Inductive Bible Studies from Word Within

We are called to be holy because God is Holy. And holiness  involves our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. It is not easy for  us, but God was us pure in every possible way.

For many, the words that come from our mouths are the most  incriminating part of us. Perhaps we’ve been successful in cleaning  up our act around our Christian friends, but hit our thumb with a  hammer and that’s a different story altogether.

Scripture has much to say about this.

Read Ephesians 4:29. What kind of talk does God not  want coming out of your mouth?

What kind of talk does He want from you?

What is the purpose for the kind of talk that God wants  you to have?

Read Proverbs 12:18. According to this verse, what kind  of impact do your reckless words have on those who hear you?

What impact do the words of the wise person have on others?

Read Proverbs 13:3. What impact does rash talk have on your own life?

Read James 1:19-20. What lesson can you learn from this passage that can be a huge aid in bridling the strong words that try to escape from your mouth at certain times?

Read Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 (NIV). How can these verses be coupled with James 1:19-20 to help you along the road of success when it comes to controlling your tongue?

Choose a quiet place in your house or yard in which to meditate on the scripture you have read in this brief study. Can you think  of any area in which your speech needs to be improved? Can you  honestly say that everything that comes from your mouth is helpful  for building others up according to their needs?

If you need some help (and most of us do), read and meditate  on Hebrews 4:14-16 and Matthew 19:26. After letting your heart  feast on these words, pray this simple prayer from Psalm 19:14  (NLT).

May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my  heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,   a peculiar people…”

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

It has been said of God’s people, “If you were on trial today for being a Christian, would there be enough  evidence to convict you?” That’s a tired ole saying, but is it ever loaded with truth!

In the King James Version, God refers to believers as a “peculiar” people (1 Peter 2:9). Somehow or other that word peculiar has a negative connotation for many today, like something strange, weird, and so far  from the norm that it sticks out like a sore thumb. Webster’s Collegiate uses more palatable words to describe peculiar: distinctive, special, varying from the norm, eccentric; characteristic of only one group. That’s  us, through and through.

The NIV Bible puts the term “a peculiar people” in a different light: “a people belonging to God,” it says. And indeed we are! But we want to be careful not to lose the idea that Christians are different, that they  were never intended to blend in with the rest of the crowd. We have been called to obey the commands of  Jesus and that fact alone makes us totally different from those around us.

We are to love our enemies and pray for them; we are to consider it more blessed to give than to re- ceive; we are to put God first in everything we do, say or feel. Humbleness and meekness are required in  our behavior—in all our dealings with others. We are to strive to become more Christ-like every day of  our lives, and that is a very high standard to strive for.

In a world filled with money-hungry, fame-grabbing, materialistic souls, the one who strives to respond as  Jesus would will certainly appear peculiar to others . These believers are the light that shines before men.  And when people witness their good deeds, they, too, will praise the Father in heaven.

A very wise woman once said to me, “The person  who is afraid of dying is actually afraid of living.”

At the time, I didn’t understand at all what she was  trying to get me to see. But the intervening years have  brought a measure of wisdom and with it a whole lot  of clarity.

During my college years and all through my 20’s and  30’s, I was afraid of dying.

I had reason to be. These were BC days (before  Christ)—when I lived life on the very edge. Not only  was I at times in danger of dire physical harm, but my  soul was in danger of perpetual damnation. I lived for  Self and worshipped the big “I” as unfortunately so  many do today.

I was no fool, however—I knew what a life without  Christ would bring at my demise. And although I  wanted no part of Hell, I apparently wasn’t willing to  give up my selfish life-style and live instead for Christ.  So I continued to exist in constant fear of being dis- covered for who I really was. And I continued to live  afraid of dying.

It wasn’t until I turned my life over to Jesus that life  no longer terrified me.

All the bad things that could  happen ceased to dominate my thoughts. I had prom- ised Jesus that I would go wherever He called and I  trusted Him to bring it about according to His own  perfect will.

I am reminded of Judas who lived in close proximity  of Jesus for the three years of the Master’s ministry  here on earth. Yet, though he lived in close quarters  with the Son of God, Judas could not bring himself to  turn his life over to the Him. He adamantly clung to   living life for Self up until the bitter end.

We should not be surprised by what happened to  Judas after his betrayal of the Christ, an act that put  into motion the events leading to the cross. Accord- ing to the Matthew 27 account, Judas tried to return  the thirty pieces of silver, and when the transaction  was refused he hanged himself. We cannot know  whether Judas was afraid of dying, but we certainly see  that he was afraid of living. Sometimes that is the  harder task of the two.

Scripture tells us that after we’ve lived a life of obedience to Christ’s commands, we are greeted with a  “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We know also  that Jesus tells us that we will obey Him if we love  Him. So a life of obedience brings about a life in love  with Jesus. How can we possibly be afraid of living  when we’re walking hand-in-hand with Him every step  of the way!

Then on the other side of the coin, the Bible promises an eternity with the Father if we believe that  Jesus is the Son of God. We do not know exactly  what heaven will be like, but scripture gives a cursory  glance into its secrets: no more tears, no sorrow,  only perpetual praises to the Lord, worshipping in the  throne room of God. Who can be afraid of that?

I have been privileged to be at the bedside of three  loved ones shortly before their passing. All three  embraced the process of leaving this world and enter- ing into the next. They were surrounded with God’s  peace and seemed as if they were taking their last few  steps on earth hand-in-hand with the Father.

These strong Christians were not afraid of living  and certainly they were not afraid of dying.

Photo by: Garry Wilmore

Back in early 2007, a member of Philip’s team was sent as a missionary to his own people in the remote village of Luk Pe. Andrew, now an ordained minister (since 2010) planted the first church in Luk Pe shortly after his return to his home town with the Christian message.

In March 2009, Philip brought a team of students, pastors and evangelists back to Luk Pe to visit Andrew and his village. They were privileged to baptize 30 believers upon profession of faith. Most of these 30 were elderly people who formerly embraced the worship of animism.
After Andrew’s ordination, he was able to take the gospel to a neighboring village (Bu Gwe) with a population of about 35 families, most of whom were animists. With four Christian families, Andrew has now planted a new church in Bu Gwe. Potential leaders within that blossoming church are now being trained. A pastor will be ordained within the next year or two.

Late February and early March of this year, Philip and a team of 10 associates (teachers, students and graduates) returned to Luk Pe to evangelize and offer additional Bible training in that area. Samuel, leader of the evangelist team called the experience “John 4 coming alive.” As they shared the story of Jesus, the woman beckoned other animists to come and listen so more and more heard about Jesus.

Next missionary effort will be to Kaya State to strengthen and encourage the existing church there in their evangelism strategy. Philip will be working closely with Peter who is a former Communist leader and now evangelist and church planter. As earthquakes and wars dominate the news today, both Philip and Peter are aware how urgent are the times and are compelled to reach as many as possible with the good news of Jesus Christ.




If God is calling you to be a part of this exciting outreach, you may mail your gift to Word Within International at PO Box 33178, Tulsa 74153.