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Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com
Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible. Printed in the United States of America.
Paul Kent
The5āMinute BIBLE STUDY for
Men
Standing for Godās Truth
INTRODUCTION
Do you ever find it hard to make time for Bible study? If so, youāre not alone. Many of us intend to spend time in Godās Word. . .but life just gets in the way. Before we know it, another week has passed and weāve barely picked up our Bibles. And yet we all know how important scripture is to our lives. We recognize it as the actual Word of God, the record of what He decided that human beings must know about Him and ourselves, about sin and salvation, about life and death and everything in between. We realize that Godās truth is the only thing that can possibly change this dark world. We sense that we need to stand for Godās truth in a culture thatās increasingly hostile to it. But everything starts with truly understanding His Word. Thatās why we created the 5-Minute Bible Study series. It provides an avenue for you to open the Bible each day and dig into an important passage, offering great benefit in just a few moments. Hereās how the system works:
ā¢ Minutes 1ā2: Read carefully the scripture passage for the dayās Bible study.
ā¢ Minute 3: Understand. Ponder a couple of prompts designed to help you apply the
verses to your own life. Consider these throughout your day as well.
ā¢ Minute 4: Apply. Read a devotion based on the dayās scriptural focus.
ā¢ Minute 5: Pray. A prayer starter will help you to begin a time of conversation with God. Remember to allow time for Him to speak into your life as well.
There are ninety-three studies in this book, covering the essential topics of Godās Word, God Himself, the human condition, Jesus, salvation, the Holy Spirit, self-denial, prayer, the world, spiritual warfare, and your eternal reward as a committed follower of Christ.
May The 5-Minute Bible Study for Men: Standing for Godās Truth help you to establish the discipline of studying Godās Word. Find a quiet place in your home, head out to your favorite coffee shop, or sit alone in your vehicle with this book and your Bible. Your willingness to spend five minutes focused on Godās Word and prayer can make a huge difference in your day. . .and your entire life.
STANDING ON GODāS TRUTH
Read Matthew 7:24ā29
Key Verse:
āEveryone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.ā
Matthew 7:24 niv
Understand:
ā¢ How much of your personal belief system is based specifically on Godās Word?
ā¢ What other influences contribute to your worldview? What are the positives and negatives of each?
Apply:
Did you notice anything unusual about the title of todayās study? It differs slightly from the title of this book. The variance is intentionalāyou canāt stand for Godās truth until you stand on it.
Todayās scripture passage concludes Jesusā famed Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5ā7 contains His teaching on topics such as blessedness (5:3ā12); Christians as salt and light in the world
(5:13ā16); anger, adultery, and divorce (5:21ā32); and love for oneās enemies (5:43ā48). Jesus gave insights on praying (6:5ā15), storing up treasure in heaven (6:19ā24), and worrying (6:25ā34). He laid out the dangers of hypocrisy and judging (7:1ā6), the rewards for persistent prayer (7:7ā12), and the consequences of false faith (7:15ā23). And He finished His teaching with a parable of wise and foolish builders: Everyone who listens to His wordsāand lives accordinglyāis like a man who builds his house on a foundation of solid rock. That type of house can weather the storms of life. Winds of fear and floods of opposition canāt knock it down. The guy who lives there will be safe and secure because his base is solid.
Throughout the next three months, weāll consider numerous scriptures that youāll want to apply to your own life. As you do, youāll find yourself standing both on and for Godās truth.
Pray:
Heavenly Father, help me to stand strong in this crazy world, building my life on the solid foundation of Your Word so I can weather every physical, emotional, and spiritual storm.
WHAT LASTS FOREVER?
Read Isaiah 40:1ā10
Key Verse:
āThe grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.ā
Isaiah 40:8 nlt
Understand:
ā¢ What are the oldest physical items you own? How has time affected them?
ā¢ How have you witnessed the āfadingā of other thingsāfrom personal relationships to societal values?
Apply:
The title of an old James Bond film says, āDiamonds Are Forever.ā But according to scripture, a day is coming when āthe heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fireā (2 Peter 3:10 nlt). Not even diamonds will survive that fearsome āday of Godā (verse 12 nlt).
