Have you ever felt there’s something lacking within you? A longing; a need; a void; an emptiness; or an indescribable feeling that something is missing on the “inside.” But you don’t know what it is? It’s similar to when we’re hungry or thirsty for something, but we don’t know what specific food or beverage will fill our craving. So, we try to eat or drink what’s available. But the craving on the inside remains. All of us have experienced this scenario of being hungry or thirsty for something—which occurs within the physical realm. And in the same manner we seek food and fluids to fulfill our hunger and thirst, we seek different earthly “things” to fill this unknown void that’s within us. For example: Wealth —Some have a belief that if they obtain a sufficient amount of wealth many of their problems will go away. However, money will never fill our deepest needs and make us whole—which is often reflected by the persona and behavior of wealthy persons. Power —Attempting to obtain power is another attempt to fill the void. However, power will often corrupt the person who holds the power. A 19th century British politician once declared “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In other words, as a person’s power increases, their moral sense diminishes—which is often exemplified by politicians and corporate executives. Sex —Some perceive sex as a means to fulfill their deepest needs. However, all sexual activity outside of God’s intended design will result in multiple unintended consequences and internal devastation—which is often documented in the news by those who have fallen victim to Satan’s lies. Drugs —Including alcohol and illicit narcotics is another source of perceived fulfillment. As such, many of us are aware of someone who has been devastated by addiction; and are either dying a slow death, or have died. Approval —Some seek approval from others as a means to improve their perception of their self- worth. However, this attempt is often thwarted because those whom are sought for approval are often more interested in themselves than others. Besides, consider for a moment what it would be like to receive an approval from God in the form of an indescribable blessing that occurs within your heart and soul. Recognition —Some are driven by seeking recognition in the form of praise, honor and respect. This also is fleeting and puffs up our self-centered pride. Knowledge —Some perceive the accumulation of knowledge will provide them with an enhanced mental acuity to overcome obstacles and improve their life. But what is more important than knowledge...is wisdom from God. These are only a few types of things we vainly attempt to fill the void within us. You may know others. In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon—who had great wisdom, wealth, esteem, and power—declared human endeavors and worldly pursuits are vain, have no real value, and are meaningless. Because of his position and power, he tried everything possible to fill the void within him—but to no avail. He eventually realized all that he tried was meaningless. King Solomon wrote, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 Unfortunately, many persons attempt to fill their missing piece of the puzzle by following the same path as King Solomon. For in truth, the spiritual void within our heart and soul can only be filled by God. Because this missing piece of the puzzle—purposefully designed by God—operates within the spiritual realm. Those who develop an awareness that something is missing within their heart and soul do so because of the workings of the Holy Spirit. But what’s more, those who realize this need are at the threshold of receiving a transformative spiritual blessing and an eternal fulfillment. Because the missing piece of the puzzle can only be placed within our heart and soul by God—which is the intent of H is design. Many are unaware they are spiritually drowning in a dark and sinful world—all because of a belief in Satan’s lies in an attempt to to fill the spiritual void. In addition, those who are living in darkness think this is the “best as it gets” as they struggle to stay afloat. However, because of God’s love and grace, He will influence the desires of our heart and our attitude towards our sin to move us from darkness and into His light. Here are examples of what occurs when God reaches out to save the lost: Realization of Consequences —His influence begins by causing us to consider and evaluate the various consequences of our sin—to ourselves and others. Bondage —Thereafter, we begin to recognize how the sin controls us. Jesus said in John 8:34, “Whover commits sin is a slave of sin.” Repulsed —As we become more aware of the consequences and control of sin...we soon develop a deep repulsion towards our transgressions. Freedom —As we take a realistic view of our situation, we develop a growing desire to break free from the bondage of our sin. Righteousness —We also develop a desire to do what is right and good. Help —There is a point in time when we will arrive at a conclusion: that because of our weaknesses we cannot break free from our bondage by ourselves, and the only means of escape and to overcome is by God’s assistance. Prayer —When we reach this point is when we will humble ourselves and reach out to God through prayer. It is when this transformational awareness occurs within our heart and soul is when God’s grace and love reaches down and pulls us out from the depths of our drowning. Think about it...the creator of the universe; the One who spoke the earth into existence; and the One who formed us from the dust of the ground...searches hearts to find those who will love Him For God declared, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.” Jeremiah 17:10 For He looks past our sins because He is more interested in the deepest desires of our heart, and because He will forgive, cleanse and heal us of our sins by the Holy Spirit. It is important to realize that our perceptional changes towards our sin is because of the workings of the Holy Spirit—and not by our own efforts. For we did not choose Jesus, for He declared, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” John 15:16 Jesus also declared: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Mat. 5:6 “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 Jesus lived and died a sacrificial death so that we can be forgiven for our sins—past, present, future, and for eternity. Believe in what Jesus did for us on the cross; extend your faith in Him; place your trust in Him; and give your life to Him by making the following prayer with a humble and contrite heart: Holy God, I am a sinner. Jesus, I believe you died and paid the price for who I am and what I have done. I want to trust and follow you as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit, I invite you to come into my heart and life and change me from within. Thank you, Jesus, for providing a way to save my soul and restore my relationship with God. Those who experience the filling of their spiritual hole by their faith in Jesus Christ will joyfully declare from the deepest parts of their heart and soul, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5. . . I pray this lesson has touched your innermost being—which aligns with Paul’s desire that he expressed to the Ephesians. