II Timothy 3, Tolerance

 

II Timothy 3, Tolerance

There is a time for tolerance; there is also a time for intolerance. Being tolerant can be a positive characteristic when dealing with people’s idiosyncrasies or weaknesses. Tolerance is also positive when it frees someone from prejudice toward a person’s race or culture. But believer’s must not be tolerant of anyone who claims to teach the faith while living opposed to it. “Having a form of godliness but denying it’s power.” “From such people we are to turn away.” Exclaims Paul, for they cause great danger in weak believers. That’s the kind of tolerance we don’t need.

I recently read a poll on what Christians believe. The percentage of those who believed that the Bible was true and factual was very low. Some believed that the Bible was full of myths and fairy tales. Some believed that only parts of the Bible were true, other parts were not to be taken literally. Some believe that only the New Testament is relevant for today. Those who do not believe that the Bible is true, cannot believe the verse that says the Bible 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Bible stands alone in all truth and accuracy. When we believe that, then we will be complete and equipped for every good work. We need to pray for those who claim to teach the faith while living opposed to it. In other words, we should always practice what we preach and stay away from those who don’t.

Timothy had been learning the Holy scriptures from childhood. Christian parents have the God-given responsibility to raise their children to know and love God and His word. Young children can learn the great truths and stories found in the Bible that show God’s love and power. Teaching given to children will be embedded in their minds, giving them a strong foundation on which to build. That training can make them “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

 

II Timothy 2, God's Grace

 

II Timothy 2 God’s Grace

God worked through the many teachers in the early church, protecting His message so that it did not get changed as it was passed from person to person, from one generation to the next. The early believers had no written New Testament, but they depended on the spoken gospel message as it was taught to them by others. The process is called mentoring, and through it God’s message is taught to people who in turn will teach others. Although Paul was nearing the end of this earthly life, his ministry would continue because he mentored Timothy. Eventually Timothy would die too, so he would need to commit the message to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” In that way, the message would move across the world and across the centuries. We are believers today because faithful people have been teaching others, so the message continues. God has given us that responsibility.

Paul warned Timothy that false teachers would attempt to distort the gospel message. The best weapon against false teaching is the truth of God’s word, in the hands of diligent workers who have no need to be ashamed of it or their handling of it. Believers who are “rightly dividing the word of truth” know God’s Word have not changed from Timothy’s Day to today. We ought to diligently study the Bible so that we can know and share its truths with others correctly.

Paul explained that believers have a responsibility to be pure. No matter what a person’s past, God will forgive. Once someone believes, the Holy Spirit enters their life to help them deal with the continual temptations of the sinful nature. Some situations are more tempting for a person than others are, and in such cases the believer’s best resource may simply be to flee. The “youthful lusts” here are not just sexual desires, although these are included. The area of temptation that causes us the most difficulty may be the one from which we must simply run. God is not dishonored when we flee temptation. He is dishonored when we give in.

Paul taught Timothy how to deal with those who oppose the church. The same goes for parents who are dealing with “opposing children. Timothy was not to give up on them, and parents should not give up on their contrary children, because they don’t know “if God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. We must entrust our rebellious children to God.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

II Timothy 1, Paul's Last Letter to Timothy

 

II Timothy 1 Paul’s Last letter to Timothy

While writing this letter Paul was awaiting execution in a Roman prison. Paul encourages Timothy to live a life marked by faithful service, even in the face of suffering and persecution. He commends Timothy’s mother and grandmother in their faithful training. When Paul met them they lived in Lystra and he converted the whole family. Timothy’s father was a Greek, not a Jew. It was unusual for a Jewish woman to marry outside her faith, but Eunice had done so. She held fast to her Jewish faith and taught Timothy her beliefs. There is no record that his father objected to this so we can assume he was content with Eunice and Lois’ teaching. Through their teaching and Paul’s instruction, God had fashioned a young man who would serve the great apostle in many ways, eventually leading his own church.

Paul tells Timothy not to worry. He said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” Worry can be a natural first reaction to an uncertain situation, but to persist in worry reveals a lack of trust that God is in charge. God gives us “Power”. Power helps us have strength of character and confidence in any situation. Love helps us graciously deal with difficult people. A sound mind helps us remain self-controlled and self-disciplined no matter what happens. We can set aside worry and replace it with these gift from God.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

I Timothy 6, Root of all Evil.

 

I Timothy 6- Root of all Evil.

The Bible doesn’t say that money is the root of all evil. Everybody needs money, no one can live without it. Money buys food and pays the bills. Financial donations help ministries support missionaries all over the world. Church offerings help pay the preacher. Money can do good things for God’s kingdom.

The root of all evil is the love of money. People who love money simply desire to be rich more than anything else. Too often, as the Bible says, this leads them into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts. Those who love money never have enough, and they do any number of foolish, illegal, or risky things in order to obtain more. They are never satisfied.

