Category: New Testament

The Last Days Will Be Terrible

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Scripture Commentary: Paul’s reference to the “last days” reveals his sense of urgency.

The last days began after Jesus’ resurrection when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost. And the last days will end when Jesus returns.

Paul gives us a descriptive list of behavior of the last days. Check the list! It describes our society and unfortunately, the behavior of many Christians.

Don’t give in to society’s pressures.

Don’t settle for comfort without commitment. Sin has consequences, and no one will get away with it. Don’t be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live.

We have to remove ourselves from temptation. This can be the most courageous action we can take when the devil tries us. When we do this, those who oppose us will be more willing to hear what we have to say. Perhaps they will turn from their error.

Stand up against evil by living as God would have His people live.

Seek to find God’s truth and will for your life. God is the only one we need to please.

Read the Entire Chapter:

2 Timothy Chapter 3

You Are God’s Temple

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Scripture Commentary:

You are God’s temple. He made you in His image but some have forgotten this. You may think that you’re all that, and that you don’t need anyone, not even God.

The Spirit of God is in all of us – both in the good and in the bad.

But if you don’t open your heart and soul so God can come in and save you, you’re lost. The foundation is in you because Christ died so you can be saved.

The foundation was laid when you were born. How you build it is up to each of you. Build your foundation on Christ, not on another person or principle.

You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Care for, love, and cherish what God has given you. If you defile yourself, you defile God.

Non-believers are victim’s of life, swept along by its current. They wonder if there is meaning to live. The believer understands life’s true purpose. Love others as God loves you. After all, God gave His only Son for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:

1 Corinthians Chapter 3

Live in the Spirit of Christ

Scripture: Romans 8:6-9

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

Scripture Commentary: Ask yourself these questions …

Do you truly have the Spirit of Christ in you? Do you study the Word, live a Christ-like life, help others? These are questions that only you can answer.

It can be hard to live in this world and not be affected by what you see, hear and do everyday. You are in one of two categories – those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful natures, or those who follow after Christ.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

All of us would be in the first category if Jesus Christ hadn’t offered us hope. Being a Christian means that you have the Spirit of Christ living in you. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and have acknowledged Him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life. You are a Christian.

If this has happened to you, then you are working for Our Lord already. If this is not the case, pray and ask Him to forgive you your sins and see the Holy Spirit work in you. When the Holy Spirit is working in you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

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Romans Chapter 8

God Has Freely Given Us His Love

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 10-12

… these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Scripture Commentary:

God has freely given us His love and a chance to choose. We can choose the things of this world (money, cars, lust of the flesh) or we can choose to serve God.

We need the things of the world to live but we do not need to let anything of this world rule us. God gives us what we need. We are to labor for our needs, but more importantly, we are to labor for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Where would we be if not for His grace and mercy?

God gave His son for us. What have we given to Him? God’s Holy Spirit lives in us but we have to accept, repent and ask God for forgiveness so that it can be awakened.

Non-Christians cannot understand God, and they cannot grasp the concept that God’s Spirit lives in those who believe. To have an intimate relationship with Jesus is to spend time with Him.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 2

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Me

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 9


but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 

Scripture Commentary: A prayer for grace…

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your son, Jesus Christ. You sent Him to save us, to show us the way to you. Your grace is sufficient in whatever burden we have.

We humble ourselves before you. And we ask that you touch our sick, our lost. Take the yoke off for your strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Please bless our shepherd (Pastor) and his wife. Protect them. Walk with him, talk to and guide him. Keep him on your path and strengthen him for the journey of guiding your flock.

Thank you for sending this Pastor, your servant to us. In our weakness we see your love, grace, and mercy.

In the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you.

Amen

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2 Corinthians Chapter 12

Jesus Was Raised from the Dead for You

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2: 8-13

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Scripture Commentary: Beloved, remain faithful! Jesus was raised from the dead for you!

In Timothy’s day, many asserted that Christ was divine but not human; God, but not man. After all, He was raised from the dead.

The truth that Jesus is one person with two united natures has never been easy to understand. But people believe.

God promises that someday we will live eternally with Him.

What does this mean? It means believers will live in Christ’s kingdom, and will share in the administration of that kingdom.

Are you facing hardships? Don’t turn away from God. He promises you a wonderful future with Him. Jesus is faithful. He will stay by your side even when you have endured so much that you seem to have no faith left.

Jesus Christ loves us all!

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2 Timothy Chapter 2

God’s People Are the Salt of the Earth

Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-14

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Scripture Commentary: Salt brings out the flavor.

When you cook a roast, you season it with salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Either that or you put it in the oven with no seasoning at all.

Now you pick which roast you’d rather eat. I’m sure you’ll choose the one that has a flavorful taste.

In reading The Word we learn how to live, how to help others, and how much God loves us. If we, as Jesus’ followers, don’t know the way, how can we lead? When Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, we are of little value to God.

We are worthless if we are too much like the world.

Don’t blend in with everyone else. We are to be Christ-like in our living. Be a light that shows the way to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We hide our light when we are quiet when we should speak, when we go along with the crowd, letting sin dim our light, and by ignoring the needs of others.

Study God’s Word so you can be seasoned and bring light into the world for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Matthew Chapter 5

Live By and Keep Step with the Spirit

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-18, 25


So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(16-18) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.(25)

Scripture Commentary:

How dare we think we can live as judge over another human being! How can we be Christians and love one another, then talk about people?

When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults.

Remove the beam from your own eye …

When you begin to feel critical of someone, look at yourself and make a list of the things you need to work on … then make a list of that other person’s positive qualities. Then let the Holy Spirit that is in you lead you. Jesus’ words will then be in your mind and the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and His power will help you control your selfish desires.

Do not rely on your own wisdom. You will make wrong choices. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings.

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Galatians Chapter 5

What Was Going to Happen to Jesus?

Scripture: Mark 10: 32-33

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus had told the disciples what was going to happen to him. Jesus’ death and resurrection should have come as no surprise to the disciples. He clearly explained to them what would happen to Him. Unfortunately, they didn’t really hear what he was saying.

Jesus said He was the Messiah, but they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king. He spoke to them of resurrection, but they heard only His words about death. As Jesus often spoke in parables, the disciples may have thought His words on death and resurrection were another parable that they were not astute enough to understand.

There are no accidents in God’s plan.

The gospels include Jesus’ predictions of His death and resurrection to show that these events were God’s plan from the beginning.

The disciples may have been confused about what Jesus was telling them. Are you confused about what Jesus is telling you?

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Mark Chapter 10

Will You Go On Sinning?

Scripture: Romans 6: 1-2, 23

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (1-2) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (23)  

Scripture Commentary:

The question put to you in Romans 6 is are you a sinner who will stop sinning or will you go on sinning? We are born into Adam’s physical family and as such, we reaped the results of Adam’s sin. We have inherited his guilt, a sinful nature, and God’s punishment.

Baptism symbolizes our rebirth in Jesus Christ.

We can trade this punishment for forgiveness by being born again in Jesus Christ. Through baptism you bury your old self. When you come out of the water, you are new. If we think of our old sinful life as dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin.

We can enjoy our new life in Christ because we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. Our evil desires, our bondage to sin, and our love of sin died with Him. Now, united by faith with Him in His resurrection life, we have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin’s hold on us.

The power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross.

Jesus saved you because of his mercy. Accept His gift with thanksgiving.

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Romans Chapter 6