Chapel At Lecompton Sunday School: Recent Episodes
Greg Collins
There is no substitute for life experience when it comes to our faith taking hold of God's provision and faithfulness. Ps. 71
there's a lot of wisdom that we can pick up through listening, paying attention, and learning that way. Sometimes though, we have to learn it the hard way, through experience. The Bible tells us not to be discouraged with God's correction, because it is instruction. Prov. 3
Fasting pushes our flesh back, and it makes us more able to receive from God. It isn't badgering Him to do what we want, or to fight with other people in the body. God says that the fast He has chosen is about obeying His word, doing what's right, and denying the flesh. Is. 58
God's estimation of the sheep and the goats comes down to what we do, especially if it's something we don't want to do. He already knows what we'll do in a given situation, but it can be eye opening for us, which gives us a chance to deal with what's in our hearts. When we truly hear what God is saying to us, we can internalize it, and the change in our hearts translates into a change in our behavior. Mt. 25, Jas. 3
God tells us to prioritize Him above all else. Got narrows down His expectations, making the requirement more stringent, because He wants us to want to be there and to really value the relationship. God wants us to look to Him for the ability to follow through with what He wants out of our lives, and He'll do the rest. Lk. 14, Mt. 12
Patience is the ability to tolerate trouble, delays, or suffering without getting angry or upset. We go through places in life where things are difficult or confusing, and we wish that we can just see God face to face and have an answer, but we learn faith as He tries our patientce. Jas. 5
God wants to reign as king in our lives,but He will only do that if we let him. God is God whether we acknowledge Him as such or not, but His lordship and the obligation of obedience and surrender it puts on us is the only reasonable conclusion we can come to. Prov. 21
God knows how to work with us to get us to bear the right kind of fruit; the fruit that He's looking for. Lk. 13
The Bible teaches us that while God has an expectation for us, we mustn't focus down on our "performance" but on His merit and our faith taking hold of it for ourselves. Our righteousness comes from Him alone. When God points out something that needs changed, it's not a judgment of us as a human being, but simply a judgment of an issue that needs to be addressed. God does that because He wants to fix it. Gal . 5
God wants to do away with our flesh nature entirely, not just the stuff that we don't mind getting rid of. God places much more value on obedience than doing what we think is right. When God brings us to a point where we need to repent, we want to learn to follow David's example of of humility rather than Saul's example of half-hearted qualified repentance. 1 Sam. 15, 2 Sam 12
We must learn to avoid the equal and opposite errors of believing that God expects us to do everything or that He expects nothing from us. There are things He empowers us to do, and expects us to do them. He also brings us through places where we can't possibly change the situation in our own abilities; in those places, we should pray and bring His power to bear. Lk. 18
it's important not only to listen to what God is saying, but to actually pay attention and take heed to it so that we can make application. It's also crucial to listen without a preconceived rebuttal the things that we may not want to hear. Ecc. 5
We need the truth from the word of God to inform our thought process. It takes practice to gain the experience to use the word skillfully, but it helps us to sort through the input we get from our senses. Heb. 5, Mt. 4
The word of God is perfect and complete. His word in us restores us to right fellowship with Him. It's not just a one and done type of thing, but something that He works with us on throughout our lives. The word puts a firm foundation beneath our feet and a straight path before us. Ps. 19
Propitiation is an appeasement, a deferring of wrath The appeasement and forgiveness of God doesn't change His expectations for us, but through the sacrifice of Christ, we are able to receive His justice in exchange for ours. God works with us to bring us into line with His expectations. Ex. 25, Rom. 3, Ps. 99
Change is an essential part of our lives. It is typically uncomfortable, and we often resist change while it's happening. Having come through a period of transition, we have a testimony, and a new set of circumstances that we are happier having than what we had before. Josh. 3, Jn. 14
The word of God is like a mirror that shows us ourselves, letting us see both the good and the bad. It allows us to see where our life needs to come into line with the word of God so that the reflections match. Pro. 27, Ex. 30, Jas. 1
When we have no idea how to solve an issue, it forces us to rely on God. It can be uncomfortable for the flesh, but trusting Him is the best place we can be. We often find ourselves hoping God will simply "fairy dust" our problems away; but if He gives us some little thing to do, or a direction to go, we want to be grateful for the solution and follow through. Faith and obedience brings us to humility and surrender, which opens the door for God to work; it creates a cycle that gains momentum the more we practice it. 2 Kin. 5
