As Christians, We Are All One Body, One Spirit

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 1-8

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Scripture Commentary: It is an awesome privilege to be one body and one spirit with Christ

God has chosen us to be Christ’s representative on earth. In light of this truth, Paul challenged us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received. It is an awesome privilege to be called Christ’s very own. And all who are called are one body and one spirit with Christ.

This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding and peaceful. Often differences among people can lead to division but this should not be true in the church.

No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth so we must accept and love other Christians

When we see faults in fellow believers, we should be patient and gentle rather than dwell on a person’s weakness or look for his faults. Pray both for that person and for yourself.

All believers in Christ belong to one body. All are united under one head – and that is Christ himself. Each believer has God-given abilities that can strengthen the whole body.

Your special ability may seem small or large, but it is yours to use in God’s service.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ephesians Chapter 4

You Can Overcome Temptation with God

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 12-14

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 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. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Scripture Commentary: Paul gives us guidance on how to resist temptation

If we acknowledge our human weakness and let God in our lives to guide us, we will see that the only way is His way. God can help us through any trial and temptation if we lean on Him.

Today’s pressures make it easy to ignore or forget the lessons of those who have gone before us. This is why we must study the Bible. It tells the mistakes and lessons that those who have gone ahead of us have learned. Through them, we can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul gave us strong encouragement about how to resist temptation. He tells us that by turning to God, we will make it through our trials and temptations.

We must give Jesus Christ our full allegiance.

When God is the guiding force of our principles, then everything we do is glorifying God. He has saved us, so we now can serve Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 10

Live the Rest of Your Life for God

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 1-6

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

Some people will do anything to avoid pain. As Christ’s followers, we should live the rest of our time willing and prepared to do God’s will, and suffer for it if necessary. Sin loses its power to defeat us in our suffering if we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do.

When our bodies are in pain or our lives are in jeopardy, our real values show up clearly. Sinful pleasures seem less important. If anyone suffers for doing good and still faithfully obeys in spite of suffering, that person has made a clean break with sin.

The basis of salvation is our belief in Jesus but the basis for judgement is how we have lived

Believers, however, have nothing to fear because Jesus will be the final judge of all. In the end, we will all stand before God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Peter Chapter 4

These Things I Have Spoken Unto You

Scripture: John 16: 1-4

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus tells us many things so we will be prepared

Jesus told disciples things that will come after He is gone. This message is still pertinent today. We hear news stories of people being killed because they are following Jesus Christ. As Christians, we know that there will be continuing tension with an unbelieving world.

Satan is not finished; His goal is to destroy our faith

He is going to use anybody or anything he can to battle God. Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Jesus Christ and His children. And we are His children.

Jesus warned His disciples and us of persecution, punishment and even death in His name. He knew what was to come and He did not want the disciples, or our faith, to be shaken or destroyed.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convince the world that they are living in sin, reveal the true way to live a Godly life, and demonstrate Christ’s judgement over Satan.

God is telling us that we are not alone

We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us the truth, and to help us. This is a comfort to those who are persecuted.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 16

You Will Die in Your Sins If You Reject God

Scripture: John 8: 21-30

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Scripture Commentary: Your sins separate you from God; accepting Jesus is the key to eternal life

You will die in your sins if you reject Christ. Jesus rescues you from your sins. Sadly, many people are taken up with the values of this world. They are blind to the priceless gift Christ offers.

Where are you looking? Don’t focus on this world’s values and miss what is the most valuable thing of all: eternal life with God.

Jesus is the truth that sets you free. He is the source of trust, the perfect standard of what is right. Jesus frees you from the consequences of sin and from Satan’s deception.

As you seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect trust frees you to be all that God meant for you to be.

Accept Jesus!

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 8

Lord, I Want to Follow You Now

Scripture: John 13: 36-37

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Scripture Commentary: Follow Jesus’ example and have a servant’s heart

Will you hear the Lord’s voice when He calls you? Each day that you don’t follow Him, you are denying Him. How many times has the cock crowed in your life?

