Author Archives: bedundon

Trusting God (#871)

871 – Trusting God

We’re going to start a new series this week on trusting God. As you know God gave us freedom of will, and God really can’t do anything for us if we don’t accept and trust what He said. We see many examples of this in life, for instance if you and I agreed to meet for lunch and you didn’t trust that I’d show up, you probably wouldn’t go and we wouldn’t meet for lunch. Another example that is often used is that of a chair, where if you don’t trust that the chair will hold your weight you probably won’t sit in it. We’ll get review many records in the coming weeks where trusting God is a key; today is the warmup. Let get started in Ruth…
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150503. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Ruth 2:11-12                 The Lord, under whose wings thou art come to trust
2 Sam 22:1-7,18-20     The God of my rock, in him will I trust
2 Kings 18:1-8               Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel
2 Kings 18:19-30           Rabshakeh tried to turn them from trusting God
Psalms 5:1-12                Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice
Psalms 9:9-10                Thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee
Psalms 18:2                    The Lord is my rock, in whom I will trust
Teaching
871 – Trust God

 

The Tree, The Cross, and the Spirit (#870)

870 – The Tree, The Cross, and the Spirit
The last time we met we talked about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Many years ago I bumped into so many Christians who thought and taught that the crucifixion was the most important thing to focus on in Christianity.  So I decided to take a look at that and see what the scripture says.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150419. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
I Cor. 1:1-2       Christ crucified is important, but not the only part
Mat. 28:1-10    He is risen
“Cross” not used in Acts
“Tree” used three times:
Acts 2:22, 23 – raised up – both Lord & Christ
Acts 2:35 (23) –   ”    ”     ”    ”      ”
Acts 4:10 – God raised
Cross – not used in Acts (tree: three times)
Resurrection – 10 times in Acts
Spirit – 68-70 times in Acts
Acts 1:1-11, 21-22
vs. 3 – alive
vss. 4-8 – gift of holy spirit
vs. 9 – ascension
vs. 11 – return
Acts 4:1-2, 31-33 – preached resurrection
I Peter 1:3 – lively hope
Teaching
870 – The Tree, The Cross, and the Spirit

He is Risen (#869)

He is Risen! (#869)
Today on most calendars is called Easter, some of us call it Resurrection Sunday.  Whatever we call it, it is a day to rejoice; when we celebrate that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.  On this day God accomplished many things, including proving to the world He could raise someone from the dead.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150405. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Luke 24:1-8        Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Acts 1:22             A witness of his resurrection
Acts 4:33              And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all
Acts 17:16-21      He preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection
Acts 17:31-32      He hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked
Gal. 3:13               Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
Heb. 9:12              By his own blood he obtained eternal redemption for us
Exod. 12:1-11       The Lord’s Passover
Mat. 8:16-17        Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses
Mat. 26:26-28      The cup and the bread
John 1:29              Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world
I Cor. 5:7               Christ our passover is sacrificed for us
I Cor. 10:16          The cup and the bread
I Cor. 11:23-26    This do in remembrance of me
I Peter 2:24          By whose stripes ye were healed
Teaching
869 – He is Risen!

What we can Choose (#868)

What we can Choose (#868)

Today we’ll take a brief look at Predestination and Freedom of will; the full class will taught in a couple of weeks (now available here).  Throughout the history of Christianity this topic has been very controversial; for example some believe that God controls everything in our lives, even the bad things that occur; yet it is very clear in the scriptures that God gives us choices, He gave us freedom of will.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150301. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Gen 2:15-17; 3:1ff    Adam was given a command, and chose to disobey it
Deut 28                      The blessings and the curse of the law
Jer 42ff                        God provided them a way of safety, which they rejected
Jonah 3-4                    God gave Nineveh a chance to repent, which they did
Rom 10:9-10               If thou shalt confess (acknowledge), thou shalt be saved
Teaching
What we can Choose (30:47)

New Beginnings: Fellowship is the Secret (#867)

New Beginnings: Fellowship is the Secret (#867)

Today we continue our series on New Beginnings.  Over the last several weeks we’ve studied various aspects on Prayer.  I’ve found that fellowship is the key element in prayer.   We know this from people we deal with, in business, our friendships, and in our families; whether it be father/son, brother/sister, uncle/nephew relation, we know that just because someone has a blood tie it doesn’t mean they get along or agree with another.  This getting along and agreeing with one another is what we often call fellowship.  In the scriptures we see this too, where people who are born again, and who now have that father/son relationship with God, if they don’t continue to love God and trust God, then the fellowship — the communication is lacking.  We find the principle key in a successful Christian life is fellowship with the heavenly Father.

Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150215. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
The principle key in a successful Christian life is fellowship with the heavenly Father.  Christians manifest the more abundant life in direct proportion to the fellowship they keep with Him.  We receive sonship when we are born again.  But sustained fellowship depends upon the renewing of our minds according to His Word.
II Cor. 5:21         Through the new birth, we are righteous.
John 5:24            We have eternal life – no waiting to find out!
Romans 8:1a      No condemnation.
I John 1:7            Walk in the light.
Fellowship is the one thing that makes for a happy situation both in a human and in a spiritual family.
John 15:5            Renewing the mind brings much fruit.
When a son is out of fellowship with God, he is not able to get prayers answered. God is not unwilling to answer His son’s request, but the broken fellowship on the part of the son leaves his confidence in God shaky and uncertain.
I John 3:21,22    Confidence toward God.
Whenever and wherever sons fail to get prayers answered the cause is broken fellowship, either from not knowing or not living The Word. God is faithful who has promised and He will bring it to pass; thus, if it does not come to pass it is due to a flaw on the man’s part.
When a son of God is out of fellowship with his heavenly Father, nothing will work; but when fellowship is restored, things begin to operate.
I John 1:3-2:2,2:6  For born again ones, sin is broken fellowship.
Sonship is God’s permanent relationship with us.
Fellowship is our continued relationship with God.
Romans 12:2        Not conformed to this world.
Phil. 2:5                 Put on the thoughts of Christ.
Col. 3:16                Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
To the extent that The Word richly dwells in us we have fellowship with God. To the extent that we believe and act according to God’s Word, our lives will be full, rich and fruitful because our fellowship with God is strong. We then have confidence toward God. When we know and live His Word we are doing His will.
Teaching

New Beginnings: Fellowship is the Secret (#867)

New Beginnings: The Importance of Prayer (#866)

New Beginnings: The Importance of Prayer (#866)

We continue our series on New Beginnings. As you may recall, we have been focusing on prayer, the last two teachings covered Praying with Believing and Law of Believing. Today we’ll take a little diversion and look at the importance of prayer. The scripture has many references to prayer and stresses its importance. As you know there are many aspects to Christian life and things we can focus on; should we focus on speaking God’s word to people, reading the Bible, financial stewardship or any of the other aspects of Christian life? Regardless of what we chose to focus on, prayer is central all of them.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150201. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Mat. 5:44                     Pray for them which despitefully use you
Mat. 6:5-8                   He knows our need, yet we are to pray
Mat. 9:35-38               Pray that he will send forth laborers
Mat. 14:22-25             He went into a mountain to pray, then walked on water
Mat. 23:1-14               Pharisees for a pretence made long prayer
Mark 1:35                    Rising up a great while before day, he prayed
Luke 5:12-16               He withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed
Luke 18:1-8                 Men ought always to pray and not to faint
Teaching
866 – New Beginnings – The Importance of Prayer

New Beginnings: The Law of Believing (#865)

New Beginnings: The Law of Believing (#865)

