Open Doors and Opposition

This year I am reading two devotionals as part of my devotional time with Father. As I once heard Chuck Swindoll describe a book they are both "little books with big fists". One is Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God Day By Day". The other is Selwyn Hughes "Every Day Light". This morning the two joined forces to nail me on a specific issue, namely, open doors.Blackaby zeroed in on 1 Corinthians 16:9 "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." Hughes followed suit with pointing out that Jesus was always headed to the "next village" (Ex. Luke 9:56), but the "next village" was never His ultimate goal. I quickly recognized my guilt in not looking for the open door, not taking it or taking it grudgingly because of the opposition, not realizing that one open door leads to the next (and it's corresponding opposition) and finally for looking at the "next village" as the goal when in reality it is not the ultimate destination. Four direct hits in two short pages.I am especially amazed that when the open door comes there seems to always be opposition. Can we be honest for a moment? More often than not I have seen that opposition come from INSIDE the church rather than from the world and it's flawed systems.I ask you today to join me in looking for the open door. Join me in taking it without grumbling or complaint. Join me in committing to NOT be part of the opposition.Side note. As I read Acts and the letters of Paul, one of his greatest tests of opposition came in Ephesus. That church became one of the strongest of Paul's church plants and the base of many of His missionary journeys. It was the sight of His longest recorded stay, the longest farewell before His fateful trip to Jerusalem and his strongest support base.

Got Study?

The passage we will be looking at this Sunday Evening is:

2 Timothy 2:19 - 22 (NKJV) 19Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Hints:

Context- If "nevertheless" starts a sentence should I look at the verse(es) before it to see what it contrasts with?

Hmmm. Who cleanses us?

Words- stands, seal, iniquity, honor, dishonor, sanctified, useful, prepared, pure

Have fun!

Dig A Little Deeper

For those of you who participate in Sunday Evening worship we are doing a "learn to study as you go" Bible study. Our passage for this coming Sunday, July 15 is John 15:1-8.

I will be trying to add some helpful study links this week. Be patient with me if I don't make the time.

Homework for 07/08/2007

Tonight in church we went over some suggestions for how to on studying the Word. I gave as an assignment Hebrews 10:19-25. Sit down with your laptop or one of those bound or ringed thingies with paper in it and get to work. Give us insights, an outline or anything else God reveals to you through this study.

Blessings

What Means This?

Hebrews 12: 15

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

1) Is the command for us to inspect ourselves or to help others not "miss the grace? Could it mean both in this passage?

2) What does "miss the grace" mean. One Bible teacher says it addresses Jewish people who had not trusted Christ and were in danger of missing salvation by grace. Another says it means that Christians should live so as to show the grace of God to others.

3) Is the second part of the verse the result of the first or a separate command?

What do you think?

Will This Work?

This blog is being set up for the potential use of growing disciples at Dacus Baptist Church, Montgomery, TX. This first post is a trail to see how it could work.

Ultimately we would like to do more detailed studies, book studies, character studies and theme studies. For this trial post we will just be listing one verse of Scripture, asking a question and encouraging you to respond.

You responses will help us see how this might work.

Verse for today: Hebrews 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

What do we need to please God?

What do you think it means that God is a "rewarder"?