How do believers stay away from the love of money? Godliness with contentment is the answer. When we are content with what we have, we can give the extra back to Him.

Paul described Timothy as a man of God, certainly a fitting title for all men who seek to serve the Lord. In contrast to some who have strayed from the faith, God’s men are to flee from the love of money, and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. This is not an exhaustive list of all the characteristics of a godly man, but it certainly is a good start. Men who seek to live this way in all areas of their life, work, family, church, relationships, will find true fulfillment and success.

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

I Timothy 5, Taking Care of Business.

 

I Timothy 5, Taking Care of Business

 

To neglect one’s basic responsibility of care and support of the family is the same as denying the faith. No one can claim love for and allegiance to God while neglecting to provide for their family. Paul called such an irresponsible person “worse than an unbeliever,” for even unbelievers understand family responsibility. God gives us our families and they are our first responsibility. We show our love for God through how we treat our family. We can thank God for the work He provides whereby we can take care of those who depend on us.

The truth taught is that people with too much time on their hands often get into trouble. Without enough work to occupy their time, such people can become gossips and busybodies, visiting from house to house, “saying things which they ought not.” That describes gossip, saying things that shouldn’t be repeated. We should be careful about what we say, seeking to make sure that our words are truthful, loving, and edifying.

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

I Timothy 4, The Great Apostasy

 

I Timothy 4 The Great Apostasy

Paul speaks out to Timothy about False teachers. They abound today just as they did on Paul’s day. They may teach that God is in nature, or that God is found within oneself. Others may teach that God wants people to be rich or that He will not judge anyone. But any teaching that is contrary to God’s Word is a lie. When people follow these teaching, they are “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”, Believers must be on guard against false teaching, and we need to check every teaching against the truth in God’s Word.

Anyone who has begun a new exercise program realizes self-control is needed, as well as the constant temptation to give up. It takes great discipline to keep striving to see results. The same is true for spiritual training. Believers need to “exercise” themselves toward “godliness”. It doesn’t happen overnight; godliness is a process of discipline and self-control, with some days being easier than others. Every day brings temptations and difficulties, and believers must discipline themselves to stay on track with God.

Believers have a great future promised by God. They train themselves toward godliness to be saved but because they are saved and want to be ready for eternity with Christ, they are willing to work hard, deny themselves certain activities, and face reproach from an unbelieving world because they trust in the living God. Their trust is in the One who died and rose again, not in philosophy, a set of rules, personal achievement, or a standard of behavior. That trust in the living God is their anchor, their hope, their certain future. When we place our trust in God, we have nothing to fear.

Timothy had experienced many changes in his young life. When he received this letter from Paul, he was already the preacher of a large church that Paul had started in Ephesus. Timothy was born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father and had received his training from his mother and Grandmother. Timothy seemed to be somewhat a leader but with Paul behind him and encouraging him, he grew into a strong leader. Many of his missions were taken in Paul’s place while Paul was in prison. As with Timothy, we grow, we develop, we mature. Some of us go through many changes before becoming Christians. Others come to the Lord at a young age and experience changes with God. Hopefully, the changes that come into our life will help us grow and mature as Timothy did. When we are open to God’s will, we never know what surprises He may have for us.

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

I Timothy 3, Qualifications of Church Leadership

 

I Timothy 3 Qualifications of Church Leadership

This chapter centers around being a good Elder and Deacon but most of all being God’s child. An Elder must not be new but well studied. He must be blameless in the home and outside the home. Must have the reputation of ruling his house well with patience and loving kindness and must have a good reputation outside of the home in the community in which he lives.

Deacons follow the same standards as the Elder only they must first be tested and found blameless. They must answer to “what is their motive?” Is it for prestige or for service to the Lord. What is their goal? Is it to serve self or the Lord?

“God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles.” This affirms both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. He is human, have been “manifested in the flesh,” and He is divine. Having been “received up in glory.” This is the great mystery of godliness. We become godly not by trying to be good enough, but by depending on Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect human life, then He rose again to make it possible for us to one day be with Him. We can please God by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ. We live for Him by being His own.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

I Timothy 1 & 2, Leadership and Prayer

 

I Timothy 1 Leadership

Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, his young missionary helper, to strengthen him in his leadership role in Ephesus. The first letter was written by Paul from Macedonia around A.D. 62. This letter discusses a wide range of important issues: What to do about false teachers, guidelines for public worship, character requirements for leaders, healthy relationships within the church and proper motives for leading. Paul and Timothy had a long term relationship and often ministered together. Paul’s letter is a personal letter written as from father to son.

