• Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 23rd, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Ezekiel 1-2

    Bible Study: Ezekiel 1-2

    As Judah was falling to the powers of Babylon, there were three separate sieges in which the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, and took captives. In the first siege, Daniel the prophet, and that will be the next book we come to after Ezekiel, Daniel was taken as a captive in the first siege. In the second siege Jehoiachin was taken captive, and with him, Ezekiel was a part of the captives that were taken at the second siege. There was that third siege in which Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, and they carried away the remaining people as captives at that time.

    So Ezekiel became a prophet in Babylon, at the same time that Daniel was a prophet in Babylon. Daniel was in the capital, he was in the city of Babylon itself. He was a statesman in the Babylonian kingdom, whereas Ezekiel prophesied about two hundred miles north of the city of Babylon, where the river Chebar flows into the Euphrates. So he makes mention of there by the river of Chebar, where the heavens were opened, and he saw the visions of God. So he begins the prophesies by declaring, or his book by declaring…

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 23rd, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 23

    Devotional: May 23

    Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” (Acts 8:29) Missions is God finding those whose hearts are right with Him and placing them where they can make a difference for His kingdom. Some of the great missionaries in history did not live long lives, but their lives dramatically affected eternity.
    God had access to Philip, and the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of how God used Philip’s life to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Philip was preaching powerfully in the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5). So mightily did God use him that the entire city was rejoicing at the miracles God was doing (Acts 8:6—8). This would be any evangelist’s fondest desire, to see an entire city responding to the gospel through his preaching. Yet Philip was not activity-centered in his Christian life. He was God-centered. Philip was not preoccupied with expanding his reputation as a great preacher or miracle worker, he was concerned that his life remain in the center of God’s activity. When he was instructed to leave his fruitful ministry, he did not hesitate (Acts 8:27).

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 22nd, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Zechariah 13-14

    Bible Study: Zechariah 13-14

    Now the prophet from Chapter 2 has been pointing to a day in the future. And as we pointed out this morning, it is not a 24 hour day. There are many things that will transpire in this day of which the prophet speaks. It is the day in which God will again work in Israel. A day in which they will recognize that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. A day in which the kingdom of God shall be established upon the earth and so it will actually cover a period of time. A day when Israel will become a nation again. A day when God will defend the nation of Israel against their enemies. So this day has actually already begun. Because Israel is a nation and God has defended them from their enemies. They have become a burdensome stone to all the nations round about and those nations that would dare to attack her have felt really the wrath and the judgment of God as God has defended her. So that day has begun but it will culminate in the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ as He comes again, sets His foot on the mount of Olives, as we will get to a little later this evening. But
    It shall come to pass in that day saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off all the names of the idols out of the land and they shall no more be remembered and I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 22nd, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 22

    Devotional: May 22

    Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. (2 Samuel 12:10)

    What is required for God to forgive sin? Repentance. But even repentance does not ensure the removal of the consequences of sin. The consequences often remain as a reminder of the terrible, destructive nature of sin.

    David was forgiven for his grievous sins of lust, adultery, robbery, and murder. God forgave him absolutely and removed his sin from him completely (Ps. 103:12). God did not, however, remove the pain that David would endure as a result of his transgressions. The child born of David’s adultery died (2 Sam. 12:14). David’s son Amnon raped David’s daughter Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). David’s son Absalom murdered Amnon (2 Sam. 13:28-29). Absalom brought the kingdom into rebellion (2 Sam. 15). For the rest of David’s reign, violence filled his home and his kingdom. Although David knew he was forgiven, he bore the painful consequences of his sin for the rest of his life.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 21st, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Zechariah 10-12

    Bible Study: Zechariah 10-12

    The nation of Israel has been a disappointment to God. He had called them and chosen them. He ordained through them to bring the Messiah into the world. He desired that they live in a relationship with Him, so that He could show to the world, the blessings of a nation whose God is Jehovah. But they were always turning their backs on God. God sent the prophets to them with promises of blessing if they would only seek the Lord and with words of warning of the dire consequences of forsaking the Lord. And thus you’ll find mixed promises with sort of threats or announcements of the consequences of taking the path you are on. Now if you’re on a path that is leading, to destruction, and people keep warning you, “if you go down that path, you’re going to be destroyed.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 21st, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 21

