On Friday Nights at 7:00 PM we are now using the HOPE curriculum instead of the RU Recovery curriculum. We will begin calling our group meeting Hope Ministry.  In our studies we will be studying the eight virtues of 2 Peter 1 and Fifteen Bible Truths. Today, I am writing about Bible Truth #1 - Only God Knows How to Make Life Work. All are welcome to join us on Friday nights for this study. You will receive free study materials.

God wants you to have an abundant life. Those who only receive a secular education miss what God says about life. God wants you to have a life that is truly satisfying – a prosperous life in His service. Since God created us, there is no better source than to go to the Creator God.

1.     God gives us His instruction manual for life – The Bible. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (KJV) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

a.     God gives us rules for living: The Ten Commandments, Jesus’ teachings including the Sermon on the Mount, the epistles (New Testament letters), etc

b.     Besides giving us rules for living, God gives us historical examples of the faith or lack thereof many men and women, that we might learn from them

c.      God gives us songs and poetry that affects our spirit and soul and magnify God.

d.     He gave us Proverbs for wise living.

2.     God not only gives us His instruction manual, He comes into our life and empowers us to live it. When we become a Christian God infuses us with His Life. Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

3.     We receive God’s wisdom to be able to serve God successfully and to know how to respond to life’s challenges. James 3:17 (KJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

4.     Many of the problems we face in this life are due to our lack of good communication skills. God gives us interpersonal communication skills: The fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

WARNINGS AGAINST MAN’S PHILOSOPHIES

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 (KJV) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Jeremiah 10:23 (KJV) O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

How can this Bible truth help you Put Off destructive Entanglements?

THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN SAY ABOUT THIS BIBLE TRUTH. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US ON FRIDAY EVENINGS TO LEARN MORE.