Here are some legal notes that Paul discusses with Timothy:

Laws give people direction for living, but following laws can never save anyone. The law offers a standard of behavior, it shows how far people fall short of God’s perfection, and it demonstrates how much we need His grace and forgiveness. But if people try to live right and keep laws in order to be good enough for God, they will slip into the trap of legalism. That will harm them, for they can never keep the law perfectly. Christ has set us free from the law so that we can obey Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I Timothy 2 – Power Packed Prayer

We have only one way to get to heaven to see God and that is through Jesus Christ. If we don’t seek out Jesus it will be a very hard way to live.

Paul said that he desires that all men pray, lifting up Holy hands. Hands dedicated to God’s service. Paul says to pray without wrath, meaning no anger in your heart, no bitterness and with all our sins confessed and without doubting. Anger and doubt can make prayer difficult. Anger can be so devisive that Jesus warned people to make peace before coming to prayer. (matt. 5:23,24). Doubt can make prayer less powerful, because we cannot pray confidently if we are unsure whether God hears, cares or will answer. Prayer offered in total dependence and trust toward God is packed with power. We should come to God without doubting His commitment to being there for us when we need Him.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

II Thessalonians 3 Weakness

 

II Thessalonians 3, Weakness

Believers are engaged in a spiritual battle. As part of God’s army, we have God as our commander and satan is avowed our enemy. The battle rages in the spiritual realm and constantly affects the earthly realm, where believers have great victories but also face difficult trials, temptations, and persecutions. At times the difficulties become so intense that we feel weak and vulnerable. At those times, we need to remember Paul’s advice: “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” God’s Word and work will never fail. When we feel weak, we must remember God’s faithfulness.

Paul goes on to say that some of the Thessalonian believers had stopped working. It seems they were relying on the generosity of their fellow believers, supposedly for the sake of being spiritual and waiting for the second coming of Christ- or maybe they were just being lazy. Whatever it was, Paul had harsh words for such an outlook.

Work is good for us. Upon placing Adam in the Garden of Eden, God gave him the work of caring for it. God provides work for people to provide for their families. To refuse to work when one has the ability and opportunity is wrong and the church should not support such people.

When we see our work as God-given, we have a whole new perspective. It is not a necessary evil that takes time away from “spiritual” things, but a gift from God through which we are to grow spiritually and minister to others. God needs people in all walks of life in order to reach those who have not heard the Good News of Salvation,

 

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

II Thessalonians 2. A Direct Lin to God.

 

II Thessalonians 2 A Direct Line to God.

Evidently there are people in this world that think they have a direct line to God. Someone in Paul’s time must have written a letter or spread the word that the Day of the Lord has already come. Paul directly tells them that the Day of Christ is not at hand. It is easy to understand why the Thessalonians would believe that because Christians were being persecuted daily. They thought they were in the Great Tribulation so they believed the day of the Lord has come.

The Day of the Lord is a phrase that begins with the Great Tribulation throughout the Milennium. It is the day of judgment. In Acts 2:20 Peter says the sun shall turn into darkness and the moon into blood before the Lord has come. That has not happened yet. Jesus will come as a thief in the night, the heavens will pass away with a great noise and all the elements in heaven and on earth shall melt away with a fervant heat. That has not happened. Two other things has to happen before the Day of the Lord. First, there must be a falling away. The organized church will depart from the faith and the rapture has taken place and the true church will be removed from the earth and taken up with Jesus. Second, the man of sin will be revealed. Once he is revealed the Great Tribulation has already begun. John calls him the antichrist. He will be the one to put the Roman Empire back together. He will become a world dictator. He will decieve the world. He will claim to be God and many will believe him.

One day a “lawless one” will arise and, empowered by Satan will deceive many people. Those who “did not receive the love of the truth” and who “believe the lie” will be lost forever. Satan always seeks to deceive, but a ton of truth with an ounce of a lie is still a lie. Many false religions flirt at the edges of the truth and sound good. But any religion that teaches salvation by any other way than through Jesus Christ is a deception. We must hold tight to the truth so as not to be deceived.

God has chosen us for salvation. He called us by the gospel and sanctified us in the spirit and for our belief of the truth. Because we believe, we study the Word of God. This is the work of God who saves us. He comforts our hearts and established us in every good word and work.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

II Thessalonians 1, God's Final Judgment and Glory

 

II Thessalonians 1 God’s Final Judgment and Glory

During Paul’s time, certain false teachers had infiltrated the young Thessalonian church. They played on people’s hopes and fears, creating a climate of wild speculation. Complicating matters was the increase of persecuting Christians. Paul wrote this second letter to urge his brothers and sisters in the faith to avoid fanatical and anxious speculation about the events related to Christ’s return. For the unbeliever, the future holds terrible judgment. But Christians do not have to fear the end because God has all things under His perfect control. The patience and faith of these Christians were unshaken as they were enduring a great deal of trouble, persecutions and afflictions.