    Devotional: May 21

    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

    There is no mistaking a life transformed by God! The disciples had been vain and fearful when Jesus enlisted them. James and John sought to outmaneuver their fellow disciples in order to gain the places of greatest honor next to Jesus (Mark 10:37). Over and over the disciples actions showed that they did not truly understand who Jesus was (John 6:7-9; Mark 6:49). Even after three years with Jesus, Peter was afraid to confess Christ before a young servant girl (Matt. 26:69-75). Anyone who knew these men would realize they were not the kind of people on which you build a worldwide kingdom. Yet something happened to them as they were with Jesus. The Holy Spirit transformed them, giving them new boldness and wisdom. Now they could perform miracles and preach fearlessly and persuasively to multitudes. Even their enemies noticed in their changed lives the same power they had witnessed in Jesus.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 20th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Zechariah 7-9

    Bible Study: Zechariah 7-9

    Now the first part of Zechariah was written in the second year of the reign of Darius the King. It was also in the second year of the reign of Darius that Haggai, exercised his ministry. So evidently there in the second year of the reign of Darius there was a spiritual awakening among the people as God stirred up these two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people to again seek the Lord. To put the Lord first. To get back to work for the Lord. Now as we move into Chapter 7, we are moving up two years. So the prophecy in Chapter seven came in the fourth year of the reign of Darius or two years after the previous prophecies and the ministry of Haggai.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 20th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 20

    Devotional: May 20

    Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)

    Our difficulty is not that we don’t know God’s will. Our discomfort comes from the fact that we do know His will, but we do not want to do it!

    When God first spoke to Abraham, His commands were straightforward. “Go to a land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Then God led Abraham through a number of tests over the years. Abraham learned patience as he waited on God’s promise of a son, which took twenty-five years to be fulfilled. Abraham learned to trust God through battles with kings and through the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The pinnacle of Abraham’s walk of faith was when God asked him to sacrifice the one thing that meant more to him than anything else. Abraham’s previous obedience indicated that he would have quickly and decisively sacrificed anything else God asked of him, but was he prepared for this? God did not ask Abraham to make such a significant sacrifice at the beginning of their relationship. This came more than thirty years after Abraham began walking with God.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 19th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Zechariah 4-6

    Bible Study: Zechariah 4-6

    Let’s turn to Zechariah, chapter four. Zechariah had a series of ten visions in the night. Whether or not they all came in the same night, or over a period of time is immaterial. In chapter four, he declares…
    And the angel that came and talked with me (4:1),
    There was angel that was more or less, interpreting these visions to Daniel. In the book of Revelation, as John was beholding the various events, he also had an angel that would interpret, as well as the elders who would interpret for John. Here is an angel who helps Zechariah to understand the visions, helps to interpret them.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 19th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 19

    Devotional: May 19

    Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1)

    Jeremiah was invited by God to be a weeping prophet. His call came during turbulent, agonizing times as his society suffered from pervasive moral and spiritual decay. The nation of Judah had turned so far from God that it was soon to face His fierce judgment. This was not a time for merrymaking but for weeping. God looked for someone He could mold into the kind of prophet needed for such a bleak time. He found Jeremiah. The cost to Jeremiah was intense; he sacrificed much of the freedom of his youth in order to be God’s messenger. He forfeited family and reputation. He endured misunderstanding, ridicule, and persecution. He was imprisoned and mocked by those to whom he had come to warn of God’s impending judgment.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 18th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Zechariah 1-3

    Bible Study: Zechariah 1-3

    Now at the same time that God raised up Haggai to prophecy, so the Lord raised up Zechariah. And the first prophecy of Zechariah actually took place during the time that Haggai was prophesying. Now we made note of the fact that Haggai began his prophecies in the second year that Darius was the king in Persia. And he began it in the sixth month, the first day of the month. In his last prophecy was the twenty four day of the ninth month. So one month before Haggai’s last prophecy is Zechariah’s first prophecy. This must have been a time of intense dealings of the Lord with His people. They were discouraged, they were demoralized. The task of the rebuilding of the temple seemed more than what they could really do in their own energies and they were going through hard times. Haggai explained that part of their reason for their hard times was that they had put God second and the work of the Lord second. They had put their own interest first above that of their interest for God and thus they had been allowed by God to experience these hard times.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 18th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 18

    Devotional: May 18

    Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

    There is no Christianity without a cross, for you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without taking up your cross. Crosses are painful, they forever change your life, but sometimes the greatest cost will not be to you but to those you love. You may be prepared to obey the Lord’s commands, whatever they are, because you’ve walked with Him and know that His way is best. Yet there will be those close to you who have not related to Jesus in the same way and have not heard His voice as clearly.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 17th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 32-34

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 32-34

    Let’s turn now to Deuteronomy, chapter thirty two. Moses is noted mostly as the law giver, but there are three songs, or psalms in the bible, that were written by Moses. Certainly in the songs of Moses, he expresses a heart of a poet. There was a song of deliverance when they came out of Egypt. There is this song of Moses in chapter thirty two, and then the ninetieth Psalm is ascribed to Moses. So the three psalms of Moses.

