Genesis 22 - Key

v2

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Is there something in our lives, that we love, that the Lord would want us to give up for Him?

v12

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.

When the Lord shows us to give up something in our lives, we shouldn't withhold it from Him.

Application

Part of v3

And Abraham rose up early in the morning... and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

The Lord hasn't asked me to make some huge sacrifice like giving up my only son, but I have been thinking that He wants me to make the sacrifice of getting up reasonably early in the morning. It might not seem like a very big deal, but one thing I'll keep focusing on is getting up at the right time in the morning.

Revelation 1 - Key

v3

Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

This is about the book of Revelation, specifically; but, we're blessed if we read, and hear, and keep (or continually observe) the Lord's Word.

Application

I'll pay extra attention to studying Revelation as we go through this Bible study.

Genesis 22 - Outline

v1-2

God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved

v3-10

Abraham was completely obedient without arguing

v11-14

the Lord provided a Ram to be a sacrifice instead of Isaac

v15-18

the Lord blessed Abraham for obeying Him

v19

Abraham dwelt at Beersheba

v20-24

Abraham heard of his brother's children, and Rebekah

Revelation 1 - Outline

v1-8

what this book is about

v9-12

John began to see the vision

v13-16

the description of the vision of Christ

v17-20

the Lord began to explain the meaning

we preach Christ

1 Corinthians 1

v23a

But we preach Christ crucified...

We should boldly preach the gospel, and when we do, it should include the message of Christ, and Him being crucified.

1 John 3 - Key

v17

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Bowels is an unfortunate King James translation, but it meant compassion from someone's innards, or guts, the source of true affection, deep down inside. Now-a-days, we'd say, one's heart, which is just what many other, more recent translations of the Bible say here.

Application

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

When we have plenty of the substance of this world, that other believers are in need of, let's generously give to them, from our hearts.

1 John 3 - Outline

v1-3

we can be the children of God, and have the hope of seeing Him

v4-10

righteousness is from God and sin is from the devil

v11-19

it's important for us to really love the brethren

v20-24

assurance that He abides in us

Genesis 21 - Key

v12

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Sometimes we have something in our lives that isn't the right thing that the Lord wants at the time. When He shows us to cast it out of our lives, it shouldn't seem grievous to us.

Application

Sometimes, when I've been doing something, like visiting with people, or surfing the web, (even when it's not really a bad thing to do), it would seem grievous for me to give it up. When the Lord shows me that He doesn't want me to be doing that then, I'll remember this verse, and give it up anyway. I'll let it not be grievous in my sight.

Genesis 21 - Outline

v1-7

the Lord did what He had said

v8-10

Sarah told Abraham to cast out the son of the bondwoman

v11-13

the Lord said He would also make a nation from Ishmael

v14-21

the Lord heard the voice of the lad

v22-24

Abraham swore to Abimelech

v25-30

Abraham reproved Abimelech about the well of water

v31-34

Abraham called on the Lord at Beersheba

simple concerning evil

Romans 16

v19b, 20a

...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly....

We don't have to know all about evil or sinful things, or what they're like, or how they work. As a matter of fact, although the Lord wants us to be wise about things that are good, He wants us to have pure minds, without any evil things mixed in.

We don't need to know our enemy. We need to know our Lord.

Salvation extended to the Gentiles

Romans 15

v9

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

We should be thankful to the Lord that the special privilege of being saved has been extended to us non-Jews, so we can also have it now.

consider others

Romans 14

v7

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

This chapter talks about how no physical thing in the world is really necessarily bad, in and of itself, but things can be bad-- if people use them the wrong way from their own sinful hearts. We have the liberty, in the Lord, to take part in some things that other people think are sinful, (like working on the seventh day of the week, and eating pork). But those things would be sinful for us, if we took part in them at the expense of other peoples' conscience.

A lot of right and wrong is really about love and care for other people. So, instead of doing things just because we know they're OK for us to do, we need to consider the effects on the other people around us.

1 John 2 - Key

v10

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Since Christ has come, there's an old commandment and a new commandment. In a way, the new commandment is new, because it is the simple law of love that we are under because Christ has come. However, in a way, the new commandment not really anything different from the same old commandment of the Lord's Word that we've heard since the beginning. All of the law and the prophets in the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus Christ. All of the Old Testament laws were simply all about Love for Him and for others.

In this verse, we see the importance of walking the way Jesus walked, but it isn't about keeping a whole bunch of different rules, to the letter. The important thing is to truly love your brother.