Grace is more than just the forgiveness of sins; it's a gift from God. Grace gives us strength to go through life just as much as it has to do with forgiveness. 2 Cor. 12
God needs our consent in order to work in our lives, because He won't force his will on us. When we show reverence to God and cooperate with His will in our lives, we are "working out our own salvation with fear and trembling." The Bible encourages us to allow God's word to inform and replace our thinking, and when we do, He even gives us the the willingness to cooperate with Him. Phil. 2, Ps. 110, Rom. 12, Heb. 13
God's grace does not change His expectations, rather His instructions and correction are intended to bring our behavior into line with them. When we have a healthy fear of God and His consequences, it helps us to understand His word and make application to our lives. Deut. 4, Josh. 7
The book of Proverbs begins by telling us the purpose of the book. God intends to teach us wisdom by instructions and by experience. He also starts out telling us that we want to listen and understand so that we can make application instead of listening but not actually perceiving what we're being told. Prov. 1
We are dead to sin in christ, so it has no dominion over us. Because we are alive toward God, His claims on us do have an effect on us. We have a choice on whether we allow ourselves to be led by the flesh and the carnal mind unto death, or by God unto life. Rom. 6
It can seem easier to just give up than to stand on God's word and believe that He'll bring it to pass in your life. The difference is looking at our own abilities versus God's ability. Oftentimes, we don't believe God is going to come through because we can't anticipate how He would do it. Num. 14, Josh. 14, Heb. 3,4.
Coming under dominion begins with accepting a thought. We must be careful what thoughts we accept and what we come into unity with. We can be under the dominion of God by accepting His voice, or the dominion of an unclean spirit by accepting that voice. Mt. 12, Acts 19
When God gives us a word about something, we understand that the matter is settled, but we don't always remember that we should expect a struggle before the word comes to pass. Those struggles bring us to a place of finding comfort in God rather than from anywhere else. When we find that comfort and find our answers from Him, we are able to sympathize with others, and pass those things on to them. Going through those tough times also brings out of us the things that God wants to take out of us. 2 Cor. 1
When we make God what we want Him to be, we completely miss real God. It's all too easy to cast off restraint and override or ignore the word of God and His ministry. We must decide to stay on the Lord's side and choose to see Him as He is. Ex. 32, Col. 1
God tells us to do things; sometimes it's something we can do, and therefore He expects us to do it. Sometimes though, it's something He's going to do because His word has creative power. In either case, our part begins with making up our mind to go God's way., then His spirit makes the difference. Is. 50, Rom. 4
We think of oil as a resource of light for a difficult time. It is that, but we don't often make the connection that we get the oil of joy from having oil pressed out of us. Joy is, in fact, the very thing that carries is through our days, both good and bad. Is. 61, 2 Kin. 4
The things we say are very important, because they come from what's inside of us. Enough stimulus can strip away our veneer and cause us to say what we really think, which is a good indicator of what's in our heart that God wants to deal with. Mt. 12, Prov. 18
Sometimes, God keeps us waiting longer than we expect on fulfilling His promises. Sometimes, we even get anxious about it enough to think that we need to do something about it ourselves. God is not slack as some men count slackness, though, and we need to be patient with Him as He gets done what He's doing in us through the waiting. God is the one who fulfills His own promises, not us. Gen. 15, Gen. 16, Gen. 17, Gal. 4
Going through hard things gives us experience, and trains us to rest in God's faithfulness, and builds strength of character. 2 Cor. 1, 2 Tim. 2
The life of faith is a lot like a roller coaster. It can feel frightening and out of control, but it's perfectly safe. God has a great adventure for all of us, and He wants us to trust Him to keep us safe through the ups and downs and maybe even the corkscrews of life. Heb. 10, Mt. 14
God graciously brings us through suffering because it brings us into fellowship with Him, and He uses it in our lives to touch others. He knows that difficulties are good for us, as opposed to everything going smooth. It also helps us to put aside the petty and the parochial, and strive together for the cause of the gospel. Phil. 1
God is faithful to answer our prayers. Sometimes, the things we ask for come with things we don't expect or even like at first, but God in His wisdom knows we need them. The things that come out of our mouth are a good indicator of how we are doing, whether we are rejoicing in Christ Jesus or whether we are dissatisfied and unhappy. Phil. 4
Much of the Christian church deals with communion on a purely physical level. Paul teaches us that true communion with God is fellowship with him in the word of God and hearing what it is He has to say. We can examine ourselves by a cracker and live however we wish, or we can examine ourselves by the word of God and realize that our life must come into line with His expectation. If we'll examine ourselves, and judge ourselves, then God doesn't have to. When He does deal with an issue, it's for our good only. 1 Cor. 11, 2 Cor. 7
