Pastors Ray Viola and Ben Hiwale go through the Bible line-by-line, precept-by-precept in a series of in-depth teachings. Our prayer for this podcast series is that you would KNOW CHRIST, GROW IN CHRIST, PROCLAIM CHRIST, and bring GLORY TO GOD.
Today we will be looking at some fascinating end times prophecies and how we are called to live out the reality of those prophecies practically. Gospel centered living is the goal of all last days or end times teaching, regardless of what one's particular position is on the timing of the Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus Christ.Let me be very clear that the timing of the Rapture is not a matter of one's salvation. However, while the goal of all end times teaching should be on gospel centered living and biblical stewardship of the gifts and talents that God has entrusted unto us, that does not mean that specific last days details of events as taught by Jesus in Matthew 24 and laid out before us this morning by the apostle Paul are unimportant or insignificant.My devotional today will be directed towards how belief in those prophetic realities are meant to be lived out practically. Paul, under the inspiration The Holy Spirit writes, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." ( 2 Thess 2:16,17).The practical application of this chapter on prophecy is found in Paul's prayer for them. And what did he pray for them? That their hearts would be comforted, and that they would be established or fixed in every good word and work. God's love and grace for us through faith in Jesus Christ is the basis of our comfort and hope.Note once again that our comfort is an everlasting one, and our hope in Christ is good and is through the grace of God. As we throughout Scripture, every aspect of our salvation comes from the grace of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Himself the Author and Finisher of our faith.Our loving heavenly Father, in His grace, gives us through Christ what we do not deserve; likewise, God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve! This grace and mercy of God is meant to encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good action and word. Do you see what God is telling us?The “correct interpretation” of end time prophetic teaching will be gospel centered, fruit bearing living for the glory of God. If our walk contradicts what the Scriptures teach about how we are called to live lives of holiness and purity in light of Christ imminent return, then it simply means that we have not understood the point to begin with!One way that we contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints is by putting it into practice. We are called to be both defenders and demonstrators of the faith. One commentator put it this way: Lazarus did not have to give lectures on the reality of the resurrection, his life proved that to be true.May both our words and our works be gospel centered manifestations of the reality of The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and fellowship. SELAH
The Apostle Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians begins with a vision “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” He calls us to worship, endurance, and a life aimed toward the glorious return of Jesus.When we become preoccupied with the dates, symbols, and signs of Jesus' return, we risk missing the main thing, the righteous judgment of God. In a world easily distracted by symbolic puzzles of the end times—markings, beasts, lawless figures—Paul reorients the church toward the heart of our hope: the character and justice of Christ Himself. Paul anchors the Thessalonians with seven indispensable truths about the judgment at Christ's return. These are not optional details to debate, but pillars of Christian belief:It is MomentaryJudgment will occur in an instant. As in Matthew 16 and 1 Corinthians 15, the trumpet will sound, and justice will fall like lightning. This is not a gradual evolution of human morality, but a sudden divine intervention. We do not work toward justice; we wait for it.It is ImminentChrist is already enthroned, surrounded by angels, ready to come. As Deuteronomy and Jonathan Edwards remind us, every human walks a slippery path, liable to fall at any moment. Death or the return of Christ is always near. This reality should stir urgency, not complacency.It is JustGod's judgment is righteous. He will repay affliction to those who afflict and grant relief to the afflicted. The criteria? Knowing God and obeying the gospel—not works, not lineage, but trust in the crucified and risen Lord. As Paul says, the standard is not moral performance but belief.It is ComprehensiveEvery deed and every motive will be exposed (Ecclesiastes 12, 1 Corinthians 4). Nothing is hidden. This calls for radical honesty—with God and with one another. The Psalms model a kind of brutal spiritual honesty that few of us know. But to be known by God, we must let ourselves be truly seen.It is Eternal The results of this judgment are not reversible. Hell is not annihilation, but conscious eternal separation from God (Luke 16). Heaven is not a temporary reward, but a forever joy. No purgatory, no do-overs. Our life's trajectory—toward or away from Christ—is sealed at judgment.It is Extreme The division between the saved and unsaved is not subtle. There is no mixture of heaven and hell. The contrast is stark—life or death, blessing or curse (Deuteronomy 30). This intensifies the need for decision: there is no middle ground.It is Marvelous Those who have believed will marvel when Christ returns. Why? Because we will see, with perfect clarity, the beauty and justice of God's plan. What now seems delayed or confusing will become astonishingly righteous and glorious in hindsight.After laying out these truths, Paul turns to a very practical application. He prays that God would “make you worthy of His calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power” (2 Thess 1:11). In other words, he's saying: here's how you live now, in light of then.What does that look like?It means becoming the kind of person who instinctively wants what God wants. Paul says Jesus will be “glorified in you and you in Him.” Often, we emphasize the second part—we will be glorified. But Paul's order is intentional. The real miracle is that Christ is glorified in us. We become vessels of His praise, examples of His mercy, images of His love.For those who believe—who wait, worship, and work for His glory—it is not a day to dread, but a day to behold.Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Oh, how important it is for every child of God to have a biblical understanding of the attributes or character of our God. In our final study of first Thessalonians, we find that He is the God of peace, grace, and that He is faithful. Volumes could be written of any of these attributes and still fall short of coming close to describing how glorious and wonderful He is. But one attribute that I want to share with you this morning is the faithfulness of God.Beloved, our God is faithful. The Greek word used for faithful means that our God is reliable, sure, and trustworthy. Paul encourages these saints in Thessalonica with the words, Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (vs. 24). That is a word of knowledge for of you who are reading this devotional this morning. Read it again. Read it prayerfully. Read it as if The Lord Jesus Himself is speaking to you, because He is! Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that God will be faithful to finish what He began in you.Paul essentially said the same thing to the church at Philippi when he wrote, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). Remember beloved that The Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. The God who calls us to saving faith by the preaching of the gospel is also The God Who brings those whom He calls to glory and none will be lost. That is what is known as eternal security.Listen to Jesus Himself talk about this blessed assurance that we have in Him. John 6:37-44 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded that our God is faithful...listen: 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. He is faithful to provide a way of escape whenever we are tempted. 2 Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. He is faithful to establish us in the faith and keep us from the evil one. Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.Jesus Himself is our Faithful High Priest Who has provided reconciliation for our sins. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our God is faithful and just to forgive us when we sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Last but not least, when The Lord Jesus returns at His Second Coming, John tells us that Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.Oh doubting and troubled saint, our Faithful God is unchanging. Doubt your doubts. Doubt your feelings. Look afresh to Jesus right now and never forget that He is faithful and true. SELAH
The return of Jesus Christ is certain, but its timing is unknown. Scripture makes clear that “the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). For unbelievers, it will come suddenly and unexpectedly, bringing destruction when they are saying, “Peace and safety!” (v.3). But for those who belong to Christ, this day should not come as a surprise. Believers are “not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (v.4).The people of God are described as “children of light and children of the day” (v.5). This identity calls for a lifestyle consistent with the light—awake, alert, and sober. Just as natural day and night create different behaviors, so also those who belong to Christ must not live like those in spiritual darkness. The world sleeps and dulls itself with intoxication, but believers are called to stay awake, clothed with faith, love, and the hope of salvation (v.6–8).Paul describes the Christian's defense against spiritual lethargy in terms of armor: “putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (v.8). Faith anchors us in God's promises, love guides us in our relationships, and hope protects our minds with the assurance of Christ's ultimate victory. These are not optional virtues, but essential armor for those awaiting the Lord's return.The heart of this passage is the reassurance of God's purpose: “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.9). Believers can face the future with confidence, not fear. Christ died so that, whether we are alive or asleep (living or dead), “we should live together with Him” (v.10). Our destiny is not judgment but eternal fellowship with Christ.Because of this hope, believers are called to mutual encouragement: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (v.11). The reality of Christ's return is not meant to stir fear but to inspire encouragement, holy living, and perseverance. The church must continually remind one another of the hope of salvation and the security we have in Christ.The call of this text is clear: live with readiness. Stay awake, be sober, put on the armor of faith, love, and hope, and encourage one another in light of Christ's coming. While the timing of the day of the Lord is unknown, the outcome is certain: those in Christ will be saved and live with Him forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4). We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it's subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier's mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God's word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH
1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4). We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it's subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier's mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God's word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH
In today's passage Pontus Pilate asks Jesus the age-old question “What is truth?” With the proliferation of AI-generated media, endless online debates, and widespread disinformation, our contemporary society is experiencing “epistemic fatigue”, we are exhausted from constantly having to discern what's real. Many of us are tempted to throw up our hands like Pilate, dismissing the pursuit of truth as hopeless or irrelevant. But Jesus's response shows that truth is not just an idea to be debated; it is something deeper and more personal.In Scripture, truth is not defined merely in terms of fact versus fiction. While the Bible affirms objective truth (e.g., orange cones are orange), it speaks primarily of truth as an ultimate, personal reality: the eternal life of God. Truth is not just propositional—it is incarnational. Jesus says, “For this purpose I was born… to bear witness to the truth,” revealing that truth is something embodied in His life, words, and personhood. The biblical concept of truth is therefore not merely cognitive, but relational and existential.Every worldview is built upon an assumption of some ultimate reality. For materialists or rationalists, the material universe is that ultimate foundation. But such views are insufficient to answer the most important human questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my destiny? These existential questions demand a bigger framework—one that science or subjective feeling cannot satisfy. The Christian faith asserts that ultimate reality is God's eternal life, and Jesus came not only to reveal this truth, but to make it accessible to us.The teaching distinguishes three approaches to knowing truth: rationalism (knowing through logic and nature), mysticism (knowing through feeling and intuition), and revelation (God making truth known). Rationalism and mysticism both have their place, but neither can access the transcendent truth of God on their own. Only divine revelation—God speaking through His Word and through Christ—can lead us to real knowledge of ultimate reality. Revelation is not something we can earn or discover through intellect or experience alone; it is received by faith.Faith is the “organ” through which we receive revelation. Just as our eyes are the organ for light, faith is what allows us to see and embrace the truth that God reveals in Jesus. This truth is not abstract or detached—it is embodied in Christ and offered to us not just for mental agreement but for spiritual belonging. The goal of Christianity is not merely to know the truth intellectually, but to become people who are “of the truth”—who live in alignment with the eternal reality of God.Ultimately, we are called to reject the shallow, pragmatic view of truth that says, “It's true if it works,” and instead embrace the deeper, biblical view: that truth is what aligns with God's eternal life, made manifest in Christ. Jesus stood before Pilate as the Truth in human form, and Pilate missed it. The challenge for us is not to repeat that mistake—to not just ask “What is truth?” but to listen to the voice of the one who says, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Through faith, we are invited not only to know the truth, but to belong to it.
