Know Jesus Christ as Love

   1 John 5:1+ “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God…” New Living Translation

   How will anyone know the love of God and know Christ as Savior without knowing who He is? How will anyone believe without studying the Word of God, the Bible?

   “There are many ways to study the Bible, and there are many excellent study aids available to help you with specific books of the Bible. But the most important thing you need to remember is that to find out what the Bible says, you need to read it yourself in a way that will help you discover what it says, what it means, and how you are to apply it to your life.” How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur.

   The following quotes are from www.joyfulheart.com. “A ‘deductive’ Bible study begins from a point that the teacher is trying to make, and then uses a number of scripture verses and examples to support that conclusion. Most sermons and Bible studies are conducted this way.

   An ‘Inductive’ Bible study, on the other hand begins with the raw text of scripture, and encourages participants to read the text and draw conclusions directly from the text itself… It trains people to ask questions which help them understand what is going on, what is being said, and how that relates to the rest of the passage.”

   Two authors who write on how to study using the inductive method of Bible study are Irving Jensen and Kay Arthur; or, how about searching the Web for more information.

   The site, shown to me by Al, www.e-sword.org is a great free Bible study. The following is a brief study using e-sword resources.

Analytical-Literal Translation

2Ti 2:15  Be eager [or, diligent] to present yourself approved to God [as] a worker with no need to be ashamed, cutting straight [fig., teaching accurately; or, interpreting correctly] the word of truth. 1965

1889 Darby Bible

2Ti 2:15  … cutting in a straight line the word of truth.

International Standard Version

2Ti 2:15  … handling the word of truth with precision.

New Living Translation

2Ti 2:15 …who correctly explains the word of truth.

Dividing G3718 Thayer Definition:

1) to cut straight, to cut straight ways

1a) to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equiv. to doing right

2) to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly

Word G3056 Thayer Definition:

1) of speech

1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea

1b) what someone has said

1b1) a word

1b2) the sayings of God

1b3) decree, mandate or order

1b4) of the moral precepts given by God

1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets

1b6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim

1c) discourse

1c1) the act of speaking, speech

1c2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking

1c3) a kind or style of speaking

1c4) a continuous speaking discourse - instruction

1d) doctrine, teaching

1e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative

1f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter in dispute, case, suit at law

1g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed

Truth G225 Thayer Definition:

1) objectively

1a) what is true in any matter under consideration

1a1) truly, in truth, according to truth

1a2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly

1b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth

1b1) in the greatest latitude

1b2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention

1c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians

2) subjectively

2a) truth as a personal excellence

2a1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit

“…But the people who know their God will be strong and will work.”

Daniel 11:32b

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life News. Volume 3 Issue 1. January 5, 2003.

Abundant Life in Jesus Christ

“I have come that they might have LIFE, and might have it abundantly.”

John 10:10

   “An English minister describing his inner city outreach in Bristol, England once commented, ‘I minister to the lost, the least, the lonely and the last.’

   Perhaps you have felt like you would fall into any or all of these categories: lost, least, lonely, last. Well, be encouraged! Our Lord Jesus came just for YOU!”

Luke 5:31; 4:18-19; John 10:10; 8:32

   Or are you saying, “What about me?” “I’ve been a Christian for some time now and my life is still a mess. What’s wrong with the foundation of my house?”

   “Christ not only died for your sins, He came to give His life to you. Why? First, because He desires to have fellowship with you. Secondly, He wants to be able to live His life through you.

   …You don’t have to wait until you die to experience all of the benefits of life in Christ. They are yours NOW! God says that He has given you a whole new identity. He has made you a new creation. He has made you His precious child. What’s more, God says that He has seated you with Him in His presence already.

   And that’s only the beginning of the good news.”

   The Grace Life Handbook thoroughly explains the concepts of the Exchanged Life. This study guide offers diagrams and hands on Bible study in chapters titled When God Ran, Rejection, Understanding Flesh, Uniquely Designed, Victorious In Christ to name a few. Barry Grecu, Scott Brittin, Tom Grady, Ray Alton and Mike Quarles collaborated on the writing and editing of this handbook. For additional information:

Grace Ministries International

131 Village Parkway, NE

Marietta GA 30067

770-690-0433

www.gmint.org

   Another resource, Be Transformed offers Biblical solutions to life’s problems. This workbook is designed to help you address the root causes of the problems you face everyday.

