Jail Ministry Study Scriptures

Who is Jesus?

Isaiah 7:14-15 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land,  the light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arms He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; and He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Isaiah 42:1-4 Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. “He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. ³ “A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ⁴ “He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

Isaiah 50:4-7 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
⁵ The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back. ⁶ I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. ⁷ For the Lord GOD helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.

Isaiah 53 – Message – Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?  ^2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.  We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him.

 ^7-9He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.

 ¹⁰Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.  And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

 ^11-12Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones," as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—  the best of everything, the highest honors - Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD… (Jesus announces this in Luke 4:18 & 19 as well)

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Promises we have in Christ: (Proverbs 2:3-5)

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro, throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.

-       Promise – He watches over those whose heart is turned toward Him

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

-       Promise – He saves those who are crushed in spirit

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.

-       Promise – He keeps safe those who run to Him and dwell IN Him.

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

-       Promise – He waits for us

-       Promise – He longs to be compassionate to us

-       Promise – We are blessed when we long for Him

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

-       Promise – God will strengthen us

-       Promise – God will uphold and help us with His righteous right hand

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters I will be with you and through the rivers they will not overwhelm you.  When you walk through the fire you will not be scorched, nor will the flame kindle be upon you.

-       Promise  - God is with us

-       Promise – When we are His we don’t have to worry about being consumed in the refinement flame.  Fire will only be used for our good.

Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you and make the rough places smooth

-       Promise – He goes before us and prepares the way for us

Isaiah 57:15 For thus say's the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite"

-       Promise – He dwells with the lowly and contrite of heart

-       Promise – He revives their heart

Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

-       Promise – He puts His light in us and it will pierce the darkness

-       Promise – Then healing with quickly appear

-       Promise – Righteousness will go before us

-       Promise – The glory of the LORD will be our rear guard

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

-       Promise – He has a plan for you and me

-       Promise – The plan is to prosper us and not to harm us

-       Promise – When we submit to His plan we have a future and a hope

Ezekiel 36:27-29 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.  Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.

-       Promise – His Spirit is within us and causes us to walk in His ways

-       Promise – We will live in a land that He gave our forefathers

-       Promise – We will be His people and He will be our God.

-       Promise – He will save us from all uncleanness

-       Promise – We will not have famine

Lamentation 3:22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed; because His compassions fail not.

-       Promise – By His mercy we are not consumed

Matthew 5:3-12 – The Message - ³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.  ⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.  ⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.   ⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.  ⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for. ⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.   ⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.  ¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.  ^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.

-       Promise – He gives us peace in trouble

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

            ­-    Promise – God will finish what He starts

Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

-       Promise – He will transform our bodies to be likes His

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you.

-       Promise – He wants to carry our burdens

-       Promise – He cares for us

1 Peter 5:10 And after you suffer for a short time, God who gives all grace, will make everything right.  He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling.  He called you to share in His glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever.

-       Promise – We will suffer

-       Promise – God will make everything right

-       Promise – God will support us and keep us from falling

-       Promise – God wants us to share in His eternal glory

Closing:

Hebrews 3:13  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

-       When we know who Jesus is and His promises, we can both encourage ourselves and encourage one another.

1 Kings 13:1-10 Being Bold (Devin Bible Study)

Devin and I are studying 1 and 2 Kings together.  I used to write his bible studies and post them on the blog. This was to show Devin how to observe, apply, and pray scripture. Now Devin and I are doing the study together. He shares what he observes and I share what I observe.  The primary is goal is for him to be able to nourish his spirit with the word of God and live it out loud each day.  Today we observed 1 Kings 13:1-10. I want to encourage you to read it as well.  Here are some of the key points that we observed and applied today.

Scripture

S - Read 1 Kings13: 1-10

1 Kings 13:2 "He cried against the alter by the word of the LORD, and said, "O alter, alter, thus say's the LORD, 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you."

Observation

A man of the LORD, who is not named, traveled from Judah (Southern Kingdom), to Israel (Northern Kingdom).  There he went to an alter where Jeroboam was offering incense at the alter of a false god.  The man of the LORD cries against the alter, prophesying that a king would come from the line of David that would kill the priests that offered sacrifices on this alter.  The priests would be a sacrifice and would be burned on this very alter. Moreover, the man of the LORD names the king that would come, his name would be Josiah.  As a side note, we highlighted verse two because it is prophesying about a future event.

To prove the authenticity of the message the man of the LORD offers up a sign. He say's that this alter will be split apart and ashes shall pour out of it.  Sure enough in verse 5 that very thing happens.

King Jeroboam is very upset and wants this man of the LORD to be arrested; but the king's arm dries up and he ends up having to call on this man of the LORD for help.  The man of the LORD calls on God to heal Jeroboam and Jeroboam is healed.

King Jeroboam offers the man of the LORD to come dine with him.  But the man refuses saying that God had instructed him to not eat or drink anything, and not to travel back to Judah the same way he came.

Special Notes:

• This man of the LORD was not given a name
• He traveled outside of his comfort zone into enemy territory
• He rebuked the alter, not Jeroboam
• He spoke the word of the LORD only when he came.  (Devin and I mark references to the Word of the LORD in our bibles).
• He was prepared to prove himself and trusted God for a miracle.
• He was surely tired and could have felt he deserved a good meal, but he chose to be obedient to God instead.
• He traveled back a different route then how we came.

Application

• Living for God is not about making our name famous, but His.

• When you choose to follow Christ, be prepared to step outside your comfort zone.
• When called to convict of sin, be careful only to use the words that God has given and rebuke the sin, not the sinner.
• Be bold in your requests of God and believe Him to be big enough to do it.
• Even when it looks like everything is OK, don't stop until you complete all that God has called you to do, for the favor of God is better than the favor of man.
• Be prepared to take a different route to places.  Don't rely on your own wisdom or leading, rely only on God's.  Sometimes that means a different road will need to be traveled.

Prayer

We prayed for boldness of character.  That we would trust God to do what He say's He is going to do.  We prayed that our lives would be about Him and not about us.

Elena Bible Study - Communication (Quick to listen)

Scripture Memorization

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Monday

S - James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

O -

1. When you are in a conversation with someone, what is the first thing you are to do according to this scripture?
2. Why do you think being a good listener is important?
3. How good of a listener would you say that you are?

A - When listening to others today, try repeating what they just said back to them in a form of a question.  Example, mom asks you to go clean your room.  You can say "You want me to clean my room right?".  This will let your mom know that you understand what she has just said.

P - Thank God for always listening to you and ask that God would give you His ears so that you can listen the way He does. 

Tuesday

S - Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips is considered prudent.

O -

1. Why would someone being quiet be considered wise?
2. What does the word prudent mean?
3. How quiet would you say you are?

A - This is a simple yet challenging exercise; be quiet today and just listen.  Only respond to questions asked of you.

P - Ask God to quiet your mind and heart today so that you can hear what He has to say.

Wednesday

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from trouble.

O -

1. Have you ever said anything that has gotten you into trouble?
2. Did you think about what you were going to say before you said it?
3. How would thinking about what you say before you say it guard your heart from trouble?

A - Think about the possible reactions of what you want to say, before you actually say it.

P - Ask God to guard both your mouth and your heart from trouble.

Thursday

S - Proverbs 18:13 He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him

S - Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

O -

1. Do you ever interrupt conversations?
2. Why do you think you do that?
3. What would that be considered folly and shame?

A - Another simple, yet challenging exercise today; don't interrupt anyone.

P - Praise God for being a great listener today.

Friday

S - Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding , but only in revealing his own mind.

O -

1. How does it make you feel when someone doesn't listen to you, they only want to talk about themselves?
2. Have you ever done that to someone?
3. How do you feel when you are talking with someone you feel is really listening to you and understands you?

A -  Try responding to someone who is expressing how they feel by repeating what they said back to them.  For example, "it sounds like you feel….", "What I hear you saying is that.." , "I think you are saying that…"

P - Praise God for understanding you.

Luke 5:16 - What to do in the wilderness

Scripture

Luke 5:16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Observation

There is a season for everything (Eccl. 3:1).  Right now, Tim and I in the wilderness.  Five months ago, God called us to the wilderness and since we have been in the wilderness people have asked us what we are doing?  What direction has God told us to go? What are His plans for us? I don't blame them for that question, because frankly I would like to know the answer also.

It just seems that the wilderness is not very productive. You don't know what direction to go in because there is no determining land mark that shows the way. It's the wilderness. The enemy would like Tim and I to feel like outcasts; he calls us failures for not being able to find our way out of the wilderness.  In Old Testament times the unclean were thrown out of the city limits.  No one was to touch them.  They are rejected.  These are the feelings that the enemy would like Tim and I to cling on to.  And if we do we can be sure that a bitter root will grow up and we will spend our time grumbling.

But Jesus, intentionally went into the wilderness to pray, why?

1. The wilderness is a great place to pray because it's quiet.  I have experienced incredible times of prayer these last five months in the solitude of my own home; begging God for my family (both physical and spiritual).
2. The wilderness helps you to realize your dependence on God. There is no one around to whom you can misplace your salvation.  Any food that you receive and encouragement that is brought, comes from God.

3. The wilderness helps you to see God and His mighty hand. The last several months I have become increasingly aware of the similarities of Gods hand in nature and God's hand in our lives.  I could go on and on about this, but that is going to have to wait for a later blog post.

4. The wilderness helps you to slow down.  Inevitably the wilderness will create margin in your life. Jesus was extremely busy, people followed Him wherever He went.   Tim and I were extremely busy also, but now we spend our time on just the basics; God and family.   We are involved in ministry, but it isn't allowed to overtake our relationship with God and our children.

Application

The wilderness application is three-fold:

1. I am to pray continuously while in the wilderness
2. I am to saturate myself with the word of God, for in the wilderness Jesus was also tempted by the devil.  Jesus used the word of God to rebuke satan.
3. I am to be thankful and faithful.  The people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years because they grumbled and did not believe God.  I don't want to take 40 years to make an eleven day journey.

Prayer

Father God, You are the great I AM. You have brought Tim and I to the wilderness where You can show us everything You are. Each day You are making us more reliant on You and transforming us into faithful servants.  I thank You and ask that You continue to make us faithful in prayer, joyful in hope, and patient in affliction. Help us to make the most of this precious time.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. It is because of Your goodness that we are here and it is because of Your grace that we pray.

Revive Me (Jeremy Camp)

Ephesians 4:22-24 - Getting Dressed

Scripture

Ephesians 4:22-24 - you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth.(Emphasis mine)

Observation

Every day you get dressed both physically and spiritually.  If you are like me, you take time to pick an outfit that best expresses how you feel for the day. Comfy clothes say that I'm a little tired and refuse to entertain you with my apparel.  A skirt implies that I have a little extra spunk in my step and am feeling carefree today. I'm sure men think less about such things, but I know I am not the only woman out there that selects here clothing based on how she feels.

But what about spiritual clothing?  Do you get dressed spiritually based on how you feel?  I do sometimes. If I am feeling forgotten or neglected, I dress in a pouty "no one loves me" spirit.  If  I am feeling discouraged, I put on the ever-ready whiney/critical garment.

However, we are called to put on a new spiritual self each day.  One that was created in the righteousness, holiness, and truth of God. I can just imagine God sewing my spiritual garment right now.  Layering color after beautiful color, interweaving righteousness and holiness, and hemming it all in with truth.  All the while He is smiling, knowing that when I put this hand-crafted garment on I will be the bell of the ball.   Reminds me of Cinderella.  The torn rags I used to wear as a slave to sin, is beautifully transformed into an evening gown that makes those around me stop and stare.

Hmm, what to wear?  Yes, I think it's an evening gown kind of day!

Application

I have to get in the word each morning.  My mind needs to be renewed in Christ.  Once my mind has been set on His righteousness, holiness, and truth, I can choose to wear it.

Prayer

Father, You have taken the tattered fabric of my life and woven it into a beautiful masterpiece.  In a world where only a size 0 is considered skinny, and face lifts punch your card for the fountain of youth, You have given me a new fountain, one that never runs dry.  I choose today to send out my roots to Your living water (Psalm 1:3).  Renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).  Dress me in Your humility and righteousness, and tie kindness and truth around my neck (Proverbs 3:3).  With all my heart, I thank You for making me this beautiful garment and I hope wearing it today brings a smile to Your face.