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John 3:16 Illustrated

How is God sufficient for every trial and difficulty we face? Scripture teaches that God has provided everything believers need through the sufficiency of His Word, the cross, His grace, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Because Scripture is God-breathed, it thoroughly equips us for every good work and must remain our standard for truth. Christ's work on the cross is likewise complete and needs nothing added to it. As we learn, internalize, and apply God's Word, we can face suffering, pressure, disappointment, and uncertainty with confidence, resting in God's perfect provision and trusting Him to sustain us.

One of the most ignored and perhaps compromised biblical assertions is related to God's sufficiency. What exactly does this mean, God is sufficient? What specific sufficiencies are there in relation to God's provision to us? There are five of these: Sufficiency of Scripture; Sufficiency of the Cross; Sufficiency of Grace; Sufficiency of Christ; Sufficiency of the Holy Spirit. Too often we are inclined to be like the Judaizers that Paul dealt with in the Galatian problem, something needed to be added to the work of Christ on the cross, such as obedience to the Mosaic Law. Today people think that God wants us to be happy and whine about, "why would God do this to me?" Learn in this lesson that God is teaching us that He is the omnipotent God that can take care of us, and He allows adversity to teach us to trust Him. And through trusting Him in adversity we develop the skill to encourage and biblically comfort others who go through these tests.

What is the Holy Spirit's role in sharing the gospel? Dr. Robert Dean, senior pastor at West Houston Bible Church, shares that the power in evangelism comes from the Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses that truth to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Our responsibility is to communicate clearly that salvation is a free gift received by faith alone in Christ alone. We don't have to know every answer to every question we are asked. We only need to share the gospel as clearly as we can and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, using the Scriptures to bring the unbeliever to the point of decision. Learn more about the Holy Spirit's role through personal evangelism in this message.

Why did God judge Israel in the book of Amos? Dr. Robert Dean, senior pastor at West Houston Bible Church, shares how Israel rejected God's gracious provision, silenced His prophets, and rebelled against His covenant. Their privilege brought accountability, and military strength could not protect them from divine discipline. Through Amos, God sounded a warning like a roaring lion. These passages remind us that God is faithful to His Word, including its promised consequences, and challenge us to listen carefully to what He has said.

What does "comfort" mean in the Bible? Dr. Robert Dean, senior pastor at West Houston Bible Church, explains that biblical comfort includes encouragement, exhortation, and consolation that focus us on trusting the Lord through adversity. Our relationship with God and His Word is the source of that comfort. Looking closely at 2 Corinthians 1:3, we also discover the significance of the Father's relationship with Jesus Christ and the clear biblical testimony that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Learn more about what comfort means from a biblical perspective in this message.

After learning first that eternal salvation, justification by faith alone, is only by faith alone in Christ alone, the question arises: doesn't this understanding of grace mean that we can sin all we want with impunity? The answer is no. This raises the question of accountability. What accountability is there? We are mandated in Scripture to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18a). Learn what it means to have shame at the coming of the Lord. Understand that there are several different judgments, not all of which relate to eternal destiny. What exactly is the Judgment Seat of Christ and how does it affect believers in Christ? There are important instructions in Scripture to see how God provides incentives for us to pursue spiritual growth and maturity. The decisions to grow spiritually come many times every day. What choices will you make?

Recently, a well-known political pundit has made the claim that he was "attacked by a demon" while he slept one night. He claimed he was "clawed" by this demon. No picture or other attempt to document this was provided. This has given rise to speculations about demon-possession especially regarding several other pundits who have shifted to a strong anti-Israel and anti-Semitic stance in recent years. Could they be demon-possessed? Only Scripture provides answers to these questions. In this lesson we study the biblical difference between demon influence and demonic possession. We learn about the traps people fall into when they base such claims on human experience, emotions, or speculation. In one sense all ideas, philosophies, opinions, beliefs contrary to Scriptural truth are ultimately sourced from Satanic/demonic influence. Anti-Semitism is one of the most toxic of Satan's evil schemes, designed to destroy God's people, Israel, whom God identifies as "the apple of His eye." Learn what that means. We also learn that Satan is the "father of lies" and the ultimate counterfeiter of truth. Satan can even counterfeit demon possession, even deceiving numerous Christians, pastors, and theologians into thinking a believer in Christ can be indwelt by a demon. Learn what the Bible teaches about these significant truths and why we must not be taken captive by the strategies of the devil.

What is the difference between a believer and a disciple of Jesus Christ? Dr. Robert Dean, senior pastor at West Houston Bible Church, states that every disciple of Christ is a believer, but not every believer in Jesus is a disciple. After hearing the gospel of Jesus and believing by faith alone in the Person and work of Christ alone, God gives a person salvation as a free gift. Jesus paid the penalty for every sin, and eternal life cannot be lost. After the initial moment of salvation (regeneration), believers face the daily decision to follow Him. Being a disciple means learning His Word, submitting to His authority, and putting Him first. This means that "taking up our cross" is a daily choice to obey God and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. Learn more about becoming a disciple in this message.

How should believers understand God's judgment when a nation turns from His truth? Recognize God's sovereign authority over Israel and the nations and His righteous standard for every judgment. Submit your thinking to Scripture rather than human philosophies or cultural assumptions. Remember Israel's unique covenant relationship with God and the consequences promised for disobedience. Examine your own life for arrogance, idolatry, and rebellion against His Word. Walk humbly before the Lord, trusting His justice, faithfulness, and sovereign control over history.

What does Scripture mean by "comfort one another?" What is the ultimate source of comfort? How does comforting one another relate to God's methods of maturing believers? How should we mentally and spiritually handle these "tests of faith"? In this lesson we begin to explore what the Scriptures teach regarding how we face the adversities of life and how we should be comforted and comfort others. We also begin to develop how we as believers should understand the connection between adversity, testing, joy, endurance, and spiritual growth. Also we learn some practical guidelines for how we are to endure and remain steadfast in tests as examples to others.