God proves to us as we walk with Him that we can't serve Him in our own flesh or abilities. His grace is a process that holds us into what He wants us to be so that we might walk with Him in the way that he has ordained. When we go through difficult things, we can look back at the things God has already brought us through, and be confident that He is going to bring us through the current issue as well, and we can have an answer for others who are going through the same difficulties that we have come through. 2 Cor. 4
it's important for us to receive the things that God says to us in the context of who He is and what we know His expectations are. Our attitude about serving God has a great deal to do with determining how we receive what He says. Jn. 2
We see all around us what happens to a society that grows up generation after generation without input from the church or the Word of God. It's important for us as Christian parents to teach our kids in the Word of God. While our righteousness comes from the merit of Christ alone, God's expectation is still for us to learn His word and obey it. Deut. 6, Rom. 3
God has made provision for outsiders to become a part of His people, but not without submitting to His standards and conditions. God never intended for His people to exclude everyone else, but to remember that we were once the outsiders, and someone invited us to come to Christ. Ex. 12, Eph. 2
God continually demonstrates the consistency of His character, apart from our efforts and consistency, or lack thereof. The things that we go through teach us and train us, and God's presence in our lives imparts the consistency of His character. God takes no pleasure in our difficulties, but He understands that it is necessary for us. Lam. 3
Our identity comes from what we believe about ourselves based on what we are told. We want to take it identity from the word of God. To be a Christian literally means to be in the party of Christ. We also identity with things we read in the word, but it's important to identify with the right thing. Acts 11. ***Listening to this message, I found that I said some rather uncharitable things about my parents, which I recognize as breaking the most elementary of God's commandments. I thought this message was still a blessing other than that, so I went ahead and published it. But I do want to repent for those things that I said about them. It sets a very poor example of what we should be displaying, especially in the midst of teaching the word. Greg
God must come first in our lives, even before our own life. The Bible teaches us to count the cost and to find it worthwhile. Lk. 14, Mt.10, Heb. 11
Justin Roe fills in. God has made provision for the things we need, and He imparts them to us, so we need not look to our abilities. Eph. 2, Eph. 1, Jn. 20, Mk. 5, Jn.
It's crucial to understand that Jesus tells us the road is narrow. We must avoid abdicating all responsibility to obey God, and also not believe that our own ability will get us successful to the end of the road. We have to understand that our flesh is dead with Christ, and so we owe it no allegiance. Rom. 6
God tells us that He has a standard to gather around and to focus on when the battle seems to go against us. Is. 59, Ex. 17
In western culture, we tend to appropriate words and change their meanings. Similarly, the church has changed the meaning of important concepts in the word. Holiness has come to mean something different to the modern Christian than what it means to God. 1 Pet. 1, Gen. 17
Paul gives us a list of the worst attributes and behaviors of the flesh, but he said in the last times, those things would be in the church. 2 Tim. 3
Jesus came and taught the definitive and final word of God. He also proved God's authority over sin, disease, death, hell, and the grave. In order to wield authority in the kingdom of God, we must first learn to come under His authority. Mt. 8
The Bible teaches us that when it shows is something in our life that doesn't belong, we need to do something about it. Is. 64, Jud. 16, 1 Sam. 1
There are no shortcuts to developing patience; the experiences we go through that stretch our patients also help us to develop wisdom. Jas. 1
We all have an individual walk with God; we can't just serve Him vicariously through the ministry. The church has a job to do, both on a corporate and individual level. Ps. 84
As we grow in Christ, we find a balance in the things we have power to do and things we can't. Learning to accept our inability to serve God in our strength and lean on Him is the key to finding liberty. 2 Cor. 12
God proves us to show us what is inside, and in doing so, He proves Himself to us. 1 Cor. 10
It's easy to think of the love of God as a general thing, but His love gor us is very specific and individual. 1 Jn. 3
Ben Packard fills in. Many things seem impossible when we look at our lives, and the lives of others, but only when we trust in the ability of man. When we look to God's ability, nothing is impossible. Mark 10
The Bible ties fasting in with sowing and reaping, and with doing things we don't really want to do, not merely denying ourselves a meal. Prov. 11, Is. 58
We must be diligent to keep our hearts from believing a different gospel, than the the truth of the grace of Christ. Gal. 1, Gal. 3
When we add or mix things of the flesh and the world, we can eventually corrupt the spirit inside of us. 1 Sam. 22, Mt. 5.