In I Peter 4:16 it says, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him Glorify God on this behalf.” There is a difference between being disciplined to learn patience and the punishment of the wicked. God disciplines His children for their developmen, for their growth, that they might have patience and a hope for the future. Our suffering has nothing to do with salvation, but it sure prepares us for our eternal state. Whatever God does is absolutely right. He can do no wrong. Sometimes we complain about the things that happen to us because we do not understand God’s ways. But God has a very dfinite purpose for all that He does. And God is righteous in sending the Great tribulation. It is a judgment of sinners. He has a purpose for our lives on earth, and He wants us to fulfill that purpose. The coming of Christ to the earth in judgment will justify the believers who have pur their trust in Him, and it will glorify the Savior.

The Bible never encourages the people of God to sit around aimlessly waiting for the end of the world. On the contrary, the scriptures urges us to be about our Master’s business until He returns. The key to a successful Christian life and a healthy soul is to do what we have been called to do, and to leave our future (and the world’s) in the good hands of our wise and mighty Father in heaven.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

I Thessalonians 5, Jesus Comes as a Thief in the Night.

 

I Thessalonians 5- Jesus Comes as a Thief in the Night.

The Lord Jesus doesn’t come to church like a thief in the night. The church is looking and waiting for the Lord to come. The Lord Jesus does come like a thief in the night to the world after the church has been raptured. He will come suddenly. He will gather His children, and then when all people think they are in a place of peace and safety, it will become a day of wrath as it states in Isaiah 13:9 “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” The world will be surprised.

Jesus said in John 14:2-3 “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

We are not in darkness; we are all children of light. Believers won’t be overtaken by a thief. Why, because we won’t be here. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout and take His own out of the world. We are looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of Jesus.

Paul admonishes the Christians at Thessalonica to not be caught sleeping. He said to watch and stay sober. It could mean not imbibing on alcoholic beverages. It could also mean not to get drunk on power or making money or on the pleasures of this world. We must be sober because Jesus is coming. Whatever we are doing, we should ask ourselves if we want to be caught doing this if Jesus were to come. We as Christians are soldiers for Christ and we have a duty to Him. That is to put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. We don’t know what we shall be when Jesus appears but in I John 3:2 it says that “when Jesus appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” God did not appoint us for wrath, so we won’t be going through the tribulation. It is a time of judgment and Christ bore our judgment on the cross. It is because of the Grace of God that we will obtain salvation.

 

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Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

I Thessalonians 4, The Comfort of Christ's Coming

 

I Thessalonians 4, The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

 

The Thessalonian believers wondered wat was happening to their fellow believers who had died. They had been taught that Christ would come again, but they wondered if those who had died would miss out. Paul comforted the church, answering their question by explaining that believers do not need to “sorrow as others who have no hope.” Believers have the ultimate assurance. We believe that Jesus died, rose again, ascended, and is coming again; and we also believe that He will bring with Him those who have died. One day, all believers will be reunited in the grandest reunion ever!

Eternal life with God is an absolute certainty for believers. These words should be taken literally. Christ will return, and “the dead in Christ will rise” from their graves. Believers who are alive at that time will be drawn up with them into heaven and “thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

There is much debated about the timing or order of various events surrounding the Second Coming, but several truths are undeniable:

Eternal life begins the moment a person accepts Christ as Savior and is baptized. If the believer must experience death before Christ returns, that is merely the way to heaven.

Believers who have died will experience a bodily resurrection, living believers will be changed, and all will receive new, glorified bodies that will never get sick or die.

Christ will return to defeat evil and death forever.

Believers will live forever in heaven with Christ.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

I Thessalonians 3, Compassion

 

I Thessalonians 3, Compassion

Paul was so concerned for this young congregation that he sent Timothy to check out the situation, and to establish and encourage the believers in the faith.  The church was being persecuted, and Paul wanted to make sure that they would hold on to the truth. When Christians are facing difficulties because of their faith, other believers should hold them up in prayer, offering words of compassion and encouragement as they seek to follow God. Paul loved this church. It is not affection or just a nice, comfortable, warm feeling around your heart. Love seeks the welfare of another. That is the way love is expressed for anyone.

Paul called Timothy his brother, a minister of God. His service was the gospel of Christ. His sole mission was to bring the church into a right relationship with God. People today need the same thing. They need to be established in the faith and brought into a close relationship with God. We need to encourage one another.

Paul tells the Thessalonians in his letter that they will have troubles, but they will be temporary, they cannot escape them. He encourages them to stand for the Lord amid their troubles. This same thought is in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, in that you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Just because we are believers does not mean we will escape troubles. There is no insurance policy that covers that. We will go through the storms but remember that God will go through them with us, and we will come out of the storm a better person in a better place. If you are experiencing troubles, whether it be with your health, your family, your friends. If the pressures and tensions of life are on you, then that is a sign that you are a child of God. This is the way that God teaches us to rely on Him. To bring us closer to Him. Another purpose is to test the genuineness of our faith. If we can withstand trouble with faith in God we will survive the test and enjoy life. We cannot lose as Christians. Even if we have trouble, it is going to work out for our good, we can be sure of that. Being a Christian is a wonderful thing!