Application

I think this applies to all of our brothers in the Lord, but it can also be applied to our physical brothers. I'll pray for one of my brothers during what he's going through for this next week.

1 John 2 - Outline

v1-2

if we sin, that's what Christ is there for

v3-4

we must keep His commandments to truly know Him

v5-7

His old commandment, from the beginning, is His Word

v8-11

the new commandment, to abide in the light, is by loving your brother

v12-14

three stages of relationships with the Lord

v15-17

all that is in the world

v18-23

there are many antichrists

v24-29

abide in the Lord

Genesis 20 - Key

v6,7

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine.

Abimelech had been doing well so far. He was innocent because he hadn't known that Sarah, whom he had taken, was Abraham's wife, and he hadn't gone near her yet. Even though he was doing well so far, the Lord seemed to think it would be necessary to give him a stern warning not to mess up now.

I think this is a good lesson for us. When we've been doing well, and seem innocent at the moment, it's still very important for us to make sure to obey the Lord... even when He's just revealed something new to us, and we would have to make a big change in what we're doing.

Application

When I have a conflict with somebody where I think I'm right, and the Lord reveals to me that I have a fault, I'll be quick to apologize for my fault in the conflict, even if I still think the other person is wrong.

Genesis 20 - Outline

v1-2

when Abraham stopped in Gerar, the king took Sarah

v3-7

God came to Abimelech in a dream

v8-10

Abimelech told his servants and asked Abraham for an explanation

v11-13

Abraham gave a reason for what he had said, and how it was not exactly a lie

v14-16

Abimelech ended up doing good for Abraham out of the situation, anyway

v17-18

Abraham prayed, and the Lord granted childbirth back to Abimelech's household

Genesis 50 - Key

v21

Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

The main thing that stuck out to me in this chapter was how Joseph forgave his brothers. They had really done some bad things to him, but he didn't take revenge or do anything bad back to them. This is a great picture of the kind of forgiveness Christ had for us, and that's the kind of forgiveness we should have for other people.

Application

It says he spake kindly unto them. That's a real way to show forgiveness. If my family members do something bad to me, I'll express forgiveness to them by speaking kindly to them anyway.

daylight salvation time

Romans 13

v11

And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

It's high time to wake up in the way we live our lives. Like today came an hour earlier than usual last night, our salvation is now closer than ever.

v12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Genesis 50 - Outline

v1-3

Joseph had his father embalmed like an Egyptian

v4-6

Joseph appealed to Pharaoh through his family

v7-11

even the Egyptians got into the mourning act

v12-14

Jacob's sons obeyed him and buried him in Canaan

v15-18

Joseph's brothers humbled themselves and asked for forgiveness

v19-21

Joseph showed a picture of the Lord Jesus' mercy

v22-26

the end of Joseph's life

1 John 1 - Summary

v1-2

witnesses of Jesus Christ, who is the Word, and eternal life

v3-4

the joy of fellowship

v5-7

fellowship requires us to walk in the light

v8-10

walking in the light means being honest about our sins

Key v4

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This is the opposite of what you might think at first, because it's a sorrowful thing to confess our sins. But it's actually the way to have fullness of joy.

Application

I really want to have more joy in my life, so I'll be willing to admit a certain sin that easily besets me: when I do something wrong out of being bitter towards a certain person.

mind not high things

Romans 12

v3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

This makes me think about how we shouldn't go around considering ourselves to be some great people that we really aren't. We shouldn't imagine that we have great positions, great righteousness, or abilities, above other people. We should be humble, and acknowledge who we really are before the Lord, and live for Him in the situation that we really have today.

Genesis 19 - Key

v20

Behold now, this city [is] near to flee unto, and it [is] a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, ([is] it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

I wonder if staying in Zoar instead of fleeing to the mountains had anything to do with Lot's wife looking back? I wonder if it made the difference that he lost his wife. Later, Lot didn't even end up staying in that city. He fled to the mountains anyway when he was scared because saw how the Lord really destroyed the region.

Sometimes we do the same thing with sin that Lot did with the city of Zoar. We say, don't destroy that one, Lord; isn't it just a little one? We shouldn't excuse sins because we think they're little.

Application

When I have a problem like not getting up on time, I'll focus on getting that problem beat. I won't just let it escape, because it's a little thing.

