 3:2, 13 d. 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13
How is love expressed in Colossians 1: 28?
How can you relate the promise in 1 John 5:14, 15 to claiming God's power to love others by faith? How does it relate to your own involvement in personal evangelism?
Make a list of people you do not like and begin to love them by faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ's love for each of them. Pray for each person. Think of ways you can demonstrate Christ's love to them this week.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Mania love is a type of love that leads a partner into a type of madness and obsessiveness. It occurs when there is an imbalance betweenerosandludus. To those who experience mania, love itself is a means of rescuing themselves; a reinforcement of their own value as the sufferer of poor self-esteem. This person wants to love and be loved to find a sense of self-value. Because of this, they can become possessive and jealous lovers, feeling as though they desperately "need" their partners.
(Please explain what love this scripture is referring too)
(Acts 21:13)
"Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
This is the love God wants us to have for Him and for His Son Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul loved God so much he was willing to die for Him. That is agape love, amen!!
Like a father who holds his child's hand tightly, God holds and keep His children close. Jesus said of those who follow Him: "No one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:29). Yes, we have a responsibility to stay close to God. But it is His love that guarantees that nothing will ever come between us and Him. Once found, we will never be lost. Glory to God!
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for eternal life that is given to us through your Son. We do believe in you and in what you have promised us. Calm our fears and strengthen our faith in love. Enable us to live our life in you, relying on your strength and resting in your great love. Thank you, Lord, that no matter how much we wander, we remain in your love and faithfulness, and your love. Help us to hold fast to our salvation and to the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Thank you for your grace and mercy through-out the day. Help us to know our works will not change your love for us. Help us to share Jesus every chance we get with others. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who give us power to become who you say we are in Jesus. Help us to experience this proven love, pure love, perfect love, protective love, patient love, and providing love you can only give. This we pray in Jesus' name our Lord and Savior, AMEN.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for eternal life that is given to us through your Son. We do believe in you and in what you have promised us. Calm our fears and strengthen our faith in love. Enable us to live our life in you, relying on your strength and resting in your great love. Thank you, Lord, that no matter how much we wander, we remain in your love and faithfulness, and your love. Help us to hold fast to our salvation and to the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Thank you for your grace and mercy through-out the day. Help us to know our works will not change your love for us. Help us to share Jesus every chance we get with others. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who give us power to become who you say we are in Jesus. Help us to experience this proven love, pure love, perfect love, protective love, patient love, and providing love you can only give. This we pray in Jesus' name our Lord and Savior, AMEN.
Sometimes we can't help but wonder:Does God really love me? Even when I feel unloved and unlovable? Even when I really mess up?Here are devotions written by students who've had similar questions—and who've looked to God's Word for life-changing answers.
No One's Unlovable:
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1Timothy 1:15-16)
My mom works with a group that goes to local prisons to share about God. One time I got to go with them. While I was there, I heard one of the prisoners say he thought of himself as "someone God no longer wanted." Then a member of my mom's group read him 1Timothy 1:15-16, sharing God's mercy to "the worst of sinners." The prisoner accepted Jesus that day.
No matter how much or how badly people have sinned, God's love can still reach them. Even drug dealers. Even murderers. The worst person you can imagine can receive God's forgiveness by humbly asking for it.
There's no such thing as a person God no longer wants. There are only people who haven't accepted his love.
What about You?
1. Think of someone at school who's always getting in trouble. Imagine God looking right into that person's face and saying "I forgive you." Imagine doing the same thing yourself.
2. Write today's verses down, or memorize them. You never know when they might be exactly what someone needs to hear.
3. Thank God for forgiving you, and ask him to help you forgive others.
He Knows Your Name:
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1) This is a verse I'd like to share with my friends. It would show them how much they matter to God. God's not just some mighty ruler who looks down at earth and sees a bunch of nameless people running around. He knows each one of us by name.
God knows our troubles and our happiness. He made each one of us special, and he wants to have a personal relationship with each of us.
When I think of God that way, I realize that he loves me and will never leave me. And best of all, I have God's promise that he called me to come to him so I can have eternal life.
What about You?
1.How many people at your school do you know by name? How does it feel to have people call you by name? Why is it important that God knows us by name?
2.Write out Isaiah 43:1, replacing "O Jacob" and "O Israel" with your name. How does your understanding of this verse change when you think God is talking directly to you?
3.Praise God for creating you and loving you.
