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.

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Friday, February 27, 2015

Be a Blessing

We now come to Peter's sixth exhortation as we look at 1 Peter 3:9 "do not retaliate, but bless those who do evil against you".


Now I am not going to kid you, this is not always easy, we try to make sure that we don't retaliate when someone does something towards us but we are humans with sin natures and our natural response at times is to retaliate. On top of not retaliating, Peter tells us that we are to bless those who do evil against us. The word "bless" (eulogountes) means to speak well of. Instead of reacting against our persecutors, we are to find something that is commendable about them and we commend them for it, to speak well of them.

Sometimes it is easier to forgive and not retaliate than to turn and bless them. This can only be done by the power of God. This is not within our nature to do. Peter knew all about retaliation; Remember in the garden Peter retaliated by using the sword against Christ's enemies. Luke 22:47-53

My friend, persecution was rampant in those days just as it is now and it will only get worse. The church today needs to be prepared because difficult times are ahead of us. We need to practice now these exhortations that Peter has given us so that as the persecution becomes worst we will be able to handle it through the strength in Christ. Think of the impact upon persecutors when an attitude of love and blessing is demonstrated toward them; Every persecutor would not be won to Christ, but every persecutor would have a strong witness that could be used by the Holy Spirit in the persecutor's quiet, thoughtful moments; and some persecutors would be won to Christ; This is what God is after, glorifying God in everything we do. Therefore, let us be a blessing to those around us.

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