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PEACE

Biblical definition of peace:
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Character Study:
Abigail – 1 Samuel 25 – 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 3:1
She was a sensible and beautiful woman, married to Nabal (his name means foolish or senseless) a descendant of Caleb, who was crude and mean in all his dealings. She marries David after Nabal’s death. She also had a son: Kileab (Daniel) 1 Samuel 25:32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. v33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.

Abigail is known for her:
Wisdom and reason:
1 Samuel 25:1-17 After the death of Samuel David moved to the wilderness of Maon. When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, he sent ten men to see whether Nabal would give them some provisions as David’s men had protected his shepherds and sheep while they were sheep-shearing at Carmel. Nabal rudely refused to give them anything. When David’s men reported this to him, David put on his sword and instructed his men to “put on their swords.” 400 men went with David to confront Nabal. Meanwhile, Nabal’s servants immediately went to Abigail to report what had happened. She was the source of wisdom and reason in the household.
Decisiveness to take action
1 Samuel 25:18-19 She wasted no time and loaded enough food for David’s men on donkeys.
Courage
1 Samuel 25:20-22 It must have taken courage to ride on a donkey towards David who was ready to take revenge for the way his men had been treated.
Submission
1 Samuel 25:23-25 When she meets David she quickly gets off her donkey and bows down before him. She takes the blame for Nabal’s rudeness
Intercessor/Peacemaker
1 Samuel 25:26-35 She not only intercedes on behalf of Nabal, but she also promotes peace in David’s heart when she reminds him how foolish it would be to take revenge on a “Fool”. Abigail reminds David that it was the LORD that had kept him from taking vengeance into his own hands.
Restraint
1 Samuel 25:36-42 On her return home she found Nabal holding a banquet, he was in high spirits and very drunk. She told him nothing until the next day. When she told him the next morning “his heart failed him and he became like a stone.” He died ten days later. After Nabal’s death, David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

What the Bible teaches about peace:
Old Testament:
Genesis 26:26-31 King Abimelech came to visit Isaac with a request to enter into a sworn treaty with him, to not interfere with each other. Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty. The next morning they each took a solemn oath to not interfere with each other and when Isaac returned home they left him in peace.
Leviticus 7:11-21 Leviticus is a book written by Moses while the Israelites were wandering in the desert, before entering the Promised Land. God revealed to Moses numerous religious, civil and moral laws that they had to follow. One of the laws was “The Peace Offering” also called “The Fellowship Offering.
Judges 6:1-24 Gideon was the fifth judge of Israel. Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD.  We see that the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon telling him to rescue Israel from the Midianites. When Gideon realizes he had seen an angel of the LORD he became afraid, v23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (in Hebrew – Yahweh Shalom).
Psalm 29:1-11 In this Psalm we read how God reveals His great power in nature. When we allow God to be in control of our lives, He will give us both the peace and the strength to weather the storms of life.
Isaiah 26:1-21 God revealed to Isaiah that people will praise God on the day when Christ establishes His Kingdom. It is a passage of trust, praise and meditation.

New Testament:
Matthew 5:9 In the Beatitudes/Sermon on the Mount Jesus says those who work for peace will be called “children of God.” In this world of chaos we who are called children of God, pursue peace and we are not concerned by the chaos around us.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. This peace that Jesus is talking about is having a confident assurance that no matter what our circumstances or situations are, with the peace of Christ we can face our fears whether it is at present or in the future.
Romans 15:1-13 In this passage we are called to please others. Those believers who are strong ought to bear with those who are weak; help others to do what is right and build them up in the Lord. As we follow Christ, God will give us endurance, encouragement and a spirit of unity amongst ourselves; we need to accept one another as Christ accepted us, to bring praise to God. Just as Christ became a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so we as Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.
Philippians 4:4-8 As we saw in John 14:27, the peace of God is not the same peace that we experience in the world. It is so wonderful to know that, because God is in control, we can let God’s peace guard our hearts against anxiety!
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. This verse makes it clear that we are to pursue peace as we become more Christ-like.

Application:
James 4:1-3 aptly says that for us to have peace we need to submit ourselves to God.
Why do we not have peace all the time? Conflicts such as quarrels and fights are evident among believers. We desire that we want more money, status and possessions. When we don’t get what we want, we usually sulk or look for arguments to get it. Instead, we should ask God to help us and trust Him to give us what we need.
What do we need to do to obtain peace?
Psalm 119:165 We need to obey God’s law of love.
Be a peacemaker
Proverbs 16:7 Being a peacemaker is not always easy, because we want people to approve of what we are doing. Even if we fail at being a peacemaker, we can be sure that God will be pleased with our efforts.
Having the peace of God.
Romans 5:1 How wonderful to know that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is not the peace of being calm or tranquil. This peace is to know that we have been reconciled with God because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the Cross.

Conclusion:
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 34:1-22 – A prayer for peace in times of trouble.
This Psalm was written by David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who then sends him away.
When you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances or situations, come to the Lord in prayer and He promises that He will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding! Philippians 4:7

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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ANGER

Biblical definition of anger:
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, v20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Character study:
Jonah – Jonah 1-4; 2 Kings 14:25; Matthew12:39-41; Luke 11:29, 32
Jonah was the son of Amittai. He was a prophet from Gath-hepher during the reign of Jeroboam ll, Israel’s most powerful king. Jonah 1:3 “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed to Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

Jonah is known for his:
Disobedience and its consequence:
Jonah 1:1-17. When God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh and announce God’s judgment for their wickedness. Instead of going to Nineveh, he boarded a ship at Joppa with the hope to escape from the LORD. The consequence was that the LORD caused a violent storm, which made the sailors fear for their life. When they confronted Jonah, he asks them to throw him overboard. The sailors were reluctant to do it, but when the sea became too violent, they pleaded with the LORD not to hold them responsible for his death. As soon as they threw him overboard, the storm stopped at once. We see in v17 that the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. He was inside the fish for three days and three nights.  (Jesus used this metaphor in Matthew 12:38-41 and it is known as: “The sign of Jonah.”)
His prayer
Jonah 2:1-10 While inside the fish Jonah prays to the LORD. He realises that he had been saved from drowning and had escaped certain death.
Preaching in Nineveh
Jonah 3:1-10 God gives Jonah a second chance to preach in Nineveh. He must only preach what God tells him–a doom message. The city was so large that it took him three days to see it all.
Jonah’s anger at the LORD’S mercy
Jonah 4:1-11 In verse 2 we read the reason why Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. First Jonah became angry because the Ninevites had been saved; then he gets angry because the plant God had provided had died.
God arranged for a leafy plant to give Jonah’s head some shading from the sun. Next, God arranged for a worm to eat the plant and then God sends a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah.
God could have destroyed Jonah for his anger, but instead, he teaches him a lesson. God’s mercy and compassion were not only for Jonah or Israel. It extends to everyone who repents and believes.

