 Memory Verse: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6
This is our last week to dive into some of the gifts from God for us. This last gift! Wow! The greatest gift! The gift of Jesus Christ! And to think we are in that time of year where we are about to celebrate His birth. When I think of the last several weeks about the gifts of God, I cannot help but think about the Russian nesting doll also called babushka doll. By Wikipedia's definition, this is a set of wooden dolls decreasing size placed one inside the other. That is exactly what describes our five weeks of reading and studying the gifts from God and this week we end with the gift of all gifts. The gift that once you receive it gives gifts within gifts within gifts..... the gift of Jesus Christ! One of those gifts that come with the gift of Jesus Christ is the gift of grace which we read about in week one. Grace..... His undeserved favor! Another gift that is given to us from the gift of Jesus Christ is the gift of the Holy Spirit but to receive this free gift of the Holy Spirit someone was born to die. Someone died but conquered death. The grave could not hold Him down. Jesus is that Someone. Jesus Christ "is the Living One; He was dead, and now look, He is alive forever and ever. He holds the keys of death and the grave" (Revelation 1:18). Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven but before going He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit would come. The Holy Spirit came. Then we read how the gift of the Holy Spirit has nine spiritual gifts that God distributes at His will among His people. A gift within a gift within a gift. The third week we know that the gift of eternal life is given to us the moment we believe in Jesus Christ which means once you receive the gift of Jesus Christ you will receive eternal life! The very second we believe we are given a forever. We are given something that will never end. Can we really comprehend what that truly means? Gifts from God. They are here for each and every person on God's earth. Do you know if you have the gift of grace? Do you want the gift of the Holy Spirit? Did you know spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit like word of knowledge, word of wisdom, gift of faith, gift of healing, gift of tongues, gift of prophecy, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, and interpretation of tongues is available to you? Do you think about life after death? Do you know if you have the gift of eternal life or everlasting destruction? The few days before Christmas this week let's focus on Who is Jesus? and How can I receive this gift from God? Monday READ: John 14:6 which is our optional memory verse this week. Read it first in your bible then read it two other times in two different translations like The Message, The Amplified Bible, NKJV, NASB, NLT, or NIV. Read 1 Timothy 2:5, John 1:14, John 11: 25, 26 and Colossians 2:9 DISCUSS: Who is Jesus Christ based on these scriptures? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss. Tuesday READ: John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9,10; 1 John 5:1 DISCUSS: How can a person receive the gift of Jesus Christ? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss.
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 Memory Verse: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
It is the fourth week of diving into God's word and studying the bible about gifts from God. The first week we studied the gift of Grace and how we receive this gift from God by doing absolutely nothing to receive it. What a gift! The second week we read about the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the beginning of this study in the intro, I mentioned that you will see how one gift is tied to another gift that is tied to another gift. That is exactly what we saw more clearly the third week as we studied the Spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts are manifestations from the Holy Spirit and they are for the body of Christ. They are gifts from the gift of the Holy Spirit (a gift within a gift or in this case multiple gifts- 9 to be exact- from the gift of the Holy Spirit). Now this week, the fourth week, we will read about the gift of eternal life. The goal is to learn what is eternal life based on God's word and how can we have eternal life. Let's get started! Monday READ: Let's read Romans 6:23 which is our optional memory verse this week and then read 1 John 5:11. Read it first in your bible then read it two other times in two different translations like The Message, The Amplified Bible, NKJV, NASB, NLT, or NIV. DISCUSS: We will have our discussion in the comment section of this post. 1. When you read these two scriptures, what are you being made aware of? 2. Is eternal life a gift that is set alone or is it a gift connected to something else? What is it connected to? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss. WRITE: Write your memory verse, Romans 6:23, on several index cards and place around your home, car, office, and commit it to memory this week. Tuesday READ: First read John 3:16. Then read the verse right before it: John 3:15. I am reading in the Amplified bible for these two scriptures. DISCUSS: 1. Where do we find eternal life (v.16)? 2. What do we need to do to receive this free gift of eternal life (v.16)? 3. Answer this fill in the blank: I will not _____________ if I believe in Him (v.15). 4. What does the word "perish" mean? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss. Wednesday READ: 1 John 5:11-12 and then read 2 Thessalonians 1:9 DISCUSS: 1. Two things are pretty crystal clear in 1 John 5:11-12. What are they? 2. The opposite of eternal life is eternal death. Based on 2 Thessalonians 1:9, what does eternal death look like? