Paul Affirms His Calling And Commitment To The Gospel - Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - Success Scripture December 29, 2009

Paul Affirms His Calling And Commitment To The Gospel 

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." - Romans 1:17 (Read Romans 1:1-17)

EXPLORATION

History has it that it was not Paul that started the church in Rome but he heard of their faith in the Lord and desired to visit them in order to minister and encourage their faith in the Lord so that they might be properly established in the Lord. According to him, he had tried coming to them a number of times, but one thing after the other hindered him. Despite all obstacles, he was determined to reach and minister to the brethren in Rome at all cost. And this he did through an epistle.

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Trusting God For The Gift Of Heaven! Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - Success Scripture December 22, 2009

Trusting God For The Gift Of Heaven!

"And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." - Genesis 25:21-23

The Holy Scripture reveals to us that Isaac was forty years when he married Rebekah. Though Rebekah was indeed God's chosen wife for Isaac, they did not have a child for twenty years. (Genesis 25:26)

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Study 6(c): ISAAC-Trusting God For The Blessing Of Children - CHARACTER STUDY SERIES

ISAAC-Trusting God For The Blessing Of Children  

"And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived..." -Genesis 25:20-23

We are made to understand from the Holy Scripture that Isaac was forty years when he married Rebekah. It will be helpful in this study to recap the manner in which Isaac got his wife:

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The Lord’s Prayer (Part 3)-Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - Success Scripture December 15, 2009

The Lord's Prayer (Part 3)

"The Fatherhood Of God"

 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:9

EXPLORATION

Prayer involves devotion, trust, respect and a sense of dependence on the One to whom prayer is directed. The Lord's Prayer opens with a reverent address which says "Our Father which art in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). This indicates a relationship between the one who prays and the ONE to whom prayer is directed. It is like a father-child relationship, which is one of the factors that enhance prayer. Are you a child of God? In praying, do you address God as a humble child will address a beloved father? If this is not the case, you can start a relationship of this type with God today. The bible says "As many as received him (Jesus) to them gave he power to become the sons of God." - John 1:12.  "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."- Romans 8:9

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Made Righteous By Grace - Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - Success Scripture December 8, 2009

Made Righteous By Grace 

"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - Romans 4:2-5 (Read: Romans 3:1 - 16)

EXPLORATION

The case of Abraham in this text is used to illustrate justification by God and being made righteous by Him.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT: Abraham was a native of Chaldea which originally was a small territory of southern Babylonia. The Chaldeans were a warlike and aggressive people. They were active in the practice of divination through astrology (known as stargazing) and were numbered among the magicians and sorcerers of Babylon. (Daniel 2:2-10, Daniel 4:7) So, Abraham had a totally ungodly and idolatrous background before God called him. (Acts 7:2-4)

INSPIRATION

It was from this ungodly and idolatrous background that God called Abraham to leave Haran, his father's house and his kindred to the land that He would show him with the promise that he would be a father of many nations. (Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8-9, Genesis 15:6)

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