This future of our sin-cursed earth is also the beginning of a purified, remade world where those who followed God by faith will live in perfection. We anticipate that day because of what Heās
saidāHis truthful Word that āstands forever.ā
As the timeless Maker of time, the limitless Creator of everything, God has the power and authority to make sweeping statements like the one in todayās key verse. We all know that grass and flowers fade quickly, but even the Grand Canyon is wearing away, little by little, day by day. Godās Word, though, is indestructibleābecause it is the outgrowth of His holy and all-powerful nature. God communicates Himself by His Word in ways that we finite human beings can understand. And if we live our lives as He demands, weāll enjoy His awesome, loving presence forever.
Isaiah 40 is a prophecy of Jesus, through whom we gain access to this amazing God. We can know Him as Creator, sustainer, Redeemer, and friend. And we can do all these things because of His amazing Word.
Pray:
Iām grateful that Your Word is as eternal as You are, Lord. And I thank You for giving Your Word as a guide for life. May I apply myself today to its incredible wisdom.
ORIGIN OF GODāS WORD
Read Ezekiel 1:1ā28
Key Verse:
The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar. Ezekiel 1:3 skjv
Understand:
ā¢ How much have you considered where your Bible comes from? What is your confidence level in Godās Word?
ā¢ How do your answers to those questions affect your Christian walk?
Apply:
The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was famed for his attention to detail. By carefully observing peopleās clothing, for example, he could quickly deduce their personal habits or recent whereabouts. As Christian men, letās take the same pains in our Bible reading.
Scripture wastes no wordsāevery detail is important. Consider the term in todayās key verse that describes how āthe word of the Lordā came to Ezekiel: expressly. That indicates God specifically
chose Ezekiel to receive the message. And it means the message was explicitānot vague or ambiguous. Other writers had similar experiences: āthe word of the Lord that came to Hoseaā (1:1); āthe word of the Lord that came to Joelā (1:1); āthe word of the Lord that came to Micahā (1:1, all quotations skjv).
God knew exactly what He wanted to communicate to human beings. He spoke very directly to the men He chose as Bible writers. They wrote in their own words and style, but only as they were āmoved by the Holy Spiritā (2 Peter 1:21 skjv).
We can be confident in what we read because it originated with God Himself. No human being dreamed up scripture. No man chose to ādevelop his ministryā by creating his own āBible truth.ā The word of the Lord came expressly to the men He handpicked to write it down. Then God protected that truth through time so you can study with confidence today.
Pray:
Increase my knowledge of and confidence in Your Word, Lord. I know that itās vital to my life.
COMPLETELY RELIABLE
Read 2 Peter 1:12ā21
Key Verse:
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19 niv
Understand:
ā¢ What distinguishes scripture from ācleverly devised storiesā (2 Peter 1:16 niv)? How can you know the difference?
ā¢ How is Godās truth like āa light shining in a dark placeā (verse 19 niv)? When have you experienced that for yourself?
Apply:
If youāre choosing something to build your life on, it ought to be completely reliable. Thatās how Peter described Godās truth, the āprophetic messageā we find in scripture.
Peter described himself as an eyewitness of Jesusā majesty. As the first of the apostlesāboth in order of his calling and in prominence among the
twelveāhe personally experienced all the amazing aspects of the Lordās ministry on earth. Peter shared this truth verbally and in writing, making āevery effort,ā he said, āto see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these thingsā (2 Peter 1:15 niv). He had the privilege of seeing Jesusā ministry; we have the privilege of learning from Peterās firsthand reporting. And firsthand, eyewitness testimony is always the most reliable. In the case of scripture, itās more than āthe most reliableāāitās absolutely, completely, and utterly reliable thanks to the Holy Spiritās involvement. As Peter said, āno prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophetās own interpretation of thingsā (2 Peter 1:20 niv). He and his fellow Bible writers āspoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spiritā (verse 21 niv).
This is truth you can trustāa foundation on which to build your entire life.
Pray:
Lord, Iām thankful that Your truth is completely reliable. Guide me as I read and study Your Word, and help me to stand both on and for it.
INSPIRED TRUTH
Read 2 Timothy 3:1ā17
Key Verses:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16ā17 skjv
Understand:
ā¢ How closely do the bad behaviors of verses 1 through 5 reflect what you see in modern society? Do any of them not apply?
ā¢ How do the final two verses of this chapter relate to the first nine?
Apply:
To say a work of art is āinspiredā is to credit its brilliance, to a degree suggesting divine involvement. Godās Word is certainly beautiful and moving, but itās much more than any song or painting or sculptureāand Godās involvement was total. Though He used the talents of certain men to capture His Word for future generations, God actually ābreathed outā the Bible text. Thatās the
literal meaning of the word inspiration in todayās key verses.
