Awesome Authority

Bible Background

Psalms 119:137-144; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17

Psalms 199, the longest psalms in the Bible, is an acrostic poem of 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 137-144 contain the lines that begin with the letter tsadhe. In this section and throughout the psalm, the writer uses several terms to describe God’s Word: “laws,” “statutes,” “words,” “promises,” “precepts,” “commands.” The writer expresses his joy in learning God’s Word, meditating on it, and guiding his life by it.

In the New Testament, Paul urges his disciples Timothy to handle God’s Word responsibly. Where the King International Version captures the meaning better: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.” Paul wants Timothy to understand, teach, and preach God’s message in a way that I will never have cause of which to be ashamed. When Paul calls Scripture the “word of truth,” he describes its quality of God’s true message for His people.

Later in this second letter to Timothy, Paul refers directly to Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). All of it is “God-breathed,” he says, as though God exhaled the very words into the minds of the individuals who wrote them down. More than that, Scripture proves itself useful in equipping God’s people to do good. It corrects our errors, highlights our sins, and teaches the Old Testament (all Scripture available at the time), what he says applies equally to the New Testament/

We call the Bible “God’s Word,” and so it is. But the biblical concept of the Word of God reaches beyond the printed page to include everything God communicates to His people. Our task is to respect God’s Word, put it into our minds and hearts, and let it guide our lives.

Devotional Thought

Authority…absolute…truth…the bottom line. No matter how you say it, God is in control. God’s Word is the final authority, think about your own life. Does God have control? Do you work in His kingdom without being ashamed of what or how much you do? Do you allow Scripture to correct and train you in righteousness? Pray, asking God to shape you into a person most useful for Him.

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Facing the Future

Who will I marry? What career should I choose? Where will I live? What happens after I die?

“I’ll get around to it tomorrow.” “I’ll worry about that later.” “The future’s out of my hands.” “The future’s out of my hands.” “I’m going to get out of life what I can today, because I may not be able to tomorrow.”

This is the way most people think today. Scientists warn of the dangers facing our world. Yet we still pollute and endanger our ecosystem. Physicians warn of the results of smoking to our bodies, and people still smoke. Why is this? Because people want instant gratification and do not often think of the consequences of their actions for the Future.

Of course, there are many things that will take place in our future that we cannot control. Circumstances play a major role. However, if we focus on the things we can control, such as our attitude, the friends we choose, studying and working to the best, we can help guide course of future.

Perhaps the one thing that mankind has not been to control about the future is his or her time of death। Nevertheless, by trusting in God, one can be assured of His care and control over his or her future. If we follow Christ and His teachings, there is a promise that He made to His early followers that is still true for us. “I am with you always, to the very ends of the age.

Other Bible verses pointing to GUIDANCE:

“Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48:14

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he has made him.
Psalms 37:23

His God instructs him and teaches the right way. Isaiah 28:26

The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their wickedness. Proverbs 11:5

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

I will instruct you and teach you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalms 32:8

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalms 73:23, 24

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Conflict/Four Friends Who Care

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE
Mark 2:3-7

³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by the four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

LIFE QUESTION
What can I expect to experience when I respond positively to Jesus call to discipleship?

LESSON BIBLE TRUTH

The discipleship to which Jesus calles people is an exacting way of life that can be lived on His presence and strength.

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Nothing draws a crowd like a celebrity. Jesus had already become something of a celebrity. When He entered a home in Capernaum, a crowd followed Him. They packed in so tightly to see and hear Him that the doorway was blocked.

Into this throng came a group carrying a paralytic, or paralyzed man. The Bible doesn’t say why he was paralyzed or how many people came with him, and four of them carried him. This wording seems more than four men came with him. Though suffered physically, this man was blessed in other ways because he had a group of friends who cared enough to carry him to Jesus. They were even creative enough to figure out way to reach Jesus –through the roof.

Roofs in homes of first century Palestine were made of hard mud and reeds on top of a system of supports. They probably reached the roof through outside stairway –also in those homes. The Bible doesn’t record the reaction of the homeowner to the destruction, but it does record Jesus’ response to their actions. Seeing their faith, He forgave the man his sins and got healed.

