Friday, March 13, 2015
Psalm 31:1-8 KJV
1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does David ask of the Lord and why? (v.1-4)
2) What does the psalmist do and why? (v.5-8)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) What have you trusted the Lord with and why?
LIFE LESSONS
4) The Lord is our strength and deliverer. We can trust Him to help us in every situation that we face in life.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
1Samuel 3:11-21 KJV
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all [things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here [am] I. 17 And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Lord tell Samuel that he would do to the house of Israel and the house of Eli? (v.11)
2) What had the Lord told Eli concerning His judgment against the prophet's house? Why? (v.12-14)
3) What did Samuel do the next morning? (v.15)
4) What did Eli ask Samuel to do for him that same day? (v.16-17)
5) What did Samuel tell the older prophet and how did Eli respond? (v.18)
6) What immediately became of Samuel after his discourse with the Prophet Eli? (v.19-21))
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever used you to deliver difficult and/or troubling news to one of his servants? If so, briefly describe one such time.
LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord expects those who serve Him to be faithful stewards over their God given gifts and the people He has blessed them to serve.
9) When the Lord's servants mistreat the sheep of His flock, He will demote, or remove, that servant and apppoint someone else to succeed him/her/them.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
1Samuel 3:1-10 KJV
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to sleep]; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who ministered to the Lord and before the priest Eli? (v.1a)
2) What was special about that person and the times in which he ministered? (v.1b)
3) Under what circumstances did the Lord call the child? (v.2-3)
4) How did the child and Eli respond to the Lord's call the first two times? Why? (v.4-7)
5) What happened after the Lord called the child the third time? (v.8)
6) What did the priest tell Samuel to do the next time the Lord called him and what did the child do the next time? (v.9-10)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How do you hear and discern the voice of the Lord in your own life?
LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord most often speaks to His children through His word (the Bible).
9) The Lord is always speaking, but we are not always listening because of the cares and distractions of life.
10) It is often easiest to hear the Lord when we are in a quiet, or solitary, place and receptive to hearing His voice.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Isaiah 29:8-14 KJV
8 It shall even be as when an hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. 9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. 13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After declaring that all the nations will attack Jerusalem (Mount Zion), what does the Lord declare about those who do so? (v.8)
2) What will the Lord allow to take place among His people, their prophets, and their spiritual leaders? Why? (v.9-14)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Have you ever ignored the words or teachings of an individual that the Lord may have sent to help you and/or your church? If so, please describe one such time.
LIFE LESSONS
4) The Lord gives His people those with five-fold ministry gifts to edify His body.
5) When God's people ignore, or treat those the Lord sends to them wickedly, He sovereignly removes, or silences, those He sent and allows His people to languish in their error.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Proverbs 29:12-18 KJV
12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants [are] wicked. 13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. 14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. 17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. 18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) When a spiritual or civil leader listens to lies, what are the people who told them the lies like? (v.12)
2) What do the impoverished and the deceitful have in common? (v.13)
3) Whose authority is established forever? (v.14)
4) How should those who are wise exercise their spiritual authority over the spiritually immature? (v.15a)
5) What becomes of a natural or spiritual child who is left to themselves? (15b)
6) When transgression increases, what happens and why? (v.16)
7) How will the spiritually mature receive rest and what will happen to their relationship with their wayward spiritual child(ren)? (v.17)
8) What happens when there is no vision? (v.18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Are you in a position of spiritual authority in your home, job, church, or community? if so, what have you done to establish the God-given vision and/or rules for the souls that are in your care.
LIFE LESSONS
10) The Lord expects His people to exercise spiritual authority in those areas where He has blessed us to care for the souls of people.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
John 14:16-26 KJV
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. 26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Our Lord has told His disciples that He will be returning to the Father. What will Jesus do after His ascension and how will the Father respond? (v.16)
2) Who will Jesus' disciples receive and why can't the people of the world receive Him? (v.17)
3) How does our Lord reassure His disciples? (v.18)
4) How and why did (does) Jesus manifest His presence to His disciples? (v.19-21)
5) What did the other Judas ask our Lord? (v.22)
6) What was Jesus' response to that disciple's question? (v.23-24)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How do you know that the Holy Spirit abides in you and what do you do to maintain His presence within you?
LIFE LESSONS
8) The Holy Spirit has been given to every believer in the Lord Jesus, who asks for Him.
9) The Holy Spirit comforts and leades us into all truth.
10) We sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, in our lives, as we memorize and/or meditate upon God's word and apply it in our lives through God's grace and the enabling power of His Spirit.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
John 15:18-26 KJV
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) The Lord tells His disciples to abide in Him and love one another, so why will the world hate us? (v.18-19)
2) Why will we face persecution from the people of the world? (v.20-21)
3) What does the Lord have to say about the people of this world? (v.22-23)
4) Why did the people of the world hate our Lord? (v.24-25)
5) Why has the Lord sent the Comforter to every believer? (v.26)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Has anyone ever expressed hostility toward you or persecuted you because of you are a disciple of Christ? If so, please describe one such instance.
7) How did the Holy Spirit help you to resist the temptation to retaliate against those who hated you without a cause?
LIFE LESSONS
8) Following Christ is costly because it separates us from those who do not know, or understand our faith in Jesus.
9) The life of a Christian is eternally rewarding because the Holy Spirit abides in, directs, empowers, and comforts us.
