Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Apollos used his full knowledge of the gospel at Corinth.  Acts 18:27,28  And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:  28)  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.  While at Ephesus, Apollos received some personal teaching and discipleship from Aquila and Priscilla. They helped him fully understand the gospel of Christ and the birth of the church, because all he knew up to that point, was the teaching of John the Baptist.  Apollos readily received instruction   from this Christian couple and then he determined to leave Ephesus to seek ministry opportunities elsewhere in the province of Achaia. The believers at Ephesus wrote letters of recommendation for Apollos, which was a common practice in that time. They testified how God used Apollos to lead them to salvation by the grace of God thro

  Psalm 119:9-11  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  The Psalmist asked the question about how a young man, or any other person, can cleanse his way.  The answers revolve around the scriptures. We take heed to the Word of God. We seek God with all of our heart. We ask God for strength to not stray away from His Word. We Hide His Word in our hearts so that we do not sin against God. God must teach us His statutes.  Psalm 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  In the last couple posts we looked at God being blessed in Himself, as an essential part of His Divine nature. We also learned that God will freely share blessing with all who put their trust in Him.  Let us finish this particular verse by seeing the specifics about God teaching us.  God

God's providential work on display! Acts 18:24  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.  Paul traveled on to Antioch in Syria, the sending church, where he gave a report on what God did during his missionary journey.  Luke tells us what went on in Ephesus after Paul left. As he often does, Luke introduced a new person in the narrative name Apollos. He was a "certain Jew" born at the Egyptian city of Alexandria.  Alexandria is a city with an illustrious history. It was built by Alexander and was located on the Mediterranean Sea, between Lake Mareotis and a beautiful harbor formed by the Isle of Pharos.  This city was built under the direction of Dinocrates, the famous architect who designed the lavish temple of Diana at Ephesus. The city had a world class library of ancient documents and was a noted center of learning.   A significant Jewish population was concentrated in Alexandria and contribut

Psalm 119:9-11  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  The second eight verse section of Psalm 119 began by asking how a young man can cleanse his way. The answer supplied by the Psalmist, is by taking heed according to the Word of God.  He stressed the importance of seeking God with all of our heart and praying for His strength that we do not stray from His Word.  Next, the Psalmist taught us about our need to hide the Word in our heart so we benefit from it's restraining power when we are tempted to sin.  We spent time to carefully study what the text means for us as individual believers in Christ.  The choice to surrender our will to God's will is the clear path to blessing and true happiness, whereas, exercising self will leads to the hard life of a tr

Psalm 119:9-11  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  God will freely communicate His blessedness to us. Psalm 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  We learned that God is blessed in and of Himself. Having a state of blessedness is woven into the very nature and character of God. Yet, He will share His state of blessedness with those who put their faith and trust in Christ.  God grants all blessedness's to us in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  God has provided positional blessings to all who are "in Christ" that await us when we arrive in His presence. No one can take those heavenly blessings from us and

God allowed a lengthy apostolic ministry at Corinth.  Acts 18:9-11  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:  10)  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  11)  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.  A mighty work began in the corrupt city of Corinth. Jesus spoke words of comfort and encouragement  to the apostle Paul in a vision, after Timothy and Silas rejoined him. Jesus made it very clear  that He would not allow any man to hurt Paul while he preached the gospel of Christ because He was going to save many people in this city.  Luke tells us that Paul remained in Corinth teaching and preaching the Word of God for a year and a half.  Jews sought to charge Paul with violating Roman law. Acts 18:12,13  And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to th