  

   Scope uses the tree to represent man’s three-part nature: spirit, soul, and body.

Ø  The roots represent the spirit of man, which is the means of knowing and worshipping God.

Ø  The trunk represents man’s soul, the means of expressing the mind, will, and emotions.

Ø  The leaves represent the body, the most noticeable and changing aspect.

Ø  The sky depicts the wind of God’s Spirit at work in the world.

Ø  The river of living water is the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer’s spirit (roots), filling the soul (trunk) and producing fruit in the body (leaves).

Ø  The roots of the tree are rooted in God’s love and are one with Christ’s Spirit.

Ø  The believer is drinking from the river of life and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ø  The leaves of the tree pointed upward are depicting a life of worship and praise.

Ø  Jesus is visible in the tree, reproducing His life in the soul (trunk) and expressing Himself through the body (leaves).

Scope Ministries International

700 NE 63^rd Street

Oklahoma City OK 73105

405-843-7778

www.scopeministries.org

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life Ministry News.

"Grace Works" by Dudley Hall

Grace Works by Dudley Hall

   “God has offered a lifestyle in Jesus that actually allows you to do what you want. But first he instructs you as to who you really are-a chosen child of the living God. Forgiven totally, accepted fully, a living container of marvelous grace!.. Life is a discovery!.. It only happens as we live in relationship with the Father. And the choice is ours… Life means being free to go where God directs without fear and without guilt…

   The problem is, a relationship is not a formula. The gift of grace is not a combination of requirements that gets results, but an invitation for full fellowship. The solution to sin is mercy, not sacrifice; life, not legalism; relationship, not religion…

   Jesus didn’t come to judge you. In fact, he loves you enough to change you…”

John 16
   ⁸And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:
⁹About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me]; Amplified Bible

   “Notice that Jesus was speaking of sin as the violation of a trust relationship, not the breaking of legal standards. The heart of all sin is unbelief, mistrust, or neglect of a faith relationship…”

   “…The essence of our religion is not external performance but internal relationship… If we have experienced the joy of God’s unconditional love, we will want to express that love to the needy around us. As a general rule, we become people who are fun to be with-neither judgmental nor self-conscious. We are able to listen to anyone’s perspective, believing that difference is good and not evil. We resist the temptation of trying to conform everyone to our own image, and we dare to believe that righteousness is stronger than wickedness. As a result, we enjoy the confidence to enter into any realm of life without fear… ‘His living kindness is everlasting.’ Ps. 100:5”

   Would you like to read more about Grace and the Life of Liberty, Better than New, Beyond Condemnation, Married and Miserable, Ministry without Manipulation or Grace the Simple Life?

   All of these chapters and more are included in Grace Works by Dudley Hall.

   “God desires not only to free you from the penalty of sin but to free you from the power of sin. That’s why it is foolish to believe you can be a partaker of grace and continue on nonchalantly in a life of ungodliness.”

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life News. Volume 2 Issue 51. December 22, 2002.

"Birthright" by David C.Needham

Birthright:Christian,Do You know Who You Are? by David C. Needham

David Needham has included many interesting chapters, some of the titles are:

Ø  Who Are You, Christian?

Ø  The Wonder of Who We Are

Ø  A Declaration of Dependence

Ø  A New Choice: The Commitment of a Person’s Will

Ø  A New Master: The Lordship of Christ is Central

Ø  Where is the Joy?

   “…The essence of His life was that all the he did- His words, His works, His entire life- came from His Father. His was a totally dependent life. For a human to be truly alive-by our Creator’s definition-is to live as an extension of God’s own life…

   Through His unique creation of man, all that God wished to show of Himself-His perfections, His purity, His love-could be seen and most fully appreciated. For a person to fulfill this function is life. And anything less than this is less than life…

   God’s purpose for humans is that they become actual extensions of His life through a dependent relationship with Him…”

   How…

ü  Commitment to the authority of the scriptures

ü  Separation from the world

ü  Evangelism

ü  Submission to authority

ü  Distinctive lifestyle

ü  Worship God centered

Where is the Joy?

