Bible Study - The Budding of the Tree - Matthew 24:1-51 - November 9, 2025

Bible Study – The Budding of the Tree – November 9, 2025

JESUS’ disciples asked JESUS an important question which we, today, would like to know the answer, especially in light of today’s world events. Is the bud on the tree indicating the preparation for the return of JESUS to rapture the true believers from earth?

What did JESUS say about this question?

Mathew 24:1-51:

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. ² He replied to them, “Do you see all these things?

JESUS referred to the well-built temple buildings.

“Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”

The Jewish temple was destroyed on 70 AD by the Romans.

JESUS enlightens HIS disciples about the end of time.

Each generation of people, especially Christians, look around and wonder is the end of earth being fulfilled.

JESUS’ disciples wanted to know and so do we --- let’s explore!

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he (JESUS) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Since JESUS had already come, so their question focused on, “When are YOU planning to establish YOUR eternal rule upon earth.”

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. ⁶ You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines^[a] and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these events are the beginning of labor pains.

Deception is a key indicator, also recorded in Matthew 24:24:

For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Know GOD’S Word and be prepared to know the truth in HIS Word versus carefully crafted twists on the truth in GOD’S WORD.

Persecutions Predicted – Matthew 24:9-

⁹ “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰ Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world^[b] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation

¹⁵ “So when you see the abomination of desolation,^[c] spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ A man on the housetop^[d] must not come down to get things out of his house, ¹⁸ and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. ¹⁹ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great distress,^[e] the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. ²² Unless those days were cut short, no one would^[f] be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.

²³ “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note: I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures^[g] will gather.

Deception or Deceivers will increase.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[h] will mourn;^[i] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

This will be an unmistakable happening.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

³² “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize^[j] that he^[k] is near—at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son^[l] —except the Father alone. ³⁷ As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. (Keep in mind that GOD shut the door of the ark.) ³⁹ They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[m] your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[n] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

No one knows except our FATHER/GOD. Stay ready to meet JESUS be it in death or HIS coming!

Faithful Service to Christ

⁴⁵ “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

JESUS is coming again am I ready? Are you ready? If you have not asked JESUS to come into your heart, consider asking HIM by saying a prayer similar to this:

Dear JESUS, I thank YOU for coming to earth to be tempted in all ways as humans are tempted yet without sin. Thank YOU for giving YOUR sinless life to atone for all my sin, by the shedding of YOUR blood on the cross. As guaranteed by YOUR resurrection from death on the third day, is proof that YOU conquered eternal death for all who place their trust and faith in YOU.

If you prayed this or such a prayer, then thank JESUS for saving you from the penalty for sin, which is Hell, and for JESUS coming into your heart.

What does asking JESUS to come into your heat mean to you?

You have been born again. You were born human, and you have been born-again in your spirit to be eternal through faith in JESUS and your new eternal home is Heaven. You have The Holy Spirit in you WHO will lead and guide you as you continue life upon earth. Before your body dies, your “born-again” Spirit will exit your earth suit and go to heaven to be eternally with GOD and other born-again believers who have gone before you.

No person knows when JESUS will take all “Spirit-born” believers out of earth in the rapture of the church.

One thing sure, all humans will die one day, and they will either go to Heaven or Hell according to GOD’S Word, The Bible.

I like what a former pastor had to say about the end. He believed in the Pan theory. It was all going to Pan out in the end. Stay tuned! The best is yet to come!

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

Bible Study - Discovery of GOD - 1 Peter 1:24-25; Genesis 1:1; 1:24-25; Ephesians 1:1-14 - November 2, 2025

Bible Study – Discovery of GOD – 1 Peter 1:24-25; Genesis 1:1; 1:24-25; Ephesians 1:1-14 – November 2, 2025

The journey discovering GOD.

