How many times have you struggled with "thou shalt nots" of Scripture? Ever been hurt in church? Have you tried to follow the "rules" and it didn't work? Ever felt like a failure in your relationship with God? Join Pastor Jerry Herman when he shares a message with hope and healing. 

We were visiting churches. We decided to check out Pastor Herman's church and were stunned by the message. It is biblestudycompany's message of hope that we need God's revelation and His help in walking with Him. 

Many of us have a story where the  churches we belong to got off track and there were much hurt and disillusionment. Some of us walked away from God. But that is not where our hope should have been...on people. 

Could the wounds be healed? Yes, by realizing people are broken pottery, but God wants us to put our whole dependence on Him, not on churches or people. 

When churches preach "thou shalt  nots", Christ is saying "I am, and I will". Focus on Christ. Depend on Him and ask Him to change us with His power. 

Listen to the truth of Jerry Herman's story and how he came from a legalistic church environment. The words were our story as well.

Pastor Herman, realized he was managing his Christian walk with the Lord in his own mind and fleshly decisions. He said, "I looked good on the outside but falling apart on the inside".  

Join us for this podcast for pewsitters. 
 

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#biblestudy #weneedrevelation #10commandments

Episode Summary
We need revelation from God in our bible study. How do we get that? Join us for this podcast with Ric and Mary Joyner of Bible Study Company. 

Episode Notes
Did you know that in Exodus 34: 28  After Moses saw the golden calf and broke the tablets, and begging God to forgive the people, that the Lord called Moses up to the mountain? Notice the word commandments. "28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

If you click on the word commandments, in BSC you will see the word dabbar, which is revelation from the Lord.   Thus, we could say; The 10 Revelations". What were they revealing? We discuss this very question in our podcast.

The children of Israel made a golden calf because they decided to put their trust in man and break the first covenant in Exodus 20. Do we? Do we put our entire religious life into a teacher or denomination versus studying for ourselves? Getting revelations from God, in our bible study has changed our life. We had no idea that our Christian walk could be so different. 

We could actually say about the 10 commandments; "The 10 wicked revelations of our heart".  Yeah, let that sink in. The "thou shalt nots"  of Exodus 20 now are more clear to us since they are revelations of how we need to treat God and people. 

The Lord Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love Me you will obey my commandments".  It dawned on us ( was this revelation?) that The Lord Jesus Christ was declaring Himself God (the One Who wrote the commandments) and that if we love Him we will obey His word. How? With His Holy Spirit changing power and a submitted heart. Titus 2:11-12 

He also gave us the answer to "Love the Lord your God with your whole heart..." Obey His word. 

In this podcast, we discuss prayer, the armor of God, and seeking His revelation. We hope you will join us and share! 

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#creation #evolution #6 literal days #Drgerrybreshears

Our podcast is with Dr. Gerry Breshears, is a professor at Western Theology Seminary in Portland, OR. We discuss the theories in the Christian academic world of creation. Join us!

When Mary and I started to study the Bible, we asked the Lord what theories of creation should we adopt. We only had one version in secular schools, and that was evolution. And there are many versions of evolution as well!   But, starting in Genesis 1, God gives us HIS EYEWITNESS testimony of the His narrative of when He created the universe. Eyewitness testimony is missing from secular Science. Thus, the origin of the world, plants and animals, and the universe are just theories and questions in the secular world. 

We started with a "but," and we should then follow up with a problem; we want to believe the Bible and what God says, and this starts with the creation account. 

I find it interesting that God put this upfront in the Bible. Why? Because what we believe matters in our origins and this belief in our origins affects many things.  For example, our worship, sin, eternity, to name a few. Was it 6 literal days or long ages? I was surprised in Christian academia; there are many different theories of "how" God created. 

At the end of our discussion, I address my thoughts, and it will ask this question: How big, or small is your God? 

We should ask ourselves another question. What is Science? Science is a methodology to discover the truth. Here is an internet definition. "Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. [The] Scientific methodology includes the following: Objective observation: Measurement and data (possibly although not necessarily using mathematics as a tool)". Based on this definition, isn't it interesting that the theory of evolution is touted as fact? Change from one "kind" of an animal to the next. Change to suit an enviroment? A big bang. Fossils from every environment (marine, land, freshwater) found in the same layers! Soft tissue in dinos? That was a significant discovery for me, but it can only remain a theory because there isn't any "evidence," just interpretation of the data FROM A SCIENTIFIC PARTICULAR WORLDVIEW (which is another way of saying philosophy)! So our approach to the "science" matters. Our worldview matters. 

