Bible

National Circumstances Demand Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

/ Bob

The concept of fasting is one that is at the forefront of weight loss discussion with intermittent fasting being a popular choice as a diet regimen. However, when fasting first developed it had nothing to do with weight loss. Fasting as a spiritual discipline still has nothing to do with weight loss. In fact, food is not the focus of fasting – God is.

The Bible has numerous examples of fasting and even instructions concerning how to and how not to fast. Jesus fasted before being tempted by Satan. Moses fasted as he was receiving the 10 commandments. Nehemiah, the focus of today’s lesson, fasted and prayed when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were in disrepair. This led to him going to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the walls. I these cases circumstances led to a need for fasting and praying. With Nehemiah, the circumstances involved the nation of Israel.

Circumstances in our nation have led to periods of fasting and praying. Time and time again our founding fathers – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, George Washington, and many others – called our nation to a period of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. In 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer for our nation.  The fast was not designed to achieve success in battle or a favorable political solution to the problems they faced. The purpose of the fast was to realign the American people in a proper position of humility before God. They knew that by first seeking God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) they would be in a proper position to move forward.

Today our nation is embroiled in a Civil War – different from the 1860’s, but no less harrowing.  Instead of North vs South and Grey vs Blue it is Red vs Blue, Democrat vs Republican, Black vs White, Rich vs Poor, Rural vs Urban, White Collar vs Blue Collar, Old vs Young, and even Religion vs Religion.   In the midst of the American Civil War of 2024, we must join with our forefathers of 160 years ago and fall on our faces before a Holy God – recognizing His holiness and our depravity – and in that humility fast and pray for His restoration of our Union.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 3, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Of Figs, Faith, and Forgiveness – Mark 11

/ Bob

In the week prior to the arrest of Jesus He teaches them lessons about faith and forgiveness and it all plays out in the midst of an unusual event involving an unsuspecting fig tree. Figs were a big deal in Bible times even showing up in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 3. Figs were a symbol of the blessings of God on Israel and they were also a symbol of the judgment of God on Israel. Like the fig tree in Mark 11 and Matthew 21, the religious leaders of Israel looked good on the outside, but they were fruitless – empty in heart.

By contrast, Jesus pointed out that the disciples could live in faith – faith in God – and accomplish things that the Pharisees and their ilk could only dream of. They could remove mountains from the scene and shake up the world if they would believe and not doubt.

There was however, one major proviso to what they could accomplish – they would have to practice forgiveness. Lack of a forgiveness triggers a lack of forgiveness on God’s part and a lack of power in prayer. You must make sure your heart is right with God when you pray and that begins with making sure that your heart is right in the relationships with those in your circles of influence.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 27, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 10.27.2024 – Of Figs, Faith, and Forgiveness – Mark 11.22-25Download

Jesus Prays For Us – Jesus Prays For You

/ Bob

In the 17th Chapter of John we find the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. As Jesus was within hours of his arrest and subsequent crucifixion He was praying for His disciples who would soon face the most gut-wrenching hours and days of their lives. As he prayed for them He prayed for their safety but moreover, He prayed that they would remained unified – unified with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and all for the salvation of the lost.

Jesus said that He came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) The unity He prayed for is critical for the saving purpose of Christ to continue through His followers today. If we are one with the Father through the Son by the Spirit within us, the gospel message will be proclaimed and the purpose of Jesus to seek and save the lost will continue until He returns. Furthermore, the unity Jesus prayed for will sustain his followers today as they face opposition as they share their faith.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 20, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 10.20.2024 – Jesus Prays for Us – Jesus Prays for You – John 17Download

Pray On & Pray Through

/ Bob

In Luke 11 and Luke 18 we find two parables which Jesus told in order to encourage his followers to pray – to seek the Father in all things. We prepare for every eventuality and yet so many times our plans fail. God is there waiting for us to turn to him. When we have wasted our resources, God is there waiting for us to turn to him. Even in those times when you declare with the defiant fortitude of a two year old, “I Got This,” He is still there ready to help you pick up the pieces when you realize you got nuthin’.

