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Jesus’ Baptism: Week 7 of 52 Weeks of Devotionals by Shelia~s Notes

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Week 7 of 52 Weeks of Devotionals by Shelia~s Notes

Jesus’ Baptism

We have talked at great lengths in the previous weeks about how Jesus Christ is prophesied throughout the OT. Jesus is in every book of the Bible. How awesome is that?

Last week I jumped right into why Jesus came to earth. He was rich but He became poor for our sake. He came to save the lost world of humanity. He came to teach us what we are to do to obey.  He came to seek and save the lost. He came to be our Passover sacrifice as we learned earlier. He came to fulfill the prophecy of God. These are some of  the reasons He came.

This week we will look at His Baptism.

Jesus’ Baptism

What does Jesus’ baptism say about the importance of obedience and of baptism?

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.  Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.  Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was without sin but He did the will of His Father by being baptized. We are taught what to do to have our sins forgiven in Acts 2:38  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We are to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. This is what we must do to be obedient to the will of God.

Jesus learned the Obedience. Hebrews 5:8-9 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

Jesus lived, suffered and died as a man to show us what obedience to God looks like. Jesus did not have to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. He had no sin. He was baptized to fulfill the righteousness of God’s will.

Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves not having been baptized by John. Their hearts were too stubborn to obey.

Jesus’ baptism fulfilled the appearance of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in one spot of time. This is a huge statement and witness of the power and might of God.

As we read in Matthew 3:13-17  Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

  1. Jesus was baptized
  2. The Holy Spirit came in the bodily form of a dove,
  3. The Father spoke from heaven.

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three distinct Beings.

God miraculously demonstrated Jesus’ special nature when Jesus was born. He again demonstrated Jesus’ special character at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

Jesus and His disciples taught us what we must do to obey and be saved through Jesus Christ precious blood.

  1. I must Hear the saving message of Christ’s Sacrifice. Romans 10:17, 1 Cor. 1:18
  2. I must Believe Jesus is the Son of God. John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6
  3. I must Confess Christ as my Lord. Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-11
  4. I must Repent of my sinful conduct. Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
  5. I Must be Baptized for the Forgiveness of my sins. Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16
  6. I must Teach others the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:20

If you have any questions, please notify me. Thanks for coming.
For a free Bible Study go to: http://www.worldbibleschool.org

 

What does the Bible say about being a Busybody(Nosey)?

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What does the Bible say about being a busybody/(Nosey)?

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Answer: A busybody is a person who meddles in the affairs of others. Sometimes this meddling is under the guise of “helping,” but usually the “help” is unwelcome and uninvited. Busybodies are often people who are dissatisfied with the level of drama in their own lives and gain satisfaction by becoming involved in the problems of other people. Gossip is usually a staple of every busybody, but it is usually camouflaged as a “prayer request” or given under the pretense of asking for advice.

The Bible has strong words for busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:13). First Peter 4:15 warns us, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.” It is noteworthy that Peter lists meddling as prohibited right along with murder and theft. Busybodies within the church often camouflage their nosey meddling as compassionate concern. The difference between meddling and concern, however, is whether or not the intrusion is beneficial or productive in the lives of others.

Some people have difficulty recognizing themselves as busybodies, so a few questions can aid in determining whether or not attempts to “help” are in fact meddling. A potential busybody should ask him/herself the following questions:

1. Is this any of my business? (1 Timothy 5:13)
2. Has God given me this assignment? (Ephesians 6:19)
3. Am I qualified to involve myself with this? (Romans 14:10)
4. Is my true motivation to bring help, or do I only want to feel needed? (1 Corinthians 13:1)
5. How much of my “discussion” about the situation could be classified as gossip? (Proverbs 11:13)
6. What was the result the last time I intruded in a situation that was not my problem? (Proverbs 26: 11)
7. Has my opinion been sought by those involved? (Proverbs 27:2)
8. Am I motivated by love for this person or by a sense of my own importance? (1 Corinthians 16:14)
9. Am I basing my “help” on Scripture or on my own opinion? (Proverbs 16:25)
10. Do I respond with anger when my “advice” is not accepted or found to be flawed? (Proverbs 17:10)

