Scripture
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:11 KJV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11 NIV)
Observation
Follow- to go in pursuit of: to follow a person. To pursue
1. Righteousness- characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
2.Godliness- to live a Godly life.
conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious.
3.Faith- confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
4. Love- a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
5. Patience, endurance, perseverance, steadfastness,
Perseverance- steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Endurance- the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: He has amazing physical endurance.
Patience- the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
Steadfastness- fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.
firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.
unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.
firmly fixed in place or position.
6. Gentleness, meekness
Gentleness- kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.
not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.
Meekness- humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.
Application
I am to pursue a morally just life.
I am to pursue to live a Godly life
I am to pursue confidence and trust in Jesus.
I am to pursue a profoundly tender, passionate affection for God and people
I am to pursue a persistence in difficult circumstances
I am to pursue not being rude or harsh when provoked.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, you must form this I'm me because it is beyond what I am capable of.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
The key to doing good
Scripture
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NASB)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NLT)
Observation
This is a prayer of Paul for the church:
1. He addressed both Jesus and the Father
2. He tells us what God did for us
A. Loved us
B. By his grace gave us
Eternal comfort
Wonderful good hope
3. May God Comfort you
A. Comfort- to aid; support or encourage.
4. May God Strengthen you
Strengthen- to make stronger; give strength to.
especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect:
5. In every good thing you do and say
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NASB)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 NLT)
Observation
This is a prayer of Paul for the church:
1. He addressed both Jesus and the Father
2. He tells us what God did for us
A. Loved us
B. By his grace gave us
Eternal comfort
Wonderful good hope
3. May God Comfort you
A. Comfort- to aid; support or encourage.
4. May God Strengthen you
Strengthen- to make stronger; give strength to.
especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect:
5. In every good thing you do and say
The key to doing good is being full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Application
God gives aid and support to everything I do and say.
God gives me the strength to accomplish good things.
God makes me competent, able to do and say good things.
Application
God gives aid and support to everything I do and say.
God gives me the strength to accomplish good things.
God makes me competent, able to do and say good things.
I rely on God for everything. Every good thing I do is dependent on the Holy Spirit. Every good thing I say is dependent on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the divine enabler. He empowers me to do good. He empowers me to speak. I need a daily fresh filling of His Spirit. Empowering comes through abiding. The key to doing good is being full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
I rely on you for everything. I ask that you comfort and strengthen me in every good thing I do and say.
I rely on you for everything. I ask that you comfort and strengthen me in every good thing I do and say.
Fill me afresh and anew with your Spirit today.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Do good today
Scripture
This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! (Jeremiah 22:3 NLT)
Thus says the Lord, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3 NASB)
Observation
1. Do justice
the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. Do righteousness
characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
3. Deliver those who are robbed by oppressors
This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! (Jeremiah 22:3 NLT)
Thus says the Lord, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3 NASB)
Observation
1. Do justice
the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. Do righteousness
characterized by uprightness or morality: a righteous observance of the law.
morally right or justifiable: righteous indignation.
acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous: a righteous and godly person.
3. Deliver those who are robbed by oppressors
Rescue those who are being oppressed.
4. Do not mistreat or do violence to foreigners, widows, or orphans.
4. Do not mistreat or do violence to foreigners, widows, or orphans.
Minister to the helpless and hopeless.
5. Do not shed innocent blood.
Continue the fight for life and bring an end to abortion.
Application
Leaders are to be concerned about social justice. We are to rescue the opporessed. We are to serve immigrants, orphans, and widows. We are to defend the innocent. We are to stand for righteousness.
Prayer
Father may I be a man of righteousness. May I stand for good. May I defend the innocent, rescue the oppressed, minister to immigrants, widows, and orphans. May I do good today.
Application
Leaders are to be concerned about social justice. We are to rescue the opporessed. We are to serve immigrants, orphans, and widows. We are to defend the innocent. We are to stand for righteousness.
Prayer
Father may I be a man of righteousness. May I stand for good. May I defend the innocent, rescue the oppressed, minister to immigrants, widows, and orphans. May I do good today.
Friday, October 11, 2013
What is faith?
Scripture
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 NLT)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 KJV)
Observation
1. Waiting on God is an act of faith. It shows trust.
2. Waiting only upon God demonstrates where I placed my trust. Not in people, organizations, or things but God.
3. He is my salvation and victory.
Salvation- saving from harm, risk, loss, destruction
Victory- success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.
