Most Bible students are aware of the “one another” commandments of the New Testament. For example, “Love on another.” An Injunction that occurs over a dozen times in the King James Bible.

But this morning I want to discuss the things we are to do to “ourselves,” as taught us in God’s Word.

Abraham told Lot, because of inner strife between them … “Separate thyself.” (Genesis 13:9)

In Genesis 16:9 the angel told Hagar, regarding her stern mistress Sarah … “Submit thyself.”

Pharaoh to Moses, issuing a threat really … “Take heed to thyself.”

In Exodus 34:2 God tells Moses to climb Mount Sinai and “PRESENT THYSELF,” our Clause for today, “there to Me in the top of the mount.”

Negatively, Leviticus 18:20 commands, do NOT “defile thyself” by sinning in a specific way!

Even concerning the hygienic laws of the Bible, the Jews being ultra clean people … “Wash thyself.” Ruth 3:3, among several other References.

I really like 2 Samuel 5:24, God speaking to David … “When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt BESTIR THYSELF: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.” Onward to victory! In a way here … wake up, rekindle the fires! Be attentive! Be obedient!

Even in Prayer to God … “With the merciful Thou wilt SHOW THYSELF merciful; with an upright man Thou wilt SHOW THYSELF upright.” Psalm 18:25

Psalm 37:1 … “Fret not thyself” … because of evil doers! In other words, do not worry, or here be not angry and furious. (“Charah” in Hebrew.)

Then to the reason for this Lesson … “DELIGHT THYSELF” in the Lord! (“Enjoy” Him with all your heart!)

Oh dear Lord, we pray … do not “Hide Thyself” in our time of need! (One of the Psalmist’s prayers.)

Romans 2:21 certainly presents an interesting example. “Teach thyself!”(Verbatim … “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?”)

“Behave thyself,” 1 Timothy 3:15!

1 Timothy 4:7, Paul now writing … “Exercise thyself” … unto godliness. It takes effort to live right!

“Give thyself” wholly to the Word of God, 1 Timothy 4:15.

1 Timothy 5:22 … “KEEP THYSELF pure!”

From bad company … “Withdraw thyself!” 1 Timothy 6:5

And the well known 2 Timothy 2:15 … “Study TO SHOW THYSELF approved unto God”

Also “show thyself” as a pattern of good works … Titus 2:7.

A good enough list to prove that the Christian life, although initiated by Grace … “For by Grace are ye saved” … continues to develop as we control “ourselves” in obedience to the One Who died to redeem us!

Praise HIS name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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One of the greatest Statements in the Bible on consecrated living for Jesus is found in Philippians 1:21, where Paul testified … “For to me to live is Christ.”

Now this morning I’ve found another similar Declaration … “We live unto the Lord.”  (Romans 14:8)

First of all notice the Christian life that was Paul’s personally (“To me”) has now become the sentiment of all the Believers at Rome … “WE live unto the Lord!”

By implication, that very type “living” should then describe us too folks! We who live this this century!

“We live unto the Lord!”

The word translated “to live” here is a present tense, active voice, subjunctive mood verb.

Thus it means “to live” unto our Lord … constantly!

The voice being “active” shows us it will take some effort, we must be diligent to live for him, unto Him!

And the mood, “subjunctive,” means that this lifestyle is Paul’s yearning, desire, prayer for his “people in Christ” at Rome.

All that in a little three letter verb, “zao!”

“We live unto the Lord.”

The Noun “Lord” (in Greek spelled “kurios”) is set in the “accusative” case. This actually means Jesus is the OBJECT of our living! He is our FOCUS! Our MAINSTAY! Our Very REASON FOR BEING!

Now, what a challenge for today!

For this week, this month and this year!

For the rest of our lives on earth!

Now all of Romans 14:8 … “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

In essence …we belong to Him! (The Word “Lord’s” is a possessive Noun, genitive case!)

Every heartbeat of mine is HIS!

In life or death or any other time!

Yes, that’s being consecrated to the Lord, indeed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Amen!

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Some time ago I stopped writing weekend Lessons on the Website. Still, every Monday through Friday morning … a fresh Bible study appears, right here!

Saturdays generally are travel days, driving to next week’s Revival. And Sunday, a preaching day for sure!

Praise the Lord!

Pray for us this week. The Revival is in Monroe, North Carolina. At the Hillcrest Baptist Church there with Pastor Kelly Austin and his people.

And don’t forget … watch tonight’s “Evening Meditation,” a Verse by Verse Bible Study from the Book of Philippians. Just visit Facebook or YouTube, under my name. I really try to have the Message (our Class) posted by 5:00 PM or so …

Remember, pray for America!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Jesus Himself issued this wise Advice!

But our Lord was not talking to the Disciples at the time … rather, to His enemies! People already seeking to kill Him! (John 5:18-19 gives more background to Jesus’ Words.)

“Search the Scriptures.”

Surprisingly, the verb “search” here is not a command! It is merely an indicative mood, present tense, active voice action word … probably not a command because lost men cannot properly “search” God’s Word! (Yes, those particular Jews were unbelievers in Jesus, already seeking to destroy His earthly life.)

Still, the Words of Jesus are heavily weighted with meaning.

“Search the Scriptures.”

Perhaps Jesus’ next Words explain His intent. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 in its entirety now.

“Search” (literally in Greek, “to speak, talk, declare” in the sense of “inquiry”) so says one of my Lexicons. “Search” the Scriptures! Commune with them! Live with them. Fellowship with them! Examine them!

But with what specific goal in mind?

To determine, to establish, to make sure … you have (you possess) genuine “Eternal Life!” Yes, the Bible is filled with “signs” or “fruit” or “evidence” as to whether a man or woman is truly saved! (In fact, the Epistle of 1st John seems to have been written partly for that very purpose! See 1st John 5:13, for example.)

Wow!

But there is a second “goal” as well … the Scriptures “testify of Jesus!”  

Jesus in Genesis? Yes!

Jesus in all the Old Testament, in fact!

And certainly in the New Testament!

Oh, what a delightful search this proves to be!

(1) Being saved and knowing it … and then (2) learning even more of our majestic Lord!

Two noble purposes Jesus just gave us … for diligently, consistently searching God’s Word!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I am excited to even be able to hold such a Book in my hand! Then to “search” it … that very privilege … Hallelujah!

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America is one her way down! No doubt about that, in the eyes of any serious Bible student.

She is not mentioned in any latter day Bible Prophecy! Not in Isaiah or Jeremiah or Zechariah or Ezekiel or by John the Seer on Patmos!

By then, by the end of the age, the great Tribulation for example … America well may have self-destructed!

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

The day of the United States (so-called) seeing God’s “great things,” in any positive sense … are over! However, some “great things” in reference to God’s Fury, God’s Wrath, no doubt lie ahead!

BUT …

Psalm 126:3 to the rescue! For true Believers in Jesus anyway! “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

Has God done “great things” for you?

How about saving your soul from Hell?

How about answering your prayers?

And giving you the good Holy Spirit, from the second you trusted Jesus!

“Great things” indeed … innumerable!

Forget this reprobate Nation for a minute … and concentrate on yourself as a Christian.

What should be our attitude, our response, to these “great things” God has showered upon us?

“The LORD hath done great things for us; WHEREOF WE ARE GLAD.” Still Psalm 126:3

I am sad today for what used to be America, a once Christian Nation … but I am GLAD today in my Saviour! And glad for the many, many “great things” He has done (and still does) for me!

And there will let my mind rest today!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Be “glad” with me, saved friend!

Psalm 2:1-5 … “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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