These 7 keys have made a significant impact on my life. For post click here.
I will be on vacation with my wife the week beginning 5/27 and post some articles from other people and some of my favorite posts from 2013-present on https://thehlukejourney.wordpress.com/
Henry Luke
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click
This article is based on over 50 years of strategic planning and problem-solving experience. It has been very helpful for the young men I have discipled. For post click here.
I will be on vacation with my wife the week beginning 5/27 and post some articles from other people and some of my favorite posts from 2013-present click here
Henry Luke
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
This was the 3rd post on my new blog in August 2013 and one of my favorites.
For “22 Amazing Changes that occurs when a person believes in Jesus” click here.
I will be on vacation with my wife the week beginning 5/27 and post some articles from other people and some of my favorite posts from 2013-present here
Henry Luke
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
Posted May 22, 2018 by Sean McDowell SeanMcDowell.org
“As a lawyer and former Muslim, Murray has a unique approach to cultural issues today. He has a new book out called Saving Truth—and it’s fantastic. This is timely book that is a must-read for thoughtful Christians who want to be equipped to respond to some of the most important issues today.
MCDOWELL: You have a chapter called, “Clarity about Freedom.” What is the connection between truth and freedom?
MURRAY: This really is the heart of the book and the core confusion in our post-truth world. The hallmark of Western culture has been the pursuit and maintenance of freedom. But in the past few decades, we’ve really misunderstood freedom. We’ve stopped talking about freedom and have really valued autonomy. Freedom and autonomy are not synonyms. Autonomy comes from two Greek words, autos meaning self and nomos meaning law. When we are autonomous, we are a law unto ourselves. That means each of us can do whatever we want to.”
For the rest of this answer and four more click here.
I will be on vacation with my wife the week beginning 5/27 and post some articles from other people and some of my favorite posts from 2013 to the present here
Henry Luke
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For devotionals, the best verse of the week, questions, and lessons; see this link SummerDailyDevotional2018
For Summer 2018 Memory Verses click here. Last update 8/26/2018
#13 – 8/26/2018 – Disciplined – 2 Samuel 24 & 1 Chronicles 21 – The consequences of sin should lead to repentance. 8-26-2018 Disciplined 2 Samuel 24
#12 – 8/19/2018 – Thankful – 2 Samuel 22 & Psalm 18 -God is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving for His provisions in this life and eternity. – 8-19-2018 Thankful – 2 Samuel 23 & Psalm 18
#11 – 8/12/2018 – Resolved – God provides direction and strength through prayer when His people face trying times. – 8-12-2018 Resolved 2 Samuel 21
#10 – 8/5/2018 – Averted – God uses the skills of people to accomplish His purposes – 8-5-2018 Averted 2 Samuel 20
#9 – 7/29/2018 -My Personal Bible Study notes – 7-29-2018 Bible study notes
#8 – 7/22/2018 – Deposed & Restored – Selfish ambition dishonors God and fosters unwarranted fear – 2 Samuel 15-19 7-22-2018 Deposed & Restored – 2 Samuel 15-19
#7 – 7/15/2018 – Grieved – God established the family for loving relationships; sin destroys them – 2 Samuel 13-14 – 7-15-2018 Grieved – 2 Samuel 13-14
#6 – 7/8/2018 – 2 Samuel 11-12 – Accountable – God holds all people accountable for their sins – 7-8-2018 Accountable – 2 Samuel 11-12
#5 – 7/1/2018 – 2 Samuel 8-10 – People Valued – God is honored when we extend kindness to others – 7-1-2018 Valued – 2 Samuel 8-9
#4 – 6/24/2018 – House of David Established – 2 Samuel 7 – For lesson notes and extensive footnotes/research see this link 6-24-2018 House of David Established – 2 Samuel 7
#3 – 6/17/2018 – Celebrated – 2 Samuel 5-6 – God’s works and presence are to be celebrated and remembered by His people – 6-17-2018 Celebrated – 2 Samuel 5-6
#2 – 6/10/2018 – Crowned – 2 Samuel 2:8-4:12 – God honors leaders who are committed to His purpose 6-10-2018 Crowned 2 Samuel 3-4
#1 – 6/3/2018 – Respected – 2 Samuel 1-2 – God calls individuals to lead His people, and they should be honored as such. 6-3-2018 Respected aa
2 Corinthians 4:18b the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For Part 1 click here.
Henry Luke 5/27/2018
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For other similar posts, click on “2 Corinthians 4-9-12” in Tags below.
ch.1 – Enjoying and sharing God’s Comfort – Temporal – Praying one time for a person requesting prayer and then forgetting or Eternal – The comfort God gives in your affliction makes you able to be used by God to comfort “those who are in any kind of affliction” and pray.
ch.4-5 – Displaying the Gospel – Temporal – I am afraid to witness or Eternal – Believers can face life with confidence, knowing that the power of the gospel can be revealed through unworthy, weak and frail Disciples.
ch.5-6 – Becoming New – Temporal – I don’t have time to spend worshipping Jesus and praying to prepare my heart for living and witnessing or Eternal – I spend more than 30 minutes every day in bible study and prayer and am actively being a reconciler, ambassador, discipler and witness for Jesus instead of ignoring my “marvelous gift” of salvation from God?
