Empowered Bible Studies: Our Suffering is Only for a Little While:

Welcome to Empowered Bible Studies

Bible study is essential to our Christian walk. As we study God's Word, our personal relationship with God grows deeper and deeper. It empowers us to live for the Lord in every aspect of our lives. This is what has inspired me to do an online Bible study.

Many years ago my husband introduced me to a commentary on the book of Colossians and I was so blessed as the Scripture came to life before my very eyes. Since that day we have developed an extensive library and enjoy studying God's Word.

I have prepared some Bible studies that I would like to share with you. My prayer is that they will bless you as much as they have blessed me in preparing them. I pray your life is touched and that it would inspire you to live every moment of every day for Christ.

Please click on the link to the left under 'Empowered Bible Studies' for the Bible Study you would like to view.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Our Suffering is Only for a Little While:

The Christian life is not always easy, we will suffer, we will endure attacks from Satan, but we do know that our suffering here on earth is only for a little while and in the end, it all leads to living throughout eternity with Christ, and that is what really counts. 1 Peter 5:10 'But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.'

Peter here tells us that after we have suffered for a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.
Perfect means 'to equip, to adjust, to fit together.' The predominating idea in the verb is adjustment, the putting of parts into right relationship and connection with one another.
Establish means 'to fix firmly, to set fast'. We should stand firm in our Christian faith. If we are established with our feet firmly planted on the word of God, we will not be moved by persecution or led away by false doctrine.
Strengthen means just that 'God's strength given to us to meet the demands of life'. Just as Philippians 4:13 says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'
Settle means 'to secure as in a foundation; to ground with security.' God is able to make us secure through all the sufferings of life, no matter what they are. He is able to settle and secure our nerves, thoughts, and fears.

God uses all the trials and temptations, difficulties and persecutions, all the sufferings of life and uses them to adjust our character. He will perfect us, fit all the parts of life together and lead us to glory. In thinking about all that God does for us, we see in 1 Peter 5:11 that Peter breaks out in praise as he says: 'To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen' Oh my friend, let's join Peter in praising our Lord for all that He has done for us!