Biblically Speaking – Amanda Tero Books

Therefore… give thanks.

Published on November 23, 2017 by Amanda Tero5 Comments

Our family has adopted a memo for this year: “This has been THE year.” It seems like life has thrown so very much our way—a lot of hard things, difficult choices, sad days…yet also joy and blessings. On a day like Thanksgiving, we all think, “What can we be thankful for?” Today, I decided to do a quick Bible study about why we should “Give thanks.” I didn’t get past the first verse: “Therefor I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy Name.” (2 Samuel 22:50) Of course, I had to see what the “therefore” was there for. For what cause was David giving thanks? Hang on, because this “quick study” took a little time as I read through the chapter and listed out reasons that we ALL can be thankful to God.

– He is my rock, fortress, and deliverer (vs. 2)
– The Lord is my shield, my salvation, my high tower, my refuge, my Savior (vs. 3)
– The Lord hears me in my distress (vs. 7) and moves on my behalf (vs. 8)
– He sends from above, and draws me out of many waters (vs. 7)
– He delivers me from my strong enemy, and that which is too strong for me (vs. 18)
– He is my stay/support (vs. 19)
– He delivers me and delights in me (vs. 20)
– He rewards and recompenses (vs. 21)
– He shows us mercy and uprightness and purity (vs. 26-27)
– He is my light in darkness (vs. 29)
– By Him, we leap over a wall (vs. 30)
– His way is perfect, His Word is tried (vs. 31)
– He is a buckler to all who trust in Him (vs. 31)
– He is God, our rock (vs. 32)
– He is my strength and power; He makes my way perfect (vs. 33)
– He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, sets me on high places (vs. 34)
– He teaches my hands and gives me strength (vs. 35)
– He has given me His shield of salvation (vs. 36)
– His gentleness has makes me great (vs. 36)
– He enlarged His steps so we wouldn’t slip (vs. 37)
– He gives us power over the enemy (vs. 38)
– He gives us strength for battle (vs. 40)
– He delivers us from the striving of people (vs. 44)
– The Lord lives, He is the rock of our salvation (vs. 47)
– He avenges for us (vs. 48)
– He brings us forth and delivers us (vs. 49)
– He is our tower of salvation and shows us mercy (vs. 51)

THEREFORE we can give thanks go Him.

On days like Thanksgiving, we often face things that have been hard for us in the year, and struggle to be thankful around them. Only God knows what each of us are going through, but if you’re struggling to focus your eyes on your blessings, why not take a look into God’s Word and see why we CAN be thankful?

When We Don’t Know What to Pray

Published on September 7, 2017 by Amanda Tero3 Comments

I was recently talking with a friend about prayer, how God answers prayer, and how we should pray. A few days later, I was reading through Ephesians 1 and found yet again the beautiful prayer that Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,(Ephesians 1:15-20)

In this prayer, is a beautiful example of how we can grow—and what we can access by prayer.

The spirit of wisdom
Revelation in the knowledge of God
The eyes of understanding enlightened
Knowledge of the hope of His calling
Knowledge of the riches of His glory
Knowledge of the inheritance of His saints
What is the exceeding greatness of His power to believers (which is compared to His power in raising Christ from the dead!)

Knowing that we have access to ALL of this should great affect how we pray!

As I reflected on this, I then thought about how I pray for others. Sometimes, I just don’t know what to pray–there may be times when I sense a need in their lives (which, by the way, we should pray just as fervently for those whose lives look “put together” as those who seem to be falling apart–Paul often prayed that the churches would continue in what they believed), but other times, I want to pray, but may not know how.

Ephesians 1 and 3 and Philippians 1 all have passages of Paul’s prayers for others. This gives me a good idea of how to pray Biblically for someone else. I started making a list from the prayer passages in the New Testament:

I plan on adding to this list as I come across other passages that demonstrate ways for us to pray for others.

Do you have a specific passage you’ve used before to pray for others?

What verse has God used in your life recently about prayer?

Biblically Speaking – No Abominations in Heaven

Published on April 11, 2016 by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Part 22 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

Many believers have fallen into accepting that which is abomination in the sight of God. Unless we study God’s Word to learn His Mind on what is abominable, how will we know to purge ourselves from abomination? Lord willing, I will be posting the fruits of my study on the word “abomination,” but feel free to leap ahead of me and study it for yourself. What is an abomination to God?

No Abominations in Heaven

Revelation 21:23-27

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Heaven is pure, spotless, and holy, just like God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because of this holiness, anyone who walks in rebellion to God’s laws, unrepentant of their sins, cannot enter into heaven. This includes anyone who lives their lifestyle in what is abominable in God’s eyes.

Here, I believe, the focus is not to be on the abomination but on the escape from that abomination and, ultimately, an eternity spent separated from the Holy and Righteous Lord.

1 Peter 1:18-22 says,

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Every human being was born into this world with a sin nature (Romans 5:12 – Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:) and in his natural, sinful state, man’s due reward is death and eternal separation from God. However, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die and rise again, taking the penalty of our sin upon Him (Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.). It is only through Jesus Christ that one can be cleansed from their sin and made holy before the Lord, dressed in His righteousness, purified by His blood.

