A COURAGEOUS CHOICE

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. [HEBREWS 11:24-26]

When Moses became an adult, he made a deliberate choice to leave the lifestyle of comfort, luxury and prestige in the Egyptian royal court and chose to cast his lot with God’s people; living a lifestyle filled with suffering, poverty and persecution.

Moses considered the abuse and contempt that he would suffer for the sake of Christ to be of greater value than all the treasures of Egypt. He knew that spiritual treasures would last for eternity, while material wealth was temporal at best.

As Christians we can be courageous in our faith, looking ahead as Moses did to our heavenly inheritance in Christ Jesus. Walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Choosing not the ways of the world, but the way of the cross.

Lets heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-20, where Jesus says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Remember what Scripture says; “Choose you this day whom you will serve” [JOSHUA 24:15].

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Freedom, joy and faithfulness to Christ.

TELLING THE GOOD NEWS

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I." he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him........ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:30-31,35)

May I say you can began anywhere in Scripture and preach Jesus, because you will find Jesus on every page of the Bible.

One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to teach the believer the things of God. However The Spirit of God does not void the need of human teachers or diligent study. The Holy Spirit is not given to make study needless, but to make Bible study effective. Paul tells Timothy and all believers in 2Tim.4:2 [Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction]. Child of God the spiritual gift of teaching may not be given to all believers, but the call to teach by word and example is. Give God glory and tell someone about Jesus today. Be a witness unto the Lord, make His saving grace known to all who will listen.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Proclaiming God's Word, rightly divided.

IN ORDER TO GLORIFY GOD

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself.......... Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:1-3,7)

In order to glorify God, Christians are to follow the example of Christ and like Him are not to please themselves, but are to please others. Those who are strong in the faith have a moral and spiritual obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and to help them. Believers should follow the self-denying example of Christ. Welcome one another, and live in harmony with one another, to do anything less would be an insult to Christ. Did not Christ suffer and die for each of us who have been born again? Did He not purchase our redemption with His own blood? Thank about it. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Proclaiming the Word of God, rightly divided.

A PARABLE ON PRAYER

Then He said to them, "suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says,' Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' "Then the one inside answers, ' Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you; Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:5-10)

The point is not that we will get whatever we ask, if we are persistent, but that we should never be afraid to ask. We are not in the position of having to plead with an indifferent neighbor [As in the parable]. Because we are dealing with a loving Father who wants to supply our needs. In other words don't come to God only in midnight emergencies, but keep in constant communion with Him. Paul exhorted "pray without ceasing."

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Proclaiming the Word of God, rightly divided.

SPIRITUAL MAN

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things." (1Corinthians 2:14-15)

When God gives you eternal life, He gives you Himself. When the Holy Spirit reveals truth, He is not teaching you a concept to be thought about, He is leading you to a relationship with a person. Always tie a revealed truth to your understanding of God and your relationship to Christ. [Lord help me to overcome anything that hinders my relationship with you. When you speak to me through your word, give me the grace to obey. In Jesus name amen].

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Glorifying God through the proclamation of the Word, rightly divided.

LOVING GOD

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life. Everything in your Christian walk, everything about knowing Him, everything about knowing His will, depends on the quality of your love relationship to Him. Can you describe your relationship with God as one of loving Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. I hope so.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD

AGAPE LOVE

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1John 4:7-8)
God's love is unconditional, sacrificial, and without limits. The Bible says that we are to love one another, that we are to love our neighbors, and even love our enemies. We are to love all people with the love of Christ, no matter how unlovable they might be. [Lord, I don't always love people as I should. Give me a heart like yours, so that I can truly love people as they are, not as I would like them to be. In Jesus name amen].

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD