Steve Hunter Bible Study

Romans 5:11-14 Warning Against Falling Away Romans 5:11-14 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Commentary How many of us have said, "I'm too busy" to take time and effort in God's Word for days, weeks, months and years! How many say, "the Pastor will tell me what I need to know". How many are not taking an active role and responsibility for the maturity that Christ has called us all to grow into. So much like infants we make excuses, kick dirt and procrastinate while at...

Genesis 46:3  I am God (Yaweh), the God (Yaweh) of your father (Jacob referring to his lineage)," he said.  Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation t here . Let's break down this verse's greater meaning...We see Jacob's fear of Egypt in verse 3.  God removes his fear reminding him of the Abrahamic Covenant.  God has a plan to preserve and protect his lineage.  God states, "...for I will make you into a great nation there."  We see the words, "I will" which indicates one of God's Unconditional Covenants.  There is nothing that Abraham or his descendants can or will do to prevent it.  It is God's will to do this through them.  When God says, "I will", he will do it.  Why not to be afraid? A transitional contractual term is used..."For".  "For...make you a great nation...".  One last word remains..."there".  We often pass this over.  It is extremely important.  ...

When the Lord calls Samuel, he does not recognize the voice of God.  Instead, he runs to Eli several times thinking he is calling him.  On the third time, the Bible states in 1 Samuel 3:8 that " Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy".   As a Priest, Eli had great knowledge of the scriptures.  His delay in immediately realizing who was calling the boy may have been because he himself was not in a right relationship with God.  He may not have heard God speak to him audibly or to his heart in quite a while.  When Samuel came to Eli the third time, he may have realized that he had once learned of a similar story in Genesis 46:2-3.  In that story, God calls to Jacob.  It is possible that Eli may have told the story of Jacob to young Samuel.  This would have been a great teaching opportunity.  After this knowledge may have been imparted by Eli to Samuel, Samuel returns to bed.  In 1 Samuel 3:10, God repeats the name of Samuel tw...

Regarding elections and the ministry...  I have read a number of well written social media political posts and some sadly misguided and hurtful character smears. No matter what our personal feelings about candidates or issues, as a minister of the Gospel, you must be separate from all of this. I know it's really tempting to comment but don't. The minute you comment on a candidate, your audience is diminished by 50%. What do I mean? I mean that at least 50% of your potential audience now disagrees with you and has tuned out. Resist taking sides. Our message is not politics. Our message is the Gospel. We should not endorse anyone. 2 Timothy 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. This verse reminds us to keep a clear focus and only one mission. Remember that we serve Him, not politics or economics. These are not our Savior. Our hope does not come from government. ...

God's emotion does not incapacitate Him.  Don't allow yours to incapacitate you or cause you to make an error in reaction.  Most people simply react to confront or escape without a long-term purpose incorporated in their momentary behavior.  Lay your burden upon the Lord.  When you feel the pressure, it's time to pray, consult scripture and release in a healthy way through & to Him.  Then your response will be according to & in synchronicity with scripture...  Ultimately, in alignment with God.  We cannot always determine other people's reaction, nor should we be bound by it.  We can however carefully fine tune our internal and external reaction by the infinitely wise and omniscient words of God.

Spiritual problems and their "unfriendly friends." Genesis 31:1-2 shows how Envy changed Laban's relationship with Jacob. Envy comes with several friends: 1) strife, 2) division, 3) self-seeking, 4) various sin issues and likely many more close associations. To help someone with spiritual issues, look deep for the root of the problem not just treating the symptoms (the friends). Even if these friends go away, they will either pop back in from time to time or the root will make new friends...and the root isn't very discerning when selecting them. They all end up bad! Look for the root of the spiritual problem . At one time, this root found good soil and fertilizer for growth in hurt, rejection or insecurity and now has a nice big healthy stalk feeding it every day. Chop away at that root to fix the spiritual problem in your own life.

At first, a person who is familiar with Daniel 9:24-27 "sevens" might assume that "fulfilling the week" in Genesis 29 is referring to the Hebrew grouping of 7 years.  A "seven" = 7 years.  That is what I instantly assumed.  I assumed incorrectly.  Fulfilling the week referred to in Genesis 29:27-30 refers to the Hebrew marriage week.  In Hebrew tradition of the time, the marriage was consummated on the first night of the marriage week of festivities, a 7-day week. Here are a couple examples of this wedding week still practiced later in the book of Judges... Judges 14:12  "Let me tell you a riddle," Samson said to them. "If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. Judges 14:17   She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day, he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She explained the riddle to her people. Jacob ...