Thru the Bible on Oneplace.com

“Let’s be faithful and then let’s work.” That’s the wisdom our teacher, Dr. J. Vernon McGee leaves us with as we learn from the life of Zerubbabel and realize we may never know how important our work is for God.

Our study of important life lessons continues as we learn from Haggai how we today can make our hearts right with God and receive His blessings.

If you’re standing between a rock and a hard place today, you aren’t alone. Learn from Haggai that even in the hard places, we stand in the love of God. As Dr. McGee says, “Although His love may include a lot of hammering and chiseling—it’s all intended to make us more like Jesus.”

Some day in heaven when God is passing out rewards, who do you think might be one of the most honored persons? Paul? Peter? Maybe it’s someone you’ve never heard of and whose story has never been told. Dr. J. Vernon McGee gives us surprising insight to that future scene.

The writer of Proverbs says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That’s the same important message we receive in this study from the Old Testament prophet Haggai who reminds us to obey and fear God in all we do.

God may be speaking to us today through our difficult circumstances, even as He spoke to the people through Haggai. That’s what we see as we study the people’s response to Haggai’s message from the Lord.

“Where are you headed? What are your goals in life?” These are some of the important questions we’ll ponder as the prophet, Haggai, reminds the people to work hard, avoid laziness, and obey God’s commands to put Him first.

What happens when God’s people become complacent and lazy? Dr. McGee shares the answer to this question as we hear Haggai speak some uncomfortable truth to religious and civil leaders that can be applied to our lives today.

Pragmatic. A man of action. Preacher and practicer. That’s how one might describe the prophet Haggai. As our teacher Dr. McGee says, “Haggai doesn’t have his head in the clouds, he gets right down to the nitty gritty, where the rubber meets the road.” Learn more about Haggai and his relationship to Zechariah and Malachi.

How can believers stand for God in difficult days? Dr. McGee says the answer is really very simple: “He should be Lord of our lives. We should give Him glory. We should tell how wonderful He is, of his might and power. We need to hold Him up to the world.”

In this study, Jude provides an overview of man’s threefold nature and reminds us that our best protection against apostates is studying the Word and praying in the Spirit.

“We cannot please God in the flesh. Only when we yield to Him can we come to the place where He can use us,” advises Dr. McGee. Learn to follow the example of the apostles, NOT apostates, as Jude warns us to stay away from those who cause divisions in the church and turn from the Word of God, calling it foolishness.

Complainers, those who murmer, lust, and use “swelling words.” Jude continues with these descriptions of apostates and tells us more about hell as a “blackness of darkness.”

Who can we trust today? That’s the question Dr. McGee helps us answer as we look at the apostates Cain, Balaam, and Korah and the eternity of darkness waiting for those who follow the same path.

God, our Creator, never makes mistakes, but we often question His wisdom. We need to trust that He knows what He’s doing. That’s the lesson we learn from Jude as we look to the archangel Michael as an example of those who trust God completely and to Cain, Balaam, and Korah as examples of apostates who chose differently.

We’ve taken a look at apostates in Israel, and in this study Dr. McGee gives modern day examples and reminds us that Jesus warned His disciples to be prepared to face a bad world—and so should we.

Dr. McGee continues the discussion on angels as he tells us more about Satan’s purpose on earth and how God will ultimately defeat him.

Can angels rebel against God? If so, does God judge them? Dr. McGee answers these important questions and tells more about how we can be on the lookout for apostates in our churches and lives today.

Jude reminds believers of God’s protection, warns us of false preachers, and tells us that every movement God blesses is also in danger of being subverted by Satan.

Full of dark warnings against the false teaching that swallowed the first century church, Jude shares some amazing truths for believers today including: God loves us, He keeps us, and He preserves our salvation—even in the darkest days.

In his letter to the church, Jude warns that false teaching was creeping in—as well as a general “falling away” from the truth. Hear from the half-brother of Jesus in what Dr. McGee calls a fitting introduction to the Book of Revelation.

Witness the end of Israel’s dark night of judgment and hear about the light of a new day. We too will see a day when our long journey will be over and we’ll enter into an eternity in the glorious presence of our Lord.

God continues to spell out Jerusalem’s sin and Zephaniah gives them a picture of the great Tribulation. Follow along as the world moves towards judgment and people clearly ignore the warning signs.

Judah’s insensitivity to sin continues, as does God’s call for them to repent. Learn how the prophesies against the Philistines, Moab, and Ammon have been fulfilled and how that judgment will also extend to Ethiopia, Assyria, and nations of today.

Danger ahead! That’s the warning Zephaniah has for the people of Judah. Hear the prophet’s desperate and final call to prayer and repentance, and see how the people respond.