Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

  In our last lesson we learned the importance of walking in the Spirit while wearing the armor of God. We also studied about various aspects of spiritual warfare and God's provision for each born again Christian in this battle.  Today, I want to look at the individual components of the armor of God. Let me begin by saying that there are only two offensive weapons. Some may say that the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon, but prayer is also an effective weapon against our unseen enemies. One has only to read through the Psalms of David to see how much he prayed against those who sought to do him harm. When his enemies seemed to have the advantage over him, David consistently prayed and cried out to the Lord for deliverance. Therefore, prayer is indeed an offensive weapon in the sense of seeking help from our great God.  Loins protected with God's Truth.  Ephesians 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the bre...

"Put on" the whole armor of God Ephesians 6:10-11  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  We have been digging deeper into walking after the Spirit, walking in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit. In this post we will think about walking in the Spirit with the armor of God. We already learned much about this lifelong battle between our flesh (old man) and the new spirit (new man) that God gave us when we turned to Jesus Christ with repentant faith and were born again.  Paul told us that this battle creates paralyzing conflicts within us so that often we are unable to live for Christ. He also gave us the keys to a victorious Christian life by submitting to the ministry of God's Spirit. This summarizes the battle within each believer between our old man and our new man. God's Spirit helps us war against our old man and the sinful f...

Preparing for Spiritual Warfare 2 Timothy 2:1-4  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  Paul encourages us to be strong in the grace that we have been given through the work and person of Jesus Christ. Grace is a manifestation of God's lovingkindness for all who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Grace is also something God sends to us when we are in need.  Paul then turned his attention to sound doctrine and inspired apostolic teaching   and gave Timothy a command to pass God's truth on to other faithful men. There was and is a great need to make sure that God’s tru...

  This is Pastor Alvis' sermon from Sunday March 21, 2021. He preached from John 13:31 through all of John 14. It is a blessed sermon about what Jesus's final words were to His disicples, before He went to the cross. May God richly bless His Word. Bob

  Here is Pastor Alvis' midweek sermon from March 17, 2021. This text is from Romans 7 and dovetails nicely with some of the truths we have studied on the blog. May God bless His word as it goes for in Pastor's sermon. Bob

Defining the warfare we face. 2 Corinthians 10:1-6  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:  2  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.  3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  God used the apostle Paul to give us so much insight into our standing before God in Christ, as well as so man...

Sublime beauty of our Salvation. Ephesians 2:4-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  The book of Ephesians is packed full with rich, spiritual truth. In this text Paul introduces some of the beautiful elements that are part of our salvation.  First the apostle reminds us of the deep love and abundant mercy of God. He loved us even when we were vile sinners living in rebellion against Him. He loved us first even though we all committed many sins and trespasses against His holiness.  The word "rich" means abounding in Christain virtues and fully supplied with eternal possessions. The...

Below is a missionary update from a dear couple that our church supports. They have challenges and many blessings to share each month. Please remember J & M in your prayers. Personal information was redacted to protect their ministry. Bob                                                                                                        March 2021   J   baptized R   and V   on a beautiful Summer day with light sea waves in A, while we joyfully looked on.  ...

Galatians 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Paul now uses a slightly different phrase to describe the thoughts, attitudes and actions of a born again believer. This is another imperative that says "Walk in the Spirit" and Paul adds that this is the only way that we can avoid sinning with our bodies. Remember, that we have an imperative to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).  Next, Paul describes what the lust of the flesh looks like and it is a bleak assessment of living for self instead of God.  We are in a major spiritual battle.  Galatians 5:17-18  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. This text tells us about the battle that we are in each and every day. If you do not exper...