3-Day Bible Reading Plan: Gossip to God
“John encourages us to note the sins we see others commit and pray for those who commit them. Prayer is not my immediate reaction when I see sin and definitely not my reaction when I am sinned against. I believe that one of the reasons for this is because I see sin as primarily an offense against me or the person being sinned against. Sin indeed is that, but it is also more than that. Sin is a danger to the one sinning. Sin brings death and demonic bondage into our lives. John will encourage us to pray for sinners to be freed from this bondage and experience the life God would have for them.” - Pastor Paul Crandell, 9/22/24
Day 1
Featured Verse: 1 John 5:14-15 - “If We Ask Anything According to His Will, He Hears Us”
Cross References:
1 John 3:22 - “Whatever We Ask We Receive From Him, Because We Keep His Commandments”
The commandments of God are not grievous. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. This is abiding in His love and keeping His Word abiding in our hearts. Why doesn’t God answer the prayers of those who don’t keep His commandments?
Proverbs 10:24 - “The Desire of the Righteous Will Be Granted”
Righteous men and women will have righteous desires. What they ask of God will be for their good and His glory. What is a righteous desire you asked that was granted by God?
Matthew 5:6 - “Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness, for They Shall Be Satisfied”
Take a moment to meditate on these words of Christ. In all honesty, does this describe your life? What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? How will these believers be satisfied?
“Whatever is asked according to the will of God, in the name of Christ, and for his sake, and in faith, nothing wavering, but believing in God, in his covenant and promises, for these are provisos in the case; and such as ask in this way may exercise an holy confidence that they shall receive; and indeed do they receive what they ask for.” - John Gill
Day 2
Featured Verse: 1 John 5:16-17 - “There is a Sin That Leads to Death”
Cross References:
Mark 3:29 - “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”
Simply put, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is unbelief. Consider: Every sin under the sun can be forgiven of God except unbelief. Why? Because for this one sin, there shall be no repentance. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Hebrews 6:4-6 - “It Is Impossible…to Restore Them to Repentance”
These are sobering words. If someone has explored Christianity and tasted its goodness, yet has shunned it and turned away, they are essentially agreeing with Christ’s crucifiers. Their open rejection and hard hearts makes it impossible to restore them to repentance. Why is repentance only possible for tender hearts?
Hebrews 10:26 - “For If We Go On Sinning…There No Longer Remains a Sacrifice for Sins”
The life of a believer is marked by holiness. This is not sinless perfection, rather it is not living in deliberate sin. We are all sinners saved by grace, however, a true Christian does not practice sin. There is a distinct difference between falling into sin and openly practicing it. How might you pray to more closely resemble Jesus?
“The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Savior; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation and the words of eternal life.” - Matthew Henry
Day 3
Featured Verse: 1 John 5:18-20 - “Everyone Who Has Been Born of God Does Not Keep on Sinning”
Cross References:
1 John 3:9 - “No One Born of God Makes a Practice of Sinning”
The Apostle John agrees with the writer of Hebrews 10:26. The new birth brings new life. Name some ways you are different now than you were before you came to Christ. How has the new birth of Christ made your life completely new?
Galatians 5:22-24 - “The Fruit of the Spirit”
Paul names off several new personality traits, or Fruits of the Spirit, that become sanctified (or manifest) in a believer. This is the divine nature spoken of by Peter (2 Peter 1:4). Examine yourself. How has God cultivated these fruits in your own heart?
Romans 8:5 - “Those Who Live According to the Spirit Set Their Minds on the Things of the Spirit”
Be honest. What is your mind set on? Things of the flesh? Or things of the Spirit? This is a good barometer to measure where your heart resides when it comes to spiritual matters. How might you ask Christ to help you more fully walk by His Spirit?
“Let us remember that those who are made partakers of the divine nature will manifest their high and holy relationship in their intercourse with others, and make it evident by their daily walk and conversation that they have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. O for more divine holiness of life!” - Charles Spurgeon