The Lord Jesus declared in Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. "Before He ascends into heaven, The Lord Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And we see that this spreading of the gospel would go from Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), and in all Judea, and in Samaria (Acts 8-12), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 13-28 to the present hour).The question that begs to be asked and answered is exactly what is the church called to be a witness of? Let's look at a few passages of Scripture that will shed some light on what we are to be witness of. Acts 2:32 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." Acts 3:14-15 "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." Acts 5:30-32 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."These, and many other passages indicate that these Spirit filled witnesses testified of the fact that Jesus Christ had accomplished the Father's plan of redemption on the cross, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day. The Lord Jesus declared in John 5:36 "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."You and I as disciples of Jesus Christ have been called to bear testimony or witness to the works that Jesus has finished. 1 John 5:10-11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."The record or witness of God is that Jesus Christ is the risen, exalted Son of God and that He gives eternal life unto all those who believe on Him. Hallelujah! 1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. "Acts 26:22 -23 "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." SELAH
The Christian life is a relational journey of fellowship with the Everlasting God that is entered into by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the regenerating power of God the Holy Ghost. Two of the most important aspects of every believers walk are knowing the character of God and the promises of God. The Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:24-27 at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it".Right here we hear our Precious Savior tell us that we can expect difficulties and trials in our walks, typified by the rain falling, floods coming and winds blowing. Every person reading this devotional (and the person writing it) know how true these words of Jesus are. He is speaking about the reality of life here on planet earth before we die and enter into glory with Him forever. Job 5:11 writes, "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy".Here we see that the character of our Lord is that He is very pitiful and of tender mercy towards us. Oh how merciful and tender hearted our Lord is towards us in addition to His unconditional love and grace. But we also read in Scripture exceeding great and precious promises, like Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".Beloved, whenever the storms or trials of life come in your life, particularly those things that you cannot seem to understand, what we need to fall back on are what we do understand. Our God is Good. He is working out all of this things that we do not understand for His glory. How did Job stand when he did not understand what was goin on in His life? He worshipped. He surrendered himself afresh to His God. He knew that at the end of the day, God is sovereign and in control of everything. And he was able to understand because he knew the character of God, and whatever promises of God he knew at that time. Such is true for you and me. SELAH
Song of Solomon 7–8 paints a picture of covenant love in its maturity—passionate, secure, and unyielding. The beloved's praise of his bride (Song 7:1–9) is lavish and tender, showing that verbal affirmation remains essential in marriage. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The imagery—feet, hips, waist, eyes, nose, head—celebrates her beauty with honor, not objectification, modeling how spouses can affirm one another with dignity and delight.In Song 7:10, the bride declares, “I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.” This mutual belonging echoes earlier affirmations (Song 2:16; 6:3) and points to the believer's security in Christ: “You are not your own…you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). Desire within marriage reflects the unchanging love of God for His people (Jer. 31:3).The couple's desire to go into the fields and vineyards (Song 7:11–13) illustrates love's fruitfulness. Healthy love grows, overflows, and seeks to bless others (John 15:5, 8). Love is not stagnant; it is active, seeking new expressions of joy and union.In Song 8:1–4, the bride wishes for the freedom to express love publicly without restraint. In the ancient world, only family members could show affection openly; her wish signifies that her husband is as dear as family. Spiritually, it reflects longing for unashamed devotion to Christ (Rom. 1:16). The repeated charge not to “awaken love until it pleases” (8:4) again affirms God's design for intimacy within marriage (Heb. 13:4).Verses 5–7 shift to love's enduring power. “Love is as strong as death…its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame” (8:6). This points to love's covenant nature—unyielding, unquenchable, and priceless. Just as “many waters cannot quench love” (8:7), nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:38–39). The seal imagery speaks of ownership and permanence (Eph. 1:13–14).In verses 8–9, the imagery of a younger sister not yet mature portrays the role of community and family in preparing the next generation for purity and covenant love (Titus 2:3–5). Believers are called to guard and guide others toward holiness (Heb. 10:24).The bride reflects on her own maturity: “I am a wall, and my breasts like towers” (8:10), affirming her chastity before marriage and peace afterward. Purity before covenant leads to security within it (1 Thess. 4:3–4).The closing verses (8:11–14) contrast Solomon's vast vineyard with the bride's personal vineyard—her own life and love—which she offers freely to her beloved. This mirrors the believer's surrender to Christ, giving Him the best of our lives (Rom. 12:1).In Christ, believers know a love that is eternal, unshakable, and worth guarding with all diligence (Prov. 4:23).
For the next four teachings we are going to be talking about issues in the world that affect every single person on the planet, regardless of what country you live, the color of your skin or ethnicity. Regardless of whether you are rich or poor, educated or not educated. I am going to kick off this series of studies this morning about a problem that everybody has, but nobody wants to talk about it and some people are completely unaware that they have it. But it's a problem that rests in each and every human being on the planet. The Bible calls it sin.Sin is insidious. It steals. It kills. it destroys. The root problem with all of the ills that take place on the planet earth are caused by sin. Sickness. Disease. Death. Wars. Pestilences. Divorce. Abortion. Child abuse. Sex trafficking. Drug addiction. Alcohol addition. Pornography. Racism. Injustice.Have you ever heard anybody say something like this….”If there is a God Who is all powerful and loving, why is there so much suffering on the earth?” And the thought behind the question is either that (1) God is not all powerful or that (2) He is The One Who is that the cause of all of the evils on earth. Neither answer is true. The reason for the evils on earth are caused by man, and the root cause of the evils on the planet is sin. In the first 2 chapters of Genesis and the last 2 chapters of Revelation there is no such thing as sin, sickness, or death. It is what that happened in the Garden of Eden between those 4 chapters of Scripture that is the cause of all of these issues, and it is called in Scripture “the fall of man.” In fact, the very fact that people question why there's evil, why there's war, why there's pain, why they're suffering, and why there's disease and drug addiction is an indication that deep within them, they know that this is not the way God intended things to be.Sin in the heart of man is the problem that is the root cause of every other problem that we are going to be talking about all this month. The Lord Jesus said: Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. These sins in the heart are manifested by sinful acts of various degrees, and sin separates man from God. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. And there is only one answer to that problem, which is the root cause for every other problem and that's the gospel of Jesus Christ. Life is short. Death is sure. Sin the cause. Christ the cure. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. SELAH
Song of Solomon 5–6 reveals how covenant love endures through moments of distance, misunderstanding, and testing, ultimately emerging stronger and more secure.The bride recounts a moment when her beloved came to her door (Song 5:2). She hesitated to respond, and when she finally opened, he was gone. Her search through the city—met with misunderstanding and even mistreatment—reflects seasons when God's presence feels withdrawn (Isa. 54:7–8) or when we hesitate in responding to His call (Rev. 3:20). Love is sometimes tested by delay, disappointment, and adversity, but true devotion presses on until the beloved is found (Jer. 29:13).When questioned about her beloved (Song 5:9), she responds with vivid praise, describing him as “chief among ten thousand” and “altogether lovely” (vv. 10, 16). This mirrors the believer's testimony about Christ—matchless in beauty, strength, and love (Ps. 45:2; Rev. 1:13–16). The power of remembering and declaring the beloved's virtues rekindles love and strengthens resolve during trials.In Song 6:1–3, the bride affirms her secure identity: “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.” This covenant assurance reflects the believer's security in Christ (John 10:28–29; Rom. 8:38–39). True love is mutual, exclusive, and confident in belonging.The groom's praise in 6:4–10 reaffirms the bride's beauty and uniqueness: “My dove, my perfect one, is the only one.” Such affirmation demonstrates love's role in restoring intimacy after conflict. Words of encouragement, rooted in truth, heal wounds and rebuild trust (Prov. 25:11; Eph. 4:29).The chapter also shows love's fruitfulness. The bride is pictured in a garden blooming with beauty and life (Song 6:11–12). Spiritually, the believer who abides in Christ bears much fruit (John 15:4–5). Love not only survives trials but grows deeper, producing joy and life for others.Ultimately, this passage points to Christ, the perfect Bridegroom, whose love pursues, forgives, restores, and delights in His people. He is “altogether lovely” (Song 5:16), the one to whom the church can say with confidence, “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine” (Song 6:3).