4. I place my hope in him. I expect God to act on my behalf.
Application
I always struggled with the issue of faith. What is faith? How do I know if I have enough? How do you exhibit faith? This verse makes faith simple. Faith is choosing to trust God. It is not a feeling. It is a choice, Faith is a quiet trust, resting in him. It doesn't have to be loud or boastful. I can rest in him because I expect him to act. My trust results in rest. The opposite of faith is worry and doubt. It is choosing not to trust God. These result in restlessness. When I understand that faith is a choice, it empowers me to demonstrate my faith. I can wait quietly before God because my hope is in Him. I expect him to act on my behalf.
Prayer
I rest in you. I trust you. I wait quietly before God. I choose to put my hope in you not in myself, other people, or organizations. I believe you will act on my behalf.
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 NLT)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (Psalms 62:1, 5 KJV)
Observation
1. Waiting on God is an act of faith. It shows trust.
2. Waiting only upon God demonstrates where I placed my trust. Not in people, organizations, or things but God.
3. He is my salvation and victory.
Salvation- saving from harm, risk, loss, destruction
Victory- success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.
4. I place my hope in him. I expect God to act on my behalf.
Application
I always struggled with the issue of faith. What is faith? How do I know if I have enough? How do you exhibit faith? This verse makes faith simple. Faith is choosing to trust God. It is not a feeling. It is a choice, Faith is a quiet trust, resting in him. It doesn't have to be loud or boastful. I can rest in him because I expect him to act. My trust results in rest. The opposite of faith is worry and doubt. It is choosing not to trust God. These result in restlessness. When I understand that faith is a choice, it empowers me to demonstrate my faith. I can wait quietly before God because my hope is in Him. I expect him to act on my behalf.
Prayer
I rest in you. I trust you. I wait quietly before God. I choose to put my hope in you not in myself, other people, or organizations. I believe you will act on my behalf.
Monday, October 7, 2013
One Thing
Scripture
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:7, 8, 10, 12-14 NIV)
Observation
1. What I once considered to be valuable I now consider to be worthless. What was once worth pursuing is now a waste of time.
2. I now consider everything to be garbage, dung, and rubbish compared to knowing Christ.
3. I want to know Jesus. I want to experience the power of his resurrection. I want to participate in his suffering. I want to share in his death. I want to become like him.
4. I have not already achieved this or arrived at my goal.
But I focus on this one thing. But one thing I do.
I forget what lies behind me. I forget the past.
I strain forward to what lies ahead. I reach forth unto those things which are before me. I reach forward to what lies ahead.
I press on toward the goal. I press on to reach the end of the race. I press toward the mark for the prize.
5. To reach the prize of the upward call of God. To revive the heavenly prize. The prize of the high calling of God.
Application
My one thing is to know Christ and to become like Him. This was the one pursuit of Paul's life. He considered everything else to be a waste of his time. Power, fame, and wealth had become worthless to him. The process of knowing Christ and becoming like Him included experiencing God's power, participating in suffering, and dieing to self. Paul had laser like focus. He would not be distracted. Heaven was in his heart. The finish line was in his sight. He reached for the prize. He left everything else behind for the sake of knowing Jesus.
Prayer
May Paul's one thing become my one thing. May you create within me Paul's intensity and determination. May I not get distracted with the things of this world. May I consider everything else to be garbage and not worth my time. May I want to know Christ and become like Him.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:7, 8, 10, 12-14 NIV)
Observation
1. What I once considered to be valuable I now consider to be worthless. What was once worth pursuing is now a waste of time.
2. I now consider everything to be garbage, dung, and rubbish compared to knowing Christ.
3. I want to know Jesus. I want to experience the power of his resurrection. I want to participate in his suffering. I want to share in his death. I want to become like him.
4. I have not already achieved this or arrived at my goal.
But I focus on this one thing. But one thing I do.
I forget what lies behind me. I forget the past.
I strain forward to what lies ahead. I reach forth unto those things which are before me. I reach forward to what lies ahead.
I press on toward the goal. I press on to reach the end of the race. I press toward the mark for the prize.
5. To reach the prize of the upward call of God. To revive the heavenly prize. The prize of the high calling of God.
Application
My one thing is to know Christ and to become like Him. This was the one pursuit of Paul's life. He considered everything else to be a waste of his time. Power, fame, and wealth had become worthless to him. The process of knowing Christ and becoming like Him included experiencing God's power, participating in suffering, and dieing to self. Paul had laser like focus. He would not be distracted. Heaven was in his heart. The finish line was in his sight. He reached for the prize. He left everything else behind for the sake of knowing Jesus.