1 Peter 1:24-25 (Christian Standard Bible) 

For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

Let’s read Genesis 1:1-5:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[a]

² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

Notice that the earth was “formless and empty, dark” but what did it have? Water. Water was and is vital for what GOD had in HIS mind. Yes, GOD could create water but the presence of water on a ball of earth materials indicated that it contained the right combination of materials to support all life that GOD had in HIS mind.

Yes, GOD being GOD created this exactly right blob of materials to accomplish what HE had in HIS mind. We get insight from what GOD told Moses about how it all began. We have the joy of exploring “In the beginning.”  

An acquaintance of mine was involved with space activities and was a fellow Christian who knew The Bible. He said that the statement “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” was like NASA getting ready to launch a space craft on a long journey. GOD was “hovering” or checking out every minute detail before launch. It had to be perfect.

What GOD had done met HIS approval and upon meeting HIS approval, GOD said “Let there be light – WOW!!! – there was light. GOD ignited the sun, which gave off its light and heat, which was used to benefit formation of earth and to sustain its intended inhabitants both plant, animal, and human.

To me there seems to be a pause before GOD implemented HIS next step.

Genesis 1: ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

There was light. If you shine a heat lamp on a watery mass, what would happen? It would begin to dry the material upon which the intense light was hitting. Now, at the right time, which only GOD knew, what did HE do?

GOD, “separated the light from the darkness.”

What did that do?

At just the right time, GOD commanded the watery mass to “rotate.”

What would that do?

GOD being GOD knew that physics would take over at HIS command. There would be centrifugal and centripetal forces taking place. Centrifugal force pushes outward and, in a circle, and centrifugal force pulls inward and in a circle.

The result is a mud ball called earth for GOD’S creation to inhabit upon completion. In further study, you will notice what GOD created each day supported what HE planned for the next day. Why?

GOD desired free thinking people who would be free thinkers who would choose to honor HIM.

GOD allowed Satan to test HIS creation, which takes place in the Garden of Eden.

GOD’S formed people failed the onslaught of Satan but as we read in John 3:16: For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Isn’t GOD amazing!

Let’s fast forward to The Apostle Paul.

As you recall, Saul/Paul was a staunch Jew and was on the road to Damascus to arrest Christians when he encountered JESUS. After encountering JESUS, Paul became a stalwart believer and follower of JESUS.

What do we learn from The Apostle Paul, as we read Ephesians 1:1-14:

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:

To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus^[a] at Ephesus.^[b]

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

GOD’S foreknowledge allows GOD to know, if and when a person chooses to trust JESUS as his or her Savior and experience the miracle of Spiritual Birth or being “born again” Spiritually. A person’s second birth through faith in JESUS is eternal and the person who places his/her faith in JESUS and HIS Passion are Spiritually Born into the family of GOD, never to be unborn Spiritually. Let’s continue reading what The Apostle Paul wrote ----

⁷ In him (JESUS) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

WHO is a person’s guarantee? THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! The third person of the Trinity.

Do you have the guarantee of The HOLY SPIRIT?

If not, you may pray something like this:

Dear JESUS, I thank YOU for giving YOUR sinless life to pay for all of my sins in full and I ask YOU to come into my heart and make me whole through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

Thank YOU!!!

Blessings!!!

 

 

Bible Study - Life's Interruptions - Hebrews 11:9-19 - October 26, 2025

Bible Study – Life’s Interruptions – Hebrews 11:9-19 – October 26, 2025

The Christian faith is based upon faith in the ONE TRUE GOD, Yahweh (YHWH).

The foundation of the Jewish religion and Christian faith goes back to Abraham the “Father of Faith” who was called by the One True GOD to go to a land that GOD would show him. He responded out of faith and trust in GOD.

It is interesting that Abram/Abraham’s father, Terah, was a maker and worshipper of idols. Abram saw idols as objects that had no power. Yet there was something within Abram that opened his heart and mind to search and seek for truth.

GOD led Abram to go to a country that GOD would show him. Abram trusted in GOD’S calling and left Ur and headed to the Land as GOD led him.

Abram trusted GOD and responded accordingly. That is faith and GOD honors faith.

