Growing in Grace

In Genesis 22, we read that God tested Abraham by asking him to take his son Isaac, whom he loved, to the land of Moriah to a mountain God would choose to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. The word "love" was used by God for the first time in the Bible to show a father offering up his only son. This was a prequel to God the Father offering up His only Son, Jesus. Abraham obeyed God. He took his son Isaac along with wood for the burnt offering and two of his young men. When they arrived at the mountain God had chosen, Abraham told his young men that he and Isaac would worship and then return to them. Abraham gave the wood to Isaac to carry. This was symbolic of Jesus carrying His own cross on His way to be crucified. Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the burnt offering was. Abraham told his son that "God would provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering" (v. 8) When they arrived at the place of sacrifice, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood...

In the Old Testament, the name Jehovah is the most used name for God. The Hebrew letters are YHWH. By adding the vowels  "e," "o," and "a" and changing the letters "Y" to "J" and "w" to "v," we get Jehovah . Or by only adding the vowels "a" and "e" we get Yahweh which links the name to the Hebrew word meaning "to be, to exist." Photo Credit So " Jehovah , or Yahweh , implies a Being who is absolutely self-existent. That means God always was, is, and always will be. He doesn't need anything outside of Himself. Nobody made God! Rather, He is the Creator of all." This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. -Genesis 2:4 "Anytime you see the name Lord in all capital letters (or capital and small capital letters) in the Bible, it is the name Jehovah , the self-existent One....

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great." Abram said, "O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if  you are able to count them." And He said to him,  "So shall your descendants be." Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. -Genesis 15:1-6 Photo Credit In this passage, Abram addresses God as "O Lord God." This is the meaning for the name Adonai . God is our Lord, Master and O...

Photo Credit After waiting many years for God to fulfill His promise of descendants for Abram, we read in Genesis 16 that Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands and gave her handmaiden to Abram as a wife. As soon as Hagar conceived, the Bible says she despised Sarai. In return, Sarai treated Hagar harshly. Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord met her there and told her to return to Sarai. He promised to multiply her descendants through the son she would bear. Hagar was to call him Ishmael. In response, Hagar called the name of the Lord, "a God who sees." God saw what happened to Hagar. He knew all about her distress and saw her run away. He sent an angel to let her know she was cared for by God. Like Hagar, "God loves us. He sees everything that happens to us. We cannot run away and hide from Him. God also sent Hagar back home to deal with the painful situation with Sarai. God does not want us to run away from our problems. He want...

Another name of God is El Shaddai . We begin to learn about the meaning of this name in the book of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 17 we read that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him. This was twenty-four years after God had promised Abram He would make him a great nation. Abram and Sarai were waiting all those years for God to give them a child; and by this time they were way past the age of having children. In verse 1, when God appears to Abram He tells Abram, "I am God Almighty." This is the meaning of God's name El Shaddai. "God is the almighty One, the powerful or mighty One. God is all-sufficient. He is all we need." (p. 59) When Abram meets God, he falls on his face. God promises Abram he will be the father of a multitude of nations. How is it that even though Abram is 99 years old and without children, God can still fulfill His promise to Abram? "There is only one way: through El Shaddai . God is all-sufficient...

This part of our study was very appropriate in light of the election yesterday. . . Photo Credit Another name for God is El Elyon . The first time this name for God is used is in Genesis 14. In this passage there is a war between four kings and Abram's nephew, Lot, is taken captive. In response, Abram gathers his trained men to go after and rescue Lot. Abram defeats the kings and retrieves his nephew. Following this victory, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram. Melchizedek king of Salem was a priest of God Most High. We read his blessing in verses 19-20: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." God's name in verse 18 is God Most High. God Most High delivered Abram's enemies into his hands. This Hebrew name El Elyon , God Most High, shows us some important things about God. God is the Possessor of heaven and earth. God is sovereign; this means He is ...

Photo Credit In Psalm 139 we read in the first four verses that God knows us. He knows when we sit down or stand up. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He knows it all. Verse 13 says that God formed our inward parts; that we were woven together in our mother's womb. We are the Designer's creation; completely designed by the hand of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Because of this, verse 14 tells us we should give thanks. God's works are wonderful. Our frame was not hidden from God. All the days ordained for us are written in God's book. When we understand that God is our Creator, it should change how we see everything. "Are you thankful for the way God made you, or do you gripe and complain? Do you feel like a misfit, a mistake, or an accident? If you do, then you have believed a lie because God shows you right in His Word that HE is the Creator and no one else. There are no mistakes. He forms us and weaves us. We are fearfully and wond...