The answers to these questions can help us determine whether our involvement in the affairs of others is, in fact, meddling. If we recognize that our real motivation is the enjoyment of being in the center of other people’s issues, it may be time to let God deal with that insecurity. It is important to remember that busybodies rarely think of themselves as insecure. If we find ourselves often embroiled in the secrets of others, it may be wise to seek the oversight of a trusted friend or pastor. An objective person can help clarify our motivations and keep us from becoming a busybody.

What does it mean to be a busy body?
A busybody is a nosy, meddling person, who’s very interested in what other people say and do. If you’re a busybody, you can’t help offering advice to friends, whether they want it or not. Busybodies are known for trying to help with situations in which they’re not necessarily welcome or needed

What is the meaning of a gossiper?
A gossiper is someone who talks eagerly and casually about other people. If you like to spread rumors and hear the latest news about your friends, you might be a gossiper. When you gossip, you talk enthusiastically about other people’s news or business. To do this regularly is to be a gossiper.

If you have been guilty of this now is the time to repent. If you want to study the Bible please go to this free Bible study: www.worldbibleschool.org

http://www.gotquestions.org

 

Open Their(Our) Eyes

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Paul is the writer of this passage. Paul had his eyes closed for three days so he might see with his heart. It took a face to face meeting with Jesus to truly open his eyes.

Acts 26:14-15 And falling on the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, Who are you Lord? And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” Jesus told Saul to get up and go to Damascus. Saul got up, his eyes were open but he could not see. He went three days without sight.

How many days have we gone without sight? Our eyes are open but we do not see God~Jesus. We go through the motions but we are not doing what God wants us to do. Paul was preaching and persecuting Christians in good faith. He believed he was doing God’s will. How many things are we doing that we believe is God’s will~~~but it turns out not to be?

How many times does Jesus come before us and we do not see Him but our eyes are wide open?

1 Timothy 1:15 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief. Are we just like Paul? Are we ignorant and unbelieving.

Jesus wants to rescue us just like He did Paul. Will we let Him open our eyes and heart? Acts 26:17-18 Jesus tells Paul why He rescued him, so he can go to the Jews and Gentiles, ‘to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion“ of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Jesus has already paid the price for our hostage ransom. He died for our sins and He wants us to live for Him.

First: You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

Second: John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His Love.

Third: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is a free gift but we have to choose to accept it. The only way to get into Jesus Christ is to do what He tells us to do.

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Do you see that there is a condition on this. If we are baptized then we will have forgiveness of sins and receive the gift….

I found at least 44 scriptures that mention baptism. Don’t you agree that baptism is critical? That is 44 scriptures that are life or death statements.

Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. We have to be baptized into Christ to get into Him.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greek….

This may be the biggest step we have to take to have our eyes opened. There are many false teaching out there that contradict the word of God.  My challenge is to seek the Word of God to see what He wants us to do. NOT the world’s view of what God wants, NOT man’s view of what God wants. I challenge you to look up all the scripture on Baptism-Baptized and do your own study. PM me is you have questions and I will be happy to study with you.

Or you may go to the link below to do your own bible study.

www.worldbibleschool.org

When Your words came, I ate them;

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When-your-words-came- Jer 15 16 torn noteJeremiah’s Prayer

Jeremiah 15:15

You who know, O Lord,
Remember me, take notice of me,
And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away;
Know that for Your sake I endure reproach.

16. Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O LORD God of hosts.

God’s Answer

19. Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you—
Before Me you will stand;
And if you extract the precious from the worthless,
You will become My spokesman.”
21. ” So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”

Jeremiah has the job of prophesying to Jerusalem what God is going to do to them because they have turned from Him and will not repent.