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

 

I Thessalonians 2, The Coming of Christ.

 

I Thessalonians 2 The Coming of Christ.

The Coming of Christ, the world has called the rapture. Some believe Jesus is coming before the rapture. Some believe He is coming after the rapture. Some during. No matter what you believe you should consider the effect is has on you. It should be the motivating factor on how you live your life.

In vain means empty, without results. Paul’s work in Thessalonica was not in vain. He rocked the world of many people and brought them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Paul was a bold speaker for Christ. His greatest sermon was not in his writing or in his speaking but in his walk for Christ. Our greatest sermon we preach should be in how we live.

Paul’s relationship to the Thessalonians was like a mother who comforted them, like a father who charged them and a brother who challenged them. He never watered down the gospel. He didn’t change it to suit different groups. It was the same for everyone. He had no ulterior motives. He didn’t come for money or to be served. He came to preach the word and build them up in faith. He wasn’t a man-pleaser, nor did he seek popularity. He only preached to please God.

Paul loved the Thessalonians and held them close to him. He labored over them night and day because he loved them. He dedicated his life to holiness in the presence of God. People criticized him but none of the criticism stuck. There will always be someone to say ugly things about you, but the important thing is to make sure the criticisms are not true.

When it said the he exhorted, comforted and charged them he meant he convinced them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He persuaded them to receive the gospel and he disciplined them. He presented the Word of God as the Word of God and the Thessalonians received it as the Word of God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

I Thessalonians 1, Faith, Love, and Hope

 

I Thessalonians 1 Faith, Love, and Hope

During Paul’s second missionary journey, he became anxious for news about the young congregation begun months earlier in Thessalonica. He sent Timothy to investigate, and was greatly encouraged by what he heard. The Thessalonians, recently converted to Christianity, were faithfully living out the gospel! Like a proud parent, Paul took pen in hand and affirmed their progress in faith, encouraging them to continue. He also expressed tender affection  for this young, excited congregation. Not only had he given them the gospel, but he would have gladly given them his life.

These young believers were being tested by severe suffering, but their solid faith was being talked about in “every place.” That’s what the good news of Jesus Christ does, it makes astounding changes in people’s lives that could not happen any other way. For some, the changes is more noticeable than for others. But whenever Christ enters a life, He changes things. We need to let Christ work in our lives so that we can make an impact on our world.

Paul reminded them to continue their work of faith. Labor of Love and Patience of Hope.

Faith is the response of the soul of man to the Word of God. A faith that is living will manifest itself in the life that is lived. It is acting upon the Wod of God. It is believing in God.

Labor of Love- a little girl carryng a heavy baby. A passerby asked her “isn’t the baby too heavy for you?” “Oh no, she answers, he’s my brother.” Labor isn’t labor when it is a labor of love. It is wonderful to do what you love to do.

Patience of Hope. They waited for Jesus to return. It is the expectation of something better tomorrow. The blessed hope is waiting for God’s Son to return. The time we live in is a time of turmoil. My hope is in God. Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His eternal and Holy purpose.”

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

Colossians 4, Fellowship of Believers

 

Colossians 4, Fellowship of Believers

Paul is encouraging the Masters of the servants to do right by them. To treat them with respect. He reminded them that they also have a Master who is in heaven. They will someday stand before Christ someday as we all will. All God’s children will stand before Him someday. He goes on to tell them to watch and pray. What more can he do while he is in prison. We are not in prison, yet we don’t watch and pray as we ought to do. Too many times we wait until our situation presses in on us, then we pray hard and fast. We mustn’t wait until things get difficult. We should be vigilant in talking with God everyday and watching for His answers. Prayer and Thanksgiving should go hand in hand. We breathe in the prayer and exhale the thanksgiving. We should always be thankful to God because He always hears our prayers, and He will answer them. Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him. We can’t pray for him now, but we can pray for our preachers and other Christian ministers. Paul asked for open doors. He wanted to be released from prison. Every aspect of our ministry for Christ is an open door. What God opens, no one can shut. What God shuts, no one can open. Paul tells us to walk in wisdom. When opportunities arise before us, we need to pray for God to lead us. Going out on our own without God’s guidance is a foolish thing to do. We will end up stumbling about and lose our direction. Paul tells us to let our “speech be salt.” This means let our speech be covered with grace, we should be enthusiastic, not boring. We should be ready with an answer to anyone who asks. He ends the chapter by listing names of people Paul knew. They were men and women who walked down the roads, lived in Roman cities, and were under Roman rule. They were amid Paganism, but they were God’s children.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

Colossians 3, Not Earthly but Christ

 

Colossians 3, Not Earthly but Christ

As believers, we should set our focus and priorities “on things above, not on things on earth.” This does not mean people should refuse to hold a job or care for one’s family; it means that believers have a different attitude in all that they do. Because we love God and want to live for Him, we center our lives on Christ. When we set our minds on things above, we begin to see life from God’s perspective. So, we work and serve to please Christ.

