November 18, 2018

 

Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 1: 2-5

 

Its Essence

• We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers—verse 2
• do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers— 1:16

 

Its Elements

• constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,—verse 3
• But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.—1 Cor. 13:13

 

Its Explanation

• knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you,—verse 4
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him..— 1:3-4

 

 

November 11, 2018

Duty of the Free

1 Peter 2:13-17

 

To Honor All People

• Honor all people—NASB

To Love the Brotherhood

• love the brotherhood—NASB
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.—Romans 12:10
• Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.—1 Peter 1:22

To Fear God

• Fear God—NASB
• My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.—Proverbs 24:21

To Honor the Government

• honor the king—NASB
• Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.—Romans 13:7
• Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,–1 Peter 2:13

 

The Fight of Faith

1 Timothy 6:11-12

The Real Christian Life is an Arduous Fight

• take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,—1 Timothy 6:12b

The Real Life of Faith is a Hard Fight

• You made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.—1 Timothy 6:12c

The Real Fight of Faith is a Good Fight

• Fight the good fight of faith.—1 Timothy 6:12a
• “They will be as mighty men, Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; And they will fight, for the LORD will be with them; And the riders on horses will be put to shame.—Zechariah 10:5
• The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.—Exodus 14:14

October 14, 2018

 

The Grit of Grace

 

Matthew 13:24-30

Protects the Believers

• “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.—verse 29

Preserves the Unbelievers

• “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.—verse 30

Promotes the Day of Harvest

• “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.—verse 30

 

October 7, 2018

 

The Sympathizer

Isaiah 59:14-21

 

THE CONCERNED SPECTATOR

• Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.— 14-15

THE DEFENDER OF THE OPPRESSED

• He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.— 16-17

THE CONTRITE’S REDEEMER

• According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.  “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.— 18-20

THE REWARDER OF THE FAITHFUL

• “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”— 21