Delights and Disciplines of Bible Study by Warren W Wiersbe
The bible is like a food for the inner person. It is milk -- 1Corinthians 3 verses 1 - 3
CHAPTER 12 THE PROPHETS – HOSEA TO OBADIAH
The “minor prophets” have the name because their books are shorter in
comparison to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
The ministries of the prophets addressed the future of the Jewish people
and sought to bring the people back to God with the message of the Lord’s love
for them. Hosea uses “marriage” to
convey his message while Jonah delivers a missionary message.
Hosea. His name means “the Lord saves”
and his ministry was to rescue the people in Judah from their low level of
spiritual life. The times were
prosperous, but the nation’s spiritual life was far from what the Lord desired. Idolatry was rampant and the people attributed
their prosperity to their idols and not to the Lord. Hosea compared their false religion to prostitution: The people had forsaken the true God to whom they had been “married” at Sinai
and had attached themselves to false gods.
Hosea knew something about this sin because his wife, Gomer had left him
and their 3 children and become a prostitute.
She ended up in the slave market and Hosea had to buy his own wife in
order to take her back home! Of course,
this was an “action sermon” illustrating God’s great love for his people and
his willingness to pay the price to receive them back. This book is a love story! God is the faithful husband: Judah is the
unfaithful wife and unclean prostitute.
In scripture, adultery and prostitution are pictures of false religion,
an unfaithful relationship between God’s people and some sinful
substitute. Just as Gomer abandoned her
husband and 3 children, so professed Christians abandon the Lord and his family
to seek pleasure in false religion. If
the people – especially the priest and leaders – had maintained their walk with
God, obeyed his word and warned the people, the nation would have been
saved. What they needed was to repent,
leave their idols and return to the Lord; but perhaps that is what many of our
churches need today.
The prophet used several vivid pictures to describe the Jewish people of
that day and to warn them that they were heading toward disaster. What he wrote centuries ago may apply to some
of us today.
The Cloud and the dew – chapter 6 verses 4 – 6. Clouds and dew usually do not last very long,
and some believers are just as temporary in their bible reading, praying or
attending of public worship. These people
have good intentions but poor performances.
God warns us to be steadfast in the disciplines of the Christian life.
The half-baked cake – chapter 7 verse 8. To bake bread in ancient days you first
heated a rock and then put the dough in a pan on the rock so it could
cook. If it wasn’t baked thoroughly, you
would have trouble serving it. Do we
have “half-baked believers” in our churches?
A cake unturned described half-baked believers who don’t allow the truth
to penetrate deep in their hearts. There
is no substitute for taking time to be holy as the seed of God’s word gets
deeper and deeper into our inner person.
The grey hairs – chapter 7 verse 9. Grey hairs marks old age and a gradual loss
of strength. It’s possible for us to be
losing our spiritual power and not know it!
Just as concert musicians must practice diligently lest their
performance lose its quality, so God’s people must practice spiritual
discipline to not lose it.
The silly dove – chapter 7 verses 11 and 12. Instead of looking to the Lord for guidance and
help, the leaders in Hosea’s day turned to Egypt and then Assyria for
help. They had no definite plans; they
flitted from one thing to another, and their indecision led to defeat. They were not serious about determining God’s
will and obeying it so he would be glorified.
The deceptive bow – chapter 7 verse 16. A deceptive bow is one that is improperly
bound and balanced so the archer can’s aim accurately. He thinks he has the arrow pointed properly
but he doesn’t (Psalm 78 verses 56 and 57).
Professional shooters are careful to have the weapon’s sights set
accurately. No matter what tool or
weapon or instrument we use, we want it to be dependable. The Lord wants us to be dependable as we
study, labour, lead and seek to serve him.
Joel. Joel ministered to the kingdom
of Judah, and his emphasis was on “the day of the Lord” when God would judge
his people and also on the Gentile nations for the way they treated his
people. Perhaps the easiest way to grasp
Joel’s message is to see the prophet’s 4 looks.
First, he looks around at national calamity (chapter 1 verses 1 –
12, 2 verses 1 – 11). An “army” of
locusts (chapter 2 verse 25) had descended on the kingdom of Judah and was
destroying the crops and a drought was making the situation even worse. But this was God’s land (chapter 1 verse 6);
the vines were his and so were the fig trees (verse 7). Joel’s name means “the Lord is God” and he
reminded the people that God is sovereign in all things. This invasion came because the people had
disobeyed the Lord and broken the covenant.
Joel addressed the drunkards who missed their wine (chapter 1 verses 5
to 7), the priests who had no sacrifices to offer (verses 8 to 10) and the
farmers who had no crops (verses 10 – 12).
In verses 13 – 20 Joel pleaded with the people to look within their
own hearts and confess personal responsibility. He pleaded with the priests to repent of
their sins and to call the people to prayer (chapter 1 verses 13 – 20: 2 verses
12 – 17). In chapter 2 verses 1 to 11
Joel announced that this is “the day of the Lord”, the day when the Lord has
his way as he seeks to discipline his people and deliver them from their
sins. They must call a solemn assembly
and fast and pray (chapter 1 verse 14, chapter 2 verses 12 – 17). Joel commanded them to “look up to the Lord
in heaven and expect wonderful generosity”, for he had promised to bless them
and the land (chapter 2 verses 18 – 22).
Joel told them that the Lord would send the people spiritual blessings
as well as material blessings. If the
people obeyed, God would heal their land and enrich their spiritual experience.
In chapter 3 he told us to “look ahead for the fulfilment of God’s
promises to his people.” The coming day of the Lord will involve the judgment
of the Gentile nations as well as the establishment of Christ’s kingdom,
bringing glory to the church and restoration to the people of Israel and their
land. The nations will be judged
(chapter 3 verses 1 – 17) and Jesus will reign.
God will not abandon his chosen people but will bless them in his
kingdom when he reigns and dwells in Zion (chapter 3 verse 21).
Amos. His name means “burden” and it
matches his ministry perfectly, for the way his people were living burdened
him. Israel was in an age of materialism
and shallow religion as the rich took advantage of the poor and lived in luxury
and ease (chapter 3 verse 15: chapter 5 verse 11 and chapter 6 verses 4 – 8). Amos was from Tekoa, a small village a dozen
miles south of Jerusalem and he worked as a shepherd and dresser of sycamore
trees. He was not trained in any school
of the prophets nor mentored by any prophet.
His simple testimony is found in chapter 7 verses 10 to 16. Amaziah, the priest at Bethel despised him
but Amos took his stand and ministered as the Lord directed him. 3 important ministries are found in his book.
Amos the judge: people are condemned (chapters 1 and 2). 6 Gentile cities, plus the nations of Judah
and Israel were brought before the heavenly court and found guilty of many sins
(chapter 1 verses 1 to 2 verse 3). They
had greatly mistreated God’s people. Amos mentions cruelty, slavery, selfish
anger and revenge. As the Jewish people
heard Amos’ words, they must have rejoiced that the Lord would punish their
Gentile neighbours for abusing the Jews so mercilessly. But the prophet concluded with an indictment
against Judah (chapter 2 verses 4 and 5) and Israel (chapter 2 verses 6 – 16). The Jews had deliberately broken God’s
commandments. Amos mentioned greed, lies, lust and taking advantage of the poor
by robbing them of what little they had.
They had been taught God’s holy law but ignored it and deliberately
disobeyed it.
God gave his law to the Jews, but the righteousness of the law is God’s
standard for all people. The Jews sinned
against a flood of light, but God didn’t ignore the sins of the Gentiles. He longs for all nations to know the truth
and obey it so he might bless them and make them a blessing to others.
Amos the preacher: 3 sermons to the children of Israel (chapters 3 to 6). These sermons emphasise the fact that the
Jewish people had been privileged to know the true and living God who delivered
them from Egypt and gave them their land.
They were also possessors of the word of God, and where there are
privileges, there are also responsibilities (chapter 3 verse 2). 8 times Amos said, “thus says the Lord” and
he admonished them to “seek the Lord” 4 times.
The questions Amos asked in chapter 3 verses 3 to 8 deal primarily with
cause and effect. The sound of the
trumpet awakens and alarms the inhabitants of the city. The Lord’s will and work are not without purpose,
and he usually reveals his plan to his prophets, even if they are humble
shepherds. God’s people had sinned and
his prophet, Amos declared the consequences in chapter 4 verses 1 to 13 and
lamented over what was coming in chapter 5 verses 1 to chapter 6 verse 14.
Amos the seer: 6 visions (chapter 7 to chapter 9 verse 16). In chapter 7 verses 1 to 9 Amos described 3
visions God gave to him of the punishments.
He intended to send to his people and when Amos asked him for mercy, he
relented. Like Moses, David, Stephen,
and our Lord at Calvary, he interceded for undeserving people. After the third vision, the priest Azariah
interrupted Amos and the prophets, defence silenced them (chapter 7 verses 10 –
17). From chapter 8 verse 1 to 9 verse
15, Amos described 3 more visions, the last of which guaranteed the restoration
of the kingdom.
Obadiah. His name means “one who
worships God” and his book is the shortest in the OT, although its contents
have considerable spiritual worth. His
focus was on the Lord’s judgment of the nation of Edom (Psalm 137 verses 7 – 9)
which was founded by Jacob’s brother Esau.
The 2 brothers were competitive in the womb and in adult life, they were
almost enemies (Genesis 25 verses 19 – 30, 35 – 36). God chose Jacob to build the family and
receive the blessings of the covenant God had made with Abraham. When Israel was traveling from Egypt to Canaan,
the Edomites did not permit them to cross their land (Numbers 20 verses 14 –
21) but before he died Moses commanded Israel not to abhor the Edomites
(Deuteronomy 23 verse 7). It was time to
end the family feud, but still the conflict when on for centuries.
When the Babylonian army invaded Israel and destroyed Jerusalem, the
Edomites started as spectators at the event and eventually even helped the Babylonians
capture the Jews. In verses 11 – 16 Obadiah
listed the Edomites’ terrible attitudes and actions which occurred at this time
when they should have shown compassion and given help. They prevented their Jewish relatives from
escaping and even plundered the city themselves! They turned a tragedy into a drinking party
(verse 16).
The prophet Obadiah made it clear that the basic sin of the Edomites was
pride (verses 3 and 4). Esau had finally
triumphed over Jacob! Instead of helping
their family, they stood “on the other side” and cheered the Babylonians. The Lord warned them that He would pay them
back for their pride, violence and plundering (verses 3 and 4, 13) and God “brought
them down”. Today their country, now
part of southwestern Jordan, is only a place for bible students,
archaeologists, and visitors to the Holy Land.
History records more than one war that was motivated by revenge.
The Herodian rulers in the NT descended from the Edomites and almost all
were killers. They killed the Bethlehem
babies (Matthew 2), John the Baptist (Mark 6 verses 14 – 29), the apostle James,
and they tried to kill Peter (Acts 12).
One of them was involved in the trial that led to Jesus’ death (Luke 23
verses 6 – 12). But murder also was in
their forefather Esau’s blood because he wanted to kill his brother Jacob
(Genesis 27 verse 41).
CHAPTER 13 THE PROPHETS – JONAH TO HABAKKUK
Jesus used Jonah as a picture of his own death,
burial and resurrection and Habakkuk teaches us to walk by faith and not by
sight.
Jonah. The name
means “dove”. The dove symbolizes peace,
but this book doesn’t seem to contain much peace. Jonah had no peace, if he had, he would have
obeyed God’s orders. The sailors had no
peace because the Lord sent a terrible storm.
Jonah then had no peace during those 3 days and nights inside the great
fish, nor was he at peace when the city of Nineveh repented and escaped
judgment. The only peace Jonah
experienced was when he was taking a nap down in the ship.
Jonah rejected God’s will (chapter 1
verses 1 – 16) and residing in the will of God is essential if we are to have
the peace of God. For a brief time
during his nap, Jonah experienced peace but the storm put an end to that. We can disobey the Lord and still experience
peace that is temporary and shallow. The
reason God has a will for each of his children is so we might have God’s peace
within. He wants us to have the love,
joy and peace the Holy Spirit gives to obedient believers (Galatians 5 verse
22), for the joy of the Lord gives us the strength we need to accomplish his
will (Nehemiah 8 verse 10). Jonah was a Jew,
and the Jews are supposed to be a blessing to the Gentiles (Genesis 12 verses 1
to 3). The will of God expresses his
love; it is nourishment (John 4 verse 34) and not punishment.
But in spite of his disobedience, Jonah
experienced God’s grace (chapter 1 verse 17 to chapter 2 verse 10). Jonah would rather drown than do God’s
will. Jonah thought that he was making
the decisions, but the Lord was in complete control. God arranged for a great fish to swallow
Jonah. And when Jonah repented, the fish
vomited him up alive onto dry land. The
Lord disciplined Jonah and gave him a second chance, just as he did for
Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Peter and you and me!
Jonah prayed earnestly and the Lord answered. His prayer is woven together with quotations
from the Psalms: Jonah 2 verse 2 and Psalm 120 verse 1; Jonah 2 verse 3 and
Psalm 42 verse 7; Jonah 2 verse 4 and Psalms 31 verse 22; Jonah 2 verses 5 and
6 and Psalm 9 verse 1; Jonah 2 verse 7 and Psalms 142 verse 3; Jonah 2 verse 8
and Psalms 31 verse 6; Jonah 2 verse 9 and Psalms 3 verse 8.
The third stage in Jonah’s experience was to witness
God’s power (chapter 3 verses 1 to 10).
Even though he had no great love for the people of Nineveh – the Jews
feared and despised the Assyrians – Jonah faithfully declared God’s message
(eventually) and the people repented.
Even the animals repented! God
had been merciful to the sailors who threw Jonah into the sea and now he was
merciful to the wicked Assyrians. God in
his mercy does not give us what we do deserve, and in his grace, he gives us
what we don’t deserve! Jonah was not a
perfect servant, yet centuries later, Jesus used him to teach him to teach
about his resurrection (Matthew 12 verses 39 – 41: Luke 11 verses 29 – 32).
That should have been the happy ending, but it is
not; for Jonah forfeited the blessing God wanted to give him (chapter 4
verses 1 to 11). Instead of singing the
praises of the Lord and teaching it to the Assyrians, Jonah pouted and asked
God to take his life! Jonah had preached
one of the greatest evangelistic crusades recorded in the bible, yet he was
angry, bitter, and wanting to die!
Why? Jonah had given his body,
mind and will to God and finally gone to Nineveh, but he had not given God
his heart! He did not love the Lord
for choosing him and using him, nor did he love the people to whom he preached.
It isn’t enough just to do God’s will, but we must do “the will of God from the
heart” (Ephesians 6 verse 6). The Lord
not only wants to be a blessing but also to receive a blessing. Everything and everyone recorded in this book
obeyed God and was true to its nature; the wind and the sea, the sailors, the
great fish, the plant, and the worm, and even Jonah obeyed – but his heart
was not in it. He spoke the truth,
and people repented, but he did not speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4 verse
15). Unless we are motivated by love, we
will not experience the full blessing of serving the Lord.
Micah. Name means “who
is like the Lord?” God called Micah an
ordinary farmer from the small town of Moresheth to give some messages to the
people of Judah and the surrounding territory.
The word hear is found 8 times in this brief book (chapter 1 verse 2,
chapter 3 verses 1 and 9, chapter 5 verse 15, chapter 6 verses 1 and 2, 9, chapter
7 verse 7). Micah delivered 3 messages:
-
“Hear you people! Judgment is coming” – chapter 1
verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 13
“Hear you leaders!
A Saviour is coming!” – chapter 3 verse 1 to chapter 5 verse 15
“All you hear! The Lord is pleading with you!” –
chapter 6 verse 1 to chapter 7 verse 20
Micah opened with a courtroom scene: the Lord came down
and announced that his people were now being tried for their sins. He mentioned some of the towns and did some
wordplay with their names (chapter 1 verses 10 to 16).
