In this lesson Louise addresses how getting involved in people’s lives can be messy.
Louise starts with the story of an old friend of husband Larry’s, Morta Riggs, and ministering to Morta as she lay dying after a long struggle with cancer, and how family had to be assured that Morta passing on was in her best interest, and, as a Christian, she was going to be with our Savior, Jesus. Morta passed on a few days after we saw her.
Louise obeyed the spirit of God who “instructed her to go to Morta and minister and comfort her–even though Louise did not know her–as she passed from here into God’s hands.
Louise also told about a good friend facing a very difficult family situation. How do we hear from God and how does His council and instructions help Louise counsel her friend?
You need sometimes to put your feelings aside and listen to God.
Sometimes, you as the messenger can cause disruption and distrust in persons or situations you are trying to help with.
Louise says “be a person of courage, integrity, and truth” in many worldly situations.
“Our walk before the world” is often the only thing people see of God’s presence, in trying circumstances and situations. You won’t be popular, but you will be right as a Christian.
“The greatest gift you can give is yourself.” Invite people to church, invest in God’s work since he invested in you.
“Give yourself back to others.” Be a gift of yourself.
A study by Louise of the children of Israel, especially during the 40 year wandering in the Wilderness, and how Moses and they dealt with their problems.
She begins with “water problems,” like having to escape the Egyptian army in front of the Red Sea.
“Between every problem and its solution there is a wilderness,” a kind of metaphorically dealing with all the problems we face. That’s the basis of today’s lesson.
Exodus 17 quoted by Louise. See below for full passage.
Water From the Rock
17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[a] and Meribah[b] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Israelites tended to “mumble and grumble” throughout their time in the Wilderness. Do you do the same thing?
Louise asks “what is your wilderness experience.?” The “wilderness experience” teaches how to deal with adversity and challenges in our own lives.
Rather than mumble and grumble “like the people and Moses, go to God first.”
God has a solution for all our difficulties and problems.
“Speak the truth, not the problem,” is one important way to deal with our problems.
It is Thanksgiving season. Where/what are the principles of our faith in this season?
We are in Thanksgiving, but we don’t seem to be very thankful.
People dont’s seem to understand faith and Scripture, and just give up. Now is NOT the time to abandon our faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Faith has substance, as much as the chair Louise is sitting in has “substance.”
Faith has to have a target. Believe in this.
Romans 4:17 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Louise emphasizes having an “active” faith, not a “passive” one in our relationship with God.
Speak to circumstances surrounding and/or afflicting you.
We need to be talking, not the problem. “You’re going to have what you say.”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
Faith is now, the present tense has substance.
Romans 4:17: 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Mark 11: 22-23: 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
James 1:6: 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
The entire chapter on faith, Hebrews 11, is published below:
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c]19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Sister Louise addressed various topics this afternoon, like world events, anti-semitism, the Last Days and End Times, spiritual warfare, etc. We are in the Last Days, living in perilous times.
Today we are in a war between God and Satan.
And Jews are chosen as God’s people.
Then Louise delivered the Salvation Message ala Billy Graham and his Crusades.
Romans 5:3-5 quoted: 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Louise then moved to areas of disappointment and betrayal in our lives. Perhaps there is no greater hurt than various forms of betrayal.
Stories of various forms of betrayal told.
So, Louise asks, “how would you respond?” In the natural you cannot heal those wounds.
You have to turn to God, his promises and his healing, all from the standpoint of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual in our lives.
Louise teaches on the meaning and significance of faith in Scripture. She used all of the following verses to explain faith and how need to apply our faith in our lives.
Romans 1:17 ” For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 4:16 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Romans 5:1 5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Romans 5:2 “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Colossians 1:23 “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
This lesson is on healing, across all our boundaries.
A foudational verse is found in 1 Peter 2:24
1 Peter 2:24 New International Version 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
The pursuit of healin is not simply in your physical body, but across your existence spiritually, mentally, in all ways that affliction attacks you.
Louise emphasizes in praying not simply for yourself, but for others as well.
Disappointment has led people to give up on healing. But God is not the problem. We are. Where did I miss it Lord? You need to ask yourself certain questions regarding:
1. Unforgiveness in your life.
2. Need to do it in faith. Know what God promises.
Need to ask the Lord, “take me back to the basics Lord.”
Louise wants all to learn the basics of healing for themselves and apply them.
We have to be patient as we learn. God will hear you out if you put faith in his promises and words.
You have to do the great work of healing by learning and applying God’s word every day.
How you handle adversity, for example, is going to remake you into an overcomer in Christ Jesus.
For every problem God has an answer. God has answers for all your problems, but you have to keep your eyes on Him.
Louise started to teach on authority, but moved to a moment of loneliness she had felt recently.
Loneliness tends to be a big factor in the age today. How do we deal with loneliness in our lives, for whatever reason? It can be divorce, moving to a new church perhaps, children grown and gone off, not feeling included in something, then turning to drinking, drugs, especially by older women, numbing your sense with alcohol for example.
Louise has been in most of those places at one time, including divorce, isolated in another–new–town or city, felt excluded, felt disappointment.
Then the Lord spoke to her: “You are never alone.” Louise decribes the presence and comfort of the Lord, his Spirit directly in your life.
In the middle of all strife around the world today, the Lord is always there for you.
Louise recalles the stories of David, Jeremiah, Isaiah, all attest to the presence of God in their lives when needed.
Sometime when we think we are alone, remember Jesus, often isolated with just three friends, but when he needed comfort and support, he only had to turn to his Father, God who was always there.
Jesus will always take care of you, Spirit, soul, and body. Look at the source of God’s strength and wisdom.
Don’t run to the bottle, nor pills. Turn, instead, to the word of God.
Louise addresses the subject of “worry” today among Christians from the Biblical point of view. What is what? How is it described in Scripture? How do Jesus and his disciples, like the Apostle Paul, address worry? What should you expect from God when you come to him with your problems and worry? What texts in Scripture do you need to bring to mind when worry strikes you? Who do you trust most to take of you and your worries? How do you call on God to help you?
One of the favorite verses of the Bible on worry is:
And the seven most familiar verses in the Bible on worry, including the above:
1. 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
2. 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (NIV)
3. Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (NIV)
4. Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (ESV)
5. Hebrews 13:5b-6
…for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what can man do to me?” (ESV)
6. Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (NIV)
7. Romans 8:37-39
…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Louise teaching on the trinity of the Holy Trinity in the beginning of this study. This is followed by a study of the truth in Scripture. And especially how to deal with people who deny the basic truths in Scripture. Especially on how to depend on God for everything, all the time. everything from how to deal with money, with pride, and with the opposites, loose of income, jobs, family fights, etc. She uses personal examples in her own family, and the stories of friends.
Bible Study With Louise Clayton 