Belief in God is absent in some worldviews, as well as it should because evidence should matter. But why is being anti-god in Science make you more objective of a scientist? It doesn't.  Many of the great scientists were Christians with a creation worldview. (Newton, Maury, Bacon) Did that make them less of a scientist? No. But some people in the science world say you cannot be objective if you believe in God. Garbage logic. We could also apply that to those that don't believe in God, right? The goal of Science is to discover the truth, WHEREVER THAT LEADS. But in this case, it matters to us who are bible studiers searching for the correct interpretation of the Bible to get to the revelation of God. We need to know if God did this in 6 literal days. Does our "faith" depend on whether we take God at His testimony? Or does it? It mattered to Abraham. He journeyed to a foreign land based on God's word to him. This action (faith in God's word) led to an entire nation and eventually, our faith in Christ. Our origins and how we perceive them matter. Listen to the podcast prayerfully. Six literal days matters! 

Ric Joyner gives his thoughts before and after this fun talk. Will you join us and share? Please comment. 

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We are having a Bible Study on What is Blessing?  Here is the video and podcast version of our bible study called Blessing? What is it?

We all want it. But what is it? 
We all want health, wealth, and happiness. Right? Is being blessed a better job? More money? Healing? Notice that this definition is about us…getting what we want. The Lord Jesus Christ came to do the "Will of My Father." Our will or His Will? I want…or What He wants? #blessing #doyouneedablessing #Ineedablessing  #whatisblessing

For the full blog post go to https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/179

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Bible Study: Part 2 of the cure for deception. It is not an accident we can become deceived. By understanding Exodus 32 patterns we can begin to see how we can understand and analyze sermons. 

We ask this question: What is the cure? We need a new perspective. Get into the word ourselves. But how? By being careful with God’s word to know it. By choosing to do so we are honoring God. DO NOT DEPEND ON PEOPLE.  

We contrast Adam and Eve's decision not to believe God's word and they chose to disobey and the golden calf. Rebellion or I WANT is at the heart of deception.  

Can you be deceived?  

Yes. But how?

• Study the garden pattern
• Study how Satan fell (Ezekiel and Isaiah)
• Study the golden calf. About the making of a false religion
• Study the bible yourself. Renewing of your mind

Don’t give people authority over you. Books pastors etc.  

Where are your "I wants"? Are they aligned with God's will? And what is the "crowd" you are running in or with doing? Be cautious to not go with the flow.  

So what is the cure for deception?

• Honesty
• Listen to God’s word and submit your heart to it. (your will)

Matthew 6:12-13 Ask God to go into your heart and reveal your motives and sin. 12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’  

Eph 4 "as a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;"

Join us for this podcast and please share. 

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The Cure for Deception Exodus 32 Part 3a is for us to be in the Word of God ourselves and know how to study the bible. Watch out for the "I wants"!

Please note that there are two parts to this one! This is part A.

•We have completed two podcasts so far on Exodus 32. Can you be deceived is part P1 from Exodus 32 and lessons from the golden calf.  P2 was Real or Fake Prophecy, Which is It?

•We are adding a 3rd.   P3 is The Cure for Deception

•A problem is we don't believe we can be deceived. Would our favorite teacher deceive us? In rare circumstances. But what if they themselves are deceived? How would we know?

•What is the "Sunday School Myth"?  

• Please understand that we can be deceived. Because of this principle: I want… It is either "I want" or God's will. Christ came to do the "will of my Father". Will we?

•What is the cure for deception? A new perspective. Get into the Word of God ourselves TO BE PLEASING TO GOD. Be careful with God's word. DO NOT DEPEND ON PEOPLE.

•We want to answer several questions today

•1. How can we put all the tools together so we can practice not being deceived? We could list all the scripture where there is a possibility

•2. What if you hear a teaching, and it sounds good? It feels good? We may even say, "I know in my spirit it is right" teaching. Is this an objective truth? No. What would be your objective way to analyze it? That's what we are discussing.

•3. Can you be willing NOT to believe what you have been taught for years and go on a search for God's perspective?

•4. 1John 2:26 Says the Holy Spirit anoints us because of what Christ has done to save us. He will teach you. 

So here are some "I wants" to keep in mind. 

1. Does it feed our flesh?  Do I want to attend a church that is "hip" and cool"?
2. Does it feed our soul (emotions)? Do I want to feel good when I leave a church or hear teaching?
3. Does it take our eyes off of Christ? Do I want to go my own way?
4. Does it make us compare ourselves to others? Do I want what they have?
5. Does it take our eyes off the Word of God? I want others to study for me.
6. Does it put us "under" the authority of men? I want others to tell me what to do because it is easier than submitting to Christ?