Beth Aphrah means “house of dust” and he told them
to “roll in the dust”
Shaphir means “beautiful” but he saw them in “naked
shame”
Zaanan means “going out” but he said they did not
go out
Beth Ezel means “house of nearness” but he saw their
place taken from them
Maroth means “bitterness”
Lachish resembles the word for “a team of horses”
Achzib means “a lie”
Mareshah means “an inheritance”
The prophet pronounced woes upon the rebellious
sinners and the false prophets (chapter 2 verses 1 to 11 but closed with a
promise of deliverance and restoration (verses 12 and 13).
In chapter 3 verses 1 to 12 he condemned the
rulers, false prophets and priests for their sins but in chapter 4 he announced
the coming of the promised kingdom (verses 1 to 13). The Lord often mingles the light of hope with
the clouds of judgment; but at the end times, what means salvation to Israel
will mean condemnation for their enemies.
Micah 5 verse 2 is a key Messianic verse, quoted in Matthew 2 verses 5
and 6. Through his prophet, the Lord
pleads with his people to repent and return (chapter 7 verses 1 to 13). What are the evidences that they have turned
from their sins? The answer is 6 verse
8, one of the key verses in Micah’s prophecy.
The prophet closed his third message with a reminder that God forgives
and restores his people when they confess their sins and turn to him.
Nahum. He was called “Nahum the
Elkoshite”. His name means “comfort” and
his hometown was Elkosh in southern Judah.
He did bring comfort to the Jewish people because he announced the defeat
of the Assyrians and the destruction of Nineveh, the Assyrian’s capital
city. The prophet Jonah had warned the
city that the Lord would destroy it if they didn’t repent of their ruthless
brutality and they repented, but the new rulers paid no attention to the
past. Nahum didn’t call for repentance;
he announced total ruin. He preached about
a God who was jealous over his people Israel, whom the Assyrians had brutalised
and that the end of Nineveh had come.
In the first chapter, the
book of Nahum describes the character of the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. He is a jealous over his people
as parents are over their children and would no permit the Assyrians to
continue abusing them. Yes, God is
long-suffering and slow to get angry (chapter 1 verses 2 and 3), but he is also
a holy God whose sovereign will controls the universe. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC, and it never
was rebuilt.
Chapter 2 focuses on the
destruction of Nineveh and the promise of restoration for the kingdom of Israel
while chapter 3 expresses the woes of the people of Nineveh when their city is
destroyed. There was no escape because
the Lord had spoken.
Habakkuk. Contains a verse quoted 3 times
in the NT. In the Hebrew language,
Habakkuk means “to embrace” or “to wrestle”.
The prophet did wrestle with the Lord about his will for his people and
in the end, he learned to cling to the Lord by faith for all he needed in those
difficult days.
Chapter 1. The book opens with disappointment
because the prophet has seen a burden that has disturbed him greatly. He learned that the Lord was permitting the
Babylonians to invade Judah, conquer the land and take many captives away to
Babylon. How could a holy God allow his
own covenant people to suffer and be defeated by idol-worshipping pagans? “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil”
the prophet argued (verse 13). The Lord
explained to his servant that what looks like unfaithfulness on his part is
really obedience to his own covenant with the nation. The kingdom of Judah had disobeyed the Lord
and violated the covenant they promised to keep, and the Lord had to be
faithful and chasten his rebellious people.
Habakkuk asks God “how
long?” (verse 2) and “why?” (verse 3).
God responded to their questions but didn’t give them explanations
(verses 5 and 17). God’s people don’t
live on explanations; they live on promises.
God affirmed that he was at work and that his work was for their good.
Chapter 2. The key word here is discovery. The prophet stopped asking questions and
started standing still and listening for God’s voice. He was not disappointed for the Lord made 3
statements that gave the prophet courage and comfort.
We begin with God’s
grace “But the just shall live by his faith” (chapter 2 verse 4). Quoted 3 times in NT.
Romans 1 verse 17 “the
just” are sinners who have trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and
received the gift of righteousness
Galatians 3 verse 11 as
part of his explanation of how the just shall live
Hebrews 10 verse 38 an
introduction to the Hebrews 11 “by faith” chapter. In the Christian life, faith and grace always
go together, whether for salvation or service (Ephesians 2 verses 8 to 10).
According to Habakkuk 2
verse 4 the proud don’t live by faith because they think they can handle things
themselves and don’t need the Lord’s help.
God’s glory “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea” (chapter 2 verse 14). The defeat of the Jewish nation and the
destruction of the city of Jerusalem did not seem glorious to Habakkuk and his
people, but the Lord knew what he was doing.
Though it may look like God’s people are failing, there is never a hint
that God is failing, for he never fails (Zephaniah 3 verse 5). Except for the beauties and blessings of
nature, which most people ignore, the earth today and most of the people on it
are certainly not glorifying God. However,
the believing remnant on this earth who are letting their lights shine are bringing
glory to the name of the Lord. But even
more, when the Lord finally wraps up the works of the earth and human history,
God’s glory will be revealed (Revelation 21 verse 11, 23 to 26).
God’s government “But the Lord is in his holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before him.” (chapter 2 verse 20). God is sovereign. He commands his angels – he doesn’t consult
them – and they do his will. We never
negotiate God’s will; we simply accept it as his gift of love (Psalm 33 verses
20 – 22) and trust and obey, for our Father knows best.
Chapter 3. The prophet has moved from disappointment to
discovery and now he experiences devotion to the Lord. Humble submission and prayer now replace his
questions and worries. He begins by
accepting God’s word and trusting that God’s work will go on to the finish
(chapter 3 verse 2). We don’t always
discern God’s plan, nor do we always understand his plan; but knowing that the
Lord is in command puts peace and joy in our hearts. Habakkuk listened to God speak and the word
brought a comforting joy to his soul. He
not only accepted God’s word and his work, he also accepted the face of God’s
wrath and prayed that the Lord would be merciful to his people (chapter 3 verses
1 and 2). He knew the nation had sinned
and deserved chastening but like any loving shepherd, he pled for mercy. At the beginning of the meeting with the
Lord, Habakkuk wanted God to stop what he was doing but by the end he asked God
to continue his work and complete it.
When the Lord chastens his people, it is not a stern judge punishing
criminals but a loving father maturing his children.
By waiting on the Lord,
pondering his word and trusting him he moved from being troubled to being
triumphant.
CHAPTER 14 THE
PROPHETS – ZEPHANIAH TO MALACHI
Zephaniah. Deals with God’s judgments
against the kingdom of Judah and the surrounding Gentile nations that had
opposed the Jews. Zephaniah wrote about
the impending “day of the Lord” (chapter 1 verses 7, 8 and 14). The Lord had been long-suffering toward his
people and the Gentiles, but now the time had come for him to act
The Lord says “I will” 25
times in 3 chapters, announcing what he planned to do, and he did what he said
he would do! Zephaniah was the
great-great grandson of King Hezekiah, so he had royal blood in his veins, but
his only concern was to minister to his people and please his sovereign Lord.
In chapter 1 verse 1 to 2
verse 3 the prophet indicted the people of Judah for their sins, especially
their idolatry and pleaded with them to repent and return to the Lord. Both the rulers and the priests were
guilty. In chapter 2 verses 4 to 15, the
Lord warned the Gentile nations that he would judge them for their sins. Humble repentance was their only hope of
deliverance.
Jerusalem was the target
in chapter 3 verses 1 to 7, for the princes, judges, priests and false prophets
were leading the people astray. But
verses 8 – 20 recognised the faithful remnant that would be true to the Lord and
would be delivered. They would gather
together as a great choir and sing the Lord’s praises (verses 14 and 15). Note that God the Father would sing as a
mother would sing to a troubled child (chapter 3 verse 17).
Chapter 2 verse 13
mentions Nineveh as a target for judgement.
The city repented when Jonah ministered there, but this time the Lord
would not relent. The city would be
destroyed.
Haggai. In year 786 BC, King Cyrus
permitted the Jews in captivity in Babylon to return to Jerusalem to rebuilt
the temple and establish their lives.
50,000 returned. The king
appointed Zerubbabel governor, Joshua served as the high priest and Haggai was
the resident prophet. 4 brief messages
that Haggai received from the Lord and gave to the people. However, God used them to spur on the struggling
remnant that worked and worshipped in the midst of danger and distress.
“Be ashamed” (chapter 1
verses 1 to 11 with the people’s response in verses 12 – 15)
“Be strong” (chapter 2
verses 1 to 9)
“Be Godly” (chapter 2
verses 10 to 19)
“Be encouraged (chapter 2
verses 20 to 23)
The remnant did rebuild
the temple and establish its ministry and as a result, the nation was
preserved. They and their successors
built the bridge between the OT and the NT and kept the nation going that would
bring the Son of God into the world.
Be ashamed. The first thing the
people needed as they returned to Jerusalem was housing, but their primary task
was to clean up the wreckage and rebuild the temple. The Jewish remnant admitted their sin,
repented and started working on the new temple.
This pleased the Lord, He began to turn their “curses” into blessings
and the work prospered.
Be strong. This was
God’s command, and his commandments are always accompanied by his enablements
if we step out by faith. He accompanied
it with “fear not” because fear brings weakness. Instead of looking to the Lord, we are
looking at ourselves and measuring our strength. The new temple lacked the size
and splendour of Solomon’s temple, and this grieved some of the old people –
remember that the “good old days” are a combination of a bad memory and a good
imagination. The original temple still
would have been there had the leaders and people obeyed the prophets and
repented of their sins, but it was too late.
Furthermore, the Lord would accept their work and bless those who
ministered there if their lives and services were motivated by godliness which
leads to our third commandment.
Be godly. A godly, obedient person can’t share his or
her godliness with another, but an unclean person can share uncleanness. Personal obedience and devotion to the Lord
always leads to blessings from the Lord so long as our desire is to glorify
him. We must keep clean and flee that
which is defiled while devoting ourselves to that which is holy.
Be encouraged. The Lord gave Haggai a special message for
governor Zerubbabel for leaders carry heavy burdens and are often misunderstood
and criticized. The Gentile nations didn’t
want the Jews back in Jerusalem, but the Lord guided his people and protected
them. During the will of God for the
glory of God is the best protection God’s people can have. How important it is that we pray for our
leaders and encourage them by our work and our walk.
Zechariah. A prophet during the time the Jewish temple
was rebuilt. Like Haggai he ministered
to the remnant of Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. In chapter 2 verse 4 he is referred to as “a
young man” which puts him in with Daniel and his friends. The Lord calls and uses young men and women
who are surrendered to him. In Zechariah’s
time there were elderly people among those who had returned to Jerusalem, so
perhaps the Lord called younger servants to keep things in balance. Remember these people faced very difficult
circumstances and needed encouragement from the Lord.
Chapters
1 through 6 record 8 visions the Lord gave Zechariah to convey truths that
would encourage the builders.
The
prophet sees visions (chapter 1 verse 1 to chapter 6 verse 15). In chapter 1 verses 7 to 17, God’s servants
see that God’s will is being done as they patrol the earth and its inhabitants. The Gentile nations will acknowledge the kingship of Jesus Christ and go to the Holy
Land to worship him. According to
chapter 9 there will be peace (verses 1 to 10), deliverance (verse 11), hope
(verse 12), victory (verse 13) and beauty (verses 16 and 17) for Israel.
Malachi. Name means “messenger of the Lord” and he
ministered to the people and their leaders who had returned to Jerusalem after
the Babylonian exile. The people did
rebuild the temple and the priests did carry on a ministry, but all was not
well. The Lord could not bless them as
he wanted to because the priests were not spiritual, and the people were not
enthusiastic about their faith. Jerusalem’s
citizens (including the priests) were guilty of all sorts of sins and the
prophet Malachi sought to bring them back to the Lord who had so graciously freed
them from captivity.
When
we read these 4 chapters at least 6 serious questions about our Christian life
confront us.
Do I love the Lord (chapter 1 verses 1 to 5)? The Lord
had often declared his love to his people, and Malachi opened his book with
this affirmation, but the people questioned it!
You can hear them saying, “If God loves us, why are the crops so
poor? Why is the weather so bad?” The prophet explained why: the priests and
people were not living for the Lord. We
don’t love God just so he will bless us but because a loving heart knows how to
use his blessings for his glory.
Do I give the Lord my best (chapter 1 verse 6 to 2 verse 9)? When
we give God our best, we honour him and bring glory to his name, God can turn
curses into blessings or he can curse our blessings (chapter 2 verses 1 and 2,
Nehemiah 13 verse 2). God’s name should be magnified beyond the borders and
across the whole world (chapter 1 verse 5, 11 and 14). The priests were not bringing the Lord the
best sacrifices (verses 7 and 8) and serving him was a burdensome weariness and
not a joy to them (verse 13).
Do I honour the word of the Lord (chapter 2 verses 10 to 16)? Israel
is a covenant nation for at Sinai they agreed to serve the Lord and obey his
word. The church is also a covenant
fellowship through the blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26 verse 28). The priests in Malachi’s day had broken their
covenant with the Lord (Malachi 2 verses 1 to 9) and so had the people (verses
10 to 12); the marriage covenant had also been violated (verses 10 to 17).
Do I weary the Lord with my self-defence (chapter 2 verse 17 to chapter 3
verse 5)? 7 times in Malachi quoted the arrogant
arguments of the people as they debated with the Lord (chapter 1 verses 2, 6
and 7: chapter 3 verses 7 and 8, 13). “In
what way did we do what you said?” they asked the Lord when he accused them of
sin. They retaliated but did not
repent. Jesus and John, the Baptist are
referred to in chapter 3 verses 1 to 3 as well as in chapter 4 verses 1 to 3
and they both revealed the sins of the people who debated with them.
Do I rob the Lord (chapter 3 verses 7 to 12)? Not
only were the people bringing the Lord imperfect sacrifices but they were also
not giving him the tithes and offerings needed to support the ministry at the
temple. They robbed the Lord and at the
same time robbed themselves! How could
the Lord bless their disobedience? The contemporary
Christian doesn’t live under the old covenant law; but if those under the old
covenant could give tithes, surely Christians under God’s bountiful grace could
at least start there! Remember when we
rob God of what He enables us to earn, we are only robbing ourselves.
Do I serve the Lord with gladness or disdain (chapter 3 verse 13 to
chapter 4 verse 6)? “Your words have been harsh against me” says
the Lord (verse 13). We may not be
guilty of complaining to the Lord, but we might be lax in thanking him for all
we receive from him. Let’s belong to that
blessed remnant described in verses 16 to 18; those believers who fear the
Lord, meet together, record his mercies and become his jewels.
When
Malachi put down his pen that was the end of the prophets for 400 years and
then John the Baptist appeared to introduce the Saviour to the world (chapter 4
verses 5 and 6; Matthew 11 verses 10 to 14; chapter 17 verses 10 to 13).
CHAPTER 15 - THE GOOD NEWS - THE FOUR GOSPELS
Mark. Full name was John Mark. His mother Mary was a leading Christian in Jerusalem, and she opened her home to the believers (Acts 12 verse 12). Mark was a cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4 verse 10) and started out with Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. But when the team arrived at Perga, Mark left them and returned home to Jerusalem (Acts 13 verses 1 to 13). When Paul and Barnabas set out on their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give his cousin another opportunity, but Paul protested. Paul questioned, “What can he do for the work?” while Barnabas asked “What can the work do for him?” Both are important. The team split, with Paul leaving with Silas and Barnabas going with Mark (chapter 15 verses 36 – 41).
Years later, Paul mended his damaged relationship with Mark and they worked together again (2 Timothy 4 verse 11). It was the apostle Peter who redeemed Mark and put him back into ministry (1 Peter 5 verse 13). Both 1 Peter 5 verse 13 and 2 Timothy 4 verse 11 indicate that Peter and John Mark were in Rome at the same time. What young Timothy was to Paul, John Mark was to Peter and Peter called him “my son”. Both Peter and Mark had failed the Lord – Peter by denying him 3 times and Mark by abandoning his assigned ministry – so it would have been easy for them to bond.