The church is a walled city; only truth can maintain the wall and repair the breaches. Ezek. 13
We want to fix things with action in the flesh, but our real weapons are spiritual. The real battle is with the thoughts; we can take those thoughts captive with the word of God. 2 Cor. 10
God doesn't ask for unity among His people, He demands it. We must give up our imagined right to believe or do what we want. 1 Cor. 1
Hearing the word of God is not enough; we have to heed and apply it to ourselves. When we receive the word with faith, then we can enter in to the promises of His rest. Heb.4
Life presents us with all kinds of things that are urgent but not important whereas the eternal things seem less urgent but are far more important. The Bible teaches us that this has a lot to do with the outside and inside man. 2 Cor. 5
The Bible teaches us that God wants us to understand what His purpose is for our life individually and not just as a whole. We find that by drawing near to Him. Col. 1, Eph. 3
Character tells the difference between the children of God and the sons of God. Col. 1, 1 John 3, Rom. 8
God fixes problems in our lives. Sometimes it feels like destruction, but His plans are for our God always. Is. 54
God demands a full consecration to Him; Israel shows s the danger of creating a mixture by aligning ourselves with the church, but allowing things in our lives that God forbids. Neh. 13, Deut. 23, 2 Kin. 17
Religion will train you to serve God after the flesh and the carnal mind, whereas the teaching of the Bible is that we that worship God is worship Him in spirit and in truth. Phil. 3
Jesus is clear in His expectations for the church, from the way we treat people, and in the way we communicate. If the world can't see Jesus in us, they won't see Him at all. Lk. 6
The book of Hebrews warns us against allowing unbelief to keep us out of God's rest. Heb. 4, Phil. 2
When we put out trust in the Lord, we can count on Him taking care of us. Ps. 37, Mt. 6
The Old and New Testaments both dealt with blood for the remission of sin, but the New does more than just wash the sin away; it deals with the guilt and it fixes the roots of our problems. Ex.24, Heb.9, Is. 52, Rom.3.
It is imperative that we have clear understanding about what God's expectations are for us. It's also important that it's God's expectation, and not something determined by the flesh. Ps. 119, Heb. 8
Modern Christianity often fails to understand that there is a difference between our righteousness and our salvation. Deut. 6, Rom. 6, Mt. 7
Jesus invites us to not only have fellowship with Him, but to live in Him. Jn. 15, Gal. 5
The truth is not always easily received, and it creates division. Mt. 10, Mt. 21, Mt. 26
Fred Ricley fills in. God is our defender. He wants us to love others in that same way. . Zech. 2, Ruth 2.
God knows how to get rid of the things that need to be gotten rid of without cutting off the things that can stay. Phil. 3
The word of God teaches us to examine ourselves to ensure that we are following the word. Before God can move in our lives, oftentimes He begins with examination to ensure that we are clean and ready to receive what He has for us. 2 Cor. 13, 1 Cor. 11
The people of God encounter difficulties while building God's house. We should not take this as a sign that it is not time, or the right thing to do, but rather that it is. Ezra 4, Hag. 1
In our walk with God, there are things that God expects us to do, and there are things that we need Him to do. Jas. 4, Gal. 5
God has chosen us and set us aside for Himself, but we must value that and choose Him for ourselves. Num. 6, Jud. 13, 1 Sam. 1
Paul warns against falling into picking and choosing through the scriptures and abusing our liberty in Christ. Gal. 5, Phil. 3
God cleanses us not by our own abilities or accomplishments but with the blood and by His spirit. Zech. 4, Lk. 9, Mk. 9
we sometimes get superstitious about why difficult things happen to us, when the reality is that sometimes there are just difficulties in the way, and looking to Jesus is the solution to those difficulties.. Num. 21
Paul warns Titus against allowing people to just believe what they want to believe. Tit. 3, 2 Thess. 3
When we learn to trust in the Lord and rest in Him, we are like a tree planted by the Waters and the continual supply that it offers. Jer. 17, Ps. 1