This understanding should supercharge our confidence in the truth of the Bible. If by faith we can believe in an all-powerful God who created all things, we can also trust that He would find a perfect way to communicate Himself to us. We can accept His inspirationāHis breathing outāof the original Bible manuscripts. And we can believe that He protected His message of truth through the centuries as those manuscripts were kept and copied and ultimately translated into the Bible we carry today.
God put the physical breath of life into human beings (Genesis 2:7). And He put His spiritual breath into scripture, which provides everything we need to acquire salvation. āFor the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and rebukes of instruction are the way of lifeā (Proverbs 6:23 skjv).
Pray:
Lord, You clearly inspired Your Word. Now inspire me to read, study, and memorize it. Inspire me to stand for Your truth.
THE POWER OF GODāS TRUTH
Read Jeremiah 23:25ā32
Key Verse:
āIs not my word like fire,ā declares the Lord, āand like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?ā
Jeremiah 23:29 niv
Understand:
ā¢ How much energy have you put into knowing Godās Word? How well can you identify false teaching?
ā¢ In what ways is Godās Word powerful? When have you seen Godās truth change lives?
Apply:
Are you concerned about your culture? Do you fear the decline of morality, not only in your fellow citizens but among your leadership? Do you think many of your nationās religious leaders have lost their way? If so, welcome to Jeremiahās world.
The last great prophet of Judah, Jeremiah watched as the powerful Babylonians overthrew his beloved nation. That was Godās punishment for His
peopleās sināthe disobedience of princes, priests, and everyday people. For forty years, Jeremiah had warned them, trying to call them back to God. Sadly, they continued on their destructive way.
So was Godās Word really that powerful? Was it truly like a fire or a hammer that breaks rock in pieces?
Yes. Whatever scripture says is true, simply because of its source. But think of it this way: Fire can be devastating, a conflagration that burns miles of grassland or forest. But immense fires begin as a single spark. Hammers certainly shatter rock, but only when wielded by a powerful arm. At other times, hammers simply lie quietly, awaiting their true work. Godās Word was powerful even in Jeremiahās day, changing individual lives. But in a few centuries, it changed the world, as the Roman empire embraced Christianity. Centuries after that, the West would also embrace scriptural principles and become the freest, most prosperous society in history.
Even as our culture grows spiritually cold and dark, Godās Word is as powerful as everājust waiting for Him to strike the match.
Pray:
Lord, please unleash the power of Your truthāin my life and in my world.
TWO-EDGED SWORD
Read Hebrews 4:1ā13
Key Verse:
The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12 nlt
Understand:
ā¢ How is Godās Word āaliveā? What power does scripture hold?
ā¢ Why does the Bible identify itself as a ātwo-edged swordā? When have you felt its cutting?
Apply:
Todayās key verse probably isnāt new to you. Itās one of the Bibleās most familiar self-descriptions. But have you ever considered its context?
Hebrews 4 explains the ārestā God offersā peace in this world and the perfection of heaven to come. But this rest is available only if people have ālistened to Godā (verse 2 nlt). āOnly we who believe can enter his rest,ā verse 3 continues. āAs for
the others, God said, āIn my anger I took an oath: āThey will never enter my place of restā ā ā (nlt).
This is Godās all-encompassing truth, a positive invitation to follow Jesus by faith and a negative warning toward those who wonāt. While some spiritual truths can be deduced from natureāfor example, Godās wisdom and power in creating the universeāspecific truths of salvation must be laid out in His Word. And Hebrews 4:12 clearly explains the power of that Word.
The Bible actually gives life. Itās not some dry reference work, providing an occasional nugget of trivia. Nor is it a popular novel, to be read today and forgotten next week. Noāscripture is Godās Word, and it pierces our hearts with His truth. Itās a double-edged sword, cutting in every direction. . .knocking out both our pride and our feelings of worthlessness. It cuts one way with rebuke and the other with hope. When you stand both on and for this truth, you receive the rest God promisedāboth now and forever.
Pray:
May Your Word completely renew my thoughts and desires, Lord.
SCRIPTURE MUST BE FULFILLED
Key Verse:
Read Acts 1:15ā26
āMen and brothers, this scripture needed to have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus.ā
Acts 1:16 skjv
Understand:
ā¢ What was the āscriptureā that Peter referred to in this passage? What weight did Peter give to that scripture?
