Nuggets from God’s Word

By Tom Neal

Years ago, Tom Neal realized that God reveals previously unknown secrets to all of us through small truths hidden within His word. Rather than providing us with all the details of His plans and purposes at once, God chooses to give us glimpses into his nuggets of truth in order to keep us hungry for more and fuel our desires to connect the dots.

In a collection of excerpts from actual Bible studies, Tom provides spiritual inspiration that invites believers in all stages of faith to seek those truths in order to draw strength and encouragement from God’s word. Within his scripture-inspired compilation, Tom shares how to know and understand God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus; become a believer in Christ; recognize the will of God; deal with desires; renew our minds; make all things new; and ultimately attain peace.

Nuggets from God’s Word is a collection of biblical teachings intended to encourage the young and old alike to utilize the word of God for inspiration in how to live a Christ-centered life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973662235

Tom Neal

Tom Neal has been a Christian for over fifty years. The seasoned bible study leader and his wife, Sherrill, are passionate about ministering to the body of Christ in whatever capacity God asks of them. Tom currently lives with his wife in Lemoore, California This is his first book.

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Copyright © 2019 Tom Neal.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-6222-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6221-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6223-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019907124

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/10/2019

Scripture quotations are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Contents

Introduction

Section 1

Knowing God

The Holy Spirit

Jesus, Our Champion

Section 2

The Significance of the Blood

The Resurrection

Sanctification/Holiness

The Joy of the Word

Section 3

The Believer in Christ

Children of God

The Body of Christ

Section 4

Knowing the Will of God

The Kingdom of Heaven

Eternity

Section 5

Faith

The Gift of Grace

The Significance of Mercy

Favor of God

Section 6

The Need to Remember

A Gift of Justification

Obedience

Section 7

Search for Knowledge

Seek Understanding

Get Wisdom

Section 8

Awareness of Adversity

Affliction

The Pitfall of Pride

Section 9

Dealing with Desires

Beware of Deception

Spiritual Warfare

Section 10

Renewing Your Mind

The Need for Self-Examination

Humility

Working Out Your Salvation

Section 11

Making All Things New

The Power of Hope

Trusting the Lord

Dwelling in the Secret Place

Section 12

God’s Promises

The Significance of Worship

The Promise of Rewards

Reward Promises

Introduction

I have been a Christian for the last fifty years. During that time, I have been involved in almost every aspect in the life of the body of Christ. Some people are called to evangelize and win souls, and others to pastor the church. My wife and I were called to minister to the body of Christ in whatever capacity God asked of us and to be keepers of souls, burdened to see a healthy body.

I took a sabbatical from teaching a weekly men’s Bible study after four and a half years of meeting. Our group studied over fifty books of the Bible during that period. During that same time period, I taught a monthly Saturday Bible study from three to six Saturdays a year. Not long after beginning my sabbatical, I felt a stirring that I wanted to write a book sharing nuggets from God’s Word. I had never attempted anything like this before, nor ever thought about attempting anything so challenging.

Years ago, I came up with the concept that God reveals secrets to us, things we previously didn’t know, in small bits of information, truths in God’s Word that were hidden from us. God said, if you seek me, you will find me. I found that God did not intend to give us all the details of His plans and purposes at one time. Rather, He chose to give us glimpses into them—nuggets of truth—to keep us hungry to know more, desirous to connect all the dots.

Nuggets from God’s Word is intended to be a devotional or a Bible study guide. Nuggets contains excerpts from teachings I have led or encountered over the past few years, a gleaning of God’s words and my thoughts. The intent of Nuggets is to encourage and bless other believers to seek those truths that they may be able to draw strength and encouragement from them. It will benefit to new believers, young Christians, and believers who may be struggling with their faith.

SECTION 1

Knowing God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, Our Champion

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Knowing God

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10 RSV)

Every culture in the world that has ever existed had some point of reference or belief in a concept of God. Whether it was a great empire or a small village, people have worshipped an entity that controlled or had great influence on their ways of life. They often associated their beliefs about God with worship of the weather, animals, nature, the sun, and deities. The Bible never attempts to prove the existence of God; rather, it assumes His existence from the beginning. We cannot understand God apart from His works because what God does flows from who He is. God is and transcends everything. He is before all things and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17 RSV). Knowing God sounds simple enough, but it takes a lifetime of intimacy to know Him.

He can be known through His acts, His Word, and fellowship with Him. Romans 1:20 (RSV) says, Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived, in the things that have been made. Just look around you, and see the handprint of God’s acts on this world.

All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV)

God is revealed through His Word, making known His plans and His will to the believers in