Wisdom from the Word - A Reference With 700 Unique Topics to Enhance Bible Study for Students and Teachers

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ABIDING-

“Christianity is abiding by biblical standards of personal holiness and in turn seeking to bring holiness into the society in which we live.”--Charles Colson, Loving God

John 10:1-21 In these verses about Jesus “as the Good Shepherd”, and we as sheep, there is focus on abiding, and the relationship that Jesus has with us. See Sheep/Shepherd.

John 15:1-17 Abiding is the key fundamental for believers! Purpose, steps to abiding, and 10 benefits of abiding. See Jesus.

John 15 God is the gardener, Jesus is the vine, and we disciples are the branches. Two things that make us branches significant: 1) Fruit- a) Shows people you are a disciple of Jesus- vs. 8. b) Amount- vs. 2,5,8. He wants a “bumper crop” c) Attributes- fruit that will las tattitude/ character 2) Abiding on the vine- a) why? Glorifies God b) what? Live with humility c) How? Live with humility- vs. 7,9. Connecting, Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ indwell you.

2 John 2-9 John’s spiritual children were: Vs. 4- living in the truth. Vs.6- they were walking in the truth, and Vs.9- they were abiding in the truth.

ABRAHAM-

Genesis 11:26,29 Abram (Abraham) was the son of Terah, a descendent of Shem. Abram married his half-sister Sarai. There were 9 generations from Shem to Abraham.

Genesis 11:27 Lot was Abraham’s nephew (son of Haran, Abraham’s brother)

Genesis 17 Believe in God’s Power. Vs. 1-8, 15-19 Walk in holiness. We are responsible. Vs. 9-14, 23-27 Abraham’s life.

Genesis 18,19 From Abraham’s concern, we learn to pray (18:16-33). From God’s character we are challenged to a holy fear (19:1-13, 24-29). From Lot’s consequences we are warned to leave any involvement we might have with the “world” (19:12-26, 30-38)

Genesis 22 Story of Abraham’s faith being tested by God regarding his loved son Isaac. Analogous to God and His Son, Jesus. God examines are faith and makes sure it is real. Obedience can’t be conditional. The Lord will provide: Jehovah Jireh.

ABUNDANCE-

Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trust in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 14:4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

Proverbs 20:13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Proverbs 20:15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Proverbs 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Abundance is an “ample or overflowing quantity”. Abundance in our lives is certainly a “double-edged” sword. For example, in the worldly sense, with their abundance of goods, the wealthy can bless the poor. Bill and Melinda Gates have been wonderful philanthropists in our generation. America has helped out poorer countries ever since I can remember. However, on the other hand, abundance can lead to “inward looking, self-seeking” and conceit. Satan uses it to tempt us to be more greedy. Living in America is living in a land of abundance. We are the “land of the free”. There is not only an abundance of food, but also technology, money, education, power, and most importantly freedom. Somehow, Americans still find ways to misuse this abundance. Tainted with pride, abundance can become a problem. When we build a house, or anything else, out of the abundance that God has given us, we have to have it bigger, wider, newer, and the “updated” version. We take the abundance of food, and we spoil it. Think about how much food is consumed by Americans in our restaurants every year. Then think about how much food is spoiled and thrown in the garbage from those same restaurants every year. It’s mind boggling. That wasted food could be used to feed millions of starving children all over the world. Technology is a wonderful thing flowing with abundance.

We have new kinds of digital cameras, cars, computers, televisions, ipods, electronics and even golf clubs. And what do we do? We go out and buy more. Somehow, we have been fooled that “we have to have the latest”. Think about how many basements and attics are filled with “cast-away” goods that have been barely used.

We have an over-abundance of entertainment, recreation, sports, and music activities for the children. American parents spend countless hours taking their children to activities such as soccer games (started at age 4), football, baseball, music recitals. How can “too much” freedom be a problem? Simple, men and women abuse the privileges that freedom affords them. We take a country like America which was founded on Christian principles.

Over the decades we have wonderfully become a “melting pot” of a multitude of ethnic, and cultural peoples. Unfortunately, in the process, our Christian roots have become adulterated, compromised with other world religions. By the way, this religious tolerance could only happen in a Christian society. There would be inner-country war if our country was based on Islam. Look at Iraq as an example where the Sunnis and Shiites fight each other who should govern the country.

God teaches us in the Scripture five important principles on abundance. First, He wants us to realize that He is the author of abundance. He is abounding in love (Nehemiah 9:17), peace (Psalm 37:11), security (Jeremiah 33:6), faithfulness (Exodus 34:6), and grace (Romans 5:17) and many other attributes. He wants us to enjoy these abundant gifts from Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us not just life, but abundant life! He wants our lives filled with abundance, but an abundance of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) God loves abundance, if we keep it in the right perspective. Gold and rubies and the natural riches of earth are nothing compared to having and speaking the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is described like a rare jewel. (Proverbs 20:15) The pagan world is more interested in wealth and power than in knowing God. Second, He gives to us all that we have, and all of our gifts come from Him (children, in Genesis 9:17, food in Nehemiah 9:25, gifts in James 1:17). We are able to do “immeasurably more” because of Holy Spirit power (Ephesians 3:20) We have direct access to this power. He gives us abundant joy, in spite of suffering that we might and will experience for His sake. (Philippians 1:26)

Third, God wants us to keep our abundance in perspective. We should be willing and want to give out of our abundance. In the story of the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44 (also Luke 21:1-4), Jesus teaches us the importance of giving until it hurts. The wealthy put in large amounts of money into the offering plate, but they “didn’t feel” it, as they had large amounts left over. The poor widow gave a much smaller amount, but a higher percentage of her net worth, in fact, “all she had to live on.” That’s the model for us. Humbling, isn’t it? In the Old Testament, the building of the Lord’s temple is richly described. Prior to David’s death, he provided abundantly for the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:3) He didn’t “skimp” at all; rather, he went “all out”, just as we should as we do things for the Lord. The first church “sold their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:45) Fourth, our lives are not judged by God on the abundance of possessions that He gives us. Rather, our possessions are a test for us as to what we are going to do with them. (Proverbs 11:28)

Just like green leaves, God wants us to trust in Him, rather than riches. The deciduous trees of the Midwest are green in the summer. Their leaves are drenched with chlorophyll. The leaves soak in sun and rain in the warm months. It is then that they grow. As autumn comes, their leaves turn yellow and red, only to be lost for the hibernation of winter. Jesus teaches this important concept in the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21. The rich fool busied himself with storing up riches for himself, forgetting about those in need around him. In Luke 12:33, Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” Ignoring the plight of the poor in our communities, nation, and world may be a major sin of omission. (Proverbs 28:27) God does not take our attitude towards the poor lightly. God shouts to us, “Share the abundance that I have given to you!” Fifth, the Scripture teaches us to work (labor) abundantly for the Lord. (Proverbs 20:13, 28:19) Paul had this perspective on his work in 1 Corinthians 15:9-11. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 says that Paul and his co-workers worked hard; they worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while they preached the Gospel of God to the Thessalonians. Paul, of course, worked as a tentmaker. (see Acts 18:3) In 2 Thessalonians 3:8-10, Paul...