This channel is dedicated to the teaching and preaching of Dr. Billy D. Crow. He is the pastor of Brumley Baptist Church and the Director of Spiritual Formation at Conway Christian School. He married  his wife Meggin in November of 2002. They have two children, Hannah and Eli .  He was born in Conway 1979 and graduated from Clinton High School. He attended CBC (Central Baptist College), where he earned an Associate of Arts Pastoral Ministry and a Bachelor of Science Bible/Religious Education..  He received his MDiv (Master of Divinity) from Luther Rice Seminary in 2009 and his Doctor of Ministry in 2015.

Favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28 ~ We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Billy Crow

2 Kings 19: 10 “Say this to King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, on whom you rely, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. 11 Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: They completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued? 12 Did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them—nations such as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Edenites in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’” 
14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the Lord’s temple, and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: 
Lord God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. 16 Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God. 17 Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands—wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 Now, Lord our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God—you alone…. 
32 Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:He will not enter this city,shoot an arrow here,come before it with a shield,or build up a siege ramp against it.33 He will go backthe way he came,and he will not enter this city. 
This is the Lord’s declaration. 
34 I will defend this city and rescue itfor my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

2 Kings 19: 10 “Say this to King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, on whom you rely, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. 11 Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: They completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued? 12 Did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them—nations such as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Edenites in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’”
14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the Lord’s temple, and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord:
Lord God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. 16 Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the 

God Hears (2 Kings 19:10-19, 32-34)

2 Kings 17: 7 This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods. 8 They lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites and according to what the kings of Israel did. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 They burned incense there on all the high places just like the nations that the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did evil things, angering the Lord. 12 They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.” 13 Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.” 
14 But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate. 16 They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and interpreted omens. They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and angered him. 18 Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained. 19 Even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced. 20 So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, punished them, and handed them over to plunderers until he had banished them from his presence.

2 Kings 17: 7 This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods. 8 They lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites and according to what the kings of Israel did. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 They burned incense there on all the high places just like the nations that the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did evil things, angering the Lord. 12 They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.” 13 Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your 

God Judges (2 Kings 17:7-20)

2 Kings 12: 4 Then Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated silver brought to the Lord’s temple, census silver, silver from vows, and all silver voluntarily given for the Lord’s temple— 5 each priest is to take it from his assessor and repair whatever damage is found in the temple.” 
6 But by the twenty-third year of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage to the temple. 7 So King Joash called the priest Jehoiada and the other priests and asked, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any silver from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” 8 So the priests agreed that they would receive no silver from the people and would not be the ones to repair the temple’s damage. 
9 Then the priest Jehoiada took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; the priests who guarded the threshold put into the chest all the silver that was brought to the Lord’s temple. 10 Whenever they saw there was a large amount of silver in the chest, the king’s secretary and the high priest would go bag up and tally the silver found in the Lord’s temple. 11 Then they would give the weighed silver to those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord’s temple—the carpenters, the builders, 12 the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple and for all expenses for temple repairs. 
13 However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver were made for the Lord’s temple from the contributions brought to the Lord’s temple. 14 Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord’s temple with it. 15 No accounting was required from the men who received the silver to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity. 16 The silver from the guilt offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.

2 Kings 12: 4 Then Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated silver brought to the Lord’s temple, census silver, silver from vows, and all silver voluntarily given for the Lord’s temple— 5 each priest is to take it from his assessor and repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”
6 But by the twenty-third year of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage to the temple. 7 So King Joash called the priest Jehoiada and the other priests and asked, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any silver from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” 8 So the priests agreed that they would receive no silver from the people and would not be the ones to repair the temple’s damage.
9 Then the priest Jehoiada took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; the priests who guarded the threshold put into the chest all the silver that was br

God Honors (2 Kings 12:4-16)

1 Kings 18: 9 He entered a cave there and spent the night. 
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” 11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 
14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

1 Kings 18: 9 He entered a cave there and spent the night. 
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” 11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.Suddenly, a voice came to him and s

Hope (1 Kings 19:9-18)

1 Kings 18:25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made. 
27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention. 
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down: 31 Elijah took twelve stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel will be your name”— 32 and he built an altar with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons. 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water. 
36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” 
38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”

1 Kings 18:25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired 

Proven (1 Kings 18:25-39)

1 Kings 15:9 In the twentieth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 
11 Asa did what was right in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestor David had done. 12 He banished the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all of the idols that his ancestors had made. 13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 The high places were not taken away, but Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his entire life. 15 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into the Lord’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils. 
16 There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns. 17 Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to keep anyone from leaving or coming to King Asa of Judah. 18 So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace and gave it to his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion king of Aram who lived in Damascus, saying, 19 “There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.” 
20 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, all Chinnereth, and the whole land of Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa gave a command to everyone without exception in Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah with them.