Verse 2. “Those destined for death, to death;
And those destined for the sword, to the sword;
And those destined for famine, to famine;
And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”

Jeremiah’s heart must be extremely heavy and broken to have to bear the burden of telling Jerusalem this bad news. He has been prophesying to them for many years and they do not listen to him. They have turned from God to serve useless idols and gods.

Jeremiah may be weary and tired of talking to Jerusalem and their not listening. He has been mistreated and abused as he has spoke for God.

Do you ever feel like you are in a similar situation as Jeremiah. Do you feel like no one is listening to you and everyone is abusing you? Maybe you have health issues. Maybe you have an issue with a child. Maybe you have an issue with your husband or co-worker. Maybe you have an issue with a brother or sister in Christ. Maybe you have an issue with your own attitude.

Maybe your issue is with God. Maybe you are not listening to God. Maybe you are not repenting of your stiff-necked ways and hardened hearts that your issues have caused. Not all issues are big, noticeable issues. Some issues that keep us from God are tiny and we may be the only one who knows what it is.

Just like God told Jeremiah-He tells us.

Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you– Before Me you will stand. And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.

If we eat the words of God like Jeremiah, they will become our joy and the delight of our hearts.

 16. Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O LORD God of hosts.

Let us never forget if we have been baptized into Christ Jesus we are called by His name~~~O LORD of Hosts.

For a free bible study go to: www.worldbibleschool.org

 

When We Feel Like a Failure.

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It May Seem Like We Have Failed but God Has Not.

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Anyone ever feel like you do not always understand why things do not work out the way you planned? I wish God would speak directly to us today to tell us exactly what He wants us to do. I wish He would say yes this is what I want you to do, or no don’t do that. Do you think we would really listen to Him or just argue with Him and tell Him what we want? Maybe I do not know what I am wishing for. There might be stricter consequences if He did that. We know He speaks directly to us through His Word and that is good enough because that is His plan.

I may fail God but He will never fail me. God will not fail us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.

Joseph’s brothers did evil to him but God used it for His glory and good. Genesis 50: 19 But Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring this present result, to preserve many people alive.

But sometimes I am a little confused on exactly what He wants me to do at a particular time in my life. I feel like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, not knowing what is going to happen next. I feel like Moses when he did not get to cross the Jordon into the promise land.  God spoke through Moses for 40 years.  Then in the end when he could not enter the promise land but he showed great faith when he spoke to the Israelites.  I cannot imagine how broken hearted Moses was but I can empathize with him. This seems more real to me than ever now. BUT Moses kept his faith and he gave God the glory and credit.  God was the one who crossed the Jordon ahead of them. Not Moses.  Deuteronomy 31: 3 It is the Lord your God who will cross ahead of you; …. Moses tells them in Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.

What seems like failure to us may very well be glory and success for God.  We do not know God’s ways and that’s the way He planned it. He has revealed everything we need to know to us. Romans 11:33-36   Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For Who HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

God does not need us at all. Acts 17: 24 The God who made the world and all the things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, …For we also are His children.

He does not need us, YET, He desires us. James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?  8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.  10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. He desires us to be in His presence so much that.

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He gave His Only Son for our sacrifice. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

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Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12: 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. One thing I do know for sure:  The greatest commandment is found in Deuteronomy 6: 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Matthew 22: 36-37 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And He said to him, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it. YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

Without faith, we would be so lost we would die. We would not know which way to turn.  We truly stepped out on faith when we moved to Zambia and we continue to live our life on faith in God and all He says in His word is true. We do not fully understand what has happened or why and we may never know in this lifetime. But we believe Romans 8:28 is true and God will cause this all to work for His good and His glory. Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ: Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?

My charge to you is to keep the faith and keep on keeping on.

Romans 8: 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We have been afforded the opportunity of a lifetime to live in Chipata Zambia for six months.  However, our greatest opportunity is to serve God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength where ever we are.

If you want to find this faith go to: http://www.worldbibleschool.org