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss. Thursday READ: John 10:28,29 in NKJV, the Amplified and end reading this scripture in The Message. So good! DISCUSS: 1. Why will "they never perish" in John 10:28 NKJV? 2. Who is greater than the Destroyer and the Thief? 3. Where does eternal life come from? 4. Again, how do we receive eternal life where no one can ever take it away from us? 5. Isn't this a great reminder for each of us? Doesn't it just build your faith and call to remembrance that we are His and we have a future and a hope in Him forever? I'll meet you in the comment section to discuss. Friday READ: Let's read our memory verse again Romans 6:23. PRAY: Thank God for this free gift of eternal life. Boldly speak His word that He is greater than the Destroyer and Thief of this world. Speak these truths over your loved ones today. Boldly declare you and your loved ones are in God's hand and no one, no man, no other person can take you or your loved ones away from Him. Praise Him for this. Walk through your home and let praises from your lips enter all the rooms in your home. Tell Him how much you love Him today.  Memory Verse: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10 It is the third week of diving into God's word and studying the bible about gifts from God. The first week we studied the gift of Grace and how we receive this gift from God by doing absolutely nothing to receive it. What a gift! Then last week, our second week of this bible study, we read about the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the beginning of this study in the intro, I mentioned that you will see how one gift is tied to another gift that is tied to another gift. That is exactly what we will see this week in reference to the Spiritual Gifts. The Spiritual Gifts are manifestations from the Holy Spirit and they are for the body of Christ. They are gifts from the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are not natural manifestations but rather supernatural manifestations from the Holy Spirit. We will dive into I Corinthians 12:1-31. Here we will see what are the 9 spiritual gifts, how are they distributed, the proper use of the gifts, and can I receive these gifts. Let's get started! Monday READ: Let's start by reading all of 1 Corinthians 12:1-31. Try not to rush. Let these scriptures marinate within us. Read it first in your bible then read it two other times in two other translations like The Message, The Amplified Bible, NKJV, NASB, NLT, or NIV. Circle or make note of the spiritual gifts that are mentioned in these scriptures. DISCUSS: For this week, I want to do our discussion in the comment section of this post. I will not make a topic in the forum although I really enjoyed discussing in the forum the last two weeks. So below let's start the discussion by talking about the different spiritual gifts and what are you hoping to understand from God this week about spiritual gifts. See you in the comment section of this post :) WRITE: Write your memory verse, 1 Peter 4:10 on several index cards and place around your home, car, office, and commit it to memory this week. (I will post Tuesday's post tomorrow and so on this week instead of post them all at one time.) Tuesday READ: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 In these verses let's answer the following question: Am I supposed to want these spiritual gifts? DISCUSS: Let's meet in the comment section and answer this question and give our thoughts on the answer along with which gift is to be desired (v.14:1)? Which gift, if not balanced with another gift, does not edify the church body (v14:4). Which gift edifies the church (v.14:4)? What is the balance and unity of having both tongues and prophecy gifts in the church (v. 14:13-17)? Wednesday READ: 2 Timothy 1:6 AND 1 Timothy 4:14 DISCUSS: What does God want us to do with the gifts inside of us? How can we do what He wants us to do? What are we not to do? I'll meet you in the comment section of this post to discuss this. Thursday Before doing Thursday's bible study if you have not read the comments for this blog post you may consider reading the comments first which will give you a better understand of our study for today :) REFLECT: Has there ever been a prophetic word spoken over you? Think about what was said? Do you know which gift you have from God? PRAY: Use the majority of your bible study time today to pray about the gifts in you. Talk to God about the word that was spoken over you if you received a prophecy in the past. Ask God to help you fan into the flame of your gift/s. Ask and thank God for making it crystal clear as to what gifts He is giving you. Spend your bible study time praying and receiving from Him today. Give Him your complete self. Give Him your mind, your hands, your feet, your mouth, your ears for His service. Let's press in and let God do a work in us.  Memory Verse: 'Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Acts 2:38 Did you get anything out of last weeks study on God's gift of grace? I know I did! I find when I dig into God's word it never fails that He shows me an area in my life I need to change or an area I need to do better. If you missed last week you can still read the post here and the conversation here. When you click the forum, you will view topic Gifts from God: GRACE {Week 1}. This week we will start a new topic: Gifts from God: HOLY SPIRIT {Week 2}. The conversation is open for anyone to join. If you are joining us for the first time this is an online come-when-you-can-wherever-you-are bible study. We are studying specific scriptures in the bible and then discuss with a few others what God is showing us. It's a great way to go deeper in His word.