The name used for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim . This word designates God as God. It means "to fear" or "to reverence." The first part of the word, El , means "mighty" or "strong". It is the word we use to refer to Almighty God. The im ending is important as it is a plural ending. Photo Credit   In Genesis 1:1 we read that God was in the beginning; that He created the heavens and the earth. God is our Creator. Elohim then, is the word for God as Creator.  Photo Credit In Genesis 1:2 we see that the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. This Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit Both were present at Creation. Photo Credit In John 1:1 the apostle tells us that the Word was in the beginning; the Word was with God and the Word was God. So there are three claiming to be God. Photo Credit John 1:3-4 says that "He" was in the beginning. We know from John 1:14 that the One who became f...

The kids and I have started a new Bible study. It's called "God, What's Your Name." It's another inductive Bible study by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt. This comes from our first lesson. . . "To boast in" means "to have confidence in," "to trust in." As believers, this means we can believe God. In biblical times a name represented a person's character; and God's name represents His character, His attributes, and His nature. To know God's name is to know God. We can trust Him to be everything He says He is. He will not change. When we boast in His name, it means we have confidence in WHO God is. In Old Testament days, chariots and horses were means of protection. People put their confidence in them as a way of protecting themselves and to help them escape from trouble. But we can boast in the God and put our trust in Him. When we are in trouble, we can call upon God. He will rescue us and we will honor ...

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  - James 4:1-3 Photo Credit Many times the reason we do not get along is because we are jealous. Every good thing comes from God (James 1:17). We need to be thankful for what we have.

From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. -James 3:10 The fountain provides cool water that man needs to stay alive. Man needs water not only for drinking, but also for washing, coooking, farming, and a host of other activities. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. -Proverbs 18:4 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. -Provebs 10:11 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. -Proverbs 13:14 These verses parallel what James has written and underscore the importance of our words. Water is life-giving, and our words can give life. However, if water is not controlled, it brings death and destruction. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. -Proverbs 18:21 Water also cleanses. Our words to others can also help to cleanse and sanctify them. The tongue is delightful because it is like a tree. Trees...

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. . .You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? -James 2:17, 20 You show your faith is real by your actions. People with dead faith think their words are as good as works. They are wrong. As believers we have an obligation to help meet the needs of people, no matter who they may be. To help a person in need is an expression of love, and faith works by love. Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. That kind of faith is dead faith. John Calivn said, "It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone." True saving faith can never be by itself: it always brings life, and life produces good works. True saving faith leads to action. It continues throughout teh whole life. It leads to works. -From The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament by Warren Wiersbe; pp. 864-8...

Photo Credit In James 2, God commands us to not have personal favorites. He says if we treat people differently because "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." they are rich or poor, we have made ourselves judges with evil motives. We have dishonored the poor man and committed sin. As Christians, we are to fulfill the royal law which says, Our neighbor is anyone who needs our help (Luke 10:25-37) "Love thy neighbor" is called the royal law because it was given by the King. God the Father gve it in the law and the Son reaffirmed it to His disciples (John 13:34). God the Spirit fills our hearts with God's love and expects us to share it with others. Also, it rules all the other laws (Romans 13:10). Love enables us to obey the Word of God and treat people as God commands us to do. Showing respect of persons can lead a person into disobeying all of God's law. Christian love does not mean that I must like a person and agree with him on everything. ...

Photo Credit But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves. -James 1:22 If our faith is real, we are to be obedient to God's Word. Control your temper and tongue. Care for others. Keep yourself unstained from the world by being careful what you do. -From Kay Arthur's  Discover 4 Yourself; Children's Bible Study Series: Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Book of James)

Photo Credit Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. -James 1:19 Letting anger rule us does not meet God's standard. Sometimes we get angry, which is okay as long as we don't sin. The next time you get angry, pray! Ask God to help you be obedient to His Word  - to be slow to speak and slow to get angry. -From Kay Arthur's  Discover 4 Yourself; Children's Bible Study Series: Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Book of James)

Photo Credit Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. -James 1:12 This verse promises that the believer is rewarded by enduring trials. He is rewareded by growth in Christian character, by bringing glory to God, and by being granted a crown of life when Jesus returns. God does not help us by removing the tests, but by making the tests work for us. -From Kay Arthur's  Discover 4 Yourself; Children's Bible Study Series: Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Book of James)

Brothers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation - since they will pass away like a wild flower. -James 1:9-10 The poor man sees his need for God. God sees being poor as a high poisiton because the person is humble. When we see our need, we run to God and put our trust in Him. The rich man is to glory in humiliation. In other words the rich man is to get excited when he sees his need for God. -From Kay Arthur's  Discover 4 Yourself; Children's Bible Study Series: Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Book of James)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  -James 1:5 Photo Credit We should ask God for wisdom. Wisdom and power belong to Him. It is God who reveals the profound and hidden things. (Daniel 2:20, 22) God is not stingy, He gives wisdom generously to those who ask. We need to ask for wisdom in faith, without doubt. -From Kay Arthur's  Discover 4 Yourself; Children's Bible Study Series: Boy, Have I Got Problems! (Book of James)