the word of God is both the beginning place and the final authority for learning the voice of God. Heb. 4
God describes His very nature as love. We need to understand what that means in order to understand who God is and our relationship to Him .1 Jn. 4
God's adoption not only makes us a part of His family, but imparts to us His nature. Rom. 8
God expands our faith by taking us from one place to another in ways that we need Him to get through. Mt. 14
The Bible teaches us to put all of our accomplishments and failures behind us, to seize upon the righteousness and merit of Christ by faith. Phil. 3
God will take us through wilderness places in our lives to try us, both to see if we will obey Him, and also to do us good in the end. Deut. 8, 2 Cor. 12
We have a choice to separate ourselves from the world, from everyday life to consecrate ourselves to God. Num. 6, Eph. 1
When we come to Christ with our burdens, our regrets, and our fears, He takes them from us and gives us rest in our souls. Mt. 11
The correction and reproofs of God are mercy and kindness. It may wound us, but it is ultimately a healing process in our life. Ps. 141, Heb. 12
God is a god of feasting, because He wants fellowship with His people, not the drudgery of religious servitude.. Is. 25, Jn. 2
We need not be afraid of the difficulties that we can see before us, because God tells us that He will go before us and destroy our enemies and deliver them up to us. Deut. 31, Josh. 1
We sometimes have to learn from experience, but sometimes we can learn from the experiences of others, and from the Word of God. Ps. 145
Liberty is not a license for anarchy; it comes with a responsibility to live righteous. Gal. 5
We are conditioned to believe that what we want ot think is right, but the counsel of the Word of God is the only legitimate criteria. Prov. 1, 12, Ps. 119
Justin Roe fills in this morning. We want to draw near to God and keep our ears open to hear what He is saying to the church. Jn. 17, Rev. 2, Lk. 15, 1 Jn. 2, Col. 2.
God takes His promises seriously. His power transcends all things, so He isn't limited by the things that we could understand or imagine. Is. 40
We often confuse God's reproofs and corrections as something negative, when they are actually instructions about how to do it right. Prov. 10, Deut. 30
While we can feel faith, at the core faith is a choice to believe the word God in spite of circumstance or appearance or feeling . Mt. 8, Jas. 1, Heb. 3, 4
God starts a work in our life, and while we are a participant in it, we are powerless to finish it in our flesh. Gal. 3
God gives us His commandments not to restrict us or ruin our party, but for our good always. Deut. 8
God gives us the privilege of becoming His children; we can choose to go on into Sonship. Jn. 1, 2 Cor. 4, Rom. 8
Happiness is a lot to do with our circumstances, but joy and something that transcends them. Ps. 100, 2 Chron. 20
Offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to God is the most reasonable thing we could do. Rom. 12, Phil. 2
The Bible says that we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ, so our life is about Him and not us. Col. 3
When we let Jesus' mind replace our own, the whole church can come into unity. Phil. 2, 1 Cor. 2
God seals His people both to show that we belong to Him and to preserve us. Eph. 1, Is. 43, 2 Cor. 1
The Bible teaches us to expect difficult things along our path, but that we shouldn't necessarily always equate difficulty with consequences for our mistakes. 1 Pet. 4, Mal. 3, Ps. 12
It's often in the most difficult places that we find the depths of God's keeping power, and he turns our pit experiences into a well. 2 Sam. 23, Is. 51
Jesus is the way, both the path, and the manner of life we follow on that path. Jn. 14, Is. 30, Jer. 6, Mt. 11
The love of God makes choice for us, and we get to make choice for Him. 1 Jn. 4, 1 Jn. 5
Modern Christianity has assumed that coming into perfection is somehow presumptuous, when the New testament spells out plainly that that is God's intention for us, because the Bible says we are created in the image of Him. Col. 1, Rom. 8, Eph. 4.
Surrender is not a scary thing, the blessings of God follow. God knows how to get the stuff done that He wants done in our lives. Lk. 9, Phil. 2, Phil. 1.