V  You are safe

V  You are loved

1)      We need to take a long look at the fact that the entire Trinity is very pleased to have us. Luke 15:6, 20, 23-24

2)      God’s gift of joy comes to us wrapped in a package. That package is Holy Spirit-taught truth. We must give the Spirit a chance. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 5:3, 5; 15:13

3)      God’s joy can only function when we are honestly resting in the adequacy of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:3-5

4)      God’s joy is inseparable from unconditional discipleship with all its costs. Luke 14:33; John 15:11

   …Oh Christian-face up to it. You know what to do. So do it!

   There is a world that needs to see the invisible God through the prism called ‘you.’ Don’t waste another minute missing life.

   There is a God Who has chosen you to be the object of His love-the displayer of His person. Why waste another second frustrating the very reason Jesus came?”

   Am I aware of whom I really am? Can I answer “Yes” to Matthew 22:37?

   Reading this book will give information on basic Biblical truths of God’s purpose and how this can be accomplished backed up with definitions and scripture.

“O dear Christian, rejoice! Live!”

“Do you know who you are?”

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life News. Volume 2 Issue 50. December 15, 2002

Andrew Murray author of devotional books

The Secret of…………………………………

the Abiding Presence

Adoration

Brotherly Love

Christ Our Life

the Cross

the Faith Life

Fellowship

Inspiration

Intercession

Power from on High

the Throne of Grace

United Prayer

   Andrew Murray wrote the pocket companion books over a period of five years. Brief and to the point, each devotional book can be read in one month.

   “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” Gal. 3:13

   “Scripture teaches us that there are two points of view from which we may regard Christ’s death upon the cross. The one is the redemption of the cross: Christ dying for us as our complete deliverance from the curse of sin. The other, the fellowship of the cross: Christ taking us up to die with Him and making us partakers of the fellowship of His death in our own experience…”

  

   “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14

   “One of the blessings of the cross consists in this, that it teaches us to know the worthlessness of our efforts and the utter corruption of our own nature. The cross does not offer to improve human nature or to supplement what man is able to do… the old garment, our old man, must be laid aside and given over to the death of the cross. For the cross causes all that is of the lost nature of man to die the accursed death, and the ‘I’ is revealed as a malefactor. The cross breaks the staff over all that is of the old nature… What we possess by nature must be nailed to the cross and we must put on the new man…”

   “All Judah rejoiced, for they had sought Him with their whole desire; and He was found by them.” 2 Chronicles 15:15

   “The will is the royal faculty of the soul; it rules over the whole man. Many people become the slaves of sin because they do not decide with a firm will to listen to the voice of conscience…”

   “The inner man is renewed from day to day.” 2 Cor. 4:16

   “There is one lesson that all young Christians should learn, namely this: the absolute necessity of fellowship with Jesus each day…”

 

   “And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief [you were unable]. However this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.’” Matt. 17:20-21

   “…That is, prayer grasps the power of heaven, fasting loosens the hold on earthly pleasure…”

 

   “Christ is all and in all.” Col. 3:11

   “…Every day and every hour it affords comfort and strength to the child of God who accepts it in faith: Christ is all…”

   “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun.” Eccles. 3:1

   “…Is not the most important matter for which we must find time fellowship with God, in which we may experience His love and His power? Give God time, I beseech you.

   You need time to feed upon the Word of God and to draw from it life for your soul. Through His Word, His thoughts and His grace enter our hearts and lives. Take time each day to read the Bible, even if it be only a few verses; meditate upon what you have read, and thus assimilate the bread of life. If you do not take the trouble to let God speak to you through His Word, how can you expect to be led by the Spirit?.. Let the Word of God teach you what God promises, what you need, and in what manner God wishes you to pray. Thus by prayer and the Word your heart will be prepared to have fellowship with God through faith in Christ Jesus… The life and love and holiness of God cannot be ours amidst the distractions and temptations of the world unless we give God time to reveal Himself to us and to make possession of our hearts…”

Blackmon, Selma, editor. The Exchanged Life News. Volume 2 Issue 49. December 8, 2002.