What the Bible teaches about anger.
Old Testament:
In Exodus 3:11-4:13, we see that Moses protested five times with God not to use him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Four times God reassured him that He will be with him.
1) Moses and the people would return to Mount Sinai to worship God at the mountain;
2) Moses was to tell the people God is: “I AM WHO I AM”
3) God showed him two miracles: The shepherd’s staff turned into a snake and when he put his hand inside his cloak, “it was as white as snow with a severe skin disease” when he took it out. When he put it back inside his cloak it came out healthy
4) When Moses protested that he was not very good with words, God reassures him that He will instruct him on what to say.
When Moses protested the fifth time, Exodus 4:14a Then the LORD’S anger burnt against Moses.
Numbers 12:1-16 In this passage Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They questioned whether the LORD had only spoken through Moses and not them, and the LORD heard them. V9 The anger of the LORD burned against them, and He left them. V10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous.
Judges 2:10-15 The Israelites did evil in the LORD’S sight by serving images of Baal. God’s anger against Israel was to hand them over to their enemies. In v15 we read that every time they went out to battle the LORD fought against them
Psalm 37:1-8 Anger, rage and losing our temper can be very destructive, showing a lack of faith that God loves us. We never have to fear, because when Jesus lives in our hearts, we can know for certain that He is in control of our lives.
Proverbs 22:24-25 These two verses warn us to be wary of whom we spend our time with.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “bad company corrupts good character.” Choose to be friends with people who have the same qualities you have.

New Testament:
Matthew 5-7 is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” or “The Beatitudes.” In one of the passages, Jesus teaches about anger. Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus says that to be angry is the same as murder, calling someone Raca (In Greek a word of contempt), or cursing (Greek “a fool”) are in “danger of the fire of hell.
John 2:12-17 This account of Jesus clearing the Temple area is the first account where Jesus was angry by the way the Temple was being misused. The people had turned it into a marketplace.
Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48 All three of these Gospels describe the second time Jesus cleared the Temple. This happened at the end of Jesus’ ministry, which was about three years later. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.
Romans 1:18-32 In this passage Paul describes God’s anger at sin; the reason is that people have substituted the truth about Him with a lie. Even though God wants to remove our sins, God will not tolerate sin and He will show His anger against those who persist in sin.
Colossians 3:1-10 When we become true Christians, our behaviour should change. We are now living a new life and therefore we need to get rid of the sinful, earthly things that control our minds and actions. v8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Application:
Righteous anger is when you become angry about what angers God. We need to remember that God is just and He is angry with sinners every day.
Psalm 7:1-17 – David wrote this Psalm as a request to God for justice. We can pray this Psalm when we are “falsely” accused and against those who make slanderous remarks about us. Notice David did not take revenge; instead, he took it to the Lord in prayer
There are times that we “vent, lash out” our anger with foolish words or deeds, to hurt others.
The problem is that once it has been said or done we cannot retract it.
Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
The opposite of “venting or lashing out” when angry is to “clam up” This usually leads to bitterness in your heart.
It is like a boil –an infection where the skin turns red and a tender lump develops which is very painful. The boil usually bursts and can be very messy. It is the same with anger that is “clammed up”:
Ephesians 4:17-31 As Christians we should live as “Children of the light.”
God’s Word has many verses and passages that command us to control our anger.
Psalm 37:8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm. (NLT)
Proverbs 15:1 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.

Conclusion:
Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, v27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 4:1-8 – How to deal with anger in our everyday life.
The best thing to do, when you allow anger to control your emotion, is, to talk to God about the anger you are feeling at that moment. Ask God to help you express it directly to the person you are angry with, doing it with love and gentleness.  In the New Living Translation verse 4 of this Psalm says we should not let anger control us, instead we should think about it overnight and remain silent. It is repeated in Ephesians 4:26. Read Matthew 6:14 again to remind you what Jesus taught about forgiveness.

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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FORGIVENESS

Biblical definition of forgiveness:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

Character study:
Manasseh – 2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 32:33 – 33:20; Jeremiah 15:4
His father was King Hezekiah who was known for his civil and religious reforms. His mother was Hephzibah.
2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-five years.
2 Chronicles 33:12 In his distress he sought the favour of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. V13 And when he prayed to Him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

Manasseh is known for his:
Detestable pagan practices:
2 Chronicles 33:3-5, Manasseh followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations. He rebuilt the pagan shrines that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD and bowed down to them.
His blatant sins against God:
2 Chronicles 33:6-9, he sacrificed his sons in the fire; he practised sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics; he set up a carved idol in God’s Temple,
The Consequence of his sins:
2 Chronicles 33:11, the LORD sent the Assyrian army, who took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.
Repentance and Confession:
2 Chronicles 33:12-16, Manasseh sincerely humbled himself before God. When he prayed God heard his prayer and forgave his sins bringing him back to Jerusalem. He realized that “the LORD alone is God.” He rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David; removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD’S Temple; he encouraged the people of Judah to worship the LORD.