Peter led by the Spirit, gave John Mark the material found in his gospel. Mark uses the name “Jesus” 86 times and “Christ” only 7 times.
Matthew wrote about Jesus the King and had Jewish readers in mind while Luke, wrote for Greek readers about the perfect and compassionate Son of Man. The theme of Mark’s gospel is “Jesus the Servant of the Lord.” Mark wrote for the Gentiles and you find him explaining Aramaic words and Jewish practices (chapter 3 verse 17; chapter 5 verse 41; chapter 7 verses 11 and 34; chapter 14 verse 36, chapter 15 verses 22 and 34). The words they repeated in this book show that Peter and Mark understood the Gentile mind: immediately appears 41 times and amazed 9 times. Mark emphasizes Christ the teacher (39 references) as well as Christ the Servant of God and God’s people. Mark makes it clear that Jesus is the Son of God but he also portrays Jesus in his humanity (chapter 3 verse 5, chapter 6 verses 6 and 31; chapter 7 verse 34, chapter 8 verse 12, chapter 10 verse 14 and chapter 11 verse 12). He uses action, details, and descriptions, the kind of writing that would appeal to his Gentile readers.
Mark’s focus on Christ as the Servant provides a model for us. All of God’s people today should be servants of the Lord and of others (Ephesians 6 verse 6). The apostle Paul saw himself as a servant and not a celebrity (Romans 1 verse 1, 1 Corinthians 4 verse 1 and Philippians 1 verse 1).
Luke. Matthew was a tax collector, Mark was a young Jewish believer, John was a fisherman and Luke was a medical doctor. Luke was also the only Gentile writer of Scripture. The word “they” in Acts 16 verse 6 changes to “we” in verse 10. Why? Because the author of Acts (who also wrote the gospel of Luke) had joined the group. Luke was Paul’s beloved friend and travelling companion as well as his helper in the ministry. In Colossians 4 verse 14 Paul called Luke the “beloved physician”. He was undoubtedly speaking for the whole church.
Luke 19 verse 10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the which was lost” is the key verse in his book. Matthew exalted the King, Mark the busy Servant, and John the Son of God but Luke the physician wrote about the compassionate Son of Man who ministered to others and brought them eternal life. Luke tells us in the first 4 verses of his gospel that he carefully investigated the information available about the life, works and words of Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit wrote his book.
The gospel of Luke tells us that words like must and should were often on our Lord’s lips, for he was a servant of God who had come to seek and save the lost. There are 18 “compulsive statements” starting with the words of Jesus at 12 years of age – “did you not know I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2 verse 49).
Luke was a physician, so we can expect him to record our Lord’s healing of the sick and afflicted. Luke, especially, described our Lord’s ministry to women, including widows
He also emphasized prayer. Jesus prayed when he was baptized (chapter 3 verse 21) and he prayed all night before he chose his disciples (chapter 6 verse 12). He prayed alone but he prayed with the disciples as well. Finally, he prayed while on the cross. Luke’s gospel contains numerous mentions of prayer in a general sense.
Since the Lord Jesus came to seek and save the lost, salvation is an important theme. Note in the hymn by Zacharias that salvation is pictured as the opening of prison doors and the granting of freedom through redemption (chapter 1 verse 68), the cancellation of a debt through the remission of sins (verses 76 and 77) and the dawning of a new day (verses 78 and 79).
Jesus came to earth to serve and he obeyed his father perfectly “I have glorified you on the earth”. He said to his Father “I have finished the work which you have given me to do” (John 17 verse 4). Paul called himself “a bondservant of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1 verse 1), but all believers are to be his servants, using our spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the good of others. In this way we can emulate Jesus as the compassionate Son of Man.
John. This book’s purpose is to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and to declare that faith in Jesus will save them. Those who put their trust in Him are born again and become the children of God (chapter 20 verses 30 and 31). The word life is used 36 times in John’s gospel. Outline based on 3 crises of our Saviour:
They would not walk with him – John 1 to 6
2. They would not believe in him – John 7 to 12
They would not endure him – John 13 to19
Conclusion:
The resurrection of Jesus – chapter 20
The restoration of Peter – chapter 21
Jesus is the way but they would not walk with him. Jesus is the truth but they would not believe in him. Jesus is the life but they crucified him. Yet he arose from the dead!
Another characteristic of the gospel of John is attention to people’s spiritual blindness. When Jesus spoke in figurative blindness, his listeners took him literally.
The temple of his body – chapter 2 verses 19 to 21
Spiritual rebirth – chapter 3 verses 1 to 7
Water of life – chapter 4 verses 10 to 15
Bread of life – chapter 4 verses 31 and 33; chapter 6 verses 41 to 46
Flesh and blood – chapter 6 verses 51 to 59; feeding on the word of God – chapter 6 verses 66 to 69
Returning to heaven – chapter 7 verses 32 to 36; chapter 8 verses 21 to 22
Spiritual freedom – chapter 8 verses 30 to 36
Physical death – chapter 11 verses 11 to 13
Death – chapter 11 verses 11 to 13
Resurrection – chapter 11 verses 23 to 27
In the first chapter of John’s gospel you find several names for our Lord Jesus Christ: The Word (verse 1), the true Light (verse 7, see chapter 8 verse 12), the only begotten Son (verse 18), the Lamb of God (verse 29), the Son of God (verses 34 and 49), the Messiah (verse 41), the King of Israel (verse 49) and the Son of Man (verse 51). The emphasis in this gospel is that Jesus is the Son of God. Besides John the witnesses in this gospel that Jesus is the Son of God are John the Baptist (chapter 1 verse 34), Nathanael (chapter 1 verse 49), Peter (chapter 6 verse 69), the healed blind man (chapter 9 verse 35), Martha (chapter 11 verse 27), Thomas (chapter 20 verse 28) and Jesus himself (chapter 5 verse 25, chapter 10 verse 36).
John often mentioned what Jesus had in his hands: a whip (chapter 2 verse 15), loaves of bread (chapter 6 verse 11), mud (chapter 9 verses 1 to 7), a towel (chapter 13 verse 4) and wounds (chapter 20 verses 24 to 29). The apostle John included in his gospel Jesus’ words to his disciples in the upper room (chapters 13 to 16) and our Lord’s prayer to the Father (chapter 17), all of which are saturated with spiritual truth. He also provided facts about Judas, the traitor (chapter 6 verses 66 to 71, chapter 12 verses 1 to 8, chapter 13 verses 2, 26, 29 and 30; chapter 14 verse 22 and chapter 18 verses 1 to 5).
He also emphasized people who believed in Jesus: Nathaniel (chapter 1 verse 50), the disciples (chapter 2 verse 11), the Samaritan woman and her friends (chapter 4 verse 39), the nobleman (chapter 4 verses 50 to 53), the blind beggar (chapter 9 verse 38), Martha (chapter 11 verse 27), and Thomas (chapter 20 verse 28). One reason John wrote his gospel was so lost sinners might believe in Jesus and be saved (chapter 20 verse 31).
The final chapter of John’s gospel, chapter 21 gives us 4 pictures of the Christian life. We are “fishers of men” (verses 1 to 11) but our toil is in vain unless we obey the Master (verses 1 to 8). We are shepherds caring for the sheep (verses 15 to 19), we are disciples following the Lord (verses 18 to 23) and we are witnesses declaring the way of salvation (verses 24 to 25).
John tells us much about Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. We are first introduced to her and Martha in Luke 10 verses 38 – 42 where Mary gave Jesus her attention as she listened to the word. In John 11 verses 28 to 33 she gave him her affliction as she shared her sorrow over her brother’s death and in John 12 verses 1 to 8, she shared her affection as she anointed the feet of Jesus with the precious ointment and wiped it with her hair.
CHAPTER 16 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES – ACTS
Dr Luke not only gave us 1 of the 4 gospels but he also wrote a history of the early church. The first thing the believers did was assemble. The believers’ actions in this chapter 1 provide an index of many key activities of God’s people, behaviours that would be seen throughout the book of Acts and throughout history – practices that ought to characterize every Christian and every church today.
They assembled – chapter 1 verses 12 – 14. The apostles had received last minute instructions from Jesus and then watched him ascend to heaven. 2 angels gave them further instructions and the men returned to their “headquarters” in the upper room in the city. The words together and one accord are used 25 times in the book. Those believers not only belonged to the Lord but also to one another “Now all who believed were together and had all things in common” (chapter 2 verse 44). The church was unified and this included the mother of our Lord and other women who were believers (chapter 1 verse 14). Jesus prayed that his people might be one, even as he and the Father are one (John 17 verses 20 to 22). Spiritually speaking, true believers are one in Christ but form a practical point of view, the church is terribly divided today and has a difficult time with unity “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” wrote Paul in Hebrews 10 verses 24 to 25.
They prayed – chapter 1 verses 14 and 24. 33 references to prayer in Acts, which is no surprise, for those early believers knew that Jesus spent hours in prayer and even prayed all night. He taught them to pray and was the perfect example of a prayer warrior. “And whatever you ask in My name” Jesus told them “that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14 verse 13 and 14). When God’s people stop praying, they start depending on their own abilities and ideas and begin imitating the world’s methods.
They heard the scriptures – chapter 1 verses 15 – 26. The Spirit of God moved Peter to quote Psalm 69 verse 25 and Psalm 109 verse 8 and this gave the believers the opportunity to replace Judas. The Lord wanted 12 apostles to minister to the members of the 12 tribes of Israel who would be attending Pentecost. Prayer and the word of God always go together. The 12 apostles knew they were obligated to give themselves to the Word of God and prayer (Acts 6 verse 4). The OT priests also followed that pattern and our Lord Jesus Christ. Believers need the word of God so they know what to pray for and what God has promised to them (John 15 verse 7). It has been said that all prayer and no bible means heat but no light, while all bible but no prayer means knowledge without action. God gives us the scriptures so we know what to do, and he gives us prayer so we have the power to do it. Blessed are the balanced.
They waited on the Lord – chapter 2 verse 1. The Holy Spirit was to come on the Day of Pentecost so until that day dawned, the believers met daily for prayer and worship. To wait on the Lord doesn’t mean to do nothing. Rather, it means to give God opportunity to prepare us for what he is preparing for us: “whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28 verse 16). “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40 verse 31). “Do not be like the horse or like the mule” (Psalm 32 verse 9). The believer says to the Lord “My times are in your hand” (Psalm 31 verse 15). Energetic people are prone to be impatient and challenge God’s schedule, but this can only lead to confusion and defeat. The apostles wanted Jesus to set up the Jewish kingdom (Acts 1 verses 6 to 8) but the Lord has better things in mind. There is a time when he will do that, but first the Holy Spirit had to come and baptize the believers and empower them for service.
They received from the Lord – chapter 2 verses 1 to 4. They received direction from the Word of God and power from the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is mentioned 57 times in Acts and his ministry is seen in every chapter except chapter 3. The Lord promised his disciples that they would receive power (chapter 1 verse 8) and he kept his promise. Believers today may claim that promise and receive the power they need to do the work God calls them to do. When you contrast Peter in the book of Acts with Peter in the Gospels, you see what a difference the Holy Spirit makes. If we wait upon the Lord, the power of prayer, the Holy Spirit and faith combine to bring victory in our warfare and blessing in our work. We can’t be givers until we learn how to be receivers.
They continued to obey the Lord. What did they do? “They continued daily with one accord … and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (chapter 2 verses 46 and 47). The members of the early church led people to Christ every day! The phrase “continued daily” speaks of faith and faithfulness. We are always witnessing! God’s people should act “decently and in order” (Acts 14 verse 40) but we should also be open to the freedom and variety that the Spirit occasionally wants us to experience. People who are filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit may seem eccentric to some, but in God’s sight, they are continuing the work of the Lord, come what may. People thought Jesus was out of his mind (Mark 3 verses 21 to 27) and that the apostle Paul was insane (Acts 26 verse 24). The world doesn’t understand Christians because Christians don’t conform to the world (Romans 12 verse 1 and 2).
CHAPTER 17 – LETTERS TO THE BELIEVERS – Romans to Colossians
The New Testament epistles are a gold mine of spiritual truth, writing by people who were in the heat of the battle, winning souls and building and maturing churches. When you consider the many modern assets we have for transportation, communication and education, you’ll find that what Paul called “my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11 verse 28) cost much more in his day than it does today.
Romans. “I must also see Rome” said Paul (Acts 19 verse 21) and anticipating that visit, he
sent this letter ahead. He wanted the believers in Rome to know exactly what he believed and preached. As the capital city of the great Roman Empire, Rome was certainly a strategic place for the apostle to the Gentiles to minister and he did finally arrive there – as a Roman prisoner. In this important letter, Paul pointed out what Rome needed and what the whole world needs today.
God’s truth, not man’s lies - chapter 1 verses 1 to 3 verse 20. In the opening section of his letter, Paul first greeted the believers in Rome and compliment them on their solid faith and effective witness. He magnified Jesus Christ and the gospel. Then he put the Romans and other Gentiles on the witness stand and accused them of suppressing truth and believing lies (chapter 1 verses 18 to 32). Their man-made pagan religion with its many gods and goddesses, was certainly not true. The people could look around them at the natural world and know it had to be created and maintained by a great and glorious God. The pagan world not only suppressed the truth but also exchanged the truth for “the lie” (chapter 1 verse 25: 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 11). Note the emphasis Paul made on truth (chapter 1 verses 18, 25, chapter 2 verses 2, 8 and 20, chapter 15 verse 8). Paul used the word righteousness 65 times in Romans. There are multitudes of religious systems and philosophers in our world, but the only true worship of God is taught by the Spirit from the Holy Scriptures: “Indeed let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3 verse 4).
Paul also declared the Jews guilty of lacking the saving righteousness of God (chapter 2 verse 1 to chapter 3 verse 8). Their OT scriptures came from God and pointed the way to Christ and the NT scriptures clearly reveal to us Jesus Christ and the salvation found only in him. Merely keeping the law of Moses could never save either the Jewish sinner or the
Gentile. Both Jesus and the apostles had to explain to the Jews that keeping the law could never cleanse them of sin and they needed to put their faith in Jesus Christ who died for their sins. In chapter 3 verses 9 to 20 Paul wrapped up his case and declared that the whole world is guilty before God and needs a Saviour and that Saviour is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for the sins of the world. Apart from the cross there is no other way to have our sins forgiven and be guaranteed a home in heaven.
Faith in Jesus Christ, not human self-effort – chapter 3 verse 21 to chapter 4 verse 25. Paul
makes it clear that the law cannot cleanse us from sin. The law reveals sin like a mirror reveals a dirty face (Romans 7 verse 7; James 1 verses 22 to 24) but you don’t wash your
face in the mirror! Romans 7 tells us what the law does. The law not only reveals sin, it also arouses sin (chapter 7 verses 8 and 9) and ultimately produces death (chapter 7 verses 10 and 11). All of this shows how dangerous sin really is!
One of the key words in Romans is justification. Justification is the gracious act of God whereby he declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ. Don’t confuse justification with sanctification which is the process by which God makes the believer more and more like Christ. In Romans 4, Paul made it clear that justification is by faith and not good works (verse 1 to 8), by grace and not law (verses 9 to 17) and by Christ’s resurrection power and not
human effort (verses 18 to 25). We don’t work our way into heaven, but we do live a godly life because heaven has come to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. The law brings out the worst in us, but grace brings out the best in us!
The verse that summarizes this is “but the just will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2 verse 4: Romans 1 verse 17). It is also quoted in Galatians 3 verse 11 and Hebrews 10 verse 38. And it bears repeating: we are justified by grace – and not because we deserve it (Romans 3 verse 24). Instead, it is by faith and not by our good works (chapter 3 verse 28), comes by the blood of Jesus Christ (chapter 5 verse 9) and is unto eternal life now and forever (chapter 5 verse
18). Salvation is a wonderful gift!