[2 Corinthians 5:19, 20, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, A discipler makes new disciples, encourages them to be baptized and teaches them so they can repeat the cycle with some else. 2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT]
Henry Luke 5/26/2018
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For other similar posts, click on “2 Corinthians 4-9-12” in Tags below.
2 Corinthians 12:7c-10..7c-e there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—… 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
A fact cannot be changed except by miraculous intervention by God. He will give you the grace to accept it or supernaturally change it. But, God can give you His wisdom, courage and knowledge to solve problems. A
Paul implored the Lord 3 times to remove the thorn. Implored is a strong word to use with the Lord, maybe indicating the seriousness of this thorn. God told Paul you don’t have a problem but a fact which you have to live with for the rest of your life–[25 years].
God said to Paul “my grace is sufficient for you”. The power of Jesus dwelled in Paul’s life and is revealed through the weakness of Paul. You may say how? Paul kept proclaiming the gospel; “10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When faced with an unchangeable fact the best choice is go to the cross of Jesus and commit to live a Jesus-centered life filled with thankfulness, strength, the fruit of the Holy Spirit all the time and helpfulness to others in facts and problems in their lives. B The opposite choice of self-centeredness leads to self-pity, anger, and bitterness and just yields more thorns for yourself and others.
Who or what do you turn to when faced with the facts and problems of life? Either turn to Temporal things – self-pity, bitterness, depression, drugs, wine, and others or Eternal things – God for comfort, strength, wisdom, and guidance.
Notes: A- For how to solve problems click here; B- For how the God of all comfort can use our afflictions to help others click here.
Henry Luke 5/25/2018
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For other similar posts, click on “2 Corinthians 4-9-12” in Tags below.
2 Corinthians 12:2,4,7a..2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man… 4b heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 7a-c Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh,
The man in v.2 was Paul. Paul was referring to a revelation near the end of his time in Tarsus. [A]
Paul could not describe how he received this revelation and was not permitted to speak of it because of its greatness. Paul’s soul was eternally alive but lived in a sinful body just like believers today. Therefore God knowing Paul was subject to the temptation of exalting himself “there was given me a thorn in the flesh,” to keep him humble and totally dependent on Jesus. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10, for 9 reasons for troubles in your life click here]
V.8 Paul ask the Lord 3 times that the thorn be removed, but God answered: 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Are any of your troubles “thorns in the flesh” to keep you humble? If so are you being bitter – Temporal or thankful – Eternal?
Notes: A- After his miraculous salvation Paul went into Arabia to receive the knowledge of Jesus and the gospel directly. Then after 3 years he went to Jerusalem, then to Tarsus and finally Paul was brought to Antioch by Barnabas after 43AD. Barnabas went to Antioch in 43AD. The revelation occurred, “14 years ago”, about 43AD since 2 Corinthians was written in 57AD. [Acts 9:26-30,11:22-26, Timeline]
Henry Luke 5/24/2018
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For other similar posts, click on “2 Corinthians 4-9-12” in Tags below.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11.. 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
I grew up on small farm and recognize the example from agriculture. If we invest sparingly in a situation, whether money or time or whatever, we can’t expect much to come out of it. If we invest generously, we can expect a larger return. The generosity of Disciples is from love for Jesus; however we are reminded in both the OT & NT that giving is in our best interests. When we receive extra money we are tempted to think of self and temporal realities instead of Jesus and eternal realities. We think temporally about how we can use the money for our comfort, pleasure or life-style.
The last book in the Old Testament said: “10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”” [v.10 from Malachi 3:8-10]
New Testament grace giving is the tithe plus offerings: 23 For you tithe … and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others…[Matthew 23:23]. Jesus dramatically increased these commands in the NT under grace, [for 3 examples click Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 43-44 ]
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; [ 2 Corinthians 9:8]
When we give by grace, God by His grace gives us the material possessions sufficient to increase our good deeds as well as meeting our needs, but not necessarily our wants. Unfortunately many times we take His material blessings and spend them all on ourselves. [Luke 6:38]
Temporal – I earned the money and I can spend it any way I want to or Eternal – Grace giving is multiplied providing the opportunity for increased giving and for thankfulness to God from the beneficiaries of our gifts.
Henry Luke 5/23/2018
For how to have peace with God click here, how to have peace of God click here, and how to disciple others click here
For other similar posts, click on “2 Corinthians 4-9-12” in Tags below.
My Personal Journey by Henry Luke 