Those six people

Suicides in the Bible:

Samson   - Judges 16:29,30

Saul and his armor bearer -  1 Samuel 31:4,5   ,  1 Chronicles 10:4,5

Ahithophel  - 2 Samuel 17:23

Zimri  - 1 Kings 16:18

Judas Iscariot -  Matt. 27:5   ,  Acts 1:18

For Those Going to College soon

Here's  some  really good advice  from The Gospel Coalition :

The  Freshman  15  link  :  the-freshman-15

Psalm 105:4

Psalm 105:4

Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works;

    be alert for signs of his presence.   (The Msg)

Proverbs 16:20

Thank You !

Many have shared their lives, their victory stories, their joy, their pain, their struggles, their food....
THANK YOU  guys !

And especially for someone who remains unidentified, the BIG love gift. 
May the Lord meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 
(Phil 4:19)

:)

Comforting Words

John 9:3
For  many of  those who are afflicted, this is Jesus' answer.  One day, we will then understand fully when we see him face to face.

David and Goliath (cartoon)

1 Samuel17:1-58

Proverbs 14:34

the true meaning of Christmas by Linus

Jesus' second coming

Matt 26:64
Jesus replied, " Yes, it is as you say.  And in the future  you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven."

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-21

The Tablets of Stone (Ex 24:12)

"How do you live your dash ?"

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning, to the end

He noted that first came her date of birth

And spoke the following date with tears

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the "dash" between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own
The cars, the house, the cash
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend the dash

So think about this long and hard
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash ?

~ author unknown

Proverb 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart ;

   for it is the wellspring of life.


~  The Bible Blog .

B 2 B Lesson 13

Discipleship :  Being a Disciple

"The call to discipleship does not come to those who will give their spare evenings, their free weekends, or their years of retirement.  It comes to those who will give their undying allegiance in a total, complete, wholehearted, absolute, surrender and commitment  of life to Jesus. "           --  William MacDonald

Introduction

The public ministry of Jesus began with a call to a group of fishermen to come and be His disciples
  (Matt 4:19).
The public ministry of Jesus ended with a commission to that same group of fishermen to go and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)
And so at the beginning, and at the end, and all the way through, Jesus was preoccupied with discipleship.
Notice the order - first they needed TO BE before they could GO and make (Mark 3:14)
Jesus spent 3 years teaching and training, preparing and equipping a small band of men to be His disciples in order that these disciples might go and make disciples.

   What is a Disciple ?

The word disciple is used to describe a learner, a pupil, a follower - it is used 264 times in the four gospels alone.

At first the word disciple is used rather loosely.
It is used initially to describe curiosity seekers  (Matt 5:1-2, Matt 7:28-29).
Then it is used to describe those who are convinced (John 2:11, John 6:68-69).
But primarily it is used to describe the totally committed (Luke 9:23).

Discipleship is not for the curious, or even for the convinced, it is  only for the totally committed.

A disciple is :

• One who has a supreme love for Jesus (Luke 14:26).
• One who has a fervent love for others (John 13:34-35).
• One who is obedient to the word of Jesus (John 8:31, John 14:21).
• One who is bearing fruit in the work of Jesus (John 15:8).

Fruit can either be character (Galatians 5:22, 23) or converts (Matt 4:19)

Decision is about 5%  of being a Christian - discipleship is the other 95%.

Note : 3 "IF NOTs" "CANNOTs" of discipleship in Luke 14.

• Loves Me less (Luke 14:26).
• Does not carry his cross (Luke 14:27).
• Does not forsake all he has (Luke 14:33).

Note :  the 3  "hindrances to discipleship" in Luke 9:57-62 and Luke 14:18-20.

• Material desires.
• Vocational interests.
• Family ties.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said  "when Jesus bids a person to come and be His disciple, He bids that person to come and die."  (Luke 9:23)
Being a disciple of Jesus means saying NO to self and YES to Jesus.  It means dying to the self life in order to live the Christ life.

VERSES TO MEMORISE

• Matthew 4:19
• Luke 9:23

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

B 2 B Lesson 12

The will of God

"God's will is not a magic package; it is not an architect's blueprint; it is not a travel agent's detailed itinerary;  it is more like a scroll  which unrolls little by little, step by step."  --Paul Little

How to know the will of God

Nothing in the whole of life is more important than THE KNOWING and the DOING of the WILL OF GOD (Matt 7:21, Eph 5:17, Colossians 1:9. 1 John 2:17).

However many remain confused and walk around in a spiritual fog.
There are 2 aspects to God's will:

• The aspect which He has already revealed - for example, His desire that all people be saved ( 2 Peter 3:9); His desire that we are to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8); His desire that we are to live holy lives (1 Thess 4:7) etc;
• The aspect which has not been revealed - no clear "thus says the Lord."

In this area there are 2 pre-requisites:

• We need to be obedient to what has been revealed.
• We need to be surrendered to the unknown even before we know what it is.

Sometimes we have the mistaken notion that the choice is between doing what we want to do and being happy or doing what God wants us to do and being miserable.  How wrong we are (Romans 8:32).