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 If you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord—to gain greater understanding of your new spiritual journey in life—I suggest reading “4 Types of Death and 1 source of Life,” followed by “What is a Born- Again Christian?” on UniqueBibleStudies.com. Plus, it is important to read the Bible. I use ( Bible Gateway.com ), which offers the Bible for free online in different versions and languages. In addition, it is also important to get connected with other Christians for fellowship, worship and Bible study. May God richly bless you. All for His Glory, Harold D. Thomas Bible Study Thought-Provoking Questions The purpose of the questions is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Bible, this Bible study topic, and ourselves. The questions may be answered by each reader, or used by a Bible study group leader, or church pastor. The questions should be answered or discussed after reading “Are You Missing A Piece of the Puzzle.” In addition, the questions are designed to enhance learning via the determination of personal opinions and/or discovering how the lesson content relates to our personal lives. As such, no answers are provided. Questions The lesson states we have a spiritual void within us. How would you describe this void? What are indicators of the void’s existence? The lesson explains how sin is used as an attempt to fill the spiritual void within us. Can you identify examples? The lesson states that Satan uses an assortment of delusional lies that promotes sin as a means to fill the emptiness within. Can you identify examples of his tactics? How does someone rationalize their acceptance of sin? Is this also a lie? How would you describe the heart and soul of someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness? Explain each spiritual allegory Jesus declared in Revelation 3:20: What would cause someone to bless, praise, worship, and love God? Is this a normal experience for humans? What has changed? Can you identify new truths you have learned from this lesson? Explain. You may do wnload a PDF version of the questions by clicking on this button.
“I stand at the door and   knock.”   To w hat does the door  provide entrance ?     How does He knock?   “If anyone hears   my voice.”   How   do we “hear” His voice?   “Opens the   door.”   How does one open the door?   “I will   come into him.”   How does Jesus enter a person ?   “And dine with him,   and he with Me.”   What is  consumed when   dining with Jesus?     What are the benefits ?
The words of Jesus Christ are in red text.
This lesson is available as a YouTube video. Click (HERE) to watch the video. Quiz questions are at the bottom of this page.
The words of Jesus are in red text.
Have you ever felt there’ s something lacking within you? A longing; a need; a void; an emptiness; or an indescribable feeling that something is missing on the “inside.” But you don’t know what it is? It’s similar to when we’re hungry or thirsty for something, but we don’t know what specific food or beverage will fill our craving. So, we try to eat or drink what’s available. But the craving on the inside remains. All of us have experienced this scenario of being hungry or thirsty for something—which occurs within the physical realm. And in the same manner we seek food and fluids to fulfill our hunger and thirst, we seek different earthly “things” to fill this unknown void that’s within us. For example: Wealth —Some have a belief that if they obtain a sufficient amount of wealth many of their problems will go away. However, money will never fill our deepest needs and make us whole—which is often reflected by the persona and behavior of wealthy persons. Power —Attempting to obtain power is another attempt to fill the void. However, power will often corrupt the person who holds the power. A 19th century British politician once declared “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In other words, as a person’s power increases, their moral sense diminishes—which is often exemplified by politicians and corporate executives. Sex —Some perceive sex as a means to fulfill their deepest needs. However, all sexual activity outside of God’s intended design will result in multiple unintended consequences and internal devastation—which is often documented in the news by those who have fallen victim to Satan’s lies. Drugs —Including alcohol and illicit narcotics is another source of perceived fulfillment. As such, many of us are aware of someone who has been devastated by addiction; and are either dying a slow death, or have died. Approval —Some seek approval from others as a means to improve their perception of their self-worth. However, this attempt is often thwarted because those whom are sought for approval are often more interested in themselves than others. Besides, consider for a moment what it would be like to receive an approval from God in the form of an indescribable blessing that occurs within your heart and soul. Recognition —Some are driven by seeking recognition in the form of praise, honor and respect. This also is fleeting and puffs up our self-centered pride. Knowledge —Some perceive the accumulation of knowledge will provide them with an enhanced mental acuity to overcome obstacles and improve their life. But what is more important than knowledge...is wisdom from God. These are only a few types of things we vainly attempt to fill the void within us. You may know others. In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon—who had great wisdom, wealth, esteem, and power—declared human endeavors and worldly pursuits are vain, have no real value, and are meaningless. Because of his position and power, he tried everything possible to fill the void within him—but to no avail. He eventually realized all that he tried was meaningless. King Solomon wrote, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 Unfortunately, many persons attempt to fill their missing piece of the puzzle by following the same path as King Solomon. For in truth, the spiritual void