Believing sets, us free from legalism, but we still must be careful to stay away from certain activities that are against God’s will for us. These verses describe some of those sinful desires that believers should “put to death.” It takes a conscious daily decision to say no to these sinful temptations and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome them.

God should always be the focus in our worship. Music can be a beautiful part of our worship. Through “Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Believers sing their praises to the Lord. The early church did not have Bibles for each worshiper, so they often would teach God’s Word through music. Today we have many styles of music. From old hymns to contemporary songs to praise choruses, music that is grounded in the truth of God’s Word honors Him.

Everything that believers say and do should be “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Their words and actions should represent Jesus Christ. In greeting each other, in our daily activities and with our family and friends.

Marriages have problems for various reasons. An attitude of love and service, each person toward the other, can go a long way toward solving many of the irritations and difficulties that can arise. Most marital problems find healing in mutual love, submission, and respect.

The purpose of parental discipline is to train children. Consistent discipline, administered with love, will help children grow into responsible adults.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

 

Colossians 2, Not Philosophy but Christ

 

Colossians 2 Not Philosophy but Christ

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He disarmed satan and all his followers. It says that Jesus made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by proving the He truly was the Son of God. We do not need to fear satan, he does not come into our life, our bodies. Satan has no power over us and cannot enter us unless we are open to allowing him in our life. All we have to say is “get behind me satan. He has no choice but to obey us. We are more powerful than satan because Christ made it so when He died on the cross. He forgave us our sins and left them in the past. He has also set His people free from legalistic rules concerning things like food and drink. In early Biblical days there were designated animals they could and could not eat. Later, God made it clear to Peter on the rooftop that what God calls clean, let no man call unclean. That is when Gentiles were accepted into God’s plan and no animal was considered unclean to eat. Yet some still will not eat pork. As far as drink is concerned it is stated that a little wine can be used for upset stomachs, but not to overindulge in wine or strong alcohol because then it becomes a sin. He has also freed us from legalistic worship styles. There is no one church building that we have to attend to become saved. It is not in the building that saves us but the determination in our heart to believe, trust and obey God. Having said this, believers should not judge others by concluding that certain preferences exclude them from being Christians. Believers hold many different opinions about living one’s faith, but we must not criticize or condemn fellow Christians whose lifestyle choices differ from ours. As long as other believers are not violating scripture, committing outright sin or teaching heresy, we need to accept them in the fellowship as members of God’s family. We have one Savior and one Lord.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

Colossians 1, Greetings to the Church

 

Colossians 1 Greetings to the Church

Mix a few distorted, human notions with the pure and simple gospel of Christ and the result, no matter how good it may seem, is a long way from the truth. Such is true with the church in Colosse. Paul wrote this letter to combat the error that conflicting truth claims can be blended into a God-honoring system. Some believers, while claiming to embrace the gospel, were adopting forms of Jewish legalism. Others were lapsing into immorality. The true gospel was polluted with various worldly philosophies that compromised the integrity of the Christian message. In today’s society, many people believe “what’s true for you may not be true for me” is reminded that being even a little off is a big deal. It is only fitting that God be first in all of life; church, friendships, marriage, family life, and employer-employee relationships.

Believers can pray for spiritual growth for themselves and for others. Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers is a model of such a prayer. We can pray for wisdom and spiritual understanding in order to know God’s will. And we can pray that we will live for God, being fruitful in His service. Then we can give thanks to God for making us “saints in the light.” When we pray this way, we are praying for spiritual maturity.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

Philippians 4 Anxious for Nothing

 

Philippians 4, Anxious for Nothing

Paul certainly had plenty of reasons to feel anxious. Sitting in a Roman prison, he didn’t know if he would be released or put to death. Writing to the believers in Phillipi, he urged them, be anxious for nothing.”

Anxiety and its companion, worry, do their best to immobilize believers. People are anxious about the future; they are anxious about events that haven’t but could happen. (That’s called anticipatory anxiety). They are anxious about their health, their physical problems. Anxiety makes people fearful and distressed.

So, what can believers do about their anxiety? Paul gives the answer, “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.” When we give our anxiety to God, He replaces it with His peace that ‘surpasses all understanding.” God’s peace is beyond comprehension because it makes no sense -circumstances seem to require anxiety, but instead we feel God’s peace. When we feel anxiety rising, we should turn to God in prayer. He will give us the peace He promised.