Friendship. Faith. Forgiveness. The crowd witnessed the results of Jesus’ ministry. He had called out the best in the human heart and met the deepest human need. Yet in the face of this miracle the teachers of the law inwardly criticized and complained. Instead of rejoicing in a sinner’s forgiveness and marveling at such friendship and faith, they heckled Jesus.

Jesus was aware of what was going on around Him and who was watching Him। Mark 2:1-3:6 points out the growing conflict between Jesus and His opponents. But Jesus refused to compromise His ministry because of who was watching or criticizing. Today his disciples are called to the same hard, exciting path. ●

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Sin

SIN offers smile but brings tears;
SIN offers peace peace but brings fears;
SIN offers health but sickness brings;
SIN offers songs but never sings;
SIN offers doves but ravens come;
SIN offers heaven but hell is its home;
SIN offers sun but always brings clouds;
SIN offers light but brings darkness;
SIN offers freedom as a friend but slavery is its bitter end.

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Why Read the Bible?

 The Bible is unlike any other book -it contains loving instructions from God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) If you apply what the Bible teaches, you will benefit greatly. You will increase your love for God and will draw close to him, the Giver of "every good and every perfect gift." (James 1:17) You will come to know how to approach him in prayer. During times of trouble, you can experience God's help. If you harmonize your life with the standards set out in the Bible, God will give you everlasting life. –Romans 6:23.

The Bible contains truths that give enlightenment. Those who gain Bible knowledge are liberated from the misconceptions that dominate the lives of millions. For example, knowing the truth about what happens when we die frees us from fear that the dead can harm us or that dead relatives and friends are suffering. (Ezekiel 18:4) The Bible’s teaching of the resurrection gives comfort to those who have lost loved ones in death. (John 11:25) Knowing the truth about wicked angels alerts us to the dangers of spiritism and helps us to understand why there is much trouble earth.

The godly principles in the Bible show us how to live in a way that brings physical benefits. For example, being “moderate in habits” contributes to good health. (1 Timothy 3:2) By ‘cleansing ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit,’ we avoid damaging our health. (2 Corinthians 7:1) Applying God’s counsel found in the Bible also promotes happiness in marriage and self-respect. -1 Corinthians 6:18.

If you apply God’s word, you will be a happier person. Bible knowledge helps us to find inner peace and contentment and gives us hope. It helps us to cultivate such appealing qualities as compassion, love, joy, peace, kindness, and faith. (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 4:24, 32) Such qualities help to make us a better husband and wife, father or mother, son or daughter. ●

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Wisdom

"Sometimes I wonder how I could be so stupid."

If you could magically ask for one thing in life, what would it be? To be rich? To be famous? It's certainly not wrong to be rich or famous. But there is something that is much more valuable than these things. And that is wisdom.

How does someone become wise? It certainly isn't something we can buy or inherit. Jesus gives us the best teaching we can find on how to become wise. The Bible tells us that as a child He grew in wisdom, and stature, and favour with God and human. He knew the importance of honouring his parents, of putting God first in his life, and of understanding the principles in God’s Word, the Bible.

Jesus taught that wisdom comes by building one’s house on a firm foundation. A wise person builds his life on rock, rather than on sand. When troubles come, and undoubtedly, we will stand if it is built on the foundation of God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

As we grow in wisdom, we will learn to make right choices that will have lifelong results. A person does not have to be old to be wise, and being older does not necessarily mean that one is wise. But a young person is wise if he or she asks for and respects the advice of older people who have more experience.

Wisdom is not just knowing with our minds, but understanding with our hearts. Many of the teachings of Jesus were hard for the religious leaders of his day to understand, because they tried to figure out with their minds. He taught that if our hearts are hardened, we will never understand even the most basic spiritual truth. If you commit yourself to studying God’s word, the Bible, and keep your heart open to the message it contains, you will become wise.

''But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30)●

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