The Spirit of life imparts the life of our Lord into our lives: “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8 verse 13). In scripture, adoption (verse 15) is not entering the family – we are born again into God’s family – but being given an adult stand in the family of God. Babies cannot talk, walk, work, inherit wealth, speak or carry burdens but adults can. The moment you were born into God’s family through faith in Christ, you were given an adult standing and can talk to your Father, understand what he says to you in the bible, do adult tasks, walk, battle – yes, all the adult privileges and responsibilities are yours! We have been given an adult standing in the household of faith and the Holy Spirit enlightens us and enables us day after day.
Salvation comes through substitution because Christ died in our stead, but transformation comes through identification: “I have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2 verse 20). When he died, my old self died with him; and when he arose, I arose with him into new abundant life. The world lives by imitation, one copying the other (Romans 12 verse 2); but Christians live by transformation, becoming more and more like Jesus. We are not “self-made”, but Spirit made! “Christ died for me” is salvation but “I died with Christ” is sanctification and transformation. To be identified with Christ through the Holy Spirit is the secret of the transformed life.
Others, not just ourselves – Romans 9 to 16. Once Paul completed explaining the transformed life, he immediately challenged his readers to get busy serving others. These chapters instruct us to pray for the salvation of God’s chosen people, Israel (chapters 9 to 11). Paul makes it clear that believers today are debtors to the Jews (chapter 15 verse 27) and that we should pray for their salvation and help get the salvation message to them.
But that isn’t the only “spiritual debt we have for Romans 1 verse 14 tells us we are debtors to a lost world and must pay that debt by our loving witness to the lost. We also are indebted to the Holy Spirit who lives within us (Romans 8 verses 12 to 15) and to weaker believers who need encouragement (chapter 15 verses 1 to 14). Good citizens are good witnesses.
1 Corinthians. Paul founded the church at Corinth and ministered there about 18 months. A populous and prosperous city, it was proud of who its people were and what they accomplished. The Corinthians were especially proud of their “wisdom”. But the city was also
known for its occupation (Romans 1 verses 18 – 32) and it was not easy to live the Christian life in such a place. Paul received personal letters telling of the church problems caused by some of the members, and he wrote the 2 Corinthians letters to correct their errors and
answer their questions. Corruption and confusion infected the church.
1. Corruption in the Church – chapters 1 to 6
A. Members were divided about leadership – chapter 1 verse 10 to 4 verse 21
B. One member had defiled the church (verse 5) The members were disputing and suing one another – chapter 6 verses 1 to 11
C. Some were defiling their bodies with immorality – chapter 6 verses 12 to 20
2. Confusion in the church – chapters 7 to 16
A. Concerning marriage – chapter 7
B. Concerning idols – chapters 8 to 10
C. Concerning church practices – chapter 11
D. Concerning spiritual gifts – chapters 12 to 14
E. Concerning the resurrection of the body – chapter 15
F. Concerning the love offering – chapter 16
The letter emphasises the local church – what it is, what it should do and how it should do it.
Paul gave us several images of the church: a family (chapter 3 verses 1 to 5, chapter 4 verse 15), a field (chapter 3 verses 6 to 9, a temple (chapter 3 verses 9 to 17), a loaf of bread (chapter 5 verses 6 and 7), a body (chapter 6 verse 15; chapter 12), an army (chapter 9 verse 7) and a team of runners (chapter 9 verse 25).
The first 9 verses of chapter 1, Paul described the church that the Lord made. But from verses 10 to 18 he focused on the church the people were building – and what he describes is not beautiful. The church’s problems were provided by the members of the church family! The spiritual leaders of the congregation were not faithfully teaching the people and uniting them in Jesus Christ. The city had gotten into the church and changed it when the church was supposed to change the city.
The church was divided because they fixed their eyes on human leaders and not on the Lord.
One family liked Paul, but their neighbours liked Apollos and another group liked Peter. Each group sounded spiritual, but their attitudes divided; and after all, the Lord did appoint apostles and other leaders to guide in the building of the church (Hebrews 13 verses 7 and 8, 13)
The words wise and wisdom in 1 Corinthians refers to the wisdom we receive from God by the Holy Spirit teaching us from the Scriptures. The “wisdom of this world” is not what feeds and directs God’s people and God’s work; it’s the wisdom that comes from God.
Acts 1 verse 15 – 26 tells us that the first church was united, consulted the scriptures and prayed before they selected their leaders. In contrast the city of Corinth was proud of their philosophers and their “wisdom” and Paul admonished them to get their wisdom from the Lord and not from the world. To attempt to build a spiritual church with only human ideas is to fail miserably, no matter how many people we attract.
In 1 Corinthians 3 verses 9 to 17, Paul compared the church’s ministry to constructing a building. Jesus Christ is the foundation (verses 6 to 11), and we must build with God’s wisdom in the scriptures – “gold, silver, precious stones” (verses 11 and 12), that which is permanent, not temporary. Throughout Paul’s 2 letters to the Corinthians church, you will find him issuing apostolic orders to the church and he expected the leaders to obey the word of God. Church discipline is not easy but at times it is essential. It is exercised for the sake of the offender (verses 1 to 5), the church (verses 6 to 8) and those outside the church (verses 9 to chapter 6 verse 8). The unsaved world watches the church and when we permit sin to bring scandal to the church, we are destroying our witness to the lost world. The church knew about the man’s sins and was even proud of their tolerance! Just as the Jews removed the leaven during Passover season, so the church must bring the sinner to repentance or remove
the sinner from the fellowship. Church discipline is not “religious punishment” but loving family discipline.
First Corinthians 13 is perhaps the most familiar chapter in the book. Paul intended it to
be read at church services and business meetings to remind the saints that love is the essential element if a church is to enjoy purity and unity. We are to “speak the truth in love”
(Ephesians 4 verse 15), for love without truth is hypocrisy and truth without love is brutality; God’s people must avoid both errors. 1 Corinthians 15 is perhaps the leading chapter on the doctrine of resurrection; the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection – nor do some “religious” today – but Paul defended it admirably.
2 Corinthians. Paul knew that his letter had wounded some of his Corinthians friends,
so he wrote another letter, 2 Corinthians. It opens with grace (chapter 1 verse 2), closes with grace (chapter 13 verse 14), and scatters grace in between. Paul repeats the words comfort and encourage, but the word suffering is there also (chapter 1 verses 3 to 11; chapter 4 verses 8 to 11, chapter 6 verses 4, 8 to 10; chapter 7 verse 5, chapter 11 verses 23 to 28; chapter 12 verses 7 to 10). However, Paul usually connected suffering with glory, so you will find that great word 21 times. His purpose in writing was to encourage his friends (and us) to stand firm in every difficult circumstance of the Christian life, trusting the Lord and seeking to glorify him. Paul certainly experienced his share of suffering, but he learned to depend on God’s grace (chapter 12 verses 1 to 13). He taught us in this letter that we can overcome discouragement by trusting the Lord for the grace of serving (chapters 1 to 7), the grace of giving (chapters 8 and 9) and the grace of obeying God’s will (chapters 10 to 13).
The first 7 chapters focus on the grace of serving “if I have suffered”, Paul wrote “it’s so God could comfort me and teach me how to comfort others!” Our Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer so that he might be a “merciful and faithful High Priest” and minister to us when we suffer (Hebrews 2 verses 17 and 18). Not all pain is punishing. Some of it is preparation for ministry. In 2 Corinthians 2 verses 13 to 16, Paul mentioned “the Roman triumph”, a very special parade to honour military heroes. When a Roman commander-in-chief and his army won a complete victory on foreign soil, killing at least 5000 enemy soldiers and gaining new territory for Rome, he and his men were honoured by this parade when they returned home.
For the Roman army, it meant honour and a victorious life, but for the prisoners, it meant facing the lions in the Coliseum. We may not have that kind of parade in this life but just wait until we get to glory! Our Lord Jesus has won the war, and we are on the side of victory.
Chapter 3 refers us back to the glorious, shining face of Moses (Exodus 34 verses 29 to 34).
Jesus had a shining face on the mount of transformation (Matthew 17 verse 2) and so did Stephen when he was martyred (Acts 6 verse 15).
In chapters 8 and 9 Paul discussed the love offering he was receiving from the Gentile churches to help the needy Jewish believers. He explained that giving is a grace, which means we give in spite of circumstances, resources and consequences. We must not give
grudgingly but willingly and enthusiastically, and it must come from the heart. We give by faith, even as the farmer sows seed by faith, trusting God to give the harvest. Every Christian must learn the grace of giving. The principles of giving are in chapter 8 and the promises we claim in chapter 9.
Paul closed his letter (chapters 10 to 13 with some very personal words from which we can learn a great deal. He appealed to the Corinthians to understand his ministry as an apostle, and he warned them that his enemies were saying things against him that were not true. Any man or woman who seeks to serve God faithfully will have critics and enemies from within the church. As an apostle, Paul had God-given authority to deal with troublemakers and was not afraid of them. His greatest enemies were those who claimed to be apostles but were only counterfeits. Paul hesitated to promote himself and boast about his ministry, but he had no alternative. He warned the Corinthians that he was coming to them in love but dealing with them with God-given authority. Like any good parent who disciplines a child for the child’s own good. Paul dealt with offenders in love, but he did so with honesty and authority.
In this closing section of the letter, for the first time he revealed his experience of going to heaven and coming back. To protect him from pride, the Lord gave Paul a thorn in the flesh and would not remove it. Just as children have “growing pains” during their adolescent years, so God’s faithful people have “growing pains” as they mature in their walk with the Lord. Authority must be balanced with love and humility and Paul had all 3. We should too.
Galatians. Paul had founded the churches in Galatia and taught the new believers the basics of church life, but some false teachers came along and told the fledgling Christians that faith wasn’t enough. Those instructors said that they also needed to obey the Mosaic law if they were to be genuinely saved (chapter 2 verse 16, chapter 3 verses 2 and 3, 10 to 14, chapter 4 verse 10, verse 21, chapter 5 verses 2 to 4, chapter 6 verses 12 to 15). The key verse is chapter 5 verse 1. Paul refuted those false teachers:
Biographical – Paul experienced the gospel (chapters 1 and 2)
Doctrinal – Paul defended the gospel (chapters 3 and 4)
Practical – Paul explained how to live the gospel (chapters 5 and 6)
The leaders of the Jerusalem church affirmed that he was truly born again and called to proclaim the gospel (Galatians 1 verse 18 to chapter 2 verse 10). When he confronted Peter, who was being inconsistent about the law and the gospel, Paul won the battle (chapter 2 verses 11 to 21).
To Paul simply to experience and declare the gospel wasn’t enough, he also defended it. He
appeals to the Galatian Christians personal experience with pointed questions in chapter 3 verses 1 to 9. Righteousness comes by faith and not by practicing the Mosaic law. In verse 11 he quotes from Habakkuk 2 verse 4 “But the just shall live by his faith”. The false teachers were denying both experience and scripture! Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation was saved by faith centuries before the law was even given (Galatians 3 verses 1 to 9, Genesis 15 verse 6). Why then was the law given? The law is like a mirror that shows us how dirty we are – but a mirror will never be able to clean your face (James 1 verses 21 to 27). The law reveals God’s holiness and our sinfulness, and we seek deliverance from bondage and condemnation – and the law leads us to Christ the only Saviour (Galatians 3 verse 24).
Paul points out clearly what the law cannot do:
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The law cannot justify the guilty sinner (chapter 2 verse 16, Romans 4 verse 5)
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The law cannot give righteousness (chapter 2 verse 21)
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The law cannot impart the Holy Spirit (chapter 3 verse 2)
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The law cannot give us an inheritance (chapter 3 verse 18)
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The law cannot give us life (chapter 3 verse 21
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The law cannot give us freedom (chapter 4 verses 8 to 10)
What the law cannot give us Jesus Christ can and he does it when we trust him. When the rich young ruler tired to keep the law, it brought him to Christ, but he refused to trust him.
What are the evidences that sinners who havetrusted Christ have salvation? For one thing, they receive a new life that brings freedom (Galatians 5 verses 1 to 15) and helps to produce spiritual fruit (verses 16 to 26). They have a new fellowship that enables them to bear others’ burdens and to share their burdens with others (chapter 6 verses 1 to 5). Love motivates them, not the law (chapter 5 verse 6, 13 to 14 and 22).They discover that the law brings fear, but grace brings joyful freedom and growing love for the Lord and his people – and the lost!
The point Paul sought to make is that faith unites us with Jesus Christ and his life, love and power; and these enable us to obey and glorify him. If you take the yoke of the law, you become a prisoner (chapter 5 verse 1, Acts 15) and a debtor (Galatians 5 verses 2 to 6).
The old nature knows no law – there is no law strong enough to change or control us – but the new nature needs no law! The Holy Spirit enables us to know God’s will and to obey it joyfully.
Let’s take our freedom seriously, guard it courageously and use it lovingly.
Ephesians. The key theme in Ephesians is “in Christ”, a phrase used 164 times in Paul’s
letters. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us (chapter 2 verse 22), we are “in Christ” and because we are “in Christ” we have all we need to live for Christ and serve him. All this and more is ours because of the “riches of his glory” (chapter 3 verse 16). Outline of Ephesians:
Enriched in Christ – chapter 1
Alive in Christ – chapter 2
United in Christ – chapter 3
Walking in Christ – chapter 4 to chapter 6 verse 9
Victorious in Christ – chapter 6 verses 10 to 24
Enriched in Christ – chapter 1. In Christ, we have been blessed with the riches of his grace, which means “every spiritual blessing … in Christ” (verse 3). Just as babies are born with all
they need for sustaining life and growth, so God’s children are “born again” with all need to mature in Christ, live for Christ and serve Christ. The word grace opens the book (verse 2), closes the book (chapter 6 verse 24) and shows up 10 more times in between. It has well been said that God in his mercy doesn’t give us what we do deserve but, in his grace, gives us what we don’t deserve. Praise the Lord!
The letter opens chapter 1 with a hymn of praise to the Trinity – the Father (verses 3 to 6), the Son (verses 7 to 12) and the Holy Spirit (verses 13 and 14). Our salvation involves the Father who chose us, the Son who died for us and the Holy Spirit who sealed us and dispenses our spiritual inheritance to us. All believers, if they are walking with Christ in the Spirit have the entire Godhead ministering to them!
There are 2 prayers in the letter. The first one (verses 15 to 23) asks the Lord for enlightenment “wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (verse 17); the second one (chapter 3 verses 14 to 21) asks for enablement, the ability to know God’s will and the power to do it. All this must be done in love.
Alive in Christ – chapter 2. Unsaved sinners are spiritually dead, but when they trust Christ, they are raised from the dead and given eternal life. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3 verse 36).
United in Christ – chapter 3. The word mystery has nothing to do with puzzles or obscure thinking. In the Bible a mystery is a secret truth, hidden by God and revealed later. Jesus taught the mysteries of the kingdom (Matthew 13), and Paul revealed the mystery of Jews and Gentiles united in one body (Galatians 3 verses 26 to 29; Colossians 3 verses 9 to 11). In Ephesians Paul alluding to this mystery, used the word together in chapter 1 verse 10, 2 verses 5 and 6, 21 to 22, and chapter 3 verse 6. We are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3 verse 28). That’s why Paul used phrases like “the whole building” (Ephesians 2 verse 21), “the whole family” (Ephesians 3 verse 15) and emphasized the oneness of the church.
