John 14 : 15-16

John 14:15-16 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever

Theme- obedience

So this is a good one, and a tough one, and really convicting. Starting out with the first four words, “If you love Me..", wow thats crazy. I love the lord with all my heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), but thats rough because I'm still a sinner and make a lot of mistakes. And this say if we love God we should obey everything He commands, and I don't always do that. So do I really love God if I don't always obey His commands? "Yes", because we all sin and even those who were anointed by God still sinned like David and king Saul. He asked us for perfection, so His son gave it to Him. No matter what we do we will never be perfect, but because of thr blood of Christ we are seen as perfect in the eyes of God.

And in verse 16 He says, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever...". He tells us that He will give us a Helper, He will give us the Holy Spirit, and it will abide in us forever. How amazing is that not only will He shed His own Son's blood for us, so that we are seen as perfect. But also give us a helper to face the challenges that we will face, and also help us strive to keep all of His commands.

Application - when God tells me to love someone that I believe is hard to love, just be obedient

Acts 5 : 29

Acts 5:29 NKJV

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Theme - obedience

This is the verse that convicts me the most. Why listen to man that are sinful men when you have a direct connection with the one who created all things by talking, and can give you advice that will help you win life. This is convicting to me because whe. I was in school all I wanted was to be accepted and make people happy, so I would listen to what they had to say and would adjust my life. I'd do whatever they would do and what they said, because is was so called "cool". Why? Because I was a sinner that lives in a world that being an outsider isn't acceptable.

But then when I became a sinner that loves the Lord God Almighty, and learned that He wants the outsiders to make a huge impact on people (the cool people). He doesn't care what we've done and He doesn't want us to change because that what society is telling us we have to do, but change because of what God tells us in His word. So I learned that listening to what other sinnersthat live in the world have say about what I should do is no where even close to how good what God has to tell me. He gives me words of that will only lead to life and prosperity, when people that live in the world give me nothing but things that will lead me to destruction.

Application - pray for the outsiders in schools and at work that feel that they are the only christian in the world, that they just get encourage by the Spirit.

Romens 6: 16

Romans 6:16 NKJV

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:16 NIV

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Theme - obedience

I take this as a warning. Be careful of what you say to someone or what you promise or what you barrow, because it could lead to destruction. I think of God when I see this, because He made promises and was certain that He could keep them all. God doesn't regret any promise He made! I've made decisions the past that only leaded to destruction, and made me a slave to addictions. I can also think to when I made a decision that lead to righteousness. The difference between the two decisions was the purpose, and the reason behind make that decision.

For example I smoked weed, stole anything, and watched porn. Why, because others did and I wanted to please everyone. Hint- not possible. The only thing that these things led me too was fake friends, emptiness, wanting more, gaps in my life, and nothing. Yes nothing aftwr doing all these things I didn't have what everyone thrives for in life to be accepted. My so called "friends" didn't care about my problems, and only wanted me around because of what I could give them.

On the other hamd when I made the decision to give these addiction to christ, I felt accepted. The nights I gave up these addictions were nights full of joy and freedom. Like the night a quite smoking weed which was 2/17/13, a day over two years ago. I ran from the hotel I was staying in to the concert my youth pastor John Reilly was leading, yelling and dancing because I was free. I made the decision that freed me from slavery and brought me into righteousness.

Application - read this verse everyday to remind what God did for me

Ephesians 6 : 1 and collosians 3 : 20

Ephesians 6:1 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Colossians 3:20 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Theme - obedience

This was always a verse my parents would refer to when I was disobedient, so heard this a God amount of times as a kid. Jesus tells us to obey his every command and right them on the tablet of our hearts in proverbs 3, God is also our father in heaven. I was a very lucky child to have both parents,  and they both love the Lord with all their hearts. But I love to see these few words in ephesians 6:1, ".. obey your parents in the Lord.." if your parents aren't glorifying God in what they do, listen to go "obey your parents in the Lord" . God doesn't want you to obey Him, because ultimately are goal in life is to do what we can on earth to please God, and then gain life and be with our heavenly father.

I love in Colossians 3:22 it says, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.". We are bondservants of Christ we obey Him before anything else. A bondservant is a person that loves his master so much let he dedicates his life to his master until death. Jesus Christ is our Master and we shall dedicate our life to Him until death when we gain His permission to join Him in heaven. A bondservant obeys everything his master says, so when Jesus tells us to do something, we do it. Unlike our earthly parents God is perfect and knows all, so we obey Him before anyone.