Remember to meditate on “whatever things are true (if you don’t know the facts, don’t worry about it, most of what we worry about is what could be but not what really is), whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

Philippians 2 & 3. Unity and Works

 

Philippians 2 Unity Through Humility

Paul stresses spiritual unity in the body of Christ. Selfish ambition and conceit bring discord, which draws people’s focus away from Christ and toward themselves and their desires. Genuine humility builds and strengthens the body of believers. Being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves, “lowliness of mind,” and looking out for the interest of others. Believers must lay aside any pride or selfishness, always treating people with respect. In that way, we will be following the example of Christ, who selflessly gave His life for us.

Philippi was a cosmopoliatn city whose church reflected great diversity of backgrounds and social status. With so many lifestyles and attitudes represented, unity must have been difficult to maintain. Paul encouraged the believers to guard against any selfishness, prejudice, or jealousy that might lead to division. This holds true as the church continues to reach out to all walks of life. We must remember not to prejudice, but rather, to welcome new believers with open minds and genuine interest, taking postivie steps toward building unity in Christ.

Philippians 3 Works Don’t Work

Paul seems to be boasting of his achievements, but actually he was explaining that his human accomplishments, no matter how impressive or extensive, could not earn salvation and eternal life with God. Paul didn’t depend on his works to please God, because even the most imrpessive resume’ falls short of God’s standards. We can’t rely on our good works to usher us into eternity. It’s so much easier than that! All we need to do is confess our sins and believe in Jesus as our personal Savior. God isn’t impressed by what we’ve done, He’s impressed by our acceptance of His grace.

Believers must constantly seek the goal of maturity in Christ. Even Paul knew that he had not attained that goal, so he pressed on to grow in Christ. A key to that growth is “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Past sins have been covered and need not hinder us, and past worldly accomplishments mean nothing. We are “heavenly citizens in training.” All that matters is walking with Christ through life, allowing Him to prepare us for His kingdom.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

Philippians 1, To Live in Christ

 

Philippians 1 To Live in Christ

How would you describe your life these days? Is it anxious, joyful, weary, bitter, busy, or distracted? Few of us would say we were joyful. Modern life is filled with “joy robbers”. All too often we lose the joy of life that God intended for us.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while he was a prisoner in Rome, awaiting trial. Despite his circumstances, Paul’s tone is joyful. His experience reminds us that joy comes from God and sends out happiness. Joy suvives our trials and is the perfect antidote to fear and anxiety. What was Paul’s secret? Maybe it was the discovery of the truth that Chist is the answer of life. Perhaps it was his embracing of the “mind of Christ” a mind of humility, a determination to serve no matter what, and a commitment to true unity among believes. Whatever the case, Paul was able to face tough challenges because he was committed to a Christ-entered life.

The process of Christian growth and maturity begins when we accept Jesus as Savior. As believers we struggle with a sin nature, and we fail at times. God helps us to grow and mature all through our lives. We won’t be perfect until we are with Christ. In the meantime, when we feel discouraged or distressed by our failure, we just need to remember that God won’t give up on us. He began a good work in us and will complete it when we meet Him face to face.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

Ephesians 5, Walk in Love

 

Ephesians 5, Walk in Love

 

When we offer and sacrifice ourselves to God it is like a sweet aroma to God. Don’t you feel good when your children take your advice and follow it? They don’t always do that, nor do we always do that with God but when they do, and we do, it is a good feeling. If we feel good about others following advice, just imagine how God feels when we follow His advice. On the other hand, Paul lists in his letter what displeases God and states that those who do those things will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of God. He goes even further and tells us not to associate with people that do these things that displease God. At one time, before we became Christian the only way we knew how to live is in our own way. When we learned what it is to be a Christian or Christ-like we no longer lived in darkness but in the light. We knew the difference between God’s way and our way. We learned how-to live-in goodness, righteousness, and truth. We learned what is acceptable to God and what is unacceptable to God. He goes on to explain that we live in an evil world, but we don’t have to be part of it. When we speak to one another the words of God and sing and make melody in our heart there is no room in us for the evil to abide. When we give thanks to God for all that He has done for us and we live in respect for Him, submitting ourselves to Him we bring back that sweet aroma that God loves so much.

Paul ends this chapter by teaching wives to be under submission to their husband and to God and husbands to love their wives as Christ loves us. So the biggest lesson here is no matter what our status in life, as Christians we should walk in Love, mostly to God but also to one another.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

Ephesians 4 Communication

 

Ephesians 4, Communication

Without communication, human beings would be isolated. God gave us language to allow us to talk, express ideas and opinions, provide information, and share feelings. Some people communicate in hurtful was, saying words that cause pain to the hearer. Believers, communicate differently. Paul wrote that Christian’s words should always be truthful and spoken in love. He added that no corrupt words should come out of believers’ mouths; instead, they should speak only “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Think about how many times a day we open our mouth to talk. What if every word first had to be passed through a sieve of truthfulness, love, and edification? Would we be left speechless? We would do well to consider what we have to say before we say it. Then we would have time to apply Paul’s test to our words.