I want to draw your attention to the last verse of our Bible study today, 1 Thessalonians 3:13. "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."Me? Unblamable? Jude 24 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."Before you begin pounding your chest with pride like Tarzan, we must never forget that we are only "unblamable" because of the imputed righteousness of God by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God Who took all of our sin and nailed it to His cross.But I want you to see the phrase in holiness that is mentioned in connection with the coming of The Lord. The Lord Jesus is coming back just like He promised us in John 14: 2,3. And when He returns, He is coming for a holy bride, not a bride that looks, acts, and thinks like this fallen world system. Leviticus 19:2 "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy."God is entirely holy in His nature, His motives, His thoughts, His words, and His deeds so that He alone is exclusively called Qadosh, “the Holy One” or Qedosh Yisrael, “the Holy One of Israel,” but He calls the children of Israel to be holy as well. 1 Peter 1:14-16 "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."The word holy in Hebrew. qadosh: Greek hagios; Set apart, dedicated to sacred purposes; holy, sacred, clean, morally or ceremonially pure. The verb form of the word means “to set apart something or someone for holy purposes; different.”People or even objects, such as anointing oil or vessels, were be considered holy to the Lord (Ex. 30:25; Jer. 2:3; Zech. 14:20, 21). Set apart from ordinary use; different. Holiness thus speaks of a separation (not separatism) from everything profane and defiling; and at the same time, it is dedication to everything holy and pure. Beloved, holy calling of separation coincides with our calling to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You cannot be salt or light in a monastery or in a cave. 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen (one picked out; recipients of God's grace) generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; WHY? that ye should show forth (demonstrate; put on display) the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."Paul would put it this way when he writes to the church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness (holiness is an ongoing progressive process) in the fear of God."Beloved, holy living is a vital part of being a witness for Jesus Christ in this fallen world that we live in. Ephesisns 4.24 tells us, "And that ye put on (moment by moment) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."1 Thessalonians 4.7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."Dear ones, what makes a child of God different, (not better than) the unsaved is that we are walking in the way of holiness (Isa 35:8). The saving grace of God does not diminish the need for us to be holy, it commands it. SELAH
The apostle Paul wrote these words to the saints in Rome who were going through an intense time of persecution because of their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing in prayer. That passage of Scripture is a fitting description of the church in Thessalonica who was likewise going through an intense time of persecution.We are not promised a life without struggle here on earth. In fact, the Bible makes clear that the world will hate us for our love of The Lord Jesus. Jesus said told the disciples in the upper room what was in store for them when they would begin to go out and share the gospel. John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. The Lord Jesus also would go on and tell them in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.We tend to emphasize in the world you shall have tribulation, but forget the promise, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Yes, there will be tribulation. Yes, there will be persecution. But be of good cheer! Rejoice! I have overcome the world. Beloved, it is by rejoicing in the hope of the gospel that enables us to endure the trials and tribulations and persecution that we face here on earth.The Scriptures speak of the heavenly, eternal perspective that we as believers are to have in spite of the temporal persecutions and hardships that we will face in this world as followers of The Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Again we read that what enables us to bear the reproach of living for Jesus Christ by rejoicing in the fact that this world is not our home.The Bible doesn't tell us to rejoice in trials, persecution, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or in financial struggles, but it does tell us that the trials you suffer here will one day end. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.May the blessed hope of the gospel inspire you rejoice today and live boldly for Jesus Christ in this fallen world. SELAH
There is only one perfect Father, and that is God Himself, the Everlasting Father. But because God is our perfect Father figure, human fatherhood should seek to reflect the fatherhood of God as best as they can. Biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood is an “endangered species” in our society. But one of the most vital ingredients to a strong family, church and society is the need for biblical, Spirit-filled fathers. Biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood is regarded as archaic and irrelevant in “today's culture” (whatever that means!). Sadly, even within the church, biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood has been replaced by extremes of legalistic authoritarianism or flat out, no involvement and absenteeism leaving wives and mothers to “fulfill” a role that God never intended them to fulfill. Today's message is a call for the fathers and grandfathers of Koinonia to step up and accept our God given roles of fatherhood, in spite of how we feel or what society says. Men, our families need us to be Spirit filled men of God. Listen to this griping story: In 2003, Hurricane Isabel slammed into the East Coast of the United States, leaving 16 dead and cutting power to six million homes. The edges of the hurricane passed through Washington, D.C., prompting the president and members of Congress to find safer quarters. That was not the case at Arlington National Cemetery, where guards stood vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the time, just as they had done every hour of every day since July 1, 1937. When the hurricane hit, the soldiers remained at their posts even though they were given permission to seek shelter. That's what a soldier does. He acknowledges the storm, but he doesn't give in to it. He stands firm. Biblical manhood and fatherhood is under attack by today's society and the liberal church.Like these soldiers, Christian men, young or old, are called to stand and do our duty while staring down the very storms of a God forsaken culture that is pressuring us to neglect abandon our biblical posts as heads of our families. When men abandon this pursuit of Christ like, Spirit filled headship or when this responsibility of leadership is usurped by their wives or simply taken away from them... CHAOS ENSUES in the home, in society and in the church. For the glory of God, I pray that Almighty God pour out His Spirit upon each and every father here today. SELAH
The Song of Solomon, revered in Jewish tradition as the “Holy of Holies” (Song 1:1), celebrates marriage as God designed it—marked by covenant, intimacy, joy, and mutual delight. It is not merely poetic romance but divine wisdom, revealing both the beauty of human marriage and the deeper reality of Christ's love for His bride, the church (Eph. 5:31–32).Marriage frames the biblical story, beginning in Genesis 2:24—“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”—and culminating in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–9). The love between husband and wife is to be exclusive, enduring, and holy, reflecting the covenant love of Christ (John 13:34).The Song's imagery portrays deep affection: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is better than wine” (Song 1:2), “His banner over me was love” (Song 2:4), and “I sat down under his shadow with great delight” (Song 2:3). These expressions model the power of verbal affirmation, tender touch, and intentional refreshment within marriage.Warnings are clear. The repeated refrain, “Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases” (Song 2:7; 3:5; 8:4), affirms God's design for sexual intimacy within marriage (Heb. 13:4). The “little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song 2:15) picture small irritations or hidden sins that can harm a relationship if ignored. These must be named, prayed over, and resolved (Col. 3:13).Purity is essential. God forgives the past (1 John 1:9) but calls His people to holiness in the present (1 Thess. 4:3–5). Love in marriage is not “only a piece of paper” but a sacred covenant made before God (Mal. 2:14–16), deserving of public commitment and lifelong faithfulness.Seasonal imagery—“For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone” (Song 2:11)—speaks of renewal and hope. In Christ, the seasons of sorrow will end: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4). Until then, believers rest under His banner of love, finding in Him true security and refreshment (Ps. 91:1).Communication is central. Words of love and appreciation strengthen bonds (Prov. 18:21). Just as the lovers in the Song delight in each other's voice (Song 2:14), so believers should know and respond to the voice of their Shepherd: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).Marriage at its best is a partnership rooted in God's presence—two joined together with Christ as the third cord, “not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12). It is a place of mutual refreshment, exclusive devotion, and holy joy.For both married and single believers, the Song calls us to covenant love. Christ's love is protective, passionate, and unfailing (Rom. 8:38–39). It brings rest (Matt. 11:28–29), joy unspeakable (1 Pet. 1:8), and a future where the Bridegroom will say, “Rise up, my love… and come away” (Song 2:10).
Song of Solomon 3–4 offers a rich portrait of covenant love in marriage, blending the beauty of marital intimacy with a picture of Christ's love for His bride, the church (Eph. 5:31–32).The Shulammite woman's longing for her beloved (Song 3:1–4) reflects a pure desire restrained until the proper time (Song 3:5). This aligns with God's design: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Desire within marriage is celebrated, while intimacy before marriage is warned against.Her search for “him whom my soul loves” models earnest seeking. Just as Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart,” so spiritual pursuit is wholehearted. Even in times when God's presence seems hidden (Job 23:8–10), He is present and working.The royal wedding procession (Song 3:6–11) shows the groom providing protection and provision—qualities every husband should embody. The sixty valiant men guarding the bride recall God's spiritual protection for believers (Eph. 1:13; Eph. 6:17). The chariot's materials—silver (redemption), gold (deity), and purple (royalty)—point to Christ's redeeming, divine, and kingly nature.In chapter 4, the groom lavishes praise on his bride's beauty (Song 4:1–7), using the love language of the day. Physical beauty, character, and purity are affirmed. Her “garden enclosed…fountain sealed” (v. 12) symbolizes modesty, chastity, and the sacredness of sexuality, reserved for her husband. This mirrors 1 Corinthians 7:3–4, where mutual respect and exclusivity are central to marital intimacy.Affectionate words are central. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The Song's dialogue models the importance of verbal affirmation in strengthening love.The bride's guarded purity gives way, after marriage, to joyful giving of herself: “Let my beloved come into his garden” (Song 4:16). The two become one flesh (Gen. 2:24), a mystery that Paul says pictures Christ and the church (Eph. 5:32).In Christ, the believer is viewed as “all fair…there is no spot in you” (Song 4:7). Through the cross, He removes every stain (Ps. 103:12; Rom. 8:1) and calls us to walk in covenant love with Him. The intimacy, protection, and delight in these chapters are not only the pattern for marriage but a foretaste of the eternal union between Christ and His bride.
