Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

I want to wrap up our study on learning how to pray. We have 46 lessons that contain ample material to help us grow in our prayer life.  Today, I share some final scriptures, knowing that there are many more examples of prayers to be found in the Old and New Testaments.  My hope is that we all (including me) have our hearts stirred to spend more time in earnest prayer.  Praying throughout the day.   Psalm 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.  The Psalmist made a statement of faith and a commitment to diligently pray to Jehovah.  He declared his intent to pray in the morning when he awoke, so that a good direction was set for his day. He did not want vocational duties or other obligations to deter him from seeking God. He determined to pray at noon, taking a break from business of each day, in order to focus upon the LORD. Problems crop up each day, and there are issues to be resolved. In all ...

In our last post, James began teaching us about practical Christianity, by addressing potential sins we must guard against.  James 1:19-20  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  20)  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  He reminds us to "put off" anything that pollutes our soul, or that distracts the affection of our heart away from the things of God. James' exhortation is similar to Paul reminding us to set our affection on things above, where Christ is enthroned.  If we fail to diligently seek the kingdom of God first, then we may be enamored with the things of this world (Colossians 3:1-3).  A believer in Christ should be swift, ready and excited to hear from God, but slow to become angry and slow to blurt out our thoughts.  Receive and believe the Word which can save your soul! James 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naught...

James just finished telling us to be swift and ready to hear from God, and to be slow to become angry.  He urged us to be slow to speak, and that statement certainly has a wide application for our lives in the information age.  In the last section of James 1, he reaches back to his previous admonition and back to the regenerating power of the Word of God. The word "wherefore" connects to his previous teaching.  Discard impure things. Receive God's Word! James 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.    First, James wants to make sure that we understand the "put off" that he instructed us to keep. This is the same word translated "put off" in the apostle Paul's writings, so we know what he is getting at. "Putting off" certain things means to cast them off or throw them away as if they are vile or polluted. It means to forcefull...

Here are links to Pastor Alvis's sermons from the month of December 2022. I know they will be a great blessing to those who can view or listen.  

Be slow to wrath! James 1:19-20  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  20)  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. In our last post, we learned what James meant when he told us to be swift to hear. We are to ask God to open our eyes and give us ears eager, ready and willing to hear from God, with the intent to obey Him. Today, we want to understand what the phrase "slow to wrath" means. As you might expect, the scriptures have much to say about the wrath of man.  The word "slow" means dull, slow to react to something. Normally this would be a bad thing, but in the case of managing our emotions, slow to wrath is a good thing for us to pursue.  God has a good reason for telling Christians to be slow to wrath. "Wrath " is a violent agitation of our soul that can lead to unchecked anger.  Wrath can lead to speaking hateful words or doing something out of anger. Jesus Christ is our ex...

  Slow to speak our mind. James 1:19-20  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  20)  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. We previously looked at what it means to be swift to hear God speak to us.  Our failure to keep any of the three imperatives, will lead to the wrath of man coming out in our thoughts, words and actions.  We would be better served if we were as swift to hear God speak, as we are to speak our own mind to someone else.  We are well aware that the internet and social media has created an avalanche of foolish words. Everyone can easily post comments, tweets, videos, or podcasts about anything.  500 million tweets are sent on Twitter each day.   500 million users post something on Instagram each day.    People become self appointed experts who think they must be heard at all costs. They write about things whether they are knowledgeable o...

Hannah's prayer is filled with a perception of God's tender care and awesome splendor.  The battle always belongs to Jehovah. 1 Samuel 2:4  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.  The picture is of Jehovah fighting for His people when they are in distress. When God fights for His people, even the strongest of enemies cannot prevail.  The historical narratives contain many accounts of Jehovah fighting for His people. He called men to go to battle and they obeyed. He used timid men like Gideon, young men like David, and leaders like Joshua to prepare for battle. Then, Jehovah went before His people to fight for them.  Abraham defeated a vastly superior army with 318 men (Genesis 14). Jehovah drowned Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea (Exodus 14).  Jehovah pulled down the walls of Jericho when the people shouted (Joshua 6). Gideon took 300 men and defeated a vastly superior army (Judges 7-8).  Young David defeat...