Do you ever feel like the Bible or your pastor is speaking in terms you don't understand? Today, we will grow in the knowledge of God's grace, mercy, covenant, sanctification, justification, salvation, repentance, and righteousness.

GRACE: Grace is an extension of God's mercy. It is the free, unmerited favor of God
MERCY: While it is in God's power to condemn us, He doesn't. Instead, He forgives us.

I hope you see grace in a new way today, and can say Lord, "I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is written on my heart." Psalm 40:7-8, NASB

"Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

Discover life in Christ at bountifulliving.net
Sharpen your faith on Instagram at @Bountiful_Living

You may feel like you want to give up when you are faced with unending, relentless trials. Or your heart may be filled with hopelessness and despair wondering how we will make it through one more day.

Through our faith in God, the lifter of our heads, our Mighty Counselor, Everlasting God, Prince of Peace, the one who binds up the wounds of our broken hearts, we find our hope restored. We can overcome anything the enemy throws our way as we trust and believe in who we are in Christ.

Today on the podcast we look at the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 who were faithful to the Lord and overcame trials of infertility, homelessness, poverty, and immense suffering. Still, because of their faith, they gained approval from the Lord.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. For by it, the men of old gained approval." Hebrews 11:1-2 (KJV)

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4 (NASB)

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NASB)

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 1 John 5:4 (NASB)

Finish your race well.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Do NOT grow weary in well doing. (Romans 8:28)

Be faithful and Overcome

Discover life in Christ at bountifulliving.net
Sharpen your faith on Instagram at @Bountiful_Living

Welcome to the 2nd-anniversary episode of the podcast!!

“For it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those who love Him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

This scripture was my "life verse" in my twenties. Revisiting it almost twenty years later I think I was misinterpreting its meaning. Today on the podcast we will look at what this scripture really means and how to interpret scripture properly.

How do we properly interpret scripture?

1) We always ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we read the Word. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom and helps us to understand.
Jesus says in John 16:13-14, “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” ESV

2) Read the Bible in context: chapter, book as well as historical and cultural context. “The Bible is for us, but it wasn’t written to us.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.:”

3) Put the scripture through the whole counsel of God. Scripture will not contradict scripture.

4) Look at commentaries to see if the Biblical scholars of the last two thousand years agree with your interpretation of the Word.

“The things God has for those who love Him…” isn’t something believers have to wait for, it is already ours every time we reach out to the One who loves us and calls us by name.

In closing, I will pray Ephesians 3:20-21, NASB “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Discover life in Christ at bountifulliving.net
Sharpen your faith on Instagram at @Bountiful_Living