This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of the Biblical concept of to be at our “wit’s end”.

In Psa.107:27 the words “wit’s end” are translated from the Hebrew words “chokmâh bâla‛” which means to be at the limits of our wisdom, skill, experience or abilities.  In other words “chokmâh bâla‛” means to find yourself in a situation that you have no way of controlling the outcome of or saving yourself from.

Psa.107:28 describes the solution to our “wit’s end”.  The word “cry” is translated from the Hebrew word “zaaq” which means to shriek in anguish, to be in an overwhelming sense of danger.  When we find ourselves at our “wit’s end” we cry out to God to save us.

Psa.107:27-28 is the origin of the “SOS” (save our soul) distress signal.

Psa.107:6-9 emphasizes the need for us to remember the times that God has saved us from our “wit’s end”, so that we can praise Him for what He has done for us.

A couple of years ago the engine on my airplane quit running just as I was taking off (about 100ft. in the air).  The only thing in my view off the nose of the aircraft was a line of cedar trees that I knew I could not get over or get landed before flying into them.  I was at my “wit’s end”.  My first thought was “well now I know how my life ends”.  My next thought was “God save me!”.  And God did save me, He made the aircraft fall straight down and just before hitting the ground He made it flare out and touchdown just as smooth as could be and He made it stop within 20 ft. of hitting the cedar trees.  I praised Him then and I praise Him now every time I remember that experience.

Our salvation experience happens the exact same way.  We must come to realize we are not capable of saving ourselves (wit’s end) and ask God to save us (cry out).

Something else we need to keep in mind is that even though we come to our “wit’s end” God never does.  God has no limitations (Eph.3:20,8,  Gen.18:11-14, Jer.32:27, Luke 18:27).

We should never give up on praying for the salvation of our friends and family members (1Tim.2:1-4).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Gen 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Gen 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of preparedness of the mind.

In 1Pet.1:13 the phrase “gird up” means to be mentally prepared.  During the time that Peter wrote this letter, and for 300 years after, the Church was being persecuted by the Roman government to the point of capturing and killing Christians and their family members.  Peter is telling them they need to be mentally prepared for when and if they are persecuted.  Bro. Leo gives some history of the time period in this recording from excerpts from the book “Book of Martyrs” by John Foxe written in the 1500’s.

Although in America Christians aren’t being hunted down and killed (yet), the same principle applies in our daily lives as we encounter many different temptations and trials.  Psa.119:10-11 gives us an example of what being spiritually prepared looks like.

Eph.6:10-11, 16 gives instruction on how to be spiritually prepared.  we should be spiritually prepared for any challenge that comes our way )1Thess.5:1-8).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

This week Bro. Leo concludes our study of God’s purpose of a Christians’ suffering.

In this study we have learned there is a Biblical pattern throughout the Bible that shows us that suffering can always be followed by glory, reward, blessings, exaltation and spiritual growth if we approach suffering and go through it in obedience to God. We learn that sometimes it’s the will of God that we suffer so that He can use that suffering process to grow, purify, refine and solidify our faith. Notice in 1Pet.3:17 “if the will of God be so” and 1Pet.1:6 “if need be”, there are some things that God can only teach us thru our sufferings.

This week we learn that it is through our sufferings that our “hope” is developed.  In Rom.5:5 the word “hope” is translated from the Greek word “elpis” which in this context means a desire for future good and blessings with a strong expectation and assurance of obtaining them.  The results of God delivering us through our past sufferings are what assures us He will deliver us from future sufferings.

Col.1:25-27 tells us that the foundation of our “hope”, now and in the future, is Christ in us.  It is His Holy Spirit working in us as we go through sufferings that grows and refines us spiritually.

Eph.2:12 illustrates the opposite of our “hope”, without Christ in us there is no “hope”.

With God filling us with “hope”(Rom.15:13), as Christians we should be acting in such a way that causes lost folks to stop and ask us why we are so hopeful (1Pet.3:15).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.