Abraham and Sarah did not have a child, and they were getting up in age.

Sarah had an Egyptian slave, Hagar. Sarah was barren and offered Hagar to Abraham so he would have an offspring. Doing so solved the “no ancestor” issue but created more issues still taking place today. Ishmael was the offspring of the union of Abraham and Hagar. The ancestors of Ishmael are the Arabs.

Finally, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac, the son of Abraham.

GOD led Abraham to take Isaac to Mount Moriah to be sacrificed. GOD provided a ram as a substitute. The site of the sacrifice of Isaac is later associated with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Scripture reveals the faith that Abraham had in The ONE TRUE GOD. Let’s explore!

This scripture was written as Abraham and Isaac were leaving to go to the mountain where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham knew what sacrifice meant. Isaac would be reduced to ashes, but Abraham had the faith in GOD, even though Isaac would be reduced to ashes, GOD would raise Isaac from those ashes and restore Isaac. They would return to Abraham’s servants who were waiting for Abraham and Isaac to return. NOW, that is faith in GOD.

This is what Abraham told his servants as he and Isaac were leaving to go to the Mountain to sacrifice Isaac - Genesis 22:5:

Then Abraham said to his young men (servants), “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”

Abraham was completely confident in his faith in GOD; this is the foundation of the Christian heritage which extends to and beyond eternity. WOW!!! What a heritage!!!

Isaac and his wife were having a problem conceiving. So, how did Isaac handle the problem: In Genesis 25:21-34, we read

²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. ²² The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So, she went to inquire of the Lord.

²³ The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.”

^{(Consider: What} is happening in the middle east today.)

²⁴ When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. ²⁵ The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.^[b] 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.^[c] Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

(A divided house often has family issues. However, in spite of family issues, GOD’S plans go forward.)

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished.”

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

(It is comforting to know that GOD’S plan for Jacob went forward. We also know that GOD changed Jacob’s heart. Being a Spirit-born Christian gives opportunity to GOD and JESUS to change the hearts of the people of earth. Our earth is in labor pains with all the turmoil.)

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank and then got up and left.

So, Esau despised his birthright.

Have you made a commitment to JESUS and not followed through? The only sin that will not be forgiven is blasphemy. As recorded in:

Matthew 12:31-32

Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.

Why the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit reveals truth and reveals our sins. When the Holy Spirit is blocked, it prevents The Holy Spirit from revealing truth, such as, revealing AS PERSON’S NEED FOR SALVATION.

Continual rejection results in the Harding of a person’s heart.

If you worry whether or not you have committed the sin of blasphemy, stop because if you have, you will not be concerned or worried. So, come back to GOD through faith in JESUS. GOD and JESUS are always open for someone to repent and come home. Recall the prodigal son!

Also remember Revelation 3:20 Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life for you to have eternal life through faith in HIM. The question is, do you accept it? The choice is yours to make.

JESUS had to trust GOD, HIS FATHER, to resurrect HIM from the physically dead. GOD raised JESUS from being dead, to being eternally alive on the third day. The resurrection of JESUS is the guarantee and proof that all who place their faith in JESUS, HIS passion, also guarantees all who die physically as “born-again” Christians will also not experience the death of their physical body. JESUS is not only the eternal hope for all peoples but their example.

All people have the opportunity to be “born-again” in their spirit to be Spiritually born into GOD’S Eternal Family. Never to be unborn!!!

GOD has invested HIS Word in us who have been human and “Born-again.” The HOLY SPIRIT is the guarantee of all “born-again” Christians.

We read in 2 Corinthians 4:7 - Treasure in Clay Jars

Now we have this treasure in clay jars (human body), so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

The “Good News” is that all “born-again” Christians exchange their corruptible body for an incorruptible/eternal body. NOW THAT IS GOOD NEWS!!!

GOD has chosen those of us who know the truth of the gospel of JESUS to tell others of this extraordinary Good News!