within our heart and soul can only be filled by God. Because this missing piece of the puzzle—purposefully designed by God—operates within the spiritual realm. Those who develop an awareness that something is missing within their heart and soul do so because of the workings of the Holy Spirit. But what’s more, those who realize this need are at the threshold of receiving a transformative spiritual blessing and an eternal fulfillment. Because the missing piece of the puzzle can only be placed within our heart and soul by God—which is the intent of H is design. Many are unaware they are spiritually drowning in a dark and sinful world—all because of a belief in Satan’s lies in an attempt to to fill the spiritual void. In addition, those who are living in darkness think this is the “best as it gets” as they struggle to stay afloat. However, because of God’s love and grace, He will influence the desires of our heart and our attitude towards our sin to move us from darkness and into His light. Here are examples of what occurs when God reaches out to save the lost: Realization of Consequences —His influence begins by causing us to consider and evaluate the various consequences of our sin—to ourselves and others. Bondage —Thereafter, we begin to recognize how the sin controls us. Jesus said in John 8:34, “Whover commits sin is a slave of sin.” Repulsed —As we become more aware of the consequences and control of sin...we soon develop a deep repulsion towards our transgressions. Freedom —As we take a realistic view of our situation, we develop a growing desire to break free from the bondage of our sin. Righteousness —We also develop a desire to do what is right and good. Help —There is a point in time when we will arrive at a conclusion: that because of our weaknesses we cannot break free from our bondage by ourselves, and the only means of escape and to overcome is by God’s assistance. Prayer —When we reach this point is when we will humble ourselves and reach out to God through prayer. It is when this transformational awareness occurs within our heart and soul is when God’s grace and love reaches down and pulls us out from the depths of our drowning. Think about it...the creator of the universe; the One who spoke the earth into existence; and the One who formed us from the dust of the ground...searches hearts to find those who will love Him For God declared, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.” Jeremiah 17:10 For He looks past our sins because He is more interested in the deepest desires of our heart, and because He will forgive, cleanse and heal us of our sins by the Holy Spirit. It is important to realize that our perceptional changes towards our sin is because of the workings of the Holy Spirit—and not by our own efforts. For we did not choose Jesus, for He declared, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” John 15:16 Jesus also declared: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Mat. 5:6 “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 Jesus lived and died a sacrificial death so that we can be forgiven for our sins—past, present, future, and for eternity. Believe in what Jesus did for us on the cross; extend your faith in Him; place your trust in Him; and give your life to Him by making the following prayer with a humble and contrite heart: Holy God, I am a sinner. Jesus, I believe you died and paid the price for who I am and what I have done. I want to trust and follow you as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit, I invite you to come into my heart and life and change me from within. Thank you, Jesus, for providing a way to save my soul and restore my relationship with God. Those who experience the filling of their spiritual hole by their faith in Jesus Christ will joyfully declare from the deepest parts of their heart and soul, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5. . . I pray this lesson has touched your innermost being—which aligns with Paul’s desire that he expressed to the Ephesians. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 If you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord—to gain greater understanding of your new spiritual journey in life—I suggest reading “4 Types of Death and 1 source of Life,” followed by “What is a Born-Again Christian?” on UniqueBibleStudies.com. Plus, it is important to read the Bible. I use ( Bible Gateway.com ), which offers the Bible for free online in different versions and languages. In addition, it is also important to get connected with other Christians for fellowship, worship and Bible study. May God richly bless you. All for His Glory, Harold D. Thomas Bible Study Thought-Provoking Questions The purpose of the questions is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Bible, this Bible study topic, and ourselves. The questions may be answered by each reader, or used by a Bible study group leader, or church pastor. The questions should be answered or discussed after reading “Are You Missing A Piece of the Puzzle.” In addition, the questions are designed to enhance learning via the determination of personal opinions and/or discovering how the lesson content relates to our personal lives. As such, no answers are provided. Questions The lesson states we have a spiritual void within us. How would you describe this void? What are indicators of the void’s existence? The lesson explains how sin is used as an attempt to fill the spiritual void within us. Can you identify examples? The lesson states that Satan uses an assortment of delusional lies that promotes sin as a means to fill the emptiness within. Can you identify examples of his tactics? How does someone rationalize their acceptance of sin? Is this also a lie? How would you describe the heart and soul of someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness? Explain each spiritual allegory Jesus declared in Revelation 3:20: What would cause someone to bless, praise, worship, and love God? Is this a normal experience for humans? What has changed? Can you identify new truths you have learned from this lesson? Explain. You may download a PDF version of the questions by clicking on this button.
“I stand at the door and   knock.”   To w hat does the door  provide entrance ?     How does He knock?   “If anyone hears   my  voice.”   How   do we “hear” His voice?   “Opens the   door.”   How does one open the door?   “I will   come into him.”   How does Jesus enter a person ?   “And dine with him,   and  he with Me.”   What is  consumed when   dining with Jesus?     What are the benefits ?
NOTE: This lesson is available as a YouTube video. Click (HERE) to watch the video. Quiz questions are at the bottom of this page.