Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Jesus teaches us about prayer by giving us a parable about a foolish judge who lacked compassion for others. He reminded us that God provides for widows and orphans in His law and that He keeps His eyes upon their condition.  A judge who fails to fear God is a fool and this judge was wicked because he had no compassion for the widow's desperate circumstances.  The foolish judge eventually relented of his harsh stance and granted relief to the widow.  This parable is a picture that contrasted the grudging response of the foolish judge with the ready response of our righteous heavenly Father.  Our Father always gives us that which is good.  Luke 11:11-13  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  12)  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  13)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how m...

Here are the YouTube links for Pastor Alvis' Sunday Sermons October 23, 2022.  I trust that these will be a great blessing to you. Bob  

Here are the YouTube links to Pastor Alvis' Sunday Sermons October 30, 2022. I know they will be an encouragement to those of you who are able to view them. Bob  

  Here are the YouTube links to Pastor Alvis's Sunday sermons on October 16, 2022. I know they will be a blessing to those of you who are able to watch the livestream. The afternoon service is audio only. May the Lord bless His word as it goes out. Bob

We began looking at the permissive will of God as it was revealed in the life of Job. Satan attacked the godly character of Job and God defended him against the Devil's accusations. God's permissive will allowed Satan to attack Job's wealth and his family. A series of devastating calamities occurred where Job's principle forms of wealth and his servants were taken away from him. Then, a storm made one of his son's homes collapse, killing all of his children. God's testimony of Job was that in spite of enduring such terrible tragedy, he did not sin nor did he speak anything against God. Satan attacks Job's integrity and faith again. Job 2:1-6  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.  2)  And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in ...

Luke 18:1-3  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2)  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3)  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  Luke recorded another parable of Jesus that touches upon the subject of prayer. His introduction gives us the proper interpretation of Jesus' parable.  The purpose of this parable to teach us always to pray and not to faint when we pray during times of great distress. Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable is evident, that when affliction and desolation happen, we must be patient and pray with courage. We must be instant in prayer and never cease praying for that  which God has promised.  Verses two and three introduce the principle characters in the parable, a wicked judge and a widow seeking justice.  This judge was a fool and lack...

Mercy and salvation based upon God's Word. Psalm 119:41  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  This text begins the next eight verse section of Psalm 119. The Psalmist is teaching us to pray for the mercies of God to flow to us unimpeded because we need to receive His mercies that are new every morning.  He prayed for the full manifestation of His great salvation so that when his life on earth was over, he would spend eternity with God in heaven.  He prayed for these specific things because God promised them to all who believe Him and trust what He says in His Word. Thus this text contains the Psalmist's request of Jehovah while the next verse contains his reason and motivation for his request. Trusting God and His Word is the basis for our protection.  Psalm 119:42  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  The Psalmist teaches us that we should have a s...

  In our last study of the will of God, we moved into the book of Joshua. God's will was for Joshua to be a strong, courageous leader for Israel, as God brought the people into the promised land. Now, I want to move ahead to the book of Job. Many say that this is the oldest historical text in the Bible, for a variety of reasons.  We know the story of Job is one of great suffering and that he was the subject of Satan's violent schemes. A God fearing man and his family. Job 1:1-5  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.  2)  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.  3)  His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.  4)  And his sons went and feasted in their...

Gethsemane: Praying when life is hard. Matthew 26:36,37  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37)  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.    Here is the next prayer of Jesus recorded in Matthew's gospel. Jesus took His disciples (except for Judas) into the garden of Gethsemane.  "Gethsemane" literally means the place of an olive oil press and it was well situated at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Thus, when the olive harvest was gathered, it could be readily processed.   Jesus gave a command to the eleven disciples, to sit in a certain place, while He walked further away to pray to His Father. However, He took Peter, James and John to a more secluded part of the garden to pray with great agony in His heart.  Bruising of Messiah was like an olive's first pressing.  Isaiah 53:5  But he ...

Mercy and salvation are assured by faith in God's Word. Psalm 119:41  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  This eight verse section of Psalm 119 begins with the Psalmist praying for the sure mercies of Jehovah to be given to him.  He knows that he is a sinner saved by grace and that he will fail God at times, just like we fail Him at times. He knows that Jehovah's mercy is higher than the heavens because God told him so in His Word. His mercy is infinite because God Himself is infinite.  The Psalmist knows and is teaching us so that we might rest in the same truth that comforted his heart.  He knows that when he confesses and forsake his sin, Jehovah is always merciful and ready to forgive him.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and believing. Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Grace and mercy, forgiveness and pardon, salvation and eternal life...