Dear FATHER and JESUS open our eyes and the eyes of all Spirit-born people to the opportunities to introduce others to this eternal Good News of JESUS. All who call upon The Name of JESUS will be made complete through the miracle of being “born-again” Spiritually into GOD’S eternal Family, never to be unborn Spiritually.

Once “Saved” always saved from Hell.

Now to our scripture Hebrews 11:8-19:

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called (By GOD – this is vital for any person serving GOD that he or she must be called by GOD. When GOD calls, HE also equips), obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By faith even Sarah (Abraham’s wife) herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she^[f] considered that the one who had promised was faithful. ¹² Therefore, from one man (Abraham)—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.

¹³ These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. This is every person’s status living upon earth.

The world is not our final home, it is but a passage to eternity.

¹⁴ Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, ¹⁸ the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring^[g] will be traced through Isaac.^[h] 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.^[i]

^[i] 11:19 Or back, as a foreshadowing, or as a type

How about those who are not of the Jewish lineage?

When a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, another miracle takes place. When a person is “Born-again” he or she is not only born again Spiritually but his/her citizenship and birth status is new, as we read in Romans 2:28-29: Brother Paul sheds light on the subject.

²⁸ For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. ²⁹ On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.^[l] That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

So, through faith in JESUS, those who are Spirit-born become completed Jews through Spiritual birth and inherit all that GOD has prepared for them that love HIM.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.

The Apostle Paul knew what was waiting for him at the end of his life upon earth, which he wrote in Ephesians 1:2-

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

It is vital that Christians remain focus on JESUS, salvation, and Spiritual growth. Spiritual Growth is vital for those who are blessed with Spiritual Gifts.

Regarding Spiritual Gifts, we must keep in mind that GOD gives to whom, HE chooses, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: (Pay special attention to verse 11, distributing to each person as HE wills. We can desire a certain Spiritual Gift, but GOD is the giver. Be open to our Heavenly FATHER for the Spiritual Gift or Gifts HE has for us at the proper time to be used for HIS Glory and as HE directs.)

⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: ⁸ to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues,^[b]  to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Focused on the Gifts of The Holy Spirit. Often, our ego gets caught up in having a certain Spiritual Gift or others want a certain Spiritual Gift. Our human nature takes over but seek to Glorify GOD. Let GOD’S Gift(s) come to you but stay ready to receive.

Rejoice!!!

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

The Greatest Return - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5;8 - October 19, 2025

 

The Greatest Return – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:8 – October 19, 2025

As I write this study, President Trump has wrapped up the peace deal in the middle east.

What a joy to witness all of hostages being returned to their homeland and loved ones welcoming them home. A picture of our homegoing when we exit this life upon earth.

I thought about our scripture and about the hostages being released in the middle east. What joy when the hostages got home!!! JESUS is coming again. What joy when those in CHRIST get home, through faith in JESUS. All people are sinners and as a result will not get to their final potential eternal destination, without faith in JESUS. Let’s explore!!!

I thought about earth. Earth, as we know it, is not the end point for the people of earth. The Bible reveals to Christians that they will go to Heaven when they die physically. Then at the instant GOD chooses, there will be a new heaven and earth to be the eternal home for all “born-again” Christians.

2 Peter 3:13

But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Revelation 21:1:

The New Creation               

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Some of the people of earth desire to be rescued. Others do not think there is anything beyond death or GOD deciding a person’s entrance into Heaven being based upon a person’s good outweighing his/her bad. That is nonsense. Eternity is not a guessing game. It is a fact. A person’s faith in JESUS, THE CHRIST, results in any person, the most egregious sinner, of any ethnic group, who places his/her faith in JESUS is born-again by the Holy Spirit and instantly becomes an eternal member of GOD’S Family.