Genesis 19 - Outline

v1-3

Lot pressured the strangers to receive his hospitality

v4,5

the men of Sodom wasted no time in showing their wickedness

v6-9

they told Lot something like, 'Who are you to judge?'

v10-16

the Lord was a shield and a fortress, to deliver Lot

v17-23

the Lord was further merciful in not destroying Zoar

v24-26

Lot was saved, but it was through fire, and he suffered loss and lost everything in the world

v27-29

the Lord worked amazing miracles of deliverance in answer to prayer

v30-38

Lot had been afraid of some evil thing overtaking him in the mountains (v19), but the real threat of evil was the problem of sin from within themselves

what it means to be saved by grace

Romans 11

v6

And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

This verse means that salvation is by grace, not by works. That means that being saved from our sins is an undeserved gift. We can't be saved by things that we do. It's a great idea to do good things, but the only thing we can do to be saved from our sins is to accept the gift of God by believing in Jesus, in our hearts.

righteous through Christ, not the law

Romans 10

v4

For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

We can't have any goodness in the Lord's sight by trying to follow the letter of the law. The law of God, in the Old Testament, was given to the Jews to point people forward to Christ. It shows us that we, ourselves, can't be good enough in the sight of the Lord. Jesus fulfilled the law, so that now, by trusting in Him, we can be forgiven and made right in the sight of the Lord.

who are we to accuse God?

Romans 9

v20

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?

Sometimes people like to directly accuse God of all kinds of atrocities. They say, If He's so kind, then how can He let bad things happen?, or, If He has justice then why does He judge people who don't know any better than sinning?

I have a question for you. Who are you to accuse God of being unkind or unjust? He is the great, all-powerful God, who created heaven and earth, and He can do whatever He wants. We can't tell Him, You can't do this, or, You must do that. Are we greater than Him? Certainly not.

It is His mercy that's unfair- because it's so great, even greater than we deserve. God is perfect, and He doesn't delight in bad things happening to people, even wicked people dying. By choosing to sin, we've brought all the bad things that happen upon ourselves, and they're our own fault. They're not God's fault.

He Loves us so much He offers the free gift of salvation and everlasting life, to everyone in the world. Everyone in the world has a conscience, and therefore, has a chance, so nobody is really innocent.

The great God who knows everything, and can do whatever He wants, is more just and kind than we can wrap our human minds around. He even works out bad things for good for people who love Him. So, we mere mortals have no place accuse the Lord. That would be like a pot saying to a pottery-maker, Why have you made me like this?

walk with the Lord

Romans 8

v1

[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The freedom, the blessing, and the escape from judgment, don't just come from us doing whatever we want. Our life is like a continuing journey, or a walk. Walking isn't just a one-time event, but it's a continuing process made up of many different steps.

Each time we're faced with a temptation, or a decision whether do do what's right or wrong, it's one of those steps in our walk. We can choose to walk after the flesh, and do what would feel good to ourselves, or we could choose walk with the Lord and do what's right.

Sure, if we choose to do what's right, it won't all be fun and games. There's suffering involved. Obviously, for one thing, just suffering the lost momentary pleasure of sin. But ultimately, it's more than worthwhile.

v18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

serve in newness of spirit

Romans 7

v6

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter.

It's by the Lord's Holy Spirit that we can have the ability to do what's right, having been made free from sin. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God in the Bible (John 14:26), and glorifies Jesus Christ (John 16:14).

John 14:26

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

We can find the strength and the heart to overcome temptation, by listening to God's Word in the Bible, and by having unwavering faith in who Jesus is. Then the Holy Spirit will remind us of the Lord's Words, and assure us of Him. That way, He will be with us, living through us, and helping us do what's right.

John 16:14

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

Genesis 18 - Key

v12

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Once, somebody pointed out that it was within herself. It makes me think about how careful we should be about the things we say quietly to ourselves, because the Lord can hear them.

Application

v15

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

I'll work on not saying things in my heart, that I know would be wrong for me to say out loud, because we know that the Lord can hear them anyway.

Genesis 49 - Key

v7

Cursed [be] their anger, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

It seems like Simeon and Levi got bad news instead of blessings, all because of their anger. Anger, kind of like drunkenness, causes people to do bad things they otherwise wouldn't do. We can't just let ourselves have some anger, to use it to our benefit, or it will take over and we'll get carried away.

Application

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

The Lord has given us everything we need so we don't have to be angry. He supernaturally supplies strength for us to do the right thing. I'll remember to realize that next time I'm tempted, and just lean on His strength to remain calm.

Genesis 18 - Outline

v1-8

Abraham hurried to serve the three strangers

v9-15

the Lord reaffirmed his promise to give Abraham and Sarah a son

v16-21

the Lord told Abraham what He would do about Sodom and Gomorrah

v22-33

Abraham interceded before the Lord for mercy on the sinful region