Obedience was usaully really hard for me when I was in school. Because I would be hear something from people at school and they would contradict everything my parent said, but I'm was in a dangerous profession, I was a people pleaser. The job a lot of people said was impossible to do forever, but I pulled it off, so I thought. Until I started to lying to my parents, and putting my "so called friends" above them. Is when being a people pleaser got just a little bit harder. Then when I just out right stopped obeying my parents, is when my job in the people pleasing business was over. But I tried to please all my "so called friends" and my church friends by putting on different masks depending on who I was with. Not until Jesus wake me up to reality is when I relized, I can't do this anymore,  and dropped everything at His feet.

Applications - aks God for guidance so when I start disobeying Him, he will set me straight.

Hebrews 13 : 17

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Theme- Obedience

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

The first I think of when I read this verse are all thise stupid rules that don't make any sense. These rules are important ones I learned after going through a lot of frustration, when I started working for my dad's business. I grew up by doing anything safe or not, so that's how I started working. But did I quickly learn after being yelled at a lot by my dad and uncles, that being reckless outside of work is different then here at work because if I got here we could be sewed or they will have to pay workman's comp. So I learned that listening to those little stupid rules may even say your life and not give you many earaches from getting yelled at.

In a way I feel that this can apply with our relationship with God, it can just about sum up all the bad decision I made. Like if you heard me talk qbout my past, and the bad decisions I've made y'all can pretty much just figure it out. Whenever did one of those things God would let me know that He's watching, and I'd make up so stupid excuse why it's ok to do whatever I was doing. Like, "ohh its ok he's doing it, so why can't I", or "they won't even notice it's gone, so whats the big deal", or "But it will make them happy". Those are just some of the stupid things i would say to God.

So what ultimately get out of this is that God is only whatching over us, like any good father would. He only wants what is best for us, and being all knowing, I think it makes sense to listen. And this verse says, to submissive to the one that rules over you, and God rules over all things in heaven and earth. So we shall submit our entire beings to live for Him and Him alone.

Application - ask God to help me to submit everything to Him

Philippians 4 : 11

Philippians 4:11 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

This is it, the answer to having faith in Christ. In the next few verse Paul tells us the answer in knowing how to be content in any situation you are in. Take it from Paul he has been through the worst times and best times you can imagine. He knew how to be content with being locked up beaten and mutilized, being hungry, being filled, and being in the presence of God. Through everything he went through, he stayed content through all the situation that he went through. I can't stay content when one thing doesn't go my way, I may not show it, but I complain with whatever I have to deal with in my head . Paul tells us in verse 13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Such a well known verse, but I never thought of it as the answer to becoming content in whatever situation I'm put into.

Sometimes when I do these studies I wish I knew this back in the days that I fell away from God because then I would have relized I was an idiot. I remember saying, " nah I'm not one of those religious people.", "I hate going to church, but my parents make me". I said all these things before, I think back to those days and just saying, "Lord I'm sorry I was so blind." I'm still so sorry that I did all those things, but God cleaned that slate and gave it back to me and it was clean. And said, I don't remember a thing." Now God has blessed me to share my testimony with so many people and bless them and be blessed because I was able to share what He did through me.

Application - memorize this verse

Luke 3 : 14

Luke 3:14 NKJV

Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Theme - contentment

When I read the context of this verse I was even more confused, thenwhen I just looked at the verse alone. Then I thought what it means to be baptized and I see that when you get baptized you become of servant of Christ. And when a servant of Christ gets any kind of authority, he doesn't take advantage of his authority, so that he may increase his wages. Now some leaders do this but thier heart isn't truly after God, if they only "follow" him for the money.

I also look at the last part of this verse, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” and see that we are no better then the person next to us. Like say if your at work, a good boss isn't someone that just sits there and tells you what to do because he can. But he either shows you how to do it and helps you do it or does it because he doesn't need someone to do it. He leads by example, he does things because they need to be done, not tell others because he can, but he shows humility and compassion. 

We must be more like Christ, He had authority over the heavens and earth and still got on His knees so that he was able to was His disciples feet. The only human to have that kind of power over everything and, wash feet. I know for a fact if I had that power, washing some else's feet would be the last thing I would be doing. So for me I just want to walk into ever room thinking that everyone in there is way more important than me. Serve with humility and if I'm ever given power or authority over anyone, I want to be able to say God is happy with how I was a leader. And say that I served with humility,  compassion, and love.