JESUS had something a say about life after physical death:

John 11:25:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

2 Corinthians 5:8 Christian Standard Bible

⁸ In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

The “born-again” Christian will NOT experience the death of his/her physical body. The “born-again” persons’ citizenship is already in Heaven as confirmed in Philippians 3:20 - Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What other honor does the “born-again” Christian have according to:

2 Corinthians 5:20 Christian Standard Bible:

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Just as the Middle East welcomed their loved ones back home from captivity, there is great rejoicing when a sinner asks JESUS to forgive him/her for all his/her sin and asks JESUS to come into his/her life.

In essence, WELCOME HOME!!! When a person asks JESUS to forgive him/her for his/her sins and asks JESUS to come into his/her heart, HE does. It is all about the attitude of the heart. I have heard of some people saying “LORD JESUS, I give up. GOD knows a person’s heart. The person who was captured by sin is set free from the consequence of sin, which is Hell, when that person accepts JESUS a his/her Savior.

JESUS willing gave HIS sinless life for all who will place their faith in HIM and HIS eternal redemption that is secured by HIS sinless human life and HIS shed blood upon the cross.

If it stopped there, so what? But it doesn’t! JESUS willingly gave HIS life to pay, in full, for all the sins of the person of faith in JESUS and the fact that GOD, JESUS FATHER, raised JESUS from the dead to be the proof that all who place their faith in the passion of JESUS will also have eternal life.

This step of faith, results in a person being “born-again” in his/her spirit by the Holy Spirit and that person, quicker than the twinkle of the eye, is born Spiritually into GOD’S eternal family, never to be unborn Spiritually.

This Spirit born person will go to heaven before his/her physical body dies. My basis for this statement is my witness of a lady walking with JESUS before she was pronounced dead. If you care to read about it, access actsclass.blogspot.com and in the top left is a blank. Type in Mrs. Green. It should go to the experience I had years ago. I have also spoken to people who have died and been brought fact to life to live upon earth longer.

Back to our scripture - This has been written for those who will die. But there is another path to Heaven for those who are Spirit-born and experience the rapture or often referred to as “The Great Disappearance.” Let’s explore!!!

The Apostle Paul wrote Thessalonians.

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:8:

1 Thessalonians 4:13: We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep (died), so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep (died but are in Heaven). 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (died). 

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[e] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.(The dead in CHRIST will be raised from the dead, FIRST to get their Glorified Eternal Bodies.) ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive (Spirit-born believers who are physically alive upon earth at the rapture, will receive our/their Glorified bodies and all will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[f] one another with these words.

Keep in mind that JESUS bodily ascended into Heaven after HIS passion.

WOW!!! Tell me more!!! Is there more?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2: The Day of the Lord

5:1: About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 

So, stay ready for the coming of the Bride Groom (JESUS). JESUS is coming for HIS Bride, THE CHURCH. So, make sure you have enough oil in your lamps to give you light through the dark times or the night while we who are alive wait. ((The oil is the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel of JESUS ignites the eternal flame within every “Spirit-born believer. In other words, “Don’t lose hope in the second coming of JESUS. It is vital that all humans keep in mind, whether JESUS comes or we die, JESUS is our only hope for eternal life in Heaven!!!))

The Bride Groom (JESUS) is on HIS way, be ready. JESUS stands ready to return to rapture the church from earth at the command of GOD, HIS FATHER. So, stay ready!!! We read about this in Matthew 25 - The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13 – 1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins^[a] who took their lamps^[b] and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; ⁴ but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ⁵ When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

⁷ “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. (Do you recall who closed the door of the ark before the worldwide flood? It was GOD!!!) ¹¹ Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

¹² “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

On the day and time most, people seek but how sad that a number will be told, “I don’t know you!!!

¹³ “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.^[c]

Back to our scripture - 1 Thessalonians 5:3-8:

³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you, you are all children of light and children of the day. (Those who have been “born again.”) We do not belong to the night or the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

Are you a child of LIGHT through faith in JESUS?

How do you become a child of the light?