Last year I got a plant for my office. It was a nice bamboo plant, exotic looking, with lots of life. It sat front and center on my desk. I sympathize with Jonah because I was “exceedingly glad because of the plant” (okay, maybe that's a bit overstated. But you get the idea). After a couple weeks, one of the shoots started to turn brown, so I trimmed it. Well done, Dylan. Except the next week another bamboo shoot turned brown. Trimmed again. Well, suffice to say, that plant is now the property of Waste Management. If that plant was to grow and remain healthy, it was going to require constant nurturing. Watering, sunlight, attention, pruning, etc. were required. Life is fragile. And if we are to nurture real growth, it must be done through intimate care.Paul tells us about how the gospel grew through his ministry. He did not preach with “error or impurity or any attempt to deceive”. He did not come with “words of flattery” or with “pretext for greed”. In fact, he did not even exercise the authority of an apostle (which he had the right to exercise). The gospel did not come through Paul with domination, but with self-donation. “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” A nursing mother is more than simply saying “a mother”. A nursing mother actively gives of herself for the growth and health of her children.If we want to see the gospel grow and develop in the souls of the people near us, then we must do more than simply proclaim the gospel with our lips. We must present it with our lives. But that does not mean that we are simply good people everywhere we go, smiling at the cashier, telling someone they look nice, and letting that red pickup truck change lanes in front of us. It means that we take active measures to donate ourselves to those who are closest to us. Yes, that is a tall order, but it is how the gospel came to us. More than that, it is the gospel itself - Jesus donating himself on the cross. If we want the gospel to pour out of us and into the lives of those near us, then it must be poured out through self-donation, as we depict the ultimate self-donation of Christ on the cross.
The greatest example of an evangelist or soul winner to ever set foot on planet earth was none other than the Lord, Jesus Christ. Whether it was the woman at the well or a great multitude, the Lord Jesus shared the truth with those that the Father sent Him.In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verses 36-38, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest”. In the gospel of John, verses 5-7, “Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink”.Whether it was a single individual or a great multitude, the Lord Jesus ministered to them with all of His heart, for He knew that the Father sent Him “to seek and to save those who was lost”. We tend to forget that whenever we read the accounts of the Lord Jesus ministering to people, we are seeing the heart of the Father at work, for Jesus Himself said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father”. At the end of each gospel and in the first chapter of the book of Acts we read what has come to be known as The Great Commission that has been passed down to every generation of saints throughout the history of the church. Jesus said to the disciples in the upper room, “as the Father has sent Me, so send I you”. And we learn from John 20 and Acts 1:8 that He sent them (and likewise God is sending us out) He breathed on them the Holy Ghost and sent them out. Please pray that the Lord will give you a renewed vision for reaching the lost to Jesus Christ and recovering the straying back into fellowship. We join you in prayer as we seek to invite people to come and hear and believe the everlasting gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. SELAH
The epistles that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians are thought by many to be some of his earliest epistles. One thing that will be clear to us as we work our way through these letters is that they reveal Paul's theology, and also give us glimpses of the transformed lives of those who came to salvation in Jesus Christ during these early stages of the spreading of the gospel. Bear in mind that this epistle and the remarkable “gospel-centered lifestyle” of the Thessalonians was written to a church that was largely Gentile in nature; who had recently heard and come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ out of a life of pagan worship and idolatry.He talked to them about the doctrine of divine election. He talked to them about the necessity of walking in holiness in the Christian life. He mentions the hope of the imminent return of Jesus Christ in every chapter in 1 Thessalonians. In chapter 4, we learn that one of the reasons why Paul wrote this book was to comfort saints who had questions about where their loved ones who had died were. He told them to comfort one another with the fact that that they were with Jesus.Beloved, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a comforting hope in this insane world that we are living in. But what I'd like to leave you with this morning as a personal application “takeaway” can be wrapped up in 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10. It says, "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come".Note beloved, in verse nine, that when these saints heard and believed the gospel, they turned to God from idols. That's repentance. They turned around. The Lord Jesus said, "repent, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). 59 times we find the word repent or repentance in the New Testament. Repentance is a vital part of the Christian life.Secondly, they began to serve the Living and True God. A truly repentant heart will devote itself to serving the Living God.Thirdly, they waited (like a waiter or waitress serving tables) for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the good and faithful servant that Jesus taught us about in Matthew 24:42-47, these saints were serving the Lord in the anticipation of Jesus' soon return. These transformed lives were telling others about the gospel of the soon returning Lord Jesus Christ to such an extent that every place that Paul went to share the gospel, they had already heard about it from them!What would Paul write about our zeal for spreading the gospel? What would he say about the spiritual climate and culture of our church family at Koinonia?“Blessed Father, we ask You this morning in the Name of Jesus to stir us up by Your Holy Spirit, in order that we might as a church family be about the business of serving You in such a way that souls are saved, disciples are made, and You are glorified.” SELAH
Our passage today is about encouragement, what that really means and how we can have biblically empowered encouragement.Life is good, but life is hard, and we need encouragement. We need to be stirred up. We need our souls knit together. Paul talks about this idea of being knit together throughout his letter to the Colossians.Paul prayer in Colossians 2:19 is that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding, and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The thrust of his message is this: if you want to resist false teaching, if you want to resist heresy, destructive, deceitful ideas coming into the church, knit yourselves together, encourage one another.Paul then gives some practical ways that we can encourage each other. Number one, companionship. Number two, specificity. And number three, personal touch. He doesn't just offer words of encouragement to the Colossians, he sends his companion Tychicus, so "that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts." Sometimes when we think of encouragement, we think of a nice pat on the back. But that that's not the type of encouragement that knits our hearts together. The Greek word translated encourage here is parakaleō, which can be illustrated by a father teaching his son how to walk. The father encourages the son, comes alongside him, stands by him, then steps back and pleads for the son to come forward. If you want to really encourage someone where your hearts are knit together, consider the situation they're in, then tell them how you are doing in the same fight that they are engaged in. Secondly, Paul encourages us to get specific. In verse 17 he directly addresses Archippus with a specific encouragement: "see that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."Thirdly, we need personal touch. Notice what Paul says in the last verse. "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." The people reading the letter would see that it's Paul's handwriting, but maybe it was a little more jagged than usual. And then they read that phrase, remember my chains, and think, oh, he's got chains on his wrist.Every Thursday morning, a brother in the Lord named Jack and I would get together and he'd teach me about hermeneutics, about how to study the Bible techniques.At the end of that time he got me this thick systematic theology textbook. I still use it every single week, and every time I do, I think about Jack, because when I open the front cover I see a handwritten note written just to me. A year and a half ago, Jack passed away. But every time I open that book it feels as if all the angels and all the saints of old are cheering me on. Exhorting me to read, encouraging me to pray. Calling me forth into truth.All the right information in the world can't do that. But the personal touch brings to life. When Paul talks about knitting of our souls together through encouragement, he's saying that as we encourage one another and as our souls are knit together in Christ, we inch closer and closer to glory. Father God of all comfort. Comfort us. Knit our souls together. Oh, Lord, we thank you that you reached out to us with personal touch to knit our souls back to you. God, what a marvelous mystery.God, you're with us now. You're in us by the spirit. You're in us by faith. You encourage us. You strengthen us. Help us to do that with our brothers and sisters.
As I've been studying Ecclesiastes 12 this week, I can hear Solomon's voice—aged, reflective, and full of hard-earned wisdom. He urges me: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Not someday. Now. Before the noise of life and the wear of age dull my hunger for God. We sometimes think we will finally have time to get serious about faith later in life, when things slow down. But Solomon corrects us—life doesn't get easier, only different. If I won't follow God when I'm young and strong, I likely won't when I'm old and distracted.He's honest about the effects of age: the trembling hands, fading eyesight, shallow sleep, and quieter passions. He's not complaining—he's reminding us that time is short and precious. Life isn't about preserving youth but preparing for eternity. This body is a house that's wearing out, and the soul inside it is meant for something greater. I'm sowing the seeds of my future now—what kind of harvest do I expect?Solomon then points us to what lasts: God's Word. Wise words are like goads—they prod us, sometimes painfully, always helpfully. They're like nails fastened by the Shepherd—secure, reliable, worth hanging our life on. There's one Book, from one Shepherd, and it holds all the truth I need. Every time I've let Scripture shape me, it has steadied me.The conclusion of the book is clear: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Not part of it—all of it. This is what I was made for. Not to accumulate, impress, or indulge—but to love God with all I am. Solomon, who had everything the world offers, says it all left him empty. But fearing God—that's fullness.And there's a final reminder: God will bring every deed into judgment, even the hidden ones. For the believer, it's not judgment unto condemnation, but examination for reward. Even so, I'm called to live with purity of motive—serving for His glory, not mine. That makes today sacred. It matters how I live, and even more, why.So ask yourself today, is the gospel a question mark or an exclamation point? You've been redeemed. You belong to Christ. And this is your whole duty: to fear God, to keep His Word, and to enjoy Him forever.
