Bible Studies

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Every day our souls are bombarded with all kinds of thoughts and suggestions that are promoted by the devil’s world.

The average person will spend about one third (8 hours or more) of his or her life here on Earth, sleeping.

It is during one’s sleep that the soul processes much of the more recent information, good or evil, that we have received and have chosen to let it become a part of our soul structure (1).

As a result, one can wake up feeling motivated and rejuvenated or depressed, drained, and even frightened.

Stress in the soul is often the result of having unresolved issues.

When this bombardment is pounding away on a spiritual issue, 1Timothy 4: 1 refers to these thoughts and suggestions as doctrines being taught by demons.

These ungodly thoughts and actions are all around us. They are expressed and promoted by such thing as the media, lyrics in songs, cable television, movies, adult “entertainment,” political campaigns, political action groups, secular education podiums, the mouths of deceived people, and sad to say, even from the apostate pulpits, here in the end times of the Church Age.

As in the case of the woman, later named Eve, the devil’s world presents its agendas in ways that appear to offer some benefit to the one’s involved.

Eve was deceived (2) into thinking that the eating of the forbidden fruit would improve things (3) for she and Adam.

An edified soul structure (4) provides an advancing disciple with the means to avoid satanic deception and to discern good from evil.

Adam had the knowledge. He was not deceived (5), but chose to go along with Eve. This “Yes, dear…” response may have been the first, but certainly not the last time that a man would live to regret it!

Having a Biblically-edified soul structure will not do one any good if it is not applied (6). Rationalizing divine guidance using human viewpoint is like putting the fox in charge of chicken coop security.

It does matter what our souls are exposed to during the course of any given day, and more importantly, what we choose to become a part of our thought processes.

Just as God the Holy Spirit will bring to our conscious minds the needed principle of Scripture that we (should) have stored away, our fallen nature will bring to our conscious minds the garbage we have stored away, as well.

Of the remaining 16 hrs. (24 – 8 = 16), most of us spend up to 12 hours preparing, driving to and from, and engaging in our work or careers. Others spend the same hours tending to the domestic and logistical needs of the family. Some do both. It is during these hours that we interact with others, exhibiting the public, but unspoken, testimony of our daily lives.

In addition to the omnipresent, omniscient God of the Bible, there is not a moment when there is not at least one angelic or human being taking note of rather or not we walk the walk as well as we talk the talk, especially when dealing with challenging adversity.

In the remaining 3 or 4 hours, some of us dedicate some time to such things as medical and secular appointments concerning the details of the here and now, religious activities, family events, physical exercise, hobbies, recreation, and entertainment.

A few of us dedicate some daily devotional time spent alone with God and or the things of God.

Some of us have an unconventional lifestyle with a totally different way(s) of spending, investing, or wasting time.

But what we all have in common is that we all have been given the same amount of time (24 hours) each day.

It is our diverse interests and obligations that places the advancing disciple in a position to either evangelize or to spiritually edify others, as he or she responds to the 1Pet. 3: 15 opportunities that God arranges.

“… but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect (1Pet. 3:15 NASB2020).”

If you ever wondered where the mission field might be that God has in mind for you, all you have to do is close your eyes and open them again, and there you are! Your individual mission field is wherever you find yourself 24/7.

God is just as interested in the salvation and or edification of the people around you, wherever you are, as He is anywhere else. In some cases, you might be the closest that some other people may ever come to the gates of Heaven.

You have the keys (the unadulterated Gospel Message) in your hand, and have been given the opportunity to show others the way (7).

Likewise, as you grow in the knowledge of the Lord (8), you will have the light that can shine on the path that others need to see in order for them to find their way, here in the devil’s world of deception and distraction.

Discipleship is a 24 / 7, post salvation activity.

There is a reason why we are where we are at any given time. There is a divine purpose and objective in every hour of every day, and we will give an account to God of what we choose to do with the time and 1Pet. 3: 15 opportunities that we are given.

Each and every day, the advancing disciple is either responding to 1Pet. 3: 15 opportunities, or is being prepared for the next one(s) to come along. We are often “prepared” by going through the hardships that others will face.

One cannot be used by God to pass along to others anything that he or she has not first secured for himself or herself. The most effective disciples are the ones that not only quote Scripture, but can speak from experience.

Consider that the greatest competitor to the plan that God has in mind for us, is our own independent plans that we make for ourselves.

It’s easy to “follow Christ” when things are going our way. When our plans begin to crumble, God is often blamed, at the very least, for allowing it to happen.

This can drive a wedge between us and some of the things of God.

The truth is that many, many, things can happen that can change or bring our plans to an end, but nothing can happen that can change or end His.

When His plan becomes our plan, we are no longer concerned about what may or may not happen, as all things that He sends or allows to take place have a part to play in the unfolding of the plan that He has in mind.

Our plans are all about us.

His plan begins with establishing a personal relationship with us, with the long term objective of participating in the evangelization and edification of those around us, no matter where His plan takes us.

“For to me, to live is (for) Christ, and to die is gain (Phil.1: 21NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”

In closing, every day that we are being prepared, or are involved in the evangelization or edification of others, is a successful day in the eyes of the One to whom we are going to give an account (9).

End of Part 3 of 3

(1) 1Cor. 3: 10/Matt 7: 24-27 (2) Gen. 3: 13 (3) Gen. 3: 6 (4)Matt. 7: 24-27 (5) 1Tim. 2: 14 (6) James 1: 22 (7) John 3: 5/John 14: 6 (8) 2Pet. 3: 18 (9) Romans 14: 12

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