1 Kings 15:9 In the twentieth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
11 Asa did what was right in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestor David had done. 12 He banished the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all of the idols that his ancestors had made. 13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 The high places were not taken away, but Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his entire life. 15 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into the Lord’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.
16 There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel throughout their reigns. 17 Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to keep anyone from leaving or coming to K

Return (1 Kings 15:9-22)

1 Kings 8:46-60 
46 When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with themand hand them over to the enemy,and their captors deport them to the enemy’s country—whether distant or nearby—47 and when they come to their senses[k]in the land where they were deportedand repent and petition you in their captors’ land:“We have sinned and done wrong;we have been wicked,”48 and when they return to you with all their heart and all their soulin the land of their enemies who took them captive,and when they pray to you in the direction of their landthat you gave their ancestors,the city you have chosen,and the temple I have built for your name,49 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place,their prayer and petition and uphold their cause.50 May you forgive your peoplewho sinned against youand all their rebellions[l] against you,and may you grant them compassionbefore their captors,so that they may treat them compassionately.51 For they are your people and your inheritance;you brought them out of Egypt,out of the middle of an iron furnace.52 May your eyes be open to your servant’s petitionand to the petition of your people Israel,listening to them whenever they call to you.53 For you, Lord God, have set them apart as your inheritancefrom all peoples of the earth,as you spoke through your servant Moseswhen you brought our ancestors out of Egypt. 54 When Solomon finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the Lord, he got up from kneeling before the altar of the Lord, with his hands spread out toward heaven, 55 and he stood and blessed the whole congregation of Israel with a loud voice: 56 “Blessed be the Lord! He has given rest to his people Israel according to all he has said. Not one of all the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us 58 so that he causes us to be devoted to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, which he commanded our ancestors. 59 May my words with which I have made my petition before the Lord be near the Lord our God day and night. May he uphold his servant’s cause and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires. 60 May all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord is God. There is no other!

1 Kings 8:46-60
46 When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with themand hand them over to the enemy,and their captors deport them to the enemy’s country—whether distant or nearby—47 and when they come to their senses[k]in the land where they were deportedand repent and petition you in their captors’ land:“We have sinned and done wrong;we have been wicked,”48 and when they return to you with all their heart and all their soulin the land of their enemies who took them captive,and when they pray to you in the direction of their landthat you gave their ancestors,the city you have chosen,and the temple I have built for your name,49 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place,their prayer and petition and uphold their cause.50 May you forgive your peoplewho sinned against youand all their rebellions[l] against you,and may you grant them compassionbefore their captors,so that they may treat them compassionately.51 For they are your people and your inhe

Repentance (1 Kings 8:46-60)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote. 
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word. 
3:1 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.
3:1 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidenc

Praying--2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 (SS Lesson)

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts. 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives—God is our witness— 6 and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle[a] among you, as a nurse[b] nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts. 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives—God is our witness— 6 and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle[a] among you, as a nurse[b] nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For

Shared--1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (SS Lesson)

Obedience and Integrity (2 Cor. 13:7-10)

Obedience and Integrity (2 Corinthians 13:7-10)

Justice Sought--Job 36:8-23 SS

Anyone born of woman 
is short of days and full of trouble. 
2 He blossoms like a flower, then withers; 
he flees like a shadow and does not last. 
3 Do you really take notice of one like this? 
Will you bring me into judgment against you?[a] 
4 Who can produce something pure from what is impure? 
No one! 
5 Since a person’s days are determined 
and the number of his months depends on you, 
and since you have set[b] limits he cannot pass, 
6 look away from him and let him rest 
so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker. 
 
7 There is hope for a tree: 
If it is cut down, it will sprout again, 
and its shoots will not die. 
8 If its roots grow old in the ground 
and its stump starts to die in the soil, 
9 the scent of water makes it thrive 
and produce twigs like a sapling. 
10 But a person dies and fades away; 
he breathes his last—where is he? 
11 As water disappears from a lake 
and a river becomes parched and dry, 
12 so people lie down never to rise again. 
They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; 
they will not stir from their sleep. 
 