Over one hundred years ago, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. He established it as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Much has changed since then; listen to this quote from Rachel Jankovic from Desiring God: “Modern women are starving for power. They are marching, demanding, and fighting — doing everything they can do — to try to obtain a sense of power because they are painfully aware of a feminine power shortage. The horrible irony is that they trample on the bodies of infants — demanding abortion rights as essential to feminine strength. But it is all a perverting of the truly shocking feminine power — that of childbearing, that which they are discarding. We have been slowly brought to believe that empowered women are those who have detached themselves from fertility. We stand by feeling embarrassed of our bellies, while intentionally infertile shells of women despise our childbearing, as though it was a hobby for the low-achieving and undereducated. They take the glory and the awe out of sex, both the act itself and the incredible archetypes God wrote into human sexuality. Love that is creational. mankind and womankind, constantly creating new men and new women. They have persuaded us that there is no fight in motherhood, no value to children in marriage. It's certainly true that no nation is ever greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of the next generation.”Every person reading this was brought into this world by a biological female who is identified by God as mother. A mother has the potential to touch a whole generation by simply loving her own child well with the love of Jesus. Actually, she can affect the next 2000 years. All of us are affected today to some degree because of the godly mother and grandmother who raised a young boy by the name of Timothy in the Holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also".One popular poem, written almost 150 years ago, contains this line, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” And a young mom added, the hand that rocks the cradle is usually attached to a mother who isn't getting enough sleep! One Jewish proverb says, “One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers.”Four scholars were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James because of its eloquent English. Another said he liked the ESV for its literalism. The third scholar was sold on the New Living Translation for its use of contemporary phrases and idioms. After being quiet for a moment, the fourth scholar admitted: “I have personally preferred my mother's translation.” When the other scholars started laughing, he said, “My mom translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I have ever read.”Children of all ages, honor your mother today. She is not perfect, no one is, but there is only one person on earth who you can call mother, and it the woman who poured into you, loved you, and raised you. Pray for your mother, saved or unsaved. Extend to her the grace and mercy that you expect from God yourself. Remember, heaven is populated with imperfect mothers who trusted Jesus Christ for the salvation of their eternal souls, and purposed to live their lives for His glory and honor. SELAH
In the book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, God speaks of a rest that remains for those who place their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:9 says, There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. The Lord Jesus said to the multitudes in Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.The key to entering into this glorious rest, spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, is faith in God (Isa 11:10). In reading Hebrews 3 & 4, we learn that the Israelites failed to enter into the promised land because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18,19 says, And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. The Holy Spirit goes on to say in Hebrews 4:10,11 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.So, dearly beloved, let me ask you a question: Are you resting in your faith or wrestling in your faith? Are you resting from your own works and finding rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ? Having begun in The Spirit, are you now being made perfect by your own works? Oh yes, we do work now, but the work that we do is motivated by our love for God and because He first loved us. It is only by faith in Jesus that we can have rest. It is this rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ that gives us the peace of God that passes all understanding. The perfect peace that stems from our mind being stayed on Him (Isa 26:3,4).It wasn't the giants that kept the Israelites out of the promised land, it was unbelief in the promise of God. Never allow unbelief to rob you of the rest that is yours as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is finished! SELAH
As we move on in the book of Colossians the Apostle Paul begins to apply the word to the various areas of Christian living in society. One thing stands out bright and clear: Gospel believing people are called upon to live gospel centered lives that bring glory to God in this world.Paul is going to address the roles of the husband and wife in marriage. He is going to address the importance of children obeying their parents. He is going to warn fathers about provoking their children to the point of discouraging them. He is going to address the topic of slaves and masters, which would be like addressing employers and employees today. But in each and every area, the key component is that they are to carry out those roles as unto The Lord. In other words, obedience to The Lord Jesus Christ is the very key to carrying out those roles.Husbands should love their wives like Christ loves the church. Wives should submit themselves to their husbands as it is fit in The Lord. Children should obey their parents because it is pleasing unto The Lord. Servants or employees should obey their masters or employers with singleness of heart, fearing God. Masters or employers should be just and fair to their servants or employees, knowing that they have a Master in heaven to Whom you they accountable.The verses before and after these exhortations tell us the demeanor that we are to have as we live out these roles in society. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. Everything should be lived out with thankful, wholehearted obedience as unto The Lord! In other words, allowing The Living Lord Jesus to love, submit, obey and serve others through my life.Heaven bound saints will seek to live gospel centered lives here on earth with Jesus Christ being the blazing center of everything that we say and do for His glory and honor. SELAH
Today we are celebrating the bodily resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus said that just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so His body would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. As Jesus was drawing closer to Jerusalem, He said that He would suffer many things of the elders and chief priests, and be killed, just as it was foretold in Isaiah 53; but He then said that He would rise again on the third day. Even his fiercest opponents said, we remember that deceiver said He would rise again the third day. Neither did His disciple nor His enemies believe that Jesus would rise again, but He did.Numerous accounts are recorded of Jesus appearing to His disciples. One account mentions Him appearing to above five hundred brethren at once. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is necessary for a person to be saved. If Jesus did not rise again from the dead, there is no gospel (1 Cor 15:4). If Jesus did not rise again from the dead, we could not be justified from our sins. If Christ was not raised from the dead, our faith is vain, and we are still dead in our sins.Millions of people believe in the Jesus of history. Some espouse Him as a great Teacher. Others see Him as one of the many avatars of God. But the record of Scripture is the Jesus Christ rose again from the grave, and is a Living Savior. Jesus is our great God and Savior (Titus 2:13). Today is a celebration of the fact that Jesus is alive and that as He ascended up into heaven, and so shall He return (Acts 1:9-11). Because He is risen, He gives to all who call upon His Name eternal life (Rom 10:13).Trust the Living Savior, and He will give you life (John 1:12)! SELAH
Steve Jobs is famous for his black turtleneck, blue jeans, and new balance sneakers. He wore them everywhere he went. And his reasoning for wearing this every day seemed a bit esoteric - he felt that he had to make so many important decisions throughout the day that he needed to eliminate as many decisions as he could. One of the decisions he wanted to eliminate was what to wear. So, he decided to wear the same thing every day. I'm sure we can all relate… facing our closet every morning and trying to figure out what to put on for the day. Our clothes carry meaning and send a message to everyone we meet. What we put on matters. But what we “put on” spiritually matters far more. Just as we scan our closet and select certain garments to clothe ourselves with, there are certain qualities that Scripture commands us to put on. This is a highly intentional process. There are no accidents here. No one stumbles onto the street, looks down at their lower half and says, “How in the world did these jeans get on me?” Whatever we “put on” ourselves, we do intentionally. Such is the command we have from Scripture. We are to make efforts to “put on” Christ. Is this to earn Him in some way? By no means! It is because we are already “God's chosen ones” and because we are already made “Holy” in Christ, and because we are already “beloved” in Christ (all realities from Colossians 3:12 that precede what we are to put on) that God commands us then to “put on”.
No matter how wise you might think you are, you'll never have all the answers for why things take place the way they do.Solomon was a wise man who believed in God, but he was perplexed with doubt and uncertainty. The problem was he only saw things through the lens of his human limitations and understandings, and he mostly was observing the ways of the world, the fallen world.He's not able to connect the dots with the character of God and with the truths of God. We've probably had those moments ourselves. And so he jumps right in and asks, who is a wise man and who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.True wisdom, a true encounter with the wisdom of God and the God of wisdom, lights up our faces. There's a glow that we have when we draw near to the Lord. Fear God. That's the beginning of wisdom. It's the beginning of knowledge. Fearing God is what keeps our hearts and our consciences clean and clear. The beggar who fears God is a prince, while the rich man who does not fear God is living in perpetual pain and suffering, in hell forever and ever.Rather than trying to use our finite minds to comprehend the infinite nature of God, we need to turn from those vain imaginations, those dark ways of seeing things to the truth of God.
In the final two chapters of Colossians, Paul moves from doctrine to duty, principle to practice. From this we learn that the purpose of all Christian behavior is to be rooted and grounded on the basis of solid biblical theology and doctrine. But as important as doctrine is, we must never divorce doctrine from practice, because the very purpose of solid biblical theology, doctrine and teaching must be applied in our lives if we are to bear fruit for His Name sake and glory.2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”. Contrary to common opinion, being heavenly minded does make huge difference in a person's life here on earth. The practical call of every follower of Jesus is to be a witness, salt and light in an “unsalty” and world that is lost in darkness. To “set your affection on things above” speaks of a settled bent of mind or disposition towards the things of the Lord.The apostle John would put it this way: “love neither the world system nor the things of this world”. This saying, “setting of our affections” refers to thinking, or having this inner disposition. To “set your affection on things above” means to look at life from God's perspective and to seek what he desires. As a compass points north, the believer's entire disposition in life should point itself toward the things of heaven.As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other and both cannot be followed together at the same time for the simple reason that the affection to the one will weaken and abate the affection to the other. Whatever you feed the most will get stronger, thus Paul writes in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”. Thus setting our affections on things above requires mortifying or putting to death the things that are of the world. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13). SELAH
Solomon, the human author of Ecclesiastes, did not always see things from a purely biblical perspective. When he “considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the oppressed", he felt "they had no comforter.” Though the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture, what Solomon is writing here is coming from a man who only sees the negativity, and there was a lot of bad things going on in his day, just like there is today. The gospel doesn't promise us that we would never have pain, that we would never have sorrow. It doesn't even tell us that we won't go through times of oppression. But we do have comfort, don't we?There is comfort for you and for me. Psalm 9:9 says, “the Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.“I'm so thankful for our God. I'm thankful that we can know that we do have a comforter. Jesus said to the men in the upper room, "it's necessary for me to go, because if I do not go, the comforter will not come." The Spirit of God has been given to us. Praise God for the Spirit of God!He's the one who comes alongside of us to encourage us, to comfort us, to guide us and to direct us. Even in our darkest, deepest moments, we have one who loves us and comforts us as believers.