Dear JESUS, I am a sinner and I believe YOU willingly gave YOUR sinless life to pay, in full, for all of my sins and I ask YOU to forgive me for all of my sins and I ask YOU to come into my life and through the miracle of Spiritual-birth make me whole by the miracle of being “born again” never to be “unborn.”

If you said this or used your own words to express your desire to be forgiven for all of your sins and your desire is to be the eternal son or daughter of GOD through the miracle of Spiritual Birth into GOD’S eternal Family, through faith in JESUS and HIS Passion, which includes HIS bodily resurrection, you have been born again. You are GOD’S Son or Daughter. It is finished!!!

Being “Born Again” is just the beginning. Just like any newborn baby, it is vital that you grow Spiritually. You need Spiritual nourishment. You need to feast upon the milk of GOD’S word, The Bible and as you grow Spiritually, feast upon the meat of GOD’S Word.

If you are not already in a Bible teaching church or fellowship, I pray with you for our LORD to lead you to the fellowship or church where you can grow and develop spiritually. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and confirms your salvation.

I pray for all who have taken this step of faith. FATHER, YOU have welcomed into YOUR eternal family every person who has asked YOU to forgive him/her for his/her sins and placed their faith in JESUS. JESUS welcomes you into the eternal Family of GOD. GOD holds you in HIS mighty right arm and hand. Now, as a newborn believer in JESUS, I ask THE HOLY SPIRIT to help you grow Spiritually.

Luke 15:7

I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

Just think of the overwhelming joy you saw when the hostages were united with their loved ones. JESUS is waiting for you to come home. The choice is yours to make, however Satan wants you to put it off. Don’t because none of us are guaranteed tomorrow!!!

What does being a member of GOD’S Family mean to you? In GOD’S Kingdom you are a VIP: First, You are GOD’S Son or Daughter, and you have an eternal Home in Heaven. What else?

2 Corinthians 5:20 - Christian Standard Bible - Ambassadors

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Through faith in JESUS!!!

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

  

Bible Study - The Apostle Paul - From the Law to Grace - Galatians 1:1-24 - October 12, 2025

 

Bible Study – The Apostle Paul – From the Law to Grace – October 12,2025

Galatians 1:1-24

Christian Standard Bible

The Apostle Paul had an amazing encounter with JESUS when he was going to Damaskus to arrest new believers in JESUS and destroy the group. This new group of Christian believers was called, “The Way.”

GOD and JESUS knew the heart of Saul and knew that if he saw the truth in the Gospel of Salvation through faith in JESUS, Saul/Paul would be a valuable asset to the building of the Christian faith, especially among the Gentiles.

Some brief background on Saul/Paul. Saul was a loyal Jew and believed that the only way to GOD was through Judaism, strictly obeying the Law. Grace was not in his vocabulary. Let’s explore!

We read in Acts 9:1-9: Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (JESUS). He went to the high priest ² and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So, they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. ⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

Let’s look forward to Paul in ministry.

Let’s read Galatians 1: 1-24 Greetings

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia.

³ Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord^[a] Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. ⁵ To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel – This is vital as we get closer to the second coming of JESUS. There will be deceivers and misleaders who will attempt to lead astray those who are seeking to be in right relationship with GOD, through faith in JESUS. That is why we must know the truth of GOD’S Word.

Even in Paul’s lifetime there were deceivers, and this will get worse as we get closer to the second coming of JESUS. So, fellow Christians stay alert and know the truth in GOD’S Word.

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

One may think, “that was a long time ago and we are more enlightened now.” Don’t count on it.

This is especially true in the latter days. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. He will do all he can to lead as many people away from the true gospel of CHRIST as he can. Satan will recruit others to help him deceive people.

⁷ not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!^[b] 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

Here, we need to keep in mind that Saul/Paul was a student of the Old Testament scriptures. We will read in our selected scripture that Saul’s family were GOD fearing and honoring people and raised him in the synagogue.

Paul continues ------

¹⁰ For am I now trying to persuade people,^[c] or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

It was clear to The Apostle Paul that JESUS was the promised Messiah. As you recall before Paul’s conversion to JESUS, he was Saul.