What the Bible teaches about forgiveness.
Old Testament:
2 Chronicles 7:14 is a verse we’ve heard many times recently, as we see the evil and decay of our societies.
God gives His people, the Israelites some conditions for forgiveness: they are to humble themselves; pray to ask for forgiveness; seek God continually; turn from their sinful behaviour.
Nehemiah 9:16-21 In this passage we see that the people repented of their sins. God shows His patience with them and that He is always ready to forgive them for their failures, pride and stubbornness
Psalm 130:1-8 This Psalm assures us that there is forgiveness from the LORD when we confess our sins.
In Isaiah 1:16-19 Isaiah has a message for rebellious Judah. The LORD admonishes them for their sins, but in
v18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” This is such a beautiful verse – we have the promise that, when we are willing and obedient, the LORD will forgive us and remove our most indelible stains.
Micah 7:1-20 is a chapter where misery turns to hope. We see from vv14-20 that once again the LORD shows His compassion for Israel.

New Testament:
Jesus and Forgiveness:
Matthew 9:2-6 – Jesus heals a paralytic – when the people brought a paralyzed man on a mat to Jesus for healing He commended their faith. The first words Jesus said to the man were that his sins have been forgiven. Some of the teachers of the law said that Jesus was blaspheming!  Jesus had seen that man not only needed physical healing but also spiritual healing.
Matthew 18:21-22 Peter came to Jesus asking how many times we need to forgive someone that has sinned against us. Jesus told him “seventy times seven”, meaning we should not keep track of how many times we forgive someone.
Luke 7:44-47 – Jesus anointed by a sinful woman – Jesus was having dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind Jesus, wetting His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. When questioned about it, Jesus answered that even though she had many sins, they had been forgiven. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little, loves little.
Luke 23:34 When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He was suffering the most horrible, painful death ever devised by sinful man. We cannot even fathom his suffering, but He prayed for the Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers and the bystanders, asking God to forgive them. This was the ultimate forgiveness.
Luke 23:39-43 Two criminals were hanging on either side of Jesus when He was crucified. One was scoffing at Jesus but the other one rebuked the criminal. He turned to Jesus for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. It is never too late to turn to God.

Application:
There are times when it is very difficult for us humans to forgive someone that has hurt us. We so often hear the phrase “Forgive and forget” which is easier said than done. We need to remember because Jesus died for our sins on the Cross when we repent and confess our sins, we are forgiven. We so easily ask God to forgive us our sins, and yet it is difficult for us to forgive others that have wronged us.
In Matthew 6:14 Jesus teaches v14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. v15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Ephesians 4:32 can also be a definition of forgiveness, but it should also be applied in our daily life. When you harbour any bitterness, rage or anger against someone it is very difficult to be kind and compassionate but at those times we need to remember: “Because of Jesus we are forgiven.”
Then there are times when we feel that we cannot come to God, because our sins overwhelm us, especially if there has been “backsliding” or we stumble and know that we have consciously sinned. Here we can apply our definition of forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
One thing we need to realize is that Satan will plant seeds of doubt in our minds that we are not forgiven. He also constantly “reminds” us of our past sins. We have this promise from Psalm 103:11-12 God’s love for us is so great that He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Finally, let us never forget that we have been saved by grace through faith! We cannot save ourselves – it is a gift from God.

Conclusion:
Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. V2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 32:1-11 – A prayer of knowing forgiveness brings true joy.
To receive forgiveness we need to first repent and then confess our sins. As we see in our definition of forgiveness God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. When there is true repentance and honest confession we can say with David v11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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SIN

Biblical definition of Sin:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Character Study:
Adam is the father of the human race, the first person made in God’s image and the first person to have an intimate relationship with God. When confronted by God, he blames Eve. Genesis 3:12 It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit and I ate it.”
Genesis 1:26-5:5; 1 Chronicles 1:1; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13, 14

Eve – Genesis 3:20 Then the man – Adam – named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who lives.
Genesis 2:18 “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’”
She was the first wife and mother. She had a special relationship with God and also displayed certain characteristics of God. She acted impulsively without first talking to God or Adam when tempted by Satan. As with Adam, when confronted, she blames the serpent.
Genesis 2:18-4:26

Adam and Eve are known as:
First husband and wife:
Adam was to obey and serve the LORD, and at God’s appointed time, He provided a wife for Adam in His way. Genesis 2:21-24
Their relationship with God:
Genesis 2:1-25 Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with the LORD. After God had created heaven and earth He planted a garden in Eden and there He placed Adam, who gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. God formed Eve from Adam’s rib, and He brought her to him.
Their sin:
Genesis 3:1-7 God had permitted them to eat from any tree in the garden. The only exception was that they were not to eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden; they must not touch it or they will die.
In verse one we see that the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals God had made. Satan tempts Eve by saying that she can eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, assuring her that they will not die!
Their punishment:
Genesis 3:16-19 describes their punishment. They were banished from the Garden of Eden.
God then placed cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