God is way more gracious than the grumpy neighbor of Luke 11 and way more kind than the unjust judge of Luke 18. If we would learn to ask, seek, and knock as He tells us to do in Luke 11:9-10 and keep on going to Him – not as a last resort when everything has blown up in our face – but always. We should go to Him first to find grace and help in our time of need. He knows what we need before we even ask Him. He just wants us to ask. If you’ve been a parent you know how you long for your kids to come to you when they need help. That’s what our Father wants us to do – go to Him in prayer.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 13, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 10.13.2024 – Pray On and Pray Through – Luke 11.5-13Download

I Got Your Back – I Got Your Six

/ Bob

I Got Your Back – I Got Your 6

Cyberwarfare is similar to prayer in that both are involved in warfare, both take place in an unseen realm, and both have human agents. In cyberwarfare the opposing agents are human. In spiritual warfare the antagonists are not human, but we, through our prayers, are the human agents of spiritual warfare.

The war is not coming. THE WAR IS ON!

You are under attack. You brothers and sisters in Christ are under attack. The entire human race – including your closest loved ones and the strangers you will never meet – is under attack. That’s why Paul did not ask the church at Thessalonica to pray for him – he commanded the church to pray for him. In the midst of the battle, Paul said, “Cover me.” The church had a choice. They could lay down covering fire in the form of their prayers or they could let him go it alone.

Today Christians around the world are yelling, “Cover Me!’ Family members, friends, neighbors, missionaries, pastors, and hurting souls everywhere are yelling, “Cover Me!” We are faced with the same choice. Are we going to lay down the covering fire of prayer or do these people have to go it alone? The war is on and when someone yells, “Cover Me” I pray that we will respond with a loud and solid “I got your back.”

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 15, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 09.15.2024 – I Got Your Back – 2 Thessalonians 3.1-5Download

Call of Duty: World at War

/ Bob

Cyberspace is a realm that covers the entire planet. And while we have a hard time defining it, we still use it – for good and for evil. In fact, cyberwarfare pits the good combatants against the evil combatants in this realm. The Spiritual Realm covers the entire planet. And while we are often unaware of its presence, we still operate within its structures much like combatants in cyberwarfare. We call it Spiritual Warfare.

Paul addresses this concept of Spiritual Warfare in the 6th Chapter of Ephesians. He identifies the enemy and tell us to get ready, suit up, and fight. Our battle gear as described in this chapter is something with which we are familiar – things like the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness. However, the real battle is waged through prayer.

We are beginning a 13 week study of prayer. We are at war and we must learn to fight on our knees in humility and prayer. God literally has an army of angels ready to enter the fight when we pray. May we learn how to watch and pray so that we might see the victory of our Lord.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 8, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 09.08.2024 – Battle Ready – Ephesians 6.17-20Download

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (And What to Do with Them When You Do)

/ Bob

In the final chapters of the book of Job we find God once again speaking to Job and his “friends.” He is reminding them that He is God and that they are not. He has been giving examples of His creative power as seen in nature but in today’s lesson he speaks of two exotic beasts that are under His control and are perfect examples of His creative power and also His sovereignty in ruling His creation. The beasts are Behemoth and Leviathan. Behemoth fits the description of a brontosaurus and Leviathan fits the description of a dragon. These are fantastic beasts indeed.

We all face beasts in every stage of our lives. We laugh at the things that used to scare us, but we get a little weak, our hearts beat a little faster when we consider the beasts that attack us now. Some alcoholics refer to alcohol as the beast. Some psychologists refer to depression as the beast. Even the sweet, darling, innocent children in Lord of the Flies had a beast. which started out as a snake but ended up being the evil within them.

In Job, God declares his supremacy over the entire creation including Behemoth and Leviathan. Throughout the entire Bible, God declares His supremacy over evil and over everything Satan can throw in our path.