13 If only you would hide me in Sheol 
and conceal me until your anger passes. 
If only you would appoint a time for me 
and then remember me. 
14 When a person dies, will he come back to life? 
If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle 
until my relief comes.

Anyone born of woman
is short of days and full of trouble.
2 He blossoms like a flower, then withers;
he flees like a shadow and does not last.
3 Do you really take notice of one like this?
Will you bring me into judgment against you?[a]
4 Who can produce something pure from what is impure?
No one!
5 Since a person’s days are determined
and the number of his months depends on you,
and since you have set[b] limits he cannot pass,
6 look away from him and let him rest
so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker.

7 There is hope for a tree:
If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its shoots will not die.
8 If its roots grow old in the ground
and its stump starts to die in the soil,
9 the scent of water makes it thrive
and produce twigs like a sapling.
10 But a person dies and fades away;
he breathes his last—where is he?
11 As water disappears from a lake
and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 so people lie down never to rise again.
They will not wake up until the heavens are 

Finding Hope--Job 14:1-14 (Sunday School Lesson)

20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come my God will again[b] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.

Sanctification -- 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (Part 2)

What is an Apostle? 2 Corinthians 12:11-12j (Part 2)

Stewardship with Integrity (Part 1)--2 Corinthians 8:10-9:5

11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; 
I have led you in upright paths. 
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; 
And if you run, you will not stumble. 
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. 
Guard her, for she is your life. 
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked 
And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; 
Turn away from it and pass on. 
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; 
And [e]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness 
And drink the wine of violence. 
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, 
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; 
They do not know over what they [f]stumble. 
 
20 My son, give attention to my words; 
Incline your ear to my sayings. 
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; 
Keep them in the midst of your heart. 
22 For they are life to those who find them 
And health to all [g]their body. 
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, 
For from it flow the springs of life. 
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth 
And put devious [h]speech far from you. 
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead 
And let your [i]gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 
26 Watch the path of your feet 
And all your ways will be established. 
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; 
Turn your foot from evil.

11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [e]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [f]stumble.

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
And health to all [g]their bod

Proverbs 4:11-27--Sunday School 6/28/2020

The reception of the Word—“receive with meekness” 
(a) There are two words for “receive” in the Greek language, 
(i) One is lambano—“to grasp, reach out, take hold of. 
(ii) The one in the text is dekomai—“to receive as a welcomed guest.” 
(iii) James’ use is not meant to pick up the Bible or to reach out and take it from the desk or table. Its use is to welcome the Bible as a special guest, to treat it with respect, to engage it in study and holy reception. 
(b) The Word is to be received with “meekness.” Meekness is a quality of life characteristic of the Lord Jesus and is an inwrought grace. 
(c) The “engrafted” word is to be received. The Word is a seed, which grows only in ploughed soil. “Engrafted” means to “spring up within.” 
(i) Jesus described four kinds of soils into which the seed falls in Mt. 13:19, 18-23: the hard heart— which does not receive the seed into; the shallow heart—which gets the seed on but not in; the crowded heart, which receives the seed on and in but is choked out by materialism; and the fruitful heart, which receives the seed in ploughed soil to produce much fruit. 
 
c. The Word of God Is a Glass (1:23-25)--beholding his natural face in a glass” 
(1) There are two words for “looking” in the text. 
(a) The first word in v. 23, “beholdeth,” is kataneuo, “to give a passing glance,” a casual look into the mirror. One might call this the “Fonzi-look,” named after the character in the TV show “Happy Days,” who looked into the mirror and saw only perfection. 
(b) The second word in v. 25, “looketh,” is parakupto, “to bend over,” “to stoop down,” as John did when he looked into the empty tomb and understood. 
(2) The idea is that to be a “doer” of the Word, requires, a stooping down and peering into the reflection, to see yourself as you are and to see God’s Word and understand it. One reads the Bible looking for a command to do, a promise to trust, a sin to reject, and a doctrine to believe. 
(3) Paul addresses the theme in 2 Co. 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” A 
“glance” may save, but only the “gaze” can sanctify. 
(4) The looking glass of the Bible, James says, reveals the “perfect 
law of liberty.”