What the Bible teaches us about sin:
Old Testament:
In the story of Cain and Abel Genesis 4:3-7, both Cain and Abel presented a gift to God. Cain’s was rejected and Abel’s was accepted. God questioned Cain about his anger and said to him that sin was crouching at the door, eager to control him, but he must not allow sin to be his master.
In Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 Moses gives the people the instructions – The Ten Commandments – that were given to him by God. These Commandments were given to help the Israelites lead a life of holiness.
After Moses had given the Ten Commandments we read in Exodus 20:18-20  that the people heard thunder, a loud blast from the ram’s horn, saw flashes of lighting and smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. Moses reassures them to not be afraid. God wants them to fear Him and not sin.
When we read the Old Testament we see that the Israelites sinned over and over again – as individuals or as a nation.
Examples of Israelites breaking the Ten Commandments are:
1) Deuteronomy 5:6, 7 – First Commandment – To love only God
In 1 Kings 11:1-13, we see Solomon had many wives who turned his heart after other gods.
2) Deuteronomy 5:8-10 – Second Commandment – Make idols and bow down to them.
In Exodus 32:1-6 we read the people made a golden calf with the help of Aaron while Moses was up on the mountain with God.
3) Deuteronomy 2:11 – Third Commandment – Misusing the LORD’S name
In Leviticus 24:10-16 a son of an Israelite mother and Egyptian father was involved in a fight when he blasphemed the Name of the LORD with a curse. God said that those who blaspheme the name of the LORD must be put to death.
4) Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – Fourth Commandment – Observing the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.                   
Nehemiah 12:27-47 deals with the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13:15-22 deals with the purging of sin from the land. The people were buying and selling food and merchandise on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath was from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.
5) Deuteronomy 5:16 – Fifth Commandment – Honour your father and your mother.
Ezekiel 22:2-16 addresses the sins committed by the people.  One of their sins was that they treated their father and mother with contempt.
6) Deuteronomy 5:17 – Sixth Commandment – You must not murder.
Abner was the commander-in-chief of Saul’s army. In a battle between Ishbosheth (Saul’s son), and Joab (David’s commander-in-chief), Abner killed Joab’s brother, Asahel. Joab was determined to avenge his brother.
In 2 Samuel 2:20-23 and in 2 Samuel 3:22-27– Joab murders Abner
7) Deuteronomy 5:18 – Seventh Commandment – You must not commit adultery.
In 2 Samuel 11:1-5, we read the story of David and Bathsheba. In the spring of the year, he sent his army out to war, v2b However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. (NLT) Late one afternoon he got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. He noticed Bathsheba taking a bath. He sends for her, sleeps with her and sends her back home.
8) Deuteronomy 5:19 – Eighth Commandment – You must not steal.
In Joshua 7:1-26 we read how the Israelites were defeated by the men of Ai. Achan took some of the devoted things for himself. The LORD’S anger burned against him and the LORD dealt with him.
9) Deuteronomy 7:20 – Ninth Commandment – You must not testify falsely against your neighbour
In 1 Kings 21:8-16, we see Ahab’s wife, Jezebel devised a scheme that appeared legal to get the land of Naboth which Ahab coveted. She had people falsely accuse him of cursing God and the king.
10) Deuteronomy 5:21 – Tenth Commandment – Do not covet.
In 1 Kings 21:1-7, Ahab coveted his neighbour, Naboth’s vineyard and became angry and sullen when Naboth would not sell him, his vineyard.

New Testament:
Luke 15:11-21– The Parable of the Lost Son.
In Luke 15:1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. The Pharisees and religious leaders complained that Jesus associated with “sinful” people. Jesus used a parable to illustrate a point: “Parable of the Lost Son” – the son realised his sin and went back to his father.
Romans 1:18-32 – God’s Anger at Sin
This passage deals with every kind of sin ever “invented” by people.    
James 4:13-17 – Warning about Self-Confidence
v17 This verse tells us that it is sin to do wrong, but it is also sin by deliberately not doing the right thing i.e. It is a sin to lie, but it is also a sin to know the truth and not tell it.
1 John 1:8-10 – Living in the Light
In this passage, John addresses the false teaching that “people had no natural tendency to sin.” Because they had “no sin” they were incapable of sinning.  John says that we are fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
2 Peter 2:17-22– False Teachers and Their Destruction
In this passage, Peter is warning the people about these false teachers.
In Matthew 24:11 and Mark 13:22, 23 Jesus told the disciples that “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect.”

Application:
Our definition of sin says: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)
As we saw in our study on prayer, we need to come to the Lord in faith, worship His Holy name and confess our sins.
The one thing we need to remember when we come to the Lord to confess our sins is that: He is all-seeing and all-knowing.
Psalm 139:1-6 says the Lord knows our v2(b)” thoughts from afar,” He knows what we are v4 “going to say before we have said it.”
We cannot hide our sins from the Lord.
We need to remember, it must not just be “lip service” when confessing our sins. It must be genuine!
The wonderful thing is that we can go directly to God asking for forgiveness. However, in the life of the church, we also need to confess our sins to each other. It might be to an individual, or it might affect the church itself, or we might be struggling with sin and need the support of our church leaders or fellow believers. James 5:16
It is so amazing that when we have confessed our sins to the Lord, He forgives us! Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9
See Proverbs 6:16-19

Conclusion:
Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; v12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. v13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 51:1-19 – Praying Our Sin.
This is a Psalm written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba.  With this psalm, we can express true repentance, especially after God’s amazing grace saved us from our past sins. There are times when we feel alienated from God and we know it is affecting our relationship with God. It helps to pray this psalm, asking God to cleanse us from within, and then renew a loyal spirit within us. We need to come to God with a “broken spirit” and a “repentant heart.”

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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PATIENCE

Biblical definition of Patience:
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Character Study:
Noah – Genesis 5:28-10:32; 1 Chronicles 1:3, 4; Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5
Noah is known as the first major shipbuilder and his for obedience. Genesis 6:22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Noah is known for his:
Patience:
In Genesis 6:9 – 7:24, God spoke to Noah saying that He was going to put an end to all people and destroy both them and the earth. God gives Noah specific instructions to build an ark for him and his family. He also had to take two of every kind of bird, every kind of animal and every kind of creature, male and female; these were to be kept alive. (Genesis 5:19, 20)
In Genesis 8:1-16 we read that God remembered Noah and the animals with him in the ark. God sent a wind to blow across the earth and the waters receded.
Three times Noah sent a bird – first a raven and then twice a dove – to test and see whether the earth was dry enough to get out of the ark. He waited for God. In vv15 and 16, God permits Noah to leave the ark with his family and to release all the animals; the birds, livestock and small animals that scurry along the ground.
Faith:
Hebrews 11:7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who had warned him about things that had never happened before. We don’t read that Noah doubted or asked questions about why he had to build an ark. By his faith, Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes with faith.
Obedience:
Genesis 6:22 and 7:5 both state that Noah did everything that God commanded.  It is interesting to see that not once did Noah question God. He did everything God told him to do; he did not just listen but obeyed.
Righteousness:
In Genesis 6:5 God saw how great the human race’s wickedness on the earth had become and the LORD was grieved that He had made them. Only Noah was righteous and blameless before God
2 Peter 2:5 accredits Noah as a preacher of righteousness.
Weakness:
Genesis 9:20-23 we read that Noah got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his sons. This shows us that even godly people can sin.