In Revelation 19:19-20 we find the ultimate destruction of the ultimate beast:

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”

It may be a beast that causes us to pedal faster so we won’t get eaten up by it. It may be a beast that has climbed onto our backs and won’t let go. It may be a beast that lurks in the shadows and fills us with dread and anxiety. You know who or what your beast is. But you also need to know who your God is. God is supreme over any and all beasts.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

God is the Dragon Slayer in every sense of the word.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 25, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 08.25.2024 – Job 40-42 -Fantastic Beaswts and Where to Find Them in the EndDownload

A Young Man Speaks Truth to Conventional Wisdom – Job 32-37

/ Bob

People love to share their opinions online. And they can comment on any given post just as fast as their chubby little fingers or thumbs can type out the words. They don’t even have to think – and quite often don’t think – just open up their minds and vomit out the wisdom. And Why? Because what we have to say is important, or at least we think so. We think we know the score; we think we have it all sorted out; but God says you don’t know squat.

It’s easy to be the grumpy old man with life experience who doesn’t want to bother with the young Know-It-All – all the time yelling “Get off my Biblical lawn.”

It’s also easy to be the young Know-It-All who feels the need to speak on any and every topic available. All the time yelling “I’ve read the same thing in a dozen different posts. It must be true.”

But whether young or old, wise or foolish, knowledgeable or ignorant, none of us have arms long enough to box with God. We don’t know nuthin’.

So, we must listen to and trust the voice of God – even when God chooses to speak through an unlikely source such as a loud obnoxious young whippersnapper or a loud obnoxious old curmudgeon (remember God spoke through a donkey once – and He was just warming up) we must listen to His Voice and trust His Voice, His Wisdom, His Understanding; and NOT listen to the voice of human wisdom – above all not our own human wisdom.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 11, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 08.11.2024 – Job 32-37 – The Wisdom of YouthDownload

You Are Not Alone – Job 19:13-19

/ Bob

Loneliness is a regular occurrence in the human condition. Job expressed his loneliness in Job 19:13-19 and, in doing so, described the way many of have felt at one time or another. There are times in life when we feel deserted, abandoned, alone, and friendless.

As a believer we have access to the community of faith. The fellowship of believers provides a unique relationship opportunity that can ease the pain of loneliness. In Romans 8:9-21, Paul gives the church as framework of actions that can be taken within the church to make this happen – love each other, help each other, rejoice and weep with each other, and live in harmony and humility with each other. When we function as the church was intended to function, loneliness will have a hard time gaining a foothold.

As believers we also have access to God through His Holy Spirit within us. We have promise after promise in the scriptures reminding us that we are not alone because of the presence of our Lord in our lives. We are further reminded in scripture that as we receive and enjoy the presence of the Lord in our lives, we must reach out and touch those around us and, in so doing, be the presence of Jesus in the world.

On a final note, being alone is not synonymous with loneliness. We must learn to embrace our alone time and use that distraction-free time to spend quality time with the Lord. Bering alone can be a blessing because only then can we be still and know that He is God.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 29, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 07.28.2024 – Job 19.13-19 – You Are Not AloneDownload

Why Is Suffering a Part of Life? – Job 7:1-21 –Part 2

/ Bob
Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day. The questions about the meaning and purpose of it all rage in his mind to the point where he feels he would be better off dead.

As we go through periods of suffering – times when we experience the worst that life can throw at us – we, too, find ourselves asking questions: Why me, Lord? Why do these things always happen to me? What have I done to deserve this kind of abuse? Are You even there, Lord? While it is possible to know some of the reasons for the suffering, that doesn’t calm the silent storm raging within us. The questions are valid as we see in the life of Job, but finding the answers should not be the ultimate goal. Our hope is not in finding the answers – our hope is in finding Him, Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant. In Him we gain understanding, love, strength, and the hope to endure and even thrive in the midst of the suffering. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 16, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch
X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast
TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
class-notes-06.16.2024-job-7.1-21-why-me-lord-part-2Download