The reception of the Word—“receive with meekness”
(a) There are two words for “receive” in the Greek language,
(i) One is lambano—“to grasp, reach out, take hold of.
(ii) The one in the text is dekomai—“to receive as a welcomed guest.”
(iii) James’ use is not meant to pick up the Bible or to reach out and take it from the desk or table. Its use is to welcome the Bible as a special guest, to treat it with respect, to engage it in study and holy reception.
(b) The Word is to be received with “meekness.” Meekness is a quality of life characteristic of the Lord Jesus and is an inwrought grace.
(c) The “engrafted” word is to be received. The Word is a seed, which grows only in ploughed soil. “Engrafted” means to “spring up within.”
(i) Jesus described four kinds of soils into which the seed falls in Mt. 13:19, 18-23: the hard heart— which does not receive the seed into; the shallow heart—which gets the seed on but not in; the crowded heart, which receives the seed on and in but is choked ou

James 1:22-25

I. The Christian and His Bible (1:17-27) 
 
The essence of this section is the avoidance of deceit. In v. 22 James refers to “deceiving you own selves” and in v. 26 he notes a person that deceives “his own heart.” People deceive themselves about their salvation: 
 
Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?” And then will I profess unto them, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:22-23) 
 
Even Christians deceive themselves, thinking themselves spiritually mature. God’s Word is the correction for this deceit. It is a mirror which reflects our true self, a hammer which crushes our pride, a fire which burns away the corrupt flesh, and a knife which cuts at the very tripartite nature of man: body, soul, and spirit. 
Heb. 4:12 summarizes what the Bible does to the reader: 
 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 
 
A. The Christian Must Receive the Word (1: 17-25) 
 
1. The Word of God Is a Gift (v. 17) 
 
a. The Gift 
 
It is a marvelous gift, full of inexhaustible riches. Anyone can find something fascinating in God’s Word. There is something for the scientist, the philosopher, teacher, musician, laborer, medical student, mystery reader, reader of love stories. The Bible is full of interesting facts about life, death, after-life, marriage and every phase of living. 
 
b. The Giver (v. 17) 
 
(1) He cannot be challenged--“The Father of lights” 
 
(2) He cannot be changed—“no variableness” 
 
c. Grand design (v. 18) 
 
(1) The new birth comes into focus, as James relates it to the will of God which begat us with “the word of truth” and the “wisdom of God.” 
 
(2) We are exhibited as “the firstfruits of his creatures.” The firstfruits of the Jewish culture referred to the first of the harvest, given to the Lord. 
 
2. The Word of God Is a Graft (1:19-22) 
 
a. It affects our talk (vv. 19-20) 
 
(1) “Swift to hear”—We have two ears and only one mouth so priority of use is evident. Jesus often used the phrase, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Listening is a rare quality among the sons of men. We miss so much because we are talking, instead of listening. 
 
(2) “Slow to speak”—There are times when silence is golden, when there is nothing to say that has not been said already. The old adage is appropriate here: “Speak less than thou knowest and know more than that showest. You can’t hear when you are talking. 
 
(3) “Slow to wrath”—Unguarded speech gives 
expression to an inner turmoil in our hearts. Losing one’s temper never accomplices good, unless it is a controlled anger, such as Jesus displayed in the temple to the moneychangers. Moses displayed a wrath not unto righteousness in the matter of striking the rock when he had been told to speak to it. 
 
b. It affects our walk (vv. 21-22) 
 
(1) The rejection of sin—“lay apart all filthiness” 
 
(a) “Superfluity” is perisseia, abundance, excess. 
 
(b) “Naughtiness” is hruparia, wickedness, evil. 
 
(c) These are remnant sins left over from the carnal life, which cling to every Christian and hinder obedience to God’s Word. 
 
(d) These must be laid apart, “put off” as Paul says of the “old man” in Co. 3:9-10.

I. The Christian and His Bible (1:17-27) 
 
The essence of this section is the avoidance of deceit.  In v. 22 James refers to “deceiving you own selves” and in v. 26 he notes a person that deceives “his own heart.”  People deceive themselves about their salvation:  
 
Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?  And in Thy name have cast out devils?  And in Thy name done many wonderful works?”  And then will I profess unto them, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”  (Mt. 7:22-23) 
 
Even Christians deceive themselves, thinking themselves spiritually mature.  God’s Word is the correction for this deceit.  It is a mirror which reflects our true self, a hammer which crushes our pride, a fire which burns away the corrupt flesh, and a knife which cuts at the very tripartite nature of man: body, soul, and spirit.  
Heb. 4:12 summarizes what the Bible does to the reader:  
 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper tha

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