ā¢ What were the qualifications of an apostle, according to verses 21 and 22? How can this strengthen your confidence in what you know about Jesus Christ?
Apply:
Judas Iscariotās treachery did not surprise God. Jesus wasnāt shocked by the betrayal of one of His twelve disciples. In ways that are mysterious to us but completely within His omniscience (what we might call His āall-knowingnessā), the Lord
had always expected what would transpire with Jesusā arrest in Gethsemane. In fact, His Spirit had addressed the situation a thousand years earlier in the Psalms.
In the weeks between Jesusā resurrection and the Holy Spiritās arrival at Pentecost, when the number of Christians was only around 120, the apostle Peter called for a new apostle to replace Judas. After handing Jesus over to His enemies, Judasācrushed by remorseāhad hanged himself. Recognizing prophecies of this situation in Psalms 69:25 and 109:8, which indicated that Judas would be completely lost and replaced by a better man, Peter declared these scriptures āneeded to have been fulfilled.ā So he oversaw a process that culminated in a man named Matthias being named the twelfth apostle.
Peter was standing for Godās truth. This leader of the apostles made sure that he played a part in whatever Godās Word called for. Today, we as Christians have that same privilege and responsibility. Letās study the scriptures carefully and, in Godās power, do whatever they say.
Pray:
Lord God, what scriptures can I help to fulfill today? Give me Your wisdom, guidance, and courage to do exactly as You direct.
āYA GOTTA BELIEVEā
Read Romans 4:16ā25
Key Verses:
The words āit was credited to himā were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousnessāfor us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Romans 4:23ā24 niv
Understand:
ā¢ What does it mean to be ācreditedā righteousness?
ā¢ Who does the crediting? How is this righteousness gained?
Apply:
Serious baseball fans may recognize the title of todayās study as the rallying cry of the 1973 Mets. In the National League East, New York won 19 of 26 games beginning in August, clinching the division on the final day. āYa gotta believe,ā brainchild of reliever Tug McGraw, carried the Mets through a League Championship Series against Cincinnati and into Game 7 of the World Series with Oakland. But it couldnāt quite propel New York to the title.
Believing in yourself only goes so far. Biblically speaking, āya gotta believeā in Jesus. The Old Testament clearly states that Abrahamās belief in God is what made him righteous in the Lordās sight (Genesis 15:6). As todayās key verses show, the New Testament reaffirms that reality for all who trust in God by believing in Jesusā death, burial, and resurrection. He died on a cross to take the punishment for human sin; He was buried to confirm His death; and He was raised again to show His power over sin and Satan. Taken together, this is the truth of the gospel that saves our souls (1 Corinthians 15:3ā4).
When we stand on this truth, weāre confirmed in our faith and receive assurance of heaven to come. And as we stand for this truth, we point others to the eternal life we ourselves have found.
Pray:
Iām grateful, Lord, that salvation is so simpleāI donāt have to pay for it or work to deserve it; I just believe in You. Help me share this remarkable truth with others.
BENEFITS OF TRUTH
Read John 20:24ā31
Key Verse:
These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31 niv
Understand:
ā¢ What important events occurred earlier in this chapter?
ā¢ According to Jesus Himself, what makes a person āblessedā or āhappyā (verse 29)? How many Christians through time have fallen into this category?
Apply:
Christians of all stripes recognize the first entry in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, a seventeenth-century teaching tool created by English and Scottish believers: āQuestion: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Manās chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.ā
In just twelve words, that answer summarizes the entire message of scripture. God, who alone created the universe and sets the standard of holiness,
saves people primarily for His own glory. But when we follow Him by faith in Christ, we benefitāwe āenjoy Him forever.ā
That was the apostle Johnās point in todayās key verse. By believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior who died for our sins and rose again, we gain lifeālife thatās eternal (John 3:16) and full (John 10:10). These are benefits of giving ourselves fully to Godās truth.
Jesusā disciple Thomas struggled to believe that his Lord had overcome the gruesome crucifixion. Thomas needed physical confirmation of the resurrection, which he was given. But Jesus told Thomas that those who could believe purely by faithāand that includes all of usāare blessed. We are happy when we simply trust in a glorious God who allows us to enjoy His presence. The Holy Spirit inside us guarantees our eternal life (which has already begun) and makes it full as we yield to His leading. What greater benefit could we desire?
Pray:
Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with full, eternal life. May I show my gratitude by bringing glory to Your name.