He Won't Leave You:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)
I recently went through a month when I got really depressed. Even when I was with my friends, I felt like no one cared about me. I could barely get out of bed in the morning. Somehow I had forgotten the truth of these verses. I needed someone to remind me, "Don't think that no one cares about you, because God does!" God still loved me, and nothing was going to change that. God must really care for us if there isn'tanythingthat can separate us from his love. Knowing I can always turn to him keeps me going during hard situations. He is even there when things in my life are fun and easy. He is there with me through the worst of times and the best of times.
Scripture Reading:(please explain what love this scripture is referring too)
(Acts 21:13)
"Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
Week # 8 Weekly Word: Mania or Obsessive love
Study Questions:
1. Give a brief statement of who Saul was before he became Apostle Paul.
2. Why did God called each one of us?
3. Can you actually say God is with you no matter what?
Quiz:
True or False?
Jesus taught that we must forgive those persons who have sinned against us, or else our own sins will not be forgiven by God.
True
False
Read verses:
These provide guidance on topics relating to love such as; relationships, marriage, family, children, strength, and love of others. The Bible says that God is love, which makes it the perfect source to learn how to love others, even those who are difficult for us to. Our world has skewed the meaning of true love but God's Word remains a steadfast, true source of knowledge on how to love. Read the below scripture from the Holy Bible about love in relation to God, Jesus Christ, and the Christian faith and begin seeing the change in your heart and mind!
These provide guidance on topics relating to love such as; relationships, marriage, family, children, strength, and love of others. The Bible says that God is love, which makes it the perfect source to learn how to love others, even those who are difficult for us to. Our world has skewed the meaning of true love but God's Word remains a steadfast, true source of knowledge on how to love. Read the below scripture from the Holy Bible about love in relation to God, Jesus Christ, and the Christian faith and begin seeing the change in your heart and mind!
Weekly Reading Assignments: I Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
In this lesson, what is the root of unbelief? The root of unbelief is a lack of love
What is the main reason our faith want work? I truly believe a lack of love, faith, and blinded by circumstances.
How do we get the revelation of God's love for us? We get this revelation through the Holy Spirit that dwell in us by faith. If you notice in Ephesians 3:18 there is heights, depths, length, and breadth to it, and we can have it by trusting God.
What is not true when it comes to God's love for us? Most "Christian churches" teach that God's love for us is conditional, based on our performance. If we pray, go to church, pay our tithes, etc., then the Lord loves us and answers our prayers; but if we fail, then the Lord won't answer our prayers. I pray every day that the walls of that thought would not stand in my mind.
What is spiritual dyslexia?
It is where a person sees things backwards. A dyslexic person sees the word "god" as "dog". There's a huge difference between God and a dog; yet dyslexics don't see it. "Spiritual dyslexia" has a similar effect on people. Those infected with this "spiritual dyslexia" see scriptures backwards. For instance, 1 John 2:3-5 says, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Quiz:
True or false?
God will love a sinner who repents (turns away from sin and back to God) as much as He loves a person who has been faithful all his or her life.
(please explain what love this scripture is referring too) (Ephesians 4:2)
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
This is another scripture on loving one another with all lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and forbearing one another in love. This is agape and storage, and is for a sister, brother or your neighbor. God's desire is for us to love one another, and to show our love toward another, so others can see this love, and then come to Jesus as their Savior. Love will draw others, amen.
Philautia is self-love, which can be healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy self-love is akin to hubris. In ancient Greece, a person could be accused of hubris if he placed himself above the gods, or, like certain modern politicians, above the greater good. Many believed that hubris led to destruction, or nemesis. Today, hubris has come to mean an inflated sense of one's status, abilities, or accomplishments, especially when accompanied by haughtiness or arrogance. As it disregards truth, hubris promotes injustice, conflict, and enmity. Healthy self-love is akin to self-esteem, which is our cognitive and, above all, emotional appraisal of our own worth. More than that, it is the matrix through which we think, feel, and act, and reflects and determines our relation to ourselves, to others, and to the world.
Self-esteem and self-confidence do not always go hand in hand. In particular, it is possible to be highly self-confident and yet to have profoundly low self-esteem, as is the case with many performers and celebrities.
People with high self-esteem do not need to prop themselves up with externals such as income, status, or notoriety, or lean on crutches such as alcohol, drugs, or sex. They are able to invest themselves completely in projects and people because they do not fear failure or rejection. Of course they suffer hurt and disappointment, but their setbacks neither damage nor diminish them. Owing to their resilience, they are open to growth experiences and relationships, tolerant of risk, quick to joy and delight, and accepting and forgiving of themselves and others.
