Thursday, September 29, 2016

8 ways to beat temptation

1) Pray before you are tempted
Jesus instructed his disciples to ask God, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.” 

2) Flee. 
A good run is better than a bad fall.
Stay as far away sin as you can. Don’t think you won’t fall.

3) Quote Scripture
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Of course, to quote Scripture when tempted means we must know it first, which means we must regularly take it in.

4) Pray in the midst of temptation
Your sympathetic high priest, who was tempted as you are yet without sin, will help you (Heb 4).

5) Get a brother or sister to pray with you

6) Ask someone to hold you accountable

7) Remember God’s faithfulness
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 CO 10:13). 
God will never let us be tempted beyond the strength he gives, and if we ask he’ll “provide the way of escape” to get us through it.

8) Remind yourself that sin has consequences
Remember Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Quotes mentioned by TL in Lecture

Only God can provide the perfect peace and tranquility that is sought by man .....

Victor Hugo's quote ...


Lies that deceives myself

Tead the following which is a good reminder ....

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:40)

Have you seen any of these 5 lies in yourself today?

1. We tie on the “I’m okay” superhero cape and trudge onward.
But that’s not the biblical model. In the Bible, the Psalmist continually cries out for God to search him and test him and examine him so that He can keep doing the necessary renovation work (for example, Psalms 11, 17, and 26). The attitude of Scripture is more like this:
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:40)

Honestly, admitting daily that we’re not okay and that we need God’s help can be scary. It means owning our weaknesses and doing the hard work of self-examination on a regular basis ... God specializes in weakness

We’re weak. He’s strong. And that’s the best truth there is.

2. We usually start here: No one will ever know. 
True, there might be a thousand variations on that theme, but it almost always comes back to anonymity. That’s why private browsing on the Internet and personal devices such as smartphones and tablets can be some of the most dangerous tools known to humanity. 

2. We also like to tell ourselves that no one will get hurt
If it’s behind closed doors, if it only involves two responsible adults, if it only impacts me, then it’s got to be okay.
We don’t take into account that God Himself is grieved and pained by our bad choices. 

3. Often, the easiest way out of dealing with a destructive pattern in our lives is simply to make it an acceptable or unchangeable part of who we are.
Whether we see it as a part of our nature or simply as something we “can’t fix,” this lie helps us avoid feeling responsible. We can’t stop it because it’s just too deeply embedded.
What we don’t like to admit is that God is the one who made us. We were intended to look like, act like, and be like Him (Genesis 1:27; 1 John 3:2). 
By saying its “just the way I am” means that God messed up or was taken by surprise by our struggles. We’re really just saying that He can’t change us.

4. I'll do it "Tomorrow"
Tomorrow is the time for Bible study, for that new morning prayer routine, for that meeting with our pastor or Christian friend. Tomorrow is when we’ll tell our spouse the truth. Tomorrow is when we’ll get honest with God.
But—and this is the truth—many times that “tomorrow” never comes. 

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Psalm 95; Hebrews 3)

Telling yourself that you’ll make a change tomorrow certainly makes you feel better about today’s failures, but it rarely ever changes us. We must remember that a lack of commitment to change today comes with a steep price!!

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)




BSF Lesson 25 - 27 Sep 2016

The Defeat of Satan & te Reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-10)

1. Satan Bound (Rev 20:1-3)

Principle 1: Satan has very limited powers & can only do what God permits.

2. Christ's Millennium Reign (Rev 20: 4-6)

Principle 2: God will raise His people to reign with Christ

3. Satan's Doom (Rev 20:7-10)

Principle 3: God will destroy Satan, sin and evil forever.





Tuesday, September 20, 2016

BSF Lesson 24 - 20 Sep 2016

Praise for God's Triumph (Rev 19)

1. Heaven Celebrates God's Justice (Rev 19:1-5)

Principle 1: God is praised for His perfect Justice

2. Invitation to the Lambs Wedding (Rev 19:6-10)

Principle 2: Jesus will return for the eternal joyful reunion with His people.

3. Christ Returns to Judge (Rev 19:11-21)

Principle 3: Jesus will return as a Victorious King to conquer the world by His Word








Friday, September 16, 2016

BSF Lesson 23 - 12 Sep 2016

Babylon’s Destruction & the World’s Response (Rev 18)
Aim: Those who live for things instead of God will lose everything!!
  1. Babylon’s Downfall (Rev18:1-8)
Principle 1: God calls His people to turn from worldly treasures and turn to Him instead.
  1. Babylon’s Mourners (Rev18:9-19)
Principle 2: Putting hope in worldly treasures will bring doom & ruin
  1. Bablyon’s Final Destruction (Rev18:20-24)
Principle 3: God’s judgement of sin & evil calls for celebration