Bible Studies 19 (newest Bible study added 9/22/2024 - scroll down)
Two–Edged Sword (added 7/1/2023)
(Reference Hebrews 4:12-16, see below) - Verse 12 in this passage is often unwittingly misapplied (with good intentions) to demonstrate how powerful the Word of God is, and to show that it should be used to combat and defeat the enemy (satan and his minions). But as we’ve seen in many applications, most only quote a part of verse 12. Yes, we are to use the Living Word, our “Sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6), as our primary offensive weapon; however, that is not what this verse is referring to. If we read the whole passage, and put this verse in its proper context, the writer of Hebrews is telling us (professed Christians) that the Word of God will be used to judge us and it will be used to determine our true thoughts and intentions, our sincerity, our submission and surrender to King Jesus as we lived on earth. So when we read this verse in context the meaning is fleshed out. Verses 12 and 13 lead us into the understanding that we will be judged by Jesus and the Word of God (God’s standard for believers and non-believers) will be used as either our defense or as our prosecution. These verses warn us that no one – nothing - is hidden from Jesus because all things are exposed to King Jesus to whom we must give an account. Verses 12 and 13 are meant to awaken those who are not walking the walk, but just talking the talk – the ones who profess Christ, but do not surrender to Christ.
The writer continues in verses 14-16 by reminding us that Jesus, our High Priest, is in heaven “for we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” The writer finishes this passage by exhorting the Christian to “press toward the mark” (Phil 3:13-15) and “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” (Also see Hebrews 10:19-25)
So, what we have in this passage is God reminding us that we will be judged and Jesus will know whether we are His sheep or if we are one of the goats (Matt 25:33). Will Jesus say to you “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23) or will He say “I never knew you: depart from me, you worker of iniquity.” (Matt 7:23b). Please make sure you are surrendering to Jesus as your Lord and Savior – not just professing Him with your mouth, but honoring Him, and glorifying Him, with your life.
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 12-16).
The Greatest Redemption Story You’ve Probably Never Heard (added 9/22/2024)
“As for despair, it is damnable. While the story of Manasseh stands on record, no mortal hath just excuse to perish in despair; no one is justified in saying, ‘God will never forgive me.’ Read over again the history of Manasseh; see to what lengths of sin he went, to what extravagant heights of evil he climbed; and then say to yourself, ‘Did sovereign mercy reach him? Then it can also reach me.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
A long time ago there was a king. He became king at the age of 12. He ruled for 55 years which is longest reign of any king of Judah. His father (Hezekiah) was a very wise ruler and he obeyed God. In fact, he is widely considered one of the best kings to rule his country. But his son (Manasseh) was an entirely different kind of ruler. He did a 180 from his father. Everything good his father accomplished to honor God and follow God’s laws and statutes, his son undid. Manasseh was the kind of ruler who fit easily fit in with his peers: Hitler, Stalin, Isis, Hamas, etc. This man was evil personified. He not only did evil things himself, but he enticed and seduced his people to do wicked and perverse things. Manasseh hated God and everything associated with God.
Here is a brief listing of some of the things he did:
Although we are not given the specifics, Manasseh was also a treacherous king. He killed innocent people: “Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end” (2 Kings 21:16). He was pronounced by God to be more wicked than the Amorites who had lived in Canaan before they were displaced by Israel in an act of God’s judgment.Because of all the wicked and evil Manasseh did, God (through the prophets) pronounced the sentence on him: God sent the Assyrians and they captured Manasseh and took him away to Babylon in exile. Here was the nastiest, most evil king who ever ruled Judah (one of the worst rulers the world has ever seen) in chains and shackles with a hook through his nose. Did this cause him to become even more defiant? Did this cause him to hate God even more? Did this cause him to go to his grave cursing and despising God while the flames of hell were licking at his feet?
No.
Why not?! This man, more than most who ever lived, should receive his just rewards – what he deserves. He, of all people, should be in hell for what he’s done. Don’t think he was evil? Go back and read again some of his exploits: He killed his own son. He shed enough blood to make the streets of Jerusalem run red. He practiced sexual perversion and erected a phallic symbol in the Temple of the Living God! He should be punished!!!
But God – God is merciful and forgiving. As we read in the text, “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.” Let’s not get this wrong. Let’s not skim over this. Manasseh was beaten and destroyed – emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. He was at the end of himself – at the lowest point in his entire life – and he realized just what he had done. He sinned against Holy, Creator God! And he “humbled himself greatly” and begged God to forgive him. “And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” When God restored him, he set about cleaning up the mess he made over so many years. He tore down the high places and the grove. He restored the temple to worship God. He lived out the rest of his life honoring God and keeping His laws and statutes.
We too should be punished. But God!
Still think God can never forgive you for what you’ve done or that you are beyond hope and bound for hell. Don’t think God can (AND WILL) forgive you for your sins, then read this again: “As for despair, it is damnable. While the story of Manasseh stands on record, no mortal hath just excuse to perish in despair; no one is justified in saying, ‘God will never forgive me.’ Read over again the history of Manasseh; see to what lengths of sin he went, to what extravagant heights of evil he climbed; and then say to yourself, ‘Did sovereign mercy reach him? Then it can also reach me.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
(You will find the Biblical account of King Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33)
Two–Edged Sword (added 7/1/2023)
(Reference Hebrews 4:12-16, see below) - Verse 12 in this passage is often unwittingly misapplied (with good intentions) to demonstrate how powerful the Word of God is, and to show that it should be used to combat and defeat the enemy (satan and his minions). But as we’ve seen in many applications, most only quote a part of verse 12. Yes, we are to use the Living Word, our “Sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6), as our primary offensive weapon; however, that is not what this verse is referring to. If we read the whole passage, and put this verse in its proper context, the writer of Hebrews is telling us (professed Christians) that the Word of God will be used to judge us and it will be used to determine our true thoughts and intentions, our sincerity, our submission and surrender to King Jesus as we lived on earth. So when we read this verse in context the meaning is fleshed out. Verses 12 and 13 lead us into the understanding that we will be judged by Jesus and the Word of God (God’s standard for believers and non-believers) will be used as either our defense or as our prosecution. These verses warn us that no one – nothing - is hidden from Jesus because all things are exposed to King Jesus to whom we must give an account. Verses 12 and 13 are meant to awaken those who are not walking the walk, but just talking the talk – the ones who profess Christ, but do not surrender to Christ.
The writer continues in verses 14-16 by reminding us that Jesus, our High Priest, is in heaven “for we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” The writer finishes this passage by exhorting the Christian to “press toward the mark” (Phil 3:13-15) and “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” (Also see Hebrews 10:19-25)
So, what we have in this passage is God reminding us that we will be judged and Jesus will know whether we are His sheep or if we are one of the goats (Matt 25:33). Will Jesus say to you “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23) or will He say “I never knew you: depart from me, you worker of iniquity.” (Matt 7:23b). Please make sure you are surrendering to Jesus as your Lord and Savior – not just professing Him with your mouth, but honoring Him, and glorifying Him, with your life.
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 12-16).
The Greatest Redemption Story You’ve Probably Never Heard (added 9/22/2024)
“As for despair, it is damnable. While the story of Manasseh stands on record, no mortal hath just excuse to perish in despair; no one is justified in saying, ‘God will never forgive me.’ Read over again the history of Manasseh; see to what lengths of sin he went, to what extravagant heights of evil he climbed; and then say to yourself, ‘Did sovereign mercy reach him? Then it can also reach me.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
A long time ago there was a king. He became king at the age of 12. He ruled for 55 years which is longest reign of any king of Judah. His father (Hezekiah) was a very wise ruler and he obeyed God. In fact, he is widely considered one of the best kings to rule his country. But his son (Manasseh) was an entirely different kind of ruler. He did a 180 from his father. Everything good his father accomplished to honor God and follow God’s laws and statutes, his son undid. Manasseh was the kind of ruler who fit easily fit in with his peers: Hitler, Stalin, Isis, Hamas, etc. This man was evil personified. He not only did evil things himself, but he enticed and seduced his people to do wicked and perverse things. Manasseh hated God and everything associated with God.
Here is a brief listing of some of the things he did:
- He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, doing the same detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
- He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed. (The “high places” were where they would gather to worship their idols and false gods.)
- He erected altars to Baal (the god of rain and fertility). Baal is found in various places in the Bible including Revelation 2:12-17.
- He made an Asherah pole as Ahab king of Israel had done. (Asherah was a pagan goddess also known as Ashtoreth, Astarte, and Ishtar at various times throughout history. An Asherah pole was also called a “grove” in the Bible. This pole was made of wood - or sometimes a living tree - that was usually formed or carved in the shape of a phallic symbol. The “worshippers” would gather there at the grove and perform all kinds of perverted sexual acts with the priests and priestesses – mainly just sex slaves.)
- He bowed down to all the hosts of heaven (the moon and the stars) and worshiped them.
- He built altars to other gods in the two courts of the temple of the Lord.
- He set up a grove (Asherah pole) in the temple of God.
- He worshipped the god Molech (or Moloch) to which the pagans sacrificed their children. Manasseh “made his son to pass through the fire” and be burned up in the fires of Molech.
- He practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists.
- He did “much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking His anger."
Although we are not given the specifics, Manasseh was also a treacherous king. He killed innocent people: “Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end” (2 Kings 21:16). He was pronounced by God to be more wicked than the Amorites who had lived in Canaan before they were displaced by Israel in an act of God’s judgment.Because of all the wicked and evil Manasseh did, God (through the prophets) pronounced the sentence on him: God sent the Assyrians and they captured Manasseh and took him away to Babylon in exile. Here was the nastiest, most evil king who ever ruled Judah (one of the worst rulers the world has ever seen) in chains and shackles with a hook through his nose. Did this cause him to become even more defiant? Did this cause him to hate God even more? Did this cause him to go to his grave cursing and despising God while the flames of hell were licking at his feet?
No.
Why not?! This man, more than most who ever lived, should receive his just rewards – what he deserves. He, of all people, should be in hell for what he’s done. Don’t think he was evil? Go back and read again some of his exploits: He killed his own son. He shed enough blood to make the streets of Jerusalem run red. He practiced sexual perversion and erected a phallic symbol in the Temple of the Living God! He should be punished!!!
But God – God is merciful and forgiving. As we read in the text, “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.” Let’s not get this wrong. Let’s not skim over this. Manasseh was beaten and destroyed – emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. He was at the end of himself – at the lowest point in his entire life – and he realized just what he had done. He sinned against Holy, Creator God! And he “humbled himself greatly” and begged God to forgive him. “And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” When God restored him, he set about cleaning up the mess he made over so many years. He tore down the high places and the grove. He restored the temple to worship God. He lived out the rest of his life honoring God and keeping His laws and statutes.
We too should be punished. But God!
Still think God can never forgive you for what you’ve done or that you are beyond hope and bound for hell. Don’t think God can (AND WILL) forgive you for your sins, then read this again: “As for despair, it is damnable. While the story of Manasseh stands on record, no mortal hath just excuse to perish in despair; no one is justified in saying, ‘God will never forgive me.’ Read over again the history of Manasseh; see to what lengths of sin he went, to what extravagant heights of evil he climbed; and then say to yourself, ‘Did sovereign mercy reach him? Then it can also reach me.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
(You will find the Biblical account of King Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33)