Walking in Christ – chapter 4 to 6 verse 9. Dead people do not walk! Paul used the word walk to describe the Christian life because every child of God should be standing upright and
progressing in his or her spiritual life. This portion of Ephesians provides practical advice for walking as God intends and can be summarized as follows:
Walk worthy of your calling – chapter 4 verses 1 to 16
Don’t walk like unbelievers – chapter 4 verses 17 to 32
Walk in love – chapter 5 verses 1 to 6
Walk as children of light – chapter 5 verses 7 to 14
Walk in harmony – chapter 5 verses 18 to 6 verse 9: husbands and wives, chapter 5 verses 21 to 33, parents and children, chapter 6 verses 1 to 4, masters and servants, chapter 6 verses 5 to 9
Victorious in Christ – chapter 6 verses 10 to 24. This last “walk” deserves some comment: God’s people are soldiers whom our enemy Satan and his demonic forces attack. It’s important that we put on the armour of God by faith as we begin the day. Day or night, whenever we sense Satan at work, we can claim victory by faith. The word of God is our sword, and we must be able to recall the verses that meet our needs. The armours effectiveness depends on our faith in God’s promises. Claim protection and victory by faith and the Lord will give you both.
Philippians. Acts 16 recounts the founding of the church at Philippi. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter to thank the Philippian believers for the generous gifts, they had sent him. The letter is a treasury of inspired truth, with insights on Christian joy and Christian ministry being uppermost. It answers the important question, “What does Christian ministry involve?”
Ministry involves life and death – chapter 1. Paul wrote “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain (verse 21). Ministry isn’t a small part of life or even a big part of life, it’s all of life. We give ourselves to the Lord unconditionally, follow him faithfully and obey him joyfully. In our churches we may see the pastoral staff, officers and teachers as leaders, when in reality, they are servants – the servants of God and God’s people. They are following the example of Jesus who said, “I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22 verse 27). Paul wrote that he wanted Christ to be magnified in his ministry “whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1 verse 20) and he certainly had his share of trials and dangers (2 Corinthians 11 verse 16 to 12 verse 10). Paul had his friends in his heart (verse 7) and in his prayers (verses 9 to 11) and he was willing to give his life for the spread of the gospel and the glory of God. The world
doesn’t pay much attention to it but there are many prisoners and martyrs today for the cause of the gospel. We may not die because of our faith but we must be willing.
Ministry involves sacrifice and service – chapter 2. This chapter introduces us to 4 person who knew what it meant to sacrifice and serve our Lord Jesus Christ (verses 1 to 11), the apostle Paul (verses 12 to 18), Timothy (verses 19 to 24) and Epaphroditus (verses 25 to 30). We all need the “mind of Christ” when it comes to sacrifice and service. Jesus welcomed the children and blessed them. He helped the sick and afflicted. He shared the truth of God’s word and patiently taught his disciples. He willingly accepted the cross and suffered to save a lost world. His humility turned into honour and glory! Jesus must always be our example in everything we say and do. He was humble and the father honoured him with glory and reward his obedience with honour and power.
Paul suffered for his Lord (verses 12 to 18) and could “work out” God’s will because God was “working in him”. We are not manufacturers; we are distributors of what God shares with us. Paul went to the hard places, gave his best and the Lord blessed him.
Some bible students believe that Epaphroditus is the same man as Epaphras who helped found the church at Colosse (Colossians 1 verse 7, chapter 4 verse 12). Whether this is true or not, Paul thought highly of him and called him a brother, a fellow worker and a fellow soldier. While serving Paul in Rome he became ill and almost died. Epaphroditus knew something about sacrifice and service. What a great privilege it was for Timothy and Epaphroditus to labour with Paul.
As you read Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi you no doubt noticed his emphasis on joy. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter, ye the had “the joy of the Lord” in his heart and shared it with others.
Ministry involves gains and losses – chapter 3. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (verse 7). He was zealous for the Jewish faith and had authority to persecute and even imprison Jews who became Christians. His experience on the Damascus Road ended that, and the Jews started to persecute him! He lost favour with the Jewish religious leaders but experienced the favour of the Lord on his life and ministry. His self-righteousness disappeared and the righteousness of the Lord took over. He lost some friends but gained many more, including Gentiles! He lost tradition and ritual and gained truth and reality. He had new goals in life “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death” (verse 10). Loss and gain!
Verse 10 – 3 times Jesus took Peter, James and John apart from the other disciples: at the mount of transfiguration “that I may know him”; when raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead “and the power of his resurrection”; and while praying in the garden with Jesus “and the fellowship of his sufferings”. Mary of Bethany is also linked to this verse. She sat at his feet to hear the word “that I may know him”; she saw her brother raised from the dead “the power of his resurrection”; and she anointed Jesus for his death and burial “the fellowship of his sufferings.”
To stand still in the Christian life is only to go backward. Paul knew that he had not arrived at the ultimate stage in his spirituality so he pressed on by the grace of God and so should we. We should grow in the knowledge of Christ, in the power of Christ and in the suffering, we experience for and with Christ (chapter 1 verse 29). A stagnant Christian life is not a joyful or fruitful Christian life.
Ministry involves problems and peace – chapter 4. Euodia and Syntyche were not getting along but Paul didn’t give us the details. Whether we like it or not, debates, divisions and disgraces punctuate church history. Paul had a special affection for the believers in Philippi and he implored the 2 ladies to forgive each other and get back in fellowship with the Lord and the church family. He also wrote about those “whose god is their belly … who set their minds on earthly things “(verses 17 to 21). There is usually a group of # carnal Christians in a church – saved but not separated.
Paul ended his letter with warm and practical encouragement. The answer to all our needs and problems is faith in Jesus Christ. Worry – verses 6 and 7, task seems too difficult – verse 13, pressing need in your life – verse 19 is the key to having what God wants you to have.
Colossians. Paul didn’t found the church of Colosse but only heard the news that the Lord had blessed the work of Epaphras, possibly a member of the church at Ephesus. The saints in the Ephesian church were so faithful in their witness that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19 verse 10). But Paul also heard that problems developed in the church because false teachers had crept in and were causing trouble. Paul couldn’t go to Colosse and minister personally so he sent them this letter which is like a series of questions Paul would ask the members of the church.
Are you a Christian? Chapter 1 verses 1 to 14. In verses 1 to 8 Paul described the characteristics of true believers. They have faith in Christ, they love God’s people, and they look forward to Christ’s return – faith, hope and love. In other words, they have experienced God’s grace, and this leads to a “walk worthy of the Lord” (verse 10). They grow in their knowledge of the Lord and live by the power of the Lord. They know they are saved only by the blood of Christ (verse 14).
Do you really know Jesus? Chapter 1 verses 15 to 29. He is the eternal Son of God, the Creator of all things and the one who holds all things together. He is the head of the church whose death and resurrection made the church possible. But especially notice what our attitude toward Christ should be “that in all things he may have the pre-eminence (verse 18). Because he is Master of all things we are “complete in him” and possess through him all that we need for life, death and eternity. In both Galatians and Ephesians Paul declared that Christians are “one in Christ” and here in Colossians we are “complete in Christ” (Chapter 2 verse 10, chapter 4 verse 12). Jesus is beloved of the Father (chapter 1 verse 13) and the Saviour of the world (chapter 1 verses 21 to 23).
But why is it so important that we grow in our knowledge of Jesus? Because the better we know him the more we will love him and the more we love him the more we will obey him. In chapter 1 verses 24 to 29 Paul tells us he suffered as he served the church, constrained by a love for Christ (2 Corinthians 5 verse 14). We study the bible that we might know Jesus better and love him more. After all he is the Saviour of the world, having united believing Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.
Do you recognise and oppose the enemies of the church? Chapter 2 verses 1 to 19. People who mixed pagan philosophy with the Christian faith (verses 1 to 10) as well as Jewish legalism (verses 11 to 17), oriental mysticism (verses 18 and 19) and asceticism (verse 23) had infected the Colossian church. God’s truth needs no “seasoning” and attempts to please everybody only lead to disaster. Every believer should have “full assurance of understanding” based on the Word of the Lord (verse 2). To dilute the inspired word of God is to grieve the Spirit of God, divide the church of God, and rob us of the blessings of God that he wants to send his people. God’s “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” give all pre-eminence to Jesus Christ alone (verse 3). Paul warned that these false teachers try to deceive God’s people (verse 4), cheat them (verse8), judge them (verse 16) and defraud them (verse 18). Beware!
Do you know what the church’s doctrinal treasures are? Chapter 2 verse 20 to chapter 4 verse 6. Paul moved from the negative to the positive and exhorted the Colossians to relate everything to Jesus Christ and not meddle with the devil’s lies. When we trusted God as Saviour and Lord, we died with him and were raised to him to new life. Our identification with Jesus Christ is what makes it possible for us to draw upon his spiritual riches and walk to please him. Thus we become more and more like our Lord (Chapter 3 verses 5 to 10)! It makes for a unified and godly church when God’s people realise how rich they are in Christ and by faith, draw upon these riches (chapter 3 verses 11 to 17, Ephesians 1 verse 3). In chapter 2 verses 6 and 7 Paul reminded us that we are responsible to walk in Christ, be rooted in Christ and be built up and established in Christ. Every Christian is responsible to live like a Christian at home (chapter 3 verses 18 to 21), in the workplace (chapter 3 verse 22 to chapter 4 verse 1), in the prayer closet (chapter 4 verses 2 to 4) and in the community (chapter 4 verses 5 and 6).
What spiritual gift can you share with the church fellowship? Chapter 4 verse 7 and 18. A true church composed of real Christians is not a collection of religious cliques but a family of people who love the Lord and one another. Each person has at least one spiritual gift and should use it for the building of the church body. If a person unites with a local church but refuses to use the gift or gifts the Lord gave them, that person is not walking with the Lord – or perhaps not even born again!
CHAPTER 18 – LETTERS TO THE BELIEVERS – FIRST THESSALONIANS TO PHILEMON
First Thessalonians. On his second missionary journey, Paul planted the church in Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia (Acts 17 verse 1 to 9). In this letter, he sought
to stir up their memories of his ministry and what he had taught them (1 Thessalonians 1 verse 3, chapter 2 verse 9, chapter 3 verse 6). Memory is a gift from the Lord and the way we use it makes it either a marvellous tool or a merciless weapon. When Paul wrote these 2 letters, he asked the believers to use their memories and recall his ministry among them. Paul usually did things right and said things right for the first time and didn’t need to keep repeating and repairing things later. The outline of the first letter is quite simple:
Life: remember the beginning of the church – chapters 1 and 2
Truth: remember the admonitions I gave you –chapter 3 to chapter 4 verse 12
Love: remember the encouragements I gave you – chapter 4 verse 13 to chapter 5 verse 28
From the beginning, this church was an exemplary group of people shut that we would do well to emulate today (chapter 1 verses 3 to 10). Faith, hope and love are basic to an effective Christian life and so is power from the Holy Spirit. These new believers turned from the world and imitated Paul and his associates, men who were worthy of their trust. God blesses churches that have godly leaders. The Thessalonian believers received the word of God joyfully and shared the gospel with others in a wide area around them. They abandoned their idols and centred their new lives on Jesus Christ, who promised to come again.
After complimenting the church on its exemplary conduct and ministry, Paul reminded them that, when he was with them, his own life and work were exemplary (chapter 2). We produce after our kind and leaders must live the life; they want their people to live (1 Timothy 4 verse 12). Paul was a faithful steward of God’s word (1 Thessalonians 2 verses 1 to 6) and treated
the people as a loving mother cares for her children (chapter 2 verses 7 and 8). “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13 verse 8) and Paul’s love exemplified this. He was also like a faithful father (1 Thessalonians 2 verses 9 to 19). Paul was a tent maker and he earmarked some of the funds he needed for his ministry. When Paul had left Thessalonica, he was concerned about the church and sent Timothy back to see how things were going and to encourage the saints (chapter 3). Paul always prayed for the churches, and so should we. In chapter 4 verses 1 to 8, Paul warned the church to avoid the various forms of immorality that pervaded society in those days and are still with us today. Brotherly love is what he encouraged (chapter 3 verses 9 to 12).
Several people in the Thessalonian church were grieving because some of the number had died, so Paul reminded them of the Lord’s return (chapter 4 verse 13 to chapter 5 verse 11).
Knowing they would see Jesus, friends and loved ones would bring peace and comfort to their hearts. We don’t know when Jesus is coming but the fact that he is coming again should give us a living hope. We should live each day motivated by the promise “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another” (chapter 5 verse 11) are 2 very important “one another” statements in God’s word. We must be aware of others – their needs as well as their achievements – and be ready to encourage them.
Paul closed his letter with several important admonitions, some personal requests and a benediction. He emphasized God’s faithfulness to care for his people (chapter 5 verse 24). God is faithful to forgive us our sins when we confess them (1 John 1 verse 9), to chasten us (Psalms 119 verse 75), to deliver us (1 Corinthians 10 verse 13), to sympathise with us and our needs (Hebrews 2 verses 17 and 18, chapter 4 verses 14 to 16) and to keep his word
(Hebrews 10 verse 23).
Second Thessalonians. In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, each chapter ends with a reference to Jesus Christ’s return (chapter 1 verse 10, chapter 2 verse 19: chapter 3 verse 13, chapter 4 verses 13 to 18, chapter 5 verse 23). The believers were discussing their interpretations of this important doctrine but disagreed in their application. We see this because some of them had quit their jobs and become idle watchers for the Lord’s return (2 Thessalonians 3 verses 6 to 15). Any interpretations of bible doctrines that make us disobey clear bible commandments are false interpretations and must be rejected.
Knowing that one day we shall see Jesus and that our works will be judged, we ought to faithfully walk with the Lord, study and obey God’s word, pray, witness and give of what we have to the Lord’s work. Paul clearly stated that Satan today attacks the church with lies and the influence of counterfeit Christians. There are even counterfeit ministers (2 Corinthians 11 verses 13 to 16, 26) who teach false doctrines along with a false gospel (1 Timothy 4 verse 1; Galatians 1 verses 6 and 7). Not every fellowship that calls itself a church really is a church. Some are “a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2 verse 9). One day the “man of sin”, the “lawless one” will arise the Antichrist who, energized by Satan, will become a world ruler. The prefix anti-means both “against” and “instead of – counterfeit”. We must beware of false teachers and grow in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul strongly encouraged.
The phrase “Lord Jesus Christ” is used 11 times in 2 Thessalonians, for Paul always exalted the Saviour and the phrase “as you know”, or something similar, was used 9 times in his first letter to them (chapter 1 verse 5, chapter 2 verses 1, 5, 10 and 11, chapter 3 verses 3 and 4,
chapter 4 verse 2 and chapter 5 verse 2). Paul was reminding his readers that he had taught them, and if they were ignorant of what he was writing, it wasn’t his fault. Paul was saying in 2 Thessalonians “Christ is coming” (chapter 1) and “the lawless one” will be coming (chapter 2 verses 1 to 12), “so stay steadfast in your faith” (chapter 2 verse 13 to chapter 3 verse 15)
First Timothy. First and second Timothy and Titus are known a the “pastoral epistles” because Paul wrote to men who were establishing and leading local churches. The theme for all three is given in 1 Timothy 3 verse 15 “I write so that you may knowhow you ought to conduct yourself in the home of God.” Paul could have called the 3 letters “order in the church!” The word godliness is used 10 times in the pastorals, for a church becomes godly as the Lord works in and through godly people.
On Paul’s second missionary journey he met Timothy in Lystra, where the young man had a very good reputation as a believer. Paul “adopted” and mentioned him, and he became a valuable helper in Paul’s ministry. Timothy had a Jewish mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) and a Greek father (Acts 16 verses 1 to 5). Since Paul was God’s special missionary to
the Gentiles and Paul himself was a Jew, Timothy’s ancestry was an asset to the ministry.
Paul and Timothy both took 2 Timothy 2 verse 2 seriously and so should we. Churches today need more people who will take the time to mentor the coming generations.
