MISTAKEN IDENTITY

In 2006, a horrible head-on collision claimed the lives of 5 young people. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, Wendy's purse was found lying next to Linda's broken body. In the chaos that followed, everyone assumed that Linda was actually Wendy! For the next 5 weeks, no one realized the truth! Even Linda's family believed that their daughter was dead. But it was an amazing example of mistaken identity. 

God understands what the families of those 2 girls were going through. For centuries, He's been a victim of that too. The devil has fooled millions into thinking that either God isn't real or He's someone you can't trust. How can we really know Him?

Can you find out what God is really like? 
"I will give them a heart to _____ Me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 24:7).
God is eager for you to know Him, but we can't love someone we know little about.

Where can you go to find God? 
"Since the creation of the world His [God's] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things He has _____, even His eternal power and Godhead" (Romans 1:20)
"The earth is full of the _____ of the Lord" (Psalm 33:5).

"The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green--all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and His desire to make His children happy" (Steps to Christ, pg. 9).

What does the Bible tell us about God?
"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God: the Lord is _____" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
"The grace of our Lord _____ Christ, and the love of the _____, and the communion of the Holy _____ be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Bible doesn't prove that God exists. It proclaims Him! Every Bible writer had confidence that God was with us. And unlike all the countries around them, they believed in only one God--a Triune Godhead--consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each One is a distinct Person with identical thoughts, feelings, and actions. And each One loves you with an unconditional love!

How does God work together in loving you?
"For God so loved the world that He _____ His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called _____ of God" (1 John 3:1).
"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ _____ for us" (Romans 5:8).
"It is the Spirit who gives _____" (John 6:63).

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to draw you into the family of God. Each One has a specific role in God's plan of salvation, but each loves you with the same love and devotion. Jesus took your place on the cross. The Father draws you to unite your life to Theirs through that sacrifice (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). And as we reach out to accept the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit gives us new life. He gives us our Father's heart.

What does God want you to know about Him?
"The eternal God is your _____ and underneath are His everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"In Your hand is _____ and might; in Your hand it is to make great  and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:12).
"O Lord, You have searched me and _____ me...You understand my thoughts afar off and are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3).
"The Lord is _____ and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy" (Psalm 103:8).
"No one is _____ like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2).

This is just a small peek into the face of God. He is a holy God, who will never do anything wrong. He is all knowing and all powerful. But most of all, He is a God of love and mercy. You can turn to Him in any crisis, knowing that He'll be there for you, with exactly what you need. And no matter how many times, you may mess up, He is always there with open arms, ready to welcome you back home! 

Where can you find the best picture of what God is like?
"In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son...who being the brightness of His glory and the express _____ of His Person" (Hebrews 1:2,3).
"Jesus said to him,..."He who has seen _____ has seen the Father."

Jesus is the answer to the case of God's Mistaken Identity. Through the centuries the image of God has been distorted by Satan. And though the prophets have described Him again and again, it wasn't enough to remove the distortion. So Jesus came to earth to solve the mystery. He came to demonstrate the incredible love of God--found in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As you read the gospels, you will come face to face with God. You will see that God loves you with an everlasting love that will never let you go (see Jeremiah 31:3).

An excerpt from Bible #4 Guide in "The Living Way" Bible Course. For a complete, full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address. 

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WHICH WAY SHOULD I GO? (Bible Guide)

Which Way Should I Go?

If you've ever traveled to a new city or country, you know how easy it is to get lost. Without a map or GPS, you might end up going in the wrong direction. In these tough times, it's hard to know what lies ahead. More than ever, we need something we can safely follow. We need direction.

How will the Bible give you direction?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of _____" (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Bible is read by more people than any other book. It clearly stands alone. That's because it's the only book that comes from God. Listen to what it says--"Holy men of God [who wrote the Bible] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). Men wrote the words, but it was God who sent the message. So when you pick up the Bible, you're really listening to God speak. He's sharing His heart with you!

Why do you need the Bible?

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of _____" (John 5:39).

The Bible is filled with amazing prophecies--history foretold and history revealed. It's packed with truth to keep you digging for more. But the real reason why God put this book into your hands is to lead you close to Jesus. In every prophecy, promise and command, you'll find Jesus. He isn't just the author of this book, He's what it's all about. The goal of every LIVING WAY Bible study is to help you get to know Jesus and experience new life through Him.

How can you understand what the Bible says?

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any _____ interpretation" (2 Peter 1:12).

It pays to start in the beginning. And the very 1st step in getting close to Jesus is to let Him speak to your heart. So we have to sit quietly, set aside our own ideas, and just let God speak to us through His Word. We have to become like a little child, ready to learn.

How can Jesus speak to you in the Bible?

"If anyone _____ to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine [teaching], whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority" (John 7:17).

How is it possible for someone to read the Bible and not be changed by what it says? After all, the Bible is God's Word! In the Bible, Jesus offers you incredible love, long-lasting hope, and a new direction for living. But to truly hear God speak to you, we need to know Him. For He is the living Word of God (John 1:14). If you study the Bible because you want to know Christ and His will for your life, you will hear God speak. And you'll know which way to go.

Who will help you discover which way to go?

"However, when He, the _____ of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13).

The same Spirit that led men to write the Bible will help you know what it says.  When you ask the Spirit to guide you, you'll discover more than you ever could on your own. We can pray like David, who said, "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth" (Psalm 86:11).

How can you be sure the Holy Spirit is guiding you?

"To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no _____ in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

The Spirit of Truth inspired the men who wrote the Bible. He led the patriarchs and prophets who spoke for God. He will guide you just as He guided them to "live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

How did Jesus study the Bible?

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in _____ the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:27).

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus met 2 very discouraged disciples. Both men were filled with despair. All of their hopes had vanished at the death of Christ. They had nowhere to turn (or so they thought). But as Jesus talked with them, He gave them a Bible study. He shared verse after verse until they understood His mission, why He had to die for the sins of the whole world. When we study the Bible as Jesus did, comparing one verse with another, "here a little and there a little" (see 1 Corinthians 2:13, Isaiah 28:10), we will have a clear picture of God's love and His plan for our life.

How will studying the Bible help you?

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a _____ for my path" (Psalm 119:105).

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do ______ know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have _____" (Romans 15:4).

There are many benefits to studying the Bible. God will guide you when you don't know what to do. You'll learn new things about His plan for your life. But most of all, you'll experience the hope and comfort that only Jesus brings.

Excerpt from Bible Guide #1 in "The Living Way" Bible Study Course. For a complete, full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address.

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