We go through life not really thinking about what we are doing to either spread His word or distort it. When we are spreading His word, we are representing Him. And in doing so, we are brought to a higher level.

Jesus was the model servant showing the disciples – and us – how to behave. If God in the flesh is willing to serve, we as His followers must also be servants. We must be willing to serve in any way that glorifies God.

John 13 may be hard for leaders who don’t think of themselves as followers. But if we are to serve Jesus, we must get on our hands and knees and become servants.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 13

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

Scripture: Romans 8: 31-35

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Scripture Commentary: Jesus died so you can have everlasting life

Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, He won’t save you? Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you? If yes, then these verses are especially for you. God gave His Son for you; Jesus died for you! He isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation! If Christ gave His life for you, He isn’t going to turn around and condemn you! God will not withhold anything you need to live for Him.

Paul says that Jesus is interceding for us in heaven. God has acquitted us and has removed our sin and guilt. Therefore, it’s Satan, not God, who accuses us. And when Satan accuses us, Jesus advocates in our defense, and stands at God’s right hand to present our case.

No matter what happens to us, not matter where we are, we can never be lost to His love. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid of anything.

In Christ we are super-conquerors, and His love will protect us at all times.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

God So Loved You That He Gave His Son

Scripture: John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scripture Commentary: You are so loved by God that He wants to spend eternity with you

The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. For God so loved the world … God’s love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws us in. God loves us so much – to the point of sending His Son to pay for our sins.

What Jesus did on the cross 2017 years ago was for all of us …and for each of us today – yesterday – tomorrow! He accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us forgiveness and the opportunity to live eternally with Him.

Give yourself to Jesus and learn about eternal life

Some people are repulsed by the idea of living forever because their lives are miserable. If you give yourself to Jesus, you will learn that this life is not what He is offering.

In God’s eternal life, there is no death, sickness, emnity, evil, or sin. If you do not know Christ, you make choices as though this life is all you have. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOd, then in reality this life is just the introduction to Him and eternity.

Believing means trusting and relying on God

To believe is to put Christ in charge of your life. Believing is both trusting His Word as reliable, and relying on Him for the power to change you into what your heart and soul want to be, which is a servant to Our Lord.

Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective. If you’ve never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours. Believe!

God so loved YOU that He gave His only Son!

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3

God Didn’t Send Jesus to Condemn the World

Scripture: John 3: 17-18

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus was sent into the world to save us

God sent His son Jesus Christ into this world for our sins, to die for us to give us a direct path to God. And still there are people who reject Him.

Some people look for points of disagreement so they can sow seeds of discord and doubt. Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable. They have rejected Jesus because they think the next life is an extension of this life.

What does it mean to be born again?

John 3:3 says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When we are born again, it is not of the flesh but born again of the Spirit. We accept Jesus as the Only Begotten Son of God, believing that He died and rose on the third day and went to heaven to His Father.

To believe is to put your trust and confidence in Jesus. If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life and believe in Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3

The Bible Helps You Enter God’s House

Scripture: Mark 13: 34-37

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Scripture Commentary: The keys to God’s house are His Words, The Bible.

Jesus has left us with the keys to His Father’s House. The keys are His Words, The Bible. His footprints are on the ground, in the sand and on the floor.

Our role is to be the porters, the gatekeepers, Christ’s servants. Are you a servant for God? Or are you a self-serving person?

The gatekeeper or doorman is the one who is spreading God’s Gospel. It’s the person who is trying his/her best to live a Godly life.

Prepare for Jesus’ return

We don’t know, as God’s servants, when the Master will return. We plan for events in our lives such as births, weddings, home purchases, and car purchases.

But are we preparing for Jesus? Our Lord has gone to prepare our rooms. What are you doing to prepare for the journey?

When God has given us another second, minute, hour, day, we are to give thanks and go about spreading His Gospel to as many people as possible.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 13