1.  Channels through which God reveals His will

• The Word of God    (Psalm 119:105, 107)
• Prayer   (James 1:5)
• Circumstances - open and closed doors (Acts 16:6-7, 8-9)
• Advice of spiritual counselors (Acts 19:30)
• Peace and confidence within   ( 1 John 3:21-22)

The prerequisite to KNOWING is DOING  (John 7:17)

OBEDIENCE needs to be :

• WHOLEHEARTED  (Ephesians 6:6)
• SPONTANEOUS  (Psalm 40:8 )
• PROMPT  (Psalm 119:60)

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Remember when you are in the wrong place, your right place will be empty.

2.  Some Principles for Knowing God's Will

( trace your left hand here, start with your pinkie  finger, write these words : Stop, Look, Listen, Test, Trust.

• STOP  wanting your own will (Romans 12:1-2). Surrender yourself to the will of God even before you know what it is.
• LOOK  into the Word of God (Psalm 119:105).  About 90 % of what you need to know has already been revealed.
• LISTEN  to the advice of godly counselors and friends (Proverbs 15:22) .  Don't go it alone.  Share your sense of call with friends and counselors and if it is real, God will confirm it through others who know you in ways that you may not know yourself.
• TEST  the way that God seems to be leading you by open and closed doors (Acts 16:6-10).  However, favorable circumstances are not always an infallible guide  - remember Jonah. 
• TRUST  - the ultimate confirmation is peace of mind and peace of heart (Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6).

Remember you are not alone in seeking to know God's will.  God Himself has given you His Holy Spirit to guide you (John 14:26, John 16:13-14).

VERSES TO MEMORISE

• Matthew 7:21
• Proverbs 3:5-6

~ALLAN WEBB

B 2 B lesson 11 (Part 2)

It is fascinating also to note the teaching of the Apostle Paul concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit within the life of the Christian believer. Among other things :

• It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to make Jesus central in our life (1 Cor 12:3).
• It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to become more like Jesus (2 Cor 3:18).
• It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:4, 11).
• It is the Holy Spirit who produces spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22,23)
• It is the Holy Spirit who instigates a missionary zeal into our lives (Acts 20:22-24)

Many times in his writings Paul urges us to be filled with the Spirit -- literally to keep on being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Four Basic steps are needed :

1. We need to hunger and thirst after such a filling (Matthew 5:6).
2. We need to empty out of our lives all other things which would clutter up and distract (Galatians 5:16-21)
3. We need to present our lives as empty containers waiting to be filled (Romans 12:1-2).
4. We need to appropriate by faith the filling that He desires to impart (Luke 11:13 - here Jesus is talking not so much about the person of the Holy Spirit but the fullness of the Holy Spirit).

Note : the promise of Jesus in John 7:37-39.

Concerning Spiritual gifts the Bible teaches that everyone has at least one gift, therefore everyone should be encouraged. No-one has all the gifts, therefore everyone should be humble. All gifts are from God, therefore everyone should be content. All gifts are for the church, therefore everyone should be united.

The way to discover your spiritual gift is by following five basic steps:

1. It is initiated by prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
2. It is enlightened by study. Study the various gifts which are outlined ( 1 Cor 12:8-10), 1 Cor 12:28-30, Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:7-12, 1 Peter 10:11)
3. It is aroused by desire (Psalm 37:4).
4. It is confirmed by ability. You often discover what your spiritual gift is by your ability to do something well.
5. It is accompanied by blessing. There will always be spiritual fruit (John 15:8).

VERSES TO MEMORIsE
John 16:7
Ephesians 5:18

B 2 B lesson 11 ( Part 1 )

Living a Spirit-filled Life
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of a Believer

Sadly in many churches today the Holy Spirit has become very much the displaced person of the Godhead.

And yet in the New Testament every human HOW that might ever be asked receives the one and the same answer and that is the Holy Spirit.

• How can I be sure of my salvation? (Romans 8:16).
• How can I understand the Bible?  (John 14:26)
• How can I pray more meaningfully? (Romans 8:26-27)
• How can I witness with power? (Acts 1:8)
• How can I live a holy life? (Galatians 5:16)

There are two great emphases concerning the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is a Person (note the teaching of Jesus in John 14-15-16. e.g. John 14:16-17,
     John 14:26, John 16:7-11).
2. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person (Acts 5:3-5, 1 Cor 2:11)

It is fascinating to read the great Upper Room discourse of Jesus as recorded in John 14-15-16 and note the teaching which Jesus shared with His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit.

• The self-same Spirit who had been given to Him would be given to them as well (John 14:16-18)
• The Holy Spirit would be to them all that He had been to them, and more (John 14:16 and John 14:26)
• The Holy Spirit would be within them, whereas He Himself had only been with them (John 14:17)
• The disciples would gain more in the descent of the Spirit than what they would lose in the departure of Jesus (John 16:7)
• The descent of the Spirit was conditional upon the ascent of Jesus(John 16:7-8)
• The ministry of the Holy Spirit within them would be to glorify Jesus (John 16:14)

...to be continued.