Pathlight Studies

I'd like to take a look at one of the great mysteries of the gospel, the concept of one's life being "hidden in Christ." The main scriptural basis for this study is found in Colossians 3:1-3, where we read..." If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. " In order for our life to be hidden with Christ, we must consider ourselves to be dead to this world. Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20..." I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. " He also goes on to write in Galatians 6:14..." But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified un...

This week, I'd like for us to take a look at the opening verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, as Solomon compares and contrasts different aspects of the seasons of life. This is a much quoted section of Scripture, but beyond the obvious, literal meanings there are many figurative and indirect interpretations. So, we'll read verses 1-8, and then take a closer look at them... " To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time...

This week, I'd like for us to examine the fact that God uses broken vessels in order to accomplish His will. In contrast to men, who throw out broken things, God never uses anything without breaking it first. Before we can ever hope to fulfill God's purpose for our life, we must reach a point in our journey where we are stripped of pride and arrogance, where we realize the futility of our own efforts, in other words, we are broken. Until we come to a point where we acknowledge our need for God, and our inability to make it without Him, we will never yield our will. However, once we accept our brokenness, we can begin to be restored and made new.  Earnest Hemingway once said, "We are all broken. That's how the light gets in." God has a divine plan for each and every one of us. We read in Jeremiah 29:11..." For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. " There may be time...

This week, I'd like for us to take a look at learning how to walk with God, and what this means in our daily life. We'll try to take the perspective of a child learning to walk, and the steps involved, and use God's word to help us understand the process, because we are His children, and, just as a baby must learn to walk, so we must learn to walk in His ways. Just as a child must learn to stand before they can learn to walk, so we must first learn to stand. The process of standing involves first getting up, and then having something firm on which to stand, or one cannot maintain their balance. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1-2..." Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. " Our foundation is firm when we stand on the Rock. We stand in grace, and in peace, when we lean on Jesus. Without Him, we cannot stand. ...

This week, I'd like for us to take a look at something that God spoke concerning the way in which His people could find forgiveness and healing. It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14... " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. "    Let us first notice that there are three distinct steps that we must take, and three specific actions that God will take in response. First, we must humble ourselves. Secondly, we must pray and seek God. Then, we must turn from our wickedness. In return, God will hear from heaven, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal our land. These are steps that are not only imperative for America, but for the whole of humanity, as the problem of sin is a worldwide epidemic.  In order for us to come to a full understanding of the scope and magnitude of this verse, as well as how it...

This week, I'd like for us to take a look at a very interesting event that occurred in the early days of the church. Soon after the Day of Pentecost, as the church was in its formative state, the disciples who gathered together were all of the same mind, and many of them chose to sell their possessions in order to distribute among the believers as the apostles saw fit. It was at this time that a man named Ananias, along with his wife, Sapphira, made a fatal error in judgment. We'll read A cts 5:1-11, and then take a closer look at what occurred, and the reasoning behind it... " But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was...

This week, I'd like for us to take a look at the concept and meaning of sanctification. Admittedly, if I was asked to define sanctification before undertaking this study, I would not have been able to give a proper definition. Although I have heard the term all my life, and felt that I understood the concept, it really goes much deeper than I had imagined. Webster's dictionary defines the word "sanctify" as "to make sacred or holy, or to set apart, or make free from sin." These are all acceptable definitions, but considering the fact that sanctification is a biblical concept, I believe that we should allow the bible to define it for us. Therefore, we'll take a look at some instances of sanctification throughout the bible and delve into the deeper meaning of what it is to be sanctified. The first mention of sanctification in the bible is found in Exodus, chapter 13, verse 2, as God instructs Moses that he is to sanctify all of the firstborn of Israel, b...