What the Bible teaches us about patience:

Old Testament:
Genesis 12:7; 13:14-16; 15:4, 5 and 18; 17:16 In these verses we see God had promised Abraham on several occasions that his descendants will receive the land God was showing him. His wife Sarah would become the mother of many nations.
In Job 1:1-2:13  we read that Job was a wealthy man of upright character who loved God. When God allows Satan to destroy his flocks, his possessions, his children and his health, Job refuses to give up on God even though he did not understand why this was happening.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. This verse is self-explanatory. There are times when we wonder why God does not answer our prayers; when it is a case of “Easier said than done.” We can be assured God will answer our prayers in His time.
Psalm 40:1-3 tells us that at times, for us to do God’s will, we need to wait patiently. God hears our cries of despair, lifting us up out of the mud and mire, setting our feet on solid ground and giving us a new song to sing.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of the matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better that pride. So many times we start a project without a vision. For us to finish our vision takes hard work, patience, wisdom and self-discipline.

New Testament:
Romans 12:9-21 Paul gives the Romans instructions on loving each other.
Ephesians 4:2 To the church in Ephesus he writes that they are to be humble, gentle, patient and loving towards one another. As Christians, it is our responsibility to love our fellow believers “warts and all.”
Titus 2:1-15 Right living in the church – The church is made up of people from all walks of life. In this passage, Paul counsels Titus on how to help the various groups of people i.e. older men must be sound in faith, in love and in patience; older women are to live in a way that honours God and also train the younger women to love their husbands and their children.
The passage of James 5:7-12 is about “Patience and Endurance.” 
In the same way, as a farmer waits patiently for his crops to grow, so it should also be with Christians – to live by faith looking toward the future reward for their labours.

Examples of impatience:
Numbers 20:1-13 – Moses Strikes the Rock
2 Kings 5:1-19 – Naaman healed of Leprosy
Jonah 4:1-11 – Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’S Compassion
Matthew 18:21-35 – The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Luke 9:51-56 – Samaritan Opposition

Application:
It is said that: “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”  When we think of patience the word “waiting” comes to mind. We seem to be always “waiting.” Waiting for our spouse to change, waiting for the children to grow up, waiting in a queue at the supermarket or waiting for our prayers to be answered.
1) God says that waiting is good for us because it produces patience in us. In Galatians 5:22 the Apostle Paul lists patience as one of the fruits of the Spirit.
2) Apart from the fruit of the Spirit it says in Colossians 3:12 that as the elect of God, holy and beloved we need to clothe ourselves with amongst others, patience.
3) 1 Thessalonians 5:14 urges us to help the weak and to be patient with everyone.
4) We read in 1 Corinthians 13:4 that Love is patient. Take time to reflect on how many times God has told you to do something i.e. show love to someone unlovable and you did not do it. God’s patience towards us is greater than our patience towards our spouse, children or maybe someone at work, school or church!
5) Patience is required when we pray for loved ones to be saved or for them not to just know about Jesus but to also have a personal relationship with Him.

Conclusion:
Psalm 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. v14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Responding in Prayer
Read Psalm 40:1-17 – Learning to wait on the LORD
Pray for your loved ones that do not have a personal relationship with the Lord. Ask in the name of Jesus that the Holy Spirit will give them a yearning in their hearts to come in faith to God for salvation. Praise and thank the Lord that you can bring them to Him. Daily thank the Lord for His Amazing Grace that saved you out of “a pit of despair” so that you can do as it says in Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts:

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BIBLE STUDY

Biblical definition of Bible Study:
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, v17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Character study:
Martha: Luke 10:38-42: John 11:17-45
She was the older sister of Mary and Lazarus and was therefore used to being in control.  The three of them lived in Bethany and they were known for their hospitality. Martha wished to please, serve and do the right thing. She worried about the details, which sometimes kept her from seeing the whole picture.
When Martha approached Jesus about Mary’s lack of cooperation, Jesus gently corrected her attitude and showed her that her priorities, though good, were not the best. Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to the work by myself? Tell her to help me!
When she heard that Jesus was coming, after her brother Lazarus had been dead for 4 days, she rushed out to meet Jesus and expressed her disappointment. John 11:21 Jesus reassures her that He is the resurrection and the life and that Lazarus would rise again. Jesus asks her whether she believes it. John 11:27 “Yes LORD,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” Here we see Martha as a woman of deep faith.

Mary: Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:17-45; 12:1-11
For Mary, the younger sister of Martha and Lazarus hospitality meant giving more attention to the guest Himself than to the needs He might have. Matthew 26:12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
v13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told,  in memory of her.
The first time we meet Mary, was during a visit Jesus paid to their home. She simply sat at His feet and listened. Luke 10:39. After Martha had spoken to Jesus she goes back and calls Mary informing her that Jesus was there. Mary asks the same question as Martha.John11:32-44 When Jesus saw her weeping; we see many of Jesus’ emotions – compassion, indignation, sorrow and even frustration.
Mary was the one that anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume made from the essence of nard and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with fragrance. John 12:3

What the Bible teaches about Bible Study:
Old Testament:
Joshua 1:6-8 Before leading the Israelites into the land God is giving them, God instructs Joshua to be:
1) Strong and courageous;
2) To obey all the instructions Moses had given him;
3) To keep “the Book of the Law on his lips”, meditating on it day and night, so that he will always be careful to do what is written in it. By being obedient to this, he will prosper and succeed in all he does.
In Ezra 7:8-10 we read that Ezra was a scribe. He was also well-versed in the Law of Moses. He was determined to study and obey and thereafter teach the decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.
In Nehemiah 8:1-18 we read that when the exiled Israelites returned, Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites, read to them from the Book of the Law. They were told not to mourn, but to go, eat and drink, sending portions of food to those who do not have and to celebrate with great joy.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. We can “hide” God’s Word in our hearts by memorizing Scripture. This way we put God’s Word to work in our lives, guiding us in everything we do.

New Testament:
John 5:31-47 Jesus was addressing the religious leaders of His day; they knew the Scriptures but did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
In Acts 17:11, 12 Paul was preaching in Berea. He commended the Berean Jews who received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily to see whether Paul’s preaching was true.
A good practice is to when you listen to a sermon being preached by a preacher; pastor etc. compare what you heard with what the Bible says.
1 Timothy 4:6-13 We read that Paul instructed Timothy to publicly preach and teach Scripture. It is good to note that his preaching and teaching were from the Old Testament. (The New Testament had not yet been written.) Today we can study both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
James 1:19-25 In this passage James gives his readers three exhortations to follow:
v19b Everyone should be quick to listen; slow to speak; slow to become angry. V22 says it is important to listen to what God’s Word says, but it is more important to be obedient to what He says. Doing Bible study affects our behaviour and attitude towards others.