Join us for this podcast and video to submit our hearts to our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. We welcome your feedback. 

Last week our podcast/video was on Can You Be Deceived? This week we are asking the question: Real Prophecy or False Prophecy? Which is it?   Notice that in Exodus 32, Aaron was in charge of the Hebrews in the wilderness while Moses was on the mountain. He gave into the people and became a FALSE PROPHET. 

So what about today? Let's start by asking some questions.  The first question we will ask is who and what are we giving our time and listening to?   Are you listening to false prophecy? For example, Graham Cooke and Russ Walden start their prophecies with "The Father says", and then include way too many nonsensical adjectives to have any meaning or relevance beyond a guess application to our life, aka these prophecies are similar to horoscopes. Yep, I said it=horoscopes. Seriously, we need to ask ourselves why these people all sound the same, even using the same adjectives? Notice how they are adjectives strung together with no real meaning, and anyone reading the "false prophecy" can fit the profile. Here is an example from Graham Cooke's Lattitude and Indulgence:
"Latitude is the Lord releasing to you a new liberty. For you to explore and extend a new found freedom to be with the Father. The Holy Spirit is going to work with you to develop an ability and an authority that is authentic in your life; for you to come into a new place, a whole new dimension of spirituality and to enable others to press in to that same place. The Lord says to you, there is a fresh season of favor upon each one of you, to go into a deeper place in the Lord." Notice the use of adjectives that literally do not say anything descriptive. Prophetic utterances like this are nowhere in the Bible.  

Sad really.   But let us ask the question; who is Graham Cooke, Sean Bolz, Kris Vallotton, and Russ Walden that they can speak for God? Yes, speak for the Maker of Heaven and Earth, The One Who Made us, the One Who redeemed us, and the One who desires we submit to His word. The One Who says about Himself, Jer 23:23 "Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off?"

Is He so far off that we need to go to a man to get a "word from the Lord?"  If this is the case, that He is near to each of us, why would we listen to someone speaking for God when we have the entire Bible OF GOD SPEAKING TO US, and I can pray DIRECTLY TO HIM. Or is it that we don't want to hear from God directly in His Word because it will reveal our sin? BAM. Yeah, let that sink in. These "feel-good word salads" do the opposite by TAKING US AWAY FROM GOD. 

Here is what real prophets do the Lord says: Jer 23:22 But if they had stood in My council,  Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way, And from the evil of their deeds. 

We should ask ourselves: Is this idolatry?  I will submit to you that seeking words from people, other than the Lord, is a form of evil because it is opposed to God's will. Please pray that you are not under a delusion because 2 Thes 2:11 says, "And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie." WOW. That should cause us serious pause. And a turn to the Lord to ask the question, am I deceived? If you are too far in, you will dismiss this blog and video without asking the question. If we are disciples, we will ask. 

Jesus said, "do not call anyone Father, or Rabbi but brother." Again, why would we think this person is hearing from God FOR YOU? Why would we put faith into these words, "The Father says,"?  Could our pursuit of these so-called prophets of nonsense adjectives be our idolatry? Do we put the same weight of these false words as God's words? Yes, people do! I did when I was younger and saw the damage done to many people by following the imaginations of men or women. And money is involved, which another aspect of Exodus 32. 

Let us ask further questions. What about the groups like Bethel that pursue a false form of the gospel called "signs and wonders"? Their focus seems to be on training people to do signs and wonders versus training them to know and understand the Bible. God's word created the universe and thus will change us as well. 

Did you know that signs and wonders Christ did were to establish to Jewish people that HE WAS THE CREATOR GOD AND THAT HIS KINGDOM WAS AT HAND? These signs verified WHO HE WAS TO THEM. Bill Johnson will lower Christ to just a spirit-filled man so that you and I have the same power as Christ! Notice the children of Israel lowered God to a golden calf! This is a horrible doctrine! 

Our God is the Creator of the Universe. We must treat Him as such. Our face should be on the ground before the cross by placing our sin on Him for taking our punishment. WE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT FEAR OF HIM TO OFFEND HIM. We can then focus on Christ and becoming disciples. Studying God's word means we have a new focus: to live praiseworthy to Him (fleeing sinful lifestyles). 

Let's not conform to these words of men. But submit to Christ by the renewing of our minds.  

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Can you be deceived is our original question. Let us also state this principle: Any information we take in and are not critical of it, but accepting, we will indoctrinate ourselves is phase 1 of the enemy's plan to deceive us. Next, which is Phase 2, we will perpetuate the same indoctrination by encouraging and sharing others to be a part of these false words and false teachers. Phase 3 is when you are solid in the indoctrination, that you vehemently disagree with people who share contrary information WITHOUT DOING THE HOMEWORK TO CHECK OUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. 