Prayer
May Paul's one thing become my one thing. May you create within me Paul's intensity and determination. May I not get distracted with the things of this world. May I consider everything else to be garbage and not worth my time. May I want to know Christ and become like Him.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Teaching your children faith
Scripture
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (Psalm 78:4-7 ESV)
Observation
1 will not hide these truths from our children.
2. We will teach the next generation (children)
3. What? The glorious deeds of The Lord
His might and wonders he has done.
4. He commanded our fathers to teach to their children.
5. So the next generation might know them.
7. Even the children yet unborn (grandchildren)
8. Why? So that they will set their hope in God and not forget his works, but keep his commandments.
Application
This passage teaches the importance of teaching our children and grandchildren about God. Parents are the primary teachers of spiritual things not the church. The role of the church is to come alongside of the parents and assist them but the parents are too pass their faith down the generations. Parents teach their children the Bible, parents teach their children about faith, and parents teach their children values.
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (Psalm 78:4-7 ESV)
Observation
1 will not hide these truths from our children.
2. We will teach the next generation (children)
3. What? The glorious deeds of The Lord
His might and wonders he has done.
4. He commanded our fathers to teach to their children.
5. So the next generation might know them.
7. Even the children yet unborn (grandchildren)
8. Why? So that they will set their hope in God and not forget his works, but keep his commandments.
Application
This passage teaches the importance of teaching our children and grandchildren about God. Parents are the primary teachers of spiritual things not the church. The role of the church is to come alongside of the parents and assist them but the parents are too pass their faith down the generations. Parents teach their children the Bible, parents teach their children about faith, and parents teach their children values.
How should a parent do that? Keep it simple. Tell them Bible stories. Tell them about the times God has answered prayer. Pass down your personal legacy of faith. Tell them about your salvation experience. Teach them through your words and your actions. Model what a Jesus person looks like. Your life will speak louder than your words. You destroy your credibility when you teach one thing for years and then act in the opposite way. It will disillusion your kids. Consistency not perfection is the key. Consistently teach and model and your faith and values will be passed down.
Prayer
Help me to be a Godly influence on my children even though I am far away. May the legacy of faith in my family be passed down to the generations that follow. May my actions match my values. May my passion for Chrsit be passed down.
Help me to be a Godly influence on my children even though I am far away. May the legacy of faith in my family be passed down to the generations that follow. May my actions match my values. May my passion for Chrsit be passed down.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Overcoming Worry
Scripture
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 NLT)do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 ESV)
Observation
1. Do not worry or be anxious about anything.
Worry- to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts. To torment with cares, anxieties, trouble, plague,
Anxious- full of mental distress or uneasiness of fear, of danger of misfortune. Greatly worried
2. But In everything prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
Tell God want you need, and thank him for all he has done. Replace worry with prayer and thanksgiving. Pray your worries away. Be grateful for what God has done for you.
3. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand, surpasses our understanding.
3. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand, surpasses our understanding.
I may not understand my circumstances but I will experience peace in my circumstances.
4. Will guard your mind and hearts
4. Will guard your mind and hearts
God will stand guard over my mind & heart and not allow worry, anxiety, or fear in.
Application
This is a great passage. Give gives the prescription to worry.
1. Don't worry
2. Pray about everything. Pray your worries away.
3. Be grateful
Application
This is a great passage. Give gives the prescription to worry.
1. Don't worry
2. Pray about everything. Pray your worries away.
3. Be grateful
Prayer
May I live this verse. I do not want to be consumed won't worry, fear, and anxiety. I desire to be guarded by the peace of God. I am grateful for all your blessings. I bring my needs to you.
May I live this verse. I do not want to be consumed won't worry, fear, and anxiety. I desire to be guarded by the peace of God. I am grateful for all your blessings. I bring my needs to you.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Language
Today we are taking our final in the language class. I do not know how I will do but I do know that I have done my best and that is all I can do. Language studying is hard. I am not a natural learner. What I am convinced of is that language is key to effectiveness. You cannot be effective in a foreign country unless you can speak the language. Why be handicapped? It is a tool in your arsenal that God can use. Not knowing language may hinder what God can do through you. Currently I am unable to have a conversation with my neighbor's children. I am below a child in understanding. Thankfully God loves children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)