Application:
There is more than one way to study the Bible. With this Bible Study Journal, we will be doing a combination of different studies.
The question of how to interpret the Bible is not a minor issue. If Satan has a list of what he does not want us to do, Bible study is at the top, along with prayer and worship. Through the study of Scripture, we learn who Jesus is and this enables us to become more like Him. How can we become like Him, if we do not know what He is like? Devotional studies are important, but they must result from a serious study of Scripture.

Conclusion:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 33 – Hoping in the Word.
In this Psalm, David meditates on God as Creator, Lord, Saviour, and Deliverer and also on the powerful Word of God. Because of God’s faithfulness and His Word that “is right and true” we can rejoice, sing, praise and give thanks.
We put our hope in the Lord knowing He is our help and our shield. Our hearts rejoice, we trust in His holy name. We can ask the Lord that His unfailing love surround us because our hope is in Him!

Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts:

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Back to Basic Bible Study

In this blog, I would like to encourage people not only to know about God but to also have a personal relationship with Him.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit I wrote a Topical Bible study using the following sub-categories:
Biblical definition – Bible verse defining the topic.
Character study – a character from the Bible.
What the Bible teaches about the Bible topic:
Old Testament
New Testament
Application.
Conclusion – Bible verse that defines what we have studied.
Responding in Prayer.
Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts.

It is always good to have a journal or notebook to write down Bible verses or passages, write a prayer to God or write your thoughts and feelings on what you have learned.

Thus far I have published the following studies:
1. Bible Study
2. Prayer
3. Love
4. Praise
5. Worthy
6. Faith
7. Trust
8. Obedience
9. Salvation
10. Patience

I would appreciate it if you would like and share the post with family and friends.

Thank you.



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SALVATION

Biblical definition of Salvation:
Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Character study
Isaiah – Isaiah1:1; 2 Kings 19:2 – 20:19; 2 Chronicles 26:22; 32:20; Matthew 3:3;8:17; 12:17-21; John 12:3841; Romans 10:16, 20, 21
His name means YHWH (the LORD) is salvation. He is also known as the “Prince of Prophets” because of the account length and coverage of various subject matters, and the values it holds. Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
In Isaiah 1:1 we see that he was the son of Amoz. He received visions from God during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. They were the kings of Judah. He was married to a prophetess (8:3) and had two sons; Shear-Jashub – meaning “a remnant shall return” (7:3) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz – meaning “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil” (8:1-4). These names also symbolize Isaiah’s message to Judah and Jerusalem.  Very little is known about Isaiah’s life, but his inspired writings and prophecies are just as relevant today as it was in his lifetime.

Isaiah is known for his:
Call and Commission
In Isaiah 6:1-4 he saw God’s greatness, mystery and power. In v5 he recognizes his sinfulness before God.
In vv6-7 one of the seraphs/seraphim touched his lips with live coal and said that his guilt has been taken away and his sins have been atoned for. It wasn’t the coal that cleansed him, but God that forgave his sins.
In v8 God asks “Whom shall I send”? Isaiah responds with “Here I am. Send me!”
He had to tell the people of Israel, who believed that they were blessed by God that God was going to destroy them, because of their disobedience!
Isaiah’s message of divine judgment.
In Isaiah 1:1 – 39:9 he brings a message of judgment for both Judah and Israel because they were a sinful nation; loaded with guilt; evildoers; corrupted and have turned their backs on the Holy One.
Judah would be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah.
In Isaiah 9:1-7 he prophecies that a child will be born, who will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This “Child” who we know as the Messiah will reign on David’s throne; He will rule with fairness and justice for all eternity.
God uses Isaiah to bring comfort to Israel long after his death.
In Isaiah 40 – 66 he prophecies that God would comfort His people when they found themselves in Babylonian captivity.
Even though Isaiah did not live during the Babylonian captivity, as a prophet he was able to speak words of comfort to those who would experience difficult times in captivity.

What the Bible teaches about salvation.
Old Testament:
In 2 Samuel 22:1-51 – David’s Song of Praise – he says in v3 that God is “the horn (symbolizing strength) of his salvation.”
In 2 Chronicles 6:12-42, we read “Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication” It is interesting to note that he stood on a platform and then knelt before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. He asked God to hear his prayer for a variety of situations of which one was “sin” vv36-39. In vv40-42 he asks that God’s eyes are open and His ears are attentive to the prayers he has offered in the Temple.
Psalms 13:5;27:1; 37:39; 62:1, 2, 6 and 7; 85:4-9 91:16
We find in the Psalms the psalmists writing that the LORD is their salvation. The word “Salvation” appears twenty-three times in the Psalms. In Psalm 119 the word can be found in six verses i.e. 41, 81, 123, 155, 166, 174.
Jonah 1:1 – 2:10 God had given Jonah instructions to go and preach to Nineveh, but instead of going there, he ran away to Tarshish, boarding a ship bound for that port. Nineveh was towards the east, so he decided to go towards the west. Because of his disobedience, the LORD sent a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. When confronted by the sailors, Jonah tells them to throw him into the sea as it was his fault. In 2:9 Jonah declares: “Salvation comes from the LORD.”