 Brothers and sisters, please read Exodus 32, Jeremiah 14, and 23 and see how closely these false prophets fit the profile of false. Our hope is we will turn to the objective truth of God's word WHO IS SPEAKING TO US DIRECTLY in the Bible with no need for a man to teach us. 1 John 2:26! We say this so you will not be deceived!  Why? We were once deceived by being too trusting. No one speaks for God, But GOD!   

For Search Engines: There are many bible verses about love, and there are many bible verse of the day programs. The holy bible provides these remarkable bible commentary. Bible Study and online bible study are available at biblestudycompany.com. Bible verses of faith are of interest as well. Even bible verses about hope are helpful. Bible verses about women are encouraging. Read the Bible online with biblestudycompany.com. We will all do better when love is patient love is kind. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me in times of trouble. With daily bible devotions, I grow. The gifts of the holy spirit are for every day. Online bible study is so helpful. biblestudycompany is a free online bible. With so many books of the bible, I can grow. We love inspirational bible verses in daily Bible reading.

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Additional Resources

For more info: Revealing Truth https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Zz...

Messed up Church Steve Kozar https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4D...

Spencer Smith https://www.youtube.com/user/spencers...

Chris Rosebrough https://www.youtube.com/user/Fighting...

Bible Study EXODUS 32 PART 1 - CAN YOU BE DECEIVED?

The golden calf doesn't mean much to us today in our modern church, or does it? Can you be deceived? Yes, we can. How will you respond if you are disappointed in God, church, or people? Some people are deciding that "it wasn't worth it" to follow Christ because the experience didn't work out. What if we struggled with doubts and couldn't express them to people and were afraid to say those doubts out loud to God?  We felt this way once. God confronted us on our rebellion. Yes, our rebellion. We needed to get gut-level honest with God and ask for His help. But this disillusionment is happening today at a higher rate to people in the church. What could be the possible cause? 

Our podcast goes into detail about some of the problems we see in the church today. We show how focusing on Moses (people or pastors or celebrities) will fail us. What if God doesn't deliver our wants the way we want them in the timing we desire? Is God a giant vending machine to serve us? People push the love of God. What does that even mean? What if God is all about His plans and purposes, and it is our "job" to line up with those plans and intentions called His will? It is your work to believe in Jesus Christ and place your sin on Him to rescue you from this world that is in the process of dying. But you are to serve Him, and not the other way around. 

What if we were created to serve God, and then to do His will, but we got lost in the fog and noise of the culture around us and lost our way to Him? What if we come back to Him with this: "Lord, I "got" nothing. I need You and am willing to submit to Your Word, with no expectations of anything. I am sorry for worshipping false gods of people, expectations, and lustful desires. Will You change me with Your Power?" If we take that stance and open His word to obey Him, our lives will dramatically change. The power of God to change will come upon us. "Hey Ric, got some scripture to back that up?" Sure do. Go to Deut 28 whole chapter. Pay attention to verse 1. Notice what follows. Then read Ex 32. Join us for the exploration of Exodus 32. Can you be deceived? Yes, you can!

For Search Engines: There are many bible verses about love, and there are many bible verse of the day programs. The holy bible provides these remarkable bible commentary. Bible Study and online bible study are available at biblestudycompany.com. Bible verses of faith are of interest as well. Even bible verses about hope are helpful. Bible verses about women are encouraging. Read the Bible online with biblestudycompany.com. We will all do better when love is patient love is kind. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me in times of trouble. With daily bible devotions, I grow. The gifts of the holy spirit are for every day. Online bible study is so helpful. biblestudycompany is a free online bible. With so many books of the bible, I can grow. We love inspirational bible verses in daily Bible reading.

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For Search Engines: There are many bible verses about love, and there are many bible verse of the day programs. The holy bible provides these remarkable bible commentary. Bible Study and online bible study are available at biblestudycompany.com. Bible verses of faith are of interest as well. Even bible verses about hope are helpful. Bible verses about women are encouraging. Read the Bible online with biblestudycompany.com. We will all do better when love is patient love is kind. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me in times of trouble. With daily bible devotions, I grow. The gifts of the holy spirit are for every day. Online bible study is so helpful. biblestudycompany is a free online bible. With so many books of the bible, I can grow. We love inspirational bible verses in daily Bible reading.
 

