Luke

 

Luke

Luke was a Physician, probably a Greek, a companion of Paul on some of his journeys. Luke was the only Gentile writer of the gospels. He wrote this book with the Greeks in mind. He presented Christ as the perfect Son of Man, the Compassionate Savior.

You will come to love the compassionate Son of Man who cares for those in need and wants His message of salvation to be taken to the whole world.

Luke records the Lord’s birth and early life. His baptism and temptations. His ministry in Galilee, His ministry on the way to Jerusalem, and His final week of ministry in Jerusalem.

Paul called Luke the beloved physician. He was a compassionate doctor, a thoughtful man of science, and a careful observer of people and events.

Luke writes of three parables from Jesus that illustrate how lost “things” are found to show that Jesus is serious about saving the lost, especially those who think themselves to be “unredeemable.”

Being a Gentile doctor, Paul described him as “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenant promise, having no hope without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12.

Luke, being grafted into the lineage of the Jews through Faith in Christ, he wrote a book that offered opportunity to all.

Jesus places a high value on finding lost souls and bringing them home to God. When He does, the angels throw a party in heaven. Imagine that!

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Mark

 

Mark

John Mark wrote this book with the Romans in mind. It is said he was converted through the ministry or Peter.

Mark was not one of the original twelve apostles, but he knew Peter and went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

Mark portrays Jesus always on the move, going from town to town, meeting new people, healing the sick, confronting the skeptics, inviting the outcasts and loving all. Jesus came to the world to serve, not to be served.

Mark tells of Christ’s ministry in Galilee, His journey and ministry in Jerusalem climaxing with His crucifixion, and His resurrection and ascension.

Without a doubt, Mark wanted to use the life and example of Jesus Christ to instill fresh courage and hope in his readers. He wrote this book at a time when his world and that of his church was coming apart at the seams. So, it is today. The more confused, fragmented, and chaotic our world becomes, the more the good news of Jesus Christ brings focus and clarity to our lives.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Matthew ("Gift of God")

 

Matthew (“Gift of God”)

Matthew’s given name was Levi, he was a Jewish tax collector, who became one of the original apostles.

His book was written especially for the Jews and stands first in the New Testament as the perfect bridge between the Old Covenant and the New, Israel and the church, prophecy and fulfillment.

You will be impressed with the authority of Jesus Christ over disease, demons, circumstances and even death.

At the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, Palestine is with unrest, Romans rule, the Jewish leaders are corrupt. Everyone is waiting for the promised deliverer.

Jesus Christ is presented as the long awaited Messiah. The people expected a kingly Messiah to defeat Rome and restore the glory and power of the reigns of David and Solomon. When Jesus didn’t meet their expectations, these Jews became disillusioned, hateful and murderous.

Jesus was exactly who He said He was, and He did what God sent Him to do. God always keeps His promises, even if it’s not in ways we had imagined.

As the promised One. Jesus is worthy of our hope. As the Messiah, He is worthy of our trust. As the eternal King, He is worthy of our devotion, our submission, our all. There has never been another One like Him.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Malachi

 

Malachi

The name Malachi means “my messenger”. He ministered about four centuries before Christ. The people were backslidden, the priests were worldly, and the nation was far from God.

Because the promised kingdom did not come immediately, the Jews questioned God’s love and justice and complained about the way He was treating His people. It was not long before the priests grew careless in their ministry and the people followed their bad example.

As a result, the people were guilty of hypocrisy, idolatry, infidelity, divorce, materialism, and gross indifference to the things of God.

Malachi reminds us that Spiritual heart disease is slow but deadly. People who stop seeking God become discouraged and apathetic. They become self-absorbed and oblivious to God’s voice.

Malachi was Israel’s last hope and the last prophet to speak to God’s people until 400 years later when John the Baptist cried out, “make straight the way of the Lord.” John 1:23.

In our lives, small acts of disobedience and unconfessed sin grieve the Holy Spirit and lead to a loss of fellowship with Christ. God leaves the door wide and open for our change of heart. “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.” Malach 3:7.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Zechariah - God Remembers

 

Zechariah – God Remembers

The Prophet Zechariah ministered with Haggai as they encouraged the Jewish remnant to rebuild the temple.

The focus is on Jerusalem. The city seemed to be forsaken, but God would remember His people, the best was yet to come!

Zechariah was one of the three priests in the Old Testament. The other two was Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The name Zechariah means God remembers.

Through Zechariah, the Lord spoke encouragement to this godly leader, Zerubbabel, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Zechariah reminds us that no difficulty or set of circumstances in our lives can ever block the Lord from accomplishing His best for us. If the obstacles in our lives seem huge, we need to refocus our eyes on our loving, gracious, powerful God, who is bigger than the obstacles.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Haggai

 

Haggai

After the Persians conquered Babylon, King Cyrus abruptly decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland.

About fifty thousand Jews left Babylon and returned to their homeland to rebuild the temple and restore the nation. They laid the foundation of the temple, but the work was stopped by their enemies and was not resumed until 16 years later by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. (Ezra 1-6).

Haggai’s purpose was to get workers back on the job and to keep them working until the temple was completed. He told the people to be honest and put God’s house before their own houses. He told them to be strong, be clean and be encouraged. He told them that their neglect of the temple was really a neglect of the Lord.

Haggai reminds us that good intentions are not good if our day-to day priorities are wrong. Haggai prophesied the future glory of the temple, the future blessings for God’s people, and the future victory over God’s enemies.

God challenges us to give careful thought to our ways, and our priorities. This is a good thing to do when we find ourselves in a time of disappointment. Discouragement can be a signal that tells us to pause and consider our priorities. The things of God never change, they never disappoint. In God’s will alone can we find fulfillment, satisfaction, and lasting joy our hearts long for.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Zehaniah

 

Zephaniah

King Josiah was leading the nation in a religious reformation, but his kinsman, Zephaniah saw that the reform was not a true revival, for it never got to the hearts of the people. They were only going along with what the king proposed.

Zephaniah emphasized on the “day of the Lord”. Prophetically it speaks of a future day of wrath in the end times.

The Book of Zephaniah paints a dark picture of God’s judgment, and a bright portrait of Israel’s future glory.

During Josiah’s reign, the people turned to God, destroyed their idols and restored worship according to the Law. After Josiah’s death, the spiritual life of the nation plummeted. Judgment eventualy came in the form of the Babylonian captivity.

Jerusalem became complacent and convinced themselves that the Lord wouldn’t intervene no matter how they acted.

If we have placed our security in any source other than our relationship with Christ, then we are living a lie, and we are not secure at all.

Ask God’s indwelling Holy Spirit to show you where your security lies and move you into a relationship with Christ.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.