Last teaching as you might recall we started a new series, on new beginnings where we covered Praying with Believing. Today we’ll cover this topic in more detail, where we’ll look at the Law of Believing. We call it a law because, God guarantees it. Just like gravity it is reliable and works all the time.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 201501018. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Mark 9:14-27              If you can believe.
Children:
Matt. 15:22-28          Canaanite woman believed for daughter.
Demented persons:
Luke 4:33-36             Man with unclean spirit in synagogue.
Dead people:
Acts 9:36-42              Peter prayed, Dorcas raised.
Two types of believing:
Mat. 9:22                   Woman with issue of blood healed.
Job 3:25                     Fear brought disaster. Later, believing restored all.
Synchronized life:
Mark 11:23-24          Do not doubt in heart.
(Mat. 12:34                Out of the abundance of the heart.)
Romans 8:35-39       Persuaded – confession (practical   key).
Heb. 4:2                     Mixed with believing.
II Cor. 10:3-5             Every thought to the obedience of Christ – Synchronized with God’s Word.
What we confess with our mouths will eventually make it into our hearts. What we believe in our hearts determines what we receive in our daily living. We need to synchronize our words, our actions, and our thoughts with God’s Word in order to walk in the deliverance to which God has called us
Teaching
865- New Beginnings: Law of Believing

New Beginnings: Pray with Believing (#864)

New Beginnings: Pray with Believing (#864)
For the last couple of years, we’ve focused on practical living.  We’ll still focus on what is practical and be living, but at least for the next few months we’ll focus on New Beginnings.  It has been a few years since we covered this, so we’ll look at an important concept — that of prayer with believing.  Since God doesn’t control our lives and won’t overcome our freedom of will, we need to pray and ask God for help if we want Him to help us.   And when we pray to God, we need to actually believe that He will actually help us — we need to pray with believing.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20150104. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
I John 5:13-15            If we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us
Mat. 21:19-22            Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Mark 11:13-24           When ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them
II Cor. 9:8                   God is able to provide sufficiency in all things
Phil. 4:19                    My God shall supply all your need
III John 3                     God’s will is health and prosperity
Rom 8:37-39              In all these things we are more than conquerors
II Cor 2:14                  God always causes us to triumph in Christ
II Kings 4:1-7             God provided through the vessels of oil.
Teaching

864 New Beginnings – Pray with Believing

Practical Living: Turn Arounds, Part 7 – Mary and Joseph (#863)

Practical Living: Turn Arounds, Part 7 – Mary and Joseph (#863)
Today, we’ll continue our series on turnarounds, where we’ll read about Mary and Joseph, which is an appropriate record to cover this time of year.  We’ll look at several of the records covering the birth of Jesus Christ.  We’ll see that God gives several people big responsibilities (Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and some others).  We’ll also see that when God gives you a job to do he also gives you what you need to get the job done.  We probably have examples of something similar where we work; for instance, a moving company that needs to make a delivery, will provide the delivery operator with a truck and perhaps even helpers and a forklift operator so he can get the job done.  Whatever is needed is provided.  Let’s take a look at these records of the birth of Jesus Christ and see how God provided what was needed.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20141221. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Luke 1:26-56               Gabriel brings a message to Mary…
Matt 2                          After Jesus was born, wise men came searching for him.
Teaching

863-Practical-Living-Turnarounds-Part-7-Mary-and-Joseph

Practical Living: Turn Arounds, Part 6 – Joseph (#862)

Practical Living: Turn Arounds, Part 6 – Joseph (#862)
Today, we’ll continue our series on turnarounds.   Today we’ll read about Joseph, who was the son of Jacob (Jacob was the son of Issac, who was the son Abraham).  Joseph, the first-born son of Rachel, was his father’s favorite son and Jacob gave him a coat of many colors.  God also favored Joseph and was with him (God’s Spirit was upon him), and gave him a dream of the future.  When Joseph shared this dream with his brothers they were jealous, conspired against him, and sold him into slavery.  But the LORD was with Joseph and caused him to prosper in spite of difficult circumstances.  Let’s look at these records.
Taught by Bruce Mahone on 20141207. All rights reserved.
Verse Listing and Notes
Gen 37               Joseph sold into slavery
Gen 39               The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy (chesed – steadfast love, lovingkindness) (vs. 21), thrown into prison
Gen 40               In prison. Pharaoh’s dreams
Gen. 45:1-15     Joseph with his brothers
Gen. 50:15-23   Joseph forgave those who tried to kill him, then sold him into slavery by looking to God
Teaching

862 Practical Living Turn Arounds, Part 6 – Joseph