A brief outline of 1 Timothy:
Ministry of God’s law and grace – chapter 1
Ministry and leadership – chapters 2 and 3
Ministry and apostasy - chapter 4
Ministry and the church family – chapter 5 verse 1 to chapter 6 verse 2
Ministry and money – chapter 6 verses 3 to 19
In this book, Paul confronted a problem we still face today. There were people who tried to maintain the old covenant with the new covenant that every believer has in Christ. We call them “Judaizers” or “legalists”. They claimed to find deep truths in “fables and endless genealogies”. The law was not written to save the righteous but to convict the unrighteous and bring them to Jesus. The law is our tutor to bring us to Christ. The sinners Paul mentioned have been in human society a long time and are with us today. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to deal with these false teachers and keep them from dividing the church and minimalizing the gospel of God’s grace. Paul’s personal testimony in chapter 1 verses 12 through 20 was enough to refute the false teachers. If anyone was a lost legalist, it was Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of the church!
Paul wasn’t’ just giving Timothy good advice; he was declaring war on the false teachers (verses 18 to 20). In the Greek language, the word charge is a military term that means “to give strict order that must be obeyed” (chapter 1 verse 3, 5, 18, chapter 4 verse 11, chapter 5 verse 7, chapter 6 verse 13 and 17). It’s obvious that some churches in Timothy’s sphere of ministry were following unqualified leaders and believing unbiblical theology and Timothy had to “clean house”. We preach the grace of God, and we encourage leaders and teachers to focus on that grace.
The pastoral epistles give us the qualifications for holding office in the local church and they were given for us to obey. Chapters 2 and 3 tell us clearly that those who fill church offices must be the best of the flock. Paul pictured the church as a family (“the house of God” chapter 3 verse 15) in which the pastor sees the younger men as brothers, the younger women as sisters, the older men as fathers and the older women as mothers. No family is perfect, but love accepts people (chapter 1 verse 5), prays for them and encourages them to mature in the faith. In Christ we belong to each other, we need each other, and we serve each other. The leaders must make sure that the pure doctrine of God’s grace is preached and taught (chapter 1 verse 20, chapter 2 verse 7, 12, chapter 3 verse 2, chapter 4 verse 1, 6, 13, 16, chapter 5 verse 16, chapter 6 verses 1 to 3). Paul used the phrase “sound doctrine” which means “healthy doctrine” (1 Timothy 1 verse 10, 2 Timothy 1 verse 7, 13, chapter 4 verse 3, Titus 1 verse 9, 13, chapter 2 verses 1, 2 and 8).
In the final chapter, Paul dealt with a problem that has caused much trouble in the lives of God’s servants – the love of money. God’s servants have not always been adequately supported by the congregation and this sometimes creates painful problems. Pastors have families to support and if they are faithful in their ministry, they should be adequately supported (1 Timothy 5 verse 17 and 18). “Double honour” can be translated “twice as much salary”. But God’s servants aren’t the only people tempted by money, for church members commit the same sin (Acts 5 verses 1 to 11).
Paul’s final words to Timothy reveal the dangers we must confront in ministry “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust” (chapter 6 verses 20 and 21). We are stewards of God’s word, and the enemy would like to rob us of that. To lose focus on the word of God is to empty the ministry of power and truth.
Paul cautioned Timothy against being oversensitive (2 Timothy 1 verse 4), timid (verses 7 and 8) and inattentive to his health (1 Timothy 5 verse 23).
Second Timothy. Paul’s last inspired letter sent to his beloved co-labourer Timothy, his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1 verse 2) and his “beloved son” (2 Timothy 1 verse 2). Paul filled this letter with admonitions relating to Timothy’s ministry for Paul was more concerned with the future of the churches than he was his own life. He was “ready to be offered” (see chapter 4 verse 6) for he knew he was going to meet the Lord in heaven. He saw his death as the pouring out of a drink offering to the glory of God.
Stir up your gift and hold fast to sound words. When Timothy devoted himself to the ministry
of the word of God, the Lord gave him the spiritual gifts he needed for the fork God had for him to do. How important it is that we walk with the Lord daily and keep our gifts in working order! This means spending time in the word of God and being filled with the Spirit of God. Paul had written in his first letter “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4 verse 14). Now he added “Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1 verse 6). The Holy Spirit does not leave us when we fail (John 14 verse 16), but he cannot fill us, empower us and use us if we neglect our spiritual lives. Sometimes, the Lord must put us into difficult circumstances so we will realise how much we need to be stirred up! With the Spirit’s help we must “hold fast” to what the Lord has given us and use our gifts to glorify him, build the church and extend the kingdom. We must feed on “healthy words”” and not permit lies to infect our system. We see an example of this in 1 and 2 Timothy. The Lord gave the living, healthy words to Paul (1 Timothy 1 verse 11) and Paul gave them to Timothy (verse 18) and told him to guard them (chapter 6 verse 20). Timothy was to give these words to others (2 Timothy 2 verse 2) and the blessed result is that the church grows in holiness and power.
Be strong and be diligent. The grace of God is the source of the believer’s power. We may feel weak and inadequate, but our weakness becomes strength if we are trusting in the Lord – “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12 verse 9). Note that Paul compares God’s people to soldiers (2 Timothy 2 verses 3 and 4) and athletes (verse 5) and both demand
discipline and determination. Comparing soldiers and winning athletes give themselves to their calling and willingly accept discipline and hardship and so must God’s people. Paul also compares us to farmers who must sow the seed into prepared soil, care for it and know when to reap the harvest. Farmers also need patience (James 5 verse 7), as do soldiers and athletes.
Turn Away! Paul wrote this letter centuries ago, yet his description of the apostates (those who turn from the true faith) is quite contemporary. God’s servants must not jeopardize their testimony by being influenced by apostate professed believers. Apostates have a form of godliness but have no connection with divine power. The emphasis in the local church must be on the doctrines given by the Lord and preached by the early church. There are people always seeking “some new thing” (Acts 17 verse 21) who fail to hold on to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, “Forever O Lord, your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119 verse 89).
Be watchful. The day is here when congregations have no appetite for the word of God. They
seem to want carnal entertainment rather than spiritual enlightenment and enrichment. Keep your eyes open! Satan is a counterfeiter and knows how to plant fake Christians in solid evangelical churches. God’s people must obey what Paul commanded in 2 Timothy 4 verses 1 to 5 and stay focused on sound doctrine.
Paul’s “farewell service” in chapter 4 verses 6 to 8 is a masterful expression of separation in the believer’s life. We are not obligated to “fellowship” with every professed Christian. We need not become enemies, but we must be careful to maintain a clear testimony lest we lead others astray by our compromise. The Lord has a ministry designed for each of us, and we must fulfil that ministry. It is possible to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4 verse 15) even as our Lord spoke to those who hated him.
The Lord wants us to be good ministers of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4 verse 6), no matter what vocation we have chosen. Paul pointed this out to Timothy in his first letter. A good servant of Jesus Christ will have a good conscience (chapter 1 verse 5), fight a good warfare (chapter 1 verse 18), pray for others (chapter 2 verses 1 to 3), desire good works (chapter 3 verse 1) and maintain a good testimony (chapter 3 verse 7). We should be good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2 verse 3) and fight a good fight against the enemy (chapter 4 verses 7 and 8).
Paul and his young associate could have struggled with a “generation gap” and created all sorts of problems but they worked harmoniously and happily.
Titus. Paul led Titus to Christ, trained him and sent him to minister in some difficult situations. Paul gave the same instructions and admonitions to Titus that he wrote to Timothy. In chapter 1 verses 5 to 9 Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders to direct the work of the church in chapter 1 verses 10 to 16 he instructed him to deal with the troublemakers in the church. Notice that church officers do not hold an office or fill it but use it to serve the Lord and his people. In chapter 2 verses 1 to 10 Paul cautioned Titus to preach sound, “healthy” doctrine to men and women, old and young and make sure no false teachers crept into the church.
Verses 11 to 15 in chapter 2 are very important because they emphasize the grace of God. Nobody can be saved apart from the grace of God; nor can anyone serve the Lord without his grace. Grace not only brings salvation; it gives us the wisdom and knowledge we need to serve the Lord and help his people mature in the faith. Titus 1 verse 9 and chapter 2 verse 1 stress the preaching of sound doctrine and this means spiritual enrichment and not religious entertainment. The leaders are to encourage spiritual growth by being examples (chapters 2 verses 7 and 8).
Paul wisely advised us to treat the church members according to their needs as members according to their needs as members of the church family. Some people might be critical, but you should treat them as if they were your own family and love them and listen to them (1 Timothy 5 verses 1 and 2). Newer Christians may have a lot to learn but supporting their imaginative, yet godly ideas might usher a fresh sense of God’s word. First Timothy 4 verse 12 clearly states: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” We need God’s grace working in our own hearts to be able to deal with the problems (and problem people) that are a part of every local church. We must take Paul’s words about grace (Titus 2 verse 11 to 3 verse 11) seriously and let the grace of God teach us to build and strengthen the people of God.
Paul’s final words (chapter 3 verses 12 to 15) tells us that he had several associates who assisted him in the ministry in different places. Paul was not a loner; he believed in teamwork. Paul didn’t issue orders an insist on his own plans. He sought God’s will, he had basic principles of ministry that he would not change, and he worked together with his fellow servants. He depended on the Lord, he recognised and appreciated the assistance of others, and he gave the Lord all the glory.
Philemon. The apostle Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote the letter to Philemon, but the roles he played in the particular event he related are most interesting. Paul knew how to utilize every opportunity to win the lost and encourage the saved. First, we meet Paul the soul-winner, who had led Philemon his wife, and his son to faith in Jesus Christ. This resulted in their starting a church in their house (verse 2). We get the impression that Philemon was well-off and had assisted Paul in the past. Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, had robbed his master and fled to Rome. In the Lord’s providence, Onesimus (“profitable”) met Paul in prison, and Paul led him to faith in Christ.
This leads us to Paul the intercessor. God had brought Paul and Onesimus together, but it appears that both men expected to be released soon (verses 12, 22). Paul considered Philemon his “partner” in ministry (verse 17) and expected him to be concerned for the welfare of his disobedient slave, now a child of God. Being an apostle of the Lord, Paul could have commanded his friend Philemon, but he preferred to appeal to him in love (verses 8 and 9). He asked his friend to receive Onesimus and forgive him for what he had done. Paul set a good example here for all of us to follow. Remember Jesus and the woman taken in adultery? He said to her “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8 verse 11). Never underestimate the power of prayer and personal forgiveness.
But there is more, for we have Paul the insurer. He made it clear to Philemon that, if Onesimus owed him anything, Paul would pay the debt (verses 17 to 20). Note that Paul wrote this letter personally, so it was like a promissory note that guaranteed payment. This reminds us of our Lord Jesus Christ’s relationship to us in salvation. God the Father put the guilt of our sins on his son when Jesus died for us on the cross. The Father credited it to his account! Each time we observe the Lord’s Supper we are being reminded that we are too poor to pay the price of our salvation, but that Jesus paid it for us.
Paul didn’t consider Onesimus just another convert because in verse 10 he called him “my son Onesimus whom I have begotten”. Because of his faith in Jesus, Onesimus went from a slave to a beloved brother in Christ.
CHAPTER 19 – LETTERS ESPECIALLY TO JEWISH BELIEVERS – HEBREWS AND JAMES We must never forget that the first believes were Jews and their missionary ministry took the message of the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 2, 10 to 11, 15). A knowledge of the Pentateuch is a key to understanding the book of Hebrews. Keep in mind that the epistle to the Hebrews tells us what Jesus is doing now in heaven as he ministers to his church. Master the book of Hebrews and the Lord will have an easier time mastering your life. Hebrews. As the early church grew in numbers, both Jews and Gentiles were in the membership. The Gentiles had nothing to lose except their idols and a confusion of religious lies, but the Jews had centuries of history behind them; a temple and a priesthood in Jerusalem, a system of sacrifices and a calendar of religious events that controlled religious life. The Jewish believers were helping write New Testament history, but some of them didn’t quite know what to do with the Old Testament. However, believers today, both Jews and Gentiles, have a complete bible and can learn that the Old Testament prepares the way for the New Testament and sheds great light on the life of Jesus, the theology of the apostles, and the ministry of the church. The Jews boasted of their physical birth (“Abraham is our father”) while the believers experienced a spiritual rebirth. Israel has an earthly inheritance, but Christians have a spiritual inheritance. Israel had a priesthood, but every believer is a priest (Revelation 1 verse 6). The Jews offered many sacrifices day after day, but our Lord offered “one sacrifice for sins forever” (Hebrews 10 verse 12). A veil hung between the Jewish worshippers and the Lord but when Jesus offered himself on the cross, that veil was torn from top to bottom. This means we have access to the Lord through our risen and glorified Saviour. In every way, the Christian believer’s position is superior to that of the most religious Jews. At least 13 times in Hebrews, you will find the word better (or superior), for Hebrews was written to convince the readers that the Christian life was far superior to the Jewish life or the life that attempts to mingle Christianity with Judaism. The writer of Hebrews proved that Jesus is superior to the angels (chapter 1 verse 4). He offers a superior hope (chapter 7 verse 19) and gives us a superior covenant (chapter 7 verse 22) with superior promises (chapter 8 verse 6). He offered himself as a superior sacrifice (chapter 9 verse 22) and promises his people life in a superior country (chapter 11 verse 16). The old covenant priests and Levites offered identical sacrifices day after day because animal blood cannot atone for human sin. But our Lord’s one sacrifice for sin at Calvary settled the matter forever. The book of Hebrews is filled with several challenging themes, such as the “let us” statement in chapter 4: “let us fear” (verses 1 to 5); let us understand (verses 6 to 10); let us be diligent (verses 11 to 13); “let us hold fast” (verses 14 and 15); and “let us … come boldly” (verse 16). Chapter 8 explains the superiority of the new covenant. It is ministered by a superior high priest (verses 1 and 2) in a superior sanctuary (verses 3 to 5) and is based on superior promises (verses 6 to 13). How is the heavenly sanctuary superior? Chapter 9 tells us. The earthly sanctuary was made by man, but God made the heavenly sanctuary that was the pattern for the tabernacle on earth (verse 9). The blood of Jesus presented in the heavenly sanctuary dealt effectively with sin and gives cleansing while in the earthly sanctuary sin was covered by an animal’s blood (verses 12 to 15). Additionally, what was limited to Israel is now available to the whole world (John 1 verse 29). Hebrews 8 verse 5 reminds believers that they relate to that which is heavenly; therefore, they should set their affection and attention on things above (Colossians 3 verse 2). We have a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3 verse 1; chapter 8 verse 5) and have tasted of the heavenly gift (chapter 6 verse 4). Our destiny is a heavenly country (chapter 11 verse 16) because we have a heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3 verse 20; Luke 10 verse 20) and we will receive a heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1 verse 4). This is part of our heavenly hope (Colossians 1 verse 5). Hebrews reveals that Jesus is in heaven today with the Father but what is he doing? For one thing he is speaking to his people through his word (Hebrews 1 verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 3; chapter 12 verse 25). He is helping us know his will and is guiding us, so we know how to obey him for his glory. Paul said of the Lord “See that you do not refuse him who speaks” (chapter 12 verse 25). It isn’t only the pastor and the Sunday school teachers who must hear his word, but each believer must spend time daily in the inspired word of God. Many voices demand our attention these days, but the most important is that of Jesus, as the Spirit teaches us from the bible. Our Lord is also sustaining and upholding all things (Hebrews 1 verse 3). He holds everything up, so it won’t fall and holds everything together, so it won’t come apart (Colossians 1 verse 17). He brings everything along on the right path at the right time so that it reaches his appointed goal. Jesus is speaking and upholding, but he is also sitting (Hebrews 1 verse 3). Where? On a throne in heaven (Isaiah 6 verse 1; Revelation 3 verse 21). His