Colossians 2:10 says, And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. When God says that those who repent of their sin and embrace Jesus Christ as Lord are complete, He means complete. Jesus Christ is called The Author and Finisher of our faith. Because Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form, that means that those who are born again are complete in Christ because of the composite work of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Spirit, in the life of every single believer.We will see in our study today that every false religious system or teacher insists that there is something else that needs to be done in addition to faith is Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Let me put it this way, whatever that something else is, let's call it an “ism”: Legalism, Ceremonialism, Ritualism, Mysticism, or Asceticism. When any “ism” is insisted upon in order to be made complete in Jesus Christ, whatever that “ism” is, is saying that Jesus Christ is not enough.Not all “isms” are bad in and of themselves, and there are many Christian “isms” that are used to define a certain theology or belief system. It can be Calvinism, Arminianism, Pentecostalism, Dispensationalism, or Cessationalism. In many cases, the “ism” can become our identity and necessary in order to understand the gospel clearly.Beloved, let us never forget that whatever “ism” you and I may choose to embrace as a follower of Jesus Christ, the believers identity is found in who they are in Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself IS The Gospel. Remember beloved, you are complete in Him, and no “ism” was ever meant to “fill the void” and that only Jesus can pay the debt of our sin and fill the spiritual void within the sinners soul. No “ism” is sitting on the throne of glory. No “ism” is the Head of The church. No “ism” created and maintains the universe. No “ism” can save your soul.Rev 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Amen. SELAH
One of the keys to walking in victory and over the fiery darts of the enemy is found in Colossians 2:7 - "Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." The key is found in the words, "abounding therein with thanksgiving."Why do the Scriptures speak so loudly against grumbling? murmuring? complaining? Prayerfully read Exodus 16:7,8. Numbers 14:27,28. 1 Corinthians 10;10. Philippians 2:14. Being thankful to God is huge in heaven's courts, beloved. Not only is it huge in heaven's courts, it is also one of the most effective weapons in the realm of spiritual warfare.Did you know that one of the things that “fuels" the fiery darts of the enemy (like when bees are drawn not honey) is when he hears a blood bought child of God murmuring and complaining. Listen to Abba speak to you and me this morning, my precious brothers and sisters, of how He values the attitude of thanksgiving.Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.Eph. 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.Beloved, thanksgiving unto God is a key to wholeness of life in the midst of a fallen world that thrives on negativity and discontent. Read Luke 17:15-19. Thanksgiving is the not just the language of heaven, dear ones, it is like kryptonite to the devil and his angels. And to that I say, Praise be unto God from Whom all blessings flow. SELAH
Excerpt from “To My Favorite 17-Year-Old High School Girl” by Billy Collins “Did you know that at your age Judy Garlandwas pulling down $150,000 a picture,Joan of Arc was leading the French army to victory,and Blaise Pascal had cleaned up his room?No wait, I mean he had invented the calculator.Of course, there will be time for all that later in your life,after you come out of your roomand begin to blossom, or at least pick up all your socks.” As technology advances and productivity increases, maturity seems to move in the opposite direction. It is not necessarily maturity itself that is changing, but our expectations to live up to those standards are changing. Responsibility, interdependence, resilience, discipline - these are qualities that we find in someone we consider to be mature. Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defines “maturity” as - “ripe… applied to a young man who has arrived at the age when he is supposed to be competent to manage his own concerns”. Nearly 200 years later, we would not disagree with this definition at all. But our interaction with this definition is what has shifted over time. But whatever the world may think about maturity, as Christians, we are primarily concerned with Christian maturity (and the rest of us are just concerned with whether “maturity” is pronounced with a strong “T” or a “ch” sound). And we are also concerned with using the word of God to measure our maturity, not the mores of culture, even if it be Christian culture. The entire first chapter of Colossians provides us with a powerful dissection of Christian maturity. Christian maturity is marked by knowledge of God's will, fruitfulness, joy in God, a fixation on Christ above all other things, and a strong grip on the mystery of the Gospel. This is the blossoming of a mature Christian. But what is the sunshine that matures the flower? What ripens the bud? In other words, how does a Christian mature? We know what one may look like, but how do we grow up into that? The answer to that question can be summed up in two short phrases from the first chapter of Colossians: “He is…” and “Him we proclaim.”
In this chapter, Solomon writes about the tears of victims of oppression, with no one to comfort them. No one to afford relief to their souls or bodies. How grateful we can be for the Comforter, God The Holy Ghost, Who has been sent to come alongside of those who mourn or are oppressed. The older that we get, we become increasingly aware of the fact that life is not always a straight line from home plate to first base. It is woven with multiple mysteries. The people of God hurting, while the children of the world live in prosperity and health. I call this the Psalm 73 syndrome.Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.He would be brought to a place of despair, until he got alone with God, and saw things from the heavenly perspective.Psalm 73:6 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.The only thing that makes sense in this senseless world is the truth and the hope in the gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. Though we see not the complete beauty of Providence, yet we shall see it, and a glorious sight it will be, when the mystery of God shall be finished. May we live our live by faith, and not by sight. Trusting in The Lord with all of our heart, and leaning not unto our own understanding. May our contentment and completeness be in Christ.
Today, we begin our study on the prison epistle of Colossians. Colossians is located about 100 miles east of Ephesus. The church here was primarily composed of Gentiles. This epistle to the Colossians is one of four “Prison Epistles” along with Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon. According to Colossians 4:16, this epistle was to be read to the neighboring church of Laodicea, and a letter that was written to the Laodicea's (not included in the canon of Scripture) was to be read to the saints at Colosse.Paul wrote all of these epistles during his first imprisonment while he was in Rome awaiting trial before Ceasar. Internal evidence suggests that though Paul had not visited Colosse (2:1), Timothy and Epaphras (1:7) had evangelized the city and founded the church during Paul's 3 year stay in Ephesus while on his third missionary journey. The epistle was written to combat certain heretical teachings that had crept into the church and have never gone away! We will address these heresies as we go through this powerful epistle. These false teachings were Gnosticism; Legalism, Mysticism and secular philosophy. False teachers also denied the deity of Jesus Christ. They taught that He was a created being and not the Creator Himself. They taught a false gospel of salvation via works or rituals or sacramentalism as opposed to the true gospel of His all-sufficient atonement for sin that grants salvation to sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, not of works or ritual lest any man should boast.What is said about Jesus Christ in chapter 1 reveals His preeminence over all creation and every created being and not only exposes as heresy, but renders useless all worldly, secular philosophies. It puts the nail in the coffin of legalism and every any any religious “ism”. Mysticism. Asceticism. Protestantism. Catholicism. Hinduism. Buddhism. Islam. Mormonism. Glory to God for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.It is only because of the redemption that is in His blood, that we have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God. See what the saints in heaven declare in Revelation 5:9. In and through Christ alone, we are delivered from the power of darkness. In and through Christ alone, we have peace with God. In and through Christ alone, we are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son!! In this letter, we also learn that among the glorious mysteries of our faith in Scripture is the mystery of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, dwelling in the midst of those who belong to Him.Come join us as we journey through this letter of Paul, and discover how the preeminence of Jesus Christ is meant to affect our marriages. Our earthly vocations. Our child rearing. Our prayer lives. Our stewardship of time, finances and spiritual. And last, but not least, our relationship with one another in the body of Christ. SELAH
In verses 2-8 of this chapter, there is a remarkable listing of twenty-eight “times,” arranged in fourteen pairs of opposites. Every timed event has a “purpose” and every thing is “beautiful” in God's time for it (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Time is in heaven's control, not ours. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.The point that God wants us to understand here is this. Even though everything in the world is in a state of perpetual change from one thing to another, nothing in this life happens haphazardly. It is not chance or fate that governs the things that happen in the lives of people on earth, any more than chance or fate governs the repeated cycles of the wind, clouds, rain etc. Time operates under God's creative fiat. He ordained the sun, moon, and stars in their courses for the purpose of measuring off seasons, month, days, and years (Gen 1:14). The orderliness of time reflects the Creator's orderliness. His order extends beyond the universe, the solar system, our planet, plants, animals, and mankind. It even applies to that which is normally invisible: gravity, the speed of light, photosynthesis, meiosis, emotions, thought processes.Even though in our limited dimension of time and space we may never understand how a particular event can be either purposeful or beautiful, we can have faith that in God's time, everything is working together for good. (Romans 8:28). Psalms 31:15 My times are in Thy hand.
Peter is going to be with His Lord Jesus soon, and as long as he is here on earth, his desire is to stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance. It is so important for you and I as followers of Jesus to remember the things that are revealed in the Holy Scriptures. You can hear the passion and concern that Peter has for the false teachers that are seeking to destroy the church with their heretical teachings and perversion of the gospel of the grace of God(2 Peter 2).You can also hear the passion and concern that Peter has for the lost as he tells them that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). You can hear his concern, passion and warning that he has regarding those who are living what I would call “borderline Christianity” in light of the fact that the pending Day of The Lord is imminent (2 Peter 3:10-14).But before Peter says goodbye, he exhorts them in 2 Peter 3:18 to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Dearly beloved, my prayer for you and I as a church family is that we, both individually and corporately will grow in grace and in the heart knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.Because of the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we are not getting what we deserve. I personally believe that Peter was telling these saints that one of the ways that we grow in grace in our personal lives and as a congregation is by being conduits of the grace of God towards each other. Remember beloved, the gift of eternal life is rooted and grounded in a vital, loving, intimate knowledge of the Only True God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. And the fruit or overflow of that relationship will Him will bring forth fruit in our lives that brings Him glory both now and forever, Amen. SELAH
The Parable of the Unjust Steward is one of Jesus' most enigmatic messages. In Jesus' other parables there are usually virtuous characters depicting righteous qualities for us to learn from. For example, in the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), we have the good shepherd going after the poor sheep that was lost. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we has the good father representing God receiving back his lost son representing a repentant sinner. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) we have righteous Abraham comforting the poor man Lazarus after his death. However, in the parable of the unjust steward, we have a story filled with unscrupulous characters, yet somehow Jesus still has a profound message for us in it.How can Jesus take the actions of a shrewd conniving scoundrel and turn them into a message that challenges His disciples to greater depths of service and devotion? Through this parable, Jesus demonstrates Himself as The Master Teacher. He shows us how the interests of unrighteous persons in the world can mirror the qualities He's looking for in His followers. He reveals how the way the world sees and uses money can be a lesson to us regarding how we should be managing our resources. Beyond this, He shows us how the investments we're making now will have eternal ramifications.Listen as we consider what it means to invest shrewdly in the Kingdom of God.