The Holy Spirit! I can honestly say that only because of the gift of the Holy Spirit I am who I am today. I didn't always strive for a life of purity and righteousness but because of the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the move of Him, I want to live a pure and righteous life. But who is the Holy Spirit? What should His role be in my life? Why do people need the Holy Spirit? Can I live a life in Christ to the fullest without the Holy Spirit? These are some questions we will be able to answer better this week. As I stated in this bible study intro last week, God's gifts are gifts that once you receive them you will find more gifts within the other gifts. This week I want us to focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit; however, as we read about the Holy Spirit you will quickly see in 1 Corinthians 12 there are 9 spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit (gifts within the gift) like word of knowledge, word of wisdom, gift of faith, gift of healing, gift of tongues, gift of prophecy, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, and interpretation of tongues. This week though we are going to focus on the Holy Spirit and who He is and next week we will dive into the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit. Monday: READ Acts 2:38 in your bible. Now read the same scripture in 3 other translations like NIV, NKJV, NLT, NASB, the Amplified bible or The Message bible. You may find it easy to use a free bible app like YouVersion or an online resource like www.blueletterbible.com. DISCUSS Do you see something in this scripture about the gift of the Holy Spirit that you didn't see last week when we studied about the gift of grace? Let's start the conversation with this question in the forum. WRITE Acts 2:38 on an index card or several index cards and tape around your home like the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, in your car. Let's be intentional today to say this scripture out loud and commit it to memory. Tuesday: READ Acts 8:18-23 DISCUSS 1. What did Simon want? How did Simon want to get this gift? Let's read Acts 2:38 again. 2. In Acts 2:38, how do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? Wednesday: READ John 14:26, John 15:26, Acts 8:29, Acts 13:2,4, Romans 8:14-16, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Corinthians 2:12 DISCUSS What is the role of the Holy Spirit as stated in these scriptures? Let's list some specific things the Holy Spirit does. Based on these scriptures, what can He do for me and do I need the Holy Spirit? Can I really live a life in Christ to the fullest without the Holy Spirit? Meet me in the forum to discuss :) Thursday: READ 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2, Luke 1:35 DISCUSS Did you notice the trinity and how they work together? I read this recently, "The Holy Spirit brings about the consummation of the works of the triune God." Saying it another way..... the Holy Spirit brings about the completion of the works of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the trinity, the triune God). Friday: READ John 16:7 DISCUSS When did the Holy Spirit come upon His people? After this week's bible study on the gift of the Holy Spirit, what has God spoken to you specifically? Has your view and value of the Holy Spirit changed? See you in the forum. Prayer: Father, teach us more about the gift of the Holy Spirit. Tell us things we do not know. Peel back the layers of Your word and reveal Your treasures. We want to know more about Who You are and how we can live life to the fullest in Christ. We thank You in advance for making this week personal and meeting us where we are. In Jesus' name. Amen. |
Hello and Welcome!
Wife, Mother, Adoption Advocate, Writer
Who am I? Galatians 2:20 does a great job of summing up who I am. My life is His, the One who loves me and gave Himself for me . In return, I want to be all He wants me to be and do all He wants me to do on this side of Heaven. 
Recipient of the Angels in Adoption Award 2016. A program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington D.C.
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