Saul was well educated in the scriptures. He studied under the famous Hebrew teacher Gamaliel.

The Origin of Paul’s Gospel

¹¹ For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. ¹² For I did not receive it from a human source, and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

The Holy Spirit still reveals truth and teaches all who have been “Spirit-born” and helps them to change their lives to trust the leadership of JESUS and build their faith in JESUS to move mountains as directed by the Holy Spirit.

¹³ For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church (The Christian church at that time was named, The Way, established after the Passion of JESUS. That is why Saul was going to Damascus to arrest those who followed JESUS and called themselves, The Way. That is when Saul encountered The resurrected JESUS.

¹⁴ I (Saul) advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ¹⁵ But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased (Saul/Paul believed GOD had called him to ministry before he was born. GOD knew Saul’s heart and his character and chose him.) ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.^[d] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

Paul spent alone time with JESUS. In verse 16, we see that the reason for this alone time was to prepare Paul to minister, especially minister to the Gentiles.

Since Saul/Paul was such a diehard Jew, was JESUS testing Paul by offering him the gentile ministry. Only GOD, JESUS, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and Saul/Paul know?

¹⁸ Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas,^[e] and I stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

²¹ Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. ²³ They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.^[f]

JESUS changes HIS chosen’s life.

I recall, as a young boy, delivering the local paper. I had to go to the newspaper office where the paper was printed to pick up the papers to be delivered. There was a bully, who rode a motorcycle, and he delivered papers. He would bully us younger paper carriers. I dreaded it when he was picking up his papers at the same time, I had to pick up my papers.

One afternoon, I went to get my papers, and I saw his monocycle and spotted him sitting in a chair near the area where the papers were. I approached the area with caution and noticed he was subdued and thought what was wrong with him? I asked one of my friends and he told me and to my pleasant surprise, my friend said, “Oh, he got saved the other night at his church.” WOW!!! What a relief that was to me. This former bully was a different person. He was a changed person.

Saul had been born into a Godfearing family. Let’s consider some of Saul/Paul milestones:

• Saul, later known as Paul the Apostle, was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia.
• He was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, as stated in Philippians 3:5.
• Saul was raised in a devout Jewish family, adhering to Jewish customs and laws.
• He studied under Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, indicating a strong Jewish education.
• Saul actively persecuted early Christians, reflecting his commitment to Jewish beliefs.
• Saul’s conversion to Christianity occurred later, after his upbringing in Judaism and the study of scripture. He had the Old Testament scriptures, and after his conversion, he had the Holy Spirit, WHO revealed JESUS and HIS teachings.

Being in right relationship with GOD, through faith in JESUS, results in a changed life. That is exactly what we see in the life of Saul/Paul.

Saul’s life went from obeying the Law to Grace through faith in JESUS.

Salvation through faith in JESUS is eternal. When a person, asks JESUS to forgive him or her for their sins, the sin barrier has been removed by the shed blood of JESUS. The removal of the sin barrier allows the Holy Spirit to unite with the human spirit, and a miracle takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye. The person of faith in JESUS is “born-again” Spiritually and eternally into GOD’S eternal Family.

What does that mean?

The shed blood of animals was a placeholder until the perfect blood sacrifice was made by GOD’S only SON, JESUS. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for all sin. So, that is it. NO!!!

JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life to atone for a person’s sins. Sin is personal and individual; therefore, each person is accountable to GOD and must come before GOD and ask GOD to forgive him/her for his/her sins and for JESUS to come into his/her heart.

When a person takes that step of faith, the Holy Spirit unites with our spirit and that person is born again in his/her spirit. That person is born into GOD’S eternal family, never to be unborn. You have eternal life and you are commissioned to represent GOD and JESUS as the scripture reveals in 2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

As “born-again” believers you will NOT experience the death of your physical earth body.

2 Corinthians 5:1 - Our Future after Death

For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ...

Blessings!!!