Solomon sought for meaning in life by pursuing pleasure. He sought the pleasure in comedy and mirth (partying). He sought the pleasure in drinking wine. He sought pleasure in building houses, vineyards, pools and possessions of silver and gold. He sought meaning in life by surrounding himself with a variety of music. In other words, he sought real meaning in life by pursuing the 3 big E's……entertainment, edifices, and earnings. The poorest man of faith in his kingdom was happier far than he. Wouldn't you think that if you could have and afford whatever your eyes desired that you would be happy? All of this pleasure was short lived. After experiencing all of the pleasure that “money could buy”, he steps back and considers that it was all vanity and vexation of spirit. By explaining his intense disgust with life as he has been living it, Solomon is in reality urging us to labor to know Christ more, for when we draw nearer to Jesus, we have found that knowledge to be a fountain of delight.Enjoyment of life is a gift from God. God-given enjoyment can only have significance for the believer who sees all things as a gift from Him, for it is to that man or woman that Christ came to give life and that more abundantly. To know Jesus, to love God, to find satisfaction in heavenly things, this is wisdom, and the follies of Solomon should drive us thither. If you are looking for life under the sun tonight instead of life in God's only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ…do not ignore the warnings of Solomon and do not despise the invitation of Jesus to come unto Him and find rest for your souls.
Do you remember this scene with Steve Martin from The Pink Panther? “Who are you?”“I am Yuri, the trainer.”“And what is it you do here, Yuri the Trainer?” “...I… train…”“So you are Yuri the Trainer who trains… hmpf…”There's a bit of that comedy of language going on in 2 Peter 3:3. However, far from being the product of an aloof and ditsy detective, Peter pens these words with all the seriousness of a dying apostle - “Scoffers will come with scoffing.”His exhortation to the believers is simple: don't forget, scoffers will infiltrate the church and lead the way into a lifestyle of sin. These people are not those who are wholly opposed to the gospel, but those who profess Christ. They identify with christians, however, their true identity is that of a scoffer, it is how they sneak in and corrupt the faith. But not just general scoffing, they scoff at something specific - they scoff at the imminent return of Christ. That is what Peter means by saying that these scoffers will come with scoffing. They come into the faith willing to accept everything except one truth: that Christ will soon return to judge the world.This scoffy thinking is rooted in intentionally “overlooking” two fundamental truths about God's judgment: His method and His timing. And oh how devastating these oversights can be! This type of scoffing often creeps into the church unnoticed. The subtle message comes across that we can have Christ and the things of the world, that we need not get all worked up about holiness because God is merciful. And besides, it's not like Jesus is coming back tomorrow! We obviously know that!Such thinking is far from innocent. It is driven by sensuality and wickedness. It may seem innocent or maybe just immature, but it is thoroughly wicked. It is the strategy of the scoffing scoffers that come with scoffing.
Second Peter is the last letter that we have from him in the Word of God. He is pouring out his heart to the Lord's flock in so many ways. He wants them to know that the grace and peace of God is ours through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. He gives them a spiritual checklist in order to make their calling and election sure. He wants them to be aware of the fact that there are going to be false teachers and false prophets who will seek to infiltrate the church and preach a false Christ, a false gospel, and a false spirit. He reminds them of the judgments of God in the past and that there will be people mocking the biblical teaching of the second coming of Jesus Christ.The warnings that Peter gave to the church back then are needed just as much today, if not much more so with the advent of the internet and the constant stream of false doctrine and heresies galore. Peter knows that he is going to be with Jesus soon, and his desire was that the church that belongs to Jesus would always have these things in remembrance. Thank you, Peter!Today, we will be celebrating The Lord's Supper together. It is a covenant meal in which the cup and the bread signify the redemption that Jesus obtained for us in order that we might know that there is a new day dawning when all of the things of this former world, the sin, the sickness, the wars, the funerals will be destroyed, and God will usher in a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Communion is meant to remind us of both our redemption past and our redemption future.Dearly beloved, may the grace and love of Jesus fill your hearts and minds with the glorious fact that every breath that you and I take today is bringing us one breath closer to being with Him forever. SELAH
Having spoken of the Holy Scriptures being the more sure word of prophecy, Peter launches into an expose of false teachers and false prophets who will rise up and teach damnable heresies that contradict the truth of Scripture. Speaking of false teachers, the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”.Our Lord Jesus Christ said “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many”. (Matthew 24:11). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. (Matthew 24:24). The apostle John tells us “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:18, 19).How can you tell the difference between a true prophet or teacher and a false prophet or teacher? Let me put it in layman's terms and the give you a couple of Scriptures to answer that question. A false prophet or teacher will use the same vocabulary, but use a different dictionary. They will say Jesus. They will say gospel. But when push comes to shove, and you ask them to define who or act they are talking about, the answers that they will give you is they are talking about “another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4).The US Government has a department that is devoted to detecting false or counterfeit money. How do they know what is a counterfeit $10, $20 or $100 bill? They compare them to the original. What is the original document that the church is to use to distinguish the false from the truth? “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 5:15).In Acts 17:10,11 we see how this way to “proof text” was carried out. “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so”.There is the answer beloved. Be a Berean. Check out all teachings that you hear to the all inspired word of God to see if the things that are taught are found in Scripture, and you will begin to see that you would never come up to the heretical conclusions that the false prophets and false teachers proclaim if you just read the bible. “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). Listen to God's Beloved Son! SELAH
Have you had a powerful experience of God? I'm talking about one of those experiences that you can't forget? Something that was so supernatural, you knew without a doubt that it was God moving right in front of you? How important is that experience (and experiences like it) to your faith? What I mean by that is, if someone asked you why you believed the Bible, would you tell them right away about that experience?In 2 Peter, we find Peter giving an apology for why he trusts in the gospel of Jesus. He begins his defense with an extraordinary experience of God. In fact, he recounts the greatest experience of God's glory that anyone on earth could ever have - he saw the incarnate Christ transformed into his divine glory. That is, the transfiguration. It's the first thing he thinks to mention when defending his reason for the hope that is within him. But then he continues to say that there is a stronger reason for his faith, a more certain foundation for his trust in Christ. And that is the Word of God - the Scripture. Both are crucial, yet there is clearly a hierarchy, a progression.Should we value our experiences with God? Absolutely! Peter does. Do we grow out of them? Never! Peter doesn't. But do we grow in them? Yes. Experiences of God are necessary for true faith, but they ought never be our primary apologetic - that is the role of Scripture and the prophetic unfolding of the gospel story. Drywall is necessary for a house, but I wouldn't recommend using it to build your foundation.No matter how great your experience of God may be, real Christian maturity is marked by a deepening confidence in the Word of God alone.
Have you had a powerful experience of God? I'm talking about one of those experiences that you can't forget? Something that was so supernatural, you knew without a doubt that it was God moving right in front of you? How important is that experience (and experiences like it) to your faith? What I mean by that is, if someone asked you why you believed the Bible, would you tell them right away about that experience?In 2 Peter, we find Peter giving an apology for why he trusts in the gospel of Jesus. He begins his defense with an extraordinary experience of God. In fact, he recounts the greatest experience of God's glory that anyone on earth could ever have - he saw the incarnate Christ transformed into his divine glory. That is, the transfiguration. It's the first thing he thinks to mention when defending his reason for the hope that is within him. But then he continues to say that there is a stronger reason for his faith, a more certain foundation for his trust in Christ. And that is the Word of God - the Scripture. Both are crucial, yet there is clearly a hierarchy, a progression.Should we value our experiences with God? Absolutely! Peter does. Do we grow out of them? Never! Peter doesn't. But do we grow in them? Yes. Experiences of God are necessary for true faith, but they ought never be our primary apologetic - that is the role of Scripture and the prophetic unfolding of the gospel story. Drywall is necessary for a house, but I wouldn't recommend using it to build your foundation.No matter how great your experience of God may be, real Christian maturity is marked by a deepening confidence in the Word of God alone.