Biblically Speaking – Warning for Those Committing Abomination

Published on April 4, 2016 by Amanda Tero2 Comments

Part 21 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

Warning for Those Committing Abominations

Jeremiah 7:9-11

9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

God does not take lightly to those who claim to be followers of Him living and accepting a lifestyle which He clearly defines as abominable. I am afraid that many people today have the same mindset as in Jeremiah’s day: “I am saved–I have ‘liberty in Christ’–I can do this.” God’s Word very clearly defines what is right and wrong in His eyes. He also says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) Instead of accepting what is said to be “good” or “evil,” we need to open our hearts to God’s Word and search His Wisdom on what is truly good or evil–and live in accordance to His Word on the issue.

Jeremiah 13:27 – I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

Continuing the warning, God reminds us that He sees it all. We can live an outwardly upright lifestyle but if we harbor any of these abominations in our hearts (and our unrepentant attitude), God sees and He will judge, as He is pure and just.

Ezekiel 7:3-4 – Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Biblically Speaking – Ways of Men (vs. God’s way)

Published on March 28, 2016 by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Part 20 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

Ways of Men (contrary to ways of God)

Luke 16:15 – And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

In context, this verse follows Luke 16:13-14, No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

The Pharisees had their list of rules of “right and wrong” however Jesus reminded them that God’s ways are higher than man’s ways. We can refuse to listen, but that does not change God’s laws and His ways.

Biblically Speaking – Prayers of the Rebellious

Published on March 21, 2016 by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Part 19 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

The Prayers of Rebellious

Proverbs 28:9 – He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

This goes along with Psalm 66:18, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: We cannot live however we please and expect God to hear our prayers. 1 Peter 3:12 guarantees, For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. God, being the just and holy Savior that He is, cannot mar His purity by looking on and condoning our sin. One cannot rebel against the Lord and expect Him to hear our prayer.

Biblically Speaking – The Way of the Wicked

Published on March 7, 2016 by Amanda Tero3 Comments

Part 18 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

The Way of the Wicked

Proverbs 15:9 – The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

This verse debunks the modern thought that “God loves me how I am.” God cannot love us “how we are” if we are living a lifestyle that He loathes, a lifestyle that refuses to acknowledge God’s higher ways and His righteousness.

One Justifying the Wicked

Proverbs 17:15 – He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

Not only does God loathe those walking wickedly, He also loathes those who justify the wicked. Here is where many Christians are falling today. Am I trying to “soften” the sins of others? Am I trying to make others believe that “God accepts you as you are” when the Bible clearly contradicts that lifestyle (the Bible defines the lifestyle as wicked)? Am I standing on the Word of God firmly, or am I beginning to sway to the world’s thinking? Oh Christian, be careful of justifying what God calls abomination!

Biblically Speaking – Sacrifices of the Wicked

Published on February 29, 2016 by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Part 17 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

Sacrifice of Wicked

Proverbs 15:8 – The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 21:27 – The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

God will not accept sacrifices by wicked men. As shown in His Word, it is not actions that God desires but a heart condition.

Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Hosea 6:6 – For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Biblically Speaking – These Seven Things: Sowing Discord

Published on February 22, 2016 by Amanda Tero2 Comments

Part 16 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

These Seven Things

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

If ever there was a clear list given in God’s Word for abominations in His eyes, Proverbs 6:16-19 holds the key. It is distinct and unarguable. Above that, sadly, this list can be found in many believers’ lives.

– One Sowing Discord

“Discord – OT: 4090 medan, discord, strife”

The other use of this Hebrew word is Proverbs 10:12, Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Having been a pastor’s daughter, I have seen examples of this last “of the seven abominations” in the church more than the others. Church members are relatively truthful, strive for humility, keep their feet from the paths of evil and their minds from wicked imaginations…but when something goes awry they are the first to sow discord in the church. God doesn’t just recommend it “doesn’t happen.” He finds it utterly distasteful. He knows the harm that it creates in His body for one member to be “warring against” another, and He hates it. Am I taking part in this abomination?

Biblically Speaking – These Seven Things: Feet Running to Mischief

Published on February 15, 2016 by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Part 15 in my study on what is abomination in the sight of God.

Recap:

These Seven Things

– Feet Swift in Running to Mischief

“Mischief – OT:7451 ra` (rah); from OT:7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):”

Am I quick to jump on the bandwagon of mischief? Do I find myself following after those whose actions are not “necessarily good?” God does not have a “gray area.” Either it is evil or it is good. Psalm 37:27 commands, Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. When was the last time I stopped to consider my ways–if they are (in God’s eyes) evil or good?

An example of a man who lived uprightly in this area is Job:

Job 1:1 – There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

To “eschew” means to “turn off.” Not only did Job refuse to run to evil, he went the opposite way. A concept repeated in 1 Peter 3:11, Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.