We often feel that if we could see God face to face, He would have something negative to say, but just like Jacob, God usually has a surprise for us. Gen. 32, Gen. 33, Jer. 29
God teaches us to examine our selves in humility because He's more concerned about what's inside than the outside Jas. 3
God wants the world to see Him in the church. He also wants us to remember where we came from. Tit. 3
When we invite God to live inside of us, He deals with our issues. The fire of the Holy Ghost burns out the bad things in our life without destroying us. 1 Kin. 18, Ps. 20
Your body will let you know when you need water; your spirit will let you know when you need God's living water. Ps. 63
The word of God gives us liberty to do lots of things, but not everything is profitable. We need the spirit of God to help us determine the difference. 1 Cor. 10, 1 Cor. 6
We have an adversary that would have us focus on our problems, rather than on Jesus. we want to be sure, however, that we are actually looking to Jesus and not how focusing on how well are we hanging on to Him. Heb. 12, Heb. 2, Mt. 14
God talks about Himself like water, because He is essential to life. He is a continuous source that we can go to throughout our entire life. Jer. 2, Jer. 17, Jn. 4
God knows how to satisfy the longing soul, not always with what we would like, but what He knows we need. God is not limited by whether or not we could figure out how He would answer our prayers. Num. 11, Gen. 18, Gen. 21
Jesus came to fulfill the law; God's expectation is that we will keep His commandments. Love is a choice we make when we keep the commandments. Jn. 13
God has made a covenant with us, which has requirements on both sides. Is. 55, Ps. 89, Jer. 29
God requires obedience, but the choice to obey is still left for us to choose. Love makes that choice easier. Deut. 6, Job 36.
The life of Peter teaches us a lot about failure and success. Mk. 14, Jn. 2, Jn. 18, Lk. 22
God is the impetus behind the willingness and the performance of our good works, but you still have to choose to work with Him. Phil. 2, 2 Cor. 3, Heb. 8.
We don't need to be afraid of uncertainty, because God said He would never leave is or forsake us. Heb. 13, Gen. 28, Deut. 31, 1 Chron. 28, Mt. 10
Jealousy is not just a paranoid mistrust, but also a fierce protective possessiveness. God has that kind of jealousy over His people. Jn. 2
God's expectation for us is that we will not continue in sin. He wants us to value cost He paid for our salvation and perform our side of the covenant. Rom. 6, Heb. 12, Deut. 30.
God makes His expectation clear to us, and that He's more concerned about what's in our heart than what we display on the outside. Ps. 15, Is. 33, Is. 35
Faith is not really quantifiable. Even when wrestle with God's promises, yet He abides faithful. Gen. 15, Gen. 17, Gen. 18, Gen. 21, Rom. 4, Heb. 11.
When we come to the end of our abilities, we learn to hold on to God to get His blessing. He intends for us to rule with Him by His authority. Gen. 32, Eph. 1, Col. 2.
God understands the things we go through because He came to live in the flesh and experience them Himself. Heb. 2, Heb. 4, Is. 54, 1 Pet. 4.
God deals with our issues out of love and mercy, because He wants to save us from the consequences of sin and iniquity.. 2 Chron. 36, Jer. 50
God is faithful to complete the work He begins in us, and when we hold to Him, He makes our life come together. Phil. 1, Ps. 37.
Showing God our appreciation is an important part of our walk; gratitude must be intentionally cultivated. Ps. 107, Ps. 50, Ps. 100.
Resisting our adversary has more to do with outlasting him than it does with merely refuting his attacks. 1Pet.5, Jer.17, Eph.6
No matter what the adversary brings against us to take away our victory, God's keeping power remains. 2 Tim. 2, Rom. 8.
The circumcision of God is one of the primary differences between what God does and mere religion. Josh. 5, Rom. 2, Phil. 3.
David found a stronghold for himself when Saul chased him, but the stronghold was not a physical place, but hidden away in the Word of God. 1 Sam. 21, Ps. 34, Ps. 56, 1 Sam. 30, Rom. 8.
The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. It's imperative that we filter the things that we say by the standard of the Word of God. Eph.5, Mt.12., Col.3, Jas.3.
God wants to bless His people, but He requires obedience. Moses pleads one last time with Israel before his death. Deut. 28, 30.
God proves us to try our faith, whether by His testing, or by allowing us to be tempted and fought against, but in either case, He works it out for our good. Gen. 22, Jas. 1, Heb. 11.
We have an adversary who wants to take advantage of our honest desire to please God and use it against us to bring condemnation. The Word of God helps us sort through those things. Rom. 8, Is. 50, Heb. 12, Heb.4.
God showed us His image in the person of Christ. He then imparts His nature to us that we also might bear His image and grow into the resemblance of His family. Col. 1, Rom. 8.
We often use the phrase, "fallen from grace" to mean living in sin or some other bad thing, but an examination of what Paul said to the Galatians tells us something different. Gal.5, Eph.2.