work of redemption is ended, and he is now building his church and working in and through his people to accomplish his purposes on earth. Hebrews 2 verse 10 tells us he is “bringing many sons to glory”. No matter what the enemy may do, none of his sheep will be lost (see 1 Peter 5 verse 10 and John 10 verses 27 to 29). This leads us to the fact that Jesus is sympathising with his people (Hebrews 4 verses 14 to 16). Because our Lord had a human body and lived with people and knew theirs pains and problems, He was (and is) able to encourage them and heal them. Jesus is also waiting expectantly (chapter 10 verses 11 to 14, Psalm 110 verses 1 and 2). At the right time, he will return, come for his church and ultimately defeat his enemies and establish his kingdom. As he waits, he is preparing. He’s preparing a city and a home for his people (chapter 11 verse 16; John 14 verse 1 to 6). He is equipping us for the ministry we will have in the world to come (Hebrews 13 verses 20 to 21). What that ministry is and how we will handle it depends on our service to the Lord today. Finally, the Lord is serving sinners and praying for the saints (chapter 7 verse 25). We can turn to him in faith and receive the grace we need, and we can pray that the seed we have planted will bear fruit. Our work down here now depends on our faith and faithfulness and our greatest desire should be to glorify the Lord. In the early years of the church, some of the Jewish people didn’t want to abandon their ancient faith and turn to Christ because they thought they were losing too much, when actually they would be gaining for Jesus Christ would be their unchanging High Priest (chapter 4 verses 14 to 16). Not only do we have a High Priest, but “we have … an anchor” which is hope (chapter 6 verses 13 to 20). We also have an altar (chapter 13 verses 9 and 10) where we can give acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. That altar is Jesus Christ for it is “by him” that we offer sacrifices (chapter 13 verses 15 and 16). This would include our sacrifices of praise (chapter 13 verse 15), of good works (chapter 13 verse 16), of our bodies (Romans 12 verses 1 and 2) and of the money and other material things needed for the Lord’s work (Philippians 4 verse 18). We have a city (Hebrews 13 verse 14) and will dwell there and serve the Lord forever. Whatever we may lose because we are following Jesus Christ, it will be more than compensated for by what he gives to us in return for all eternity. Keep in mind that the epistle to the Hebrews is part of the “team” of bible books that quote Habakkuk 2 verse 4 “The just shall live by his faith”. There are 3 strategic “without” verses in Hebrews – “without shedding of blood there is no remission” (chapter 9 verse 22); “without faith it is impossible to please him” (chapter 11 verse 6); and “holiness without which no-one will see the Lord.” (chapter 12 verse 14). James. He was the “bishop” of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12 verse 17; 21 verse 18) and a half-brother to Jesus (Matthew 13 verse 55; Mark 6 verse 3; Galatians 1 verse 19). Before our Lord’s death and resurrection, James and his brothers were unbelievers (John 7 verses 1 to 5), but they did come to the faith. James sent his letter to Jewish believers “scattered abroad” who were experiencing trials and needed some errors corrected. The word brethren is used 19 times. Outline of the letter: Temptations and trials – chapter 1 verses 1 to 18 Doers of God’s word – chapter 1 verse 19 to 27 Basic theology – chapter 2 The tongue – chapter 3 Admonitions – chapters 4 and 5 The Christian life is not easy. We experience testing around us and temptations within us and we must fight the world, the flesh and the devil. One of the weapons James suggests we learn to use is joy. We should rejoice that we are being tested because that testing is proof that we’re really born again. Not only that, but uncomfortable trials help us to build character (Romans 5 verse 1 to 5). The word perfect means “mature, under control”. If we turn our circumstances over to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will help us get the victory. If I don’t surrender my mind to the Lord and let him take over, I will find myself unstable and therefore unable. Our desire in life must be to glorify God and not just to please ourselves. God may permit us to be tempted and he may test us, but he also permits us to trust him for victory if we turn to him. Satan may use our desire for wealth as bait to lead us astray. The hunger in our hearts feeds our desire and tempts us to disobey the Lord. If we aren’t careful, we will start tempting ourselves! God always gives his children good gifts, while Satan gives what seems to be good but ends up being bad. The same word of God that gives us our spiritual birth also enables us to defeat the enemy when he tempts us. When Satan tempted Jesus, the Lord defeated him with 3 verses from Deuteronomy. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119 verse 11). The word of God is a weapon Satan cannot overcome, but our responsibility is to know it, obey it and trust it. James admonished us in verses 19 and 20 of chapter 1 to receive the word, not to lose our temper and not to talk too much. Chapter 2 points us to the Son of God (verses 1 to 4), the grace of God (verses 5 – 7), the word of God (verses 8 to 11) and the judgment of God (verses 12 and 13). All of these are necessary if we are to mature in the faith and serve the Lord for his glory. James warned us that our speaking about God is no substitute for our hearing God’s word and obeying God’s will (verses 14 – 26). Living faith results in faithful living but “faith without works is dead” (verse 26). If the Spirit dwells within us, then we must obey what God commands “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5 verse 16). If our walk isn’t consistent with our talk, will anybody believe what we say? In chapter 4 James warned us of 4 sins that we might commit but not even recognise. The first is selfishness (verses 1 to 4). Worldliness is the next of James’ warnings (verses 4 to 5). God’s people must be separated from the world. If we become friendly with the worldly life (verse 4), our next step will be to love the world (1 John 2 verses 15 to 17) and decrease our love for the Lord. The world will then leave its spots on us (James 1 verse 27), which leads to being conformed to the world (Romans 12 verses 1 and 2). All of this could lead to being condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11 verse 32). Note the sins that follow: stubbornness (James 4 verses 6 and 7), carelessness (verse 8) and bitterness (verses 11 to 17). In chapter 5 warns us about living for pleasure (verse 1 to 6), being impatient (verses 7 to 12) and losing power in our prayer life (verses 14 to 20). If we turn these negatives into positives (living for God, patience, and empowered prayer), we will enjoy victory. One of the keys to spiritual victory is a daily habit of looking into the word of God. James compares it to a mirror for examination (chapter 1 verses 22 to 26). The laver in the Old Testament tabernacle was made out of the brass mirrors of the Jewish women (Exodus 38 verse 8). The laver was for restoration, enabling the priests to wash their hands and feet and be clean before the Lord. The “mirror” of the word is not only for examination and restoration; it is also for transformation. CHAPTER 20 – THE LAST WORDS OF THE APOSTLES – FIRST PETER TO REVELATION First Peter. His 2 epistles reveal his love and concern for the people of God. In this first epistle he aims to prepare God’s people for the impending persecution that the Roman government would unleash (chapter 4 verses 12 to 19) and in his second epistle, he warned the churches about the false teachers who were stealthily creeping into the congregations and causing trouble. How do we prepare for opposition and persecution? Peter gave us 5 instructions to obey. Being sure of your salvation – chapter 1 verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 10. Persecution usually cleanses a congregation and separates the sheep from the goats. It strengthens the true believers and the rest grow weaker and afraid. Peter opened his letter (verses 1 to 5) with theology because what we believe helps control how we behave. Words like elect, foreknowledge, sanctification, and mercy are more than words. They are keys that unlock the doors to the spiritual blessings that keep us going when the going is hard and even dangerous. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have eternal life and “a living hope” (chapter 1 verse 3). Trouble is coming to the church but if we know who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ, we can face the enemy unafraid – even in the midst of persecution. Maintaining a Godly walk – chapter 2 verses 11 to 15. “We ought to obey God rather than men” Peter said to the Jewish court (Acts 5 verse 29) when persecution was starting in Jerusalem. In his letter, Peter made it clear that we are to respect those in authority even if we disagree with them, but obedience to the Lord comes first. We are to obey the law unless in so doing we disobey the Lord. Peter presents Jesus Christ as the greatest example of obedience, an obedience culminating at Calvary, where he died for the sins of the world. Serving God involves sacrifice and at times, we can’t do God’s will unless we are willing to pay a price. We must take up our cross and follow Jesus. A godly walk-in everyday life is a witness in itself. Sometimes it’s misunderstood, but for the most part, it is a light shining in a dark world. Maintaining a Godly home – chapter 3 verses 1 to 7. A godly home, with nothing to hide, presents a powerful witness to the lost, many of whom may be struggling with uncooperative or rebellious children – or perhaps it’s the parents who aren’t co-operating. The word submissive (chapter 3 verse 1) in this passage irritates some people, but husbands and wives submit to each other in various ways. The phrase “heirs together” in chapter 3 verse 7 means the Lord is the giver and the couple are the receivers of his blessing. This could also refer to the gift of children. But it goes farther, for as husband and wife work together in building their family and home, they depend on the Lord more and more. “Heirs together” beautifully describes a Christian couple, walking with the Lord and leading their children. Understanding suffering – chapter 3 verse 8 to chapter 4 verse 19. Suffering in the life of the Christian is different from the sufferings of the average person, for the Lord is in control and we can work with him, in experiencing spiritual growth and blessing. In the believer’s life, suffering is one of the Lord’s “tools” for moulding us, removing personal weaknesses and strengthening our faith, hope and love. A judge punishes a guilty criminal, but a loving parent chastens a disobedient child. Many times, in church history the Lord used suffering to mature his people and to prepare them for greater service. James wrote “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1 verse 2). Why rejoice in trials? Because if we walk by faith, they will mature us and help us grow in faith and obedience. Joseph’s years in prison turned a boy into a man as did David’s experiences when King Saul was pursuing him. If we deliberately sin against the Lord, we may reap a painful harvest but if we are obeying the Lord and we find ourselves in trouble, this may be our Father’s loving hand of chastening – helping us grow in grace and holiness. Submitting to God’s will – chapter 5 verses 1 to 14. This closing chapter speaks especially to the church’s spiritual leaders, what Peter calls “the shepherds of the flock”. The sheep are safe and secure so long as they recognise the shepherd’s voice and obey it. If they disobey, they are in danger. You don’t drive sheep you lead them, and leaders must be good examples. The Holy Spirit is willing to teach us God’s will from God’s word and we must be willing to obey. When it comes to knowing and doing the will of God, Satan our enemy seeks to confuse us and take us off the right path. One of these chief weapons is pride. He convinces us that we are so mature that we need not consult God’s word or take time to pray or to seek wisdom from our elders. Peter advised “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5 verse 6). All of us have cares and the Lord is willing to help us carry them, understand them and ultimately remove them. Paul suffered a thorn in the flesh and asked God to remove it, but God did just the opposite! He turned Paul’s weakness into strength (2 Corinthians 12 verses 7 to 10)! The will of God is an expression of the love of God. “The counsel of the Lord stand forever, the plans of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33 verse 11). God plans for us like this because he loves us, and we obey because we love him. Second Peter. In his first lesson, Peter sought to encourage and prepare the scattered believers concerning the persecution that the Roman emperor was planning to release against the churches. But in his second letter, Peter warned the believers to have nothing to do with the false teachers who were infecting local assemblies with their heresies. In chapter 1 verses 12 to 15 Peter knew his own time was short, just as Jesus had told him years before (John 21 verses 15 to 19). Before he gave his life for the cause of Christ, he wanted to warn the churches about those counterfeit Christians. If you knew your life were about to end, what special messages would you want to give to your friends and loved ones? Peter’s message can be summarised in 3 admonitions. Be diligent – chapter 1 verses 1 to 21. Whether they know it or not, careless Christians are working for the enemy and not for the Lord. Peter exhorts his readers to be diligent and to “grow up” in their spiritual life (verse 1 to 4). When they were born again into God’s family, they received “all things that pertain to life and godliness” through the power of God and had everything they needed to become mature Christians. It’s easy to deceive children but mature people can quickly detect a fraud. We have the word of God before us and the Spirit of God within us to teach us. Verses 5 through 8 describe the maturing Christian and verse 9 the immature one. Careless Christians can’t see and can’t remember! It takes time and diligence to grow in grace and knowledge and get equipped to fight the enemy and win. In verses 16 through 21, Peter reaffirms the trustworthiness of the word of God, for God’s word is our basic manual of arms and our weapon for spiritual warfare (Hebrews 4 verse 12, Ephesians 6 verses 10 to 20). Peter reminded his readers that he had lived and ministered with the Lord Jesus Christ and didn’t get his facts second hand. He mentioned the rich experience he and James and John had on the mountain when Jesus was transfigures and the Father spoke from heaven (Matthew 17 verses 1 to 13). And I can enjoy similar experience. I can read my bible and hear God speaking to me. The Spirit can reveal the glory of Jesus Christ. All the inspired writers of the bible help us see and hear the truth of God’s word and obey what the Lord tells us to do. Peter describes careless believers as short-sighted, blind and forgetful (2 Peter 1 verse 9). Be delivered – chapter 2 verses 1 to 22. False teachers intend to take control of churches others have built and lead them astray, and the teachers of truth must guard themselves and protect these congregations. The heretics don’t teach truth, nor do they respect God’s servants, yet many people follow them (chapter 2 verse 2). Often, the motive of these liars, of course, is to get money (verse 3). Unless the congregation is well taught and submissive to their Lord and their leaders, the invaders might take over the church. Peter knew his Old Testament scriptures and pointed out that the Lord often defeated the liars and upheld his own faithful people. When the ancient world forgot the Lord and rebelled against the godly life he required, God sent the flood and saved 8 people: Noah and his family. God rescued Lot and his 2 daughters from the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord knows his own faithful people and can protect them and deliver them. Peter didn’t mince words when he described the false teachers (verses 10 to 17). They may be smooth talkers and pleasant to talk to privately, but they still deceive and destroy lives, and God is able to deliver his servants from the power of the evil one. Be mindful and beware! Chapter 3 verses 1 to 18; see verses 2 and 17. We must be mindful of the truths we have learned from the scriptures and beware of the false teachers’ deceptions lest we get trapped, start believing false doctrines and tear down what the Lord wants built up. Bible-rejecting churches exist today that once were centres of evangelism, bible teaching, worship and wide ministry. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen, primarily because the true believers were not mindful of what was going on and opposing it. Beware! The same tragedy has occurred with schools that were once evangelical and sought to win the lost. Today they joke about evangelism, absolutes and the devotional life. The day of the Lord will arrive and those who have abandoned the faith will face judgment. Let’s instruct the next generations and prepare them to carry on the ministries of evangelism, church planting, Christian education, missions and helping the needy. Peter warned us that professed Christians can “fall from their own steadfastness” (chapter 3 verse 17) and deny the very teachings they once defended. How do we remain steadfast? “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. And be sure he gets the glory! The first epistle of John. The apostle John didn’t arrange his first epistle as neatly as he did his gospel. Reading this epistle is like walking up a circular staircase and meeting the same people at almost every turn. John wrote on about a dozen different topics and each statement either emphasized an old truth or introduced a new truth. Led by the Spirit, he wrote as though he was holding up a large, beautiful diamond and was causing rays of sunlight to produce different shapes and colours. John wanted us to pause and ponder and not think we have already covered that topic and can move on. Life. John began by affirming that he had seen eternal life manifested in Jesus Christ (chapter 1 verses 1 to 2, chapter 2 verse 25, chapter 3 verses 14 to 16, chapter 5 verses 11 to 13, 20). It was not a vision or a dream but a “hands-on” experience day after day. John wrote about reality. God had come to earth in living human form! “In the beginning was the Word” opens John’s gospel and his statement in 1 John 1 and 2 parallels it. Jesus is the eternal word, the living word that imparts life to all who hear and believe. John opened and closed this letter with eternity. Fellowship. For 3 years the apostles lived with Jesus, ate with him, travelled with him, watched him minister and listened to him teach divine truth (chapter 1 verses 3 and 7). The word fellowship means “to have in common”. Different kinds of people comprise the church, people who nevertheless have in common eternal life, the Holy Spirit within and a home in heaven. They worship and work together to the Lord’s praise and glory. John wrote his gospel so that sinners would believe and enter the fellowship (John 20 verse 310 and he wrote this epistle so that saved sinners might enjoy and enlarge the fellowship. If we are walking in the light, we are in fellowship with the Lord and his people (chapter 1 verses 5 to 7). The word abide relates to this and is used in 1 John 19 times and in John’s gospel 17 times. To abide in Christ means to fellowship with him and do his will. Joy. Why did John write this letter? So that we might have joy in our Christian life (chapter 1 verse 4). Happiness comes primarily from happenings, but joy comes from the Lord as we fellowship with him and serve others. Joy comes from the Spirit’s work in our hearts, for “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy …” (Galatians 5 verse 22). We find joy in God’s word as the Spirit teaches us and we experience joy in fellowship with other Christians. We all have our difficulties and disappointments, but the Lord will give us joy even when our bodies and our circumstances seem to be against us. Light. Light symbolises several things in the bible, including God (chapter 1 verse 5; John 8 verse 12), God’s word (Psalm 119 verse 105) and God’s people (Matthew 5 verses 14 to 16). But light also can mean knowledge and truth while darkness can mean ignorance and lies (1 John 1 verses 5 to 7: chapter 2 verses 8 to 11). John has much to say about truth (chapter 1 verse 6, 8, chapter 2 verse 4, 21, chapter 3 verses 18 and 19, chapter 4 verses 6, chapter 5 verse 6) Some of the people in scripture are identified with darkness, such as King Saul (1 Samuel 28), Samson (Judges 16 verse 21) and Judas (John 13 verse 30). Cleansing. Cleansing pictures the forgiveness of sins (chapter 1 verses 7 to 10). David prayed to be made “white than snow” (Psalm 51 verse 7) and in the upper room, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (John 13 verses 1 to 17). Additionally, as we meditate on Scripture, the Word of God cleanses us (John 15 verse 3, Ephesians 5 verse 26). Overcoming power. This means overcoming temptations (chapter 2 verses 1 to 11, 14, chapter 3 verses 4 to 9). Jesus is our Advocate who represents us before the Father and forgives us when we confess our sins (chapter 1 verses 9 and 10). As our High Priest, he also enables us to resist the world, the flesh and the devil so that we do not sin. Love. We are to love God and God’s people, our neighbours and our enemies (chapter 2 verses 7 – 11; chapter 3 verses 16 to 23, chapter 4 verses 7 to chapter 5 verse 5). We are also to love God’s word (Psalm 119 verse 97). John 3 verse 16 tells us that God loves the world and gave his Son to save sinners and 1 John 3 verse 16 tells us we ought to lay down our lives in love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Will of God. Make your choice: either the will of the world or the will of God (chapter 2 verses 15 to 17). The will of God is an expression of the love of God (Psalm 33 verse 11); the will of the world involves lust. Doing God’s will involves humility and faith while doing the world’s will requires pride and very high self-confidence. Pleasing the Lord is much easier than pleasing the world and the consequences are eternal. Knowledge. Because believer’s have God’s word, the Holy Spirit and prayer they have access to God’s wisdom and the ability to understand what God wants them to do (chapter 2 verses 18 to 29: chapter 5 verses 18 to 21). The Lord will grant wisdom, even if it sometimes comes when we’d rather sleep. He warns us about the enemy and tells us what to do. HE encourages us and sometimes rebukes us, but all of this is for our good. Hope. Love and hope go together, Jesus loves his “little children” and wants them to live with him forever (chapter 3 verses 1 to 3). We have a “blessed hope” that our Lord will one day return and take his people home to heaven. If we believe his promise, it should motivate us to obey him – John calls it “purifying ourselves” – and be ready when he comes. Holy Spirit. When we obey our Lord, the indwelling Holy Spirit can work in us and through us and glorify the Lord Jesus (chapter 3 verse 24 to chapter 4 verse 6: chapter 5 verses 6 to 10). John warns his readers not to meddle with false teachers because they are controlled by the antichrist, but “the Spirit is truth” (chapter 5 verse 6). The Spirit bears witness to us about Jesus so that we might bear witness to a lost world (Acts 1 verse 8). “God is greater than our heart” (1 John 3 verse 20) and the Holy Spirit can deliver us from thoughts and feelings that might lead us astray. The Spirit within us is greater than the spirits at work in our world. As we meditate on the word of God, the Spirit bears witness to us and imparts the truth of God. Prayer. What a privilege it is to “take it to the Lord in prayer” (chapter 5 verses 14 to 17). If the Spirit leads us and we claim God’s promises in the scriptures, we can pray with confidence. The better we know the Lord and his word, the more effective our praying will be. But if we know there is sin in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us (Psalm 66 verse 18). The Spirit and the Word of God will convict us, and we must confess our sins. The Second Epistle of John. John didn’t identify “the elect lady” but he did identify his theme – “the truth” – and described our responsibilities regarding God’s truth. First, we should love the truth (chapter 1 verse 3). It isn’t enough for us simply to know God’s word or even respect it, but we must love the word of the Lord “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119 verse 97) and see verses 48, 113, 127, 159 16 and 167). If we truly love the Lord, we will love the Lord, we will love what he says to us. Our second responsibility is to walk in the truth (2 John 4 to 6). That means to obey it in every aspect of life. John emphasized the new commandment Jesus gave us that we love one another (John 13 verses 31 to 35). To live motivated by love is to live as Jesus lived and to experience the blessings that the Holy Spirit wants to share with us. Holding on to the truth is our third responsibility (2 John 7 to 11). The world around us does not believe in absolutes, and it knows how to manipulate lies and occasional truths. Obeying God’s truth not only gives us wisdom and blessing, but it defeats the enemy and enables us to serve a needy world. John warns us to be cautious how we entertain people who deny God’s truth lest we give others the impression we agree with them. Loving our unsaved friends and neighbours is one thing but opening the door to cultists is quite another. All of this leads us to the fourth responsibility: enjoy the truth and share it (verses 12 and 13). It’s enriching to spend time with Christian friends and interested unsaved friends discussing God’s word and applying it to our lives and ministries. It’s good to read the truth and absorb it and it’s also good to discuss it and tell others what God’s truth means in your own life. The apostle John wrote much that has blessed the world; we can learn from others, and they can learn from us. The best way to promote and defend the truth is to practice it in daily life. The Third Epistle of John. This letter mentions 3 different people – Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Gaius (verses 1 to 8) was evidently converted under John’s ministry, for John called him one of his spiritual children (verse 4). John was concerned about his friend’s health and prayed that he might be as healthy physically as he was spiritually. Both should concern us when we interceded for others. Didn’t Jesus and his disciples heal the sick and afflicted and feed the hungry? Gaius also helped support travelling evangelists who were devoted to the Lord and to sharing the truth. Those who go out to minister and those who serve at home by helping support them are both important “fellow workers for the truth” (verse 8). I suppose almost every church has in the congregation a trouble-making dictator like Diotrephes (verse 9 to 12). He did not respect John’s authority as an apostle and put himself above everybody else in the congregation. He ignored a letter John had written to the church and insisted that he was first in leadership and had the final say-so in everything. He had to approve who could join the fellowship and he thought he could even dismiss people from the church! How painfully sad and how destructive it is when a church has members like this! John made it clear that he would visit the church, confront Diotrephes personally and set matters straight. Everything rises and falls with leadership and if the leadership is proud and selfish, the church will not prosper. We need more church members who are walking with the Lord and working with others to help the church grow in grace and in number. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (John 13 verses 10 to 17). He made it clear that we are to serve one another and not use one another to build our own “kingdom”. The Epistle of Jude. Jude and James were half-brothers of Jesus (Matthew 13 verse 55; Mark 6 verse 3; Acts 15 verse 22). Jude’s epistle deals with the false teachers who were getting into he churches and leading people astray. Jude intended to write on a different theme, but the Lord led him to warn the churches of this dangerous situation. His brief but powerful letter may be outlined as follows: Introduction – verses 1 to 3 What the false teachers do – verses 4 to 11 What the false teachers are – verses 12 to 19 What God’s people must do – verses 20 to 25 What the false teachers do. They are not open and honest in their ministry but secretive, having “crept in unnoticed” into the churches under false pretences (verse 4). They masquerade as devoted children of God when they are actually seeking to lead the church family into false doctrines. The apostle Peter issued the same warning in his letter as Jude does here (2 Peter 2 verses 1 to 3). The false teachers aimed to “turn the grace of God into lewdness” (Jude 4). In other words, they told the people that God’s grace gives believers freedom to do as they please. Paul refuted this lie in Romans 6 and John dealt with it in 1 John 3 verses 4 to 9. These false teachers denied that Jesus was God come in human flesh. They denied what John affirmed in his first epistle (chapter 2 verse 18 to 23, chapter 4 verses 1 to 4). They did not believe God’s word or believe in God’s son Jesus Christ. In verses 5 to 7 Jude reached back into the Old Testament to show that the Lord judges those who commit such sins. God judged the people who refused to enter Canaan and they wandered for 40 years (1 Corinthians 10; Hebrews 3 and 4). He judged the angels who rebelled against God (2 Peter 2 verse 4 and 5); the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 7; Genesis 18 verse 16 to 19 verse 29) and Cain, Baalam, and Korah as well. Cain was an unbeliever (Genesis 4), Balaam was greedy for wealth (Numbers 22 to 24) and Korah would not submit to God’s authority as vested in Moses (Numbers 16). False teachers speak abusively and argue with the Lord (Jude 8 to 10), “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10 verse 31). What the false teachers are. Jude listed 10 characteristics of false teachers that make them very dangerous. They are blemishes on the body of Christ, even at the church love feasts. Peter used the same image (2 Peter 2 verse 13). Their evil doctrines and practices defile the church. They are selfish (Jude 12) serving themselves instead of serving their people. Jude’s phrase “clouds without water” means they promise showers of blessing but have no refreshing water (Proverbs 25 verse 14). They are rootless and fruitless, twice dead! Wild waves are destructive and wandering stars will lead the traveller astray; so, will these teachers. False teachers are ungodly, unappreciative and arrogant in their scoffing as those who are faithful to the Lord. Each of these images exposes the deception false teachers practice and every believer must be alert and aware. They are not spiritual people but sensual, resulting in divisions in the church (“Are you for me or against me?”). Division weakens the church and opens the way for trouble. What God’s people (true believers) must do. We must start with love. Jude called his readers “beloved” (verses 3, 17 and 20), an indication that he knew them. Start “building yourselves up on your most holy faith” (Jude 20), he first admonished because “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13 verse 8). As Paul wrote “the fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5 verse 22). Some people are wrong in their thinking because they are ignorant or perhaps, they have been taught by the wrong people. The more we grow in faith and knowledge, the better we are to help others abandon false thinking and receive the truth. Prayer in the Spirit is the next essential, asking the Lord to cleanse our minds and hearts and grant us spiritual wisdom and insight. Remember, we are fighting against Satan and his demonic forces and prayer is one of our best weapons. Waiting patiently for the Lord to work in the minds and hearts of teachers and followers is important. As we watch and pray and wait and pray, the Lord will work in their hearts and ours. The Lord will give us discernment (Jude 22 and 23) and we will know what to say and do. We are not able to change people, but God will use what we say and do to transform them. Revelation. The Holy Spirit used the apostle John to give us 3 different kinds of inspired literature: the gospel of John, where the emphasis is on believing (chapter 20 verse 31), the epistles of John, with an emphasis on behaving (1 John 2 verse 1) and the Revelation of Jesus Christ by John, where the emphasis is on beholding (the word behold is used 26 times). The Lord showed John one prophetic tableau after another, and we are invited to study them. What a privilege! The persecution that both Peter and Jude wrote about did come and John was sent as a prisoner to work in the mines on the island of Patmos. But the Lord can teach his children no matter where he places them and he gave John remarkable visions of the future that still stir minds and hearts today. One of the key words in the book is 7, a number that carries the idea of completeness. The events work together to bring God’s plan to a successful conclusion. Our Lord is the beginning and the end and what he states he finishes. Christ and the 7 churches – chapters 1 to 3 Christ opens the 7 seas – chapter 4 to chapter 8 verse 1 Angels blow the 7 trumpets – chapter 8 verse 2 to chapter 11 John beholds 7 signs – chapters 12 to 14 Angels empty 7 bowls of wrath – chapters 15 and 16 John beholds 7 climatic events – chapter 17 to 22 verse 5 Final admonitions – chapter 22 verses 6 to 21 This book is about Jesus Christ and not just about prophetic events. From beginning to end, Jesus is seen, is heard and is glorified. Take time to get acquainted with the various names and titles of Christ in this fascinating book. Alpha and Omega (chapter 1 verse 8, 11; chapter 21 verse 6; chapter 22 verses 13) Amen (chapter 3 verse 14) Beginning of the Creation of God (chapter 3 verse 14) Bright and Morning Star (chapter 22 verse 16) Faithful Witness (chapter 1 verse 5, chapter 3 verse 14 and chapter 19 verse 11) First and Last (chapter 2 verse 8) Firstborn from the Dead (chapter 1 verse 5) King of the saints (chapter 15 verse 3) King of Kings (chapter 17 verse 14) Lamb (chapter 5 verse 6) Lion of the Tribe of Judah (chapter 5 verse 5) Lord (Chapter 17 verse 14) Morning Star (chapter 2 verse 28, chapter 22 verse 16) Offspring of David (chapter 22 verse 16) Reaper (chapter 14 verse 15) Root of David (chapter 22 verse 16) Witness (chapter 1 verse 5, chapter 3 verse 14) Word of God (chapter 19 verse 13) The fact that the letters to the 7 churches were first on the agenda suggests that what the Lord revealed to John was important to the ministry of the churches in that day. The churches in John’s Day were not unlike our churches today and we would be wise to learn about them and examine our own ministries. Some of the churches were faithful and fruitful but others tolerated sin and sinful people. The 7 churches have been understood to represent 7 stages in the history of the church but even if so, the first application must be for us today. These churches existed at the same time and may in some ways illustrate religious history, but the first application must be to our own lives and ministries today. Looking further into this book, it’s interesting that our Lord is identified with both a lion and a lamb (chapter 5 verses 5 and 6). It’s a paradox, for the 2 animals are quite opposite each other. The lion makes us think of a king and the lamb a sacrifice but is not Jesus both? He was as gentle as the lamb led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53 verse 7) and as powerful and kingly as the lion. 7 beatitudes in the book of Revelation – chapter 1 verse 3, chapter 14 verse 13, chapter 16 verse 15, chapter 19 verse 9, chapter 20 verse 6, chapter 22 verses 7 and 14 26 times the Lamb is mentioned – chapter 5 verses 6, 8, 12, 13, chapter 6 verses 1, 10, 16, chapter 7 verses 9 and 10, 14, 17, chapter 12 verse 11, chapter 13 verse 8, chapter 17 verse 14, chapter 19 verses 7, 10, chapter 21 verses 9 and 14, 22 to 23, 27, chapter 22 verses 1 to 3. The furnishings of the tabernacle and temple are mentioned in Revelation: the brazen altar (chapter 6 verse 9), the laver (chapter 4 verse 6), the incense altar (chapter 8 verses 3 to 5), the lamps (chapter 4 verse 5), the cherubim (chapter 4 verse 6 and 7) and the throne (chapter 4 verse 2). The word throne is mentioned 47 times in the book; there is an emphasis on the majesty and regal ministry of the Saviour. There are a 12 references to the “earth dwellers”, in other words, the people who live on the earth and for the world and who have not trusted the Saviour (chapter 3 verse 10; chapter 6 verse 10; chapter 8 verse 13; chapter 11 verses 2 and 10; chapter 12 verse 12; chapter 13 verses 8, 12, 14; chapter 17 verses 2 and 8). The followers of Jesus Christ are in this world to serve, but they are not of this world to sin. First John 2 verses 15 to 17 settles that and see John 17 verse 12 to 19. The “earth dwellers” belong to Babylon but the people of God belong to Jerusalem. Definite patterns appear in The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Some see Jesus returning before the tribulation while others see a mid-tribulation rapture of the church or even a post-tribulation rapture. The important thing is not that I have an accurate calendar but that I am ready today for the Lord to return, faithfully doing what he has called me to do. The students of prophecy who have set dates have all been wrong. The believers who have set their hearts on waiting, watching and working will be ready.
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