Sometimes it is most difficult to be a Christian at home. Believers may work hard at speaking carefully in the world; but at home, they may not try so hard. While home is a place where we can be ourselves, we should still show Christ-like character. We speak to the other person, seeking his or her best interest.

The Bible doesn’t say, “Never get angry.” It says, “be angry and do not sin.” Anger is a God-given emotion. Handled well, anger can cause positive change. Poorly handled anger can cause great harm. When we are angry, we should not indulge in that anger, because that could cause us to speak or act in ways that we would later regret. Nor should we stuff our anger deep inside with people pretending that we never feel angry. That can cause a host of personal and relational problems. Stuffed anger could cause a system overload, whereby years of resentment erupt from only a spark. The healthy way to deal with anger is to deal with it quickly before the sun goes down. We do not nurse the anger giving place to the devil. Satan loves to use angry feelings to divide believers. We should seek to resolve our differences with others quickly. Then we can get on with the Lord’s work.

When we accept Christ as Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit marks God’s people as His own. Although the Holy Spirit enters our lives to help us live for God, He does not turn us into robots. We constantly battle the sin nature, and at times we fail. When we willfully continue in sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit with us and in us is a great privilege, but it brings great responsibility. We try to follow His guidance because He has sealed us to be with God forever. Far from being an excuse for sin, that privilege gives us high motivation for living for God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

Ephesians 2, 3 Nobody's Perfect

 

Ephesians 2 Nobody’s Perfect

God is perfect; people are sinful. Fortunately, God does not require people to reach a certain level of perfection before He will accept them. Otherwise, no one could ever be saved! God provided a perfect way of salvation – grace. No one is saved by his or her good works; otherwise, people might be tempted to boast about how they had earned their salvation. Instead, no one can boast; they can only accept by faith this gift of God. One day God will make us perfect; we continue to grow more and more like Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3 – Growing Up

These words describe the goal of all Christians as they seek to mature in their faith. Believers can pray to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so that they can withstand temptations and fear. They can pray for Christ to dwell in their hearts, helping them to remain “rooted and grounded in love.” Finally, they can pray “to know the love of Christ,” a love that is incomprehensible, yet able to be known by experience. When we pray for spiritual growth for ourselves and others, we can use the words of this prayer.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

Stability in Our Soul

 

Ephesians 1 – Stability in Our Soul

Remember when we were children, we wanted to hurry up and grow up. We wanted to be bigger, stronger, and faster. Maturity took time for us and couldn’t be rushed. Our spiritual growth also takes time as God works in us, conforming us to the image of God. Some of us want to rush the process. Others hold on to their immaturity and live as spiritual infants. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a manual for developing a life of substance and depth. Paul planted a church in Ephesus during his second missionary journey. About seven years later, while he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel, Paul apparently felt that the Ephesian Christians needed to be reminded of their spiritual blessings. This letter is the result of his words of the great ministry of the Christian faith. In short, the Ephesians will grow and mature in Christ. While studying this letter, if we apply it to our life, we will develop stability in our souls. Maturity comes only by grace, so understanding that grace must become our lifelong passion.

In words of lofty praise, Paul blessed God, who has blessed His people “with every spiritual blessing.” Being blessed refers to receiving something good; blessing others means desiring the best for them. Believers bless God by attributing all power and glory to Him. He is the source of every spiritual blessing; Christians could not know God or grow spiritually unless He had blessed them with that opportunity. The spiritual blessings God gives are far beyond anything humans could ask or imagine, yet He freely blesses His people. We should not cease blessing God for His great blessing toward us!

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

Galatians 6, Overtaken in Trespasses

 

Galatians 6, Overtaken in Trespasses

 

Although all believers have been born again, they still face the dilemma of the sin nature. At times, this can overwhelm a believer, causing involvement in destructive sin. So, what should other believers do for a brother or sister who is “overtaken in any trespass?”

Paul had advised that discipline may be required, but its purpose should always be to restore the believer to the fellowship. Those who seek out an erring believer must come in a “spirit of gentleness,” realizing that they also are sinners constantly in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. The fallen but repentant believer is not neglected or rejected but rather is helped, encouraged, prayed over, assisted, and warmly welcomed back into the fellowship. Restoration helps a repentant believer get back on track and continue to grow; it humbles the church to realize the reality of sin; and it reveals the grace and power of Almighty God.

Hurting people everywhere need the healing touch of God’s servants. Paul encourages believers to “not grow weary while doing good.” Continuing to do good and never seeing a harvest can be discouraging and frustrating. At times, loving words fall on deaf ears and hard work on thankless hearts. But no work for God is ever wasted: “In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” We will reap a harvest of blessings as the Holy Spirit works in our lives. We must never allow discouragement to make us grow idle. Our good works are valuable to God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.