Application - pray that God will break me and tell me that He is willing to rebuild me.

Hebrews 13 : 5

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let  your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Theme - contentment

That's cool He will never leave us. I love and hate that society is that exact opposite of how God works. When you don't meet the needs for a job,  well you don't get it. When you don't have the nice car, the cool clothes, or the cool house, well your simple not important. GOD though thinks of you as a lost soul in the dark that just needs to be shown the light. He thinks of you as important as everyone else, not better and not worse. In the bible it refers to us as sheep and Jesus as our Shepard, it says something like, that he will leave the entire herd of sheep to go find the one that is lost and bring it home and heal it back to health. We all have been that lost sheep at least once in our life. God doesn't care about what we have or what we look like, but the only thing he cares about is what our heart looks like and how we act. So if God doesn't care about what we have or what we look like, we shouldn't care about what others have or what they look like. Just love them and show compassion because everyone is lost at least one time of their life.

Also I see this as such an encouragement, He will never leave you or forsake you. That just sounds so beautifu, I feel like it is something we all know, but easily forget. We act as if we never heard this verse, we do whatever we want whenever we want. And like what pastor Don said in class, "We would make sure everything is clean in all aspects of your life if Billy Graham was coming over, and put out books that he would approve of." But we don't do this when Christ is always there watching us and living within us. We act as if we don't care what the King of kings and Lord of lords thinks about how we live. But we care about a name, that God used greatly and used to bring a lot of people to Him. What about the God that made Billy Graham, He knew how to work with Billy Graham, God knew everything about him. Yet we care if Billy Graham sees that we are a mess, but we couldn't care what God sees.

Application - showing love and compassion to someone that is lost.

1 Timothy 6 : 6-8

I Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Theme- contentment

When I think of the word content I think be happy with what you have already or what has been given to you. I believe that this is true when it comes to becoming a disciple because, a disciple will follow Christ wherever He goes. Not Christ follow me wherever I go. And so if Christ tells you to go or do something do it, why? One He knows best, He has a plan and we can at the least is be a part of it. And that is the meaning of being disciples, Jesus told His disciples, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” and God told Abram, "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”. So as follower of Christ it's our job to go wherever and do whatever He desires of us.

I can think of a lot of opportunities that I missed out on because, I didn't listen to Him. It truly is a missed opportunity because, when you do listen to Him something magical happens every time even if you don't know it. I remember one time I listen to God and, He whispered in my ear to sign up for a missions trip that was already book but, I was the first person on ths waiting list. So I waited two frustrating weeks until God let me I was going. My brother was playing football with someone that was on the trip and talked him awkwardly and, the kid broke his arm, so God allowed me to go. That is why I'm here in Guatemala because that missions trip was to El Salvador and is where I fell in love with kids and potter's field ministries.

The hard thing after that was having to wait till I graduated high school to come here. I had to be content with what God had for me while I was still in high school, even though I didn't make the best decision. I now have a better understanding on why God need me at home for that period of time. He tought me be content with what I have and He will bless you.

Application - when i don't now why He is doing what He is, pray!

Colossians 1 : 11

Colossians 1:11 NIV

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

Colossians 1:11 NKJV

strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Theme - perseverance

We will be strengthened with His might and, sometimes that isn't enough for me. I knew this since I've been a kid but, that didn't stop me from shutting people out of the group or talking behind someones back. And going back to yesterday's verse Luke 21:19 NIV "Stand firm, and you will win life." That hit my heart hard, I've shut out so many people, when I should habe been letting them in and lifting them up. But instead I did the opposite. That convicted me a lot when I put these verses together, God is willing to strengthen you when you are in the time of need, so let Him. And I'm still not perfect at letting people in and I never will be but, I can ask that God will put in those situations more so I can get better at. And that will allow me to become more like Him.

"For all patients and longsuffering with joy," that hit me hard too. I've been good with being "patients" I thought but, then I did my virtue paper on it and learned that longsuffering was patients. It's the patience that you aren't willing to do or don't care for waiting for something. But it's when you suffer and have to be patient, that was eye opening. Doing the Ignite program was something I always wanted to do and, I'm so happy I am. But I am that person that wants to be there for everyone and make sure the are ok. I wanted to there for everyone when they needed an ear to talk to and, when they need advice I'd be there. But God stipped that from me and i thought it would be a lot harder then it is. Don't get me wrong it's still hard but, with God's hand on those people back at home and here with me as I learn all this new stuff, I can do it with Joy in my heart.

"giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." This is verse 12 and to me its just are great encouragement to be that much more faithful in the Lord.

Application- pray that God puts me in the situation to let people in the group and not talk behind their back, and pray for those back at home, that I used to pour into and ask God to have them replace me with Him.

Revelation 1 : 9

Revelation 1:9 NKJV

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I believe John is just putting himself at the same level as us. Saying, I'm just like you. For me I see him explain no matter what bad things happen to you when you stand firm for His glorious name because, He is coming back and rule over all the earth and you will win life. John talks refers to his experience on the island named Patmos. There he was burned with hot oil because, he stood firm for Christ's testimony. I don't know if I would be able to do that but, then I think back to what Christ did for us and, I'd hope I'd be able to stand firm. Now the bible does say something like, that we will be persicuted for living a life for the Lord. Now I'm not saying you will be killed for it but, what I think of the most is that we will go through verbal abuse from others sometimes those that are close to us.

Before I came here and was in public school some people would ask me if I was a die hard christian or did I actually believe that stuff. Honestly I said, "NO". I do regret it since when I quit smoking and other stupid stuff, I started to say, "YES" and telling them on top of that I'm going to Guatemala to share the word of the Lord with kids. And the response I got was absolutely mind blowing, nothing I ever expected, some would say, "wow thats awesome". I even got to share the word with some people and one even got saved I believe and if not a seed was planted. Thats good enough for me because, I know what God can do and I believe he will "win life" one day. It's amazing what God does when you stand for His name.

But I've had that verbal abuse as well and probably from one of the people I never would have guessed, one of my friends that I grew up with. That was really hurt, he said, "don't waste your money" and he said the same thing when I came in august for a week. That stung but, I'm glad to say that I stood firm and right before I came down I got an, I'm proud that your doing this.

My application - I stood firm like John so I want to pray for those who don't.

Luke 21 : 19

Luke 21:19
NKJV
By your patience possess your souls.

NIV
Stand firm, and you will win life.

NASV
By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Theme - perseverance

I took all these different versions because I was confused on what the heck this verse mean. But I think once I read the NIV version everything click and the other versions ran together. "Stand firm, and you will win life." How perfect is that, its all we must do and to will win life. And when I first thought about I figured it ment that He will keep me safe in everything I do. But then I heard one of my leaders named Scott talk about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he said something like they will were ok with dying because no matter what they would have been remembered and God's name would be rejoiced. So then it made sense, no matter what happens to me if I stand up for His name then I will win life with Him. Even if that means my life ends, I still will win life. He either saves my life from the situation I'm in and I will continue to rejoice and lift up his name here on earth, or I die and rejoice and lift up His name in heaven beside Him.

Also in our bible study we were going over Phillipians and, this is a letter from Paul while he was in jail. And in it says something like, even those that are preaching the word to put down my name, the word it being preached and thats all that matters. So Paul didn't care that his name was being put down even though he didn't do anything but, all that mattered to him was that Jesus' name and story was being spread.

Application- If I'm ever scared of what might happen I will stand firm. And pray about having that confidence in the Lord.

Luke 8 : 11-15

Luke 8:11-15 NKJV

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Theme- perseverance

When I first looked at these verses I thought how in the world does this tie in with perseverance but, then I thought back to my my life and figured it out. So this will be me connecting this parable to my life.

So the seed that fell on the rocks reminds me of every single missions trip I've been on. For me, when I went on a missions trip I would be so excited to hear the lord speak to me and I would except it with an open heart as a broken person that needed to be fixed. But when I got home it would just wear off over time, and i go back into my old routine of smoking weed and just not caring about growing my relationship with God.

With the seed that fell among the thorns, I believe this to be most of what my life was. Mission trips come only once in a while but, church was two sometimes three days a week, and I smoke every single weekend. So I recieved the word of God but, I would never get anything from it because I would just keep falling back into "cares, riches, and pleasures of life".

Finally I'll say something good, the seeds that fell upon the good soil. This started happening in my life, when God put potter's field ministries on my heart and, to do the ignite program I'm involved in right now. And ever since I was telling everyone I knew before I even sent my application in that I will be going to Guatemala. Everything started to change for the better. So I started to hear "the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." I believe me being here is only proof of that.

My application- when I see someone that is looking down I go to them and encourage them to stick in there.