    Now to get a background for chapter thirty two, you really have to go back to verse nineteen, in chapter thirty one. As the Lord has told Moses that he is going to rest with his fathers, “But write down this song for yourselves, teach it to the children of Israel, put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. For when I brought them to the land that is flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat: then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and they will provoke me and break my covenant. Then it shall be when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness. For it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I’ve brought them to the land which I swore to give them”. So, the purpose of this song.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 17th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 17

    Devotional: May 17

    Speaking With Authority

    And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)

    Jesus was not the first person to teach the Scriptures to a group of disciples. The people in Jesus day had heard other teachers of the Scriptures. What set Jesus apart was that He taught with authority. To many of the scribes, the Scriptures were meaningless, dry collections of theological speculation, but Jesus taught them as the living words of God. John the Baptist claimed that a man could only receive that which had been given to him by God (John 3:27). When the religious leaders searched the Scriptures, they came away empty-handed. When Jesus read the same Scriptures, the Father gave Him a full measure of His wisdom and His authority.

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 16th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 29-31

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 29-31

    Let’s turn now in our bibles to Deuteronomy, twenty nine. You don’t know how happy I am to be at chapter twenty nine. God established a covenant with the children of Israel, when He brought them out of Egypt, and brought them to mount Sinai. Mount Horeb, there in the Sinai peninsula. God gave to them a law, and He said, if they would keep the law and His statutes, and His covenants, He would be their God, they would be His people, a special people unto Him. They failed, they did not enter in to the land, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness, but now they are back again on the border, ready to enter the land. So Moses gathered them together again, in order that God might renew the covenant that He made with them.

    So, in chapter twenty nine, we come to the renewal of the covenant. It must be noted that even as God was renewing the covenant, God knew of their failure to keep it. So even at this time, which should’ve been a time of tremendous spiritual excitement, and blessing. It was also a time of grief on the part of Moses, because God revealed to him, “I know their hearts, I know these people, they’re not going to walk in my ways”. So there was the predicted judgement that was going to come upon the, at the time of the announcing of the great blessings, if they would just continue in the ways of the Lord.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 16th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 16

    Devotional: May 16

    Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14)

    In Gideon’s mind, victory over the Midianites was an impossibility, and he was absolutely right! The Midianites, along with their allies, overwhelmed the feeble Hebrews. Yet the moment God told Gideon to fight them, victory was no longer an impossibility!

    When Jesus commanded His small group of followers to make disciples of all nations, was that possible (Matt. 28:19)? Certainly, if Jesus said it was! When Jesus told His disciples to love their enemies, was He being realistic? Of course, because He was the One who would achieve reconciliation through them (2 Cor. 5:19-20).

  • Bible Studies, Chuck Smith

    Posted on May 15th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    ,

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 26-28

    Bible Study: Deuteronomy 26-28

    Let’s turn now to Deuteronomy, twenty six, as we continue our study through the bible. And, we’re almost through with Deuteronomy, and I have to commend you, it isn’t easy, but you’ve stuck by it. Now, hey from now on, it’s, after we get out of Deuteronomy, it will really begin to pick up pace, and we get into some fascinating events in Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, and, ah I really love this historic portion, I love the law. It’s not always the easiest thing to handle, but I love it, and you’ve done very well.

    Moses is making his final speeches to the congregation of Israel. He actually has four final speeches. Tonight we will be dealing with the third. Next week, we’ll begin the fourth of Moses’ final charges, final speeches to the people of Israel, prior to their going into the land. Moses is going to lay down somewhere on mount Nebo, and die. God will bury him. A new leader, Joshua will be raised up of the Lord, to bring the people into the land.

  • Daily Devotional

    Posted on May 15th, 2013

    Written by B.P.U Contributor

    Tags

    Devotional: May 15

    Devotional: May 15

    As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)

    The Christian life is a pilgrimage. At times the road is difficult, and we get lonely. Sometimes we may become discouraged and consider abandoning the journey. It is at such times that God will place a friend alongside us. One of God’s most precious gifts to us is friends who encourage us and lovingly challenge us to keep going.

  • Older Posts Yeah! There are more posts, check them out.