Could it be the magicians were just projecting an illusion? God wasn't. His Dragon vs. the snakes...ate the snakes. Our God is above the chaos of the world's man-made turmoil. 

In this podcast, we discuss enslavement to the world. The children of Israel, in Exodus 7, are an excellent example of how we can slowly become a slave to a system. They lived a comfortable life under the leadership of Joseph, while in the country of Egypt. I am sure they wove a bit of the Egyptian culture into the fabric of their teachings from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Maybe they threw in an idol or two, it wouldn't hurt to compromise a bit if it made for a more comfortable life! In a four-hundred-year span, after Joseph's death, they found themselves in complete slavery to the Egyptians. 

This story is just as prevalent today amongst our Christian brothers and sisters. Do we know God's word and walk it out in our lives? How many compromises do we make, all in the name of a better life in Egypt (or the world?) Let's be inclusive and accepting of everything, aka allow sin in our lives, at the expense of the true Word of God.  

Do we recognize false prophets? Can we decipher between half-truths and the whole truth?  God has given his Word and Spirit to guide and teach us. 1John 2:26-end of the chapter.  Besides, we're given the power to walk out his purposes. 

Will you follow God's perspective or their latest or newest trend? Trends don't last. Just look at your bookshelf. But the word of God is dusty. Perhaps a change of view is needed? We could ask the Lord to give us His perspective from scripture versus some commentator. Your life will dramatically change. Ours did. We don't look back. 

Join Bible Study Company as we discuss being a Warrior for Christ instead of a slave to the world.

Proverbs 30:5 Every Word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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Bible Study: Exodus 7 part 1 Do we have God's perspective? We will observe two men and their response to God’s command. I will begin with Moses, who just returned from an unsuccessful attempt at asking Pharaoh to let the Hebrew slaves go. Pharaoh refused to let them go and increased the oppression of the sons of Israel. The conflict of all conflicts begins!  Join Ric and Mary Joyner is this interesting podcast. 

Moses not only had the King of Egypt angry with him but also the very people he was trying to help. Moses complained to the Lord about his unskilled speech. For our lives and walk with the Lord, we are going to make mistakes. But Who are we serving? If we obey God's will, He takes care of His agenda. Comforting isn't it? Moses expressed to God, that God indeed made a mistake in choosing him to help in God's redemptive plan. Moses was expecting instant results. And we live in a society that demands fast. Do we want fast or God's will? How will we look at our lives to see where we stand? Moses was honest with God and also discouraged even to the point of accusing God of being wrong! In our lives, we have those times.  

Does this sound familiar? How many times do we get angry and frustrated because God's timing doesn’t line up with ours? Do you ever have the perspective that if you are obedient to God’s word, your life will be fine? We all experience times in our life where we question God and his purposes. Moses was at that place, but he returned to the Lord and poured out his heart. Returning to God and asking for his help are always the answer. Pharaoh, on the other hand, is a perfect example of pure rebellion. He refused to know Who God was or listen to His Word from Moses. Pharaoh’s heart was all about power, control, and feeding his flesh. With each refusal to honor God’s command, his heart grew harder. What an example of pure evil.

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We can be both of these people at different times in our lives. If we choose to return to God and ask for his kingdom view, he will help us see it and give us the power to walk it out. If we choose to turn from God and his way in favor of the world and our own view, it will eventually end in destruction. We know the end of the story with Pharaoh and it’s not good.  

During these times we want to question God. But He wants us to come to Him even more and layout our hurt, heartache, disappointment, and frustration. And today is a good day with the events in our nation to do this very thing. Grab Psalm 36 and read it back to the Lord. It will comfort you. Join us for this sobering podcast and join us in asking these questions. Are we going to ask God questions or question, God?

Who is biblestudycompany.com? 

We are: An online study Bible with a social media community

Our mission: Studying Scripture to live a praiseworthy life

Our vision: That a “Company” of believers are studying Scripture to live a praiseworthy life

Our Hope: That Pew-sitters move to disciple and then to disciple teachers bearing fruit for Christ

For Search Engines: There are many bible verses about love, and there are many bible verse of the day programs. The holy bible provides these remarkable bible commentary. Bible Study and online bible study are available at biblestudycompany.com. Bible verses of faith are of interest as well. Even bible verses about hope are helpful. Bible verses about women are encouraging. Read the Bible online with biblestudycompany.com. We will all do better when love is patient love is kind. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me in times of trouble. With daily bible devotions, I grow. The gifts of the holy spirit are for every day. Online bible study is so helpful. biblestudycompany is a free online bible. With so many books of the bible, I can grow. We love inspirational bible verses in daily Bible reading.