New Testament:
In Luke 3:1-19 we read that: “John the Baptist Prepares the Way” In vv4-6 he quotes Isaiah 40:3-5 saying that they must “Prepare the way for the Lord.” Isaiah was prophesying that John would be the messenger telling the people to make their lives ready for the Messiah to come to them. The Gospel of Luke was written for a non-Jewish audience emphasizing that salvation is for all people – Jews and Gentiles alike.
Acts 16:25-34 While in jail we see that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (v25). In v26 there was a massive earthquake and all the doors flew open. When the jailer woke up and saw what had happened, he wanted to kill himself, but Paul called out for him not to kill himself. In v30 he asks what must he do to be saved.
v31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.”
Romans 10:5-13 Salvation is for everyone. We read in the Old Testament that the Law of Moses says for a person to be right with God requires obedience to all of its commands! Romans 10:9 says that when we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord we are saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says that when we belong to Christ, because of our faith in Him, we become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Because we have received this gift from God through Christ we should make it our task to reconcile people to Him.
Ephesians 2:8-10 states that we are saved by God’s grace when we believed; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Our salvation is something only God can do; we are His masterpiece and therefore, we must not take it for granted

Application:
Ephesians 2:8 We need to remember that our salvation and even our faith are gifts from God.
Our response should be one of gratitude, praise and joy. Because of these gifts, we need to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness.
God intends that our salvation will result in acts of service in our church, community, workplace and even our home.
Colossians 2:6-8 When we have received Christ Jesus as Lord we have freedom from human regulations through our life with Christ.
You can live for Christ by:
Romans 12:1, 2 Committing your life and submitting your will to Him.
Colossians 3:16 Seeking to learn from Him, His life, and His teachings.
Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22 Recognizing the Holy Spirit’s power in you.

Conclusion:
Acts 4:11 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
v12 Salvation is found in no else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Responding in Prayer:
Read Isaiah 12:1-6 – Songs of Praise for Salvation
We must come to God with a grateful heart – thank and praise Him – for saving us. Our gratitude should overflow so that we can share the Good News with others, asking the Lord to not only give us wisdom but also the courage to tell others what He has done for us!

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts:

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OBEDIENCE

Biblical definition of Obedience:
Romans 1:5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.

Character study
Hosea – The Book of Hosea chapters 1-14
He was one of the most obedient prophets in the Old Testament
His name means “salvation.” He is the first of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Old Testament.
In Hosea 1:1 we read that Hosea was the son of Beeri and he prophesied during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
His message was primarily for the northern kingdom of Israel, but he occasionally refers to the southern kingdom of Judah.
In v2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD. 
Hosea did not hesitate and he obeyed immediately. He married Gomer (1:3) and had three children whose names are symbolic and therefore prophetic messages.
His firstborn was named Jezreel, (1:4-5) and means “God Scatters” Hosea’s message was to King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel (2 Kings 10:1-11)
His second child was a girl named Lo-Ruhamah (1:6) which means “Not Loved”. God was no longer going to show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.
His third child’s name was Lo-Ammi (1:9), meaning “Not my people.” Because Israel was abandoning God, God in turn was leaving them alone and there will be no more blessings.

Hosea is known for his:
Obedience
God revealed to Hosea ahead of time that his wife would be unfaithful to him.  She had three children whose names are symbolic of God’s punishment of Israel for their unfaithfulness. Chapters 1-3 represent God’s relationship with His people.
In chapters 2-3 Gomer left Hosea to pursue her lusts, but Hosea found her, redeemed her, and brought her home fully reconciled.
The key verse in the Book of Hosea is:
Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

What the Bible teaches about obedience.
Old Testament:
Exodus 23:20-33 In this passage God gives Israel “A Promise of the LORD’s Presence”(NLT). The Lord promises that an angel will protect them on their journey. God was sending an angel to guard them on their way. All God wanted from them was to be obedient.
Deuteronomy 4:39-40 God commanded the Israelites on numerous occasions that He requires obedience from them when they have entered the Promised Land. For their obedience, they will enjoy a long life in the land God is going to give them.
In Nehemiah 1:1-11 we read the beautiful prayer Nehemiah prayed before the God of heaven. He was exiled to Babylon and received sad news about those who had returned from exile and were now in trouble and disgrace. He was also told that Jerusalem’s wall was broken down and its gates had been destroyed by fire. When he heard this news he wept, and for some days mourned, fasted and prayed. In his prayer, he recognized God’s holiness; he asked God to hear his prayer; confessed the people’s sins and his sins; and asked God to help him when he approached King Artaxerxes.
In Psalm 119:1-176 the word relating to obedience appears 30 times i.e. 119:4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
All the psalmist of Psalm 119 wanted to do was to be obedient to God’s laws.
Isaiah 1:1-20 Isaiah has “A message for Rebellious Judah”(NLT) The LORD reasons with the people of Judah and says in v19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; (In v4 “The Holy One of Israel” means the southern kingdom of Judah.)

New Testament:
Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32 tells us that as Jesus walked along, He saw Matthew (also called Levi) sitting at his tax collector’s booth. Matthew shows obedience when Jesus says to him: “Follow me” So Matthew got up and followed Him.
In Acts 5:12-16 the apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. From verses 17-42 the apostles meet opposition from the high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees. They were arrested and put in jail.v29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! There will be times in our life when we are faced with situations to choose to either be obedient to God or man. This is the time you must choose to obey God and trust His Word.
Romans 6:2-16 Paul tells the believers in Rome that they can become slaves of whatever they choose to obey – either be slaves to sin or choose to obey God.
To wholeheartedly obey God means to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” So many times we obey God’s commands “half-heartedly”. As we daily obey God wholeheartedly, He will give us the power to obey Him with all our hearts.
In Ephesians 6:1- 9, Paul gives instructions to children, parents, slaves and masters regarding obedience.
He says that the children should obey their parents as this is the first commandment with a promise.
As a child, we have to be obedient to our parents, while under their care. As an adult, we have the responsibility to honour our parents, all the days of their lives.
In Philippians 2:12-18 Paul writes to the Philippian believers that when they obey God with reverence and fear, God will be working in them giving them the desire and power to please only Him. He wants them to be shining as stars for Christ.

Application:
Many important people in the Bible are examples of obedience i.e. Moses, Joshua, David, Job, Daniel, Paul, Barnabas and most of all Jesus, who was obedient to the end, when He died for our sins on the Cross.
Our obedience to God is important to Him.
1 John 5:2-3 It proves to God our love for Him.
Hebrews 11:6 Our faith in God pleases Him because we acknowledge His existence. 
1 John 2:3-6 It demonstrates to God our faithfulness to Him.
1 Peter 2:12 Being obedient glorifies God in the world.
John 13:17 We will receive blessings from God when we are obedient to Him. 
Being obedient to God shows that it is not that we have to obey His commands, but because we want to.
Being deeply rooted in the Lord we can live a life of joy, being assured that we truly know God.
The NIV Bible sums up obedience for us in Psalm 128:1” Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him.”