The apostle Paul writes to those who have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-11). Jesus Christ Himself IS the gospel. Belief, or placing faith in the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven is the beginning of a relationship and fellowship with Him. We can never underestimate the importance and necessity of faith in the life of the follower of Jesus Christ. But Peter exhorts us to add to our faith.There are some who talk about nothing but faith, as if that is the sum of the Christian life. When the apostle Paul was sharing Jesus with Felix and his wife Drusilla, he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come (Acts 24:25). Growth in our faith in Jesus is measured by good fruit, such as virtue, knowledge, temperance or self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity or love. Saving faith abides in The Lord Jesus and brings forth fruit.The fruit is not the cause of our salvation. The fruit is the evidence of our salvation. Peter tells us that it is by the manifestation of this fruit that we make our calling and election sure. In other words, there is the fruit of saving faith. Paul the apostle writes, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(Galatians 5:22,23).This growing in grace that produces fruit is an ongoing process of being conformed to the image of Jesus in the life of every believer. None of us bear all of the fruit all of the time. But every true follower of Jesus will display the fruit of the Spirit in their lives to various degrees, which in doing so allows us to be the light and salt here on earth for which we have been redeemed as witnesses of Jesus. SELAH
The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the Wisdom Books of the OT, along with Job, Psalms, Proverbs and the Song of Songs.Ecclesiastes is traditionally read in the Jewish synagogue on the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles (or, Booths, Sukkot) in late September or early October (15–21 Tishri). It is the time of the annual harvest festival recalling Israel's wilderness experience (Lev 23:33–43). The fact that it is read during a festival of great joy (cf. Neh 8:9) should be a clue that the tone of the book is not considered by Judaism, at least, as pessimistic, but instructive and a no nonsense account of the futility of seeking to find real meaning and purpose in life picture by pursuing the pleasures and sensual experiences in life under the sun, instead of acknowledgement and submission to The Living God. Beloved, whenever we read in Scripture a thou shalt not or a warning of some sort, that is our loving God and Creator telling us, do not harm yourself by doing this. Ecclesiastes describes three problems that every single human being faces in this life:- The uncertainty of time and chance.- The endemic and incurable nature of wickedness.- Death has the final word in any human enterprise.So, in light of these 3 problems or mysteries in life that each and every one of us has to deal with, what is the divine purpose and meaning of Ecclesiastes for us? The book's epilogue should be allowed to speak for itself. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Have you ever heard the saying, it's not what you know, but who that makes all the difference in life? To some extent, that is true in regards to “success” or “promotion” for our life here on planet earth. But that same principle is often applied to a person's spiritual life as well.For example, there was a group of people on earth in the early days of the church known as the Gnostics. Gnostics were anti-gospel, anti-Christ, individuals who were heady, intellectual, mystical, high-minded and puffed up with esoteric knowledge. They had a spiritual and pseudo-religious philosophy which stressed that the way to “experience” the “unknowable God” was via a plethora of books. In other words, it is what you know, not who, because according to them and their “spiritual offspring” today, the who you know can be whoever you want them to be. But the Lord Jesus boldly declared in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. That certainly narrows down the Who doesn't it?In his last letter before being martyred for his faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Peter writes in his opening sentences, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. The Authorized Version translates this as ‘the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ', as if this referred to two persons, God and Jesus; but in the Greek, there is only one person involved and the phrase is correctly rendered our God and Savior Jesus Christ.Both grace and peace are multiplied in our lives through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. The word knowledge here means “to become thoroughly acquainted with.” The apostle Paul does not say in 2 Tim 1:12 ‘I know what I have believed'; he says, I know whom I have believed'.Eternal life is the personal and intimate knowledge of The Lord Jesus Christ. So, dear reader, if are you concerned about the salvation of your eternal soul, please know that both what you need to know and Who you need to know is The Lord Jesus Christ. John 17.3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. SELAH
Haggai was the first of the prophets to minister to Israel following the return from the Babylonian captivity. The period of Israel's history during which he ministered is recorded in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The reason and purpose for this powerful two-chapter book was this: The remnant of Israel had returned from Babylon and enthusiastically laid the foundation for the new Temple, but the work was interrupted in its restoration because of opposition from residents of the land. Ezra 3:10,11 tells us that the work started gloriously, but the work came to a sudden standstill for about 14 years.The rebuke we read in Haggai 1:4 was directed towards an indifferent and apathetic people: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? The reason for the challenge/rebuke in verse 4 is because the people who claimed that they did not have the time to devote to the building of the temple of God evidently had found the time to build themselves luxurious houses that were paneled (not only on the walls, but also on the ceilings) with fine woods. So The Lord says to His people these timeless words that need to be spoken to us today. Consider your ways. This command is issued five times throughout the course of this prophecy (Compare verses in Haggai 1:5, 1:7; 2:15, and 2:18 (twice)). It is a plea on the part of God for the people to take note of what they are doing, compare it with what they should be doing, and amend their ways accordingly.A “street way” of saying consider your ways is literally “put your heart on your roads.” Haggai asks God's people to consider the priorities in their lives. It has been said that Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. Their actions, which were driven by their desires, prompted the exhortation consider your ways. The people made their excuses sound spiritual. They couldn't speak against the idea or importance of building the temple, so they spoke against its timing. “It isn't God's timing to rebuild the temple.” The Lord Jesus best put the phrase consider your ways like this in regards to any excuses that we may come up with to put anything or anybody before Him and His call to Follow Him: Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”Beloved, whenever a Christian makes the decision to prioritize their life around sowing and eating and drinking and clothing yourselves and earning wages instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God, their entire Christian life will be one of constant frustration and emptiness inside. The problem with the people of God in Haggai's day and the problem with so many of God's people today is simple: Distorted priorities often times lead to an indifference to the things of God and the glory of God. The temple of the Old Testament existed for the glory of God. And the Church today exists for the glory of God. One author wrote: A kingdom man is a man who visibly demonstrates the comprehensive rule of God underneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of his life, both publicly and privately.As we near the end of another year and consider what lies ahead in 2025, the words of Haggai ring loud and clear. To consider our ways, we must purpose in our hearts to set spiritual goals that are in alignment with the Word of God and the purposes and the exercise of the gifts and call of God on our lives both individually and as a local fellowship. SELAH
Every story that finds a resonance in culture, happens so because it contains an echo of the gospel. There is really only one story that mankind is able to rejoice in, and that is the story of the gospel. We repackage it, reshape it, change a few details, but the main redemptive plot always remains. God designed us to respond and leap for joy at the good news of the gospel so when we see its common thread in any story (whether it be Harry Potter or Crazy Rich Asians), we rejoice.One of those resonant stories was prominent during the 1300's-1500's in England. It was the “King-in-disguise” motif. All throughout these centuries, this fictional motif worked its way through thousands of stories in England, Scotland, and surrounding kingdoms. The basic plot went like this: King goes incognito amongst the commoners. A humble and good man helps this incognito king. Then the king rewards the humble man.Now, we could simply write this popularity off as a coincidence. That someone came up with this plot, it somehow got circulated, then more and more people started to employ its concept. But something else was taking place - this story was finding a resonance in society because it is an echo of the gospel story. The aspect of this storyline that we find so attractive is that of someone with great power, becoming lowly. The thought of someone using their authority to lift the humble, is an idea that sends our hearts soaring with a “Yes and Amen!” How we long for those who dwell in the “high places” in our government to do the same - to genuinely care for the lowly. To take a minute and learn what it is like to flip burgers at a McDonalds… of course, without the gimmicks. How we long for genuine lowly leadership to occupy the highest offices in our land. And that is exactly the type of God we serve. He is “high and holy”, yet he decides to make His home with the “lowly and contrite”.
The prophet Ezekiel said in Ezekiel 18:23, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” The prophet Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:33, “For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men”. The apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. Lastly, but of course not least, the Lord Jesus said weeping in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”In our study today, some people will call God a monster when they read verse 8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. They cry, how can a God of love, a good God send people to hell? The answer: He doesn't.Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”. Hell was prepared for the devil and His angels. So why does man go there? They make a choice. They reject the gospel because they love darkness rather than light.As image bearers of God, mankind possesses the gift of choice. They can choose to heed or ignore the gospel call of God unto salvation (Romans 10:13-16). Moses and Joshua exhorted the Israelites to make a choice (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). Read Proverbs 1:24-29.From the time that God sought out Adam in the Garden of Eden, to the time of the end of the ages, God is crying out to man. (Genesis 3:9; Revelation 22:17). The great commission of the church is that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”(Luke 24:47).Revelation 21:8 is not saying that “bad people” go to hell and “good people” go to heaven. We are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. We are made new creatures and begin to walk in newness of life. We become holy as He is holy. Listen to how Paul describes the life that is changed by faith in Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”. Verses 9&10 are bad news (BC). Verse 10 is good news (AD).Which verses describe your life today my friend? SELAH
Holiness at once breeds in our hearts a deep attractiveness and a trembling horror. We find in it something that our souls crave, and yet something that we inherently know we will never have of our own accord. That perfection and purity is something we desire acutely, and yet are certain of its im-possess-ability. Like an injured Olympian, who watches on as another competitor runs and wins the gold medal in his absence, we encounter God's holiness and find that we cannot look away, and yet cannot look at it square in the face either. And how the angels produce this same effect on those faithful, simple God-fearing Jews who were shepherding their flock. Every time one of those angelic beings dwelling in the light of the creator would descend to dirty earth, their very presence, though helpful and desiring to bless, would innately inspire fear. Such fear was inescapable, even to the most devout. It was to Mary that the archangel said, “Do not be afraid…” Yes, even Mary - she who was “blessed among women” was stricken with fear at the very presence of the angel. This great holy revelation, before serving as a source of eternal comfort, inflicts our soul with trouble. Before God's perfection can be a balm, it must first be a bitter herb. Before it can cure, it must first cut. Is that not the state that we find all the great angels responding to? That their very presence had stricken horror in the hearts of those they were sent to minister to. And that horror had to first be addressed before any healing could be administered. “Fear not” were those ever comforting words, striking down what was natural. Yes, I do say “natural”. To fear the presence of God's holiness is the first and most natural response. It was the response of many faithful men and women all throughout the Scriptures. The closer one was to God, the more acutely aware they were of the gaping disparity between their own composition and God's. The more they felt that God's ‘otherness' was an unapproachable good - something they deeply desired, yet were certain of its ‘un-attain-ability'. But on that great Christmas day, the angel found new strength to exhort the fearful to take courage. Not because they had found favor with God on their own, or because their prayer had been heard, but because God, in His sovereignty, had decided to bring good news to men.
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