Conclusion:
1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. v4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 84:1-12 – A Prayer of Yearning for God’s Presence in your Life.
We all yearn to be obedient and faithful to the Lord, but we also have trouble being obedient and remaining faithful. Come to the Lord in faith, worshipping Him with praise, honour and glory. Confess your disobedience and be assured that the Lord’s forgiveness will bring true joy. Continue in adoration, praise and thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for you.

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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TRUST

The biblical definition of Trust:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and, and lean not on your own understanding; v6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Character Study:
Hezekiah:2 Kings 16:20 – 20:21; 2 Chronicles 28:27 – 32:33; Isaiah 36:1 – 39:8
He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18, 19; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1
In 2 Kings 18:1-3, we see that Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and his mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-nine years.
He is commended in 2 Chronicles 29:2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

Hezekiah is known for his:
Civil and religious reforms
2 Chronicles 29:3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.
In 2 Kings 18:3-4 we see that he did what was pleasing to the LORD. He broke down pagan shrines, smashed sacred pillars, and cut down Asherah poles. He also broke up the bronze snake, Nehushtan that Moses had made.
A personal growing relationship with God:
2 Kings 18:5-7 tells us that Hezekiah trusted in the LORD. He remained faithful and obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.
His dedication to the LORD
In 2 Chronicles 30:1-9, we see that he reinstated the Passover. He sent runners throughout Israel and Judah, urging the people to return to God.
2 Chronicles 30:10-27 outlines the “Celebration of Passover.” In the end, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.
He had developed a powerful prayer life.
In 2 Kings 18:19-25 and Isaiah 37:14-20 the Assyrian king’s chief of staff, Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem.
When Hezekiah received a letter from the hands of the messengers of Sennacherib’s chief of staff and read it, he went up to the LORD’S Temple and spread it out before the LORD. He prayed before the LORD asking the LORD to rescue them from the king of Assyria.
In Isaiah 38:1-3 Hezekiah became deathly ill and was told: v1b “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah then prayed, reminding the LORD that he had always been faithful. The LORD added fifteen years to his life.
Isaiah 38:9-20 When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote a poem:” Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise.”
Weakness
Hezekiah’s foolish pride.
In 2 Kings 20:12-15, Hezekiah allowed his foolish pride to show an envoy from Babylon, everything he owned – all his royal treasuries. When confronted by Isaiah, he replied that what Isaiah had said was “good” because he thought there will still be peace and security in his lifetime!
This character trait shows that he had little interest or wisdom in planning for the future and in so doing, protecting for the future generation the spiritual heritage he enjoyed.

What the Bible teaches about trust.
Old Testament:
Judges 16:21-30 is the story about Samson’s final victory over the Philistines. Delilah, being a deceitful woman had finally deceived Samson to tell her where he gets his strength from. Tired from her nagging he confessed his secret. He was then captured by the Philistines who gauged out his eyes. When Samson was brought out to amuse the people he asked a young servant to place his hands against the pillars. Samson prays and asks the LORD to strengthen him one more time so that with one blow he could pay back the Philistines for the loss of his eyes. He trusted God and: v30b Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived
Psalms We see that the psalmists, especially David trusted the LORD.
See Psalm 9:10; 13:5; 22:4-5; 25:2-3;  28:7; 31:14; 33:21; 37:3-5; 40:3; 56:3-4; 112:7
Proverbs 3:1-35 gives us all the benefits of trusting the LORD and seeking God’s will in all we do.
In Isaiah 24 Isaiah prophesies about the “The Lord’s Devastation of the Earth” followed in Isaiah 25 and 26 by psalms of trust, praise and meditation. 
Jeremiah 17:5-10 When we trust in God the heading says it is “Wisdom from the LORD.”(NLT)
Jeremiah 17:11-18 shows Jeremiah’s trust in God.
Daniel 6:1-28 is the story of “Daniel in the Den of Lions.” When King Darius had Daniel brought out of the lion’s den there was not a scratch on him, because he had trusted God.

New Testament:
Matthew 18:1-6 When the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus put a child among them. He warned them that whoever allows a child who trusts in Him – to fall into sin or turn them away from faith – it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea!
In John 2:1-24 many people began to trust in Jesus because of the miraculous signs he was doing in Jerusalem.
John 14:1-6 Jesus is the Way to the Father – v1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (NLT)
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:3-13 Paul writes to Timothy while in prison, to encourage him to remain faithful. Even though Paul was suffering, he was not ashamed, because he is convinced that God can guard what he has entrusted to him, until the Lord takes him home to eternity

Application:
Our Biblical definition at the start of this study says that we are to trust in the LORD with all our hearts.
We have all faced disappointments and at times find it difficult to trust God. That is why we must lay aside our plans and expectations and surrender to His plans, leaning on His understanding.
Psalm 55:1-17 Surrendering to God shows our commitment to depend on Him.
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. It is not as easy as it sounds to shun evil. We need to get rid of those things that occupy our minds and pursue God.
Proverbs 3:9-10 Put God first in your life, honouring Him not only with your time spent in “Quiet time and prayer” but in everything, even your money.
Proverbs 3:11-12 There are going to be times when God needs to discipline us for our behaviour, our actions and our sins. When something “bad” happens we need to look at ourselves and admit that our words, thoughts, and actions are not pleasing to God. How do we know this? The more we are in the Bible, the easier it is to know that discipline comes from God.
John 14:26 We also have the Holy Spirit to guide/prompt/remind us daily. As we study the Bible, we can trust the Holy Spirit to plant truth in our minds, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from His Word.

Conclusion:
Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 62:1-12 – A prayer of trust knowing God is in control.
David wrote this psalm during the days of his son Absalom’s rebellion.
We can wait quietly before God for our victory because we can pray: v2 Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. When it feels as if our world is “falling apart” we can come to God, trusting Him to make a way where we see no clear way. We can pray so easily “LORD, I trust you with all my heart.” Remember God can see our hearts, nothing is hidden from Him.  With trust comes obedience, so we can ask the Lord to help us to “trust and obey because there is no other way.”

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: